Well, last night was certainly eventful. Summerslam Saturday was a mixed big show, saved by a fantastic main event. CM Punk vs Gunther stealing the show? Who would have thought! CM Punk winning the world title was not even the biggest thing to happen. That goes to Seth Rollins’ dramatic return and cash-in to become the new world heavyweight champion. It was a great way to close the show. There were some weak points, but overall I think Saturday was more good than bad. Tonight, Summerslam Sunday has the potential to blow Saturday out of the water with a stacked card of big title matches.
Fun fact ahead of tonight, only one of tonight’s matches actually have rules in place. We have 4 stipulation matches, then the women’s title match is a triple threat so that means no DQs and count outs either. Dominik Mysterio vs AJ Styles is our only traditional match. I must say that having one night with no stipulations and one night overloaded with them is a bit idiotic and poor card structuring. This is how a WWE 2k Universe mode would auto book a match card.
Will Sunday overshadow Saturday? Or will we be treated to another night of mediocrity? Let’s crack the knack.
The usual cold open. We see Solo Sikoa and his MFTs, Jacob Fatu, Lyra Valkyria, Becky Lynch and Cody Rhodes entering the arena earlier today. Then we get a recap video of Summerslam Saturday, again annoyingly changing from TikTok cam to various other camera angles. Again, it is just ugly to look at. Druski is back to hype up tonight’s event. He is up there with one of the weakest celebrity intro packages.
Triple H enters the ring and hypes up the biggest Summerslam in history. He says that we haven’t seen nothing yet. He introduces us to the biggest Summerslam in histroy, we get the pyro and away we go with Summerslam Sunday.
Naomi (c) vs Rhea Ripley vs Iyo Sky, Women’s World Championship
I did not expect this match to open the show, buy I guess it makes sense if it is not going to main event.
Apart from 2 6-woman tag matches in NXT, Rhea Ripley has never been able to defeat Iyo Sky. Not in singles competition, not in a triple threat, Iyo has her number. That might have changed at Evolution, but we will never know because Naomi shocked us all by cashing in her MITB briefcase to walk out of Evolution as Women’s World Champion. Both Rhea and Iyo want their revenge, both women wanting the title but Rhea also feels like she needs to beat Iyo. The triple threat was set up and it doesn’t need much more than that. Great storytelling and great booking.
When it comes to women’s wrestler of the year for 2025, all 3 of these women are in contention. Iyo Sky has been probably the best wrestler. Naomi has been the best character. Rhea is undeniably a great wrestler, a great character and probably the most over woman in WWE history. I hyped for this match possibly more than any others, even if Naomi walking out victorious feels like a guarantee.
The Match
Naomi gets a live guitar performance from her own father on the way to the ring. Unfortunately, whatever set up that has been put in place does a terrible job of picking it up properly so it sounds a little silly. A nice moment for father and daughter either way.
Naomi trash talks and tries to get Rhea and Iyo to fight each other, rolling out of the ring to spectate. However, they decide to follow her out and chase her back into the ring. Rhea & Iyo beat up Naomi together, Iyo tries to whip Naomi into a big boot but Naomi ducks and Rhea drops Iyo. Naomi takes out both women with a crossbody, then throws Rhea out of the ring. Naomi whips Iyo around by her hair, draping her across the ropes for a big kick. Rhea hops on the apron for a suplex but Naomi bites Rhea’s hand, knocking her back out. She hits Iyo with an X-Factor for a 2 count. Naomi locks Iyo in a front facelock and just claws at her back.
Rhea comes back in, Naomi throws Iyo into her and hits Rhea with a Disaster Kick for a 1 count. Iyo is on the floor and Naomi starts to wear down Rhea now. She hits Rhea with a Heat Seeking Missile, then a diving blockbuster for a 2 count. Iyo comes in missing a missile dropkick and Naomi drops her with a big kick, remaining dominant. Rhea is back up and hits a pair of short-arm clotheslines and a kick, Iyo drops Naomi with a springboard dropkick. Rhea and Iyo taunt together before working together. 619 by Iyo on Naomi, Rhea hits a German suplex and Naomi falls out of the ring. It is time for Rhea vs Iyo.
