Posted on 7/07/126 by Bob Magee
Live! From Chicago.
— Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn drove into the backstage
area and got a babyface reaction from the folks backstage.
Cody Rhodes showed up and Zayn got in his face and they
exchanged heated words. Gunther came out of nowhere and
killed Rhodes with a powerbomb through a table. Gunther
called Zayn a fluke champion, than kicked the car door into
Cody (still on the ground), busting him open.
Will there even be a title match tonight? (During this
segment, we got our first “CM Punk!” chants of the night).
Michael Cole & Corey Graves were on commentary.
Seth Rollins Addressed the WWE Universe
After singing Seth’s song, the crowd chanted for “CM Punk!”
But Rollins doesn’t really care about CM Punk tonight. He
cares about regaining the World title and continuing to “own
Roman Reigns.” So the crowd chanted “OTC!” But Roman Reigns
isn’t here tonight. Because (according to Rollins) either he
didn’t think it mattered for him to be here, or the check
wasn’t big enough.
Roman Reigns has always been “the chosen one,” even when The
Shield debuted as a trio (back in 2012, fourteen years ago).
It didn’t matter if Reigns couldn’t cut a promo or wrestle
his way out of a paper bag. This didn’t sit right with
Rollins. Because when he was a kid (like kids in the front
row tonight), all he wanted to do was be the biggest star in
this industry and main event WrestleManias. Seth having to
watch those dreams handed off to somebody else broke
something in him.
He broke up the Shield to try to catch up to Roman Reigns.
When he cashed in at WrestleMania 31 (11 years ago), he did
that to catch up to Roman Reigns. Seth recalled a promo
(from I think 2022) where Roman said he worked 10 times less
than Seth did to make 10 times more money. And Seth hated
that “bullsh!t” from Roman; Seth thought the work was the
reward. Roman has to beat Rollins at SummerSlam so he can
justify what he’s been trying to prove for the last 15
years: that he is not a fraud. But Rollins needs to beat
Roman Reigns to prove to all the kids the crowd that you can
achieve greatness through hard work and sacrifice.
LA Knight came out to interrupt. Knight wasn’t going to let
Rollins bore everyone to death with the “same old trash.”
Then he should have come out 10 minutes ago. Knight thought
it was a great “cheat code” that all Rollins had to do was
talk about how great Roman Reigns was to get a title shot.
But didn’t Rollins lose in the first round of the King of
the Ring, like Knight did?
Knight then lauched into a hilarious impression of Rollins
and Reigns’ promo from last night. Knight pointed out that
when business peaked in this company a few years ago, it was
Cody Rhodes and LA Knight on top, not Rollins and Reigns.
But when Knight was starting to peak, he got cut off by the
Bloodline. The only thing Rollins and Reigns are great at is
keeping people down, but LA Knight must rise and he will
rise.
Rollins asked Knight if he was done. Rollins told Knight
that he doesn’t like him, but he respects him because he is
someone who is all grind and all hustle. But Rollins can’t
waste time with Knight right now, he’s got to win the world
title back that he never lost. But after Rollins wins at
SummerSlam, Knight can have the first title shot.
That was a lot of talking.
After Rollins left, Jimmy Uso jumped Knight from behind and
dropped him with a superkick.
— In the back, Adam Pearce threw Gunther out of the
building. And Nick Aldis was also there, to yell about Adam
Pearce “poaching his main event.”
There really aren’t enough arguments between middle
management types in wrestling.
The Street Profits v. Austin Theory & Bron Breakker (w/
Logan Paul) for the World Tag Team Championship
Jackie Redmond was backstage with the remnants of the Vision
for an interview before the match started, but Paul Heyman
showed up and sent her away. Heyman scolded Breakker for
failing to eliminate Rollins, and was even more disappointed
that Austin Theory couldn’t even beat Joe Hendry last week.
“Bring back something worthy of your wiseman!”
Breakker hit an astonishingly athletic standing moonsault on
Montez Ford. Theory ate a great dropkick from Ford. Angelo
Dawkins hit a flying back elbow for a near fall. Breakker
got the tag and caught him with a dropkick. Breakker hit the
ropes and broke Dawkins in half with his superspeed
clothesline.
After a commercial, Montez Ford got the tag and hit a
gamengiri on Breakker. Ford came off the top with a
crossbody for a near fall. Breakker came back with a pop-up
powerslam. Theory got the tag and tried for a rolling
clothesline, but Ford caught him with a knee. Dawkins and
Ford combined for the Doomsday Blockbuster, but Breakker
broke that up.
