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Matt Hardy Begins Working as a WWE Producer

Staff
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It appears WWE Superstar Matt Hardy began working as a backstage producer/agent at Sunday’s SummerSlam pay-per-view.

Last week, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported Matt Hardy will be taking extended time off soon to deal with several nagging injuries. His health will be re-evaluated later this year. At this time, there is no reason to assume Matt’s career is over. However, the report indicated that Matt Hardy’s in-ring future is in question.

With a long road ahead, the Woken one has been gearing up for the next chapter of his career. Hardy has been “shadowing” WWE producers, which could result in him transitioning to a backstage role full-time. Matt Hardy is a 25-year veteran and is considered to have a very high wrestling IQ. He has a wealth of knowledge to contribute to WWE storylines and could have a long future ahead with the company.

On Sunday afternoon, he tweeted that it was strange to be at SummerSlam in a ‘different capacity.’ Matt later tweeted this photo of himself with WWE broadcaster Mike Rome working together backstage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

We’ll keep you posted as we learn more about Matt Hardy’s new backstage role.

Ronda Rousey Reacts To RAW Women’s Title Win

Andrew Ravens
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Ronda Rousey was able to capture her first WWE Title when she beat Alexa Bliss for the WWE RAW Women’s Title at Sunday’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view from Brooklyn, New York.

After her victory, former UFC star spoke to Cathy Kelley backstage. Rousey explained that winning the championship wasn’t just her accomplishment. In fact, see feels it was a torch that has been passed to her from all of the women who held the title before her.

Watch: Ronda Rousey reflects on winning the RAW Women’s Championship:

That was Sunday night, after the win. On Monday afternoon, with some time to reflect on the magnitude of her achievement, Rousey posted another statement on Twitter. Rousey wrote:

“The creativity of fate never ceases to amaze me. I do not take this responsibility lightly. I will devote every fiber of my being to carry on and elevate the legacy of the scores of women who gave their bodies and hearts to the WWE to get us this far.”

WWE’s next pay-per-view offering is Hell in a Cell, which takes place on Sunday, September 16th from San Antonio, Texas. It remains to be seen when if former champion Alexa Bliss will seek a rematch against Rousey.

Even if Rousey does not defend the RAW Women’s Championship at Hell in a Cell, it won’t be long before her next high-profile bout. October features two huge events for WWE, one of which is sure to feature Rousey in a big way.

On October 6th, WWE heads ‘down under’ for Super Show-Down at the Melbourne Cricket Ground stadium in East Melbourne, Australia. Later that month, WWE presents its first-ever all-women’s pay-per-view event, Evolution.

The Miz Calls Daniel Bryan’s Return A Bust, Charlotte Flair On Ronda Rousey

Andrew Ravens
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The Miz Calls Daniel Bryan’s Return A Bust

The Miz pulled off the upset victory over Daniel Bryan after hitting him in the head with brass knuckles after his wife, Maryse, gave the weapon to him while Bryan went for an outside dive at Sunday’s (August 19, 2018) WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center on the WWE Network.

WWE will likely book them in a rematch at the upcoming Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event. After the event, Miz was interviewed about the match where he called Bryan’s return a bust, which you can watch here:

Charlotte Flair On Ronda Rousey

Despite having her title match at SummerSlam, Charlotte Flair took the time to congratulate newly crowned WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey for beating Alexa Bliss to capture the title.

Earlier in the show, Flair lost to Carmella and Becky Lynch in a triple threat match with the SmackDown Women’s Title being on the line. Flair, who is rumored to face Rousey at WrestleMania 35 next year, tweeted out the following on her official Twitter account:

“She’s been a record-breaking, history-making, and a trail-blazing athlete. @RondaRousey doesn’t rest on her legacy, she’s paving her own future. Congratulations, Champ. #SummerSlam #AndNew.”

What were your thoughts on the match between Miz and Bryan? Did it live up to your expectations? Sound off in the comment section.

AJ Styles Apologizes To His Family After SummerSlam

Chris Stephens
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1

Samoa Joe defeated WWE Champion AJ Styles last night via disqualification.

Joe has been taunting Styles for abandoning his family in order to be WWE Champion. This reached a boiling point last night when Styles’ family were watching ringside. Joe grabbed the mic mid-match and proclaimed to Styles’ daughter that if “Daddy” wasn’t coming home that he would be her new daddy.

This set Styles into a rage and he would later be disqualified for using a steel chair on Joe. Styles then left the arena along with his wife and daughter.

WWE cameras caught up to Styles as he was leaving and captured his apology to his family on video.

AJ Styles’ WWE Championship Reign

Last week, AJ Styles made history when he became the longest-running champion in SmackDown history. Styles’ WWE Championship reign began on November 7th, 2017 when he defeated Jinder Mahal in Manchester, England. Since then, he has defended the title 9 times on WWE programming:

  1. Styles defeated Jinder Mahal (Clash of Champions 2017)
  2. AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn – 2-on-1 Handicap match (Royal Rumble 2018)
  3. Styles defeated Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, John Cena, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn – 6-Pack Challenge (Fastlane 2018)
  4. AJ Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (WrestleMania 34)
  5. Double Count Out against Shinsuke Nakamura (Greatest Royal Rumble)
  6. No Contest against Shinsuke Nakamura (Backlash 2018)
  7. defeated Shinsuke Nakamura – Last Man Standing (Money in the Bank 2018)
  8. defeated Rusev (Extreme Rules 2018)
  9. lost to Samoa Joe via DQ (Summerslam 2018)

Cormier On Lesnar’s SummerSlam Physique: “Old Brock Is Looking Smaller”

Matt Boone
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It looks like Brock Lesnar is preparing to pass USADA testing ahead of his rumored UFC return.

Daniel Cormier, the reigning UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion rumored to be fighting Lesnar in his Octagon return, took to social media last night to comment on the size of “The Beast Incarnate.”

While watching WWE SummerSlam on Sunday night, Cormier took to Twitter to comment on Lesnar “looking smaller [through] the middle.”

“Old Brock is looking smaller thru the middle,” wrote the UFC double-champ while watching SummerSlam. “He getting ready to really come and get that ass whipped!!!! Have fun in this [WWE] title match because when we clash I’m in that ass!!!!”

Following the conclusion of the match, which saw Roman Reigns defeat Lesnar to capture the WWE Universal Championship, Cormier returned to Twitter with one more Lesnar-tweet.

“No more title now he can come and chase mine!!!! Sorry [Brock Lesnar] result will be the same!!!!”

Lesnar has several months remaining on his outstanding USADA/UFC suspension, and will be tested regularly leading up to his Octagon return. Lesnar vs. Cormier is rumored to go down in the UFC in the first-half of 2019.

Make sure to visit our MMA affiliate website MMANews.com for the latest news and rumors regarding Brock Lesnar’s UFC return.

  • For complete WWE SummerSlam results from Sunday night, click here.

What are your thoughts on Brock Lesnar and his rumored UFC return? How about the Lesnar vs. Cormier fight? Sound off in the Comments section below.

Finn Balor’s Demon Returns At Summerslam, Defeats Baron Corbin In Under 2 Minutes

Chris Stephens
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Finn Balor once again wore the Demon face and body paint last night at Summerslam. He then defeated Constable Corbin in just 1 minute and 35 seconds.

The last time the WWE Universe had seen the Demon was at the 2017 TLC pay-per-view. The October 22nd, 2017 show was changed last-minute due to several Superstars falling ill. Balor’s poorly-reviewed rivalry with Bray Wyatt centering on each character’s alter-ego was scrapped when Wyatt was pulled from the show.

Instead, Balor’s Demon defeated AJ Styles that night. Last night at Summerslam, the Demon made a surprise return:

Finn Balor’s Demon

Balor discussed why the Demon character is used so rarely in an interview last year.

“The Demon character is something I draw on occasion,” Balor told the Australian media. “It’s something that requires a lot of focus to tap into and really requires the right situation for me to sort of draw on that darker side of my personality.”

“Since I’ve been back on Raw, the opportunity hasn’t really presented itself to tap into that side,” he continued. “I’ve had such a good time being back I haven’t wanted to change. I quite like walking out in my sweet new Balor club jacket. popping my collar and being Mr. Cool.”

Summerslam was the 3rd time Balor and Corbin have faced each other in single’s action on WWE programming. Balor leads the all-time series 2 wins to 1.

https://twitter.com/finnbalor/status/1031365619994832898?s=12

Luke Gallows & Nia Jax Are Dating

Chris Stephens
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Over the weekend, Luke Gallows revealed that he is currently dating fellow Superstar Nia Jax.

Luke Gallows and Nia Jax

Neither Luke Gallows nor Nia Jax competed at SummerSlam. Nia Jax lost the Raw Women’s Championship at Money in the Bank earlier this year to Alexa Bliss, who was cashing in the MITB briefcase she won previously that night. Jax was about to be locked in an armbar by Ronda Rousey at the time Bliss cashed in the briefcase.

Jax was given a rematch against Bliss at Extreme Rules but again lost to her longtime rival. She had previously defeated Bliss at both WrestleMania 34 and Backlash 2018.

As for Luke Gallows, the Club failed to defeat the Bludgeon Brother for the Smackdown tag-team championships on two successive occasions this year. The last time Gallows and Anderson wrestled was in a dark match on Tuesday night. They teamed with their fellow club member, AJ Styles, and defeated Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Samoa Joe after 205 Live.

Roman Reigns’ First Comments After Defeating Brock Lesnar

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Big Dog has done it. After spending a year and a half in the buildup, WWE finally pulled the trigger on Roman Reigns’ Universal title win and he defeated Brock Lesnar at the SummerSlam PPV. After the show, the new Universal Champion was interviewed backstage and Roman discussed his monumental victory among other things.

Reigns recalled his promo from a recent Raw episode from Miami and said that if he hadn’t defeated the Beast Incarnate then he would have to find a new job because he is a man of his word.

Talking about the Monster Among Men Braun Strowman being at the ringside for their bout, Roman said that Braun’s presence added a whole new element to the game. Finally, the new Champion discussed his future and claimed that he will be ready for any test that pops up in front of him coming this Monday on Raw.

You can check out the full interview of Roman Reigns in the video below:

As we noted before, Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens is one of the matches which are being advertised for the upcoming Hell In A Cell PPV next month.

While not confirmed, after Roman’s victory it’s very much possible that Owens emerges as the first challenger for the new Champion in near future.

10 Takeaways From WWE SummerSlam 2018

Robert Lentini
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WWE SummerSlam 2018 aired live from at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Kickoff Show Results:

  • Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega def. Rusev & Lana
  • Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander (c) def. Drew Gulak
  • RAW Tag Team Championship: The B-Team (c) def. The Revival

Here are 10 takeaways from WWE SummerSlam 2018:

Seth Rollins Won The Intercontinental Championship

Seth Rollins IC Champion SummerSlam

Dolph Ziggler defended the Intercontinental Championship against Seth Rollins tonight in the first match of WWE SummerSlam 2018. Dean Ambrose and Drew McIntyre were ringside for the match.

