Jelly Roll performs a rendition of “God Bless America.”
“TIME TO PLAY THE GAME!”
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque comes out to the stage. Triple H asks, “Are you ready?” Triple H welcomes everyone to SummerSlam before throwing it back to Jelly Roll.
In the ring, Jelly Roll performs “Liar” as videos flash on the screen of the WWE Superstars who will compete at tonight’s SummerSlam.
The Miz, the host of SummerSlam, is in the crowd. His hometown crowd gives him a great reception. The biggest party of the summer starts right now!
Backstage Segment
Rhea Ripley is walking backstage and gets embraced by “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. They walk to the Gorilla Position and make their entrance. This will be Rhea Ripley’s first televised match since retaining the Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania XL.
Women’s World Championship
Rhea Ripley w/ “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. Liv Morgan (c)
Referee Eddie Orengo is wearing a Referee Cam in his ear. The last time Rhea Ripley lost a singles match was 26 months ago to Liv Morgan.
The bell rings, and the opening match of SummerSlam, presented by Wheatley American Vodka, begins. They stare at each other before Ripley approaches her. Morgan quickly gets out of the ring and taunts her from ringside. Ripley goes outside and chases her, but Morgan gets in the ring and laughs at her. Ripley looks frustrated. Ripley gets in the ring, but Morgan quickly gets out. Ripley shouts at her and goes outside, but Morgan gets in the ring. Ripley is not happy. Ripley gets in the ring, and once again, Morgan gets out. Ripley fakes getting out of the ring, so Morgan gets in the ring and finds herself face-to-face with her challenger.
Ripley blocks a right hand and hits a pair of short-arm clotheslines. Ripley ducks an attack and hits a third short-arm clothesline. Ripley connects with a half-and-half suplex, sending Morgan in a heap to ringside. Ripley goes outside and high-fives Mysterio before licking his cheek in front of a jealous Morgan. Ripley attacks Morgan and bounces her off the barricade before chopping her chest. Ripley bounces Morgan’s face off the ring steps a few times before putting her in the ring. Ripley sizes Morgan up on the mat and goes for a clothesline, but Morgan ducks it. Ripley quickly rebounds with a vicious head-butt. Ripley hits a Rip Tide into the top turnbuckle. Ripley goes for a Rip Tide in the center of the ring, but Morgan slides off and retreats to the corner. Ripley approaches, but Morgan pulls her into the second turnbuckle.
Morgan grabs Ripley and shoves her recently healed shoulder into the ring post. Ripley’s shoulder appears to be dislocated and her right arm is dangling. Ripley shouts, “It’s out!” The referee asks if she wants to stop the match, but Ripley refuses. Ripley gets out of the ring, but Morgan attacks her at ringside and big boots her into the ring steps. Morgan stomps Ripley and puts her in the ring for a two-count. Morgan stomps her down before wrenching the injured arm and slamming her down. Morgan covers for a two-count. Morgan pulls Ripley’s hair and shouts, “This is my revenge tour!” Morgan applies an armbar to Ripley’s injured shoulder. Morgan gets up and kicks away at the shoulder. Morgan applies an overhead wristlock and comes off the ropes with a codebreaker to the shoulder. Ripley manages to get to her feet and big boots Morgan down.
Ripley goes to ringside, and Mysterio checks on her. Mysterio then pushes Ripley out of the way and takes a suicide dive from Morgan. Ripley attacks Morgan and puts her in the ring. Ripley paces at ringside before slamming her shoulder into the commentary table to pop her shoulder back into place! Morgan looks shocked. Ripley gets in the ring and unloads on Morgan with stiff forearm shots, followed by a kick to the head. Ripley viciously dropkicks her into the corner. Ripley lifts Morgan and slams her down onto the mat for a two-count. Ripley saunters around the ring and goes for a Rip Tide, but Morgan counters into a DDT. Morgan covers 1… 2… Ripley kicks out! Ripley rubs her injured shoulder on the mat before hitting a snap kick to Morgan’s head. Morgan knocks Ripley back and goes to the second rope, but Ripley rips her down to the canvas. Ripley then applies a Prism Trap! Morgan screams in pain, but she manages to twist out and send Ripley into the turnbuckle. Morgan catches her with a crucifix driver for a near fall!
