By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE SummerSlam
Streamed live August 5, 2023 on Peacock
Detroit, Michigan at Ford Field
Kickoff Show Notes: There are no matches advertised. The panel was set up on floor of the venue and featured Kayla Braxton, Jackie Redmond, Wade Barrett, Booker T, and Peter Rosenberg.
The latest graphic for the SummerSlam battle royal lists the following entrants: LA Knight, AJ Styles, The Miz, Austin Theory, Karrion Kross, Cameron Grimes, Apollo Crews, Santos Escobar, Tommaso Ciampa, Ridge Holland, Butch, Sheamus, Matt Riddle, Grayson Waller, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bronson Reed, Erik, Ivar, JD McDonagh, Rick Boogs, Otis, Chad Gable, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci.
WWE SummerSlam Main Card
Kid Rock narrated the opening video… Michael Cole checked in on commentary and was accompanied by Corey Graves. Samantha Irvin delivered the introductions for the opening match…
1. Logan Paul vs. Ricochet. Cole brought up Ricochet and Irvin being engaged. Graves pointed out that she was wearing the same colors as Paul, who took a sip of his energy drink prior to the match. Ricochet rubbed the top of Ricochet’s head. Ricochet responded with a slap.
Ricochet sent Paul to ringside. Ricochet teased a dive to the floor. Paul covered up, but Ricochet bounced off the ropes and struck a pose. Back inside the ring, Paul dropped Ricochet with an elbow to the face. Paul followed up a short time later with a neckbreaker on the floor.
Paul went to the floor and told Irvin that he was going to hurt Ricochet, then tossed him back inside the ring. Paul performed a running powerslam and covered Ricochet for a two count. Paul hit Ricochet with a big boot and then performed a leg drop for a two count. Cole said Paul labeled that sequence the Hogan Paul.
Ricochet rallied and executed a standing moonsault for a two count. Paul came right back with a big back body drop. Paul performed a springboard clothesline. Both men ended up at ringside where Ricochet performed a Spanish Fly.
Moments later, Paul stood in the ring and flipped over the top rope into a Buckshot Lariat on the floor. Back in the ring, Paul executed a crossbody block and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Ricochet avoided a charging Paul, who crashed into the ring post casing.
Ricochet got Paul on the top rope and performed what Cole called a hurricane neckbreaker. Ricochet executed a springboard clothesline and a standing moonsault. Paul came back with a backflip into a tornado DDT for a near fall. Ricochet rallied with a Recoil.
Ricochet went up top and sold rib pain before going for a shooting star press, which gave Paul time to put his knees up. Paul rolled Ricochet into a pin for a near fall. Paul dropped Ricochet face first and then kipped up. Paul performed a springboard frogsplash for another near fall.
Paul wound up for a punch, but Ricochet caught him with a kick. Ricochet performed a detonation kick and then executed a moonsault from the middle of the rope for another near fall. Ricochet dragged Paul to the opposite corner and put the boots to him. Ricochet went up top and attempted a 630 splash that Paul avoided.
A man appeared at ringside and put a pair of brass knuckles on Paul’s hand. Paul blasted Ricochet with a punch and scored the pin. Paul quickly tucked the brass knuckles in his tights…
Logan Paul defeated Ricochet in 18:00.
After the match, Irvin announced Paul as the winner. Paul taunted her by asking her to do it another time. Irvin was shown looking disgusted while Paul played to the crowd…
Powell’s POV: A really hot opening. Both guys brought it and Paul extended his streak of strong matches. It’s not a surprise to see Paul go over. This felt like a bounce back match for him on paper following his loss to Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. But I like that they protected Ricochet, who seems to be developing a little momentum.
Footage aired of Sheamus arriving in a WWE monster truck. He exited the passenger’s seat and joined Ridge Holland and Butch while the broadcast team hyped the battle royal for later in the show…
A video package recapped the Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes feud… Entrances for the match took place. Cole said it was possibly the most important match of Cody’s career (um, WrestleMania 39?)…
2. Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes. Cody’s mother was shown in the front row. Lesnar went right at Lesnar right before the opening bell rang. Lesnar suplexed him. Cody came back with two Disaster Kicks. Cody went for a third, but Lesnar stuffed it.
