SummerSlam (2019)

SummerSlam is an annual pay-per-view, produced every August by WWE since 1988. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer,"[6] it is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views, along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, dubbed the "Big Four".[7] It is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind WrestleMania.[8][9] 2019 was the thirty-second event in the SummerSlam chronology and featured wrestlers from the Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live brands.[3]

The show comprised twelve matches, including three on the Kickoff pre-show. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, in which wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live brands,[10][11] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw, SmackDown Live,[12] and the cruiserweight-exclusive 205 Live.[13]

At WrestleMania 35, Seth Rollins defeated Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Championship.[14] Lesnar then disappeared from television for several weeks before inserting himself in the 2019 Money in the Bank ladder match and won, earning a match for a world championship of his choice at any time within the next year.[15] After teasing some cash-ins, Lesnar finally cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at Extreme Rules and won back the Universal Championship right after Rollins had just retained the title.[16] On the following night's Raw, Rollins won a cross-brand 10-man battle royal to earn a rematch against Lesnar at SummerSlam.[17] During Raw Reunion on July 22, Lesnar's advocate Paul Heyman stated that Lesnar cashed in on Rollins because Rollins had done the same to Lesnar back at WrestleMania 31.[18]

On the July 15 episode of Raw, Naomi, Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and wild card guest Carmella competed in a fatal four-way elimination match to determine the number one contender against Becky Lynch for the Raw Women's Championship at SummerSlam. Natalya won by last eliminating Bliss.[17] After Lynch's match on the July 29 episode, Natalya applied the Sharpshooter on the champion and later suggested a submission match,[19] which was made official the following week.[20]

On the July 16 episode of SmackDown, after SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley and Ember Moon defeated Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville in a tag team match in which Moon scored the pin, Bayley selected Moon as the number one contender for her title at SummerSlam.[21]

During the summer of 2019, Kevin Owens became furious with Shane McMahon due to the latter taking up more and more screen time each week from other wrestlers and exerting even more authority, which was in contradiction to what The McMahon Family (Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Triple H) had promised several months prior. Despite Shane's attempts to ban Owens from SmackDown, Owens would nevertheless show up and attack Shane at opportune moments.[21] During Raw Reunion on July 22, Owens challenged Shane to a match at SummerSlam and said he would quit the WWE if he were to lose,[18] and Shane accepted.[22]

On the July 23 episode of SmackDown, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston selected Randy Orton as his SummerSlam opponent with his title on the line. Kingston referenced their past feud in 2009 when Kingston had defeated Orton, but said Orton used his influence to keep Kingston out of the main event scene. Orton said he was right that he held Kingston back and accepted the challenge. Orton also claimed credit for Kingston becoming WWE Champion, as it was Orton who had injured Ali, who Kingston had replaced in the WWE Championship match at Elimination Chamber, which led to Kingston winning the title at WrestleMania 35.[22]

Following the Superstar Shake-up in April, Bray Wyatt, who had been on hiatus since the previous summer, began appearing as an eerie children's entertainer in pre-taped segments called Firefly Fun Fouse. He eventually revealed a new sinister alternate persona called "The Fiend".[23] After wild card guest Finn Bálor's match on the July 15 episode of Raw, the lights went out and Wyatt appeared as "The Fiend" and attacked Bálor.[17][24] The following week on SmackDown, Bálor challenged Wyatt to a match at SummerSlam. Wyatt appeared inside the fun house and stated that he was a fan of Bálor but "The Fiend" was not and that "The Fiend" accepted the challenge.[22]

At Extreme Rules, AJ Styles defeated Ricochet to win the United States Championship thanks to help from his O.C. teammates, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.[16] On the July 29 episode of Raw, Ricochet won a gauntlet match, defeating Rey Mysterio, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, and Andrade, to earn a rematch for the title at SummerSlam.[19]

On the July 23 episode of SmackDown, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels' appearance on "Miz TV" was interrupted by Dolph Ziggler, who insulted Michaels. The Miz intervened but was pulled back by Michaels. Ziggler then attempted to punch Michaels, but instead hit Miz and then superkicked Michaels.[22] The following week, a match between Miz and Ziggler was scheduled for SummerSlam,[25] but during the contract signing on the August 5 episode of Raw, Miz revealed that their match would actually be on the following Raw and that Ziggler would fight someone else at SummerSlam. Ziggler presumed that this referred to Michaels but instead, WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg appeared, a man who Ziggler had also disparaged in his promos against Michaels, revealing Goldberg as Ziggler's opponent.[20]