Rollins and Ziggler started off the match by locking up in the middle of the ring. Ambrose and McIntyre had a stare down outside the ring as Rollins rolled up Dolph for a two count. Ziggler then rolled out of the ring to regroup and have a conversation with McIntyre.

Back in the ring, Seth connected with a Hip Toss and Dolph once again rolled out of the ring to regroup. McIntyre and Ambrose got in each other’s face once again as the action returned to the ring. Seth hit Dolph’s chest with a chop in the corner and taunted McIntyre while doing so.

Ziggler capitalized on Seth being distracted by McIntyre and hit him with a Neckbreaker for a two count. Dolph then targetted Seth’s knee and stomped on it a few times as the crowd chanted “let’s go Rollins!”. Ziggler slammed Seth on the apron and Rollins crumbled to the floor outside the ring.

McIntyre and Ambrose got in each other’s face once again as Dolph rolled Seth back inside the ring. Ziggler applied a Headlock in the center of the ring as the crowd got behind Rollins. Seth quickly battled to his feet but Ziggler brought him right back down to the canvas.

After a few minutes, Rollins was finally able to escape with a Jawbreaker and then charged at Dolph but Ziggler was ready and delivered a Back Body Drop to Seth that sent him flying out of the ring. Dolph brought him back into the ring and made his way up to the top turnbuckle. Ziggler went for a Crossbody but Rollins rolled through and lifted Dolph up for a Suplex. Rollins was too close to the top rope and both Superstars went tumbling over the top rope and to the floor outside.

Back in the ring, Rollins connected with a Slingblade but Dolph responded with a roll-up attempt but Seth kicked out at two. Seth quickly hopped to the second rope and leveled Ziggler with a Blockbuster for a near fall. Seth made his way up the turnbuckle but Ziggler got up and tripped Rollins up.

Ziggler joined Rollins on the top rope and went for a Superplex but Seth blocked it. Rollins headbutted Dolph to the canvas and climbed back up to the top but Ziggler rolled out of the ring. Seth then Clotheslined Dolph out of the ring and hit him with a Suicide Dive. Rollins brought Dolph back into the ring and hit him with a Clothesline off the top rope and followed it up with the Ripcord Knee for a two count.

Rollins went for a Buckle Bomb but Ziggler connected with a couple of punches to prevent it. Ziggler then applied a Sleeper Hold but Rollins threw Dolph to the ring apron to break the hold. Ziggler then slammed Seth throat-first on the top rope and shouted “now we finish this!” on the apron. Dolph booted Rollins into the ring post and followed it up with a DDT on the ring apron that sent Rollins to the floor outside the ring.

Seth made it back it the ring to break the referee’s count at the last second. Ziggler went for a Zig Zag but Rollins held onto the ropes and hit Dolph with a Superkick. Seth climbed to the top rope and went for a Frog Splash but Ziggler got his knees up. Ziggler then went for a roll-up but Rollins was able to kick out at two.

Dolph went for the Fameasser but Rollins caught him and perched Ziggler on the top turnbuckle. Ziggler elbowed Rollins to the mat but Seth hopped back up and hit him with an inverted Superplex and followed it up with the Falcon Arrow for a near fall. The crowd got on their feet and applauded as the match continued.

Seth geared up for the Stomp but got distracted by McIntyre throwing Ambrose into the steel steps. Dolph capitalized and connected with the Zig Zag and went for the cover but Rollins was somehow able to kick out at two.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031322441312862208

Rollins deadlifted Ziggler and connected with a Buckle Bomb. McIntyre hopped up on the ring apron but Dean got up and planted Drew with Dirty Deeds. Rollins then hit Ziggler with a Superkick and followed it up with the Stomp for the pinfall victory in a terrific match. Seth Rollins is the new Intercontinental Champion and celebrated with Ambrose following the match.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031323054629154816

The Bludgeon Brothers Are Still The Champs

Bludgeon Brothers WWE SummerSlam 2018

The Bludgeon Brothers defended the SmackDown Tag Team Championships against New Day tonight at WWE SummerSlam. Big E and Xavier Woods fought in the match as Kofi Kingston was ringside. Harper and Woods started off the match and Harper dominated early. Harper connected with a boot to the face and then applied a Headlock.

Woods broke free but Harper sent him back to the canvas before tagging in Rowan. Rowan hit Woods with a Splash and went for the cover but Xavier was able to kick out at two. Rowan followed it up with a Backbreaker before tagging Harper back into the match. Harper leaped into the ring and hit a Senton for a two count.

Rowan tagged in and knocked Big E off the ring apron. Harper then Body Slammed Rowan on top of Big E and then went after Woods. Harper tried to Powerbomb Woods on top of the steel steps but Xavier escaped and slammed Harper into the steps. Woods returned to the ring and tried to crawl towards Big E to make the tag.

Big E tagged in and hit Harper and Rowan with back to back Belly to Belly Suplexes. Big E brought Harper back into the ring and hit him with a third Belly to Belly Suplex. Big E followed it up with a Splash but Harper battled back with a Body Slam for a near fall. Rowan tagged back in and charged at Big E in the corner but Big E got out of the way and Rowan crashed into the ring post.

Woods hit Rowan with a Suicide Dive but turned around into a slam from Harper. Big E then took out Harper with a Spear to through the ropes. Rowan then hopped back up on the ring apron and leaped onto Big E. Back in the ring, Harper tagged in and lifted Big E up with Rowan and planted him with the Crucifix Bomb. Woods leaped in the ring and broke up the pinfall and then tagged in.

Rowan held Woods up as Harper headbutted him several times. Harper then Powerbombed Woods and went for the cover but Woods was somehow able to kick out at two. Rowan planted Kofi with a Back Body Drop but then Big E hit Rowan with the Big Ending outside the ring. Big E tagged in as Harper booted Woods out of the ring.

Big E threw Harper to the floor outside the ring as Woods set up under him and hit a Backbreaker. Woods tagged in and climbed to the top rope as Harper rolled to the floor outside the ring. Xavier leaped off the top rope and connected with a giant Elbow Drop on Harper. Woods rolled Harper back into the ring and Big E tagged in. Big E lifted Harper onto his shoulders as Woods made his way back up to the top rope.

Rowan hopped up on the ring apron and blasted Woods with a mallet. Rowan then hit Big E with the mallet as the match ended in a disqualification. Harper then struck Big E one more time with the mallet as New Day were announced as the winners of the match. The Bludgeon Brothers remain SmackDown Tag Team Champions despite losing the match via DQ.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031327568467845120

Braun Strowman Destroyed Kevin Owens

Braun Strowman SummerSlam 18

Braun Strowman put his MITB contract on the line tonight against Kevin Owens. If Strowman lost the match in any fashion, Owens would earn the right for a title match at a time of his choosing.

Strowman drove Owens to the corner of the ring and hit him with two Splashes in a row to start off the match. Owens rolled out of the ring to regroup but Braun followed him and hit him with a shoulder tackle that sent Owens flying into the barricade. Strowman hit Owens with a second shoulder tackle and then brought him back to the ring.

Owens rolled out of the ring and hit Strowman with a Superkick but Braun shrugged it off. Strowman delivered a Chokeslam to Owens on the entrance ramp and quickly brought him back to the ring. Braun then planted Owens with a Running Powerslam to win the match.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031330421001338880

Charlotte Won The Title & Becky Lynch Snapped

Becky Lynch Charlotte SummerSlam

Carmella defended her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte and Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat match tonight at WWE SummerSlam. Carmella blasted Becky in the face to start off the match. Lynch battled back and hit a Leg Drop. Carmella battled back with a Dropkick and went for the cover but Charlotte broke it up.

Carmella slapped Becky in the back of the head but Lynch thought it was Charlotte. Becky planted Carmella with a Hip Toss and started arguing with Flair. Becky then tried to roll-up Charlotte but Flair kicked out at two. Becky hit Charlotte with a couple of Hip Tosses and then went for the Dis-Arm-Her but Flair countered into a roll-up for a two count.

Carmella dragged Charlotte out of the ring and threw Flair into the ring post. Carmella then launched Lynch into the steel steps and taunted them before bringing Becky back into the ring. She then applied a Headlock to Lynch but Becky quickly broke the hold by slamming Carmella into the turnbuckle. Carmella battled back with a Clothesline as Charlotte got back into the ring. Carmella slammed Flair to the canvas by her hair and then trapped Charlotte in a Headlock.

Becky snuck up behind Carmella and went for a roll-up but Carmella kicked out at two. Carmella hit Lynch with a Dropkick and then shoved Lynch’s face into the canvas. Carmella shouted at Lynch that she will never be champion and then slapped her in the face. Charlotte got back into the ring and tried to boot Carmella in the face but she ducked and Flair booted Lynch in the face.

Charlotte hit Carmella with a few chops and followed it up with a Fallaway Slam. Flair then hit a Belly to Back Suplex and set up for the Figure Four. Carmella booted Charlotte towards the apron and Becky greeted Flair with a knee to the face. Lynch made her way to the top rope and delivered a double Dropkick to Flair and Lynch.

Becky took out Carmella with a Clothesline and followed it up with an Exploder Suplex. Lynch made her way to the top rope but Carmella leaned on the top rope and Lynch fell to the turnbuckle. Carmella then slammed her to the mat and went for the cover but Becky kicked out at two.

Charlotte got into the ring and hit Lynch and Carmella with a Spear. Flair slammed Carmella face-first in the middle of the ring and locked in a Boston Crab. Charlotte then transitioned to the Figure Four as Becky climbed to the top rope. Lynch delivered a Leg Drop to Flair and went for the cover but Carmella was able to kick out at two.

Lynch and Carmella then traded shots in the middle of the ring. Carmella sent Lynch to the apron and then knocked her to the floor outside. Carmella leaped through the ropes and hit Lynch with a Crossbody as Flair climbed up the turnbuckle. Flair took Lynch and Carmella out with a spinning Moonsault and then brought Becky back into the ring. Flair went for Natural Selection but Becky countered into the Dis-Arm-Her but Carmella broke it up.

Becky launched Carmella out of the ring and planted Charlotte with an Uranage. Becky went for the cover but Carmella broke it up and slammed Lynch’s face into the turnbuckle. Carmella followed it up with a Superkick and went for the cover but Charlotte broke it up at the last second. Carmella then booted Charlotte in the face and Flair tumbled out of the ring. Becky then trapped Carmella in the Dis-Arm-Her but Carmella was able to reach the ropes to break the hold.

Lynch then hit an Exploder Suplex to Carmella and locked in the Dis-Arm-Her once again. Flair got back into the ring and hit Lynch with the Natural Selection for the pinfall victory. After the match, Flair and Lynch shared a hug in the middle of the ring as the crowd booed. Lynch slapped Flair in the face and the crowd erupted. Lynch booted Charlotte out of the ring as the crowd chanted her name. Becky slammed Charlotte into the barricade and then launched her over the announce table. Lynch then walked backstage as the crowd chanted “you deserve it!”.

