As pointed out in my previous article making predictions about the 37th annual WWE SummerSlam taking place at Cleveland Browns Stadium, this would be a show heavily based on advancing the storylines we see week to week on television. That is exactly what was delivered to us, a predictable set of match results and storyline advancements.
These, however, should not be viewed as a negative on the show but a shining light as it proves that these stories are progressing logically and not providing unnecessary swerves for the sake of it. Following will be some thoughts and reviews on the action that was seen at this year’s SummerSlam.
SummerSlam: Rhea Ripley vs Liv Morgan – WWE Women’s World Championship
Here was the biggest advancement of any story on the night. Morgan came into this and played the heel well, she constantly ran from her challenger seeking revenge to begin the match. Eventually, the two would make contact; Rhea Ripley would show her superior power over Morgan rag-dolling her around and setting up for her ‘Riptide’ finish before the veteran Liv slipped out. Morgan would go on the attack throwing Ripley into the corner of the ring twice, on the second throw Ripley would exclaim “IT’S OUT!” referring to her recently injured right shoulder. Here is where the psychology of the match began, Morgan repeatedly attacked the ‘dislocated’ shoulder of her opponent kicking her into the steel ring-steps.
Ripley would eventually slam herself into the announce table and mimic popping her shoulder back into place before going on the attack once more. Back in the ring, Morgan was able to stop Ripley with a sudden headbutt. She headed out of the ring and introduced a chair into the match knowing she would retain her title if it was used owing to her ‘Champions Advantage’. Before being hit Ripley kicked Morgan and unleashed her ‘Riptide’, however, did not go for the pin seeking revenge. Enter Dominik Mysterio, having been ringside the entire match he had little influence ‘til now; he stopped Ripley from getting disqualified for using the chair and grabbing it from her. As they both argued Liv Morgan performed her ‘Oblivion’ manoeuvre but this was not enough for the win. Mysterio now with the chair in hand slides it into the ring, mirroring his actions at King and Queen of the Ring during May. Whilst he distracted referee Eddie Arango, Morgan planted Ripley again with ‘Oblivion’ this time on top of the steel and secured the victory.
WWE SummerSlam: Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan
Dominik, who had been trying to get back in Ripley’s good graces following weeks of flirting with Morgan, walked away with a smirk on his face knowing he had successfully betrayed his ‘Mami’. This is a satisfying conclusion to the Morgan, Ripley and Mysterio triangle and sets a fantastic motive for Ripley to seek a rematch for Morgan’s title given the dubious nature of the finish. Whilst I would like ‘Three Stages of Hell’ during WWE Bad Blood set for October, the inevitable ‘Hell in a Cell’ match to conclude this feud should be legendary.
This match was a hot opener with good storytelling in-ring, performed by two performers at the top of their game. 4/5
SummerSlam: Bron Breakker vs Sami Zayn – WWE Intercontinental Championship
As predicted these two were not going to have an Iron Man-style match. Bron Breakker wrapped up his maiden main roster championship win inside six minutes with his usual dominance. Zayn started the match with explosiveness but was quickly cut down by the impressive rookie. Breakker performs one of the highlights of the night with his unbelievable top-rope ‘Frankensteiner’, a man hit size should not have that move in his bag. Sami Zayn managed a final flurry of attack near the end of this short encounter with a ‘blue-thunder-bomb’ and then an ‘exploder suplex’ before being Speared out of his skin when running to hit his ‘Helluva Kick’. A second Spear would finish the job and anoint your new Intercontinental Champion, the first title change of SummerSlam.
A fun match and necessary to create the monster of Bron Breakker, I hope for a feud with Ilja Dragunov. 3/5
WWE SummerSlam: New Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker
SummerSlam: LA Knight vs Logan Paul – WWE United States Championship
The night’s sleeper hit. LA Knight finally achieved his crowning moment after over a year of sustained mega popularity, he is finally a champion. This was a fine example of a heel/face dynamic and the crowd bought in fully reacting correctly. Despite being a reprehensible person Logan Paul hitting that springboard diving top-rope moonsault was something I have only seen in clips from lucha libre wrestlers who defy gravity on the regular.
The majority of this match was paint-by-numbers stuff we see Knight do on the regular, he highlighted his ability when he jumped to the top turnbuckle to ‘Superplex’ Paul who was sitting on the top rope. This resulted in what looked like a ‘brain buster’ and not the intended move which looked brutal.
WWE SummerSlam: New United States Champion LA Knight
The match ended in typical Logan Paul style. Paul signalled to receive brass knuckles to use on Knight before Knight hit a hellacious baseball slide on the champion. LA Knight also during this chaos began to assault Paul’s usual stooges. Paul eventually would receive help from fellow awful person Machine Gun Kelly who handed him brass knuckles which would be on a chain he was wearing. After being hit by the brass knuckles, Knight swiftly kicked out from the pin and hit his ‘Blunt Force Trauma’ finishing move, finally defeating one of the worst champions of all time.
A good match with a satisfying ending. I doubt many saw the quality this match would produce coming, also the correct winner helps its perception. Knight seemed to work slightly stiffer than usual too, look at his eye near the end of the match, I wonder if this was due to Paul’s recent antics outside the ring. YEAH! 3/5
SummerSlam: Nia Jax vs Bayley – WWE Women’s Championship
As predicted Nia has received her reward for a job well done since her return. I had a blast with this bout, Bayley is one of my all-time favourites, I remember remarking back during her NXT feud with Sasha Banks she was my favourite at that time. Here she showed her class, helping the more limited but still talented Jax. Nia Jax performed a lot of power moves as this match got going with a fantastic ‘Samoan Drop’ being the highlight from the early flurry. Jax pulled off a ‘rolling senton’ into a ‘leg-drop’ with a pin attached, something I have never seen her do which impressed me.
