It is the WrestleMania of the Summer, or so it’s been dubbed, but on Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio, made history as the final single-night version of SummerSlam before it becomes a two-night affair next year. This year’s SummerSlam certainly had plenty of storylines. It was a little light on variety as every match on the card is a singles match—even if you consider the last-minute stipulation addition of “Bloodline Rules” to the main event, the match is still a singles match. It can only be won by either champion (Cody) or challenger (Solo). With return rumors spreading faster and louder during fight week, Roman Reigns and the Hardy Boyz rank at the top of the speculation meter, but so many programs are in need of payoffs that overbooking the show is a worry for many.
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa; WWE World Championship
Before making his way to the ring, Cody’s longtime mentor and kayfabe manager in AEW, Arn Anderson, made cheeky remarks referencing backup intended for Cody. This was a hint that The Hardy Boyz, rumored to be making their return at SummerSlam, would make a return.
It did not take long before the “Bloodline Rules” of it all kicked in, and the Tongas were the first out, followed by Kevin Owens and Randy Orton, who both received entrance music. The factions neutralized each other, and that is when the champion and challenger were left in the ring alone, and Cody decided to up the violence. He threw the steel stairs in the ring, but Solo proved to be too strong, and eventually, he took the momentum back, even for a moment.
Jacob Fatu came in next, and he had the best sequence of all the other superstars but received the quietest eruption. Fatu was in charge and dominating, but he went for a splash from the top of the turnbuckle onto Cody Rhodes, who was positioned on top of the commentary desk and did not break for Paul and Knight in a spot earlier in the night. This time around, the table broke, and so did something in Fatu’s leg as he was seen grabbing at it immediately after landing the spot. It was tough to gauge the severity of the injury, but when Fatu attempted to stand up, he collapsed after trying to put weight on top of it.
He was clearly upset and started throwing chairs around in frustration, almost ordering Solo to get Cody in the ring and finish it. Solo had all the momentum, and that is when the REAL* (as Michael Cole said on commentary) ‘Head of the Table’ Roman Reigns’ music hit, and the former Undisputed Champion came out through Gorilla wearing a shirt with a clear message: OTC (Original Tribal Chief). He hit Solo with the Super Man Punch and then the spear, clearing the path for Cody Rhodes to take the victory and successfully defend his title. Roman did not stay in the ring, but he did make it a point to look back at Cody as he held his title with his music playing. However, without tipping his hand, we had to go on Cody’s interpretation of the match’s ending.
In the post-fight presser, Cody said he did not have any misunderstandings in regard to him and Roman being friends, they’re not, he claims, and he also believes there is a third match to be had between the two down the road. He said Roman’s involvement in the match was more about what was going on with the BL and should NOT be seen as a bridge to a potential partnership.
Is Roman back, though? Or did he simply make his feelings known for now?
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley; Women’s World Championship
The most over storyline in WWE opened up the show and gave us one of the most memorable moments of the year, and certainly the card. The match started hot, and Liv was primed to perform, but it was Rhea who needed to prove the injury to her shoulder, the one that came at the hands of Liv herself and one that caused her to relinquish the title, was a non-issue.
Liv smartly went after the shoulder early, and there was a kayfabe moment where Rhea’s shoulder ‘came out of socket’ and she was forced to pop it back into place by slamming it on the announce table. That seemed to give her enough comfort to take the match’s momentum. But Rhea’s frustrations started to get to her, and she found herself with a chair in her hand. She was so blind with anger that she was willing to use it on Liv in the middle of the ring and in front of the ref. That’s when Dom, on the ring apron, grabbed the chair from Mami’s hands—a theme to the night—which was met with confirmation from Rhea.
Dom explained that she can’t win the title if she’s DQ’d, and that was enough to get him off the hook. Then, moments later, and with the chair lying in the ring, Dom once again returned to the apron, this time to distract the ref, allowing Liv the opportunity to land her finisher on the chair on her way to a successful defense.
Liv picked up the pinfall victory, and her idea of celebrating was an aggressive make-out session with Dom as they looked back at Rhea with a heavy hint of self-satisfaction on their faces. They will have to answer to Rhea and the WWE Universe© as far as how long this plot has been afoot. Some will say it was predictable, but it was the right booking nonetheless.
Logan Paul vs. LA Knight; WWE United States Championship
There were high expectations of Paul as he has been able to raise the bar every time it was needed, and in a program that has gotten stale, it was needed. The match faired well with the Cleveland crowd, which had a vested interest in Ohio-born Paul. Coming into this match, many believed that LA Knight needed to be put over as the company has allowed whatever goodwill he built up with the crowd to go stale, and yet he is still receiving the loudest face pops throughout the ‘territories.’
