Top 5 Matches We’re Most Excited For at WWE: SummerSlam 2024
The summer’s biggest party, WWE: SummerSlam, goes down Sat., Aug. 3. Here's a preview of what to look for, plus how to order the PPV with Sling TV.
In wrestling, there is no arguing with WrestleMania’s place at the top of WWE food chain. While not quite the billing of the showcase of the immortals, the summer’s biggest party, SummerSlam boasts a rich history of its own. From monumental clashes such as John Cena vs. CM Punk, Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, and even Bret Hart’s clashes with the British Bulldog and brother Owen Hart, SummerSlam has long established itself as pivot point in the WWE calendar. This year’s card comes in hotter than July in Colorado (currently 98 degrees as we write this):
WWE Undisputed Title Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sokoa
WWE Women’s World Title Match: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: Damian Priest vs. Gunther
WWE Women’s Title Match: Bayley vs. Nia Jax
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
WWE US Title Match: Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre w/ Seth Rollins as the special guest referee
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gyn7ZRxT4yw?si=I_7b9MwlxC6OxuER
The combatants lock up beginning Saturday, August 3 at 8:00pm ET from the home of the Cleveland Browns. Which contestants will rock their way to the hall of fame, and who will leave Cleveland feeling like a mistake on the lake? Order the WWE: SummerSlam 2024 PPV for $44.99 with Sling (navigate to “On Demand” and click the “Rentals” tab in the Sling app), or just click the link below to find out!
Match #1 - WWE Women’s World Title Match: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
https://www.youtube.com/embed/m1dXqC_yTDs?si=27NojGRKpB3Do-6N
The story - It is one thing to knock someone out of action with an injury. It is another for that injury to force the victim to vacate their championship. It's yet another level to make moves on their man while the victim is on the shelf. Clearly, just obtaining the world title and putting Rhea Ripley on the shelf was not enough of a salve for Liv Morgan’s longstanding desire for revenge against her former partner. Over several months, she gradually wormed her way into the Judgment Day’s company, focusing the lion share of her effort on Rhea’s on-screen squeeze, Dirty Dominik Mysterio. This pursuit almost culminated with a kiss, before an enraged Ripley returned to break up the action. Now with Dominik caught in the middle (we aren’t getting a 'Dominik on a pole' match, thank goodness), these two finally clash with the Women’s World Title at stake. Will Liv execute her final coup de grace on Rhea? Or will the riptides be too much for the champion? After all, Mami is always on top.
Why we’re excited - It would be one thing if this was just a match between two of our favorite wrestlers. Instead, this match also comes with a fascinating, multi-layered story. These two have history and Liv’s revenge tour against Rhea was only the most recent back-and-forth between the two. There was already plenty of motivation, and then throw in the complication of Dominik Mysterio and the Judgment Day. Liv doesn’t just want to defeat Ripley, she wants to take everything from her. At this point, we’d say the feeling is mutual.
Match #2 - CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre w/ Seth Rollins as the special guest referee
The story - Oh man, where do we even start with this one? We suppose a good place would be when CM Punk initially returned to WWE, to the obvious chagrin of both Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. The Second City Saint has done nothing to patch things up with Drew; despite being injured, Punk has cost McIntyre a Title on at least three separate occasions, even going so far to don a referee’s uniform to screw McIntyre out of glory in front of his countrymen at Clash in the Castle. The most recent hijinks involved Punk disrupting a Money In the Bank cash-in, which “inadvertently” screwed Seth over and allowed Damian Priest to escape with his championship. How does wrestling solve these interpersonal issues? By putting them all in the ring at the same time. Workplace conflict resolution at its finest.
Why we’re excited - This feud is not only hot in the ring, it has spilled into everyday life. For as much as Punk has messed with Drew in the ring, Drew has hit back just as hard on social media, even taking a picture with former Punk adversary and AEW pillar “The Scapegoat” Jack Perry. It is incredible storytelling to see just how many facets have been built in this story. In a way, it traces its roots back to CM Punk’s original run with WWE, with Seth and Drew representing the animosity that some wrestlers clearly had while waiting for the controversial superstar’s return. How much of the drama is there to feed the action in the ring and how much of it is actually legitimate? We honestly have no idea. What we do know is that no one will be pulling their punches in this one.
