We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar lock horns for what could well be the last time.
There's never a dull moment in the WWE these days.
Not long after Vince McMahon (sort of) stepped down in controversy he officially retired, opening the door for both his daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Triple H to step into the biggest roles at the company.
So while much of the build happened under Mr McMahon's watch, SummerSlam 2022 was the first WWE pay-per-view of the post-Vince McMahon era.
Related: Is wrestling real or fake? All your WWE questions answered
The unified Undisputed WWE Championship was up for grabs as Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar met for the umpteenth time, with a Last Man Standing stipulation giving this one a fresh wrinkle at least.
Both women's singles titles were on the line as Liv Morgan had to defend her crown against Ronda Rousey without the advantage of a cash-in, and Bianca Belair tried to nudge Becky Lynch to the back of the line.
The Usos and Street Profits dit it one more time, Theory tot another go at Bobby Lashley (this time with that MITB briefcase in his back pocket), and there was plenty more happening besides.
All the action took place at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee and you can check out the full match card and all our predictions before recapping all the action and our snap reviews right here.
First, you can watch the hour-long kick-off show in FULL and for FREE:
Becky walks out first top open SummerSlam in some absolutely STUNNING ring-gear, headpiece and all, soaking up a mix of cheers and (mainly) boos. She's followed by the hair-swinging EST.
A stare-out to start, Becky looks beyond focused. They lock up in Nissan Stadium... this has already outlasted their previous SummerSlam match. Bianca gets Bex down on the mat first, but Becky counters.
#SummerSlam is BIG TIME!@BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/iB45bIDjtd
Bianca knocks Becky down, but Becky is the one getting the early success, targetting the chanp's left arm and already doing some damage. A smirk from Lynch.
Bianca finally counters with a drop kick and eventually gets a cover for two. She's still favouring that left armt though, and despite dropping Becky onto the barricade outside the ring, she loses out there with the challanger applying a massive leg drop.
Becky drags Belair back into the ring for two, then hits a Bexploder Suplex, doing yet more damage to that left arm and shoulder. Becky yanks Bianca down by the hair for another two.
Lynch gets Bianca's arm locked in, Belair wriggles out, but is dropkicked on to the apron. Becky goes to the second rope but Belair counters the legdrop and both women are down.
Eventulaly they're back up and they end up tussling on the outside. Bianca hits Becky face-frirst onto the apron, then a tug-of-war with Bianca's ponytail that Belair wins, finishing things off with a vertical suplex on the outside.
Back inside Belair gets a two and a half. Finally it's Belair on top, seemingly shrugged off that damage her left arm for an overhead press.
.@BiancaBelairWWE and @BeckyLynchWWE are doing whatever they can to walk away from #SummerSlam as #WWERaw Women's Champion! pic.twitter.com/EUD4LtoDDi
Lynch gets out and hits a Diamond Dust to regain control of proceedings.
Belair blocks a hurricanrana attempt with a catch and sheer strength, and gets Lynch up for a KOD, but Lynch has a hand on the rope and blocks it.
She rolls into a Dis-Arm-Her attempt but Belair wriggles to the outside, and gets Lynch up again fo a KOD and hits it on the outside of the ring! Lynch just beats the 10-count!
SUPER DUPER KOD!@BiancaBelairWWE #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/RTZfdODL57
Back up for a KOD on the inside this time, Lynch escapes but ends up flat on her back as Belair goes to the top. Lynch gets up to prevent the splash attempt.
Both women on the middle rope in the corner, Becky gets down and yanks Belair's braid! Manhandle Slam, but it's only good for two! Becky absolutely cannot believe it, she's almost in tears.
Lynch escapes a couple of roll-up pin attempts and attempts another Manhandle Slam, but Biana counters into a picture-perfect Spanish Fly. KOD from Belair on the inside, one, two THREE!
WINNER and STILL WWE Raw Women's Champion: Bianca Belair
After the match Becky offers Belair her hand, and after some justified hesitation, Bianca accepts it. Both women embrace and Lynch goes on to limp from the ring in defeat.
Ooooh, but there's more! Bayley's music hits, and she's back! Dressed in white combat trousers and a snazzy jacket, she slowly saunters down to the ring.
