With SummerSlam just a few weeks away, WWE was hard at work building out the card for the biggest show of the summer. Following an industry-altering weekend, WWE announced three additional championship matches for the first-ever two night SummerSlam card.
SummerSlam Updates: Three New Matches Added on Raw
Women’s World Championship: Naomi (C) vs Rhea Ripley vs IYO SKY
Evolution saw a new women’s champion crowned and she was out on Monday night to bask in her glow. Naomi opened Monday Night Raw to a decent crowd reaction but she wanted no parts of it. Those fans weren’t feeling the glow but she could bet they were feeling her now. She didn’t want their support of their thoughts. See they thought they knew what she was going to do. They thought she was going to cash in on Tiffany Stratton but no, she did something even better. Naomi told the crowd no one knows her next move except for her, but she warned them, all of them. Naomi said she was done with the foolishness of SmackDown and she was leaving Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill behind. Naomi said she outgrew Belair as Belair and Cargill never wanted her to be successful. They just wanted her to be the third wheel when it was convenient for them. Well, Naomi was done being anyone’s third wheel. She was the one who made history at Evolution not them, and now, she was there to put the entire Raw locker room on notice. It was time to proceed with caution.
Naomi was met by Rhea Ripley first, who said she’s not a cautious person. She’s reckless and she’s pissed. Ripley entered Evolution with two goals – to win back her world title and finally defeat IYO SKY. Thanks to Naomi, she wasn’t successful in either of those objectives. Ripley said Naomi was officially on her list. Before she could say anything else, SKY hit the ring telling Ripley to get to the back of the line as she was planning to regain her title from the woman who took it from her. Naomi said both Ripley and SKY could get to the very back of the line before the three women started bickering the ring.
This brought out Adam Pearce who gave everyone their flowers for their performances at Evolution. Pearce noted that Naomi never let the moment pass her by and she deserves the title. He added that SKY and Ripley created magic and he can understand why they’d be upset as Naomi’s cash in came at their expense. Pearce said this was the first-ever two night SummerSlam card and as great as Evolution was, he wants to make this bigger and better than that. He wants to blow the proverbial roof off the place so on the SummerSlam card it’s going to be Naomi vs Rhea Ripley vs IYO SKY.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (C) vs Lyra Valkyria
Becky Lynch, Bayley, and Lyra Valkyria put on an exceptional opener at Evolution on Sunday, kicking off what was an extraordinary night not just for women’s wrestling but for all of WWE. When asked about if WWE would make Evolution an annual thing, Triple H was bullish, instead saying that equality was less about an all-women’s PLE and more about letting these women shine night in and night out. Triple H said the women of WWE didn’t need an all-women’s card to do what they do best: show up and show out. And that’s exactly what Bayley and Valkyria did as they took part in a two-out-of-three falls match for the #1 contendership of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
As is normally the case in these kinds of matches, the first fall came quickly. Both Bayley and Valkyria looked for an early advantage and it was Bayley who took it when she slapped Valkyria, and stunned her with a quick roll up. Before Valkyria could figure out what had happened, she was down a fall with her back against the wall. But there is a reason why Valkyria is one of the top wrestlers in WWE, male or female. Valkyria responded well as she began to work Bayley’s arm and eventually her knee before Bayley started working Valkyria’s back including dropping her back first onto the apron. Bayley was showing a killer instinct but it was Valkyria who countered her pinning attempt to steal the second fall.
Both women showcased their incredible ability and athleticism as the crowd rallied behind them with dueling chants. There were some huge spots near the end as Bayley caught Valkyria coming off the ropes into the Bayley to Belly and Valkyria hit a huge powerbomb. Both resulted in nearfalls. Valkyria continued to work the knee after that as both women exchanged quick roll ups. Bayley hit Valkyria with a sunset flip into the steps. As the match neared its end, Bayley looked to have things won as she locked Valkyria in the cross face. Valkyria almost fought to the ropes but Bayley used them to kick back instead. This allowed Valkyria to get out of the hold and counter with the Nightwing for the third and decisive fall.
After the match ended, Lynch made her way to the ring and the two stared each other down. Lynch and Valkyria have already had two instant classics with the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line. Both have each won one. The SummerSlam card marks the rubber match in the series between these two.