Lesnar charged Cody in the corner, but Cody moved and Lesnar crashed into the ring post casing and tumbled to the floor. Cody put Lesnar down with a suicide dive. Lesnar fought back and took control. Back in the ring, Lesnar picked up Cody and tossed him. Lesnar smirked and then performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Lesnar followed up with additional suplexes and dominated Cody for the next few minutes. Lesnar was willing to win via count-out, but Cody beat the count twice. Lesnar clotheslined Cody over the top rope and back to the floor. Cody struggled and returned to the ring at the referee’s eight count.
Lesnar went to the floor, pulled Cody back out, and then put him down with an F5 at ringside. Lesnar returned to the ring. Cody beat the count again and got back to his feet. Cody threw punches at Lesnar, who then put him down with a German suplex. Cody rolled to the floor. Lesnar hoisted up Cody and put him through the broadcast table with an F5.
Cody once again beat the referee’s count. Lesnar shook his head in disbelief. Cody was on his knees and threw punches at Lesnar’s chest. Lesnar suplexed him again. Lesnar grabbed Cody for a suplex. Cody held the turnbuckle pad and eventually it flew out of the ring when Lesnar followed through with the move.
Both men ended up at ringside. Cody sent Lesnar into the ring post and then hit him with the top of the ring steps. Back in the ring, Cody hit a Disaster Kick and followed up with a Cody Cutter. Cody ran up the top rope and performed another Cody Cutter, which led to a near fall.
Lesnar took Cody down with a Kimura lock. Cody eventually reached the bottom rope to break the hold. Cody came back with a Kimura of his own. Lesnar teased tapping out, but he eventually drove Cody into the mat to break the hold. Lesnar hoisted up Cody for an F5, but Cody slipped out and hit CrossRhodes. Cody rolled right into another CrossRhodes and then a third. Cody covered Lesnar and then pinned Lesnar…
Cody Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar in 17:35.
After the match, Cody looked for respect for Lesnar, who approached him slowly. Lesnar went head-to-head with Cody and then shook his hand. Lesnar hugged Cody and then raised his arm to all four corners. Lesnar left the ring and Cody smiled while Cole said that Cody Rhodes has arrived. Cody went to ringside and hugged his mother. “We’re on our way,” Cody told fans at ringside…
Powell’s POV: An terrific match with Cody showing heart by surviving Lesnar’s attempts to have him counted out and then the Kimura lock. However, Lesnar’s shorts did not survive the match and were somehow shredded. Anyway, the post match showing of respect was a surprising development given how heated the feud had been. I guess we’ll never know why Lesnar attacked Cody the night after WrestleMania.
WWE Payback and a WrestleMania XL videos aired, and then a random Becky Lynch video package aired while the Peacock ad tier watched commercials…
Most of the battle royal entrances took place during the break. A portion of The Miz’s entrance was shown. LA Knight’s entrance was televised. AJ Styles made his entrance and they cut to a sponsored video package focused on past battle royals. The bell was about to ring when MVP spoke over the house mic and said it couldn’t start without the man who would win it. MVP introduced Omos…
3. The SummerSlam Battle Royal. The entrants were Omos, LA Knight, AJ Styles, The Miz, Austin Theory, Karrion Kross, Cameron Grimes, Apollo Crews, Santos Escobar, Tommaso Ciampa, Ridge Holland, Butch, Sheamus, Matt Riddle, Grayson Waller, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bronson Reed, Erik, Ivar, JD McDonagh, Rick Boogs, Otis, Chad Gable, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci.
Crews was the first man eliminated. Omos pressed McDonagh over his head and threw him onto Crews on the floor. Omos followed up by eliminating Boogs. The Brawling Brutes hit some of the Ten Beats on Omos, who then fought them off.