They exchange slick counters, Rhea drops Iyo with an Electric Chair face buster for a 2 count. Iyo counters Riptide into a great near fall. Iyo locks in a crossface, Rhea escapes but eats a big kick. Rhea counters a second, going for another electric chair move but Iyo lands a poison rana! Naomi breaks the pin. Naomi slides under Iyo’s move but right into a Rhea kick. Ripley drops Iyo with a Razor’s Edge then a deadlift powerbomb, but Naomi drags her off the pin to the outside. Naomi and Rhea fight outside of the ring, using the steps and barricade as weapons. Iyo hits an Acai Moonsault on them both.
Iyo kicks Naomi into the corner, Rhea intercepts the Bullet Train so Iyo drops her with a stomp. Sky hits back to back running knee attacks to both Naomi and Rhea in the corner. Rhea stops Iyo from hitting the Over the Moonsault to Naomi, Naomi prevents a Super Riptide and hits a split-legged moonsault for a near fall on Rhea. Iyo breaks the pin with her moonsault, but Naomi moves out of the way, in a call back spot to Bianca Belair being taken out at Wrestlemania. Naomi hits the Bubba Bomb on Iyo for a near fall.
Naomi and Iyo trade strikes, but runs right into a brutal knee by Naomi. Rhea headbutts Naomi and hits her with Riptide but Iyo breaks the pin! Naomi out of the ring, Rhea and Iyo trade blows once more. Naomi is dropped off the apron by a Rhea boot, Iyo runs at Rhea and gets a boot of her own, then cannonballs Naomi on the outside but it looked like a Scorpion kick. Iyo sunset flip powerbombs Rhea onto Naomi on the outside. Iyo rolls Rhea in, Ripley prevents the moonsault and they trade counters, Rhea finally hits the Super Riptide and has Iyo pinned, but Naomi slides in and steals a roll-up on Rhea for the win.
Analysis
A Grade – What an amazing match, like I knew it would be. 3 of the best women WWE have to offer, wrestling a 20 minute epic. I absolutely loved the call back spot to Wrestlemania, how Iyo Sky won the match but Naomi learned from Bianca Belair’s mistake and moved out of the way of the moonsault. That is great storytelling and a great call by Michael Cole.
I couldn’t tell you who was the star in this one because I think they all were. Rhea and Iyo resumed their friendly rivalry whilst Naomi played the opportunistic heel perfectly. She stole the win but she still deserved it, it wasn’t like she didn’t wrestle equally as good as her opponents.
So Naomi will meet Stephanie Vaquer at Clash in Paris. It will be interesting to see what is next for Iyo and Rhea. I hope they find a way to keep their rivalry going in some capacity.
The Dudley Boys and The Hardy Boyz are introduced, appearing at ringside for the upcoming match. Of course, no Edge and Christian because AEW. The Dudleys and the Hardys will be wrestling one last time for TNA in the future which is crazy.
6-tag TLC Match For WWE Tag Team Championships
What I think happened here is WWE saw the backlash from fans about the WWE tag TLC match on Smackdown missing Wrestlemania, thought “yeah we fucked up a bit there” and have rehashed the story for Summerslam. Who am I to complain, we are getting another TLC tag match this should be hype.
The story for nearly a year is how competitive the Smackdown tag division has been. The tag scene has only gotten strong with Fraxiom, Andrade & Rey Fenix as well as the returning Wyatt Sicks. The Wyatts cameback and wrecked everyone. They got a shot at the Street Profits, but it ended in DQ after run ins from other teams. They won a rematch to become champions. Their first defence ended in DQ thanks to more run ins from the tag division. Nick Aldis is sick of the BS so he makes this match.
I love the Wyatt Sicks and I love this match being set up, but I haven’t been too impressed with their presentation. I am glad they are looking strong, but they haven’t been given a lot of time to really flesh out their characters and their motivations since their return. The over reliance on cheap finishes has made the Smackdown tag scene a little lame recently, but hopefully this match will turn the tide. I am banking on a Wyatt Sicks retention here.
The Match
12 men in a TLC match so forgive me for not being able to keep track of everything that happens in this match, I expect this to a bombardment of crazy stunts. We are getting a Wyatt Sicks entrance in the day time? This is like Wrestlemania 31 all over again!
The 5 challenging teams gang up and beat down Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy of the Wyatt Sicks, before all brawling with each other. Everyone spills out of the ring. Motor City Machine Guns dropkicks a ladder into DIY before diving onto them. Fraxiom hit a series of dives onto several opponents. Fraxiom knock down MCMGs with a ladder before setting it up. Lumis and Gacy throw chairs at Fraxiom. Death Valley Driver by Gacy to Nathan Frazer. Street Profits try to back drop Gacy onto a ladder and them absolutely miss, so they grab him and redo the spot which was funny.