Samoa Joe Crossed The Line

AJ Styles SummerSlam 2018

AJ Styles put the WWE Championship on the line against Samoa Joe tonight at WWE SummerSlam. Samoa Joe grabbed the microphone before the match and addressed AJ’s wife and daughter in the audience. Joe said, “don’t worry Wendy, daddy is coming home tonight”. Styles grabbed the microphone and said that his family was here tonight to see him kick Joe’s ass.

A brief “TNA!” chant broke out as the two Superstars locked up in the middle of the ring to start off the match. Styles got Joe in a Headlock and dragged Joe to the mat. Joe battled back to his feet but AJ quickly trapped him in the Headlock again in the middle of the ring. Joe escaped and hit a powerful shoulder tackle that sent Styles tumbling to the ring apron.

AJ got back and booted Joe in the back of his knee as the two Superstars circled each other. Styles went for another kick but Joe blocked it and beat the hell out of AJ in the corner of the ring. Joe charged at AJ but Styles leaped in the air and decked Joe with a Dropkick to the face.

Joe got up and hit a series of chops and jabs but AJ shrugged them off and punch Joe in the face. Joe rolled out of the ring and leaned up against the ring apron. Styles bounced off the ropes and hit Joe with another Dropkick to the face. Joe tripped up Styles on the apron and AJ fell on his face. Joe brought AJ back into the ring and went for the cover but Styles kicked out at one.

Samoa Joe threw AJ to the outside then hit him with a diving elbow to the face that sent AJ bouncing off the announce table and to the floor. Back in the ring, Joe leveled Styles with a massive Clothesline for a near fall. Styles hit a right hand to Joe’s face that sent him out of the ring. AJ followed it up with a Phenomenal Forearm outside the ring.

Back in the ring, Joe battled back with a giant right hand of his own and went for a Suicide Dive but AJ met him with an Enziguri on the apron. AJ followed it up with a Clothesline and then a forearm to the face. AJ hit a Splash in the corner and then flipped off the second rope into a reverse DDT on Joe for a near fall.

Styles perched Joe up on the top turnbuckle and joined him up there. Joe hit AJ with a headbutt and then hit a flying knee strike to Styles’ midsection for a two count. Styles battled back with a Neckbreaker to Joe over his knee but AJ grabbed his knee in pain after hitting the move.

AJ limped to the corner of the ring as the WWE Universe chanted his name. AJ went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Joe dodged it and hit Styles with an awesome Powerslam for a two count. AJ battled back and hit Joe with the Styles Clash for a near fall. Styles connected with a Pele Kick and charged at Joe in the corner but Joe caught him and slammed AJ to the canvas.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031344918944514048

AJ applied the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring as Joe screamed in pain. Joe grabbed Styles by the head and slammed him into the canvas several times. Joe then applied the Coquina Clutch in the center of the ring but Styles was able to get his leg on the bottom rope to break the hold. Joe perched AJ up in the corner and hit him in the face with an Enziguri that knocked AJ to the floor outside the ring.

Joe then slammed AJ into the steel steps and hopped up on the announce table. Joe grabbed the microphone and told AJ’s wife and daughter that Styles wasn’t coming home tonight but he will be their new daddy. AJ Styles then completely lost it and tackled Joe through the timekeeper’s area. Styles then bashed Joe with a steel chair several times and the match ended in a DQ. Styles then went into the crowd and hugged his wife and daughter before heading backstage.

Samoa Joe then marched backstage with a pissed off look on his face. I’d normally complain about a WWE Championship match ending in a DQ at a PPV but this was incredibly entertaining. I’m looking forward to seeing where this feud goes on SmackDown.

The Miz Cheated To Defeat Daniel Bryan

The Miz SummerSlam 2018

Daniel Bryan battled The Miz tonight at SummerSlam. Before the match, The Miz ran into Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas backstage. The B-Team told Miz that they hoped Bryan defeats him and shuts him up for good.

The Miz and Bryan locked up to start off the match. Bryan drove Miz to the corner but Miz connected with a punch to the face and then beatdown Daniel in the corner of the ring. Miz hit Daniel with a few Yes Kicks in the corner and followed it up with a Dropkick. The Miz went for a second Dropkick but Bryan grabbed him by the throat and shoved him to the corner.

Daniel hit a few Yes Kicks but Miz stopped his momentum with a Headlock. Miz knocked Bryan with a shoulder tackle but Daniel popped back and hit a kick to the face. Bryan hit Miz with a Bulldog and then a jab to his face. Miz battled back with a knee to the midsection. Miz taunted Bryan by doing the yes chant and Bryan responded with a kick to Miz’s knee.

Bryan beatdown Miz in the corner but Miz battled back and crotched Daniel on the top rope. The Miz followed it up with a Clothesline that sent Bryan tumbling to the canvas. The Miz kneed Bryan in the face several times and then applied Headlock in the middle of the ring. Bryan battled to his feet and broke the hold with a few shots to the ribs.

Daniel struck Miz with a couple of chops to the chest but Miz shrugged them off and planted Bryan with a Neckbreaker for a near fall. The Miz taunted Bryan and called him soft while delivering a few punches to his face. Bryan battled out of the corner and hit Miz with a few shots to the face. Daniel followed it up with a Clothesline and then geared up int he corner of the ring.

The Miz slowly made his way back and Bryan greeted him with two Dropkicks in a row in the corner. Bryan hit a couple of Yes Kicks and then perched Miz up on the top rope. Bryan connected with a Hurricanrana off the top and went for the cover but Miz kicked out at two. Bryan then sent Miz to the outside and followed it up with a Dropkick to Miz’s face through the ropes.

Bryan made his way to the top rope and connected with a Crossbody onto The Miz. Daniel blasted Miz in the face with a few more punches before rolling him back into the ring. Bryan climbed back to the top rope but Miz got up and crotched him on the turnbuckle. The Miz joined Bryan on the top rope and set up for a Superplex but Bryan escaped through his legs and hung up Miz in the tree of woe.

Daniel hit some Yes Kicks and followed it up with a Dropkick to Miz’s face. Bryan then hit a Belly to Back Suplex off the top rope and both Superstars crashed to the mat. Bryan went for the cover but Miz was able to kick out at two. Daniel went back to the Yes Kicks but Miz ducked under one and booted Bryan in the knee. Miz quickly spiked Bryan’s head into the mat with a DDT for a near fall.

The Miz then hit Bryan with some more Yes Kicks of his own as the crowd chanted “no!” at each impact. Daniel started to lean into the kicks and then got back up to his feet. Bryan sent Miz to the mat with a Dragon Screw and then hit one more Yes Kick for good measure. Bryan went for the running knee but Miz saw it coming and went for the Figure Four. Bryan escaped but Miz sent him into the ring post and connected with the Skull Crushing Finale for a two count.

Maryse was shown in the crowd with a concerned look on her face as The Miz couldn’t believe that Bryan kicked out. Miz charged at Bryan but Daniel greeted him with a boot to the face for a near fall. The Miz went for a Suplex but Bryan escaped and both Superstars traded shots on the ring apron. Bryan went for a kick but Miz ducked and Bryan bashed his knee into the ring post. The Miz capitalized on the opportunity and applied the Figure Four in the center of the ring.

Bryan screamed in pain as The Miz shouted at him to give up. Bryan sat up and started punching Miz in the face while Miz still had the Figure Four locked in. Bryan then reversed the pressure on the Figure Four and now The Miz was the one trapped in the middle of the ring. Miz battled through the pain and reached the bottom rope to break the hold.

Both Superstars stumbled to their feet and started trading punches again. Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale but Bryan countered into a roll-up for a two count. Bryan then unloaded a flurry of elbows to Miz’s face and then applied the Yes Lock in the middle of the ring. The Miz bit Bryan’s hand and Bryan responded by punching Miz in the back of the head several times. Bryan applied the Yes Lock once again but Miz was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold.

The Miz rolled out of the ring and Bryan hit him with the running knee to the face off the apron. The Miz landed against the barricade right next to Maryse and Bryan hit him with a Dropkick to the back of his head. Maryse handed The Miz brass knuckles as Bryan geared up for a Suicide Dive. The Miz then punched Bryan in the face with the brass knuckles for the pinfall victory.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031357235266560000

Later on SummerSlam, Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan had a conversation backstage. Bryan stated that he didn’t fight so hard to lose to The Miz. Bryan claimed that his return has been a bust and Brie told Bryan that his fight wasn’t over.

Constable Corbin Wasn’t Ready For The Demon

Finn Balor The Demon SummerSlam

Constable Corbin faced Finn Balor tonight at WWE SummerSlam 2018. Fin Balor came out as The Demon for the match.

Corbin looked frightened as Balor posed in the ring. Balor hit a Dropkick and then a Slingblade to start off the match. Finn then Clotheslined Corbin out of the ring and flipped onto him outside the ring.

Finn hit Corbin with another Slingblade outside the ring and followed it up with a Dropkick that sent Corbin flying into the barricade. Back in the ring, Balor made his way to the top rope and delivered a Double Stomp to Corbin’s back.

Balor hit another Dropkick to Corbin that sent him into the turnbuckle and to the canvas. Finn then made his way back up to the top rope and connected with the Coup de Grace for the quick pinfall victory.

Shinsuke Nakamura Retained The US Title

Nakamura SummerSlam 2018

Shinsuke Nakamura defended the United States Championship against Jeff Hardy tonight at WWE SummerSlam.

The crowd sang Nakamura’s theme as the two Superstars circled each other to start off the match. Nakamura ducked under a Clothesline and pranced around the ring. Jeff Hardy started up a “delete” chant and Nakamura challenged Hardy to come at him. Jeff then ducked under a kick and mocked Nakamura.

Shinsuke charged at Jeff but Hardy was ready and bounced Nakamura’s head off of all four turnbuckles. Nakamura battled back with a knee to the face and then applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Hardy broke the hold with a Jawbreaker and followed it up with a few punches to Shinsuke’s face that sent him out of the ring. Jeff tried to follow him but Shinsuke caught him with a kick to the face.

Nakamura hit Hardy with a knee to the midsection on the apron and then delivered a knee to the back of Jeff’s head. Back in the ring, Nakamura went back to the Headlock in the middle of the ring as the crowd got behind Hardy. Jeff escaped and hit Nakamura with an elbow to the face.

Hardy followed it up with a Slingblade and both Superstars fell to the mat. Jeff was the first to his feet and bashed Shinsuke in the face with a couple of jabs. Hardy hit an inverted Atomic Drop and followed it up with a Dropkick for a near fall. Nakamura battled back with a spin kick that knocked Hardy to the canvas.

Jeff battled back with a Clothesline in the corner but Nakamura caught him and draped Hardy across the top rope. Nakamura went for a knee to the ribs but Jeff dodged it and Nakamura slammed his knee into the turnbuckle. Jeff then hit Whisper in the Wind and went for the cover but Nakamura kicked out at two.