The Imperium duo eliminated Omos. Gable eliminated Vinci. Ciampa eliminated Ivar and Erik, and then eliminated Nakamura. Reed picked up Ciampa and threw him over the top to end his night. Theory eliminated Holland. Theory followed up by eliminating Grimes. Escobar clotheslined Theory over the top to eliminate him.
Kross sent Escobar over the top and then kicked him off the apron. Gable skinned the cat and then used his legs to pull Kaiser over the top to eliminate him. Omos eliminated Riddle and Butch simultaneously. The crowd rallied behind Knight and then booed when Omos put him down.
Various wrestlers hit moves on Omos and then all of the remaining wrestlers joined forces to eliminate him. Waller and Miz had a moment and then tried to eliminate Gable, who held on. Miz threw Knight over the top rope, but Knight held on and then tossed Miz over the top rope to eliminate him. Sheamus dumped Waller. Styles hit Kross with a Pele Kick to knock him off the apron. Reed eliminated Gable.
The final four were Knight, Reed, Styles, and Sheamus. Knight pulled Reed over the top rope from the apron and eliminated him. Styles avoided a Brogue Kick. Styles set up for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Kross held his legs until Sheamus booted him off the apron. Kross yelled that it’s not over until he says it’s over.
The last two men were Knight and Sheamus. Knight ate a stiff knee to the jaw. Sheamus held up Knight in Celtic Cross position, but Knight slipped away, yet failed to eliminate him. Sheamus went up top. Knight ran up the ropes and suplexed Sheamus (when he could have just pushed him off to win). Knight eliminated Sheamus by clotheslining him over the top rope moments later…
LA Knight won the SummerSlam battle royal in 11:55.
Powell’s POV: Finally, a reprieve from the endless questions about why the company isn’t pushing Knight! Er, I mean, finally Knight gets a big win! It was a typical battle royal and the right guy went over. I hope he enjoys the Slim Jim or whatever the winner gets since they didn’t announce an actual prize.
A video package set up the MMA Rules match… Entrances for the match took place. Cole noted that Rousey has never been submitted in WWE…
4. Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler. The referee called the fights together and said it was not sanctioned by WWE and was not under WWE rules. He said there were no rope breaks or pins, and the match could only end by knockout or submission.
Rousey went for an early armbar, but Baszler rolled onto her to break it. Baszler dropped Rousey with a kick. Rousey rolled out of the ring and then returned and was put in a leg lock. Both women sat up and traded punches until Baszler released the hold.
Rousey charged Baszler and sprang off of Baszler’s leg before drilling her with a knee to the face. The referee checked on Baszler. Rousey got Baszler down again and threw weak punches to her back. Rousey applied an arm hold. Baszler stood up and then walked to the ropes and both women tumbled to the floor, causing Rousey to release the hold.
When they returned to the ring, Baszler sat in the corner. The referee told Rousey to stay in her corner while he checked on Baszler. Two trainers entered the ring and checked on Baszler’s arm while some fans booed. Rousey threw the trainers aside.
Baszler got back to her feet and threw her mouthguard at Rousey. Baszler ended up catching Rousey in the Kirifuda Clutch. Rousey rolled her into an armbar. Baszler sat up and leaned on Rousey and escaped the hold, then applied an ankle lock. Rousey countered into a rear naked choke.
Baszler threw Rousey off to escape the hold. Rousey went for another knee strike, but Baszler escaped it and applied a Kirifuda Clutch. Rousey passed out and Baszler was named the winner…
Shayna Baszler defeated Ronda Rousey in 7:30 in an MMA Rules match.
Powell’s POV: Baszler’s kick and Rousey’s knee strike were cool. The rest of this was really flat and the crowd never got into it. Fortunately, it looks like they are going to be washing the bad taste from the mouths of the fans with the Intercontinental Title match next.
Ring announcer Mike Rome announced the attendance as 59,194… A video package set up the Intercontinental Title match… Entrances for the match took place. Drew McIntyre brought his dorky sword to the ring. Cole said it’s been 13 years since McIntyre held the Intercontinental Championship. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci stood near the entrance area and introduced Gunther…
5. Gunther vs. Drew McIntyre for the Intercontinental Championship. Both wrestlers ended up at ringside early on. Gunther picked up McIntyre and dropped him back first on the ring steps. The chops eventually started and got a bit of a rise out of the crowd, which still hadn’t recovered from being put to sleep by the previous match.
