Tag: WWE Summerslam

Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa Undisputed title match official for WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Josh Nason

The heated rivalry between Cody Rhodes and The Bloodline will continue at next month’s WWE SummerSlam as the promotion officially announced Wednesday that Rhodes will defend his Universal title against Solo Sikoa.

Rhodes agreed to the bout at the end of last Friday’s SmackDown, pending GM Nick Aldis’ storyline approval. A brawl then broke out between Rhodes, Sikoa and the rest of The Bloodline members. Randy Orton attempted to assist Rhodes, but was taken out and put through a table as Rhodes was forced to watch.

The PLE is set for Saturday, August 3rd from Cleveland, Ohio’s Browns Stadium.

After Roman Reigns’ defeat to Rhodes at this year’s WrestleMania, the former record-setting champion has disappeared and Sikoa subsequently elevated himself as the new Tribal Chief with the rapidly-changing faction that now includes Tonga Loa, Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu.

In a trios bout at this month’s Money in the Bank, Sikoa pinned Rhodes to help put the match into motion. The two have wrestled several times since March 2023 with two of them on TV (Raw in March 2023, SmackDown in June 2024). Sikoa has yet to beat him.

Rhodes has defended the title three times since his WrestleMania win.

Here’s the current SummerSlam card with both official and expected matches based on recent TV:

  • WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Solo Sikoa
  • WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damien Priest defends against Gunther
  • WWE Women’s Champion Bayley defends against Nia Jax
  • WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against Rhea Ripley
  • WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul defends against LA Knight
  • CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

Musical performance teased for WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It looks like a musical performance will be part of the lineup for WWE SummerSlam 2024.

“Dead End Road” and “Liar” by Jelly Roll are both official theme songs for this year’s SummerSlam. In a tweet yesterday, Paul “Triple H” Levesque teased that Jelly Roll will also be performing live at the Saturday, August 3 event in Cleveland.

“Btw, @JellyRoll615let me know if you’re free on Aug. 3 to play a few songs for the @WWEUniverse,” Levesque wrote.

“Sounds like a good time to me, Bubba!,” Jelly Roll responded. “I’ll have my people call your people!”

Jelly Roll blends country, rap, and hip hop in his music. He won Best New Artist in the 2023 Country Music Association Awards. When Raw took place in Nashville last November, Jelly Roll was featured on the show in an angle where he helped Randy Orton against The Judgment Day.

An inspirational figure, Jelly Roll spoke at a United States Senate hearing earlier this year about drug addiction and the dangers of fentanyl.

Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship is the latest match that’s been set up for SummerSlam.

Sami Zayn comedy show added to WWE SummerSlam weekend

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has confirmed another event that will be taking place in Cleveland during SummerSlam weekend.

The company announced today that Sami Zayn will host a comedy show at The Agora Cleveland on Friday, August 2, which is the day before SummerSlam. “Sami Zayn & Friends Do Cleveland” is the name of the show.

Zayn also performed at the Netflix is a Joke festival in Los Angeles this May and in Toronto during Money in the Bank week earlier this month.

“Sami Zayn & Friends Do Cleveland is a comedy and variety show featuring guests from the worlds of comedy, television and WWE. The debut show in Toronto featured WWE Superstars Cody Rhodes and Bayley, Johnny Knoxville and others,” WWE wrote.

Tickets are going on sale to the general public this Wednesday (July 17) at 10 a.m. Eastern time. Before that, a pre-sale will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

WWE noted that a limited number of post-show meet-and-greet tickets with Zayn are being put on sale as well.

The Agora Cleveland will also be the venue for a one-man show that The Undertaker is performing on the afternoon of August 3 before SummerSlam.

Zayn, who currently holds the Intercontinental Championship, has a title defense against Ilja Dragunov on Raw tonight. It’s expected that Zayn will defend against Bron Breakker at SummerSlam either in a one-on-one match or in a triple threat with Dragunov added.

Cleveland Browns Stadium will be the venue for SummerSlam.

Cody Rhodes to defend WWE title against Solo Sikoa at SummerSlam

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Cody Rhodes agreed to a title defense against Solo Sikoa at SummerSlam in a chaotic closing sequence on Friday’s SmackDown.