Shinsuke got Hardy up across the top rope again and hit the knee to his ribs. Nakamura followed it up with a knee to the face for a near fall and then geared up in the corner of the ring. Nakamura went for the Kinshasa but Hardy was ready and went for the Twist of Fate. Shinsuke broke free and went for a low blow but Jeff dodged it. Jeff then hit Twist of Fate and followed it up with a Swanton Bomb.

Hardy went for the cover but Nakamura was able to reach the bottom rope to break it up. Jeff connected with another Twist of Fate and made his way up to the top rope. Shinsuke rolled out of the ring and Hardy climbed on top of the ring post. Hardy went for another Swanton Bomb but Nakamura got out of the way and Jeff crashed into the ring apron.

Nakamura rolled Jeff back into the ring and booted him in the back of the head. Nakamura geared up once again in the corner and connected with the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory. After the match, Randy Orton came down to the ringside area but decided to walk backstage instead of attacking Jeff Hardy.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031365332785610752

Ronda Rousey Is The New RAW Women’s Champion

Ronda Rousey SummerSlam 2018

Alexa Bliss defended the RAW Women’s Championship against Ronda Rousey tonight at SummerSlam. Before the match, Natalya came down to the ring wearing her father’s jacket and got a great reaction from the crowd. Nikki and Brie were also in the front row and Alexa Bliss taunted them before she entered the ring.

Rousey marched to the ring to a great pop from the crowd as Bliss stood on the ring apron and told Rousey to back up. The referee kept preventing Rousey from getting to Bliss and Alexa tried to capitalize with a cheap shot. Ronda caught her and hit her with a punch and Bliss rolled out of the ring.

Bliss got in the ring for a second but retreated as Ronda came after her. Rousey then sat in the middle of the ring with her back to Bliss and dared her to get into the ring. Alexa got in the ring and applied a Headlock. Ronda rippled Bliss’ arms off her and hit her with her finisher but Alexa fell out of the ring.

Rousey then chased Bliss around and Bliss caught her with a knee to the face in the ring. Rousey got pissed off and started throwing Bliss around the ring. Rousey hit her finisher again and then bent Bliss’ arm back before applying the Arm Bar for the submission victory.

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Rousey then celebrated with Natalya after the match. The Bella Twins joined them in the ring as well for the celebration.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1031369955047100418

Roman Reigns Won The Universal Championship

Roman Reigns SummerSlam 2018

Brock Lesnar defended the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in the main event of WWE SummerSlam 2018. Before the match started, Braun Strowman’s music hit and Strowman marched down to the ring. Braun grabbed a microphone as the crowd chanted “get these hands!”. Strowman stated that he refuses to be a coward and cash it in when his opponent’s back is turned. Braun wished Roman luck and called Brock “Beastie Boy”. Strowman then said that he is going to watch this match and cash in his MITB contract on whoever wins.

Reigns hit Lesnar with three Superman Punches in a row and followed it up with three Spears in a row. Lesnar caught Reigns on the third Spear and locked in the Guillotine. Reigns showed off his insane power and lifted Brock in the air and dropped him with a Spinebuster to break up the hold. Lesnar quickly locked in the Guillotine once again as Heyman shouted at Roman to tap out. Roman powered back to his feet once again and broke the hold with another Spinebuster.

Reigns went for a Superman Punch but Lesnar dodged it and planted Roman with a German Suplex. Lesnar hit another one and then flexed in the ring while standing over Roman. Brock hit a third German Suplex and stared at Strowman ringside. The crowd chanted “you both suck!” at Lesnar and Reigns as Brock grabbed Roman and lifted him up for an F5. Roman escaped and went for a Spear but Lesnar got out of the way and Reigns wound up hitting Strowman with a Suicide Dive. Lesnar then got out of the ring and hit Strowman with an F5 and then grinned as he brought Reigns back to the ring.

Lesnar bashed Strowman with the MiTB briefcase several times and then launched the briefcase all the way up the entrance ramp. Brock then grabbed a steel chair and hit Braun several times with the chair. Lesnar brought the chair back into the ring and Reigns hit him with a Spear for the pinfall victory. Roman Reigns won the Universal Championship and started taunting Paul Heyman ringside.

Opinion: I guess WWE did the right thing by using Braun Strowman as a distraction because the crowd was ready to take this match over and boo both Reigns and Lesnar out of the building. The match itself was as lame as expected. I’m honestly just glad that the title is off of Lesnar at this point. Overall, SummerSlam was a decent show if you can ignore the bogus main event. The IC Title and WWE Championship matches were very good. I also really enjoyed the match between Daniel Bryan and The Miz tonight. I thought the ending was a perfect way for this feud to continue. Becky Lynch finally snapping and attacking Charlotte was also a great moment.

What did you think of WWE SummerSlam 2018? Let us know in the comments below.

Roman Reigns Wins Universal Title At WWE SummerSlam

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WWE Chairman Vince McMahon crowned Roman Reigns the WWE Universal Champion at SummerSlam.  Reigns beat Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Title at Sunday’s (August 19, 2018) WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center on the WWE Network.

Prior to the match, Braun Strowman came out and stated that he would cash-in his Money in the Bank briefcase after this match. However, that would not take place as Lesnar took him out. Reigns closed the show by celebrating in the ring. 

This marks the first time that Reigns has held the title. Up until this point, Lesnar held the strap for over 500 days after beating Goldberg for it at WrestleMania 33 in April of 2017 in Orlando, FL. Reigns is only the fifth champion in the history of the title, which was created back in 2016 with the inaugural champ Finn Balor.

This likely marked Lesnar’s last appearance in the WWE for the near future as he heads towards his return to the UFC inside of the Octagon. If you recall, back in the main event of the UFC 226 pay-per-view event in July, Daniel Cormier was able to score a KO win over Stipe Miocic to win the UFC heavyweight title and after the fight, Cormier invited Lesnar inside the Octagon with Lesnar accepting the invitation and shoving Cormier in the process. Lesnar then cut a promo on the heavyweight division and Cormier.

UFC President Dana White has already gone on record by stating that plans call for DC to fight Lesnar with the heavyweight title on the line in January.

Ronda Rousey Wins RAW Women’s Title At WWE SummerSlam

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Former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is now queen of the women’s division on the red brand.

Rousey beat Alexa Bliss to win the RAW Women’s Title at Sunday’s (August 19, 2018) WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center on the WWE Network.

Bliss’ third reign as champion didn’t last long as she beat Nia Jax after cashing in her Money in the Bank contract at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event in June in Rosemont, IL.

Rousey has put distance between herself and MMA as now she’s in the WWE and is learning to make the transition from the Octagon to the ring. Rousey has been out of the fight game for two years after suffering devastating losses in her last two bouts under the UFC banner.

Rousey made her professional wrestling in-ring debut when teaming up with Kurt Angle to defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in a mixed tag team match at WrestleMania 34 in April after signed made her promotional debut at the Royal Rumble event. 

What are your thoughts on Rousey being crowned champion? Who do you want to see her work with after her program with Bliss? Sound off in the comment section.

Charlotte Flair Wins Triple Threat Match to Take Smackdown Women’s Title at SummerSlam

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For the seventh time in her career, Charlotte Flair is the women’s champion after defeating Becky Lynch and Carmella at SummerSlam.

After making her return to action, Flair was able to overcome both champion and challenger in a triple threat match.

A lot was made during the match about the friendship between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, which definitely played a major part in the outcome.

The end sequence saw Becky Lynch nearly get the submission with the ‘Disarmer’ but Charlotte was able to reverse the position by hiting her with ‘Natural Selection’.

Charlotte got the pin to earn the title as Carmella’s reign as champion comes to an end.

Afterwards, as Charlotte embraced her friend, Becky Lynch turned on her with a big punch that brought the Brooklyn crowd to its feet with chants of ‘you deserved it’ throughout the arena.

Becky assaulted Charlotte before tossing her over the announce table as she makes her turn from friend to foe in what will undoubtedly become the next big rivalry on Smackdown Live.

As for Carmella, her title reign came and went without really playing a major part in the result, which has to be a bit of a disappointment considering the heat she has been getting over the past few months.

Now Charlotte once again reigns as champion on Smackdown Live as her seventh reign (combined with the RAW women’s title) begins.

What did you think of the triple threat match between Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Carmella?

Seth Rollins Defeats Dolph Ziggler to Become Intercontinental Champion at SummerSlam

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Seth Rollins brought an equalizer to the ring with him on Sunday night and he’s now a two-time Intercontinental champion after defeating Dolph Ziggler at SummerSlam.

Monday night saw the return of Dean Ambrose after being out of action for the past nine months due to an injured right arm but he was ringside with Rollins to help negate Drew McIntyre.

The plan worked well as Ambrose got involved towards the final few seconds of the match, delivering Dirty Deeds to McIntyre to keep him from interfering in the finish.

As for Rollins, he delivered another incredible match with Ziggler as these two hit several incredible spots as the kickoff bout for the main card at SummerSlam.

The end came after Ambrose took out McIntyre and it looked like Ziggler would still take advantage of the distraction with a super kick warmed up for Rollins.

Rollins reversed the moves as he turned around and immediately launched a super kick that clocked Zigger before nailing him with the Stomp to get the pin.

Rollins is now a two-time Intercontinental champion while putting an end to Ziggler’s latest reign. Considering the heat between these two superstars — now with Ambrose also back in the mix — it’s hard to believe we won’t see Rollins face Ziggler again in the near future.

What were your thoughts on Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler at Summerslam? 

Triple H On The Meaning Of Velveteen Dream’s “Call Me Up Vince” Tights

Jon Fuentes
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Last night’s WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 event was truly amazing.

The card, from top to bottom, featured some extraordinary matches from the future stars of WWE. One such match was that between The Velveteen Dream and EC3. The pair put on an extremely physical performance that resulted in Dream leaving with the victory.

One hot topic of discussion in regards to the match was the message Dream had printed on his tights. During his entrance, fans could read the phrase “Call Me Up Vince” on Dream’s tights.

This is obviously a message to Vince McMahon to call the 23-year-old up to the WWE’s main roster. After the event, Triple H took part in a post-TakeOver media call to talk about the event’s success.

Triple H On The Meaning Of Velveteen Dream’s Tights

Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet asked Triple H about the message on Velveteen’s tights. “The Game” initially joked, after a long pause, that Dream was sending a message to a friend of his (also coincidentally named Vince) who lost his phone. He wanted his friend, Vince, to give him a call:

https://twitter.com/ryansatin/status/1031006255605678080

Triple H then said that if Dream was truly talking about Vince McMahon, there’s one of two calls he could get from “The Chairman Of The Board.” One he’ll like, and one that he won’t. You never know which one it will be:

https://twitter.com/ryansatin/status/1031006659353632770

Triple H On Why WWE Signed Matt Riddle After Initial Hesitation

Jon Fuentes
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Following NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 last night, Triple H participated in a media conference call to answer some questions.