McIntyre went for a Claymore, but Gunther ducked it. Gunther dropkicked McIntyre into the corner. Gunther set up for a powerbomb, but McIntyre slipped out and powerbombed Gunther. McIntyre dropped Gunther with a Future Shock DDT and covered him for a two count.
McIntyre set up for a Claymore. Gunther rolled to the floor. McIntyre performed a flip dive onto Gunther and then rolled him back inside the ring. McIntyre did the countdown to his finisher, but Gunther beat him to the punch with a dropkick. Gunther powerbombed McIntyre and covered him for a near fall. Gunther went up top and splashed McIntyre for another near fall.
Gunther slapped the back of McIntyre’s head a few times. Gunther went for a chop that was blocked. McIntyre chopped Gunther, and then they went back and forth with more chops. McIntyre ducked one and then ran the ropes and put Gunther down with a Claymore Kick. McIntyre covered Gunther, who kicked out at the last moment.
McIntyre seated Gunther on the top turnbuckle and chopped him twice. McIntyre went to the middle rope and set up for a move that Gunther blocked. They threw chops at one another. Gunther shoved McIntyre off the ropes and McIntyre was crotched on the top rope. Gunther performed a top rope splash and then followed up with a lariat and a powerbomb for the win…
Gunther defeated Drew McIntyre in 13:40 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
Powell’s POV: A good match that fell a bit below my admittedly lofty expectations after the war they had with Sheamus at WrestleMania. They really had a tough time getting the crowd to wake up again after the previous match, and the fans never seemed fully invested in the possibility of McIntyre going over.
An ad aired for WWE Payback four weeks from tonight… A video package set up the World Heavyweight Championship match…
Finn Balor made his entrance alone and showed up that he had “seven” painted on his shoulder. Seth Rollins’ entrance followed. He wore an over the top robe and removed it. Graves said that Rollins was wearing the same vest he wore the night that Balor was injured and had to forfeit the Universal Championship. The crowd came to life and sang Rollins’ entrance theme. Samantha Irvin delivered introductions from the floor once both men were inside the ring…
6. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Championship. Balor took a cheap shot at Rollins before the bell. Rollins returned fire. The referee separated them and then called for the bell to start the match. Balor targeted the left arm of Rollins early on.
Rollins battled back and grabbed Balor by the beard and held him while hitting him with headbutts. Moments later, Rollins put Balor down with a falcon arrow for an early two count. Balor bounced back and ran Rollins’ bad shoulder into the ring post.
Balor set up for Rollins for a Barricade Bomb (the move that injured him seven years earlier), but Rollins stuffed it. Balor performed the move successfully moments later. Balor rolled Rollins back inside the ring and put him down with a sling blade clothesline. Balor performed an inverted DDT and got a two count.
Balor put Rollins in an armbar. Rollins powered up up Balor and broke the hold while slamming Balor into one corner. Rollins followed up with another buckle bomb and then performed a top rope splash for a near fall. Balor sat up and had a lot of blood in his mouth.
Rollins set up for a Stomp, but Balor avoided it and performed a standing double stomp. Balor shotgun dropkicked Rollins. Balor went up top for his finisher, but Rollins cut him off with a superplex. Rollins wanted to follow up with his usual falcon arrow, but Balor hooked him into a pin fora. two count.
Rollins caught Balor with a kick and then Balor responded with an overhead kick that left both men down temporarily. Rollins put Balor down and went for his Coup De Grace finisher, but Rollins avoided it. Rollins performed the Pedigree and covered Balor for a near fall.