.@itsBayleyWWE is back and it looks like she came with some backup 👀#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/6jrDeLkvcY
"Hello Bianca, you remember me? You haven't seen me in a long time."
Oh, but there's EVEN MORE! Also coming down the ramp is a returning Dakota Kai! Bayley grins.
"Don't worry about it, we just wanna talk," Bayley said. "We've got something to talk about."
OH BUT THERE'S STILL MORE! Io Shirai now coming down the ramp. The three women go toe-to-toe with Belair, but Becky Lynch springs up to back up the champ and reduce the deficit!
Bayley and her crew decide discretion is the better part of valour and slink away all smirks.
VERDICT: A tough spot to open a stadium show, but Bianca and Becky pulled it off. Nothing too spectactular or shocking, but a decent, solid opener that did what it had to do, and left things settled with that handshake at the end. The real fireworks came after the three-count, when not only did Bayley make her long, long awaited comeback to the WWE after injury, but she brought a returning Dakota Kai and Io Shirai with her, giving the Raw women's division a massive boost. B+
The Miz comes to the ring dressed in luminous green, supported not just by Maryse but also a similiarly neon Tomasso Ciampa. Miz is wearing a one-of-one polaroid of the moment he hit Logan Paul with a Skull Crushing Finale.
After some mockery and head-patting from Miz, both men go at it at speed and Logan Paul is more than holding his own early on. Even disrespectfully flicking his boot over the Aweesome one.
Paul rolls up Miz for a two. Then he moonsaults off on to Miz from the apron to the aoutside. We think Miz is shocked at how fast Paul has come out here.
AIR LOGAN@LoganPaul #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/MWXUqbBPNi
Miz tries to gain control with some chops in the corner, but Paul swings things round and dishes out his own punishment.
Paul gets on to the second rope at the corner, but Miz uses his savvy to bounce him down, and takes control. While Miz distracts the ref, Ciampa does some damage to Paul at the ropes.
Logan Paul manages to overcome! He hits Miz with forearms and kicks and looks like he's in absolute control now, and even locks a Figure Four on to Miz with a grin!
Miz looks in serious plain here, is he going to tap out? He lies back ot ease the pressure and faces the two count. He eventually maanages to get to the ropes and the hold is broken.
Logan Paul goes to the top and connects beautifully! Standing moonsault! Gets two! Eventually.
Miz is down, Ciampa getting involved once more and ther ref's had enoug and orders him from ringside! CIampa stomps off in a huff and gets a chair, plinking himself down a few feet from the ring.
AJ Styles's music hits! Ciamap looking around but can't see where he is. From nowhere a flying forearm hits Tommaso in the face! The two brawl out into the crowd.
.@NXTCiampa didn’t want to leave after getting ejected so @AJStylesOrg took things into his own hands. #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/RU5Q46oJiM
Meanwhile, in the ring Logan Paul gets up and bounces off the rope for a Phenomenal Forearm on The Miz! He gets another two.
Paul now clears the announce table and gets Miz prone on it. Paul goes to the very top in the corner while Maryse remonstrates.
He FLIES through the air and BANG, hits Miz with a PERFECT Frog Splash. The table is destroyed, both men are down.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME @LoganPaul?!?!#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/qOOrRMTffg
Paul eventually gets up and drags Miz to teh ring. He gets the pin applied, but the ref is distracted by Maryses's antics.
The Miz gets that polaroid in his fist and looks to make use of the illegal weapon, Paul dodges it and he knocks out his own wife!
Back in the ring, Paul hits Miz with a Skull Crushing Finale. One, two THREE!
Look, there were still elements of Logan Paul cosplaying at being a wrestler here. All those borrowed moves, the cheesy "that's how a champ does it" down the lens after the match, but it's also right to give credit where credit's due. He showed he can absolutely do the nuts and bolts in the squared circle, and we don't just mean the Frog Splash, though that was the standout moment. He managed to make the little things work, too. All this in just his second ever WWE match. Incredible stuff. Tommaso Ciampa vs AJ Styles is something we can totally get behind, too. B+
Theory comes out to a heavy chorus of boos.