Morgan quickly grabs Ripley’s arm for an armbar, but Ripley desperately fights to block it. Ripley fights up and powers Morgan up for a powerbomb to pick up a near fall. Ripley holds her shoulder in pain and looks frustrated. A “Mami” chant picks up. Ripley grabs Morgan by the hair and talks trash, but Morgan head-butts her. Ripley is not pleased and grabs her on the apron, but Morgan snaps her off the middle rope. Morgan goes to the timekeeper’s area and grabs a steel chair. Morgan gets in the ring with the chair and is perhaps looking to be disqualified. Ripley snaps her injured shoulder into the top turnbuckle a few times before kicking Morgan down. Ripley connects with a Rip Tide in the center of the ring. Rather than going for the cover, Ripley grabs the chair that Morgan brought into the ring. Ripley goes to smash Morgan with the chair, which would cause her to lose this match, but Mysterio jumps up onto the apron and pulls the chair out of her hand! Mysterio tries to talk sense into her so she doesn’t get disqualified. Morgan knocks Ripley into Mysterio, knocking him off the apron. Morgan connects with Ob-Liv-ion and covers! 1… 2… Ripley barely kicks out, and the crowd is going wild!
Mysterio slides the steel chair into the ring to Ripley and gets on the apron to distract the referee. Morgan hits Ripley with an Ob-Liv-ion on the steel chair and covers the Eradicator for the win!
Winner by Pinfall and still Women’s World Champion: Liv Morgan
Mysterio is smiling at ringside. Morgan gets her title and sits at ringside. Mysterio helps Morgan up and kisses her on the lips! Ripley looks upset in the ring. Mysterio walks off arm in arm with Morgan. Michael Cole shouts, “Dominik, you two-timing, no good son of a bitch!” Pat McAfee calls him a “piece of s–t.”
Backstage Segment
WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn is warming up backstage.
Video: WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day Clubhouse
In the Judgment Day Clubhouse, World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest storms in and demands to know where “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio is. Priest grabs Finn Bálor by the shirt and asks if he knew about this. Bálor says he didn’t know. Priest wants to find that “little prick.” JD McDonagh says they’ll find Mysterio. McDonagh, Carlito, and Bálor walk off. Priest says, “Finn… kill this kid.”
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn (c)
The bell rings, and Breakker immediately charges Zayn. Zayn leapfrogs him, and Breakker hits the ring post shoulder-first. Breakker falls out of the ring. Zayn wipes him out with a somersault senton before getting him in the ring. Breakker stumbles around the ring and holds his shoulder. Zayn goes to the top rope and leaps, but Breakker avoids him. Breakker hits a corner clothesline and backs up. Zayn tries to surprise him with a Helluva Kick, but Breakker avoids it. Breakker goes for a military press, but his shoulder gives out. Zayn hits the ropes, but Breakker turns him inside out with a big clothesline.
Breakker hits some shoulder thrusts in the corner before punching away at him. The referee backs him up and admonishes him. Breakker shouts, “It’s over.” Zayn tries to catch him with an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles, but Breakker blocks it. Breakker puts Zayn on the top rope, but Zayn elbows him down. Breakker quickly scales the ropes and hits a Frankensteiner for a near fall! Breakker talks trash and presses him against the ropes before punching him hard in the midsection a few times. Breakker shouts at Zayn and tells him to quit. Zayn responds with some slaps to the face. Breakker knees him and sends him into the ropes, but Zayn springboards over him and hits a clothesline. Zayn goes for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Breakker stops it. Zayn tries again, but Breakker (sort of) flips through it. Breakker pops up and goes to the second rope. Breakker goes for a diving bulldog, but Zayn counters into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Zayn grabs Breakker, but Breakker wipes him out with a leaping knee to the face. Breakker approaches him in the corner, but Zayn catches him with an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles. Zayn sets up for a Helluva Kick and charges, but Breakker spears him down! Breakker pulls the straps down and starts hitting the ropes at 23 mph before hitting another spear! 1… 2… 3!
Winner by Pinfall and new WWE Intercontinental Champion: Bron Breakker
Video: The Slim Jim Savage Moment of the Summer was Drew McIntyre viciously attacking CM Punk at SmackDown in Chicago.
Stephanie McMahon is at ringside.
Video: United States Championship
United States Champion Logan Paul makes his entrance alongside rap star MGK.
Backstage Segment
LA Knight comes out of the Prime Energy Truck that he stole from Logan Paul last night. Knight says he’s returning it to Paul, but the tint on the windows has been driving him crazy all day. Knight grabs a pipe and smashes the window in.
United States Championship
“The Maverick” Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight
As LA Knight goes to pose for his entrance, Logan Paul attacks him. They brawl at ringside until Knight head-butts him. Knight then drives Paul hard into the barricade. Knight bounces Paul off the ring apron and whips him into the Prime Energy Hydration Station. Knight taunts MGK. Paul spits some Prime Drink into his face and spears Knight into the apron. Paul starts to clear the commentary table. Knight pops up and bounces Paul’s face off the table a few times before smashing him in the head with a Prime Energy Drink. Knight puts Paul on the commentary table and puts him on his shoulders for a torture rack neckbreaker! The table doesn’t break!
