A lapsed fan’s information to SummerSlam 2022

As a service to followers who’ve a basic curiosity in WWE however may not have watched a match in months, we’re completely happy to supply this FAQ as a information to SummerSlam at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, July 30. (eight p.m., Peacock)

What’s occurring with WWE as of late?

It is unattainable to speak about SummerSlam with out acknowledging that that is the primary WWE Premium Stay Occasion (previously referred to as pay-per-views) of the post-Vince McMahon period. The 76-year-old chairman and CEO announced his retirement on July 22. His daughter Stephanie is the brand new chairwoman and co-CEO with Nick Khan, who was serving as WWE president.

The announcement got here after Vince McMahon had already stepped away from his roles with the corporate following a Wall Road Journal report that the WWE board was investigating a secret $three million settlement given by McMahon to a former WWE paralegal.

To say every part about WWE adjustments with out Vince McMahon within the massive chair can be underselling on an Final Warrior match stage.

So … now what? How does it influence SummerSlam?

McMahon has been the WWE because the 1980s. The whole lot you see, hear, odor and contact had his sign-off. Now, that is accomplished. The method for creating weekly tv and premium occasions will change now that Paul “Triple H” Levesque is overseeing the WWE’s creative direction. The sorts of wrestlers who get promoted and pushed will change.

A lot of that is long-term change. As for SummerSlam, given the timing of this growth, there would not appear to be lots of deviation from the beforehand established plans. Nevertheless it was curious to see a extremely anticipated SummerSlam match between Seth “Freakin'” Rollins and Riddle scrapped this week as a result of Riddle suffered “a brachial plexus harm” throughout an assault on RAW. We think about it was identified by a Dr. Kay Fabe …

As for whether or not Vince’s departure shall be acknowledged in storylines, we have already got our reply: Roman Reigns earned gasps from the Madison Sq. Backyard crowd throughout Monday Night time RAW by informing Theory, McMahon’s protégé, that “your daddy’s not right here anymore.”

Nicely, gasps and the “Who’s your daddy?” chants that adopted. Nicely accomplished, New York.

What’s Concept as much as at SummerSlam?

He is attempting to get his U.S. championship again from the highly effective palms of Bobby Lashley, who defeated him at Money In The Bank in a match that noticed Concept try to shut the circles on his Apple Watch by operating away from Lashley for an excellent portion of it. If nothing else, their feud had the best official description from the WWE we have ever learn: “A burgeoning rivalry constructed out of exhibiting off their muscle tissues and squirting child oil into one another’s eyes.” (Savage vs. Steamboat, eat your coronary heart out.)

However the true intrigue is not whether or not Concept can get again the U.S. gold, but when he’ll comply with via along with his vow to money in his Cash In The Financial institution contract in opposition to both Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar … however most likely Roman Reigns.

Roman Reigns is wrestling Brock Lesnar once more? Are we caught in a time loop?

Sure, and as a substitute of “I Received You, Babe,” it is that superior guitar lick from Brock’s theme tune that performs at any time when the alarm clock goes off within the morning.

Reigns and Lesnar met at WrestleMania in 2015 and at SummerSlam in 2017 and at WrestleMania in 2018 and at SummerSlam in 2018 and at Biggest Royal Rumble in 2018 and at Crown Jewel in 2021 and WrestleMania — the place Reigns defeated Lesnar to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion — and Crown Jewel in 2022. However whereas there have been as many Roman vs. Brock matches as there have been actors taking part in Batman on movie (look it up!), this version is being billed because the final assembly ever between the 2.

Very like character deaths in comedian books, we do not imagine the finality of “the final” something in wrestling.

The match can also be a Final Man Standing match, which implies the winner will little question be good and power-drained for that aforementioned Cash In The Financial institution cash-in, ought to it happen. Intrigue!

What concerning the girls’s singles titles?

Talking of operating issues again once more: Hey, it is one other version of Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch for Belair’s RAW girls’s championship! Please recall how finally yr’s SummerSlam Lynch returned as “Huge Time Becks” and defeated Belair in 26 seconds for her title. They met in an enormous grudge match at WrestleMania 38, the place Belair’s victory despatched Lynch emotionally spiraling.

The followers are getting extra behind Lynch, who continues to appear like Hayley Williams cos-playing as Pris from “Blade Runner” due to the challenges she’s dealing with climbing again up the mountain. Becks fought via a Triple Menace Match at Hell in a Cell and a grueling Cash In The Financial institution ladder match en path to this return engagement, falling simply quick in each. In actual fact, the winner of that ladder match is featured within the different big girls’s singles match: Liv Morgan.