Toward the end of the bout, Bayley carried out her ‘Bayley-to-belly’ move which usually connects to her ‘Rose Plant’ finish however, Nia put a stop to that performing a sequence which led to her ‘Annihilate-Her’ finish which Bayley impressively kicked-out of. Nia continued her domination following this, Nia, having Bayley prone in the corner headed to the second rope to end this match for good. Bayley quickly got to her feet slipping under Nia, still on the rope, and picked her up walking to the centre of the ring and an extreme show of strength which got the crowd off their feet. Bayley would perform a Randy Savage-inspired elbow drop but could not get the cover.
WWE SummerSlam: Nia Jax and Bayley
The closing sequence brought chaos. Ms. Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton, appeared to cash in her championship contract there and then but was intercepted by the champion Bayley who knocked her off the ring apron. Nia finished the bout with three ‘Annihilate-Her’ moves winning her second ever World Championship in WWE.
As mentioned this was well deserved, and while others will critique this match I rather enjoyed its feel of Jax as the dominant force. The dynamic of allies being the champion and the money in the bank holder promises to be an actual storyline centring the belt. However, Charlotte Flair is due to return and will become a problem quickly for Nia Jax. A fun match and does not deserve the criticism. 3/5
SummerSlam: CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre – Seth Rollins as Special Guest Referee
I was looking forward to this for months. I have been a CM Punk and Drew McIntyre fan for as long as I can remember going back to my first spark of interest in professional wrestling back in 2010. This match lacked the violence that both men promised. I understand why, ensuring Punk is not on the shelf again is paramount and he should work tag team matches again until he shakes off his evident ring rust.
The match began with McIntyre dominating however, each pinfall was not counted by special referee Rollins. McIntyre introduced a chair to the match which Rollins snatched off of him. What followed was a remake of SummerSlam 1997, where Shawn Michaels was the special referee but unlike there, Seth Rollins did not hit a competitor.
Later the storyline element comes into effect when McIntyre pulls from his tights, the bracelet bearing the names of AJ and Larry which makes Punk irate. A classic CM Punk comeback sequence followed: ‘dropkick, pepsi twist, running knees in the corner, macho elbow finishing with an Anaconda Vice’. Seeing the bracelet on McIntyre he broke his submission to grab it however, he was hit with a ‘Claymore kick upon standing up.
WWE SummerSlam: CM Punk, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre
Seth Rollins had picked up this bracelet once it was kicked out of Punk’s hand and picked it up. CM Punk with McIntyre on his shoulders wanting to end the match with a ‘Go to sleep’ dropped his opponent and began arguing with the ref. This is where the match falls apart in my view, the end was constant bickering between the men which led to Punk dropping Rollins. McIntyre took advantage and hit Punk with a ‘low-blow’ re-enacting what happened in reverse during Clash at the Castle. McIntyre followed up with a ‘Claymore Kick’ winning the match.
The correct outcome but the addition of a special guest referee consistently ruined the flow. Very story-heavy when I expected more brutality, but at least Punk came out unscathed. 3/5
Match of the Night: Gunther vs Damian Priest – World Heavyweight Championship
The best match of the entire show. Damian Priest is an incredibly versatile and talented athlete and had a great title reign. This match began with great back and forth between the two powerhouses. Damian Priest would finish the opening sequence with a sick ‘hurricanrana’ from the top rope into a ‘Falcon Arrow’.
Priest would bust open Gunther’s chest with some brutal-looking ‘knife-edge chops’. A chop battle would continue with Priest performing his chokeslam on the challenging Gunther. Enter Finn Bálor, here to further a storyline Bálor appeared to be supporting his Judgement Day brethren Damian Priest.
WWE SummerSlam: Damian Priest Slams Gunther
Gunther became the dominant force here, kicking down the champion who reached out to Bálor before the latter was flattened by Gunther. Priest, enraged that Gunther hurt Bálor rallied and hit a second chokeslam only to be betrayed by his former tag team partner who lifted Gunther’s leg onto the ropes. This effectively ended The Judgement Day as a faction. Priest saw this play out on a replay and got distracted, no longer focusing on his challenger he wanted to choke out Bálor instead. Gunther wins with a sleeper hold in the chaos becoming your new World Heavyweight Champion.
This is where a story can enhance a championship match. Bálor has been belittled by Priest who has grabbed him and talked down to him saying he’s more than the group. We know how vicious Bálor can be and this will be another Cell match at ‘Bad Blood’ in October.
Gunther deserves his World title and will walk into Berlin to rapturous applause but who his challenger is remains to be seen.
The best match of the night by far. 4.5/5
Main Event: Solo Sikoa vs Cody Rhodes – WWE Championship – Bloodline Rules
Brutal viewing, not helped by the stipulation. This match was a vehicle for the return of Roman Reigns which was the main point of the main event. For the second year in a row, the SummerSlam main event was a letdown. Solo Sikoa is not a talent who can hold down a marquee match on his own and inspired very little excitement from fans and the live crowd alike. The action was all over the place and reliant on interference, alongside this when Roman Reigns returned with a terrible new remixed theme song he looked like he was there to save Cody immediately relegating the champion to number 2 guy in the face of more ‘Bloodline’ stories. Watch the return clip on YouTube and give this match a skip on the second viewing. 2/5
WWE SummerSlam: Roman Reigns Returns