Bobby Lashley comes out and looks utterly unbothered, posing at the corner, but Theory takes advantage, raining down blows with that MITB briefcase before the bell even goes!
After a check from the ref, Lashley insists on starting the match. There's some quick back and forth, and Theory already looks more in this than he did the last time around.
Lashley getting into it though, flinging Theory around like a ragdoll, before the challenger slinks off and gets his briefcase, walking aroudn the ring and soaking up yet more boos.
Bobby Lashley leaves the ring and insists that Thery returns. First though he flings him twice into the barricade.
Back on the inside, Theory recovers to hit a dropkick. Lashley still in charge though. Now they're trading punches, before Lashley gets Theory up and down with a powerslam.
Lashley goes for the spear but Theory dodges it and Bobby goes headfirst into the turnbuckle.
Theory rolls in to take advantage but Lashley recovers and gets Theory into the Hurt Lock. It doesn't last long from there as Theory taps out fast.
WINNER and STILL WWE United States Champion: Bobby Lashley
That was refreshingly brief. More evenly matched than their previous outing, mainly thanks to that sneak breifcase attack before the bell, but this never really felt like Theory was going to nab the championship. The speed with which he tapped out at the end was almost indecent. Theory will likely want to lick his woulds and save whatever powder he has left for after the main event. I'm not sure how much we needed this rematch, but at least it didnt outstay its welcome. C+
The sun has set now, perfect for The Judgment Day to make their entrance. They're out first, followed by The Mysterios, who look fearless.
Before the bell even goes it's pandemonium with all four men going at each other. No DQ means that we're not waiting around for tags at the moment.
The Mysterios get the early edge, and Dominik spears Damian Priest before Rey hits Finn on the outside.
Wait for it......@reymysterio @DomMysterio35#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/aHWnUeQi8h
Dominik gets a two count on Finn, before the father-son team double-team Balor. Dom is all confidence, but eventually Balor and Priest get on top with sheer force of strength.
Finn has Dom on the ropes and now he and Priest are double teaming the younger Mysterio. Priest gets a quick two. Strong forearm then applies a hold around Mysterio's neck.
Now it's Balor's time to do some damage. An Eddie hip wiggle at Rey. Dom suffering now. Finally Dominik gets an opening ang gets Balor down. Both men tag, Rey flying around the ring and turning back the clock against Priest, while also keeping Finn Balor at bay.
Finn tries to intduce a steel chair. Big misake. Rey takes the chair and uses it first against Priest and then FLIES out the ring under the ropes and takes Finn out of things for a while.
amian finally puts an end to Rey's flurry with a massive superick to the face of Mysterio Snr.
Balor tags himself in and gets on top, but Dominik's involvement stops Finn from going to the top. Now Rey and Balor both on the top. Hurricanrana from Rey from the top!
20 years in and @ReyMysterio looks better than ever! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/g1H7z65DY7
One, two, Damian Priest breaks it up, bt Dom and Rey double-team to get both Finn and Damian prone for a 619... Rhea Ripley grabs their legs and blocks it, before powering Dominik into the canvas.
.@EdgeRatedR is back and has his sights set on @ArcherOfInfamy and @FinnBalor! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/3y2TU09N0w
Judgement Day have the upper hand but the lights go down! FIRE everywher eon the otuside, and then, dressed in red and black is Edge! He's back and looks like he means serous business.
Balor weirld a chair but SPEAR from Edge. then anotehr SPEAR on Priest. Edge rolls out, the Mysterios are back in, double 619 on Balor!
Rey gets the cover on Finn. One, two three! Edge looks pretty pleased about all that
WINNERS: The Mysterios (Rey and Dominik)
Dominik has fully established himself by now as a legitimate wrestlers in his own right, but this was all about the return of Edge, which had been pretty well signposted with those teaser videos this past couple of weeks (despite the slight suggestion of a Bray Wyatt comeaback). Before The Rated R Superstar made his intervention it was a pretty solid if unspectacular affair, with Rey Mysterio showing (as always) that he still absolutely has it. Now the question is what happens next? Will Edge be taking on The Judgment Day on his own, or will he be forming an alliance with the Mysterios or some other parties? C+
Happy Corbin vs Pat McAfee
Afer Happy Corbin makes his entrance, a massive black-clad choir is on stage singing "Bum-ass Corbin" and the man himself is NOT happy.