Damian Priest walked to the ring carrying his Money in the Bank briefcase. Balor rolled up a distracted Rollins for a two count. Rollins came back with a pin attempt. Balor kicked out and Rollins ended up on the ropes. Priest hit Rollins with a cheap shot from the floor. Balor put Rollins down with a Pedigree and covered him for a near fall.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley hopped the barricade. and distracted the referee. Priest offered Balor the briefcase, but Balor declined. Rollins knocked Priest off the apron. Balor tried to roll up Rollins, who slipped away and Stomped him, which led to a near fall.
Rollins took out Priest with a top rope dive and then superkicked Dom at ringside. Back in the ring, Balor hit a sling blade clothesline and then hit the Coup De Grace and covered Rollins for a good near fall. Moments later, Priest put the briefcase in the ring. Priest went to the apron and distracted the referee. Balor reached for the briefcase, but Rollins Stomped Balor’s head on top of it and then pinned him.
Seth Rollins defeated Finn Balor in 18:30 to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
Cole said Priest has some explaining to do. Graves defended Priest by saying that he tried to help Balor. After Rollins left the ring, Balor and Priest glared at one another…
Powell’s POV: A good match with a few dramatic moments. I was really hoping to see Balor win the title and then have to look over his shoulder while Priest held the MITB briefcase, but I also can’t say that I’m too surprised that they kept the belt on Rollins.
A sponsored segment aired with Chad Gable, Otis, and Maxxine Dupri talking about the Mike in Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Dupri asked if she’s a Mike. The Miz showed up and said he’s the only Mike in the room. They stuffed him in a production crate…
A video package set up the WWE Women’s Championship match… Entrances for the match took place. Bianca Belair came out last and took a drink from the corporate sponsor’s energy drink before heading to the ring. Ring announcer Mike Rome delivered introductions from ringside once all three wrestlers were inside the ring…
7. Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women’s Championship. The corporate sponsor’s product was shown on the the barricade’s screen during the match (ugh). Early in the match, the back of Flair’s top apparently came loose, as she had the referee reattach it.
A short time later, Belair simultaneously DDT’d Asuka while performing a neckbreaker on Asuka. Belair kipped up and eventually went for a handspring into the ropes and a moonsault, but both opponents put their knees up. Asuka caught Flair in the Asuka Lock Belair performed the handspring into the ropes followed by the standing moonsault to break the hold.
Flair sent Asuka and Belair to the floor. Flair performed a moonsault that pretty much missed Belair. When Flair stood up, Asuka caught her with a kick. Asuka got Flair back inside the ring and leapt from the ropes and spiked Flair’s head on the mat. Asuka went for the pin, but Belair returned to break it up.
Belair hoisted up Asuka for the KOD, but Asuka ended up awkwardly slipping away and ended up on the apron. Flair booted Asuka off the apron. Belair went for the KOD on Flair, who slipped out. Belair put Flair down. Asuka tossed Belair to the floor and then covered Flair for a two count.
Asuka applied an armbar on Flair, who tried and failed to power her up. Belair returned and put Flair down with a sit-out powerbomb. Asuka caught Belair in the Asuka Lock. Flair ended up covering hooking Belair’s legs while she was on top of Asuka and got a two count.
Flair caught Asuka with a big boot. Flair drove Belair’s face into the middle turnbuckle. Flair performed a top rope moonsault onto both opponents and covered them for a two count. Flair tossed Belair over the top rope and Belair sold knee pain when she landed. Cole noted that she’d been favoring the same knee at times during the match.
Asuka put Flair down with a backslide for a two count. Trainers and referees checked on Belair. The trainers helped Belair leave the ringside area. In the ring, Flair speared Asuka and covered her for a two count. Flair put Asuka in the Figure Eight.
Belair shoved the trainers aside and limped as she headed back to the ring. Belair went up top and performed a 450 splash onto Flair and got a near fall. Asuka rolled to the floor. Belair and Flair traded forearm strikes. Belair avoided chips and then went for the KOD, but Flair rolled out of it.
Flair came right back with a Figure Eight. Asuka returned to the ring and blew mist into Flair’s face. Asuka threw a kick at Belair, who ducked it, and then hooked Asuka into an inside cradle and got the three count.