Of course, one hot topic was WWE’s official announcement on the signing of Matt Riddle. Riddle will be a part of the NXT roster in the coming weeks. WWE was initially hesitant to sign Riddle in the past due to his history of marijuana use.

Triple H On WWE Signing Riddle

Now that they’ve signed Riddle, it appears as though that is no longer a concern for the promotion. Triple H had this to say about Riddle’s signing:

“I think he’s ready to come in and get brought the rest of the way,” Triple H said. “I also think he’s matured as a person which, we’ll find out.

“But I think he’s matured as a person and he’s realized where he wants to get to in the business as opposed to just having fun being in the business, there’s a difference. So we think now’s the right time, but time will tell.”

“The Game” also praised Riddle’s talent and said he thinks he’s going to be one of the Superstars who makes it in WWE:

“He’s a very, very talented guy, the sky is the limit and you know, we’ll see what he can do. It’s an interesting thing because I think sometimes people think that we just bring them in and just go with it, it’s not that simple.

“Not everybody makes it, not everything works. There are a lot of factors that go into it, so we’ll see. I believe in him and I believe he has a lot of potential and talent, but again just like everybody else as they walk in the door, we’ll see.”

Discussion: What do you make of Triple H’s comments about WWE’s signing of Riddle? Let us know in the comments below!

H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions

WWE SummerSlam 2018 Results (8.19.18)

Eric Lynch
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WWE’s SummerSlam 2018 took place on August 19th at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Kickoff Show results:

– Renee Young welcomes us to the Kickoff Show panel, where she is joined by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, Sam Roberts, and Dave Otunga. JBL and Peter Rosenberg are inside the arena with microphones working as correspondents tonight.

– They introduce some videos looking at tonight’s card, including the program between Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Carmella over the SmackDown Women’s Title, and The Miz and Daniel Bryan’s feud. We also see some footage of WWE stars doing promotional work in New York City for SummerSlam.

– The Miz and Maryse are shown arriving to the arena earlier today with a stroller, presumably with their new baby inside. Back at the Kickoff Show panel, Booker T tells a story about how JBL used to mess with The Miz backstage and kick him out of the locker room.

– We go to a video package looking at the feud between Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women’s Title.

– Aiden Engilsh is shown approaching Rusev and Lana backstage. Aiden apologizes for his mistakes and says he wants to be in their corner tonight, but they decline. Rusev says no, today is all about Rusev Day and Lana Day. Rusev and Lana walk off as Aiden looks disappointed.

– Rusev & Lana vs. Andrade Almas & Zelina Vega: This one is under mixed tag match rules. Almas is hesitant to engage with Rusev early on, but he manages to catch the Bulgarian Brute with a shot to the face and takes over. Rusev looks to tag Lana, but Zelina runs around the ring and takes out Lana from the floor. Almas continues to control the pace against Rusev until he looks for a high-risk move and Rusev knocks him off the turnbuckle. Almas falls down to the floor, which allows Rusev to take a breather. Lana finally gets the tag, and Zelina comes in too. Lana lays into her with strikes and hits a bulldog for a two count. Lana does a Spinaroonie and then hits a running knee strike. Lana follows up with a neckbreaker for a two count, and then Zelina rolls outside for a breather. Back in the ring, Vega turns things around and hits a big boot to the face. Zelina charges at her again, but Lana stops her with a kick of her own. Almas distracts Lana from the apron and Lana slaps her, which leads to Zelina rolling up Lana from behind for the three count.

Winners: Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega

– WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler joins the panel now, replacing Sam Roberts. Booker T comments on Lana’s spinaroonie, saying it must have made her dizzy and caused her to get pinned. He warns not to try the Spinaroonie at home. The panel runs down the whole match list for tonight’s show now.

– Paul Heyman does an interview backstage where he says we’re going to witness history tonight when Brock Lesnar finally gets rid of Roman Reigns once and for all. Heyman reminds us of Lesnar’s plan to become a two-sport Champion by winning in UFC too. Heyman says Reign’s won’t come back for more after Lesnar beats him tonight, and it’s not a prediction it’s a spoiler.

– Back at the Kickoff Show panel, Lawler talks about how obnoxious he thinks Heyman is.

– Kurt Angle and Paige are backstage, where Paige talks about how excited she is to be GM for her first SummerSlam. Corbin stops by and tells Kurt to make sure he’s on top of everything tonight, and asks if he prepared Lesnar’s private locker room for him. Kurt tells Corbin if he’s so concerned to go cut Lesnar’s steaks or get his magazines, or maybe prepare for his match against Balor tonight. Corbin says he’ll make short work of Balor tonight and walks off.

– Drew Gulak vs. Cedric Alexander (c): Gulak looks for a dragon sleeper early on, but Cedric escapes and levels him with a dropkick. The fight spills out to ringside where Cedric lays into Gulak with chops. Back in the ring, Drew connects with a kick that knocks Cedric to the apron. Drew slides outside and hits a neckbreaker from the apron to the floor. Back in the ring, Gulak looks for a submission but Alexander escapes. They trade strikes out to the apron, and Cedric hits a slingshot DDT over the top on Gulak. Cedric hits some kicks and forearm shots to the face, then he drops Gulak and pummels on him. Gulak rolls outside for a breather and Cedric hits a big suicide dive on him. Back in the ring, Cedric looks to springboard off the top, but Gulak stops him with a kick to the face. Gulak chokes Cedric over the top rope until the ref makes him break the hold. Cedric comes back with an elbow to the face, and both men are down. They get up and trade strikes until Gulak rolls him up in a sunset flip for a two count. They grapple on the mat until Gulak gets an ankle lock. Cedric escapes and they trade quick pin attempts until Cedric gets the better of Gulak and keeps him down for three.

Winner & still Cruiserweight Champion: Cedric Alexander

– We go to JBL and Peter Rosenberg who are on the stage. JBL says that cruiserweight match made him feel like a kid again watching wrestling in Texas. They give their thoughts on the SmackDown Women’s Title match tonight, and then we go back to the Kickoff Show panel. They introduce some more video packages looking at tonight’s main events.

– Samoa Joe joins the Kickoff Show panel now via video. Joe says he is in full control of every action and calculated move he makes. Joe says he doesn’t fear retaliation for his words because he has AJ where he wants him, and because his words are true, which is why AJ is so mad. Joe syas all he does his spit the truth. Booker T mentions he’s been in the ring with both Joe and AJ, and Joe says he’s in AJ’s head and Booker knows it. Joe says AJ is an explosive athlete, but Joe knows how to put him down and take his Championship. We go back to JBL and Rosenberg, where JBL says that AJ is this generation’s Shawn Michaels.

– The B Team (c) vs. The Revival: The RAW Tag Titles are on the line in this one. Wilder takes Dallas down with a dragon screw early and Dallas is now selling his knee. Axel gets involved, then Dawson runs in and they hit the Shatter Machine on Axel. Dallas is now alone in the ring and The Revival takes turns beating on him. Dallas and Wilder fight on the apron and Dallas is able to execute a neckbreaker over the top rope. Axel finally gets back up on the apron and Dallas tags him in. Axel comes in and cleans house, then he starts going at it with Dawson. Wilder runs in so Dallas intercepts him and drops him. Dawson rolls up Axel but the ref is distracted by Wilder and Dallas. Dallas falls on Axel and Dawson, and Axel reverses the roll-up and pins Dawson for the three count.

Winners: The B Team

– Ronda Rousey is shown arriving in her locker room backstage. Alexa Bliss is shown arriving to the arena and rudely declining an interview on the way in. We see a video package looking at Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar tonight, and the panel gives their final predictions.

– Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are shown walking to the gorilla position as SummerSlam is about to begin.

WWE SummerSlam 2018 results:

– We go to the SummerSlam intro video featuring actor Terry Crews walking through New York City and talking about what it takes to be successful. He says tonight is where dreams come true, and then we go inside the Barclay’s Center for SummerSlam. There appears to be CGI of a New York City skyline above the ring with the SummerSlam logo on the WWE Network stream.

– Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins: Dean Ambrose and Drew McIntyre are at ringside for this one. The opening bell sounds and Ziggler and Rollins circle each other in the ring before locking up with a collar and elbow tie-up. They back into the ropes and Rollins gets distracted by McIntyre, until Ambrose walks around and gets in McIntyre’s face. Rollins and Ziggler trade holds until Ziggler rolls outside for a breather. Back in the ring, Ziggler starts firing up until Rollins shuts him down with a hip toss and Ziggler rolls back outside. After a brief distraction by Ambrose and McIntyre on the floor, Rollins drops Ziggler with a right hand, and then takes the Champion back in the ring for some chops to the chest. Rollins continues to lay into Ziggler with strikes until Ziggler comes back with a kick and a neckbreaker. Ziggler slams Rollins into the corner now and works him over against the ropes. The Champion starts focusing on Rollins’ left knee now and trying to keep him grounded. Rollins fights out of a chin lock, but then Ziggler dumps him outside to the floor hard. Back in the ring, Ziggler goes flying off the top, but Rollins catches him and they both fall back outside to ringside. Back in the ring, Ziggler misses a shot and Rollins hits the sling blade. Rollins hits some running forearm shots until Ziggler latches on to him and rolls him up for a two count. Rollins decks Ziggler and then hits the blockbuster off the turnbuckle for a two count of his own. They fight back up to the turnbuckle, but Rollins knocks Ziggler down and Ziggler rolls away. Rollins clotheslines Ziggler to the outside and follows up with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Rollins hits a springboard clothesline off the top, then he hits a knee to the face for a two count. Rollins looks for the powerbomb, but Ziggler fights out and applies a sleeper. Rollins escapes, so Ziggler drops Rollins’ neck over the top rope. They fight on to the apron, where Ziggler kicks Rollins into the ring post and then hits a big DDT on the corner of the apron. The ref starts counting and Rollins rolls back in the ring at 9. Rollins blocks a Zig Zag attempt and answers with a superkick, then he climbs up top. Rollins goes for the frog splash, but Ziggler gets his knees up to block it and the Champions covers for a two count. Ziggler kicks out Rollins’ knee and looks for the Fameasser, but Rollins blocks it and crotches Ziggler on the turnbuckle. Rollins runs up and does an inverted superplex off the top, and then an inverted reverse DDT for a two count. Drew attacks Ambrose at ringside and distracts Rollins. Rollins misses his superkick and Ziggler connects with a Zig Zag for a two count. Rollins got busted open on his forehead at some point in that sequence. Ziggler misses a superkick and Rollins rolls him up for a two count. They trade pin attempts now until Rollins picks up Ziggler and hits the powerbomb into the turnbuckle. Drew gets on the apron but Dean pulls him down and hits the Dirty Deeds on the floor. Rollins superkicks Ziggler and then hits the curb stomp for the three count.

Winner & new IC Champion: Seth Rollins

– Rollins is presented with his Intercontinental Title belt as Ambrose hits the ring to celebrate the victory with him.

