The Biggest Party of the Summer – WWE SummerSlam 2024 is in the books. The PLE held in Cleveland this year was very eventful. Championships changed hands, people were betrayed, and there was a massive return to end the show. The storyline progression and the match quality are comparable with Wrestlemania XL. Let’s look at how one of the best PLEs under the Triple H regime shaped up at WWE SummerSlam 2024:
Women’s World Championship
This match had a lot of hype going into WWE SummerSlam 2024 because the story so far had been really good, and all of us were expecting a big payoff. Morgan played a game of chase with Ripley early on. Ripley controlled the beginning of the match and hit a Riptide into the top turnbuckle. However, after a second attempt, Morgan slid out of the way. Morgan sidestepped a charging Ripley, causing Ripley’s shoulder to pop out of place. It looked so real that we still don’t know if it was a work or not. Morgan seized the opportunity and continued to attack Ripley. Ripley created some separation with a boot and popped her shoulder back into place by running into the announce table.
Ripley attempted another Riptide, but Morgan countered with a DDT. After a burst from Ripley, Morgan applied an armbar, trying to submit Ripley, then she retrieved a chair. Ripley tried to hit her with the chair, but Dominic Mysterio grabbed it. A distracted Ripley turned around, and Morgan hit “Oblivion,” resulting in a 1-2 kick out. The spot was so nicely done that we didn’t figure out Dom’s real motive. It all became clear when Dom slid the chair back into the ring, distracted the ref, and Morgan hit Oblivion on the chair. After the match, Mysterio helped Morgan up, and they kissed, taking the story to the next level at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
Intercontinental Championship
After failing in the Money in the Bank, Bron Breakker got another chance at the Intercontinental Championship at WWE SummerSlam 2024 and proved why he is the future of this industry. It was a short match with high intensity. Breakker swung for the fences at the opening bell by immediately trying to hit a Spear. Zayn moved out of the way, causing Breakker to crash shoulder-first into the ring post. Zayn hit an over-the-top attack. Zayn attempted a Helluva Kick, but Breakker moved out of the way. Breakker controlled the match with a flying clothesline and Frankensteiner. Zayn built some momentum, countering a middle rope bulldog with a Blue Thunder Bomb and Exploder Suplex. Then he attempted a Helluva Kick, but Breakker hit a spear. Breakker hit both ropes and delivered another spear, winning the first main event gold in his career. Excited for the dominant title reign Bron’s gonna have after WWE SummerSlam 2024.
United States Championship
People have been wanting LA Knight to hold a championship for so long, and finally, our wish has come true at WWE SummerSlam 2024. Logan Paul hit the ring with Machine Gun Kelly. The Megastar smashed a window on the Prime Truck and dropped him with a neckbreaker on the announce table before the match began. Knight started the match with offensive attacks on Paul, who gradually gained control with leg drops, suplexes, and overbombs. Paul performed a springboard moonsault, showcasing his incredible athleticism.
Paul attempted another top rope attack, but Knight countered with a top rope Brain Buster. Knight hit a baseball slide as Paul was on the outside. Irate at Paul’s entourage, Knight pulled The Maverick’s buddies over the ringside barricade and stomped them before Paul threw The Megastar into the ring post. After MGK gave Paul his brass knuckles, Paul blasted Knight with the weapon before readying for a springboard somersault clothesline. Just as The Maverick was about to clobber his challenger, Knight countered with the BFT, scoring the pinfall to claim his first championship in WWE at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
WWE Women’s Championship
I didn’t have much expectation from this match at WWE SummerSlam 2024 as the build-up wasn’t that good. But both Bayley and Nia Jax proved me wrong. They engaged in the fight, with Jax using a Samoan Drop, Cobra Clutch, and Suplex to counter Bayley’s attacks. Bayley broke free and connected with a suplex, then hit a flying forearm. Jax then attempted a standing suplex, guillotine, and rope leg drop, but Bayley moved and connected with a Bayley to Belly suplex. Jax grounded Bayley with a Uranagi and hit an Annihilator. The Role Model became the first Superstar to kick out of the Annihilator. In an awesome moment, Bayley summoned all her strength to carry Jax halfway across the ring and dropped her with a powerbomb. Ms. Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton, ran down to the ring, seemingly looking to cash in her contract. Bayley blasted Stratton with a right hand when she hopped onto the apron, but the distraction resulted in Jax hitting two Annihilators to crown herself WWE Women’s Champion at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (Special Guest Referee Seth Rollins)
Now time for the match we all have been waiting for the most at WWE SummerSlam 2024. After being at each other’s throats for months, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre had a chance to finally unload on one another. Both men hit the center of the ring and exchanged strikes. Punk took the early part of the match as he sent the action outside. Strikes, whips into the post, and strikes off the barricade followed. Rollins allowed both men to take as much time as they’d like on the outside. McIntyre managed to get some offense and rammed Punk into the announce table. McIntyre threw Punk back in the ring and hit a sit-down powerbomb. McIntyre retrieved a chair; Rollins turned his back to it, but as McIntyre was about to strike, Rollins grabbed the chair. Rollins looked to hit McIntyre with the steel chair, but McIntyre ducked. Luckily, Rollins stopped himself before he connected with Punk.