Bianca Belair defeated Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat in 20:45 to win the WWE Women’s Championship.
After the match, Iyo Sky ran out with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Bayley followed and took the briefcase from her and then hit Asuka and Flair with it. Bayley tried to hit Belair with it, but she avoided it. Sky picked up the briefcase and hit Belair with it. Sky cashed in her contract…
8. Bianca Belair vs. Iyo Sky for the the WWE Women’s Championship. Sky hit her top rope moonsault on Belair and scored the pin.
Iyo Sky defeated Bianca Belair in 0:08 to win the WWE Women’s Championship.
After the match, Dakota Kai joined Bayley in celebrating with Sky in the ring. The Damage CTRL trio shared a group hug…
Powell’s POV: It felt like the live crowd was interested in the match and yet didn’t have a strong favorite. I was surprised to see Asuka lose, but Sky cashing in on the injured Belair was logical and fun.
A video package set up the main event… Jey made his entrance wearing white gear and a white lei. Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman made their entrance. Reigns wore the tribal chief lei and Heyman had a red lei. Reigns got the mic and told “SummerSlam” to acknowledge him. Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the title match…
9. Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso in Tribal Combat for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Reigns brought the red tribal chief lei to the middle of the ring and told Jey that he would give it to him if he beat him. Reigns handed the lei to Heyman and then the referee called for the bell to start the match.
Reigns was dominant to start. Jey battled back and clotheslined Reigns over the top rope. Jey performed a suicide dive onto Reigns. Jey pulled out a table. Heyman pleaded with Jey by saying Roman is the tribal chief and he loves Jey. Reigns recovered and attacked Jey. Back in the ring, Reigns whipped the back of Jey’s head into the middle turnbuckle.
An “Uso” chant broke out. Reigns looked at the crowd and motioned for them to bring it down, which drew boos. Reigns went to the floor and hit Jey with a Drive By kick, then returned to the ring and covered him for a two count. Reigns worked over Jey with a kendo stick.
Reigns used the stick to get Jey to his feet and then wound up to hit him, but Jey cut him off with a punch. Reigns spun Jey into the corner and hit him with several clotheslines and punches until Jey fell to one knee. Reigns threw him to the mat.
Reigns did the locked and loaded gesture and charged Jey, who hit him with the kendo stick. Jey blasted Reigns with repeated kendo stick shots until the stick broke. Jey sent Reigns to the floor and then hit him with a flip dive. Jey threw Reigns back inside the ring. Jey went up top and dove at Reigns, who caught him with a Superman Punch and then covered him for a two count.
Jey rallied and hit Reigns with a top rope splash for a near fall. Jey dominated Reigns and hit him with multiple chair shots. Jey went to ringside and then threw a bunch of chairs into the ring. “He’s your family,” a concerned Heyman pleaded. Jey went back to the ring and set up for a superplex onto the chairs, but Reigns blocked it and knocked Jey off the ropes with a headbutt.
Jey got up and hit Reigns with an enzuigiri, then went right back to the ropes. Reigns slipped under Jey and then powerbombed him onto a couple of chairs. Reigns covered Jey for a near fall. Reigns went to the floor and pulled out another table and slid it inside the ring.
Reigns hoisted up Jey with the intention of tossing him through another table that was set up at ringside, but Jey slipped away to the apron. Reigns ran the ropes, but Jey caught him with a kick from the apron. Jey tried to hoist up Reigns, who elbowed his way free. Jey grabbed him and got him on his shoulders, then fell backwards and both men crashed through the table on the floor.
Jey pulled a leather strap out from underneath the ring and whipped Reigns with it. Reigns came up bleeding from the arm. Reigns hopped the barricade. Jey followed remained on the offensive. Jey hoisted up Reigns on his shoulders near a table.
Solo Sikoa showed up and hit Jey, who dropped Reigns. Solo cleared the table off and then used a uranage slam to put Jey through the table. Solo brought Jey back to the ring and performed another uranage slam while Reigns stood at ringside and held up his index finger.
