SummerSlam | |||
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Promotion | WWE | ||
Brand(s) | Raw SmackDown | ||
Date | July 30, 2022 | ||
City | Nashville, Tennessee | ||
Venue | Nissan Stadium | ||
Attendance | 48,449[1] | ||
WWE Network event chronology | |||
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SummerSlam chronology | |||
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The 2022 SummerSlam was the 35th annual SummerSlam professional wrestling live event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event aired on pay-per-view (PPV) worldwide and was available to livestream through Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network internationally. It took place on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, marking the first SummerSlam to not be held during the month of August.
Eight matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. In other prominent matches, Pat McAfee defeated Happy Corbin, Logan Paul defeated The Miz, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) defeated The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, and in the opening bout, Bianca Belair defeated Becky Lynch to retain the Raw Women's Championship. The event also saw the returns of Bayley, Dakota Kai (who had been released from her WWE contract in April), Iyo Sky (formerly known as Io Shirai), and Edge. The event received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who praised the main event, Logan Paul's performance, and the Raw Women's Championship match, but criticized the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match and the SmackDown Women's Championship match.
This was the first WWE PPV event following the retirement of WWE owner Vince McMahon, who had served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company since 1982. McMahon announced his retirement on July 22, just a week before SummerSlam.
SummerSlam is an annual live event that had previously been produced every August by WWE since 1988. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer,"[2] it is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views (PPV), along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, originally dubbed the "Big Four",[3] and as of August 2021, it is considered one of the "Big Five", along with Money in the Bank.[4] Out of the five, it is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind WrestleMania.[5][6] The 2022 event was the 35th event in the SummerSlam chronology and featured wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands. In addition to airing on traditional PPV, it was available to livestream on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network in international markets. Announced in October 2021, the 2022 event was the very first SummerSlam to not be held during the month of August. Instead, it was scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.[7][8] Tickets went on sale on April 22, with premium hospitality packages also available.[9] It was also the first SummerSlam since 2009 to incorporate a new logo, replacing the previous SummerSlam logo that had been used for the past 12 years.[10]
A week before SummerSlam on July 22, 2022, WWE owner Vince McMahon announced his retirement from the company. He had served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 1982. The 2022 SummerSlam was in turn the first WWE PPV following his retirement. His daughter, Stephanie McMahon, and WWE President Nick Khan took over as co-CEOs, while Stephanie also took over as Chairwoman.[11]
The event included matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where 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 and SmackDown brands,[12][13] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[14]
At WrestleMania 38 in April, SmackDown's Universal Champion Roman Reigns defeated Raw's WWE Champion Brock Lesnar in a Winner Takes All match to become recognized as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.[15] After Reigns retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the June 17 episode of SmackDown, he claimed there was no one left to face him. Lesnar then made a surprise return after a two-month hiatus and offered Reigns a handshake. As Reigns went to shake his hand, Lesnar attacked Reigns and then attacked The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), who had come to Reigns' aid.[16] It was subsequently announced that Reigns would defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam, which WWE billed as their last match against each other.[17]
On the June 17 episode of SmackDown, after losing to Madcap Moss, Happy Corbin confronted commentator Pat McAfee—a former teammate when both played in the National Football League who consistently criticized Corbin on-air for his underhanded tactics.[16] The following week, McAfee challenged Corbin to a match at SummerSlam.[18] After Money in the Bank went off the air, Corbin attacked McAfee and subsequently accepted the challenge.[19]
At Money in the Bank, Bobby Lashley defeated Theory to win the United States Championship.[20] On the following episode of Raw, Theory announced he was granted a rematch against Lashley for the title at SummerSlam.[21]
At Money in the Bank, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) defeated The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. Following the match, replayed footage of the pinfall showed that Ford's shoulder was off the mat, thus the pinfall should not have been counted.[20] A championship rematch was then subsequently scheduled for SummerSlam.[22] On the July 15 episode of SmackDown, WWE official Adam Pearce announced that WWE Hall of Famer and Nashville area native Jeff Jarrett would be the special guest referee for the match.[23]
At Money in the Bank, Liv Morgan won the women's Money in the Bank ladder match to earn a women's championship match contract of her choosing. After Ronda Rousey retained the SmackDown Women's Championship later that same night, Morgan ran out and used the contract to cash in on Rousey and win the title.[20] On the following SmackDown, it was announced that Morgan would defend the title in a rematch against Rousey at SummerSlam.[24]
