Summer Slam Night 2 looked to capitalize on what Michael Cole called “the greatest encore” of the century—Seth Rollins cashing in his MITB briefcase to capture the heavyweight title from CM Punk moments after he won it from Gunther—a callback to Seth’s cash-in on Reigns and Lesnar 10 years ago at WrestleMania 31.
With tons of celebrities in MetLife Stadium, Cardi B was noticeably missing despite being advertised as SummerSlam’s host (I guess it was a ‘one-night-only’ type of deal). Triple H said at the conclusion of night one that we ‘hadn’t seen anything yet,’ prompting many to expect a big return for the evening’s finale.
FightsATW Picks: 5 of 6 correct for Night Two (Click HERE). FightsATW Picks: 8 of 10 correct for the two-night card.
John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes—WWE World Title (Street Fight)
Results: Cody wins
Cena’s ‘face turn’ on Friday Night SmackDown was fully realized in his entrance tonight; after his video package initially popped up with the basic white font reading John Cena on a plain black backdrop that accompanied his heel run, the full color spectrum popped out when the beat dropped on his entrance music. The face Cena was on full display, and the crowd gave him the fan-favorite reaction.
Cody’s entrance was also spectacular, complete with his iconic skull mask and ‘Cody fireworks’ display that topped them all. However, a mixture of boos from the crowd set the stage for this match early. In a scene somewhat similar to the Rock-Hogan unexpected role reversal at WrestleMania 18, the double turn storyline was assisted perfectly by the New Jersey crowd.
The Street Fight stipulations were mostly untested in the first half of the match. Instead, we saw traditional wrestling spots between the two legends early on—like exchanging punches back and forth to the backdrop of cheers and boos from the crowd (Cody received the boos with every shot he landed while Cena garnered all the cheers).
It wasn’t until Cena was thrown over the timekeeper’s barrier that the match found its hardcore rhythm. Cena delivered an AA to Cody from one commentator’s desk to the other, crashing through it like a rock through a wet paper. They eventually made it back to the ring, where Cody hit Cena with the ‘Cross Rhodes’ for the first near-fall of the night.
Cena rallied and hit his patented ‘fame-asser’ from the top turnbuckle onto a bent over Cody, crashing his head to the mat. He quickly moved on to his AA but could not finish the match. That is when Cena went to the ‘Slim Jim’ table (of course), and he set it up only for Cody to disrupt and reverse.
There was an awesome spot, if not time-friendly, where the two men battled under the stage. They disappeared for a minute before smoke started coming from the ‘Cody entrance’ under the stage, and that is when the ‘trap door’ began to rise, revealing Cena carrying Cody on his back—it was a great shot from a production standpoint. He launched Cody before returning him to the ring, where Cody quickly regained his composure to send Cena into the table.
That sequence ended with another ‘Cross Rhodes,’ but Cena kicked out for yet another near fall.
Rhodes would land two more Cross Rhodes before Cena would hit his own rally for a near fall off the AA. Both men dug deep, and neither of them relented. Cody finally grabbed the title belt that he refused to use throughout his run, but he was ready to ‘go there’ this time. Cena reversed, but he could not keep Cody down (notably, Cena decided against using the title). It took a Cross Rhodes off the turnbuckle through a table from Cody.
It took one final Cross Rhodes for Cody to keep Cena down for the 1-2-3, winning clean over Cena in his first ‘face appearance’ since his February swerve. Cody and Cena hugged it out in the center of the ring, tears filling Cody’s eyes.
Cena took his bow, and all that was left was for the credits to roll, and that is when Brock Lesnar’s music hit and the “Beast Incarnate” walked through Gorilla to an enormous pop from the crowd. He walked down to the ring, cowboy hat on his head and a leaned, muscular look peaking through his southern attire.
Lesnar slow-played it, but eventually he hit Cena with the F5 to conclude Summer Slam night two.
“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio(c) vs. AJ Styles—Intercontinental Title
Result: Dom retains
The match was one of the few, on either night, that delivered a SummerSlam-worthy entrance from both superstars. Dominik Mysterio came out with a custom lucha mask, and the pop was noteworthy. However, it was AJ Styles that stole the show, coming out in an Eddie Guerrero-esque lowrider, donning a Latino Heat-inspired t-shirt that read “Styles heat.”