Reigns entered the ring. Solo held up Jey. Reigns went for the spear, but Jey avoided it and pulled Sikoa into the path of the spear. Jey followed up with a spear on Reigns for a really close near fall. Jey picked up a chair and worked over Reigns and Sikoa with it.
Reigns went to the floor. Jey followed with a chair, but Sikoa caught Jey with a superkick. Reigns motioned for Solo to help him up. Sikoa glared at Reigns, who looked surprised. Reigns got up himself. Sikoa was upset about being speared. Jey charged into the picture and speared Reigns through the ringside barricade.
Sikoa attempted to slam Jey through the broadcast table, but Jey slipped away. Jey superkicked Sikoa, who ended up on the table. Jey went to the barricade and splashed Sikoa through the table. Jey brought Reigns back to the ring and speared him. Jey went up top and splashed Reigns. Jey covered Reigns and had him beat, but he was pulled from the ring by a hooded man.
The hooded man revealed himself to be Jimmy Uso. “Why?” Cole asked. Jimmy superkicked Jey and then rolled Jey back inside the ring. Jimmy exited the ringside area. Reigns looked shocked and then speared Jey through a table that was set up in a corner of the ring. Reigns covered Jey and got the three count…
Roman Reigns defeated Jey Uso in Tribal Combat in 36:05 to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
After the match, Reigns put his tribal chief lei on. Cole spoke about how disgusted he was by the actions of Jimmy Uso… A video package recapped the event…
Powell’s POV: A good battle that lacked lacked suspense regarding the outcome. I just never bought into the possibility of Jey winning and didn’t get caught up in the emotion of the match the way I did when Reigns defended against Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, and Drew McIntyre. That said, I did not see the Jimmy turn coming and I’m very curious to see where that goes. It looks like we’re another step closer to the four-way match between the Bloodline members.
Overall, the show started out red hot with the first two matches and the battle royal at least had a crowd pleasing outcome. Things went downhill with the MMA Rules match and the live crowd was never quite the same. I will have more to say about the show when I team up with Jake Barnett and Will Pruett for our Dot Net Triple Threat audio review of SummerSlam for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you though of the show by voting for the best match and grading the overall show.
Really fun modern style match for the opener. Paul just has perfect natural heel charisma and Ricochet works really well if he’s in with the right opponent.
Brock vs Cody was perfect. A slower pace is what we needed after Logan Paul/Ricochet match to reset the tone.
Sooo I guess LA Knight won’t be winning The Royal Rumble now?
Tuned in at the start of the battle royal. Looking forward to watching the first two matches, they sound awesome.
Watching this battle royal makes me think the WWE’s midcard is the best it’s been since 2001-2002, maybe earlier. Both in talent and character. Just gotta give them meaningful things to do.
The WWE is setting up for a Brock vs Gunther match at WM. I am stoke for it. Otherwise, why would they have Brock act like a face after his match with Cody
Near perfect PLE so far. Not sure how the MMMA rules match will go.
Over on TNT we’re getting the best episode of Collision, start to finish, that we’ve seen so far.
Just a great 90 minutes of wrestling from both companies.
Woah, too bad the crowd didn’t care – that MMA style match was awesome!
I would have thought as a big MMA fan I would have been more critical but honestly that was really well done.
I hope the WWE doesnt do those MMA matches in the future. They are usually boring as heck. And the Bazsler/Rousy match was a big bore fest. You won’t see the UFC putting wrestling matches on their ppvs.
I think the story is going to be Brock attacked Cody to toughen him up to be the one to dethrone Roman. Cody is elevated and Brock is a face again hopefully for a showdown down the road with Gunther. Brock gets a bad reputation for being a part timer but he makes everyone he faces look like a million dollars
You can argue that Brock is the best seller in the business today. For such a monster, he really does make everyone else’s stuff look phenomenal when it’s time to put them over.
The only truly unrealistic part of that MMA match was Rousey getting up after a head kick. We already know how that one ends. They put Shayna over and now the rumors of Ronda going back to UFC can pick up a little more steam.