Street Profits do their best Dudley Boys impression before getting the tables. A double stack of tables is set up on the outside of the ring. Tommaso Ciampa uses a chair to wear down MCMGs. Andrade and Rey Fenix take out Street Profits. Fenix hops on Andrade’s shoulders and nearly reach the titles. They hit the three amigos on Street Profits, going for stereo frog splashes but DIY throw them off. DIY use chairs as weapons, they try to throw Montez Ford through a table but he leaps over the corner onto a bunch of guys on the outside. That was sick.
MCMGs do a dropkick + flatliner combo on Gacy through a chair. Johnny Gargano lobs a chair of Alex Shelley’s head, before doing a tornado DDT from the apron through a table. Then Dexter Lumis with a diving leg drop through Montez Ford through a table. Fenix frog splash Nathan Frazer. Axiom Spanish Fly’s Angelo Dawkins through a table. This is NUTS. Candice LeRae tries to help DIY win, but B-Fab takes her out. B-Fab tries to climb, Nikki Cross then takes her out. LeRae makes the climb again, she nearly grabs the titles. Montez Ford kicks Ciampa into Gargano into the ladder and LeRae falls off the lader through a ladder bridge on the outside!! Holy fuck!
Gargano gives LeRae the thumbs up, tries to win but Montez Ford takes him out. Ford climbs, Erick Rowan now comes in and starts destroying the Profits. He powerbombs Ford into Dawkins. He goes for a double chokeslam, the Profits counter and beat him down with chairs mercilessly, before double tackling him through a table. Ciampa makes the climb, the MCMGs pull the ladder away, Frazer tries to do a diving spear but Ciampa lifts his body up and dodges. Crazy core strength and a cool call back spot. All of the teams now fight to climb up the ladder and grab at the title. There are two ladders set up now. DIY and the Profits are on ladders. Uncle Howdy appears and pushes both ladders down. DIY fall out of the ring and through 4 tables!
Howdy makes the climb, Frazer and Fenix take turns trying to stop Howdy from pulling the titles down. Andrade sunset flip powerbombs Howdy off the ladder through a ladder bridge!! Rey Fenix makes the climb, but he is caught by Lumis and Gacy who drop him with their finish. The Wyatt Sicks pull down the gold and retain.
Analysis
A+ Grade – Holy fuck. What can I say. That was absolute nonsense, in the best ways. I was worried that this was going to be too messy, but it was a perfect amount of messy. I really hope Candice LeRae is okay, she took an incredibly ugly bump to the outside and it looked really painful.
This was what it needed to be. An absolute war. Spot after spot after spot but it never felt contrived. I loved the call backs and references to TLC of the past, especially Ciampa countering the diving spear attempt. I am surprised no one did a Swanton bomb off the top of a ladder, but that isn’t a criticism.
Actually just an insane match. I think there was a lot more interference than there needed to be but it all made sense and it gave the competitors some time to be down and recover in between spots.
We hear worldwide reactions to Seth Rollins’ return and cash in last night. What a crazy good finish to the show it was.
Becky Lynch (c) vs Lyra Valkyria, No DQ for Intercontinental Championship
Although it has been dragged out a little to reach Summerslam, this has still been one of the best WWE feuds of 2025. There is a lot that has happened from Wrestlemania until Summerslam so I’ll give you the cliffnotes.
Becky Lynch attacked Bayley to steal her spot at Wrestlemania to team with Lyra Valkyria. Becky turns on Lyra after they lose the tag titles on the Raw after Mania. The feud escalates from Becky accusing Lyra of using her for her own gain, to taking shots at her personal life and fiancé. Lyra proved herself to be Becky’s equal by retaining the Intercontinental championship against her at Backlash, but Becky won the title from Lyra at Money in the Bank. That match saw Becky force Lyra to put the title around her waist and raise her hand as per the stipulation, but Lyra took her out afterwards.
Bayley made her return and targeted Becky wanting to get a rematch. Bayley and Lyra’s friendship gets strained and completely falls apart when Lyra attacks Becky during Bayley’s title match, causing a DQ. This put all 3 women on a collision for Evolution where Becky retained once again. Valkyria defeated Bayley on Raw to earn herself another shot at the IC title, but if she loses this one it will be her last whilst Becky is champion. Bayley claims that her issues with Lyra is water under the bridge after she got them a tag title match against the Judgement Day, which they lost.
