SummerSlam, WWE’s second-biggest present of the yr, befell Saturday evening at Ford Subject in Detroit. The thirty sixth installment featured a stacked card, with 4 primary occasions and 4 championship matches.
The introduced crowd of 59,194 individuals had been handled to 2 matches which can be reputable candidates for match of the yr, together with the WWE Ladies’s Championship match, which featured not one, however two title modifications after a shock Cash within the Financial institution money in by Iyo Sky.
Here is a rundown of all the motion from the Motor Metropolis.
Logan Paul vs. Ricochet
Paul and Ricochet had been a lock to begin the evening as “Maverick” wished to get to Dallas in time to look at his brother Jake Paul’s boxing match in opposition to Nate Diaz. Paul labored heel early within the match, taunting Ricochet and ducking out of the ring. Ricochet managed the match early earlier than an elbow from Paul shifted momentum in his favor. Paul hit a neckbreaker on Ricochet to the ring apron and taunted Ricochet’s real-life fiancée, WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin. Paul would later hit Ricochet with a modified leg drop — a transfer he calls the “Hogan Paul” — paying tribute to Hulk Hogan, who beat Andre the Big on the Pontiac Silverdome in WrestleMania III.
Paul and Ricochet hit a handful of high-risk strikes — two Spanish flys, a top-rope clothesline, crossbody right into a standing moonsault — earlier than Paul would ship himself shoulder-first into the ring put up. That second would enable Ricochet to hit a neckbreaker off the highest rope and achieve momentum earlier than a shocking moonsault right into a twister DDT by Paul. Ricochet offered a rib damage earlier than going for a shooting-star press that Paul countered by getting his knees up. Paul would hit an enormous springboard frog splash for a close to fall. Ricochet constructed momentum and went for a match-ending 630 that Paul moved out of the best way for and was given brass knuckles by an outsider. Paul would hit Ricochet with the referee distracted and rating the pinfall. Grade: B+
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
Rhodes didn’t await the bell to assault Lesnar. Lesnar shortly recovered and hit Rhodes with a German suplex. Rhodes hit two Catastrophe Kicks earlier than Lesnar countered a 3rd. Rhodes would finally evade Lesnar, sending him shoulder first into the ring put up. A suicide dive pressured the motion exterior the place Lesnar finally regained momentum. The match adopted the standard Lesnar formulation, with the previous UFC heavyweight champion dominating by way of a collection of suplexes. Rhodes would kick out of a pin at one and rush again into the ring throughout count-out segments, leaving Lesnar to taunt him.
Lesnar finally pressured Rhodes exterior the ring and comply with him to ship an F5 to the American Nightmare. Rhodes beat the ten depend again into the ring, and used the ropes to face and assault Lesnar. Lesnar regrouped and put Rhodes by means of the announce desk with a second F5. Rhodes once more beat the ten depend, solely to be suplexed once more by Lesnar. Rhodes would pull the protecting padding off one of many turnbuckles and achieve momentum by sending Lesnar into the ring put up twice and hitting him with metal steps. Rhodes hit one other Catastrophe Kick and a pair of Cody Cutters, however Lesnar kicked out at two. Lesnar trapped Rhodes within the Kimora Lock earlier than an eventual rope break. Lesnar went for an F5, Rhodes reversed and despatched Lesnar into the uncovered turnbuckle. Rhodes locked in a Kimora of his personal, however Lesnar broke the submission. Lesnar once more went for an F5 however Rhodes countered and hit a trio of Cross Rhodes to safe the win. Grade: B+
SummerSlam Battle Royal
Omos was the final entrant to affix the fray, regardless of the match having already began. The 7-foot-3 behemoth eradicated three individuals instantly upon getting into the ring. Uncooked Superstars took middle stage with The Viking Raiders, Chad Gable and Otis, Imperium, Tommaso Ciampa and Shinsuke Nakamura all furthering their respective feuds on WWE’s flagship present. On the SmackDown facet, Santos Escobar and Austin Concept squared off, advancing their storyline involving america Championship. Omos would inevitably be eradicated by almost a dozen different wrestlers, establishing the ending segments. Karrion Kross, after being eradicated, would value A.J. Kinds, leaving simply LA Knight and Sheamus within the ring. Knight hit the spot of the evening up to now with a top-rope belly-to-belly superplex earlier than finally successful. Grade: B
Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler
This match was contested underneath “MMA guidelines” which the referee defined earlier than the match. The one manner this was going to be gained was by knockout or submission. After a sequence of throws and counters, Baszler hit Rousey with two leg kicks and a head kick, sending the previous UFC champion out of the ring. Rousey recovered and hit a flying knee to Baszler’s face and locked in a submission. Baszler pressured the motion to the skin and offered an arm damage. Rousey attacked WWE officers tending to Baszler after which the 2 ladies teed off on each other. Baszler landed a suplex and a Kirifuda Clutch. Rousey would reverse into her signature armbar and Baszler would reverse that as nicely. Baszler finally locked within the Kirifuda Clutch once more and Rousey would move out, leading to a TKO win for Baszler. Grade: C-
Intercontinental Championship match: Drew McIntyre vs. Gunther (c.)