Breakker dumped Ford to the floor. Dawkins caught Theory
with a spinning neckbreaker. Logan Paul tried to pass the
brass knuckles to Theory, but the ref caught him. But it was
a decoy set, and Paul passed the knuckles to Breakker.
Dawkins got the knuckles, and was about to use them on
Theory… until Maxxine Dupri ran in and low-blowed Dawkins.
Theory went for the cover and got the pinfall.
Match Result: Austin Theory & Bron Breakker defeated The
Street Profits to win the World Tag Team Titles (8:47).
After the match, Theory and Dupri made out. I can’t believe
the Vision getting the tag titles back is all about Theory
and Dupri, with Breakker and Logan Paul tagging along.
— The doctor in the back can’t clear Cody for the title
match tonight.
— In the back, Paul Heyman approved, but it’s only the first
step. Heyman was most impressed with Maxxine’s efforts. The
Vision drove off, just as Otis and Tozawa came on the scene.
The crowd reacted great to the scene of Dupri and the Vision
literally leaving Otis and Tozawa in their dust.
— Liv Morgan hyped up Raquel Rodriguez in the Judgment Day
clubhouse in advance of her Intercontinental title match,
next.
— Next week, Dragon Lee v. Chad Gable v. Joe Hendry v.
Je’Von Evans v. Dominik Mysterio v. Ethan Page v. Rusev in a
Guantlet to get a shot a Penta’s Intercontinental
Championship. Jackie Redmond tried to interview Penta. Ethan
Page and Rusev chased her off to brag about taking out Rey
Mysterio. Chad Gable and Dragon Lee came out to even the
odds, and this will likely lead to a tag match later in the
show.
Sol Ruca v. Raquel Rodriguez for the WWE Women’s
Intercontinental Championship
Rodriguez didn’t even get a televised ring entrance.
Rodriguez powered Ruca down and got multiple pin attempts.
Ruca dove into Rodriguez arms and got driven face-first into
the turnbuckles. Rodriguez tried to repeat the move, but
Ruca slipped down her back and shoved her into the
turnbuckles. Ruca miised a moonsault on the floor (but
landed on her feet). Ruca caught Rodriguez with a kick from
the apron, then hit a springboard twisting body press on the
floor to finally get a reaction from the crowd.
Back in the ring, Ruca dove right into a choke from
Rodriguez. Ruca flipped out of a chokeslam attempt, then
walked right into a clothesline from Rodriguez.
After a commercial, Ruca caught Rodriguez out of the corner
with a sunset flip. Ruca did a springboard off the ropes
again for a near fall. Ruca flopped into the corner, then
came off the middle ropes with a dropkick. Ruca hit
Rodriguez with a running knee for a near fall.
Ruca went for a springboard dive, but Rodriguez got her
knees up. Rodriguez folded up Ruca for a near fall as
Roxanne Perez made her way to the ring. Perez got up on the
apron to distract the ref, and Morgan tripped up Ruca on the
Soul Snatcher attempt. Rodriguez dropped Ruca with a side
slam for a near fall.
Iyo Sky’s music played, and she came from the crowd to take
out Perez and Morgan. She got Rodriguez’s attention from the
apron, and when Rodriguez charged at her, Sky hit Perez and
Morgan with an Asai Moonsault. Ruca came out of nowhere with
Soul Snatcher to snatch the victory.
Match Result: Sol Ruca pinned Raquel Rodriguez to retain the
Women’s Intercontinental Championship (10:16).
Paul Heyman In-Ring Interview
No Roman? No Brock? I thought Chicago was an important town.
Anyway, Paul Heyman was in the ring to speak on behalf of
Brock Lesnar. Heyman waxed poetic about the pain Femi felt
after getting kicked low by Brock Lesnar, but that pain will
be nothing compared to the pain he feels in Hell in the Cell
at SummerSlam. Femi has unleashed the beast in Brock Lesnar,
and Oba Femi is not coming out of the Cell. “Brock Lesnar
will destroy Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell!”
Heyman threw down his mic and started to leave, but the
lights dropped and “Hands of Fate” played. Did you know
“Hands of Fate” is the name of Femi’s song? Well there you
go. Femi marched his way to the ring. Heyman stayed in the
ring, which was probably pretty foolish but let’s see how it
plays out.