This will no doubt be a great match to end a great feud. I think Becky walks away victorious thanks to a run in from Bayley who will continue her development as some sort of anti-hero.
The Match
Tough position for these ladies to be in, following the insanity of TLC. Both women trade blows and Lyra takes control early, whipping the champ back and forth. Hip toss from Lyra, Becky leaves the ring. Lyra goes for the baseball dropkick but Becky moves and slams her into the announce table. Becky grabs a kendo stick but Lyra grabs a crowbar! Lynch pulls a funny shocked face at this. Becky swings, crowbar shatters the kendo stick. Lyra swings and misses, Becky throws Lyra into the ring post. Lyra hops onto the barricade and takes Lynch down with a crossbody. Valkyria beats Lynch up around ringside, even whipping her into the cameraman which was a total accident you can tell by her apologising for it. Not her fault, his fault for being in the way.
Lyra throws Becky over the announce table, Becky is sat on Wade Barrett’s chair and Lyra dropkicks her to the floor. Valkyria pulls out a table and sets it up, but Becky surprises her from behind and chokes her with a chain. Becky traps her in the ring post and continues to choke Lyra with it across her face, before throwing her into the steel steps. Lynch grabs another kendo stick and cracks it across Lyra several times. Becky uses the kendo and tees off at Lyra like she is playing golf. Becky gets a couple of near falls, more kendo stick shots and trash talking. Lynch pulls out a tool box and two chairs. Lynch hits her with the chair and then drop toe holds Lyra onto it. She picks up the toolbox and brains Lyra with it for a near fall.
Lynch pulls out a zip-tie and ties Lyra’s hands together. Becky grabs a wrench and continues to destroy Valkyria. Exploder suplex by Lynch, then a second one this time onto a chair. Lyra rolls out and tries to use the steps to break free but Lynch catches. her Lynch hangs Lyra on the ring post by her wrists and uses a kendo stick to continue to torture on Lyra. Back in the ring, diving leg drop by Lynch gets a near fall. Lyra counters a Manhandle Slam, trapping Lynch within her grasp and fires off headbutts. Belly to belly by Valkyria, she starts to fight back hitting a step up dropkick from the chairs. She hits a moonsault on Lynch for a near fall, her hands are still tied together!
Lyra bounces Becky head first on a chair over and over. She exposes a turnbuckle and tries to use it to break free, but Becky grabs her and throws her into the corner shoulder first. Becky comes to but Lyra has disappeared, from under the ring Lyra blasts Becky with a fire extinguisher and tries to use it to break herself free. She finally gets herself free as Becky swings with a kendo stick. Lyra grabs it and starts to unleash revenge on Becky. The kendo breaks on Becky’s back. Fisherman’s suplex from Lyra gets a near fall. Diving dropkicks through the ropes hits Becky in the head with a chair. Lynch counters Nightwing, Lyra counters the Manhandle Slam and hits a Nightwing from the steps to the floor.
Back in the ring but Lyra charges into the exposed turnbuckle. Manhandle Slam onto a pair of chairs for the 1-2-kick out! Valkyria now rolls out, Becky slams her head first into a chair over and over. Becky traps her in the chair and drives her into the announce table, but Lyra drives Becky into ring post. Becky swings Lyra around into the post like a hammer throw. Becky traps her into the announce table, then stomps on Lyra through the chair. Becky Lynch tries to destroy Lyra with the crowbar, but Bayley is here to stop her! Becky tries to convince Bayley to destroy Lyra herself, Bayley considers it but throws it away before punching Becky.
Bayley and Becky brawl at ringside. Bayley misses a running knee and goes over the barricade. Becky lifts herself up on a table set up earlier, but Lyra hits a diving leg drop through it! Back in the ring, both women counter each other’s finishers, Bayley swings for Becky but clobbers Lyra, Becky hits the Manhandle Slam and retains.
Analysis
A- Grade – So far this could be in contention for the greatest Summerslam event of all time. This match suffered from two things. Following the TLC carnage, and going too long. I think if this match was trimmed by 5 minutes, this would have been perfect. I think the Becky beat down went too long and because it had to follow TLC, a lot of the big spots did not feel as big because TLC did it bigger and better.
