WWE’s biggest event of the summer, SummerSlam, is taking place Saturday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Saturday’s event is the 37th installment of the summer spectacle and marks the second time it’s been held in Ohio, the last time coming in 1996.
Following with recent WWE premium live event cards, less is likely going to be more, as there are just seven matches set to take place on the card. Of those seven, six will be for championships and all will be one-on-one affairs. The lone non-title match of the night is the payoff of an extended feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, dating back to the Royal Rumble in January of this year. In that match, Seth Rollins will serve as the special guest referee and has history with both competitors.
As for the main event, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will defend his title against Solo Sikoa in a “Bloodline Rules” match, adding yet another chapter to his ongoing saga with The Bloodline faction. Since winning at WrestleMania 40, Rhodes has defended his championship at every premium live event, with last month’s Money in the Bank being the lone exception.
On the women’s side, Rhea Ripley will look to reclaim the women’s world championship from Liv Morgan. Ripley relinquished her title after suffering a shoulder injury earlier this year and Morgan has tormented her ever since.
Undisputed WWE Championship Cody Rhodes (c.) vs. Solo Sikoa in a “Bloodline Rules” Match
World Heavyweight Championship Damian Priest (c.) vs. Gunther
WWE Women’s Championship Bayley (c.) vs. Nia Jax
Women’s World Championship Liv Morgan (c.) vs. Rhea Ripley
Intercontinental Championship Sami Zayn (c.) vs. Bron Breakker
United States Championship Logan Paul (c.) vs. LA Knight
Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk, with Seth Rollins as special guest referee
Undisputed WWE Championship Cody Rhodes (c.) vs. Solo Sikoa in a “Bloodline Rules” match The deck is stacked against Rhodes, more than in any other match during his championship reign. There were several references to Roman Reigns on Fridays episode of SmackDown, and making this match Bloodline Rules is just begging for a return of the Tribal Chief. This match will be hard-pressed to live up to the WrestleMania 40 main event fought under the same stipulations but should be a great finish to the show, with a potentially massive return helping Rhodes retain. Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains the Undisputed WWE Championship
World Heavyweight Championship Damian Priest (c.) vs. Gunther Priest has had a solid reign, but its clear that Gunther has been prepped to take his spot at the top of WWE by winning Raws biggest singles championship. This match has the potential to steal the show, with two relatively different styles clashing in the ring. Gunthers hard-hitting style and Priests more uptempo pace should make for a match of the year contender, but the title will change hands. Prediction: Gunther wins the World Heavyweight Championship
WWE Women’s Championship Bayley (c.) vs. Nia Jax The big question mark here is if Tiffany Stratton will cash in her new, custom Money in the Bank briefcase. If so, shes walking out of Cleveland as the WWE Womens Champion. Otherwise, I think Bayley will retain and potentially set up a showdown with a soon-to-return Charlotte Flair in the near future. Prediction: Bayley retains the WWE Womens Championship
Women’s World Championship Liv Morgan (c.) vs. Rhea Ripley Outside of the Rhodes-Sikoa match, no contest on the SummerSlam card has a more emotionally driven story than Morgan vs. Ripley. Morgan wont win clean here, but she could unexpectedly retain by a double-cross from Dominik Mysterio, adding even more heat to their characters and protecting Ripley in the process. On the flip side, Ripley could win and set up the next chapter of this storyline by attempting to beat down Morgan and Mysterio stopping her. Either way, it doesnt seem like were done here. Prediction: Morgan retains the Womens World Championship.
Intercontinental Championship Sami Zayn (c.) vs. Bron Breakker We saw this match last month at Money in the Bank, where Zayn was victorious. Although this is the first time hes been featured in a singles match at SummerSlam, I do think Zayn drops the belt to Breakker, who is very clearly on the upswing in WWE and has a very bright future. Plus, depending on the outcome of the Preist-Gunther match, we could see Zayn lose and have an almost immediate claim to face a newly crowned Gunther. Win-win. Prediction: Bron Breakker wins the Intercontinental Championship.
United States Championship Logan Paul (c.) vs. LA Knight I expect a solid showing from Paul and Knight. Its been a long run for Knight without a championship in WWE, so rather than overthinking things, Ill venture that ends tonight. Prediction: LA Knight wins the United States Championship.
Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk, with Seth Rollins as special guest referee Rollins will undoubtedly get involved here, and itll likely cost Punk a win over McIntyre. A win for McIntyre keeps him in the mix for the World Heavyweight Championship while we can get a brief Rollins-Punk feud (with some real-life beef included) before either makes a run to the top of the card. Prediction: Drew McIntyre wins.
The most personal feud on the card will kick off the action in Cleveland as Morgan and Ripley meet for the first time since the former injured the latter in the wake of WrestleMania 40.
What have this year’s setbacks meant to Mami ahead of #SummerSlam? pic.twitter.com/kfi1sCN1Yh
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024
On the SummerSlam pre-show, Michael Cole introduced new WWE commentary member Joe Tessitore and announced that Tessitore will be joining Monday Night Raw starting on September 2nd.
Cole will move to Friday Night Smackdown, which is also moving to USA Network in September as part of a larger WWE TV shakeup.
Here’s a look (with WWE graphics) at the full seven-match card for SummerSlam. Six championships are on the line and every match is a one-on-one affair.
It’s BLOODLINE RULES between Undisputed WWE Champion @CodyRhodes & Solo Sikoa with the title on the line TONIGHT at #SummerSlam!7PM ET/4PM PTStreaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else. https://t.co/xRBTNzqw23 https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/pbjGu1Up2L
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024
Intercontinental Champion @SamiZayn defends against a determined challenger in @bronbreakkerwwe TONIGHT at #SummerSlam!7PM ET/4PM PTStreaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else. https://t.co/xRBTNzqw23 https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/GCN44Zgq9A
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024
#USChampion @LoganPaul defends against @RealLAKnight TONIGHT at #SummerSlam!7PM ET/4PM PTStreaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else. https://t.co/xRBTNzr3RB https://t.co/aEwGYUpykc pic.twitter.com/tfkpFLnNIE
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024
It’s beyond personal TONIGHT at #SummerSlam when Women’s World Champion @YaOnlyLivvOnce defends against @RheaRipley_WWE!7PM ET/4PM PTStreaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else. https://t.co/xRBTNzqw23 https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/TxXtPoiWWc
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024
World Heavyweight Champion @ArcherOfInfamy defends against the 2024 King of the Ring @Gunther_AUT TONIGHT at #SummerSlam!7PM ET/4PM PTStreaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else. https://t.co/xRBTNzqw23 https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/VQUz9CbHg5
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024
CM Punk & @DMcIntyreWWE finally go one-on-one TONIGHT at #SummerSlam! PLUS: Special Guest Referee @WWERollins! 7PM ET/4PM PT Streaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else. https://t.co/xRBTNzqw23 https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/0HWIauq8xC
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024
TONIGHT at #SummerSlam:@itsBayleyWWE will defend the WWE Womens Championship against 2024 Queen of the Ring winner Nia Jax! 7PM ET/4PM PTStreaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else. https://t.co/8s9SQ767nd https://t.co/onrb1MripD pic.twitter.com/T8EZPGVywl
WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2024