Knight puts Paul in the ring, and the bell rings to start the match. Knight shoulders away at Paul’s midsection before sending him into the ropes. Knight lowers his head and eats a kick, but he comes right back with an inverted atomic drop, followed by a clothesline for a two-count. Knight does some theatrics and goes for an elbow drop, but Knight gets the knees up. Knight goes for a back suplex, but Paul flips through and sends him into the ring post shoulder-first. That’s three matches in a row with this spot. Paul sends him into the ring post again. Paul tries for a third time, but Knight fights out. Paul quickly clotheslines him down before punching away at him. The crowd shouts, “You suck” at Paul. Paul taunts them and big boots Knight down. Paul hits a split leg drop (Hogan Paul) for a near fall.
They begin trading right hands before Knight kicks him and starts to jab at him. Knight counters a whip into a gutwrench suplex for a two-count. Knight hits an alley-oop for a two-count. Paul mocks LA Knight and hits the ropes, but Knight pops up and hits a powerslam. Knight gets up and tackles Paul into the corner before unloading on him with right hands. Knight sends him sternum-first into the turnbuckles before grabbing him by the throat and pushing him to the corner before punching him down. Knight connects with a running knee before pacing around the ring. Paul misses a clothesline, and Knight connects with a Side Effect. Knight goes to the second rope and waits for Paul to roll over. Knight leaps to the top rope and hits a diving elbow drop for a near fall.
Knight sets up for a torture rack neckbreaker, but Paul fights out. Paul sends him to the apron and connects with a springboard clothesline to knock him to the floor. Paul sizes him up and hits a WILD springboard moonsault to the floor! Wow! Paul gets Knight in the ring and balls up his steel-reinforced fist. Knight ducks a KO Punch and goes for Blunt Force Trauma, but Paul counters into a backslide pin for a two-count. Paul absolutely rocks Knight with the KO Punch and covers 1… 2…, but Knight kicks out! Paul cannot believe it.
Paul heads to the top rope and dives for a Frog Splash, but Knight avoids it. Knight goes for BFT, but Paul slings him down to the mat. Paul goes to the middle rope and boots Knight back. Knight leaps to the top rope and hits a wicked superplex! Paul landed high on his shoulders. Knight covers and picks up a near fall!
Paul rolls out of the ring to recover and rakes Knight’s eyes. Then, Paul starts going to his cronies at ringside, including Jeff, who has helped him win a few matches. Knight wipes out Paul with a baseball slide before attacking Jeff and another member of the Paul entourage. Paul quickly attacks Knight and puts him in the ring. MGK goes to ringside and gives Paul a pair of brass knuckles he was wearing as a necklace. Knight grabs Paul from the ring, but Knight punches him with the brass knuckles! Paul goes for a Buckshot Lariat, but Knight counters into BFT for the win!
Winner by Pinfall and new United States Champion: LA Knight
Backstage Segment
Baron Corbin approaches Apollo Crews, who is having his head shaved. Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri walk in, and Otis shaves his midsection. This was an advertisement for Manscaped.
Video: WWE Women’s Championship
WWE Women’s Championship
Nia Jax vs. Bayley (c)
Nia Jax won this title opportunity by winning the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
The bell rings, and Bayley starts attacking Jax with strikes. The 2024 Queen of the Ring quickly cuts her off, but Bayley knocks her into the ropes and twists the arm on the ropes. Jax fights back with a powerbomb attempt, but Bayley counters with a jawbreaker. Bayley charges, but Jax flattens her with a Samoan Drop. Jax knocks her to the ropes and drives her into the bottom rope before throwing her across the ring. Jax drops an elbow and talks a little trash before smacking her on the rear end. Jax chokes her on the bottom rope. Bayley kicks Jax back, but Jax shoves her to the corner and clubs her down. Jax then hits Bayley with the Stink Face. Jax applies a Cobra Clutch in the center of the ring. Bayley manages to power out with a back suplex! Jax gets to her feet and flapjacks Bayley on the top rope. Bayley quickly rebounds and takes Jax down with a running forearm.
