EAST RUTHERFORD — After a thrilling end to SummerSlam Night One on Saturday, fans were left in high anticipation for Sunday night’s show, which would likely culminate with a match between John Cena and Cody Rhodes.
To start the night off on the right foot, Triple H, the CCO of the company, came out to welcome fans and assure them that this show would be even better than Saturday’s.
Naomi retains Women’s World Championship in thrilling triple threat opener
The Women’s World Championship was immediately on the line: a triple threat match between Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, and defending champion, Naomi. In a triple threat match, the first wrestler to complete a pinfall or submission wins, irrespective of who they win against. It was clear that Sky and Ripley were happy to see the other succeed in obliterating Naomi—the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and all that. The two were quick to go for the pin on the other once Naomi was out of the ring though. Naomi appeared to be all too happy to let Ripley and Sky continue to attempt a pin, with her stopping the bell at the last second. An all too common occurrence in triple threat matches is a two on one that backfires.
When it looked like Naomi was going to retain, Sky jumped off the top rope to end Noami’s pin, but landed on Ripley. Sky, using her smarts, used Ripley’s body to injure Naomi. Ripley performed a gorgeous Riptide on Sky from the second rope, but as she was recovering, Naomi flipped Ripley onto her shoulders, winning the match and retaining her title. If the looks and words exchanged as Naomi walked away with her belt are any indication for the future, Ripley will not be letting this title go so easily.
A stunning TLC anniversary for the WWE Tag Team Championship
25 years ago, the first ever tables, ladders, and chairs match premiered at SummerSlam 2000. The two teams featured in that match, The Dudley Boys and The Hardy Boyz, graced MetLife Stadium with their presences to usher in what was expected to be a thrilling six-pack tag team match for the WWE TagTeam Title. The Wyatt Sicks’ championship belts dangled above the ring, waiting for one of the six teams to snatch them. The current champions were immediately attacked by the remaining teams: … Fraxiom was quick to set up a ladder and head to the top, but no one was having it. The Street Profits set up the ladder on the ropes to slam Joe Gacy of the Wyatt Sicks into it, twice. They then set up four tables on the outside of the ring for later use. #DIY threw out both Fraxiom and The Street Profits team before going to set up in the ring. The Motor City Machine Guns sent Gacy’s head into the ladder and began to execute their strategy. To add some pizzazz, four splashes through the tables occurred all in row.
With every team in pain and on the ground, Candice LeRae, wife of Johnny Gargano of #DIY, tried to walk up the ladder before being slammed off into the ring. Nikki Cross was having none of it and stormed her way down to the ring. Grey lady was back on the top of the ladder before being shoved off and through another ladder. Her husband ignored her laying on the ground and went for the championship. Eric Rowan with the Wyatt Sicks came into the ring and began exacting his punishment before The Street Profits began beating him with chairs. Rowan was then sent through the table set up in the corner by The Street Profits.
#DIY set the ladder back up and Tommaso Ciampa made his way to the top. He found himself hanging onto the titles before the ladder was pulled out from under him. Showing insane athleticism, Ciampa was able to safely get down. With three teams on ladders, Wyatt Sicks’ member, Uncle Howdy, pushed both ladders over, sending even more teams through the tables. Andrade worked his way up to the top and power bombed Howdy through another ladder. With everyone exhausted and alone in the ring, Joe Gacy was able to grab his titles to retain.
Becky Lynch brutalizes fellow Irish wrestler in NO DQ match to retain Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Following the chaos that was the TLC match, Becky Lynch made her way to the ring to defend her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Lyra Valkyria in a no disqualifications, no count outs match. Valkyria immediately began working on Lynch, likely trying to send a message to the reigning champion. Lynch then bounced Valkyria’s head off the announcer’s table before grabbing a kendo stick. Before Lynch could attack, Valkyria grabbed a crowbar, which shattered Lynch’s kendo stick. With both women out of the ring, Valkyria appeared to have the advantage. Lynch found a steel chain that she used to hold Valkyria to the post, via her mouth: a scary scene for the young wrestler. With Lynch in control, she began brutally assaulting Valkyria with a kendo stick. Lynch was unrelenting, grabbing a steel chair from under the ring and taking it directly to Valkyria’s spine. Lynch then set up the chair but failed her set up. It worked out though, when Valkyria ran herself face first into the seat. Lynch then discovered a a tool box and ziptied Valkyria’s hand together. Lynch managed to pin Valkyria to the post and punish her with a kendo stick, and then another kendo stick. Somehow, someway, Valkyria managed to get her arms around Lynch, locking her in, before slamming Lynch to the ground.