Jacob Fatu of Sikoa’s Bloodline faction attacked Tag Team Champions Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano following their title defense over A-Town Down Under in the SmackDown main event, setting the stage for a promo from Sikoa.

As Sikoa spoke surrounded by Fatu, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa, Rhodes entered and announced that he wanted to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sikoa at SummerSlam, pending official approval from GM Nick Aldis.

Rhodes then offered not to wait until SummerSlam, and squared up to The Bloodline. Rhodes quickly fell victim to a four-on-one attack. Randy Orton ran in for the save, but was put through the announce table by The Bloodline.

The Bloodline also tied Rhodes up in the ropes and forced him to watch as his ally Orton was put through the table. Video of the show-closing angle is embedded below.

LA Knight challenges Logan Paul for WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Ethan Renner

LA Knight has issued a challenge to the United States Champion for a match at SummerSlam.

Knight laid out a challenge to United States Champion Logan Paul on Friday’s WWE SmackDown episode, presenting a signed contract from SmackDown GM Nick Aldis for a title match against Paul at SummerSlam set for Saturday, August 3.

Paul will appear on next week’s SmackDown on Friday, July 19 to respond to the challenge from Knight.

Knight scored a victory over Paul in a Money in the Bank qualifying match on the June 28 SmackDown episode, pinning Paul with a handful of tights to qualify for last week’s Money in the Bank ladder match eventually won by Drew McIntyre.

Video of Knight’s promo challenging Paul is embedded below.

Knight has been an antagonist for Paul in WWE storylines for months, including doing a home invasion of Paul’s Puerto Rico mansion on SmackDown last month.

Update on matches planned for WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave a look at what the card for SummerSlam might look like.

Meltzer reports that, as of this week, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa and United States Champion Logan Paul vs. LA Knight are both earmarked for SummerSlam instead of Money in the Bank. SummerSlam is being held in Paul’s hometown of Cleveland on Saturday, August 3.

WWE is also hoping that CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre will take place at SummerSlam, but Meltzer notes that it depends on whether Punk is ready to return from his torn triceps by then:

The hope is that Punk vs. McIntyre will take place at SummerSlam on 8/3 in Cleveland, but we were told that as of right now it’s up in the air whether Punk would be ready by that date. It was emphasized to me that he could be ready but it’s not a sure thing.

Punk is set to appear on tonight’s SmackDown from Chicago.

The SummerSlam card will also feature Gunther challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship and Nia Jax challenging for the WWE Women’s Championship. Gunther and Jax earned those title shots by winning WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. As of now, it would be Damian Priest vs. Gunther and Bayley vs. Jax at SummerSlam.

Priest has a World Heavyweight Championship defense against Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank on July 6.

Report: WWE closing deal to bring WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam to Indianapolis

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE is close to announcing a multi-year deal that would bring three of its signature events to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, according to a report.

WrestleVotes reports that WWE and the Indiana Sports Corp are close to an agreement that would bring a future WrestleMania, a future SummerSlam, and the 2025 Royal Rumble to Indiana as part of a multi-year agreement. From WrestleVotes:

“WrestleVotes Exclusive: I’m told WWE & the Indiana Sports Corp are nearing a multi-event deal, starting with the 2025 Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, February 1st, 2025. In addition, the deal is likely to include a future WrestleMania & SummerSlam, which would both take place at Lucas Oil Stadium.“

WWE has already announced Las Vegas as the host city for WrestleMania in 2025, with Minneapolis set to host the first two-night SummerSlam next year.

Indianapolis last hosted WrestleMania 8 in 1992, and hosted SummerSlam in 2008. The state has never hosted a Royal Rumble event.

Lucas Oil Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts since opening in 2008. The venue has hosted the NCAA Final Four, a Super Bowl, and a College Football Playoff National Championship game in the past.

Wrestling Observer Live: Two-night SummerSlam, TKO division mergers, AEW and Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including TKO merging more divisions with likely layoffs to come, WWE moving SummerSlam to two-days in 2026, King and Queen of the Ring stips, tons of thoughts on AEW and the top segments on Dynamite, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Two-night WWE SummerSlam announced for Minneapolis in 2026

Posted on by Ian Carey

SummerSlam is coming to Minneapolis.