That being said, this was incredible. A brutally, physical war between two women who despise each other. There were so many creative moments in this match, such as the chair-trapped stomp and the hanging by the zip ties. The zip tie stuff seemed to cause a few issues and it was a little awkward at times but I never thought that it weakened the match quality at all.
I knew that Bayley was going to be involved, I assumed she might intentionally take out Lyra but it seems that she was here to be an ally. I didn’t mind it. It made sense and it fuels more fire in what will be the Bayley vs Lyra feud that will continue for the rest of the year.
Solo Sikoa (c) vs Jacob Fatu, Steel Cage For United States Championsihp
This is another WWE feud that I think has been developing incredibly well. Jacob Fatu has been in WWE for a year, most of that time he has spent as Solo Sikoa’s right hand man whilst they have dominated as the New Bloodline. Fatu started doing things for himself after Solo went absent after a loss to Roman Reigns. Fatu set his sights on the US title, defeating Knight for the gold at Wrestlemania.
Since then Solo Sikoa has wanted to keep Fatu under his control, but the Samoan Werewolf is determined to do things his own way. Over time, Jacob realises that Solo does not respect him and is trying to keep him under control, leading to Fatu attacking him during the Money in the Bank match. The family members went to war at Night of Champions, Solo defeated Jacob for the US title thanks to a new addition to the family, Talla Tonga. Fatu continues to fight Solo and his Family Tree, getting help from former rival Jimmy Uso against the numbers. Solo tried to stage a car accident and get Jacob arrested, but the police removed him from custody and arrested Solo for filing a false police report. Fatu reveals the Steel Cage stipulation.
It has been a pretty fun feud and although the matches haven’t always been hits, Fatu and Sikoa are doing incredible character work together. I think this could go either way, but I think that Fatu will walk out of Summerslamas a 2-time US champ.
The Match
No sign of the MFTs right now. Fatu and Sikoa stand face to face, Solo trash talks him a little as the fans chant “fuck you Solo”. They trade blows, Fatu comes out on top. Fatu mounts Solo in the corner with 10 headbutts. Running corkscrew elbow by Fatu. Fatu throws Solo into the cage, he runs but Solo back drops him into the cage wall. Solo running splashes a trapped Fatu into the cage twice. He mocks Fatu before hitting a senton. More trash talking and cage throwing by Solo. He beats down Fatu whilst continuing to trash talk and mock him.
Solo asks for the door to be opened but Fatu grabs at his foot, so he continues to beat him down some more. Solo tries to leave again, Fatu grabs the foot again. Sikoa goes for the Samoan Spike, Fatu dodges and superkicks him. Sikoa superkicks him back, Fatu drops him with a lariat. They trade punches, Fatu comes out on top and starts to pummel Solo. Solo is sent into the cage several times. Fatu is sent into the cage but he no sells it. Lariat, senton and a running hip attack by Jacob. Fatu hits a moonsault, then a second one but Solo manages to kick out.
Out come Solo Sikoa’s MFTs to circle the Steel Cage. Jimmy Uso’s music plays and he comes through the crowd to take out JC Mateo and Tonga Loa, but Talla Tonga destroys him. Solo tries to sneak out of the cage door, but Fatu demands the door get relocked. Solo hits the Samoan Spike but Fatu kicks out. Sikoa climbs the Steel Cage, Fatu follows him up. JC Mateo and Tonga Loa climbs up but Fatu knocks them down. Talla Tonga climbs up into the cage and he has handcuffs. Talla handcuffs Fatu to the top of the cage. Solo Sikoa crawls towards the door, but Fatu breaks out of the handcuffs and stops Solo’s escape. Fatu boots the door into Mateo’s face. Talla Tonga kicks the cage door into Fatu’s head, Solo falls out of the door and to the floor to retain.
Analysis
D+ Grade – I had a feeling that this might end up this way. This was a pretty boring Steel Cage match I cannot lie. It followed the same generic pattern of WWE Steel Cage matches, and it is the same as every Bloodline adjacent match we have seen for the past 3 years. Heel beat down, face fights back, Samoan allies run interference, heel wins. There was nothing exciting about this match. The run-ins were predictable, Jimmy Uso had zero impact. For what is an intense feud, this match lacked intensity.
