On a fun show, the events of WWE SummerSlam 2023 were mostly predictable, with one or two twists. SummerSlam was supposed to have eight matches, and four titles were at stake.
In the main event, Jey Uso challenged Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship and the title of Tribal Chief. Gunther protected his almost-historic Intercontinental Championship reign against Drew McIntyre, who was back after being away for a while. Seth Rollins defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor. And Asuka defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair and Bianca in a Triple Threat Match.
Who won and how they did at WWE SummerSlam 2023
Ricochet Def. Logan Paul
At the start of this match, Logan Paul shined Ricochet’s bald head, and Ricochet did gymnastics right away.
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WWE cut to a smart shot of Samantha Irvin looking upset. If Logan Paul wins, she could make it more interesting by how she says his name.
Logan Paul fooled around with this crowd and got more heat than some seasoned pros.
Ricochet and Paul did a Spanish Fly off the floor, but Ricochet lost his balance on the landing.
As promised, this match had some great high points, like a flying neckbreaker and a great spinning DDT counter from Logan Paul.
Paul won by showing a lot of guts, and Samantha Irvin did a great job of announcing the winner.
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Logan Paul vs Ricochet Grade: B
Brock Lesnar Lost to Cody Rhodes
WWE was late with the fireworks for Rhodes’ “Whoa” pose, which turned out to be a good thing because it let you hear how loud the fans were yelling.
Cody vs. Brock got off to a crazy start when Cody jumped on Lesnar and then got hit with what looked like a scary German suplex.
Brock Lesnar completely won the first half of this match until Cody Rhodes took off a turnbuckle pad while he was doing a suplex and then won without it.
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Rhodes pushed Brock Lesnar into the open turnbuckle to use it in the end. He then made a point with a Kimura lock, which almost made Ford Field melt down.
WWE showed several bits about Philadelphia to promote WrestleMania 40, and the Detroit crowd booed every one of them.
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar Grade: A-
WWE SummerSlam Battle Royal:
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar was also billed as a co-main event for SummerSlam.
LA Knight finally got his big break when he won this match and got the loudest cheer of the night. Click here to learn more about the Slim Jim Battle Royal.
SummerSlam was supposed to have 59,194 people there.
Slim Jim Battle Royal Grade: B
Ronda Rousey was beat by Shayna Baszler.
Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey had a hard job to do after the LA Knights’ emotional win, and most fans didn’t do much as they started the match with holds. Rousey took a head kick, which got a good response, but when they went back to holds and ground-and-pound, people started chanting “boring.”
Baszler faked an arm injury, which got WWE doctors to come out, but Rousey beat up the doctors, which did get people’s attention. But then people started chanting “LA Knight” and “This is boring!”
Shayna Baszler vs. Ronda Rousey Mark: D
Drew McIntyre vs. GUNTHER
Gunther was dressed like a bigger Daniel Bryan. He was wearing red tights and boots.
In a back-and-forth fight, McIntyre and GUNTHER didn’t waste any time getting in brutal, hard hits. Fans liked this a lot more than its predecessor.
There was a lot of counting in this match, between the nearfalls and Drew McIntyre’s total.
Before GUNTHER took a Claymore kick, which he kicked out of, the crowd stood up and cheered as he and McIntyre fought.
GUNTHER won cleanly by using a splash, a clothesline, and a power bomb.
GUNTHER vs. Drew McIntyre: B+
Finn Balor lost to Seth Rollins.
Even before the match started, there was a lot of playing with people’s minds. Balor walked out with the word “seven” painted on his right shoulder, which had just been fixed by surgery. Rollins walked out wearing parts of the gear he wore when he hurt Balor in 2016.
When Balor started working over Rollins’ shoulder, the match between them went to a new level of psychology. This meant that Balor had to throw a buckle bomb into the barricade, and it didn’t hit very well.
During the last parts of the match, when Damian Priest messed with the Money in the Bank bag and then when Judgment Day happened, fans went crazy. Balor’s plan to use the briefcase against him failed, and Seth Rollins won by curb-stomping Balor onto the case. Mistake.
Finn Balor against Seth Rollins: B+
Bianca Belair Opponent of Asuka Charlotte Flair and Iyo Make Money
Bianca Belair left the building while drinking a C4 Energy drink. If the WWE partner won this match, it would be the best possible review for her.
The Triple Threat match looked like it was easy for Bianca, Charlotte, and Asuka to win. They went in and out of routines and high-flying moves without missing a beat.
Compared to the other matches, it was clear that the crowd was tired, but there were still a lot of cheers at key points.
Late in the match, a number of WWE doctors and officials were outside helping Jey Uso. When the camera caught Belair selling, it looked like it was part of a plan. Belair came back hobbling just in time to stop a figure eight.
Charlotte used Belair’s injury to do a Figure 8, but Asuka stopped it by spraying mist in Belair’s face.
Iyo Sky was able to cash in her Money in the Bank box after a brave win by Bianca Belair, who was hurt and unable to walk. Dakota Kai came to the party with Damage CTRL.
Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Mark: A
Roman Reigns beats Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso becomes a villain.
Jey Uso wore all white and a white lei as a reference to their fight in 2020.
Before the bell even rang, people were yelling “F-U, Roman!” and “Roman sucks!” This match was heated from the start.
The main event started slowly, like many other Roman Reigns main events, and by the end, fans were chanting “We want tables!”
Jey Uso hit Roman Reigns with a Samoan Drop through a table, which was only right.
Fans didn’t boo as much as they groaned when Solo Sikoa surprised Jey Uso in the crowd. Even soft chants of “f-u, Solo!” and even bigger chants of “we want Jimmy!” could be heard.
Solo ate one of Roman Reigns’ spears by accident, just as their fight was about to start. Later, when Reigns asked Solo to help him up, Solo gave him a mean look.
Just as Jey Uso was about to win, Jimmy Uso pulled him out of the ring, and the Usos (not so amazingly) broke up.