– Renee Young is backstage to interview The Bella Twins. Renee asks what brings them to SummerSlam, and they say there is “so much chance of history” tonight, and they talk about reality shows and YouTube channel. They say they’re here to have fun and witness Ronda Rousey making history and becoming new Women’s Champion. They talk about the “women’s evolution”, and say they’ll be at ringside to watch Ronda’s match.

– The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. The New Day: Xavier Woods and Big E are representing The New Day in this one. Harper starts off strong against Woods and drops him, then tags in Rowan who hits a splash and continues the offense on Woods. Rowan hits a pumphandle backbreaker, then Harper tags in and hits a senton for a two count. Rowan tags back in now and they knock Big E off the apron. They turn their attention to Woods at ringside, but Woods is able to fight free and he drops Harper into the ring steps. Big E gets the hot tag, but Harper is able to shut down his momentum with a sit-out slam. The Bludgeon BRothers look to double team Big E, but Big E breaks free. Rowan hits a big boot on Big E, then Woods dumps Rowan outside and hits a suicide dive on him. Harper drops Woods, then Big E hits a dive on Rowan from the ring to the outside. Rowan gets back up and drops Big E, then takes him back in the ring. The Bludgeon Brothers hit their double team chokeslam on Big E, but Woods breaks up the pin. Woods lays into the Brothers with kicks and he looks for a DDT on Harper, but Harper blocks it. Rowan grabs Woods while Harper repeatedly headbutts the New Day member. They hit a powerbomb on Woods for a two count. Rowan gets distracted by Kofi at ringide, which leads to Big E hitting the Big Ending on him at ringside. Harper kicks Woods to the outside, then Harper starts fighting with Big E on the apron. The New Day double teams Rowan at ringside, and then they take him back in the ring. Woods goes up to the top rope, but Rowan rolls outside. Woods goes flying off the top all the way down to the ringside floor on to Rowan with an elbow drop. Rowan ends up grabbing his mallet and nailing the New Day members with it, and the ref calls for the DQ.

Winners via DQ: The New Day

– The Bludgeon Brothers are still the Champions, and they continue beating on The New Day after the bell.

– Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens: If Braun Strowman loses in any capacity, Owens takes his Money In The Bank contract. Strowman starts off with some big splashes on Owens in the corner right off the opening bell. Owens rolls outside and Strowman follows and drops him. Owens tries to fight back, but Braun grabs him and chokeslams him on the entrance ramp. Back in the ring, Strowman hits the running powerslam for the three count after a very short one-sided match.

Winner: Braun Strowman

– Braun celebrates with his briefcase as Owens lays on the ground and is checked on by referees.

– We go to a video package for WWE’s “Dont Be A Bully” campaign.

– Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch: Carmella starts off attacking Becky in the corner, but Carmella drops her and works her over in the corner. Charlotte drops Carmella, and now it’s down to Charlotte and Becky in the ring. The fight spills out to ringside which leads to Carmella sending Becky into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Carmella works over Charlotte and tries to keep her grounded with a chin lock. Charlotte fights up, so Carmella throws her out to ringside. Becky rolls up the Champion from behind for a two count, then Carmella comes back with a kick on Becky. Charlotte gets back in the ring and looks for a big boot on Carmella, but she ducks and Charlotte boots Becky instead. Becky rolls outside for a breather as Charlotte lays into Carmella with chops now. Charlotte hits a t-bone suplex on Carmella, and then a back suplex. Charlotte looks for the Figure Four, but Carmella kicks her off and Becky knees Charlotte in the face. Becky then comes flying off the top with a missile dropkick to both Carmella and Charlotte. Becky clotheslines Charlotte down and then hits a dropkick. Becky drops Carmella next with some kicks and a t-bone suplex. Charlotte comes back and drops Becky, then she goes at it with Carmella. Charlotte locks Carmella in a Boston Crab, then she turns it into a Figure Four. Becky goes up top and comes flying down with a leg drop on Charlotte to break it up. Carmella knocks Becky outside now and follows up with a drive through the ropes on her on the floor. Charlotte goes up top and hits a corkscrew moonsault on them both at ringside — although she really falls between the two of them and lands hard on the floor. Back in the ring, Charlotte charges at Becky but Becky catches her in the Disarm Her. Carmella breaks it up and dumps Charlotte outside. Carmella superkicks Becky and pins, but Charlotte breaks up the pin. Carmella dumps Charlotte outside again and then goes after Becky, but Becky catches the Champion in the Disarm Her. Carmella reaches the ropes to break the hold, and Becky hits a t-bone suplex and locks the Disarm Her back in. Charlotte runs in and hits the Natural Selection on Becky out of nowhere for the three count.

Winner & new SmackDown Women’s Champion: Charlotte

– Charlotte is handed the Title belt after the match and she celebrates her victory. Carmella cries and heads up the ramp, and Becky hugs Charlotte in the ring. But then, Becky slaps Charlotte across the face and then kicks her out of the ring. Becky grabs the Women’s Title and throws it down, then hops outside the ring. Becky throws Charlotte over the announce table and through the chairs. Becky then storms off up the ramp.

– We see a video package looking at the history between Samoa Joe and AJ Styles leading to their match up next.

– AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe: Before the match, Samoa Joe grabs the mic and says he wants to make a special introduction. Joe says tonight joining us is AJ’s wife and daughter, and says daddy’s coming home tonight. AJ takes the mic next and says they’re here to see him kick Joe’s ass tonight. There is an audible “TNA” chant in the Barclay’s Center. Joe and AJ lock up and Joe backs AJ into the corner before they break it up. They lock up again and this time AJ takes Joe down to the mat. They run the ropes and Joe drops AJ with a shoulder block. AJ gets back up and connects with some stiff leg kicks to Joe’s left leg. Joe fires back with some strikes of his own on AJ in the corner, and AJ fires back with a big dropkick. They get back to the their feet and trade punches and chops until AJ hits another leg kick to the hamstring and then he tackles out Joe’s knee. Joe rolls outside for a breather, and AJ nails him with a sliding dropkick. AJ goes outside, but Joe catches him with a kick and drops him. Back in the ring, Joe lays into AJ with chops to the chest, then hits a reverse vertical suplex. AJ rolls outside for a breather now, and Joe goes flying through the ropes with a big dive on AJ on the floor. Back in the ring, Joe tries to keep AJ grounded, but AJ fights up and decks Joe with a right hand. Joe falls outside and AJ follows up with a springboard forearm shot from the ring down to Joe on the floor. Back in the ring, Joe starts to come back, but AJ shuts him down with an enziguri. AJ hits a running forearm shot, and then another one in the corner. AJ moonsaults off the middle rope for his patented reverse DDT for a two count. AJ takes joe up to the top turnbuckle and looks for a Frankensteiner, but Joe headbutts hime down. Joe then goes flying with a knee strike off the turnbuckle onto AJ for a two count. AJ gets to his knees, but Joe puts him back down with kicks and knees. Joe hits a headbutt and an inverted atomic drop, then a big boot and a senton for a two count. Joe runs the ropes, but AJ catches him in a fireman’s carry and drops him onto his knee. Joe hits a slam, but AJ fires back with a kick. AJ hits a very dangerous looking Styles Clash on Joe for a two count. AJ takes a breather and then works over Joe in the corner. Joe fires back with some stiff shots to the face, but AJ shuts him down with a Pele Kick. Joe falls into the corner and AJ charges at him, but Joe catches him and slams him down with a side suplex. Both men are slow to get to their feet, and then AJ catches Joe in the Calf Crusher. Joe grabs AJ’s head and repeatedly slams it into the mat, and then he applies the Coquina Clutch. AJ reaches the rope to break the hold. The fight spills outside and Joe drops AJ on the floor. Joe stands up on the announce table and gets on the mic, and tells AJ’s wife that it looks like daddy isn’t coming home, but he’ll be their new daddy. AJ then gets up and runs up the announce table and spears Joe into the timekeeper’s area. AJ drops everyone in the timekeeper’s area and then he grabs a steel chair. AJ repeatedly bashes Joe with the chair and the ref calls for the DQ.

Winner via DQ: Samoa Joe

– AJ continues to bash Joe with the chair across his back while he’s down. Joe wins via DQ, so AJ is the still the Champ. Fit Finlay comes out and breaks it up, and AJ goes into the crowd to hug his wife and kid. AJ leaves through the crowd with his family.

– Elias comes out to the ring and talks about his new song being the greatest song ever written, and trashes New Yorkers. Elias tells everyone to shut up, and then he goes to play his guitar, but the neck of his guitar breaks. The crowd chants “you f—ed up” and Elias freaks out and kicks over his stool and leaves.

– The Miz is shown walking backstage, and he runs into RAW Tag Champs The B Team. Miz says he imagines they came over to wish Miz luck, but he says he doesn’t need it, because he’s better than Daniel Bryan. Miz says if The B Team wants to fetch his limo and celebrate after for old times sake, they can. The B Team says they’re actually leaving right now to do some celebrating for their Tag Title win. Dallas says they’re not the Miztourage anymore, and they’re rooting for Daniel Bryan. They joke about doing a reality show called “Total Fellas,” and The B Team walks off.

– Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz: The Miz starts off strong and pummels on Bryan in the corner. Miz follows up with a dropkick in the corner, but when he goes for the second one, Bryan grabs him by the throat. Bryan unloads on Miz with punches and kicks in the corner until Senior Official Charles Robinson breaks it up. Bryan hits a kick and a running bulldog for a two count. Miz comes back and gets Bryan in a surfboard stretch submission. Bryan escapes and locks in a surfboard submission of his own. Miz escapes and crotches Bryan on the top rope, then clotheslines him down to the mat. Miz hits a neckbreaker combo for a two count. The Miz lays into Bryan with strikes until Bryan is able to come back with a running knee strike. Bryan follows up with some running dropkicks in the corner, and then some kicks to the chest. Bryan takes things up to the top turnbuckle and hits a Frankensteiner for a two count. Bryan dumps Miz outside and hits a running dropkick through the ropes. Bryan climbs up to the top turnbuckle and goes flying with a splash on Miz down on the ringside floor. Back in the ring, they fight to the top turnbuckle again, but Bryan slides out and crotches Miz on the top rope. Bryan tees off on Miz with more kicks now, follows up by a running dropkick. Bryan sits Miz up on the top turnbuckle and hits a back suplex off the very top rope for a two count. Bryan hits some more kicks until Miz blocks one and fires back with a DDT for a two count. The Miz hits Bryan with the “yes kicks” now, but Bryan no-sells them and hulks up. Bryan catches Miz’s leg and starts slapping him across the face. Bryan takes him down with a dragon screw and then kicks him across the face. The Miz grabs a hold of Bryan’s leg and they wrestle around the mat before Miz slingshots Bryan into the corner. Miz follows up with the Skull Crushing Finale for a two count. The Miz wastes some time and charges Bryan in the corner, but Bryan stops him with a kick to the face. They fight out to the apron and Bryan starts throwing kicks, but Miz dodges one and Bryan kicks the ring post. Miz takes Bryan back in the ring and applies the Figure Four. Bryan reverses it until Miz reaches the bottom rope. Bryan starts laying into Miz with elbows now and then he goes for the Yes Lock. Bryan locks it in, but Miz reahes the rope to break the hold. Miz rolls outside and Bryan hits a flying knee off the apron on him. Miz lands on the fan barricade in front of his wife Maryse in the front row, and it appears Maryse may have handed something to Miz. Bryan goes to dive through the ropes at Miz on the outside, but Miz hits him with a foreign object, and then throws the foreign object back to Maryse. Miz gets in the ring and covers for the three count.

