WWE returned to MetLife Stadium for the first time since WrestleMania 35 for the biggest party of the summer, SummerSlam. The party had never been bigger than this year, as it marked the first ever two-night SummerSlam. The Night One match card featured some of the biggest bouts in SummerSlam history, including Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship and CM Punk vs. GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Here were the matchups that took place in New Jersey over the weekend:
Jey Uso and Roman Reigns vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman:
The match kicked off with a staredown before Roman Reigns and Jey Uso cleared Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker from the ring. Uso then replayed his entrance to a roaring crowd of 53,161, with Reigns encouraging the moment.
The “Bron Brons” took control early, as Reed dominated Uso, while Breakker took out Reigns with a leaping shoulder tackle. They crushed Uso with a massive splash, with both men piled on top of each other, keeping him isolated from Reigns.
Uso got a break when Breakker missed a flying clothesline and crashed onto the announce table. But just as he reached for a tag, Reed pulled Reigns off the apron and threw him into the barricade.
After a DDT, Uso finally tagged in Reigns, who unleashed a flurry of offense, including a rare dive over the ropes. The cousins gained momentum until Reed responded with a clothesline and a suicide dive, followed by Breakker clotheslining Reigns over the announce table. Breakker then hit a top-rope bulldog off Reed’s shoulders, but Uso kicked out.
Reigns returned, Superman Punching Breakker and spearing him through the barricade. Reed tried for a Tsunami, but Reigns cut him off. Together, the cousins hit a 1D on Reed, but Breakker broke up the pin.
With the crowd barking, Breakker went for a super spear, but Reigns shoved Uso out of the way and took the hit. Uso capitalized, superkicking Breakker, spearing Reed, and landing an Uso Splash to seal the win.
Winners: Jey Uso and Roman Reigns
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match:
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. The Judgement Day (Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez) (c)
Bliss and Flair’s lack of chemistry was obvious from the start, as they argued over who would begin the match. That hesitation allowed TJD, in their Snooki-themed gear, to take early control.
Rising star Roxanne Perez unleashed a flurry of offense on veteran Flair, including a handspring double knees. Flair eventually tagged in Bliss, who shifted momentum with a Twisted Bliss on Perez, though it was Rodriguez who was legal, and she leveled Bliss with a clothesline.
TJD showcased strong tag chemistry, hitting a series of double-team moves on Bliss. Flair finally re-entered, landing a crossbody on both opponents, followed by signature chops, a spear, a big boot and a moonsault.
Flair tried locking in the Figure Eight on Rodriguez, but Perez broke it up with a springboard moonsault. Just as Flair seemed in control, Bliss accidentally took her out. TJD capitalized, hitting Flair with a Tejana Bomb and Pop Rox, but Bliss broke up the pin with a running blockbuster.
Bliss regained control, setting up Sister Abigail on Perez. But when she turned, she saw a furious Flair in the corner. Unsure of what was coming, Bliss watched as Flair charged, not at her, but at Rodriguez, nailing a big boot. That opened the door for Bliss to hit Sister Abigail and win the titles for the team that insists they’re not friends.
Winners and New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss
Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett vs. Sami Zayn
This match wasn’t for a title, but something possibly even more important: proving who was right. If Zayn lost, he’d have to admit on the mic that Kross was right about him.
With weeks of build-up and a prior match behind them, both men came in prepared, trading control early. Kross finally broke the stalemate by escaping a Blue Thunder Bomb and hitting a Doomsday Saito Suplex.
Scarlett tried to tip the scales, slipping Kross his signature steel pipe. He swung, but Zayn dodged and connected with the Blue Thunder Bomb. Fired up, Zayn showed rare aggression, stomping Kross repeatedly in the ropes.
As the referee checked on Kross, Scarlett tried to lure Zayn to the dark side, handing him the pipe. Zayn hesitated, but ultimately tossed it away, hitting an Exploder Suplex into the corner. He followed with a Helluva Kick to end the match and the rivalry.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Post match, Zayn stared down Kross and Scarlett, telling them it’s over.
Women’s WWE Championship Match: Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton (c)
Stratton tried to weather the storm with a roll-up, but Cargill kicked out and asserted her power with a big boot and by tossing Stratton around ringside.