They segue into Pat McAfee's theme as the former kicker comes out and conducts the crowd.
.@PatMcAfeeShow with an ELECTRIC #SummerSlam entrance! pic.twitter.com/aVASDCfdGM
Corbin looks a bit dazed by all that. The bell goes and after Corbin yammers at McAfee, Pat hits a massive superkick to get us going. He follows it up with a hurricanrana before bundling Corbin out of the ring into the barricade.
McAfee joins him on the outside and then bundles Corbin into the ringpost. Both men back inside.
Pat on the top rope, but as McAfee gees up the crowd, Corbn hits a massive dropkick and then takes over, doing some damage before throwing Pat to the outside.
Did Happy @BaronCorbinWWE just one-up @PatMcAfeeShow?!#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/szo7nx9xpg
He joins him and bundles him from baricade to barricade.
Back inside for a two count. Corbin goes for a Deep Six, but it doesn't quite connect, and he only gets another two.
DEEP SIX to @PatMcAfeeShow!@BaronCorbinWWE #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/DWOKPtguiQ
Now both men going at it outside the ring, before Corbin gets McAfee up on the announce table. Corbin gets a headset on to jeer McAfee, before he gets physucal with Michael Cole, who to his credit stands up to Corbin.
Back to teh ring, Corbin goes to the second rope. McAfee gets to his feet, now both men on top, and SUPERPLEX from McAfee on Corbin.
Both men down, McAfee gets a one arm cover but Corbin kicks out at two.
Now they're exchanging blows in the middle, McAfee doges a spear and Corbin goes into the post and falls to the outside.
McAfee goes to the top. Nearly slips off! Swantone Bambini (?!?) off the top. A little back and forth on the inside, Corbin fails to connect with an End ofDdays and Charles Robinson gets knocked aside.
After Corbin checks on the ref, he turns and eats a kick to the groin from Pat McAfee! Payback! McAfee jumps off the second rope and Code Reds into a pin. One, two and three!
That was absolutely fine. Pat McAfee shows not for the first time that he can hold his own in the ring (though y'know, he's no Logan Paul). Plenty of good back and forth, and we were still guessing as to who would come out on top till Charles Robinson's poor positioning opened the door for Pat McAfee to sneak the win with the groin kick. C+
Drew McIntyre walks out and talks up himself as the new number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship (he'll be facing the champ at Clash at the Castle).
.@DMcIntyreWWE doesn't care if it's @BrockLesnar or @WWERomanReigns, he's ready to beat either at #WWECastle. #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/HzUXN9Khrc
He hypes up tonight's main event, with a bit of a dig at how many times we've seen it before. Drew doesn't care who wins, because he's gonna beat the ass of whoever wins in Wales. He raises his sword to launch some fireworks.
Special Guest Referee Jeff Jarrett is the first out as we get a video recap of the controversial finish at Money in the Bank.
Titans cheerleaders introduce The Street Profits who look as confident as ever. Then out come the seven-times champs.
Here we go! Dawkins and Jimmy lock up. Jeff Jarrett gets invovled twice. breaking things up for each man as things go in the corner for five.
JJ is being incerdibly conspiculous here, barking commands as blows fly, tags are made and pins are attempted.
Cool it, @WWEUsos!@RealJeffJarrett #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/wvm4Zm2TDi
Jarrett flings Jey out the ring after his allocated time double-teaming Angelo Dawkins. A cheap shot from Jey while JJ is having words with Jimmy.
Jimmy wearing down Dawkins, but Jimmu takes too much time and Angelo dodges a second attempt into the corner. Double tag! Now it's Jey and Tez going at it and Ford is full of energy.
AIR-TEZ FORD!#SummerSlam @MontezFordWWE pic.twitter.com/rNVXXuSrc1
A flurry from Ford ends in a two count. Then a big chop, but Jey hits back with a kick and uppercut. Ford replies with a standing blockbuster for another two.
Ford looking to do more damage but from nowhere there's a neckbreaker from Jey to Tez! Jimmy and Jey slow things down and get up to double team, but Tez doges it.