The kick outs of the Spike and the Moonsault didn’t feel like a big deal even though it should have been. They are both quite protected moves so I am unsure why this happened. Solo took two of Fatu’s finishers and just kicked out.
This should have been a physical battle but it was just a slow and plodding back and forth. There was a lot of potential here to do something different, but they chose to do the same thing we have seen a million times. This match didn’t do any favours to anyone involved. I really like Fatu and I know that he can do better than this. I think Solo is a great talker, but he is incredibly boring to watch wrestle.
The match wasn’t awful, but it was poorly booked and it felt way longer than 12 minutes. Also they did a handcuff spot, following a match that did a similar spot? That is stupid.
Jimmy Uso is back up and attacks JC Mateo, locking him in the cage with Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu. Fatu destroys Mateo and Tonga Loa with a super moonsault from the top of the cage.
Why couldn’t this spot be part of the actual match?
Dominik Mysterio (c) vs AJ Styles, Intercontinental Championship
AJ Styles is back and he is having a lot of fun trying to get under Dominik Mysterio’s skin. Mysterio vs Styles was initially scheduled for Night of Champions but the match was pulled due to Dom not being “medically cleared”. Over the weeks since then, Mysterio continued to wave around his doctor’s note saying that he is not cleared, but wherever he goes AJ Styles is not far, watching his every move. AJ has been hiding behind a plant, hiding in the Judgement Day Bunkhouse and pretending to be a janitor. He is always around when Dom is around.
Dominik got involved in Judgement day’s match, so Adam Pearce decided to get a WWE doctor to review Dom’s medical status. Before the results of his exam were revealed, Dom attacked AJ and revealed he was cleared and he will face him at Summerslam. The Judgement Day stuff continues to be awesome and I have enjoyed seeing a lighter side of AJ Styles. We haven’t seen this fun side of Styles in a very long time.
I think Dominik will walk out with the title, through some nefarious means.
The Match
AJ Styles enters driving a low rider, accompanied by his son who is sporting the blonde short hair that Mysterio did back at Summerslam 2005, custody of Dominik Ladder match. He is also wearing Eddie Guerrero themed tights and shirt. He is doing the taunts and poses and everything. I absolutely love this and I wish the fans were more receptive. AJ La Raza!
AJ punches Dom, the champ rolls out so Styles chases him, Dom tries a cheap elbow drop but Styles dodges. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by AJ. AJ catches a cheap shot and takes him out with an atomic drop and a clothesline. Dom trips AJ on the apron and baseball slide dropkicks AJ to the floor. Huge dive by Dom onto AJ. Senton from the apron to the ring from Dom to AJ gets a 2 count. Plenty of taunting and gloating from Dominik here. Dom goes for a top rope hurricanrana, Styles blocks and goes for a Styles Clash but Dom escapes. Diving tornado DDT by Styles.
Styles fights back with a big clothesline and a sliding elbow. Ushi-Guroshi by Styles gets a near fall. Dom escapes the Styles Clash but eats a Pele kick. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, Dom dodges and hits a Michinoku Driver for a 2 count. 3 Amigos by Dominik Mysterio, AJ counters the third with a brainbuster. Frog splash by AJ but Dom gets the knees up, he dropkicks Styles into the ropes and hits the 619. Frog splash by Mysterio, Styles counters into a calf crusher but Dom reaches the ropes.
Mysterio sends AJ into the turnbuckle before exposing a turnbuckle of his own. He then grabs a steel chair whilst the referee is distracted. Dom hits the mat with the chair, throwing it to AJ and playing dead. AJ then drops to the mat and puts the chair on his head, the referee doesn’t know what to do. Both men get up and start trading cheap tactics. Mysterio kicks the rope into Styles cock, AJ returns the favour. Mysterio chops AJ in the throat, but Styles traps him in the calf crusher. Dom is struggling but he manages to escape thanks to a loose boot. The referee is nearly taken out by AJ, AJ turns around to a boot to the face. Dominik hits the frog splash and retains
Analysis
B Grade – This match was a complete love letter to Eddie Guerrero and I loved it. From AJ Styles’ entrance, to call backs to Eddie’s various lying, cheating and stealing ways. I thought this was a very fun way to pay homage to a wrestling legend and wrestle an entertaining match.
I liked how AJ Styles was the one coming out as Eddie Guerrero to play mind games, but when it comes down to it Dominik Mysterio was the one who was able to channel Eddie to score a cheap victory. This was a lot of fun and not at all what I expected to see.