Backstage during the July 23 episode of SmackDown, Charlotte Flair voiced her displeasure that she was not scheduled to compete at SummerSlam. Despite not being on the card, Flair stated she would be there to prove that she was the "greatest female superstar of all-time".[22] The following week, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus was a guest on Jerry Lawler's "King's Court". They were interrupted by Flair, who challenged the seven-time women's champion to a match at SummerSlam. After disparaging comments from Flair, Stratus accepted the challenge.[25]

On the August 6 episode of 205 Live, Oney Lorcan won a six-pack challenge, defeating Akira Tozawa, Ariya Daivari, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, Kalisto, and Tony Nese, to earn the right to face Drew Gulak for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship on the SummerSlam Kickoff pre-show.[26]

Three matches were contested on the SummerSlam Kickoff pre-show. In the first match, Drew Gulak defended the WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Oney Lorcan. In the end, Gulak performed a "Cyclone Crash" to retain the title.[27]

Next, Buddy Murphy faced Apollo Crews. In the end, Murphy was attacked by Rowan – who Murphy had accused of attacking Roman Reigns on recent episodes of Raw and SmackDown – thus Murphy won via disqualification. Following the match, Rowan continued to attack Murphy at ringside and performed a powerbomb on Murphy onto the ring apron.[27]

Following that, Elias performed a song insulting Toronto which prompted Toronto native and WWE Hall of Famer Edge to interrupt Elias. After trading some insults, Edge performed a spear on Elias.[27]

In the final pre-show match, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross defended the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce). In the end, Bliss performed "Twisted Bliss" on Royce to retain the title.[27]

The actual pay-per-view opened with the submission match in which Becky Lynch defended the Raw Women's Championship against Natalya. During the match, Lynch applied a Sharpshooter of her own on Natalya, however, Natalya immediately fired back with a "Dis-arm-her" of her own. In the climax, Natalya applied the sharpshooter again only for Lynch to counter and apply the "Dis-arm-her", forcing Natalya to submit to retain the title.[1]

Next, Goldberg faced Dolph Ziggler. As soon as the match began, Ziggler performed a superkick on Goldberg for a one-count. Ziggler performed a second superkick on Goldberg for another one-count. As Ziggler attempted a third, Goldberg performed a spear followed by a "Jackhammer" on Ziggler to win the match in under two minutes. Following the match, Ziggler taunted Goldberg, who responded by performing another spear on Ziggler. After Goldberg went backstage, Ziggler taunted him again, prompting Goldberg to return and perform one final spear on Ziggler.[1]

After that, The O.C.'s AJ Styles (accompanied by fellow O.C. members, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) defended the United States Championship against Ricochet. In the end, as Ricochet attempted a Phoenix splash on Styles, Styles countered into a "Styles Clash" to retain the title. Following the match, Gallows and Anderson performed the "Magic Killer" on Ricochet.[1]

In the fourth match, Bayley defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Ember Moon. In the end, Bayley performed a "Bayley-to-Belly" on Moon from the top rope to retain the title.[1]

After that, Kevin Owens put his career on the line against Shane McMahon. Before the match began, Shane introduced Elias as the special guest enforcer. During the match, Elias distracted Owens, allowing Shane to attack Owens with multiple cheap shots. Shane countered a pop-up powerbomb attempt with a DDT for a near-fall. Owens eventually performed a pop-up powerbomb on Shane, only for Elias to pull the referee out from the ring. Owens then attacked Elias, which also incapacitated the referee. Owens further attacked Elias with multiple chair shots. With the referee down, Owens performed a low blow and stunner on Shane to win the match and keep his job.[1]

Next, Charlotte Flair faced Trish Stratus. Stratus applied her own figure-four leglock on Flair followed by the "Figure-Eight Leglock". Stratus performed a "Stratusfaction" for a near-fall. In the end, Flair forced Stratus to submit to the "Figure-Eight Leglock" to win the match. After the match, Stratus was given a standing ovation.[1]