Jax gets up and approaches Bayley, but Bayley pulls her out of the ring. Jax quickly takes Bayley down and goes for a leg drop on the apron, but Bayley moves. Bayley knocks Jax into the barricade before coming off the steel steps with a Thesz Press. Bayley punches away at her before putting her in the ring. Bayley heads to the top rope, but Jax sweeps the feet. Jax pulls her off the top rope for a delayed vertical suplex, but Bayley counters into a guillotine, the move she used to defeat Jax at NXT TakeOver: London. Jax fights out, hits a rolling senton, and follows up with a leg drop for a near fall.
Jax goes to the second rope and goes for a diving leg drop, but Bayley moves. Bayley connects with Bayley-to-Belly for a near fall. Bayley goes for a Rose Plant, but Jax fights out. Jax goes for a slam, but Bayley fights out. Jax quickly flattens her with a uranage. Jax drags her to the corner and goes to the second rope for an Annihilator. Jax crushes her with the Annihilator! 1… 2… Bayley somehow kicks out! Jax is in absolute disbelief.
An irate Jax bounces Bayley’s head off the mat a few times. Jax continues to attack her and slings her to the corner. Jax says, “I’m so reckless. I’m so clumsy, right?” Jax clubs away at her in the corner and backs up. Jax charges, but Bayley moves, and Jax hits the ring post shoulder-first. That’s four matches in a row with this spot. Jax rolls out of the ring to recover. Bayley goes for a suicide dive, but Jax catches her and KILLS her with a Samoan Drop on the floor! Jax gets Bayley in the ring and avalanches her in the corner. Jax smashes her in the face with a running hip attack. Jax heads to the second rope for an Annihilator, but Bayley pops up and attacks her. Bayley lifts Jax and walks to the center of the ring with her on her shoulders before dropping her with a powerbomb! The crowd is going wild. Bayley heads to the top rope and hits a diving elbow drop! 1… 2… Jax barely kicks out!
“IT’S TIFFY TIME!”
The crowd goes crazy as Miss Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton runs down to the ring with a referee in tow. Stratton gets on the apron, but Bayley punches her down. Jax goes to attack Bayley, but Bayley takes her down for a two-count. Bayley hits a running kick to the face and charges, but Jax crushes her with a powerbomb. Jax hits another vicious powerbomb. Jax goes to the second rope and hits an Annihilator, but she pops up and hits a second Annihilator for the win!
Winner by Pinfall and new WWE Women’s Champion: Nia Jax
Queen Jax celebrates her WWE Women’s Championship. Tiffany Stratton also celebrates with Jax, showing that this was the plan all along. Jax goes to ringside and embraces her family.
Video: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk
Special Guest Referee: Seth “Freakin” Rollins
This will be CM Punk’s first televised singles match on WWE television. His last match was on WWE Raw on January 20, 2014, against Billy Gunn. Punk won that match. The next week, Punk would walk out of WWE, poetically right in Cleveland. Punk would be gone from the company for nearly a decade before returning at Survivor Series: WarGames in 2023.
Punk throws his sweatshirt at Rollins, who is serving as the Special Guest Referee. Rollins rubs it on his rear end before throwing it out of the ring. Rollins talks to both Punk and McIntyre before signaling for the bell to start the match. Punk and McIntyre start brawling in the center of the ring to a big ovation. Punk gets McIntyre in the corner and punches him down before stomping away at him. Rollins backs Punk up and gets in his face. McIntyre stuns Punk with a forearm to the face and punches him down in the corner before stomping away at him. Rollins pulls McIntyre off and admonishes him. Punk boots McIntyre back and comes off the second rope with a diving clothesline. Punk mounts McIntyre and punches away at him before McIntyre shoves him off. McIntyre connects with a throat thrust before chopping the chest. McIntyre punches him and hits the ropes, but Punk follows him and clotheslines him over the top rope. Punk comes off the apron with a diving clothesline on the floor.
A “CM Punk” chant picks up. Punk bounces McIntyre’s head off the ring post. McIntyre shoves him away and charges, but Punk sends him into the timekeeper’s area. Samantha Irvin gets out of the way as Punk comes off the barricade with a forearm to the face. Punk punches McIntyre around ringside and knocks him into the steel steps. Punk smashes McIntyre’s head against the steel steps a few times. Rollins lies across the top turnbuckle and lets this fight happen. Punk gets on the apron, but McIntyre sweeps the feet. McIntyre lifts him and slings Punk twice into the commentary table. McIntyre chops Punk and punches him down. McIntyre gets Punk under the ring and gives him a catapult into the steel trellis of the ring! Rollins, the referee, is pleased and laughs about this.