Stephanie McMahon comes out to announce the attendance tonight as well as the two-night attendance for Summerslam, touting this as the biggest Summerslam attendance of all time.
Duh, it is across two nights. 90% of the people attending the Saturday will be attending the Sunday too. I don’t understand this attempt of WWE to flex their crowd attendance even further. It is giving small dick energy.
John Cena (c) vs Cody Rhodes, Street Fight For Undisputed WWE Championship
We have reached our final match of Summerslam weekend and boy let us pray this is better than their Wrestlemania flop. John Cena has been on a quest to destroy wrestling, but through his hate towards his opponents and the fans, there have been glimpses of the man we all used to love in there. Brief moments of genuine John Cena, not this bitter version. However, he still seems dead set on destroying wrestling and leaving WWE with the world title in his grasp.
Cody Rhodes however has been on a quest to right the wrong that was Wrestlemania. He won King of the Ring and now he has an opportunity to save wrestling from John Cena. Cody promises not to hesitate this time as it will now be a street fight. Cute, since he is going to go film Street Fighter soon. All of a sudden, John Cena is now acting like the good guy and is adamant that the real John Cena is back. Is he telling the truth? Or is this just another ruse?
John Cena is retaining here. Cody is about to leave for a few months, so it makes no sense for them to put the WWE title on Rhodes right now.
The Match
We hear and see the words of Dusty Rhodes before the epic prelude for Cody Rhodes’ entrance. For the first time in months we see the “real” John Cena. He comes out with Titantron video, the babyface fire, speaking to the cameraman and running to the ring. Cody Rhodes gets a mix of cheers and boos as opposed to the fan favourite John Cena. Cena is full of smiles and ready to go. Michael Cole puts over that John Cena seems like the old Cena backstage too. Oh it definitely feels like a work now.
Rhodes and Cena come face to face, Cena hugs him and they exchange some words before punching the hell out of each other. The actions spills outside, Cody whips Cena into the steps. Then, Cena whips Cody into the steps. Cena comes face to face with NBA star Tyrese Haliburton and steals his crutch to hit Cody with. John pushes the larger steel steps into the ring. he goes for an early AA, Cody counters and scoop slams Cena onto the steps. Cody goes up top, Cena shoves him off to the outside. Cena muscles up the steel steps and YEETS them out of the ring into Cody Rhodes, his arm might be hurt on that. Cody hits a Disaster kick and a Russian leg sweep for a 2.
Drop down punch by Cody gets a 2. Rhodes tries a submission, Cena powers up but Rhodes takes him down with a powerslam for a 2. Cena back drops Rhodes over the top and out of the ring. They both grab a steel chair and they duel with them. Cody comes out on top and hits John with a chair for a 2 count. Rhodes traps a steel chair in the turnbuckle and tries to whip Cena into it, but it backfires and he eats the chair. John Cena hits his comeback. Shoulder tackles, back suplex and the five knuckle shuffle. Rhodes escapes the AA and hits his own comeback. Clotheslines and a bionic elbow. Cody Cutter gets a near fall.
Cena surprises Cody with an AA out of nowhere but Rhodes kicks out. Rhodes counters the STFU, he gets a diving moonsault to a standing Cena for a near fall. A second Disaster Kick and another kick out by John Cena. Cody hits another Springboard Cutter for another near fall. Cody takes too much time to taunt, Cena hits an electric chair for a near fall. Cena goes for an AA, Cody escapes and drops him with a piledriver! Cena kicks out at 2.99. Rhodes is frustrated and looks at Cena who is struggling to get up. Cody drags Cena up, but he was playing possum and Cena lands a second AA. Both men are down.
John Cena and Cody Rhodes struggle to their feet and trade blows. Cody hits a pop-up powerbomb, Cena kicks out at 1 and transitions into an STFU! Rhodes makes it to the rope but it won’t break anything. Cody pushes Cena into the ropes by his throat to break the submission. Both men are on the outside, Rhodes whips Cena over the barricade into the timekeeper’s area. John Cena hits Cody with a microphone in the head. Code Red by John Cena on the outside. Cena clears the announce table and AAs Cody through it! That landing looked incredibly rough.