Role: | Name: |
---|---|
English commentators | Michael Cole (SmackDown) |
Jimmy Smith (Raw) | |
Corey Graves (all matches) | |
Byron Saxton (Raw) | |
Spanish commentators | Marcelo Rodriguez |
Jerry Soto | |
Ring announcers | Mike Rome (Raw/Main event) |
Samantha Irvin (SmackDown) | |
Referees | Danilo Anfibio |
Dan Engler | |
Jeff Jarrett | |
Daphne Lashaunn | |
Eddie Orengo | |
Chad Patton | |
Charles Robinson | |
Rod Zapata | |
Interviewers | Sarah Schreiber |
Jackie Redmond | |
Pre-show panel | Kayla Braxton |
Kevin Patrick | |
Peter Rosenberg | |
Booker T | |
Jerry Lawler |
The pay-per-view opened with Bianca Belair defending the Raw Women's Championship against Becky Lynch. In the early part of the match, Lynch began to target the arm of Belair. Outside the ring, Lynch countered a Kiss Of Death from Belair and attacked Belair near the timekeepers'area. Lynch performed Diamond Dust on Belair for a nearfall. Later, Belair performed a Kiss Of Death on Lynch outside the ring. Belair intended for a countout victory, however, Lynch rolled back in the ring at nine. Lynch pulled Belair, who was atop a turnbuckle, into the ring by the latter's braid and performed a Manhandle Slam for a nearfall. In the closing, as Lynch attempted a second Manhandle Slam from the middle rope, Belair countered into a Spanish Fly and the Kiss of Death on Lynch to retain the title. Following the match, Belair and Lynch shook hands and embraced each other. Bayley then made her return for the first time since July 2021, and confronted Belair, however, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky (formerly known as Io Shirai in NXT) both made their main roster debuts. Sky and Kai turned heel by siding with Bayley, who attempted to taunt Belair. Lynch then sided with Belair, thus Lynch turned babyface since May 2020. Bayley, Sky, and Kai then retreated while Lynch and Belair continued to show mutual respect to each other.[1]
Next, Logan Paul faced The Miz (accompanied by Maryse and Ciampa). During the match, Paul applied the Figure Four leglock on Miz, however, Miz reached the ropes to void the submission. Paul performed a Crossbody and standing moonsault on Miz for a nearfall. Ciampa attempted to attack Paul only for the referee to catch him. Although the referee sent Ciampa backstage, Ciampa refused to comply and obtained a steel chair to sit. AJ Styles then came out and attacked him from behind. Paul performed a Phenomenal Forearm on Miz for a nearfall. Paul then performed a Frog Splash on Miz through the announce table. In the end, as Paul attempted a pin on Miz, Maryse distracted the referee, while Miz attempted to attack Miz with a necklace. As Miz attempted to attack Paul with the necklace, he almost struck Maryse, who stood on the ring apron, however, Paul took advantage and performed a Phenomenal Forearm and Skull Crushing Finale on Miz in the ring to win the match.[1]
After that, Bobby Lashley defended the United States Championship against Theory. During Lashley's entrance, Theory attacked Lashley with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Mid-way through the match, Theory attempted to walk away from the match, however, Lashley intercepted him. Lashley performed a Running Powerslam on Theory. As Lashley attempted a Spear on Theory, Theory leapt over Lashley. In the end, Lashley applied the Hurt Lock submission on Theory, who submitted, thus Lashley retained the title.[1]
The next match saw The Mysterios (Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio) face The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (accompanied by Rhea Ripley) in a No Disqualification tag team match. In the closing moments, former Judgment Day leader Edge made his return and performed a Spear on Priest and Bàlor. The Mysterios then performed a double 619 on Bàlor. Rey followed with a Frog Splash on Bálor to win the match.[1]
Next, Happy Corbin fought Pat McAfee. In the closing moments, as Corbin attempted End of Days on McAfee, McAfee performed a right hand on Corbin, who inadvertently incapacitated the referee. McAfee performed a low-blow and a Powerbomb on Corbin to win the match.[1]
Following that, Drew McIntyre came out to cut a promo where he spoke about his upcoming WWE Undisputed WWE Championship match at WWE Clash at the Castle. McIntyre stated that it did not matter who would win the main event at SummerSlam and that he would defeat whomever at Clash at the Castle to become champion.[1]
Next, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) defended the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), with WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett as the special guest referee. In the end, The Usos performed the 1D on Dawkins to retain the title.[1]
Following that, Riddle came out and called out Seth Rollins. Rollins came out, however, WWE officials came out to warn Rollins. Rollins and Riddle eventually fought which ended with Rollins performing a Stomp on Riddle.[1]
In the penultimate match, Liv Morgan defended the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship against Ronda Rousey. Early in the match, Morgan performed a Codebreaker on Rousey. As Morgan attempted an Ob-Livion on Rousey, Rousey countered and applied the armbar on Morgan. Rousey applied the armbar on Morgan, however, Morgan's touched the ropes. In the closing moments, Rousey applied the armbar on Morgan once again, however, Rousey's shoulders were on the mat. Due to this, the referee counted for the pin, thus Morgan retained the title. Following the match, an irate Rousey attached Morgan and the referee.[1]
In the main event, Roman Reigns (accompanied by Paul Heyman) defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match.
Presented content of the Wikipedia article was extracted in 2022-08-05 based on https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=60009977