A tag to Dawkins who bounces off the rope and FLIES on to both Usos. Spinning neckbreaker, two and a half!
USO SPLASH!@WWEUsos #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/4KrSstwLvX
Jimmy Uso enziguri, but it's still the Street Profits on top for now. More double teaming from the profits, but Jey Uso stops it with a Superkick. Then a double-superkick on Dawkins!
Jimmy off the top, but it's only good for two and a bit. An Uso in opposite corners, double splash on Dawkins, but Montez Ford breaks it up JUST before three.
All four men are down in the ring now. Jarrett gets to seven before the men get to their feet.
Jey Uso goes for a superkick, misses and almost hits the ref! Jarrett catches it just in time.
.@RealJeffJarrett got caught in the middle of things again but The @WWEUsos stay alive! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/8XxsBdLDVS
In the confusion The Street Profits take over! Massive splash from Ford to Jey but Tez does himself some damage.
The BEST Frog Splash!@MontezFordWWE #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/xEZdOSYvAF
It takes a while to get the cover, and that's why Hey could just kick out.
Tez remonstrates with JJ and the time taken gievs the Usos the opportunity to prepare for the dive and get in with a superkick. It's a superkick party now. Kicks flying all over the place.
1-D on Ford, and that. is. that.
WINNERS and STILL UNDISPUTED WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso)
Not the dizzying epic the men had at Money in the Bank, but a solid match shot throug with quality all the same. We weren't sure if Jeff Jarrett's presence would result in shenanigans, but this time around a WWE Special Guest Referee was the perfect choice for the match. He wouldn't let himself get pushed around, and although he made his presence felt, he made the space for the men to get on with it. This time around there was no controversy, and we're close to agreeing with the announce team that The Usos are maybe the most dominant tag team in WWE history B+
Before the next match, we get the spectacle of WWE Hall of Famer (really) Kid Rock doing a full-tongue snog down the front.
Then Riddle, who isn't medically cleared to wrestle, scrambles into the ring and calls out Seth 'Freakin' Rollins, who happily obliges, dodging WWE security to brawl with Riddle.
Chaos just erupted between @SuperKingofBros and @WWERollins at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/yFj20H75rx
They start off on the outside before they tumble into the ring. Rollins gets the edge despite his frilly orange trousers/shirt combo and hits a massive curb stomp on Riddle before slinking away and soaking up the cheers and jeers.
Challenger out first, giving it the high fives to the front row and looking serious business. Liv Morgan does her own high-diving, grinning widly before looing a bit more circumspect as she approaches the ring.
They lock up and Ronda gets in with a throw, some fists and a big knee. Another throw, and a two count. Liv gets a hand on the ropes, and hits back with her own flurry of punches and kicks.
Things started quick in this #SmackDown Women's Champion Match between @RondaRousey and @YaOnlyLivvOnce! pic.twitter.com/It4Q0SWc57
Rousey rols through to get Liv on her shoulders, but Morgan elbows out and hits a Codebreaker. Rousey powers out of an Oblivion attempt and goes for the armbar, but Liv counters it into a Rings of Saturn.
Ronda powers out and up, but Morgan counters the counters nito a Crucifix Driver, and gets two and a half!
Quick takedown from Rousey to Morgan, and after some trash talk she gets the armbar on. Morgan somehow wriggles her foot to the bottom rope ans the hold is broken.
That's not all that's broken. <=Morgan in near-tears. Rousey again locks on the armbar but AGAIN Morgan twists and rolls and gets her foot on the rope.
A quick check that Liv is safe to continue and she insists she is. Rousey hits ANOTHER armbar!
Liv wriggles and writhes, and Rousey's shoulder's are down! One, two... LIV IS TAPPING... THREE!
WINNER and STILL WWE SmackDown Womens' Champion: Liv Morgan
Controversy! The ref has given it to Liv Moegan, we're looking at it from a couple of angles. Morgan definitely tapped BEFORE the three count Massive error from the official.
What are you doing, @RondaRousey?! The match is over!!!#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/eYiY0JcyH2
Ronda isn't best pleased, and pouts ANOTHER armbar on the champ. POinting out the tapping to the official.
