SummerSlam 2024 Highlights
Today WWE SummerSlam took place in the Cleveland Browns Stadium, the ple had 7 matches on the card and was jam packed with standout moments.
Rhea Ripley VS Liv Morgan
The show’s opening match was Liv Morgan (C) VS Rhea Ripley, this matchup has been building since the RAW after Wrestlemania where Australian Rhea Ripley got injured by the now Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan whilst filming a backstage brawl. The match and its build revolved around a love triangle between Morgan, Ripley and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. In the closing moments of the match Rheas Ripley is distracted by Mysterio who convinces her to not use a steel chair on Morgan after taking the chair from Ripley he then threw the chair in the ring enabling Morgan to use it and retain her championship, after the match Mysterio and Morgan kiss in front of Ripley who is realising that she was betrayed by her former lover.
Sami Zayn VS Bron Breakker
Next up was the Intercontinental Championship match between Sami Zayn (C) and Bron Breakker, this was the shortest match on the card with a length of five minutes but it was still action packed with Breakker and Zayn using all the major moves in their arsenals. Breakker won the match after spearing Zayn giving him his first Championship on the main roster.
Logan Paul VS LA Knight
The United States championship was defended right after with champion Logan Paul defending his belt against LA Knight. Paul was accompanied to the ring by rapper MGK as both of them are from Cleveland. MGK tried to assist Paul with handing him brass knuckles but was not able to hit Knight with them. The match finished when Knight reversed the Slingshot Lariat into a BFT making LA Knight the new United States Champion.
Nia Jax VS Bayley
Nia Jax VS Bayley (C) for the WWE Women’s Championship was next the notable parts of this match was Tiffany Stratton attempting to cash in her Money in the Bank contract midway through the bout but being unable to do so. THe match ended after Jax hit Bayley with the Banzai Drop becoming the new champion Stratton entered the ring to celebrate with Jax.
Drew Mcintyre VS CM Punk
The next match was one that had the most hype going into it with CM Punk returning to the ring since January against bitter rival Drew Mcintyre, the two have been feuding since Punk was injured by Mcintyre at the Royal Rumble in January. The match also had Seth Rollins involved as a special guest referee who also has been involved in feuds with both men in the build up to Wrestlemania. THe match was full of false finishes and built feuds for future matches of all three individuals involved in the match. Drew Mcintyre won the match after Punk got too invested with arguing with Rollins further driving both their storylines.
Gunther VS Damian Priest
The match was followed by Gunther Vs Damian Priest (C) for the World Heavyweight Championship. Gunther got his shot because he won the King of the Ring tournament. The major storyline going out of this match is that Finn Balor put Gunther’s foot on the rope stopping Priest from retaining his belt, this indicates that The Judgement Day stable is going to likely break up or have a major change in its lineup. The match ended via submission with Gunther becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Cody Rhodes VS Solo Sikoa
The Main event was Cody Rhodes (C) vs Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match for the Undisputed WWE championship. This is the second time Rhodes has featured in a match with this stipulation and in many ways this match was a callback to the one that took place at Wrestlemania. The new Bloodline was quick to interfere to help their leader but to instead help Cody Kevin Owens and Randy Orton interrupted to stop the Bloodline from winning the match. The final interruption and the biggest moment of the night was Roman Reigns returning as he hasn’t been seen since Wrestlemania. Reigns helped his longtime rival Cody retain his championship. This sets up a feud between the old Bloodline and the new version of stable.