McIntyre rolls Punk into the ring and chops him down. He grabs him and hits a snap suplex for a no-count. Rollins taunts McIntyre and says that McIntyre said he would kill Punk. Rollins wants more from this match. McIntyre stomps away at Punk. Punk fights back, but McIntyre chops him back down. McIntyre backs him into the corner and connects with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex for a no-count. McIntyre pulls Punk to his feet and slaps him in the face. Punk responds with a slap and does a strike combo. Punk goes for a running knee in the corner, but McIntyre counters into a powerbomb for a one-count. McIntyre is frustrated with how quickly Punk has been kicking out. McIntyre slams him with a sit-out powerbomb and finally picks up a two-count. McIntyre gets in Rollins’ face. Rollins says he doesn’t like Punk, but he kicked out.
McIntyre goes to ringside and grabs a steel chair. Rollins looks at McIntyre, but he doesn’t take the chair away. McIntyre tells Rollins to let it happen. Rollins turns his back on this. McIntyre goes to hit Punk with the chair, but Rollins shows he has a conscience and takes the chair away. Rollins argues with McIntyre. McIntyre shoves him, so Rollins charges with the chair and nearly hits Punk before putting the brakes on. Rollins throws the chair out of the ring. As he’s doing that, Punk has McIntyre rolled up. Rollins sees it too late, and McIntyre kicks out. Punk had him pinned for a while. McIntyre hits Punk with a swinging neckbreaker and kips up. McIntyre goes into his trunks and pulls out the bracelet with Punk’s wife and dog’s names on it. McIntyre puts it on and goes for a Claymore Kick, but Punk kicks him down. Punk then drops him with a swinging neckbreaker.
Punk gets to his feet and hits McIntyre with a running knee in the corner. Punk backs up and hits a second running knee to the face. Punk backs up and hits it a third time before hitting a clothesline. Punk heads to the top rope for a diving elbow drop. Punk covers for a near fall. Punk quickly transitions into an Anaconda Vice attempt. McIntyre fights it, but Punk eventually locks it in. As he applies the hold, Punk pulls his bracelet off McIntyre’s wrist. Punk picks it up and turns into a Claymore Kick! McIntyre covers for a near fall!
A “CM Punk” chant picks up. McIntyre kneels in the ring and looks frustrated. He paces around before pulling Punk up. McIntyre goes for a Future Shock DDT, the move he used to injure Punk at the Royal Rumble. Punk fights out and sidesteps him to send McIntyre shoulder-first into the ring post. That’s the fifth match in a row with that spot. Punk signals for the Go To Sleep. Punk lifts McIntyre before dropping him when he sees Rollins wearing his bracelet. Rollins defends himself as Punk approaches him. McIntyre attacks Punk from behind and knocks him into Rollins. Rollins is knocked out of the ring. McIntyre goes for a Future Shock DDT, but Punk counters out and hits the GTS! 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… Rollins is still out of the ring. Rollins finally gets in and starts counting: 1… 2… McIntyre kicks out!
Punk says Rollins is as good a referee as he is a wrestler. Punk gets in Rollins’ face and yells at him. Rollins argues that he is the referee and that this is his company. No one wants Punk here. It’s not all about him, according to Rollins. Punk grabs Rollins and gives him the GTS! Punk rolls him over and says, “It ain’t always about me, but it’s never about you.” Punk takes his bracelet back and puts it on. McIntyre low-blows Punk and hits a Claymore Kick! McIntyre covers for a little while before Rollins comes to and counts the pin! 1… 2… 3!
Winner by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre
McIntyre looks completely vindicated. The commentators talk about how Punk’s rage cost him this match. McIntyre takes the bracelet back and puts it on. McIntyre poses and puts a foot on Punk’s chest.
The Judgment Day Clubhouse
World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest is preparing for his match when World Tag Team Champion Finn Bálor walks in. Bálor says they looked for “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, but they couldn’t find him. Priest says Mysterio probably left. Priest apologizes for his actions earlier tonight. They make up. Bálor says he knows Priest doesn’t want him out there, but he’ll be here if he changes his mind. They bump fists, and Priest leaves.
Video: World Heavyweight Championship
World Heavyweight Championship
“The Ring General” Gunther vs. Damian Priest (c)
Gunther won this title opportunity by winning the King of the Ring Tournament.
The bell rings, and Gunther charges, but Priest rocks him with a forearm to the face. Priest punches away at Gunther in the corner. Gunther fights out, but Priest punches him back to the corner and hits a running back elbow. Priest goes for South of Heaven, but Gunther fights out with some uppercuts. Priest takes him down with a flatliner, and Gunther rolls out of the ring to recover. Priest goes to ringside and leaps off the steel steps with a diving clothesline. Priest grabs Gunther, but Gunther shoves him into the ring post before hitting a back suplex onto the apron. Gunther shoves him into the ring apron and viciously chops the chest.