.@RondaRousey has SNAPPED at #SummerSlam!!! pic.twitter.com/AJaPCrPQZF
Then she gets the referee in the armbar too! Eventually security come and break things up.
Well, that was an interesting one. For a while it looked like Ronda Rousey would make short work of this despite the incredible heart shown by Liv Morgan. In the end, the champion retained with no little controversy. You could argue that Liv made her own luck by having the belief to wriggle out of the armbar not once but twice, but the truth is she tapped before the three count and KNOWS she did, too. That could mean these two go back again for round three, but there's every chance that Rousey is forced to take some time out with a suspension afer putting the ref in an armbar. A fair amout of excitement and intrigue from what many felt was a foregone conclusion before the bell. B
Tennessee's own WWE Hall of Famer @KaneWWE is here at #SummerSlam to announce tonight's attendance at @NissanStadium: 48,449 members of the @WWEUniverse! pic.twitter.com/C8ZO209TXu
One of those great video packages recaps the Reigns/Lesnar rivalry, with the stinger of a possible Theory MITB cash-in.
Reigns emerges, flanked by his triumphant Bloodline and Paul Heyman. Belts everywhere! A long, LONG entrance from Roman.
Heyman shuffles the mic over to his man. "Nashville. SummerSlam. Acknowledge Me."
Then out comes Brock Lesnar. Who dodges the ring to pop on a lumberjack shirt, cowboy hat and get in a tractor with a front-end load. Okay, sure.
#CowboyBrock made one heck of a #SummerSlam entrance!@BrockLesnar pic.twitter.com/g2kEbYy1ce
He drives it to the ring, clambes atop the loader nad salutes the crowd. Roman Reigns looks suitabley confused.
Lesnar interrupts the ring announcer and introduces himself as a "big ass country boy... about to whip Roman Reigns's ass". RR gets announced the old fashioned way.
Lesnar leaps off the tractor and hits Reigns with a surprise attack, hits a Suplex on the outside, and then flings the champ into the steel steps.
Another suplex on the outside, this time off the stops, and we get the first count from the ref. Only four.
It's all Lesnar so far, who flngs Reigns over the barricade. A suplex on to a some furniture gear on the outside. Now a six count.
Here comes @WWERomanReigns!#SummerSlam#LastManStanding pic.twitter.com/XAfERhlOA7
Lesnar gets a rake to the eyes and gets driven into the steel, but Lesnar recovers and responds in kind, before throwing Reigns into a cameraman, and then back over the barricade.
German Suplex. Brock scrambles under the ring for a table and sets it up. Paul Heyman sneaks up to Lesnar but is caught, and ends up on his knees begging.
That gives Reigns enough time to get a bit of breath, so when Lesnar returns to him he's got the wherewithal to counter into a Samoan Drop on to the table, and he's down for seven or eight.
TABLES!!!!!#LastManStanding#SummerSlam#RomanVsBrock pic.twitter.com/2DoeqCIhER
RR hits Lesnar with some steel steps, and he again falls throuh the table. Lesnar struggles up to his feet. Reigns gets him through ANOTHER table. Another count from the ref. This time it's seven.
Reigns flings Lesnar back into the ring and loads up a Superman Punch, knocking Lesnar to one knee. Another! Lesnar down for a moment but back up.
SPEAR! Lesnar properly down now and the count restarts. Lesnar up jst before eight. Another Spear. Lesnar tries to counter into an F-5! Reigns sneaks out, but is flung through the middle rope for his trouble into some broken bits of table.
SPEARRRRRRRRR!@WWERomanReigns #RomanVsBrock #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/1VKYJ7Q1UE
Reigns down for seven, Lesnar out there with him and throws him through a half-table and Reigns is down again. Lesnar is back in the tractor! Meanwhile, Reigns just beats the ten count.
Lesnar gets the steel steps in Reigns's face, followed by a quarter of a table. Reigns looks completley out of it! No! He's up on his feet just a moment before nine.
Brock flings Reigns into the front loader! He raises Reigns up over the ring and drops him out! The count starts again. Reigns is up at six. German Suplex. Then another. Another!