Winner: The Miz

– We go to replays and we see The Miz using the unidentified foreign object, which may have been a set of brass knuckles.

– Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin: Balor comes out as “the demon” with red CGI clouds above the ring. Corbin complains to the ref that he didn’t agree to face The Demon. The bell sounds and Balor starts off strong with a sling blade on Corbin, then he throws him outside. Balor follows up with a dive on Corbin at ringside, then throws him back in the ring. Corbin rolls back outside, so Balor runs around the ring and hits another sling blade. Balor backs up, then charges and hits a running dropkick on Corbin on the floor. Back in the ring, Balor boots Corbin in the head and then hits a double foot stomp off the top. Balor follows up with a running dropkick in the corner, then he goes to the top rope. Balor hits the Coup De Grace off the top for the three count.

Winner: Finn Balor

– Balor poses after the match as Corbin rolls outside to recover.

– We go backstage to Daniel Bryan in the trainer’s office getting his head iced. His wife walks in and complains about Maryse, and Bryan says he expects Miz to do that now. Bryan says he didn’t fight so hard to come back and just let someone like Miz win by cheating. Brie gives Bryan a pep talk, and Bryan thanks her and tells her to go back out and enjoy the show. She walks off and Bryan doesn’t look happy.

– Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Jeff Hardy: Nakamura’s U.S. Title is on the line in this one. The opening bell sounds and they start off with a test of strength until Nakamura boots Jeff in the face. Nakamura knees Jeff in the midsection, then Jeff ducks a kick and mocks Nakamura. Jeff hits a knee to the body and then slams Nakamura’s head in the turnbuckle repeatedly. Nakamura rolls outside for a breather and Jeff follows, but Nakamura catches him with a boot to the face. Nakamura lays Jeff over the apron so his head is hanging off, and he hits a running knee to the face. Nakamura follow up with another shot on the apron before taking Jeff back in the ring for a two count. Nakamura slows things down with a chin lock, then lays into Jeff with punches. Jeff kicks Nakamura away then hits the sling blade, and both men are down. Jeff follows up with a running elbow to the face, then an atomic drop and a dropkick. Nakamura comes back with a front kick and then a spinning heel kick. Nakamura goes for a back suplex, but Jeff elbows his way out. Nakamura misses a shot in the corner and Jeff hits him with a clothesline. Jeff looks for a dropkick in the corner, but Nakamura blocks it. Nakamura misses a shot in the corner now and Jeff elbows him in the face. Jeff goes up top and hits the Whisper In The Wind for a two count. Jeff goes back up top, but Nakamura drops him and hits a couple knee strikes for a two count. Nakamura looks for the Kinshasa, but Jeff stops him with a kick. Nakamura looks for the low blow, but Jeff dodges it and kicks him down. Jeff successfully hits the Twist of Fate, then he goes up top. Jeff hits the Swanton Bomb and pins, but Nakamura reaches the bottom rope to break the count. Jeff hits another Twist of Fate, then takes his shirt off and goes back up top. Nakamura crawls out to the apron, and JEff climbs to the very top of the ring post. Jeff goes flying for a Swanton on the apron, but Nakamura moves and Jeff crashes into the corner of the ring apron by himself. Nakamura takes Jeff back in the ring and stomps on his head. Nakamura follows up with the Kinshasa for the three count to retain the U.S. Title.

Winner & still U.S. Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura

– After the match, Randy Orton comes out to the stage and walks down to the ring. Orton gets to ringside, but then turns around and walks back up the ramp.

– We see a video package looking at the history between Ronda Rousey and Alexa Bliss, who have their Title match up next.

– Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Ronda Rousey: Natalya comes out first wearing one of Jim Neidhart’s old jackets. Alexa exchanges words with The Bella Twins in the front row before the match. Alexa’s RAW Women’s Championship is on the line in this one. Alexa argues with the ref early on and tries to sneak a cheap shot on Ronda, but Ronda catches her by the throat and drops her with a punch. Alexa rolls outside for a breather and then climbs back inside, but immediately rolls back outside. Ronda turns her back and sits down, daring Alexa to come in and fight her. Bliss runs in and puts Ronda in a sleeper hold, but Ronda stands up and defends it. Ronda picks up Bliss on her shoulders and then slams her down, causing the Champion to roll back out to ringside. Ronda chases her around the ring and then back in the ring, and Bliss connects with a knee to the face and then a punch. Ronda no-sells it and throws Bliss across the ring, then lays into her with punches in the corner. Ronda hits a couple judo throws and then another slam from her shoulders. Ronda grabs Alexa’s arm and pulls it back, then applies an armbar and Alexa taps out.

Winner & new RAW Women’s Champion: Ronda Rousey

– Ronda celebrates with her new Women’s Title belt after the match. Natalya gets in the ring and celebrates with her. The Bella Twins get in the ring next and join the celebration. Ronda leaves the ring and embraces her husband at ringside.

– We see a video package looking at the feud between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, with some interview clips from Paul Heyman.

– Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns: Heyman introduces Lesnar before the match. Before the opening bell sounds, Braun Strowman comes out with his Money In The Bank briefcase. Braun steps in the ring and gets on the mic. He says he refuses to be a coward and cash in his Money In The Bank when his opponent’s back is turned, because he’s the monster among men. Braun wishes Brock and Roman good luck, because he’s going to be standing at ringside, and no matter who wins, one of them is going to get these hands. The opening bell sounds and Reigns immediately starts off with a series of Superman punches on Lesnar. Reigns hits two spears in a row, and then a third spear, but Lesnar catches Reigns in a guillotine choke on the third spear. Reigns picks up Lesnar and slams him down to break the hold. Lesnar re-applies the guillotine choke, and again Reigns slams him to break the hold, and both men are down. Reigns looks for another Superman punch, but Lesnar dodges it and hits a German suplex. Lesnar follows up with more German suplexes. Reigns looks for a spear on Lesnar, but Lesnar dodges and Reigns flies through the ropes on to Strowman at ringside. Strowman gets to his feet, and Lesnar goes outside and hits an F-5 on Strowman on the floor. Lesnar throws Strowman’s briefcase up the ramp, then he smashes Strowman with a chair repeatedly. Back in the ring, Reigns immediately hits a spear on Lesnar and covers for the three count.

Winner & new Universal Champion: Roman Reigns

– Reigns celebrates and holds the Title belt in Heyman’s face. Reigns celebrates on the turnbuckle as SummerSlam goes off the air.

Final Betting Odds For WWE SummerSlam

Andrew Ravens
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The final betting odds have been released for tonight’s WWE SummerSlam PPV.

Some of the more notable odds include AJ Styles favored to retain his WWE Title at -460 over Samoa Joe, who is the underdog at +320, Roman Reigns favored to beat Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Title, Seth Rollins favored to beat WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler for the strap at -115, and Ronda Rousey favored to beat WWE RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss to win the belt.

The SummerSlam pay-per-view event takes place on tonight in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center and will air on the WWE Network and some traditional pay-per-view outlets.

SummerSlam Betting Odds

Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar(c) +120 vs Roman Reigns -160

WWE Championship: AJ Styles -460(c) vs Samoa Joe +320

RAW Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss(c) +220 vs Ronda Rousey -300

Smackdown Women’s Championship: Carmella(c) +110 vs Becky Lynch +175 vs Charlotte Flair +255

Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler(c) -125 vs Seth Rollins -115

United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura(c) -530 vs Jeff Hardy +350

Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander(c) -155 vs Drew Gulak +115

Smackdown Tag Team Championship: The Bludgeon Brother(c) -140 vs The New Day +100

RAW Tag Team Championships: The B Team(c) -290 vs The Revival +210

Braun Strowman -260 vs Kevin Owens +180

Finn Balor -270 vs Constable Corbin +190

Daniel Bryan +150 vs The Miz -190

Andrade Cien Almas and Zelina Vega -290 vs Rusev and Lana +210

What are your thoughts on these betting odds? Sound off in the comment section.

John Cena Reacts To Missing WWE SummerSlam

Andrew Ravens
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6

John Cena has taken to social media to comment on missing WWE SummerSlam. The former WWE Champion noted in his post that he will be missing the show that takes place tonight (August 19, 2018) in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center on the WWE Network for the first time since 2003.

The reason that he’s missing SummerSlam is due to him filming a movie in China with Jackie Chan. He wrote the following:

“First time in 15 years I have not been able to be a part of @WWE #SummerSlam. I am beyond grateful to @EyeOfJackieChan but truly miss the @WWEUniverse. Wishing all Superstars luck and safety! My time isn’t quite up, but #YourTimeIsNow! #CarpeDiem.”

He was last seen on WWE programming when he beat Triple H in the opening match on the main card of the Greatest Royal Rumble pay-per-view event in April. Before that, he worked a limited schedule for the company where he would lose to The Undertaker in a short match at the biggest event of the year for the WWE, WrestleMania, in early April.

Cena is set to make his return to in-ring competition for the WWE as he is slated to work the upcoming live event in Shanghai, China at the Mercedes Benz Arena on Saturday, Sept. 1 where he’ll team with Finn Balor and Bobby Lashley to face Baron Corbin, Elias and Jinder Mahal.

He will also be working the upcoming Superstar Show-Down pay-per-view event that goes down on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Australia and will air on the WWE Network. At this show, he’ll take on Kevin Owens.

Dolph Ziggler Offers Update On His WWE Contractual Status

Jon Fuentes
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There have been a ton of rumors surrounding Dolph Ziggler’s contractual status with WWE.

Ziggler is currently reigning as WWE Intercontinental Champion. He will defend that title against Seth Rollins at SummerSlam tonight from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Dolph Ziggler Offers Update On His WWE Status

Ziggler was interviewed by PWInsider‘s Mike Johnson at WWE’s Be A Star Rally in The Bronx, New York. Johnson is reporting that Ziggler’s deal with WWE will expire at the end of the summer.

Here’s what “The Showoff” had to say about the matter:

“I feel like you’ll have to see Sunday or Monday but I’ve also heard that [his deal was coming up.]  I’ve also heard about several different contracts that I signed but I didn’t sign.”

Johnson asked Ziggler if that was a “no comment,” and here’s how the Intercontinental Champion responded:

“So…I’m giving you a comment.  I’ve been doing some great work and looking forward to doing what I do and Sunday or Monday, we’ll see what direction we’re heading in afterwards.”

Ziggler In WWE

Ziggler has been with WWE since 2004. He got his start on the main roster as a member of The Spirit Squad after getting called up from Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Since being called up, Ziggler has proven to be one of the best in-ring performers on the roster.