Gunther gets in the ring and elbows Priest in the head as he reenters. Gunther connects with a scoop slam. Priest starts knocking Gunther back and boxes the ears. Gunther fights out of a suplex attempt and chops the chest. Gunther connects with a butterfly suplex for a one-count. Gunther takes a few moments to regroup before chopping the chest. Priest strikes back, but Gunther bounces off the ropes and big boots him down. Gunther heads to the top rope, but Priest cuts him off. Priest climbs, but Gunther puts him in a hammerlock and punches him in the ribs. Priest fights back with a kick and catches Gunther with a top rope hurricanrana! Priest follows up with a Broken Arrow for a near fall.
Priest kicks away at Gunther’s chest and hamstring. Gunther kicks him back and chops the chest. Priest responds with a kick. They start exchanging hard chops in the center of the ring with Priest coming out on top. Priest then hits a series of kicks and takes the 2024 King of the Ring down! Gunther’s chest is bleeding. Gunther gets up and starts chopping Priest, but Priest blocks out and kicks him in the midsection. Priest goes for a clothesline, but Gunther chops him. Priest quickly comes back with a superkick. Priest goes for an avalanche in the corner, but Gunther moves. Gunther catches him with a Tyrannosaurus Dropkick, followed by a big Powerbomb for a near fall.
Gunther is not happy and takes a few moments to sneer at the crowd. They exchange chops before Priest kicks him in the head and hits South of Heaven. Priest covers for a near fall. Priest sets up for a Razor’s Edge. Gunther fights out. Gunther soon hits a capture suplex and follows up with a big clothesline. Gunther hits a second clothesline for a near fall. Gunther can’t believe it. Priest challenges him to bring more. Gunther obliges and rocks him with a vicious kick to the face. Priest asks for more. Gunther drops him with a chop to the chest. Gunther taunts the crowd and chops Priest again.
World Tag Team Champion Finn Bálor appears at ringside and starts pounding the mat to get Priest fired up. Gunther wrenches the arm and chops the chest. Gunther grabs the arm and chops the chest. Priest starts to fight back, but Gunther rocks him with a wild boot to the face. Gunther’s chest is bleeding heavily. Gunther talks trash to Priest and kicks him in the head. Gunther kicks Priest in the ribs and looks at Bálor before booting him in the head from the ring.
Priest is not happy about that. Gunther kicks him, but Priest pulls the straps down and runs him over with a clothesline. Priest hits the ropes and hits another clothesline. Priest kicks him in the midsection and connects with the Razor’s Edge! Priest connects with the South of Heaven and covers 1… 2… Bálor puts Gunther’s foot on the bottom rope! Priest is not aware that Bálor put Gunther’s foot on the bottom rope. Priest sees a replay and turns to look at Bálor. Bálor turns and menacingly looks at Priest. Priest goes for Bálor, but Gunther pulls him into the ring with a Sleeper Hold. Gunther cinches it in as Bálor sneers at Priest. Priest starts to fade, but then he gets a burst of energy and rolls over to cover Gunther for a two-count. Priest quickly grabs Bálor by the throat, but Gunther pulls him back. Gunther hits Priest with a Powerbomb in the center of the ring before immediately applying the Sleeper Hold! The referee calls for the bell!
Winner by Referee’s Decision and new World Heavyweight Champion: “The Ring General” Gunther
“The Ring General” Gunther celebrates winning the World Heavyweight Championship. He kisses his wife at ringside.
The John Cena Retirement Tour is coming to a city near you in 2025.
The Miz and R-Truth are in the ring. The Miz says an all-time American record has been set for SummerSlam. There are 57,791 people in attendance.
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory of A-Town Down Under come to ringside and mock The Miz. Waller points out that this is Miz’s hometown. Theory says Cleveland has the worst NFL football team ever. All the people look like Jelly Roll. Jelly Roll and MKG, seated at ringside, give them a thumbs down. Waller says he won’t let Theory talk badly about Jelly Roll. Jelly Roll is the only person to make music worse than R-Truth. R-Truth says we’re in the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. R-Truth thinks Waller and Theory are Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express.
Jelly Roll is in the ring with a steel chair. Miz and R-Truth attack Waller and Theory. Jelly Roll hits both Waller and Theory in the back with the steel chair. Jelly Rolls grabs Theory by the throat and gives him a massive Chokeslam! Jelly Roll then signals for the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Miz and R-Truth join in for a 15 Knuckle Shuffle on Theory! Jelly Roll celebrates with Miz and R-Truth in the ring.
