WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray, also known as Bubba Ray Dudley, voiced his concerns about WWE’s decision to stretch SummerSlam into a two-night event during an appearance on Busted Open Radio. He argued that this move diminishes the uniqueness of WrestleMania, which itself became two nights and lost some of its special appeal. This criticism reflects ongoing Two-Night SummerSlam Criticism within the wrestling community.
Ray expressed his frustration by stating,
Once it [WrestleMania] went to two nights, that made it different, that made it special. Now that SummerSlam is two nights, what’s so special about it [WrestleMania]? This is becoming a little bit too much for me. I don’t want to get burned out. There’s a lot of stuff going on. I would’ve been completely fine of one night of SummerSlam, in Giants stadium, sold out to the rafters, whatever, and just give me a great four-hour show. All killer, no filler. That’s it. Two nights is a little much. This is where I start to start listening to the greed discussion within the WWE. Why do you really need two nights?
—Bully Ray, WWE Hall of Famer
Opinions on Seth Rollins’ Money in the Bank Briefcase Usage
Bully Ray also discussed the handling of Seth Rollins’ Money in the Bank briefcase, questioning the strictness of rules concerning its expiration and cash-in timing. He emphasized the flexibility Rollins has, pointing out inconsistencies in WWE’s adherence to storyline rules for championships and briefcases alike.
He remarked,
He could come back on his 364th day and still be the rightful owner of the Money In The Bank briefcase and cash it in on the day … there’s nothing that says ‘Well if you have the briefcase and you get hurt, you have the turn the briefcase back in. They don’t even stick to that stuff with the championships, what makes you think they’re going to stick to that stuff with a briefcase?
—Bully Ray, WWE Hall of Famer
Impact of Rollins’ Absence on Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker’s Prospects
With Seth Rollins currently absent, Bully Ray believes this presents a valuable opportunity for Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker to emerge more prominently within their group. He noted that without Rollins’ large presence, and with Paul Heyman’s subtle leadership style, both wrestlers can develop without overwhelming interference from dominant personalities.
Ray explained,
Bronson and Bron have a chance to shine in the group, there is no giant shadow being cast. And Heyman won’t cast that shadow because Heyman knows how to dull his shadow … With Seth, that’s impossible to do, not that Seth is pushing himself to the forefront of the group, but that’s where creative wants him.
—Bully Ray, WWE Hall of Famer
Significance of WWE’s Creative Decisions and Future Outlook
Bully Ray’s criticism highlights growing concern among fans and insiders that WWE’s expansion into multi-night events like SummerSlam may prioritize revenue over show quality, potentially leading to viewer fatigue. His comments also underscore challenges in storytelling consistency, particularly regarding championship rules and wrestler spotlighting. As WWE continues to evolve its event formats and creative directions, the reactions of legends like Bully Ray may influence future approaches to balancing spectacle with substance.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is WrestleMania or SummerSlam bigger?
A. SummerSlam is a professional wrestling event held every year since 1988 by WWE, the largest wrestling promotion in the world. Known as “The Biggest Party of the Summer,” it is seen as WWE’s second most significant event of the year, just after their main event, WrestleMania.