He is a two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Ziggler also won the United States Champion twice and is a six-time Intercontinental Champion. Back in 2012 Ziggler also won the Money In The Bank (MITB) briefcase.

There have been a ton of rumors recently about his status with WWE. Some say Ziggler feels underutilized with the company and could be looking for a fresh start elsewhere. Others believe he will remain with WWE, as they can offer him the best deal financially.

As Ziggler says, perhaps things will become more clear tonight at SummerSlam or on tomorrow night’s RAW.

Discussion: What do you think will happen between WWE and Ziggler? Have your say in the comments below!

Charlotte Flair Calls Out Ronda Rousey

Jon Fuentes
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There’s potential for a massive WWE women’s match down the road.

On SmackDown Live, it’s arguable that Charlotte Flair is the brand’s biggest female star. There’s no argument as to who is the biggest female star on Monday Night RAW, however. That spot is reserved for ex-UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

Both women will challenge for titles at tonight’s SummerSlam pay-per-view (PPV) in Brooklyn, New  York. It’s possible they find themselves standing across the ring from one another at some point down the road.

Flair recently appeared on ESPN’s “Get Up!” to promote SummerSlam. During the interview, Flair was asked by NFL player Keyshawn Johnson who in WWE she hasn’t faced yet that she wants to.

Flair Calls Out Rousey

“The Queen” responded by naming Stephanie McMahon and Ronda Rousey. Flair then elaborated on what it would be like sharing the ring with Rousey. She challenged the notion that Rousey is the “Toughest Woman On The Planet”:

“They keep saying she’s the toughest woman on the planet; but, I think I’m the toughest woman on the planet.”

Flair was then asked if she thinks she could headline a WrestleMania with Rousey. She admits it would be the right storyline, but is adamant about headlining a WrestleMania regardless of the opponent:

“Headlining WrestleMania is definitely a dream of mine. Who the opponent is, it really doesn’t matter because I’m headlining WrestleMania; but, I think it would be the right story.

“She says that she’s a 4-Horsewoman and I’m like, ‘Wait, I’m a Flair. I’m blood.’ So it’s 4 on 4? I don’t know.”

Dave Meltzer’s Recent Comments

Furthermore, Flair was asked to offer her thoughts on the recent controversy surrounding Dave Meltzer’s comments about SmackDown Live Superstar Peyton Royce:

“That’s what’s amazing about our job is that we do have a platform to make a difference and voice our opinions on certain things like that. In terms of her appearance being criticized, I just go, ‘Aren’t we past that?’

“You wouldn’t see someone sitting here saying, ‘Roman Reigns’ hair is phenomenal, or Seth [Rollins’] abs,’ or people wouldn’t be like, ‘AJ Styles on TNA looked better than WWE.’

“It shouldn’t be a topic of conversation and I know that we’re Superstars and people see us as untouchable; but, we’re human and when you see negativity like that, it’s gotta hurt her.

“I just wanted to touch her [Peyton Royce] and be like, ‘Listen, ignore that.’ My Dad always said that if they’re talking about you, you must be doing something right and that’s what they were doing.

“They were talking about her. Whether it’s her looks or not, you would think that we’re passed that.”

Discussion: Would you be interested in seeing a match between Flair and Rousey? Should it headline WrestleMania? Sound off in the comments below!

H/T WrestleZone for the transcriptions

Ric Flair Praises Roman Reigns For His Lack Of Fear For Brock Lesnar

Jon Fuentes
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1

Two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair had some high praise for Roman Reigns recently.

Reigns is preparing to challenge Brock Lesnar tonight for the WWE Universal Title. The action goes down from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York at SummerSlam. This will be Reigns’ fourth attempt at dethroning Lesnar from a World Title position.

Flair Praises Reigns

“The Nature Boy” was recently a guest on fellow Hall Of Famer Jim Ross’ podcast, The Ross Report. The pair touched on tonight’s SummerSlam pay-per-view (PPV). Flair praised Reigns for his lack of fear towards Lesnar, an ex-UFC heavyweight champion:

“One of the things that’s cool about Roman is that he’s not afraid of Brock. You know what I mean?

“A lot of guys are and they can tell you they’re not all day long; but, Roman coming from his mom and his dad and his family – he wouldn’t be allowed in the house if he was afraid of Brock.

“You and I know that and know what that means. Me, when I had to wrestle Brock I wanted to kill you [Jim Ross] for even listening to Vince [McMahon] and book it.”

As for what should main event SummerSlam, Flair said Lesnar vs. Reigns should get the nod if the women don’t main event:

“If it’s gonna be the guys, it’ll have to be them.”

Lesnar vs. Reigns isn’t the only World Title match on SummerSlam’s card. From SmackDown Live, WWE Champion AJ Styles will defend his strap against Samoa Joe as well. In regards to steam behind the respective matches, Flair says it isn’t even close:

“There’s just no comparison in the amount of steam. It’s not the individual talent. It’s just the steam on this one.

“The last two weeks with Brock not even being advertised and doing that and [Paul] Heyman did a great job in the setup.”

Discussion: What do you make of Flair’s comments? Should Lesnar vs. Reigns main event SummerSlam? Sound off in the comments below!

H/T WrestleZone for the transcriptions

Ronda Rousey Wants Fans’ Help Naming Finisher

Jon Fuentes
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Ronda Rousey wants fans’ help naming her non-submission finisher. Rousey typically likes to finish her matches with her signature armbar. On the other hand, the former UFC champ also has a non-submission finisher she pulls out form time-to-time. Rousey puts her opponents on her shoulders and does a spinning suplex of sorts.

That finisher has yet to be named. “The Rowdy One” spoke to Yahoo Sports to promote tonight’s SummerSlam pay-per-view (PPV) event. During their conversation, Rousey contemplated a name for the finisher.

Rousey said she liked the sound of “Plex and Violence.” It’s a play off of the song the UFC didn’t allow her to walk out to before her fights, “Sex and Violence.” She’s not sure WWE would allow the name, so she asked fans for their input:

“Oh, that throw I keep doing? We keep throwing around names for it. Originally, my walkout song for MMA I wanted to be ‘Sex and Violence’ and they wouldn’t let me. So I thought a cool name would be ‘Plex and Violence,’ like suplex and violence.

“Yeah, so Plex and Violence I like. Maybe, I don’t know, it’s PG, I don’t know if they’ll let me keep it. What do you guys think? … Or do you have any suggestions? I’m open to suggestions. Name that thing that I do.”

Ronda Rousey faces RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss tonight at SummerSlam. Ronda Rousey is also rumored to be involved in the WWE Evolution main event.

H/T Cageside Seats for the transcriptions

Matt Riddle Signs With WWE, Ringside At NXT Takeover Brooklyn

Matt Boone
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Following months of speculation, Matt Riddle appeared on camera on a WWE broadcast at Saturday night’s NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 live special.

Riddle has been rumored to be negotiating a deal with WWE for a while now, and after his cameo on last night’s show, WWE has confirmed that he has signed.

Former EVOLVE Champion and UFC fighter Matt Riddle was announced as WWE’s newest signee by Paul “Triple H” Levesque at the official NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 post-show press conference.

Additionally, WWE.com published an article confirming the signing of the former Ultimate Fighter veteran.

Matt Riddle, or as he is often referred to by fans, “The King of Bros,” has been announced as the newest Superstar to wave the NXT flag. Fittingly, the news was revealed as he was ringside for tonight’s huge WWE Network special event in Brooklyn.

The former wrestling champion and UFC fighter made a name for himself in the indie circuit, capturing titles such as the EVOLVE Championship and the PROGRESS Atlas Championship.

It's worth noting that although Riddle has signed with WWE, he is still obligated to make various independent appearances through September of 2018.

With WWE signing another top independent star, the NXT talent roster expands. Riddle joins a rich talent pool right now that includes Ricochet, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Aleister Black, EC3, Velveteen Dream and many others.

Check out a photo of Riddle in the front row of last night's show below. For complete NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 results from Saturday night, click here.

What do you think about WWE signing Matt Riddle? Sound off in the Comments section below.

The Miz Discusses Not Getting Credit He Deserves, Underutilized WWE Stars

Andrew Ravens
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The Miz has expressed his feelings about not getting the credit he deserves for the accomplishments that he has achieved in the WWE. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion spoke with Complex to promote the SummerSlam pay-per-view event that takes place tonight (August 19, 2018) in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center on the WWE Network.

Credit He Deserves

“Go to Barclays [Center] today and look at the poster. Guess who’s not on it? [Points to himself.] This face! Daniel Bryan is on it, why isn’t The Miz? I don’t understand this. I don’t understand how I am not the face when I put butts in seats. I make people talk. When I talk, people listen. I get aggravated because no matter what I do, nobody ever gives me credit.”

Miz continued by stating that he learned the tools to become a WWE star while on the Real World TV series where he would later go to acting classes and studied the art of professional wrestling. He brought up how Daniel Bryan is the indie darling as everyone always says but he doesn’t need to brag about the indie life but rather he brags about his WWE life. He promised that Bryan would find out how big he is at SummerSlam.

Who’s Underutilized In WWE

The Miz also gave his opinion regarding who he thinks is not used properly in the WWE as he stated that whenever we see a new superstar come into WWE, people think they want to see more but it takes time to develop into a character as it took five years for him.

“Now, everyone wants to come in and say, ‘Well I was a superstar at NXT, so I should be a superstar here.; No, just because you were great in one place doesn’t mean you’re going to be the same caliber. You have to be able to adjust, you have to be able to evolve, you have to be able to withstand what it takes to be a WWE superstar.”

Miz continued to say that he looks at Zack Ryder as someone who WWE is not utilizing all of his talents because he tries hard and has the talent to become an upper tier talent. Thus, it makes him think that sometimes you just gotta wait for your opportunity, and once you have that opportunity don’t let it go.

Our staff has released their predictions for the SummerSlam show, which you can read here.

Former Women’s Champion Advertised For WWE Evolution

Andrew Ravens
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Another former WWE Women’s Champion is advertised for the first-ever all-women’s Evolution event. PWinsider.com reports that WWE showed a graphic of Michelle McCool for the event during the NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 special, which would indicate that she will be making an appearance.

On Saturday night, WWE officially announced the first match for WWE Evolution. WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is coming out of retirement once again to face RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss. 

As of this writing, there’s no word yet on her opponent for the show or if she’ll be even wrestling. McCool last wrestled in January at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view event where she competed as a participant in the Women’s Royal Rumble match.

The Evolution pay-per-view event takes place on Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Long Island, New York at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and will air on the WWE Network.

WWE Hall of Famer Lita, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix, SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella, Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Naomi, Asuka, Nia Jax, Ember Moon, Natalya, Shayna Baszler, Bayley, Sasha Banks and NXT Women’s Champion Kairi Sane are all advertised for this show.

Who do you want to see McCool wrestle against at this upcoming show? Sound off in the comment section. 

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