The 2 European brutes stared one another down earlier than a fast collar-and-elbow lock and McIntyre knocking the champion to the mat with a shoulder block. McIntyre managed the motion early earlier than Gunther took management exterior of the ring, sending the Scottish star into the ring put up and slamming him onto the metal steps. McIntyre did a wonderful job of promoting Gunther’s chops and clotheslines earlier than constructing momentum again himself. McIntyre hit two large belly-to-belly suplexes, however would whiff on a Claymore Kick. Gunther went for his ending powerbomb however McIntyre reversed it into considered one of his personal and adopted up with a Future Shock DDT and a near-fall. Gunther would escape exterior the ring and McIntyre land a senton excessive rope. As motion returned to the ring Gunther regained momentum, hitting a number of high-impact strikes — together with a uncommon top-rope splash.
Because the match continued, McIntyre and Gunther would change vicious chops to 1 one other earlier than a speedy Claymore Kick and near-fall for McIntyre. For the primary time, an audible “That is superior” chant broke out amongst the Ford Subject crowd. The closing sequence adopted shortly after, with Gunther and McIntyre battling on the highest turnbuckle. Gunther pushed off McIntyre onto the ropes, hit a splash, clothesline and powerbomb to select up the win and retain his Intercontinental Championship. Grade: B
WWE World Heavyweight Championship match: Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins (c.)
Finn Bálor confirmed the phrase “Seven” on his shoulder as he walked to the ring, a reference to the SummerSlam match between these two in 2016 for the inaugural WWE Common Championship. Rollins would inadvertently injure Bálor that evening, forcing him to relinquish his championship the very subsequent evening. Rollins, ever the showman, wore the identical vest he wore at SummerSlam 2016.
Bálor attacked Rollins earlier than the bell and the 2 brawled for just a few seconds earlier than the official referred to as for the match to start. Rollins gained momentum early earlier than Balor snagged the higher hand and commenced to work on Rollins’ shoulder and arm. After Bálor’s early dominance, Rollins hit a flurry of headbutts and kicks and finally a Falcon Arrow for 2 near-falls. The motion went exterior the ring as Rollins landed three suicide dives and despatched Bálor onto the announce desk. Rollins went to the highest rope, however Bálor countered and despatched Rollins’ arm into the ringpost. Bálor would then hit Rollins with a powerbomb into the barricade, a callback to the identical maneuver that injured him seven years in the past.
Because the motion returned to the ring, Bálor locked in an armbar on Rollins, which the champion reversed right into a pair of Bucklebombs and a frog splash to almost rating the win. Bálor countered a stomp from Rollins and went for his finisher however Rollins countered himself right into a superplex. Rollins averted a Coup de Grace from Bálor and hit a Pedigree for a near-fall. As the 2 exhausted wrestlers remained within the ring, Bálor’s stablemate and Cash within the Financial institution briefcase holder Damian Priest made his strategy to the ring. Priest would hit Rollins with a punch and Bálor would rating a close to fall. Shortly after the remainder of the Judgment Day — Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio — got here out to distract the referee. Priest and Bálor received into an argument and Rollins landed a stomp to attain a near-fall.
Rollins, distracted by taking out the Judgment Day, was hit with a Slingblade and Coup de Grace, however managed to kick out at two after Bálor’s pin. Priest positioned the briefcase within the ring and received the referee’s consideration. Bálor went to seize the briefcase and Rollins capitalized with a stomp onto it to win the match and retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Grade: A+
WWE Ladies’s Championship match: Charlotte Aptitude vs. Bianca Belair vs. Asuka (c.)
Asuka shortly took out each Aptitude and Belair’s knees by using the ropes. As she went again into the ring and tried for a hip assault, Aptitude caught her and hit her with a belly-to-back suplex and despatched the champ exterior the ring. After a quick change between Aptitude and Belair, the previous went exterior the ring to concentrate on Asuka. Belair utilized a high-flying transfer to take out the opposite two ladies. Asuka hit Aptitude with a German suplex, sending her out of the ring and the champion’s consideration turned to Belair. Aptitude recovered and reentered the match by way of a top-rope crossbody. Aptitude despatched Belair and Asuka into the nook with suplexes earlier than hitting a splash and double Pure Choice. Aptitude then went for a combo pin however was unable to safe the win.
Asuka would power Belair exterior of the ring briefly, however the EST of WWE would come again in an enormous manner, hitting a mixture neckbreaker and DDT on Aptitude and Asuka. Belair’s momentum can be stopped as she went for a twin standing moonsault however each Aptitude and Asuka received their knees up. Asuka snared Aptitude within the Asuka Lock earlier than Belair would efficiently land the standing moonsault this time to interrupt the maintain. Belair went to the highest rope earlier than Asuka knocked her off after which Aptitude did the identical to the champ. Aptitude then went for her patented top-rope moonsault. Aptitude took out Belair, however Asuka was in a position to kick Aptitude within the quick aftermath. Asuka despatched Aptitude again into the ring and landed a top-rope DDT, in search of a pin. Belair, now recovered, broke up the pin.