Match #3 - WWE Undisputed Title Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sokoa
https://www.youtube.com/embed/EjpUEMhYaUA?si=qi4zsGvLJIj_JzE-
The story - If you are reading this, you are likely familiar with the saga that is the Bloodline, so let’s pick things up after Cody Rhodes managed to end Roman’s historic Reign. Following Roman’s subsequent hiatus, Solo Sokoa took over leadership of the Bloodline, and like many new management teams, he's made some changes. Between kicking Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman out, and bringing in familial reinforcements in the brutal Tongas and Jacob Fatu, it is Solo’s show now. While Roman’s version of the Bloodline was certainly historic, there is a certain savage brutality this new regime brings. That being said, the American Nightmare was able to finish the story and certainly doesn’t want this chapter to end. Can Solo cement his hold on the Bloodline by overcoming the man that vanquished Roman Reigns? Or will Cody Rhodes continue his historic main event run atop the WWE card?
Why we’re excited - The Bloodline is arguably one of the best storylines in modern day wrestling. With Roman going on hiatus, it was certainly intriguing to see what direction the group would go in, but Sokoa has really put his stamp on the group. Winning over Cody would only continue to build his resume (he already has tag team win against Rhodes), but we are just as interested in the players surrounding this match. We have a feeling Randy Orton won’t take the brutal powerbomb from the Bloodline lightly. And then there is Paul Heyman. What tricks does the Wiseman have up his sleeve? He certainly has a rolodex of potential allies to help him, should he choose this moment to exact revenge. While Rhodes is outnumbered, help isn’t too far away. What form that takes is anyone’s guess.
Match #4 - WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
The story - If there is one thing we’ve learned in the last couple months, it is that Bron Breakker does not take defeat well. After coming up short to Sami Zayn at Money in the Bank, Bron has been on the warpath, wrecking everyone in his way, even beating Ilja Dragunov so badly that it forced a referee stoppage. As the number one contender to the Intercontinental Title, will the Bron train run through Sami? Or will Zayn have another trick up his sleeve to slow down the second-generation superstar? We just hope Sami brings some rib protection.
Why we’re excited - We won’t complicate this: We love the Steiners (the documentary about them on A&E On-Demand is amazing). Wrestling isn’t always generic, but Bron combines the stiffness of his father with the early-career athleticism and late-career rage of his uncle. That being said, Sami Zayn is rarely the biggest guy in the ring. We will be just as intrigued by what the former honorary Uce devises to slow down the nigh-unstoppable Breakker.
Match #5 - WWE US Title Match: Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
https://www.youtube.com/embed/sNpCPUMYtec?si=JyLGygmcuBY7DesX
The story - The rivalry between Logan Paul and LA Knight has gone for months, with LA Knight even making a house call to Paul’s mansion in an effort to secure a title shot. While LA Knight fell short in the Money in the Bank Ladder match (which would have granted him a free shot at Logan), Knight did pin Logan to earn his spot in that match, a detail the Megastar did not overlook. This led to LA finally getting his opportunity against the social media Maverick. Will this be LA Knight’s shot at finally securing gold in the WWE? Or, against a man who is used to being viewed by millions, will Knight fall short under the bright lights?
Why we’re excited - LA Knight’s run up to this moment has been anything but linear. Once an afterthought during the Vince Mcmahon era (even running a modeling agency), he leveraged a genuine connection with the crowd and an intuitive catchphrase ("YEAH!") to build momentum. That being said, he has yet to claim gold. Opposing him is a man who is many ways his opposite. Due to his well established Social Media fame, Logan Paul came into the WWE with plenty of hype and fanfare. Unlike many celebrity guest spots, Paul put in the work, and not only hangs with his opponents, but creates some amazing moments. We would never have expected either of these guys to be in this position three years ago, making this a pivotal cross-roads that could honestly go either way.