Cena drags Rhodes up and into the ring for the pin but Cody kicks out. John Cena gets hyped by the crowd cheering him, Cody side steps a running Cena and hits a Crossroads for a near fall. Rhodes lifts Cena on the top rope, Cena powers out and hits a diving leg drop followed by fourth AA but Cody kicks out again. Cena has a smug look on his face, he rolls out and grabs a table. He sets it up in the centre of the ring, he goes for a 5th AA but Cody tips the table and counters with a DDT for a near fall. Cody sets up the table in the corner of the ring, they both try and put each other through it, Cody counters an AA and the action spills out of the ring. Cody through Cena over the barricade and now they fight back and forth through the crowd. Rhodes suplexes Cena onto a steel barricade.
The action goes underneath the Summerslam stage, a light appears from the elevator shaft and rising from the elevator is John Cena with Cody Rhodes on his shoulders, delivering a 5th AA to Cody on the ramp. Cena lifts Cody on his shoulders and carries him to the ring. Out of nowhere, Cody throws Cena into the table and hits a second crossroads but John kicks out again. The action spills out of the ring again, Cody hits Cena with a chair in the face. Rhodes takes off the bottom turnbuckle in the corner and uses the exposed turnbuckle as a weapon.
Cody Rhodes looks conflicted but John Cena won’t stay down so he hits him again. Rhodes goes for a third attempt, but Cena traps him in an STFU using the ring ropes. Cody manages to fight and uses the ropes as a weapon. Cena powers up, goes for another AA but Cody counters into a Crossroads. He keeps a hold for a second and then a third but John Cena kicks out once again.
Cody Rhodes grabs the WWE title, he looks at it and he looks to the crowd with doubt, he runs at him but Cena catches him with an AA. John hits another AA, throws away the WWE title and then lifts Cody for a Super AA from the top rope but Cody Rhodes kicks out once again. John Cena pulls out another table and sets it up in the ring. Cena goes for a Super AA through the table, Cody counters and hits a Super Cutter through the table. Cena struggles, Rhodes salutes him and hits a Crossroads to finally pin John Cena.
Analysis
A- Grade – There was no ruse. This was babyface John Cena taking on babyface Cody Rhodes. In fact, this wasn’t just any John Cena. This was Super Cena, passing down the torch and creating Super Cody. First of all, fuck WWE for just retconning the heel run of John Cena. I think it was an absolutely trash way to bring John Cena around back to being himself. I assume there were some cancelled plans, but whatever the case, Cena becoming a good guy again was total dogshit. That doesn’t impact my rating for this though, I am looking at the match itself.
Whilst the end of John Cena’s heel run was awful, I totally understand that they needed to have John Cena be his true self to have this moment right here. This was a true passing of the torch match from the former Ace to the current one. Cody Rhodes is not without question the new figurehead of WWE.
The match was long and it was great. A true battle between two of the biggest hearts in WWE which made sense as to why there was so many big kick outs. However, I think that this was overcooked. 7 Attitude Adjustments and 6 Crossroads’. I think that is a ridiculous. The first 25 minutes of this match are legimately amazing but the match just drags on for the last 10+ minutes. Drags is the wrong word because it was still entertaining, but it just felt like it should have ended but never did.
I am just glad that we got a great match from these two, far better than their Wrestlemania slog. This was a great match, John Cena showed he still can wrestle at a high level and Cody Rhodes wins back his title. No run-in, no heel turn, none of that.
Afterwards, John Cena raises Cody’s hand and hugs him. Cody Rhodes celebrates but gives Cena his flowers. A passing of the torch moment presumably. Cody Rhodes leaves with the WWE title. John Cena has the ring to himself and soaks in the adulation of the crowd.
HOLY SHIT IT IS BROCK LESNAR.
Brock Lesnar comes to the ring and he F-5’s John Cena. Brock stands over a crumpled Cena, before getting his hat and jacket and taking his leave.
Final Thoughts
A Grade – If only Summerslam Saturday was a separate event, because this show isolated might very well be the greatest Summerslam of all time. 4 of these 6 matches were at an incredibly high level, main event quality matches. Sure the Cage match sucked, but it didn’t last very long at least. Mysterio vs Styles was a lot of fun, but the other 4 matches were absolutely incredible.
Fucking Brock Lesnar is back. Goddamn. Who ever thought that would happen again? WWE must be really comfortable that Brock Lesnar has ben cleared of any of the allegations that were against him. Incredibly brave of them to promote him again. It will certainly be interesting to see how this develops going forward.
You must be logged in to post a comment.