Night 2 of Summerslam from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey had a lot to live up to after an exciting Night 1 that saw a Money in the Bank cash-in and 2 new World Heavyweight Champions crowned on the evening, Roman and Jey delivering for the massive crowd, Jelly Roll getting physical, and Jade and Tiffy over exceeding expectations in their match. For the most part, I think they succeeded in doing so. The night opened with the Women’s Triple Threat for the World Heavyweight Championship between Naomi, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky. Naomi was jumped early by the friendly competitors Rhea and Iyo, after stealing the match from them less than a month ago but was able to find her footing and use sneaky offense to keep her opponents grounded throughout the match. This was a fun and fast-moving contest that saw all 3 women hitting moves in sequence multiple times throughout it, with a particular cool spot that saw Iyo hit an Over the Moonsault on Rhea and fall right into a Full Nelson bomb from Naomi that almost sealed her the win. In the end, Rhea hit an Avalanche Riptide onto Iyo from the top rope and the ever-resourceful Naomi rolled Rhea up right after for the pin and win. I think this match was still really well done, it was just put in a tough position attempting to follow up the Rhea/Iyo/Bianca and Rhea/Iyo matches from earlier this year, that were both arguably top 5 matches of the year so far. I do not think this match was as good as or lived up to those other 2, but that’s taking nothing away from it because they still did a good job here and Naomi picked up one of the biggest and most solidifying wins of her WWE career. Next up, we saw the TLC clustered mess match for the WWE Tag Team Championships between The Wyatt Sicks, Street Profits, DIY, MCMG, Andrade & Rey Fenix, and Fraxiom. This match was car wreck television, but it was awesome because we don’t see that too, too often in WWE. At one point like 4-5 different people were put through tables in the matter of 2-3 minutes. Candace LeRae took a big bump off a ladder and through another one while trying to score the win for DIY, and Rowan, Uncle Howdy, and Abby the Witch were all laid to waste with weapons when they attempted to get involved for their teams as well. In the end, the numbers game proved to be too much, and the Wyatt Sicks were able to keep their stranglehold over the belts as they retrieved the straps over their fallen opponents.
Next up, Becky Lynch defended the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Lyra Valkyria in a ‘No Count Out/No DQ match, which also served as Lyra’s last chance at the gold. If she lost, she wouldn’t be able to fight for that title again as long as Becky was champion. I think these 2 did pretty well with what they had and were given a lot of time, but it’s just hard to follow up the car crash match we just saw with another stipulation matchup. I think there was too many stipulations during Night 2 altogether honestly, not mad that we had all these stipulations, but you would think they would spread them out a little bit better. Lyra and Becky have great chemistry in the ring though and have had arguably the best rivalry in the company throughout the year, so I was excited for this match, and I think they delivered. It’s just not my favorite of their matches and although they were given a lot of time to work with, I don’t think being sandwiched between 2 other stipulations helped their case much either. Becky bound Lyra’s hands with zip ties partway through this match which gave her a clear advantage for a good portion of the matchup. Lyra executed a dropkick and moonsault combo that allowed her the time and space to get her hands freed (although a little clunky in the execution there). Bayley made her presence known late in the match and stopped Becky from seriously injuring Lyra when her head was pinned in a chair. Lyra sent Becky through a table and brought her back into the ring looking to end things, but Bayley accidentally hit Lyra with a steel chain shot that was meant for Becky in the midst of things, which set Becky up for the Manhandle Slam and win. Next, was the Steel Cage match for the United States Championship between the champ, Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. This stipulation was meant to keep Solo’s MFT from interfering in the matchup and keep it a fair fight, but any wrestling fan with half a brain realized that wasn’t going to happen. Fatu looked to be closing in on victory when MFT made their presence at ringside known. Jimmy Uso came to Fatu’s aid and helped back the henchmen away momentarily, but ultimately ate a big boot from Tonga. Fatu fought out of an attempted handcuffing to the cage and stopped Solo’s attempt to leave through the door, but Tonga ended up kicking the door back into Fatu’s face when he was near it which opened up the door (literally) for Solo to crawl to victory. After the match, Fatu laid out Tonga Loa and JC Matteo with a big splash from the cage. This means this rivalry will certainly continue, and probably will until at least Jacob wins the title back, but I am kind of over it. It’s not that it isn’t interesting, I love Jacob and I’m glad that Jimmy is actually being given SOMETHING to do, but I am still not sold on Solo. He just isn’t for me I guess, but that’s okay.