Liv Morgan is a singles champion?

Sure certainly, and for the primary time. Higher identified for her tag-teaming because the Riott Squad and with Rhea Ripley, Morgan climbed the ladder to win the Cash In The Financial institution case after which cashed in that very same evening in opposition to a diminished Ronda Rousey, whose ankle had been labored over in a victory over Natalya. Sport acknowledge sport, so Rousey hugged her after the match. The rematch comes outfitted with Rousey’s baggage: The followers stay decidedly blended on her, whereas Morgan has made Ronda’s dedication to wrestling a part of her trash speak. Is that this the beginning of a Morgan singles run or was her win only a transient, memorable sideshow throughout Rousey’s reign?

Talking of transient, memorable sideshows: Pat McAfee is wrestling again.

What has compelled McAfee to go away the announcer’s desk this time?

It is Happy Corbin.

Nicely, that is sensible. Comfortable Corbin may be very punchable.

Precisely. Actually, something to get McAfee within the ring works for us. The previous NFL player-turned-sports speak radio phenomenon-turned-SmackDown announcer put in nice work in NXT and was one of many true highlights of WrestleMania 38 for his match in opposition to Concept that may lead into the final “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon second ever, because it seems.

That match occurred as a result of McMahon invited McAfee to wrestle at ‘Mania throughout a radio present look. This match is going on as a result of McAfee challenged Corbin to a bout at SummerSlam and Corbin responded with a quite brutal and shocking attack on McAfee after Money In The Bank went off the air that the WWE repeated on SmackDown, as a result of they’ve by no means met an excellent bit they could not subsequently water down. Anyway, McAfee guidelines so this needs to be an excellent one. He is in that more and more rising class of “non-wrestlers who develop into legit wrestling points of interest” … like WWE superstar Logan Paul.

Logan Paul is formally with the WWE?

The social media influencer and noted film critic signed a multi-event take care of WWE in June. He made his in-ring debut at WrestleMania 38, and like McAfee, his efficiency was one of many weekend’s highlights. He was attacked by The Miz after their WrestleMania tag match and declared he wished a rematch at SummerSlam. The Miz, in the meantime, enlisted the assistance of Ciampa to assault Paul. Hmm … if only there was a free agent wrestler Paul may add to his nook to look at his again, who additionally has significant history with Ciampa and a fan within the particular person overseeing the WWE’s artistic path.

What concerning the tag group division?

The undisputed WWE tag group champions The Usos have a rematch from Cash In The Financial institution in opposition to The Street Profits, with the gimmick being that the Earnings misplaced that match when the referee missed Montez Ford’s shoulder coming off the mat earlier than the three-count. This needs to be extra high-flying enjoyable between two good groups with a particular attraction: visitor referee J-E-Double-F J-A-Double R-E-Double-T himself, Jeff Jarrett. It is a busy weekend for Double-J, as he’s also participating in Ric Flair’s “final” match the following night in Nashville.

In the meantime, Rey and Dominik Mysterio face Finn Bálor and Damian Priest of The Judgment Day, through which the Mysterios search revenge for a heinous assault on Rey throughout his 20th anniversary celebration. It is a no-disqualification match so Edge can run in and spear The Judgment Day, most likely.

Umm … the place are half the individuals whom I acknowledge?

There are various massive names lacking from the present SummerSlam card, together with one present champion: Gunther, who holds the Intercontinental title. Different vital names on the surface trying in on the Nashville stadium occasion embody AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre, Shinsuke Nakamura, Omos, Sami Zayn, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, The New Day, Alpha Academy, The Viking Raiders, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Carmella and each Ezekiel and Elias. Kevin Owens, Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes are additionally off the cardboard because of latest accidents.

What intrigues you probably the most about SummerSlam 2022?

As all the time, our eyes are open to surprises. Famous person returns which can be anticipated (Edge) or sudden (John Cena) or actually, actually sudden (Bray Wyatt). Stunning title adjustments — how many individuals would declare McMahon remains to be operating artistic if Concept cashed in to win the WWE championship? Along with his match in opposition to Riddle scrapped, one assumes Rollins must be on this card someplace, proper?

All of that is unknown, however that may be the WWE’s biggest promoting level at this second. We have by no means had a SummerSlam with out Vince McMahon. Or a Survivor Collection. Or a WrestleMania. We had been in our fifth decade of getting one singular artistic pressure — for higher or worse — as the ultimate say in what did or didn’t occur within the greatest wrestling model on the earth. Nobody’s fairly certain what the WWE appears to be like like with that filter eliminated. However this weekend could possibly be our first glimpse.