After an tried Kiss of Loss of life from Belair to Asuka failed, Belair went for her finisher on Aptitude, however was countered. Belair landed a suplex on Aptitude earlier than Asuka got here in to capitalize and pin Aptitude herself. In a fast flurry, Belair hit a gut-wrench, sit-down powerbomb on Aptitude and Asuka tried to submit Belair. Aptitude went for the pin of each ladies and scored a near-fall. Aptitude would once more go for a double pin after hitting a moonsault. Belair was despatched exterior and landed awkwardly on the metal steps, promoting a leg damage that had been referenced a number of occasions in the course of the match.
With Belair incapacitated, Asuka landed a superplex on Aptitude and the 2 ladies went toe-to-toe in the midst of the ring. Aptitude landed a spear for yet one more near-fall and he or she locked Asuka into the Determine 8. Belair ran again into the ring, hobbled and hit a 450 splash on Aptitude, however Aptitude would kick out earlier than three. Aptitude and Belair would change blows earlier than Aptitude finally locked within the Determine Eight. Asuka returned to the match and hit Aptitude with the mist. Belair, nonetheless within the submission maintain, rolled up Asuka for the win.
As Belair celebrated, Iyo Sky’s music hit and he or she ran to the ring with Bayley. Sky cashed in her Cash within the Financial institution briefcase on the injured Belair and with the assistance of Bayley hit a moonsault and pinned Belair to grow to be the brand new WWE Ladies’s Champion. Grade: A+
WWE Undisputed Common Championship match: Jey Uso vs. Roman Reigns (c.)
Reigns and Uso spent the early portion of the match pacing across the ring, with the champion demonstrating his measurement and energy benefit in successful two collar-and-elbow sequences. The recent crowd in Detroit instantly alternated between “Let’s go Roman” and “Roman sucks” chants.
Uso constructed momentum after a gradual, methodical begin from Reigns. After countering a suplex try, Uso hit Reigns with a number of punches and, in a throwback to their relative Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a spit-soaked slap. Uso would power Reigns exterior the ring and hit him with a suicide dive earlier than sending the Tribal Chief into the metal steps. As Uso arrange a desk, Paul Heyman distracted the challenger, permitting Reigns to realize the higher hand once more.
Reigns slowed down the motion once more, hitting Uso with a drive-by kick and scoring a near-fall. Uso would land a step-up enziguri however his momentum can be short-lived as he went for one more suicide dive however was met with a kendo stick from Reigns. Once more, any offense Uso mounted, Reigns instantly countered and overpowered his cousin.
As Reigns arrange for a Superman Punch finisher, Uso countered and used the kendo persist with batter Reigns, sending him to the ground and touchdown an enormous senton excessive rope. Again within the ring, Uso went for a cross-body however Reigns countered with a Superman Punch. Reigns would go for a spear however Uso countered, landed a superkick and frog splash, all resulting in a near-fall. Uso launched a metal chair into the match and used it twice on Reigns earlier than tossing a number of extra chairs into the ring. Uso set Reigns up for a superplex onto the chairs, however on his second try Reigns countered right into a powerbomb and yet one more near-fall.
Reigns, once more with the benefit, arrange a desk of his personal contained in the ring. Uso tried to show the tide however after an change of punches with Reigns would briefly be taken out. Uso shortly recovered and was in a position to ship a Samoan Drop to Reigns by means of the desk he arrange exterior the ring earlier within the match. As Reigns crawled away, Uso used a leather-based strap to whip the staggered champion. Reigns tried to flee by means of the gang, however Uso stalked him.
With Uso about to land one other devastating Samoan Drop to Reigns, Uso’s brother and Reigns’ operating mate Solo Sikoa interfered to take out Uso. Sikoa used a Spinning Solo to place Uso by means of a desk earlier than dragging him again towards the ring. Sikoa would hit Uso together with his finisher once more contained in the ring as he and Reigns ganged up on their battered member of the family. As the 2 arrange the combo spear and Samoan spike, Uso countered, forcing Reigns to spear Sikoa. A spear from Uso to Reigns led to a near-fall.
Uso, armed with a metal chair once more, alternated blows on Sikoa and Reigns earlier than unloading on the Tribal Chief, forcing him to roll exterior the ring. As Uso went for one more chair blow, Sikoa hit him with a superkick to bail out Reigns once more. As Reigns and Sikoa argued over the earlier incident, Uso speared Reigns by means of the barricade. Sikoa turned his frustrations to Uso and seemed to place him by means of the announce desk. Uso reversed, landed a superkick after which a splash on Sikoa by means of the desk.
The motion shortly returned to the ring, with Uso touchdown a spear and splash on Reigns and showing set as much as win earlier than a masked Jimmy Uso got here out and broke up the pin. Jimmy Uso superkicked his twin brother and fed him again into the ring for Reigns to spear by means of a desk and pin for the victory. Grade: A