World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (C) vs CM Punk
Gauntlet matches are star makers and that’s exactly what Bron Breakker was on the verge of on Monday night. Breakker received the unenviable position of starting the gauntlet first. The random draw saw him and Penta in the ring first. Breakker held the early edge but Penta wasn’t to be denied for long, eventually taking over using his unique brand of agility and power. The action ended up outside of the ring as Penta threw Breakker face first into the announce table. The action briefly headed back inside the ring before Penta attempted to whip Breakker into the barricade only for Breakker to reverse and send Penta crashing into it instead. From there, it was mostly all Breakker as he pressed Penta into the steel steps before doing the same thing back inside the ring. The match came to an end with a flurry of moves. Breakker signaled for the finish, setting up for the spear but Penta countered and hit a slingblade followed by an enziguiri and corner stomp. Penta looked like he might have the match won as he set up for the springboard but Breakker reversed it into a massive spear.
LA Knight was up next and took advantage of Breakker not being fresh. But Knight himself had admitted earlier in the night he was less than 100 percent as his ribs were banged up from Saturday and the last few weeks. Knight started quick, carrying much of the match through the first commercial break. Action once again left the ring as Knight sent Breakker into the announce table. Breakker returned the favor sending Knight ribs first into the table. For the rest of the match, Breakker targeted Knight’s injured ribs and midsection, sending him back first into the ring post on several occasions. Breakker continued to dominate after the break as the referee checked on Knight a few times. Knight fought back but at every turn Breakker was there to stop any momentum he had. The match ended after Knight hit a huge jumping elbow to Breakker leading to a nearfall that was followed up by Breakker getting an eye rake. This stunned Knight allowing Breakker the chance to hit the gutbuster and then another spear.
As Breakker looked to catch his breath, Jey Uso made his way out, immediately targeting him with a series of strikes. Uso had all of the momentum in the early going but he let Breakker off the hook, stopping several times to Yeet with the crowd. Uso dominated much of the match utilizing his unique style. However, one wrong move led to Breakker being able to re-capture the edge as he even began mocking Uso and the crowd. Uso and Breakker exchanged offense for a while after that with one of the biggest spots of the entire gauntlet match coming soon after as Uso kicked out of the Breakensteiner. This led into Uso hitting Breakker with superkicks and a spear of his own that Breakker just barely kicked out of. The match was pretty even until Reed got involved, knocking Uso off the top rope and allowing Breakker to set up a third match-winning spear. Commentary was quick to note that there are no DQs in a gauntlet match, something that would come into play again in the final bout.
CM Punk rushed the ring, not even bothering to take his ring jacket off before immediately going after Breakker. It was all Punk in the early going as once again, the action headed outside of the ring. Punk drove Breakker into the apron before hitting a series of axe handles from the top. Punk and Heyman exchanged words as it was clear Breakker was feeling the effects of the prior three matches. Punk took down Breakker on the outside as Reed and Heyman looked on. It seemed like things were going to be all-Punk as he began working Breakker’s arm, the same one that had been targeted earlier in the match. Punk hit the inverted atomic drop before climbing to the top rope where Breakker got his first real momentum of the match. He caught Punk off the rope and tossed him around several times before mocking him and eventually hitting another Breakensteiner. But Punk had it scouted as he rolled through and almost got the win. Punk followed up with a flying elbow that almost got a three-count but when it didn’t, he instantly transitioned into the anaconda vise. That’s when Reed hit the ring again to break up the pin. It seemed like Breakker was going to steal another win until Uso ran back out to even things up. He took out Reed as back in the ring, Breakker called for the spear but it seemed Punk was goading him into it as he countered the move with the GTS. CM Punk is headed to SummerSlam.
House shows and live events aside, this will be the first time Punk and Gunther will face each other. The two previously shared a ring in the 2024 Royal Rumble but other than that, they’ve not really been on opposite sides or even the same side of any sort of conflict. The SummerSlam card will certainly be interesting. Is it finally Punk’s moment or will Seth Rollins, through his heavies, continue to cost his mortal enemy at every turn?
Updated SummerSlam Card
Credit: WWE
- WWE Undisputed Championship: John Cena (C) vs Cody Rhodes
- World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (C) vs CM Punk
- Women’s World Championship: Naomi (C) vs Rhea Ripley vs IYO SKY
- Women’s WWE Championship: Tiffany Stratton (C) vs Jade Cargill
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (C) vs Lyra Valkyria
- Randy Orton/Jelly Roll vs Logan Paul/Drew McIntyre
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