WWE announced on Thursday that its biggest event of the summer will take place over two nights in 2026. The event will take place at US Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, on August 1 & 2, 2026.

Minnesota was a finalist to land WrestleMania 41 until the event was announced for Las Vegas earlier this month. Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE) president and chief executive Wendy Blackshaw spoke to the Star Tribune and said they were told they did not get the event due to a “change in direction by new ownership.” However, Blackshaw would also say they are “optimistic that Minnesota will host WWE events here in the future.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE Universe to Minnesota for SummerSlam,” Blackshaw said in a press release on Thursday. “We will make this summertime wrestling extravaganza accessible for fans of all ages. Through a variety of festivities and ancillary events in the Twin Cities and affordable tickets to the main events at U.S. Bank Stadium, this will be a SummerSlam for all.”

“U.S. Bank Stadium is an absolutely world-class venue, situated in a city with rich wrestling history and an amazing fan base,” said Chris Legentil, WWE EVP, Talent Relations & Head of Communications. “We’re excited to bring two nights of SummerSlam to Minneapolis in 2026.” 

“U.S. Bank Stadium is honored to host WWE’s SummerSlam on Minnesota’s biggest stage in 2026,” said Michael Vekich, Chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. “We look forward to providing a warm welcome and best-in-class experience at U.S. Bank Stadium for WWE Superstars, staff, fans, and guests.”

WWE SummerSlam 2024 announced for Cleveland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE is bringing one of its biggest events to Cleveland this August.

It was announced today that SummerSlam 2024 will emanate from Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday, August 3. WWE had Logan Paul, who is originally from Cleveland, announce the news on his Impaulsive podcast.

“They wanted me to announce it, which I’m honored,” Paul said. “Because I’m just so excited for this summer. August 3 in Cleveland, Ohio. SummerSlam. WWE. At the Cleveland Browns Stadium. Unbelievable.”

Paul said he loves Cleveland and loves that he grew up there. Paul wants to make this one of the biggest events Cleveland has ever seen.

“Hopefully I get an opponent who I can bring the house down with,” Paul said.

Paul is currently the WWE United States Champion. He’s been feuding with Randy Orton and Kevin Owens in advance of WrestleMania 40.

This will be the first time Cleveland has hosted SummerSlam since 1996.

Paul also announced that, the night before SummerSlam, SmackDown will take place from Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Paul mentioned wanting other Cleveland celebrities like his brother Jake Paul, Machine Gun Kelly, and the NFL’s Kelce brothers (Jason & Travis Kelce) to be at SummerSlam. The event will air live on Peacock/WWE Network.

JNPO: Pro wrestling year in review – Triumph, tragedy & tribulations

Posted on by Josh Nason

On the latest entry into my JNPO pro wrestling year in review series, it’s time to wrap up summer with a look at August, joined this time by Rich Kraetsch of Voices of Wrestling.

It truly was a month of triumph and tragedy as the wrestling world mourned the sudden passing of WWE star Bray Wyatt at just 36 years old — just a day after one of the greatest of all time — Terry Funk — passed away at 79 years old.

It was a triumphant month for AEW thanks to the success of All In at London’s Wembley Stadium — a show that grossed $10+ million in revenue and saw more than 70,000 fans come through the turnstiles.

However, as seemed to be the case with a lot of AEW success, there were tribulations as CM Punk got into a backstage skirmish with “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry just minutes before he was set to kick off the PPV. It would be Punk’s final AEW appearance and Rich & I dive into all the other Punk-related drama through the month.

Join us for this hour+ deep dive into everything that happened in WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling, Japan, and more. 

I promise this is unlike any other year-end series you’ll hear or read, so catch up on the rest of the series in the archive.

Click Here to Listen

Report: Cleveland a ‘front-runner’ to host WWE SummerSlam 2024

Posted on by Ian Carey

WWE SummerSlam 2024 could be headed to Cleveland, Ohio.  

Fightful is reporting the city is in the running to land the event, citing sources within the city of Cleveland, as well as the Cleveland Browns. One WWE source is said to have referred to Cleveland as the “likely” host city.