I’d much rather see a “boring” mma style match than some garbage parking lot brawl or whatever they call the garbage matches. At least there is a sense of realism in the mma match
With Gunther so close to breaking the Honky Tonk Man’s record, only fans who haven’t been paying attention to the current era of WWE would think Drew had a shot at winning. A special stipulation (no DQ, falls count anywhere, etc.) may have made this more interesting, but it was otherwise a foregone conclusion that ultimately zapped the match’s intrigue and potential.
The US champ getting eliminated in a meaningless battle royale and walking away like some regular guy is just weird. I mean santos was right there on the apron in front of him. Why wouldn’t he pull him down. Just odd
It took us almost 3 hours to get a true stinker as the women’s three way has been one botch after another. They all seem to be missing their big spots badly.
I like the triple threat until the stupid gutsy Bianca Belaire bullshit. Thank God for the cash in otherwise we would’ve gotten Wondr Bellaire, shes stale, I went from liking her, to please go away.
Ugh the Jimmy turn everyone saw coming. Welcome back Vince
Obvious finish for the main event, but still fairly well done. The match was too slow early on but picked up pace nicely towards the end.
Mostly very good card with only one or two week spots, and the weakest was the women’s title match but a well done cash in elevated that.
People out here acting like Jimmy has rejoined the Bloodline. He may still be out but just doesn’t want his little brother to outshine him. Or he doesn’t want Jey to turn into what Roman has turned into by being Tribal Chief.
Fun PPV here as I enjoyed SummerSlam as it was a great warm up for the Jake Paul match. I saw some of Collision and enjoyed that as well like another poster said.
Logan Paul and Ricochet probably had the best match of the night as it was the perfect match to open the show with as Logan Paul has become a great heel and it was crazy how he showed up in Dallas to support his brother within just a few hours from flying from Detroit to Dallas.
Cody and Brock wasn’t anything special as it looks like Brock is turning face which sucks as I prefer him as a menacing heel. Gunther and McIntyre was disappointing to me, could’ve been way better by their standards. I hope for Brock vs. Gunther or Gable vs. Gunther. Seth Rollins and Finn Balor was fun, but the decision to leave the belt on Seth makes no sense. I hope there’s a reason to keep the belt off of Balor in his storyline against Priest.
Jimmy’s story is going to be interesting and I really think they could have Reigns beat Bruno’s record in 2029.
The MMA match was dull, not bad as I think the pro wrestling crowd is not into those types of matches. It was a fire feud for Ronda and Shayna though and Shayna needed the win. I hope now we are on the road to Shayna vs. Rhea in the future as I think Shayna’s character will be very interesting coming up.
The women’s triple threat match was the 2nd best match of the night, even though it had a few botches, it was still a fire match especially the last half of it as the crowd was slowly starting to get into it. All three ladies performed very well.
I loved seeing Iyo cash in as it was a huge moment for her character and that match and hopefully Dakota Kai can be with them now even if she’s still not cleared for in-ring action yet. This storyline is going to get so interesting between her and Bayley as I’m liking the Shotzi stuff too.
Oh, no. How long are they going to keep on with this Bloodline drama? I don’t even care, go for ten years with it, just get the belt of Roman in the meantime, please. Yet another tainted victory, but WWE will still try making Roman’s run feel valid.
I thought it was really nice that Graves broke character and paid Cole a compliment. Cole takes a lot of crap (some deservedly) but that was a really nice (and surprising) gesture from Corey. Good on ‘im.
This show was a snooze-fest for the majorty of the show. Awful, awful endings for almost every match except the IC title match.
Again, some of you clowns that are rabid at any other company would have torn this event a new one if it was put on by any other organization.
The IC title match and Rollins/Balor (besides the end of THAT match, too), were the only things worth watching.
Now you can have Reigns now stay off TV for months/probably only defend the title one more time this year – but “Storytelling.” ZZZZ.
How the hell did you not see the Jimmy turn coming? Was this your first time watching wwe?
What compliment did Graves give Cole?
Stan, Graves talked about coming back to smackdown and working with Cole and called hima legend. I was surprised.