Both AJ and Dom honored Eddie throughout the match, not counting the ‘Three Amigos’ completed by Fenix and Andrade earlier in the night. Even in the match itself, the story played out in a way that Eddie would approve. At one moment, Dom tried to “earn” the DQ victory by faking a steel chair shot to the head and throwing the chair into AJ’s hands as the ref’s back was turned.
AJ, being the educated superstar that he is, quickly wrapped the chair around his head and hit the deck. The referee, confused about the scene, could not decipher what happened and allowed the match to continue—but AJ’s leg twitching deserved the Oscar.
In the end, Dom managed to retain in a match that fell short of the heights many had expected. Still, it was a career highlight moment for Dom, but AJ will have to find a way to rebound after taking an “L” in what has been rumored to be his ‘final Summer Slam.’
Solo Sikoa(c) vs. Jacob Fatu—U.S. Title (Cage Match)
Result: Solo retains
The cage match, in theory, is the gimmick made necessary by a feud plagued by outside forces, but the cage match, in reality, has become the moment where everyone interferes. This match was no different, and if it accomplished anything, it was to set up the Bloodline ‘Civil War’ that fans booked for Survivor Series: War Games last November.
It did not take long for the MFTs (My Family Tree) to come out to interfere, prompting a response from Jimmy Uso, who attempted to even the odds—he failed. Solo was able to make it out of the ring to retain his title, but the segment was nowhere near finished.
After losing, Fatu climbed to the top of the cage to deliver his moonsault (minus the pop-up) onto two MFTs in the ring.
Naomi(c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky—Women’s World Title (RAW)
Result: Naomi retains
The triple threat match opened the show on night two, and the pressure was on after RAW’s GM Adam Pearce booked this match with the intention of all three putting on ‘a classic’ similar to what Rhea and Sky produced at Evolution 2 a few days prior to the title match being booked.
The three women had a great showing, but it is always going to be difficult to deliver a 5-star match with a triple threat. Still, they hit their marks and were nearly shooting 100% accuracy with the timing of several spots. Sky hit a picture-perfect ‘poisonranna’ for a near fall, and Rhea also showed out with several power moves. But it was Naomi’s night as she retained the title in a hard-fought victory that showcased all three women.
Wyatt Sicks(c) vs. Street Profits vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix vs. DIY vs. Fraxiom vs. MCMG—Tag Titles (Tables, Chairs & Ladders Match)
RESULT: Wyatt Sicks retains
It was the ‘table party’ for this year’s Summer Slam, a match with a consistent presence ever since Edge & Christian, Hardy Boyz, and Dudley Boys revolutionized the ladder match a quarter of a century ago at SummerSlam 2000 (the ladder 2/3 in attendance for the match). Each team got an entrance, but by the end, they all deserved a “standing O.”
With too many spots to mention, the highlights were Candace LeRae taking a huge bump from atop the ‘big ladder’ to the outside and through another ladder positioned between the ring and commentator’s desk, with the rest of DIY taking ‘the big crash’ through four tables stacked on the outside. Every team played their role and added to the exciting match, but it was the Wyatt Sicks who utilized their efforts as a team with the assistance of Uncle Howdy.
Still, from Dexter Lumis’ big leg drop from the top turnbuckle to the outside onto a table to Rey Fenix hitting a frog splash from the top buckle to the outside and through a table.
The Wyatt Sicks retained the titles in this car crash of a match, but every single other tag team bought themselves some good grace moving forward.
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria—Women’s Intercontinental Title
This feud has been brewing since WrestleMania this year, where Becky Lynch returned to win the tag titles with Lyra Valkyria before turning heel the next night in a losing effort for those same tag titles. That launched a feud that involved Bayley, but after last month’s triple threat match between the three, it was Lyra that secured this shot after a number 1 contender’s match, for which she successfully defeated Bayley.
Both women went to desperate places, but Lynch was the aggressor in a more violent way. In one moment, she wrapped a chair around Lyra and pulled out a crowbar meant to slam onto her. Bayley came out at the last second to stop Lynch, and that is when she made her presence felt in the match.
She was eventually taken out, and despite being hit with a fire extinguisher blast, Becky was able to retain.
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