Video: Undisputed WWE Championship
Cody Rhodes’ Tour Bus
Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes is on his tour bus preparing. Rhodes exits the bus and walks his beloved dog Pharoah. Rhodes walks backstage until he bumps into Arn Anderson. Anderson talks Rhodes up and says he still has a little influence backstage. Anderson reminds Rhodes that he has a few friends to help him against the Bloodline. Rhodes thanks him and keeps walking. Rhodes gets his ring jacket and goes through Gorilla Position. Rhodes puts on a mask and makes his entrance.
Undisputed WWE Championship
Bloodline Rules Match
Solo Sikoa vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c)
The bell rings, and the crowd is buzzing. They circle the ring before locking up with a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Rhodes applies a side headlock. Sikoa whips him off and absorbs a shoulder tackle attempt from Rhodes. Rhodes smiles at him and hits the ropes for a shoulder tackle, but Sikoa absorbs it. Sikoa then takes Rhodes down. Rhodes quickly gets to his feet and sneers at Sikoa. They go for a test of strength, but Rhodes ducks under an attack. They lock up again, and Rhodes puts the side headlock back on. Sikoa whips Rhodes off, but Rhodes slides through the legs, kicks him in the midsection, and drops down, but Sikoa blocks the uppercut. Rhodes gets to his feet and gets the crowd going. Rhodes applies a waistlock, but Sikoa fights out. Rhodes is knocked to the corner, so Sikoa tries to charge him for a running hip attack, but Rhodes gets out of the ring to avoid it. Sikoa stares at Rhodes and motions that he will soon be the champion.
Sikoa kicks Rhodes in the midsection and head-butts him down. Sikoa chops the chest, so Rhodes chops him back. Sikoa drops him with a right hand and talks a little trash. Sikoa throws him over the top rope, but Rhodes skins the cat back into the ring. Sikoa sees him and charges, but Rhodes pulls the top rope down to get him to the apron. Rhodes knocks him to the floor with a Disaster Kick. Rhodes hits the ropes and connects with a suicide dive! Rhodes gets in the ring and pounds the mat. Rhodes goes to grab Sikoa, but Sikoa punches him in the head. Rhodes punches Sikoa as he gets in the ring. Sikoa reverses a whip to the corner. Rhodes slingshots over him and goes for a snap powerslam, but Sikoa puts the brakes on. Sikoa connects with a running wheel kick for a two-count. Sikoa sends Rhodes into the ropes and hits a Samoan Drop. Sikoa gets Rhodes to his feet and attacks before sending him into the ropes for another Samoan Drop. Sikoa picks up a two-count. Sikoa sets up for a Samoan Spike, but Rhodes kicks the hands away. Rhodes knocks him back and hits a Cody Cutter. Rhodes then clotheslines him over the top rope.
Rhodes goes to ringside and bounces Sikoa off the ring steps. He then sends him into the Prime Hydration Station. Rhodes takes a sip of one of the drinks and smashes it against Sikoa’s head. Rhodes puts him back in the ring and comes off the top rope, but Sikoa moves. Rhodes quickly comes back with a drop-down uppercut. He then hits some left jabs and a Bionic Elbow. Rhodes goes for a Disaster Kick, but Sikoa counters into a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Sikoa knocks Rhodes to the corner and strikes him. Sikoa taunts the crowd and heads to the opposite corner before charging for a running hip attack. Sikoa takes a little too much time in between, so Rhodes goes for a Pedigree. Sikoa fights out, so Rhodes rolls him up for a two-count. Sikoa pops up and hits the Spinning Solo for a near fall.
Sikoa applies a nerve hold in the center of the ring. Rhodes fights up, but Sikoa pushes him into the ropes and hits his third Samoan Drop of the match for a two-count. Sikoa puts Rhodes on the top rope and pulls him into the tree of woe position. Sikoa hits the ropes and hits a running headbutt. Sikoa slows down the pace and soon hits another running headbutt. Sikoa talks trash and saunters around the ring. Sikoa goes for a third, but Rhodes sits up. Rhodes stands on the top rope and hits a moonsault block. Rhodes’ rotation was off a bit. One of the commentators said that looked like a Terry Funk moonsault. Rhodes takes it to Sikoa and hits the ropes, but Sikoa counters with a belly-to-belly side suplex for a two-count.