Dirty Dom defended his Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles in a well wrestled match, especially for Dom, and felt like a bit of an ode to Eddie Guerrero. AJ Styles wore Eddie Guerrero inspired tights and even came out in a lowrider during his entrance, they had a chair shot moment when the ref’s back was turned and both men acted like they had been hit with the chair when he turned back around, and the finish was even very Eddie-like. Dom loosened his boot and when AJ went to apply the Calf Crusher submission Dom was able to wiggle out of it and free his foot from the boot. He then used the boot, clubbing AJ over the head with it when the ref’s back was turned, and hit him with the Frog Splash for the pin and win. Last but certainly not least, the main event of the evening as John Cena (a brand-new John Cena who was proud and inspired again) defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes in a Street Fight. John Cena was back to his old ways, feeling heroic and happy to be there. Hamming it up with the fans and even running down the ramp and sliding into the ring like the same guy we’ve always known, loved to see it. Cena had the fan support for the most part during this match, with him receiving heavy cheers and Cody getting boos for a majority of the contest. I’m sure Cena couldn’t help but laugh to himself a little bit though, because Cody was getting the fan treatment that he got for years as a babyface, so I’m sure he could relate. Later in the match, Cena drove Rhodes through the announce table with an Attitude Adjustment before fighting into the crowd and then underneath the stage. They re-emerged on a platform that rose up from under the stage with Cody on Cena’s shoulders which made for a cool moment and photograph. As the fight continued back into the ring frustrations began to grow for Cody when he couldn’t keep Super Cena down, he kicked out after being put through a table and hit with a Cross Rhodes. Cody undid the bottom turnbuckle and began beating Cena with it to keep him down, but Cena fought back and applied an STF to Rhodes with the ring rope in the middle of the ring. Cody fought out and hit his big match trifecta of Cross Rhodes that have won him countless bouts before, but Cena still kicked out. The brawl continued and Cena was looking to end things with an Attitude Adjustment from the top rope and through a table, but Cody reversed it and hit a Cody Cutter which sent both men crashing through the table. After that he hit another Cross Rhodes which proved to be the final nail in the coffin as he pinned Cena and became the new Undisputed Championship.
After the match, Cena congratulated Cody with a handshake and a hug and Cody left the ring for Cena to take in the crowd one last Summerslam. As he was admiring the cheers and chants, a beast re-emerged from the shadows as Brock Lesnar returned and beelined his way to the ring, F-5ing Cena and leaving as quickly as he came. I guess now that the title is off of Cena, they’re going to transition to a Cena-Brock feud for a little bit again as it was another one of his classic rivalries. I am not going to get into it all here, but the reason that Brock hasn’t been here the last couple years to begin with is because he was specifically named in the lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE a little while back for some pretty creepy and gross things and that’s all I’ll say. As far as I am aware as a fan that keeps up very regularly with the product, his name hasn’t been entirely cleared from all that, but he’s not charged with anything as well, so we’re approaching some very sticky territory. I don’t know how I feel about it all, honestly though part of me wishes they wouldn’t have bothered bringing him back because he isn’t really needed in the current climate of WWE and I am not entirely thrilled to see another Cena/Lesnar feud, especially this many years later down the road. I want to see Cena facing newer talent and beating and establishing some new names on his way out the door, but apparently this is what he wanted so they gave it to him. I guess I’m biased because I can’t lie and say I wouldn’t pop big if Edge returned to WWE and him and Cena had one last blowoff because that’s arguably my favorite rivalry ever, and I am aware that Lesnar is one of the biggest draws and box office attractions in all of sports, but his name isn’t exactly clean now either. All I’m saying is it’s no secret why WWE didn’t hold a press conference after this because they didn’t even know how to field questions regarding the legal stuff and Lesnar’s return, but I digress. This is the direction we are heading so I can either watch or not watch, and I think we know what I’m going to do, but I do understand some people’s outrage and disgust at bringing him back into the fold right now with everything else going on.
My Match Ratings: 1-10 scale (.5 applicable)
Triple Threat match for Women’s World Championship: Naomi (c) vs Iyo Sky vs Rhea Ripley- 7.5/10
TLC match for WWE Tag Team Championships: Wyatt Sicks (c) vs Street Profits vs DIY vs Rey Fenix & Andrade vs Motor City Machine Guns vs Fraxiom- 8/10
No DQ match for Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs Lyra Valkyria- 7/10
Steel Cage match for United States Championship: Solo Sikoa (c) vs Jacob Fatu- 6/10
Intercontinental Championship match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs AJ Styles- 7/10
Street Fight for Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs Cody Rhodes- 9.5/10
