SummerSlam

SummerSlam Night One: Quick Thoughts on Every Match

I’m not going to give a full play-by-play recap of every match from SummerSlam. Instead, here are my thoughts on what stood out throughout the night.

Women’s World Championship

IYO SKY vs. Liv Morgan (c)

This match was incredible.

IYO SKY and Liv Morgan are two of the absolute best performers in WWE today, and they reminded everyone why. Their chemistry was outstanding, the pace never slowed down, and every near fall felt believable.

What impressed me most, though, was Liv Morgan. For so long, her championship reign has been associated with The Judgment Day interfering on her behalf. This match showed she doesn’t need that. When she’s allowed to stand on her own, she’s more than capable of delivering a championship-caliber performance. In many ways, that’s the version of Liv I’d rather see going forward.

The final two minutes were simply outstanding. They were filled with counters, drama, and suspense that had the crowd completely invested. That’s how you build a championship finish.

Six-Man Tag Team Match

The Usos & Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa, LA Knight & Royce Keys

A solid match, but one that never quite reached the level it could have.

Oddly enough, the biggest thing that stood out to me was Jacob Fatu’s werewolf-inspired entrance mask. It was a unique visual and fit his presentation perfectly.

The match itself was fine, but nothing particularly memorable happened until the finish, where LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, and Royce Keys picked up the victory.

One thing that did feel awkward was the post-match embrace between LA Knight and Solo Sikoa. Whether that was intentional or not remains to be seen, but it definitely didn’t feel natural.

Gunther vs. Nick Aldis

It was great seeing Nick Aldis back inside a WWE ring.

The man is still in phenomenal shape and proved he can still hang with one of the very best in the world. Gunther continues to be one of wrestling’s elite performers, but Aldis reminded everyone why he was considered one of the industry’s top champions for years.

One prediction: Gunther will be World Champion again. It’s only a matter of time.

The Bellas & Paige vs. Fatal Influence

This match was… fine.

It certainly won’t be remembered as a technical classic. Fatal Influence came out strong early, but once the match settled in, it gradually lost momentum.

The biggest talking point came afterward when The Bellas turned heel.

Honestly, I wasn’t surprised. They’ve always been more entertaining as villains than fan favorites. That said, I still find myself wishing they had simply stayed retired.

WWE Championship

Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk (c)

For me, this match simply went too long.

I know many people will disagree, but I never felt like this reached true main event status. There were good moments throughout, but it lacked the urgency and excitement I’d expect from WWE’s biggest championship match.

One thing I couldn’t help but notice is what has become a recurring CM Punk championship spot. He delivers the Go to Sleep, the opponent stumbles backward into the ropes, rebounds, and collapses back onto Punk’s shoulders. It has become common enough that I’m beginning to expect it every time.

The biggest moment came after the match with the return of Randy Orton, which immediately added intrigue to the championship picture.

One more observation…

Did WWE quietly introduce a new camera system during the entrances and several key moments throughout the show?

The presentation looked noticeably different. Certain shots had an almost hyper-real, cinematic quality that looked closer to 8K than traditional television. It was especially noticeable during Alicia Taylor’s introductions and the entrances for Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. Whether it was a new camera package, upgraded lenses, or simply a different production technique, it made the show look unlike any WWE broadcast I can remember.

Hell in a Cell

Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi

This was exactly what it needed to be.

Two massive, unbelievably athletic powerhouses beating each other senseless inside Hell in a Cell.

Brock Lesnar’s Tombstone Piledriver was a fantastic tribute to The Undertaker and one of the night’s biggest surprises.

The ending felt symbolic.

This wasn’t just another Brock Lesnar match—it felt like the official passing of the torch. WWE may have just introduced its next true monster attraction.

If that’s the plan, then Oba Femi may very well be the Next Big Thing.

SummerSlam Night 2 Review

Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender Match

Finn Bálor vs. Sami Zayn vs. Gunther vs. Kevin Owens

I was really looking forward to the original one-on-one match between Finn Bálor and Sami Zayn. Adding Gunther was understandable since he’s always a believable main event threat, but adding Kevin Owens felt like overkill.

It goes back to WWE constantly relying on the same select group of people they want on top. Finn and Sami both deserve to be in the world title picture, and even Gunther would’ve been a worthy winner.

But not only did they insert Kevin Owens into the match, they had him win it. That was a slap in the face to the other three competitors. I’m not taking anything away from KO—he’s one of the best performers in WWE—but this wasn’t his match to win. It should’ve been one of the original two.

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United States Championship Match

Baron Corbin def. Trick Williams (c)

Does WWE just hate rewarding the superstars who’ve spent the last several years busting their asses?

We all know Baron Corbin is one of Triple H’s guys, but I don’t think he should’ve beaten Trick Williams. Trick had the momentum, and this felt like WWE hitting the brakes for no good reason.

On the bright side, hopefully this means we’re finally getting rid of that fur belt.

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5-Woman Ladder Match for the Interim Women’s WWE Championship

Lash Legend vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Chelsea Green

I still don’t understand why this match even existed.

WWE has champions who disappear for months at a time without defending their titles, yet whenever a woman gets injured—especially Rhea Ripley—they’re immediately stripped of the championship.

And an interim champion? Seriously?

Do they just hand the title back to Rhea when she returns? What happens if the interim champion loses before Rhea comes back? The whole concept creates more questions than answers.

With all that said, this was a very entertaining ladder match with several impressive high spots. Everyone had moments to shine.

Chelsea Green walking away with the victory was well deserved. She’s been one of WWE’s most consistently entertaining performers, and it was nice to finally see her get rewarded.

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Money on a Pole Match

Dominik Mysterio vs. Danhausen

Is Vince Russo back?

That’s all I’m going to say.

Actually… one more thing.

Dominik Mysterio deserves better than this shit.

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Intercontinental Championship Match

Chad Gable def. Penta (c)

This was a great match. Chad Gable and Penta have incredible chemistry together, and it showed throughout the entire contest.

It was also great to see Chad Gable finally win a singles championship. It’s been long overdue, and hopefully this is the beginning of a strong run for one of WWE’s most underrated wrestlers.

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World Championship Match

Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns (c)

This match delivered on every level.

Roman Reigns finally defeated Seth Rollins, bringing one of WWE’s longest-running rivalries full circle. It felt like the perfect ending to a feud that’s stretched over years.

The respect shown after the match was a great touch. Seeing the SHIELD fist bump one last time, with Dean Ambrose represented by the iconic mask, was a fitting tribute to the group’s legacy and a memorable way to close the story.