It’s not clear what venue would host the event, though Cleveland Browns Stadium seems possible. WWE typically runs Rocket Morgage Fieldhouse when in the city. They were last there for the June 19 WWE Raw and are scheduled to be back on December 11. The last WWE premium live event to take place in Cleveland was Fastlane 2019, which was also held in Rocket Mortage Fieldhouse. 

WWE has been looking to increase site fees paid by governments to bring PLEs to their cities. It was revealed recently The St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida tourism board spent $500,000 to bring the 2024 Royal Rumble to Tropicana Field. The company received nearly $3 million from the Welsh Government for Clash at the Castle last year and $1.8 million from the Puerto Rico government for Backlash in May. 

Fight Game: Larry Dallas previews AAA TripleMania, AEW All In

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

With John LaRocca out this week, I am joined by AAA Triplemania play-by-play announcer Larry Dallas on this week’s Fight Game Podcast. 

Here are the things we discussed:

  • Larry’s big call this weekend at the final leg of the Triplemania series and a full preview of Saturday’s show
  • The fallout from last weekend’s WWE SummerSlam
  • Larry watching the show with Arda Ocal
  • WWE NXT’s surprising popularity
  • Matches booked so far for AEW All In
  • MJ & Adam Cole and if the angle is close to jumping the shark
  • Roderick Strong’s character in this angle

The show is on video on the F4W video channel for subscribers. 

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

August 14, 2023 Observer Newsletter: WWE SummerSlam recap, UFC’s antitrust suit moves forward

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

There was a lot to digest from one of the biggest nights of competition for the year on 8/5, led by SummerSlam and a Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz fight.

SummerSlam saw Roman Reigns retain the Universal title in the main event over Jey Uso, in a match that went 36:03 and featured tons of interference for the last ten minutes straight, including the supposed injured Jimmy Uso returning to turn on brother Jey, who Jey was defending in the first place.

A lot of people didn’t like it, and I can see why since the match went too long and the show went too long at four hours and 15 minutes. I expected Jimmy to turn on Jey based on television where they established Jimmy being jealous of Jey’s success but it was low-key and not thrown in your face. The match itself was more throwing out things to keep the storyline going with Jimmy and Jey now at odds and the inevitable Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa confrontation teased strongly when Reigns accidentally speared Sikoa.

Subscribers can read this week’s issue here.

Logan Paul praises Ricochet & Samantha Irvin following WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Ian Carey

Logan Paul had some kind words to say regarding Ricochet and Samantha Irvin on his podcast. 

The 28-year-old was sporting a black eye as he spoke about his SummerSlam experience on Tuesday’s edition of Impaulsive. Paul said he received the injury after getting kicked in the face early in the match. 

“SummerSlam was fun,” Paul said. “I was really tired in there, I was exhausted for some reason and especially trying to focus on the match and perform while I’m tired and also knowing the weight of the night ahead because that wasn’t even the most exciting part of the night for me. We got a f—in flight to Dallas to get to. I literally exited the ring still sweating, huffing, and puffing into the SUV onto the jet to Dallas. Made it with time to spare. It was a night to remember.”

Paul continued to talk about Irvin providing one of the most viral moments from their match when she announced him as the winner. 

“I think we got the most viewed social clip as well. Well, not ‘we’, well, I was in it. Samantha Irvin, the ring announcer, who was my opponent’s fiance. I was kind of taunting her beforehand. I was like, ‘You know you’re gonna be saying Logan Paul’s the winner after I beat your man.’ And there’s a video of her announcing me winning the match after, ‘And your winner is Logan Paul!’ And she has just a look of torture and sadness, despair on her face but it’s still delivering that energy of a ring announcer and I think that clip got like 30 million plus views or so.”

“People really responded to our match,” Paul continued. “Ricochet is so good, the guy’s so good. He made it easy to look good. It was a fun match and I’m interested to see how this conversation continues in my WWE career story arc with this boxing weaving in. I want to hop back and forth, I don’t know if it’s ever been done.”

Paul is scheduled to face MMA fighter Dillon Danis in a boxing bout on October 14 in Manchester. It will be his first fight since going eight rounds with Floyd Mayweather in an unscored exhibition bout on June 6, 2021. 

Paul recently said he was close to fighting Nate Diaz but things fell apart after WWE got involved.