#TractorCity to #SuplexCity, @BrockLesnar is pulling out all the stops against @WWERomanReigns. @HeymanHustle #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/TTqWjbaHsv
Romans up at eight. F-5! Reigns up a shade before 10, with some help from the ropes! Up for another F-5, but Reigns gets the guillotine locked in! Lesnar reverses it into his own guillotine!
Reigns not moving at all, the ref checks his arm. He forces a break and the ref starts the ten count. Reigns stirs at six or seven, but Reigns somehow gets up to his feet on nine and three quarters, again using the ropes for support.
Lesnar goes back to the tractor, lowering the front loader and shifting the whole ring!!! He's lifted up the corner of the ring and Reigns goes tumbling out! Lesnar is giggling like mad!
.@BrockLesnar just lifted the ring with a tractor!!! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/HBJPzZmEgb
Ref counts again, Reigns gets too his feet using the barricade. Lesnar clears an announce table, but The Usos are here!
Lesnar fights out of the attack and suplexes Jimmy, then Jey, but it's bought Reigns a little bit of time.
Paul Heyman remonstrates with Brock for riskign his meal ticket, and Lesnar puts Heyman thorugh the announce table!
FINALLY! FINALLY! FINALLY!!!@HeymanHustle gets a #CowboyBrock F-5 at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/LkcbQaHUCx
Reigns then hits Lesnar with a Spear! Voth men down for nine. Then they drop to th floor again.
THEORY'S MUSIC HITS! He sprints to the ring with his briefcase and smacks Reigns in the face with it. He's poised to cash in but then Lesnar comes to and hits him with an F-5.
.@_Theory1 tried to cash-in and gets met with an F-5 from @BrockLesnar! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/kUHOUrmxHy
Then Jimmy and Jey double team Lesnar, and he's down again. Reigns is back up, Lesnar is still down, but JUST beats the ten count, only to eat a Spear from Reigns to put him down again.
Lesnar again JUST beats the count, using the barricade to help him. Reigns grabs the briefcase, thwacks Theory (because why not), and then rains down blows on Lesnar with the lurid green weapon.
.@WWERomanReigns is FUMING!!!#RomanVsBrock #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/cXPowL9dyX
Brock isn't getting up. He does! Again just before 10. Reigns picks up a belt and smacks Lesnar in the face with it. Another count. Again Lesnar up at nine!
Reigns goes with the another belt now, and this time he and the Usos start to bury Lesnar in bits of table, chairs, announce tables, steel steps, etc. At some point in all that, the ref gets to ten.
WINNER and STILL WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
We're not usually big fans of a Last Man Standing Match around here. Lots of standing around counting and not much action. Not tonight though. That was riotous fun, with tables, chairs, and a goddamn TRACTOR lifting up half the ring. We even had a failed attempt at a cash-in to add a bit of spice, and at the end, (with a little help from his friends and furniture), Roman Reigns earned the victory that surely makes him the most dominant WWE westler of the past decade, or even longer. B+
Overall Verdict: There wasn't a match on the card that was an all-time classic by any stretch, but there was plenty of quality nonetheless, and an eminently watchable Last Man Standing Match that also doubled up as one of the few really good Roman Reigns/Brock Lesnar match-ups.
We had the expected return of Edge, and less-expected comebacks of Bayley, flanked by Dakota Kai and Io Shirai (or Iyo Sky, as she seems to have been renamed). They didn't do much, but their very presence has injected a massive amount of life into the WWE women's division, and we can't wait to see them get down to it.
Overall, a really enjoyable SummerSlam, which tied up a few ends (Usos/Street Profits, Theory/Lashley) and left a few others nicely poised (Liv/Ronda and Theory's briefcase). We also had Logan Paul not just impressing in the ring, but managing to do enough to win actual cheers from the Nashville crowd.
Far from a sea change, but the post-Vince McMahon era has begun with its best foot foward.
Catch up on Raw, Smackdown, NXT and all the big WWE action via the WWE Network or BT Sport.
What did you think of WWE SummerSlam 2022? Let us know at @digitalspywwe.
Catch up on Raw, Smackdown, NXT and all the big WWE action via the WWE Network or BT Sport.
What did you think of WWE SummerSlam 2022? Let us know at @digitalspywwe.