Sikoa starts to head to the top rope, but Rhodes cuts him off. Rhodes climbs the ropes, but Sikoa head-butts him down to the mat. Rhodes quickly scales the ropes and hits a top rope superplex. They begin to trade strikes from their knees before getting to their feet. Rhodes rallies with punch after punch before hitting the ropes for a Cody Cutter, but Sikoa catches him. Sikoa goes for a Cross Rhodes, but Rhodes counters out of his own finisher and hits a Cross Rhodes.
WWE Tag Team Champion Tama Tonga, along with his brother Tonga Loa, hit the ring and attack Rhodes. The Guerillas of Destiny double-team Rhodes before dropping him with a spinning slam. Sikoa covers Rhodes for a near fall. Tonga and Loa double-team Rhodes until Kevin Owens makes his return! Owens runs down and gets in the ring to attack Tonga and Loa. Owens superkicks Sikoa and takes Tonga down before punching away at him. Loa pulls Owens off, but Owens punches and stomps him down. Tonga then takes Owens down as the numbers game becomes too much.
Randy Orton then returns from injury to make the save. Orton attacks Tonga at the foot of the aisleway. Orton gets in the ring and drops Loa with an RKO. Owens hits Tonga with a Stunner. Orton hits Sikoa with a snap powerslam, and Owens follows up with a Swanton Bomb. Rhodes grabs Sikoa and hits him with a Cross Rhodes! 1… 2… Sikoa barely gets the shoulder up before three. Orton and Owens knock Tonga and Loa into the crowd and brawl with them to the back.
Rhodes goes outside and grabs the top half of the steel steps. Rhodes gets in the ring and hits Sikoa in the head with it, but Sikoa won’t go down. Rhodes shouts for him to go down before hitting him in the head with the steps again. Sikoa stays standing. Rhodes charges, but Sikoa hits him with a Spear that sends the stairs flying! Sikoa covers for a near fall. Sikoa can’t believe it. Sikoa sets the steps up in the corner with the steps facing up. Sikoa punches Rhodes against the steps and backs up. Sikoa sizes him up and charges for a running hip attack, but Rhodes moves, and Sikoa hits the steps hard. Rhodes goes for Cross Rhodes and connects. Rhodes pulls him up for a second consecutive Cross Rhodes and hits it. Rhodes is looking for a trinity, but WWE Tag Team Champion Jacob Fatu runs into the ring and wipes Rhodes out with a springboard moonsault block! Fatu positions Rhodes and hits another springboard moonsault. Fatu puts Sikoa on top of Rhodes. 1… 2… Rhodes kicks out! Fatu can’t believe it.
Fatu attacks Rhodes and punches him out of the ring before hitting a superkick at ringside. Fatu clears the commentary table and superkicks Rhodes onto it. Fatu goes to the top rope and dives off with a splash through the table! Fatu immediately grabs his ankle and knee. Fatu tries to stand and put weight on it, but he immediately collapses. Knowing that an injury can blow up all the momentum he has going, Fatu is irately throwing chairs around in frustration. Sikoa gets Rhodes in the ring and hits a big splash for a near fall. Sikoa sets up for a Samoan Spike, but Rhodes collapses. Rhodes fights back with a superkick before scaling the ropes for a Cody Cutter.
ROMAN REIGNS’ MUSIC HITS, and the crowd EXPLODES! “The Head of the Table” makes his way to the ring for the first time since losing the title at WrestleMania 40. Reigns gets in the ring and drops Sikoa with a Superman Punch! The crowd is absolutely going ballistic. Reigns lets out a tribal scream and hits Sikoa with a huge Spear. Reigns turns and looks at the man who ended his legendary title reign, but he doesn’t do anything and walks away. Rhodes keeps his eyes on Reigns before grabbing Sikoa. Rhodes looks at Reigns as he delivers Cross Rhodes to Sikoa for the win.
Winner by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Champion: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns puts his head down, seemingly because he doesn’t want to help Rhodes retain the title either. Reigns’ t-shirt says, “OTC,” meaning “Original Tribal Chief.” Sikoa is shocked and seated at ringside, with Fatu kneeling behind him. Rhodes celebrates as the show comes to an end.
Quick Match Results
— Liv Morgan (c) def. Rhea Ripley to retain the Women’s World Championship
— Bron Breakker def. Sami Zayn (c) to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship
— LA Knight def. “The Maverick” Logan Paul (c) to win the United States Championship
— Nia Jax def. Bayley (c) to win the WWE Women’s Championship
— Drew McIntyre def. CM Punk (Special Guest Referee: Seth “Freakin” Rollins)
— “The Ring General” Gunther def. Damian Priest (c) via Referee Decision to win the World Heavyweight Championship
— “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c) def. Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules Match to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship
Source: WrestleView
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