With Valkyria finding a moment of control, she began to slam Lynch’s head into a pair of steel chairs. Valkyria crawled under the ring and sprayed a fire extinguisher in Lynch’s face. With the makeshift handcuffs off, Valkyria brought the kendo stick back to give Lynch a taste of her own medicine. Lynch threaded Valkyria through a steel chair, repeatedly shoving her into the announcer’s table and the post. With a crowbar in Lynch’s hand, Bayley ran out and stopped Lynch from ending the match. Lynch attempted to goad Bayley into using the crowbar, but she refused. Bayley proceeded to yell about how lynch took everything from her and began an assault on Lynch. With Lynch distracted while setting up a table, Valkyria sent Lynch through the table. Back in the ring, Lynch worked her way back to the fight but was distracted by Bayley on the ropes. As Lynch ran towards Bayley, Valkyria followed: Bayley’s punch landed on Valkyria though, setting up Lynch for the pinfall to retain her title. Now, so long as Lynch remains champion, Valkyria will not be afforded a chance to fight for the title.
Solo Sikoa escapes the steel cage to retain the United States Championship but Jacob Fatu gets the last word
Bring down the steel cage: Solo Sikoa was set to defend his United States Championship against Jacob Fatu in a steel cage match, which can be won via pinfall, submission, or escaping the cage. At the ring of the bell, both men began staring the other down. Sikoa dominated much of the early stages of the match, exhibiting exactly why he is the one defending the title. Sikoa managed multiple pin attempts but Fatu would not give up. With Fatu on the ground, Sikoa signaled for the cage to be opened, but Fatu grabbed his ankle to prevent him from escaping. Sikoa continued his punishment and Fatu refused to say die. Fatu worked his way back up and managed two moonsaults from the top rope in a row. JC Mateo, Tala Tonga, and Tonga Loa ran to the ring, prompting Jimmy Uso to join the party as well.
With the Bloodline fighting outside the ring, Fatu demanded the door to the cage be locked: this was between him and Sikoa, only. Sikoa scaled his way to the top of the cage, trying to escape. After throwing Sikoa back down, Tonga handcuffed Fatu to the top of the cage, leaving Sikoa to escape. Fatu performed a magic trick to jump down from the top and escape the handcuffs to jump on Sikoa just before he won the match. After slamming the door on Tonga, he returned the favor, sending Fatu hurtling back. With Fatu winded, Sikoa was able to escape, retaining his title. After the match, Uso ran a boot to Mateo’s face, locking him in the ring with Fatu. From the top of the steel cage, Fatu executed one of the best moonsaults to send Mateo and Loa to the ground. While Fatu may not have won the match or the title, he proved a point.
Dominik Mysterio retains Intercontinental Championship with old-school moves
For the penultimate match of the night, AJ Styles would finally get his chance to win the Intercontinental Championship, currently held by Dominik Mysterio. Mysterio had been evading this match for months, claiming an ongoing injury and continuously shoving a doctor’s note in Styles’ face. Styles showed up, well, in style, arriving in a car with his son, Avery.
Styles made quick work in the opening minutes, specifically brutalizing Mysterio with a knee to the back. Mysterio was quick to bounce back and splash Styles. Not looking too happy with the youngster, Styles began using his athletic brand of wrestling to best Mysterio. After an attempted Phenomenal Forearm by Styles, Mysterio got him in position for a Michinoku Driver. Styles quickly recovered, but Mysterio found a way to swing through the ropes with a 619, his dad’s signature move. Styles forced Mysterio into a submission hold but could not finish the job. Mysterio grabbed a steel chair, but instead of hitting Styles, he laid down on the ground and handed Styles the chair. Styles, not taking the bait, flopped down onto the ring as well. Styles found another submission hold, the Calf Crusher, having Mysterio in the center of the ring. Mysterio lost his shoe in the escape but used it as a weapon against Styles. Fans discovered after that Mysterio intentionally unzipped his shoe. With one final frog splash, Mysterio earned a three-count to retain his title.
So far, each match had ended in a retention. What would come from the street fight main event between John Cena and Cody Rhodes?