As Rollins threw away the weapon, Punk rolled up McIntyre, but Rollins was slow to the count, allowing McIntyre to kick out. Punk eventually let his emotions get the better of him as he took back the bracelet that McIntyre stole from him by removing it from The Scottish Warrior’s wrist. His emotional act nearly cost him, as McIntyre clobbered Punk with the Claymore, but Punk kicked out. As Punk was about to hit McIntyre with the GTS, Punk saw that Rollins had his bracelet on his wrist. McIntyre pushed Punk into Rollins, sending him out of the ring. Punk hit a GTS, but Rollins was again slow to the count. Punk became incensed at The Visionary as the two engaged in a war of words that ended in a GTS from Punk to Rollins. With Rollins out of the equation, McIntyre booted Punk below the belt before nailing the Claymore. Rollins then reluctantly counted the three, and McIntyre left the victor with Punk’s bracelet back on his wrist at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
World Heavyweight Championship
When this match was first announced for WWE SummerSlam 2024, everyone was skeptical. But the build-up towards the match has been one of the best, and I wasn’t sure whom to root for here. Priest took the fight to The Ring General, leaving Gunther’s chest bloodied after leveling him with chop after chop. Gunther came back until Priest hit a power move. Priest hit a top rope hurricanrana then a Broken Arrow. Both men exchanged a lot of strikes until Priest grounded Gunther with a kick. Gunther rose and was able to get an edge, followed by a powerbomb. Priest awoke and hit a South of Heaven, attempted a Razor’s Edge, but Gunther was able to block it.
Gunther gained momentum with a few lariats. Finn Balor arrived ringside, and after Gunther dominated Priest, Gunther took out Balor. Priest saw this and fired up, hitting South of Heaven. On the pin attempt, Balor elevated Gunther’s foot on the rope, breaking the count, confirming the breakup of the Judgement Day. Priest approached Balor, and Gunther applied a sleeper. Priest reversed it, but as he reached to choke Balor, Gunther broke it up, hit a powerbomb, and reapplied the sleeper to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
Undisputed WWE Championship
Putting this match in the main event of WWE SummerSlam 2024 only meant one thing – the return of Roman Reigns, as the match didn’t have a lot of story going on. Slow start to this match with no real advantage for either wrestler. Sikoa gained a small advantage, but Rhodes was able to turn the tide with a disaster kick and then a suicide dive, but Sikoa stopped Rhodes in his tracks with a spinning Solo. Sikoa hit two headbutts, but on the third attempt, Rhodes hit a moonsault into a crossbody. Rhodes was on the offense, and after some back and forth, he hit a superplex. Rhodes hit a CrossRhodes, and Tama Tongo and Tonga Loa entered and attacked Rhodes.
Kevin Owens made his way to the ring and began to take out Bloodline until Tonga was able to attack Owens from behind. Randy Orton made the save. Rhodes hit a CrossRhodes, brought the steel steps in, and struck Sikoa twice, but on a third attempt, Sikoa speared Rhodes. Rhodes hit two CrossRhodes, but on the third, Jacob Fatu came in and broke up the attempt, then followed up with a moonsault. Fatu positioned Rhodes on the announce table and hit a dive. Then Roman Reigns made his triumphant return, hitting a Superman punch and a spear to Sikoa. Rhodes capitalized with a CrossRhodes to retain at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
With the Bloodline civil war on the horizon, we also got the breakup of Judgement Day, which will lead to must-see storylines. Four new champions were crowned, and we will be looking forward to seeing how all of these play out. Overall, WWE SummerSlam 2024 absolutely over-delivered with great matches and good booking decisions.