After that, Kofi Kingston defended the WWE Championship against Randy Orton. Orton delivered multiple side slams to Kingston on the broadcast tables. As Orton went for a superplex, Kingston countered into a tornado DDT for a near-fall. Orton eventually performed an "RKO" in midair on Kingston, however, Kingston rolled out of the ring. Outside the ring, Orton taunted Kingston's family, who were in the front row, and a brawl ensued between Kingston and Orton at ringside. Both were counted out, thus Kingston retained the title, and Kingston continued to beat down Orton.[1]

In the penultimate match, Finn Bálor faced off against Bray Wyatt's new persona, "The Fiend". "The Fiend" dominated the match. In the end, "The Fiend" countered a "Coup de Grace" from Bálor into the Mandible claw, causing Bálor to pass out and allow "The Fiend" to get the pinfall victory.[1]

In the main event, Brock Lesnar (accompanied by Paul Heyman) defended the Universal Championship against Seth Rollins. At the start of the match, Rollins rolled out of a suplex attempt and performed "The Stomp" for a near-fall. Rollins then performed two superkicks and attempted another "Stomp", but Lesnar caught Rollins with an "F-5". Lesnar performed multiple German and vertical suplexes on Rollins. Outside the ring, Rollins performed a frog splash on Lesnar through the Spanish announce table and then another frog splash and a "Stomp" in the ring for a near-fall. In the end, as Rollins attempted a third "Stomp", Lesnar caught him and attempted a second "F-5", however, Rollins countered and performed a superkick and a third "Stomp" on Lesnar and pinned him to regain the title for a second time.[1]

The following night on Raw, new Universal Champion Seth Rollins thanked the fans for their support before being interrupted by The O.C. (United States Champion AJ Styles and Raw Tag Team Champions Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson). Styles claimed to be the better champion and challenged Rollins to a champion versus champion non-title match, which ended in a disqualification due to interference from Gallows and Anderson. Ricochet and Braun Strowman ran out to make the save. Also on the show, Paul Heyman said that he was informed by WWE officials that Brock Lesnar would not be granted a rematch for the Universal Championship.[28]

Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch said she respected Natalya and put out a warning to the rest of the women's division. Natalya later came out with her arm in a sling and declared that she would face Lynch again. She was interrupted by the returning Sasha Banks, who last appeared at WrestleMania 35. After hugging and consoling Natalya, Banks attacked her, thus turning heel. Lynch came out for the save, but was attacked by Banks with a steel chair.[28]

Dolph Ziggler had his match with The Miz, which he also lost. After the match, he taunted Miz, who performed a "Skull Crushing Finale" on Ziggler.[28]

Following their SummerSlam match, Shane McMahon fined Kevin Owens US$100,000 for attacking a designated official, Elias, who was again appointed as the special guest enforcer for Owens' match against Samoa Joe where Elias cost Owens the match by making a fast three count.[29] After several more weeks of feuding,[30] Shane ultimately fired Owens.[31] Owens then threatened Shane with a lawsuit for wrongful termination,[32] which in turn resulted in Owens challenging Shane to a ladder match where if Shane won, Owens would drop the lawsuit and leave the WWE for good, but if Owens won, Shane would be gone. Shane accepted and the match was scheduled for SmackDown's 20th Anniversary on October 4.[33] where Owens defeated Shane.[34]

The New Day (WWE Champion Kofi Kingston and SmackDown Tag Team Champions Big E and Xavier Woods) faced Randy Orton and The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) in a six-man tag team match in which Orton and The Revival won. Following the match, Orton performed an RKO on all three members of The New Day.[29] A rematch between Kingston and Orton was subsequently scheduled for Clash of Champions.[35]

Also on SmackDown, Daniel Bryan and Rowan forced Buddy Murphy to reveal that he was lying in saying that Rowan was Roman Reigns' attacker. Later on the show, Bryan and Rowan revealed that they conducted their own investigation to find out who attacked Reigns.[29]

For defeating Trish Stratus, Charlotte Flair issued a challenge to Bayley for the SmackDown Women's Championship at Clash of Champions, which Bayley accepted.[30]

On 205 Live, Oney Lorcan had a rematch against Drew Gulak for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, however, Gulak retained the title.[36]