Stratton regained control with high-flying offense, landing a dive to the outside, a Swanton Bomb and a handspring back elbow—but Cargill caught her mid-move and delivered a backbreaker on her knee followed by a Torture Rack Bomb.
The momentum swung back and forth. Stratton hit a Falcon Arrow, countered a powerbomb, finally landed the handspring elbow and followed with an Alabama Slam. She went for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Cargill got her feet up and then hit Jaded. However, she accidentally placed Stratton’s foot on the ropes during the pin, breaking it up herself.
Frustrated, Cargill lifted Stratton for a chokeslam and attempted Jaded from the top rope, but Stratton stayed calm in the eye of the storm and countered with a top-rope hurricanrana, and hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to retain her title and keep WWE running on Tiffy Time.
Winner and still Women’s WWE Championship: Tiffany Stratton
Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre vs Jelly Roll and Randy Orton:
After losing 230 pounds, platinum country superstar Jelly Roll stepped into the ring looking to prove he’s more than just an outsider. Before the bell, Logan Paul cheap-shotted him, prompting Jelly Roll to tag himself in for revenge.
Jelly Roll impressed early, hitting shoulder tackles, a suplex slam and a walking elbow drop. Paul tagged in McIntyre, who taunted Jelly Roll into staying in the ring by slapping him in the back of the head. A few jabs followed, but a Glasgow Kiss dropped Jelly Roll.
After a brief struggle, Jelly Roll dodged McIntyre, sending him over the top rope and tagging in Orton, who delivered signature backdrops on the announce table, until McIntyre landed a Claymore.
As Jelly Roll checked on Orton, Paul struck again, landing a sucker punch with his steel-plated hand. He followed with a brutal WWE welcome: smashing Prime bottles like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and frog-splashing Jelly Roll through the announce table.
Medics tried to escort Jelly Roll to the back, but he collapsed near the ring, unwilling to quit. Meanwhile, Orton fought on in a handicap scenario. Barely standing, Jelly Roll returned to the apron, tagged in, and exploded with a clothesline, chokeslam, Boss Man Slam, and a powerslam on Paul.
But just as he looked to finish it, McIntyre nailed him with a Claymore. Orton hit an RKO on McIntyre, but Paul threw Orton into the apron and delivered another frog splash, crushing Jelly Roll’s WWE dreams.
Winners: Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk vs GUNTHER (c)
This wasn’t just a World Heavyweight Title match, it was a battle for bragging rights as the best in the world. With the crowd firmly behind CM Punk, he and GUNTHER started evenly until the Ring General took control with his brutal trademark chops.
GUNTHER dominated with relentless strikes, big boots, and vicious rope-hung chops. Punk struggled to gain momentum, only briefly locking in a Sharpshooter before GUNTHER reversed it and kept up the assault.
Punk finally fought back with a dropkick, neckbreaker, and his signature knee-bulldog combo, but GUNTHER caught him with a powerbomb. He nearly ended it with a shotgun dropkick and another bomb, yet Punk wouldn’t stay down.
Outside, GUNTHER tossed Punk into the post and taunted from the announce table, but Punk swept his legs, sending him face-first into the table and busting him open.
Sensing an opening, Punk unloaded with punches, a clothesline and an elbow. GUNTHER escaped one GTS and locked in a sleeper, but Punk broke free and hit two GTSs to finally slay the champion and win his first world title in 12 years.
Winner and new World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk
Post-match, Punk’s arch-nemesis, Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins, appeared on the stage with Paul Heyman. He walked out on crutches, still supposedly suffering a knee injury – or so he wanted people to think.
Then the Visionary turned, dropped the crutches, tore off the knee brace, and ran to the ring with the Money in the Bank briefcase. He pummeled Punk with the briefcase and then cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins vs CM Punk ©
Immediately after the bell rang, Rollins stomped Punk’s head into the mat. Rollins vowed never to let Punk be champion, and he made good on his promise by pinning him to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Winner and new World Heavyweight Champion: Seth Rollins
Night One of SummerSlam ended in dramatic and unexpected fashion and Night Two is sure to follow suit.