MGK (Machine Gun Kelly) was also in attendance and made his presence felt in the bout. Kelly had performed in WWE before and even took a powerbomb from KO off the RAW stage, onto tables below, and just off of the stage. His allegiances were with Paul, and he attempted to aid his friend with retaining his United States title.
The story of this match focused on LA Knight’s journey through the indies and ‘outside-of-WWE territories,’ all the while getting over with the live audience as a staple of his work. Logan Paul was interviewed in the pre-show during a really cool segment where he stopped by the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and said he understands Knight’s hatred of him. He said Knight has worked in the business for a long time and has yet to achieve what Paul has managed in a fraction of the time. This was a man seen as ‘in need of paying dues’ versus a man who has paid more than his share of them.
Logan was phenomenal in the match, pulling off one of the most athletic moves of his tenure in the sport and one of the top in-ring highlights on the card. With his back against the wall and nearly all out of tricks, Paul went to the brass knuckles that helped him secure some of the most significant victories in his career. Instead of securing victory, Knight was able to take the shot and hit his ‘Blunt Force Trauma’ finisher for the pinfall victory to become the new US Champ.
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
Seth is in a cutoff referee shirt with a bit of his own flair added to it, but perhaps all refs will start to wear studded shirts with this sequence? There were some oddly stiff shots from Drew McIntyre, and it felt like his shots were thrown with a bit more recklessness and his maneuvers that were much more intentional.
Then the match delivered a callback spot meant to pay homage to ’97 SummerSlam when Shawn Michaels refereed the main event title match between Undertaker and Bret Hart. Shawn was supposed to be neutral in that match but had issues with both men—just like Seth. And like the match in ’97, Seth was forced to rip away the chair from Drew as he attempted to use it—an almost mirror image of the way Shawn yanked the chair out of Bret’s hands.
CM Punk eventually attempted to get back the treasured bracelet Drew took from him weeks back, and he got it back after abandoning a submission move. The bracelet ended up on Seth’s wrist as he tried to get the ‘foreign object’ out of the ring, and he was even courteous enough to do it on his own wrist for protection. That set up the sequence where Punk noticed it on Seth’s wrist and totally abandoned the match with momentum on his side. It felt petty, like Punk was looking for a reason, and Seth stood up for himself and the entire locker room.
Damian Priest(c) vs. Gunther—WWE Heavyweight Title
This was a gruesome and violent affair. The two men found creative ways of testing the other’s threshold for pain. Gunther fought hard, and Priest fought back; that was the theme of the match. The fans played a huge role by staying hot for a match that delivered in a big way, but as great as the match was, it always felt like something was in the air.
After just under 15 minutes of solid singles work where, Gunther was cut open and hit with the champ’s ‘South of Heaven’ before Finn Balor, a member of Priest’s Judgement Day faction, helped the challenger by placing his leg on the rope as Priest ostensibly had the win in hand. The turn was met with a ruckus attack of boos from the Cleveland crowd.
Gunther locked on the sleeper, and to his credit, Priest fought back and did not just give in, but he was overmatched considering the mental advantage that was suddenly taken from Priest and given to Gunther. He is now the heavyweight champion after a historic intercontinental title run that shattered the Honkey Tonk Man’s long-held record. Will Gunther be as successful with an even bigger target created by having a belt higher up the pecking order? While there is plenty of reason for Priest to keep his chin up, it does feel like a move that could elevate the title
Sami Zayn vs.. Bron Breakker; WWE Intercontinental Championship
This was the rematch from Breakker’s Money in the Bank loss, and many felt like it was too soon for a rematch if it was not his time. Well, tonight was his time. Breakker avenged his loss by capturing his first title on the main roster.
Zayn was great in the match, which is a testament to the best in the business when they can elevate in loss. The match was fun but never felt out of Breakker’s hands. It is hard to contemplate the degree of difficulty Breakker may have as he attempts a Goldberg/Lesnar type of run, but he has all the tools to be one of the top guys.
Bayley vs. Nia Jax; WWE Women’s Championship
Since Bayley won the Royal Rumble and cashed in on her opportunity at Mania by winning the women’s world title, her reign has felt uncertain and inconsistent. She never felt like the champion, and they never let her explore anything outside of the same feuds she’d been dealing with pre-Mania.
Nia would pick up the victory after delivering the Bonzi Drop to Bayley. It did not feel like a heel moment or a face moment. Instead, it felt like a nothing moment. The direction of the title feels directionless at this point, and putting it on Nia could offer a reset as a transitional champion.
Triple H’s comments in the post-fight were those of confidence in Nia, so there is a chance that she has a longer run than expected. There was a moment after the match when it felt like Tiffany Stratton may ‘cash in’ on Jax as she had her briefcase in hand and continuously took advantageous angles on the new champ. But alas, it was not Tiffy’s time, but that countdown is ticking away by the day.
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