“You love to talk so much, don’t you?” Heyman laid it out
for Femi. Femi proved at WrestleMania that Brock Lesnar was
beatable. And in Italy, Brock proved Femi was beatable. So
at SummerSlam, they will figure out who is really
unbeatable. The crowd chanted for Oba, breaking up the promo
for a minute. Heyman ran down Brock Lesnar’s résumé in the
Cell. Brock beat the Undertaker twice in the Cell, and the
Undertaker invented Hell in the Cell (sure, why not?), so
you might as well call it the “Brocktagon.” Brock Lesnar is
going to remain unbeatable, and the beatable one will be Oba
Femi.
Oba knows that he got under Brock’s skin by calling him out
and calling him “every name under the sun” for weeks. He
knows that Brock watches the show, and Heyman has been
writing checks for Brock that he probably can’t cash.
Lesnar’s advocate has been reduced to “a mouth.” Oba Femi
said that this is the final chapter, Oba v. Brock at Hell in
the Cell at SummerSlam. Femi will beat Brock Lesnar in front
of his friends, his family, his wife and his children. Femi
now knows you have walked through hell to get to heaven, and
at SummerSlam, he will see Brock “in hell.”
— Jackie Redmond interviewed WWE Undisputed Champion Sami
Zayn. Redmond confirmed for Zayn that Cody Rhodes cannot
compete tonight. The crowd started chanting for CM Punk at
this announcement. Zayn was looking forward to testing
himself against QB1, but he never understood why he was
defending the title on Raw. Zayn thought it would be better
to just move things to Smackdown and figure things out
there, but Adam Pearce came along to tell Zayn he promised
Chicago a title defense, and they were getting one. “It is
official.”
Dragon Lee & Chad Gable v. Ethan Page & Rusev
The heels jumped the faces before the bell. The crowd
chanted for “Rusev Day!” (Is that today? I didn’t even
celebrate!) after he hit a series of suplexes on Dragon Lee.
Chad Gable got the tag and hit Rusev with some German
suplexes, then dumped Page with an overhead throw. He locked
Rusev in an ankle lock, then broke the hold to attack Page
some more. The heels dropped to the floor to regroup, and
Gable launched Lee over the top and onto his opponents.
Back from a commercial, Michael Cole said that the heels
dominated during the three-minute break. Rusev leveled Gable
with a series of short-arm clotheslines. Gable fought his
way out of the heel corner, but Rusev caught him before he
could get the tag. Gable rocked Rusev with a DDT, then got
the tag to Lee.
Lee hit Rusev with a sliding dropkick and caught Page with a
tornado DDT. Lee hung Page up in the turnbuckles, then came
off the top with a stomp. Rusev got the tag and he and Page
went for a suplex, but Gable made the save. He hit Page with
an Angle Slam. Rusev caught Gable with a superkick. Lee
caught Rusev with a German suplex. He went for a dive on
Rusev, who planted him with an uranage. Rusev hit a
superkick and then locked in the Accolade and Lee
immediately tapped.
Match Result: Rusev & Page defeated Lee & Gable when Lee
tapped out (9:07)
After the match, Rusev refused to release the hold. Gable
tried to break it up, but Page jumped Gable. Rusev locked
Gable in the Accolade, but Joe Hendry ran in to make the
save. But Hendry got overwhelmed by the two-on-one, and he
wound up in the Accolade as well. It took the gaggle of
geeks to make the save.
They really jobbed Hendry out here.
— Jackie Redmond ran down Jimmy Uso on his way out of the
arena to ask why he attacked LA Knight. Jimmy is ready to
step up for the Bloodline. LA Knight ran out to get even
with Jimmy, but Jakob Fatu and Jey Uso jumped LA Knight.
Knight needs help against the Bloodline.
— Bayley is heartbroken over Lyra Valkyria, who helped keep
Bayley level-headed during one of the toughest years of her
career. Bayley will give Valkyria one chance to show that
she’s not like everyone else and meet her in the ring next
week.
Also next week in Dallas, Texas:
Brock Lesnar Appears.
The Gauntlet for a Title Match with Penta at SummerSlam
Roxanne Perez v. Iyo Sky
Roman Reigns Appears.
— In the back, Nick Aldis let Adam Pearce know while Pearce
was leaving people voicemails that went unanswered, he’s
secured a replacement for the main event. There were more CM
Punk chants from the crowd.
— JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio cut a promo on Danhausen
to set up the Danhausen v. McDonagh match on Saturday
Night’s Main Event.
The World Title Match Revealed
Very muted reaction for Zayn on his way out here. Cole tried
to paint Zayn sound like some kind of whiner for complaining
that he’s got to defend his championship against someone he
doesn’t know. Zayn stood in the ring waiting while the crowd
chanted for “CM Punk!”
Because of course it was Punk.
Sami Zayn v. CM Punk for the WWE Undisputed Championship
I guess if you’re going to play bait and switch with the
world title match in Chicago, there’s no better person to do
it with than Punk.
“The WWE Champion Sami Zayn appears shocked!” said Cole,
while the camera panned over to a completely emotionless
Zayn. Graves said that Punk was the last person Zayn was
expecting, which would have to make him the dumbest person
alive.
The bell rang and the crowd chanted for Punk. The atmosphere
was pretty electric as the match started and Punk worked a
headlock. Punk took Zayn down with a shoulder block.
Punk backed Zayn into the corner and hit him with a chop.
Zayn backed Punk into the corner with shoulder blocks, then
mounted middle rope for some punches. Punk pulled Zayn out
of the corner and gave him a reverse atomic drop.
Punk maneuvered Zayn to the floor, then caught him with a
dive through the ropes.
Back from a commercial, Zayn was driving elbows down into
Punk’s head. Zayn drove a knee into Punk’s head. Zayn came
off the middle rope with an axehandle for a near fall. Zayn
went to a chinlock.
Punk escaped the chinlock and hit a series of clotheslines.
Punk hit a leg lariat. Punk hit the running knee in the
corner. He tried for the bulldog, but Zayn escaped that.
Punk hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.
Punk went for the GTS, but Zayn escaped and went for a Blue
Thunder Bomb. Punk escaped that with elbows, then hit a
clothesline for a near fall.
The crowd continued to chant for Punk as he went to the top
rope. Zayn caught Punk and crotched him on the top. Zayn hit
a superplex off the top rope, and both men were down.
After a second commercial, both guys were on their knees
exchanging “Boo!/Yay!” punches. Punk eventually got the
advantage. He went for the GTS again, Zayn escaped and went
for the Blue Thunder Bomb again, but Punk caught him with a
kick. Punk caught Zayn with the knee in the corner and went
for the bulldog, but Zayn (barely) got Punk up for the Blue
Thunder Bomb and got a near fall.
Zayn went for an exploder, but Punk fought out with knees.
Punk hit a bulldog out of the corner, then dropped an elbow
off the top. Punk went for the cover, but Zayn kicked out.
Punk then went to the Anaconda Vice. Zayn teased tapping out
but eventually broke the hold with a head scissors. Punk
tried to counter into a Sharpshooter, but Zayn escaped.
Punk went for the GTS again, but Zayn rolled him into the
same cradle he used to beat Cody Rhodes, but Punk kicked out
at two.
Zayn escaped another GTS from Punk, and delivered one of his
own for a near fall.
Both guys just look completely gassed here and I’m not
convinced it’s all selling.
Punk stumbled in the corner. Zayn charged for the Helluva
Kick, but Punk caught Zayn with an exploder in the corner.
Punk went for the Helluva Kick, but Zayn caught him, hit
another GTS, followed that up with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but
Punk still kicked out at two.
The crowd was really chanting for Punk now.
Zayn slapped Punk, then gave him a headbutt. Zayn really
unloaded with slaps and punches. Punk got up to his feet,
and finally started to fight back with punches and chops.
Punk hit another running knee in the corner, dodged the
Helluva Kick and hit Zayn with a Helluva Kick of his own.
Punk then hit the GTS and got the pinfall.
Match Result: CM Punk pinned Sami Zayn to win the WWE
Undisputed Championship (20:27).
This is the 8th WWE/World/Undisputed whatever you want to
call it championship for Punk. But that also includes the
WWECW one so I’d actually say seven. Sami’s reign ends at
nine days, which according to Cole is the shortest reign in
5 years. That is going back to Miz’s second reign during the
pandemic shows.
Punk bragged into the camera about going 20 minutes. Yeah,
I’m not sure about bragging about that performace.
Punk left the Allstate Arena exactly same way he did in
2011, blowing a kiss to the camera and leaving through the
crowd. “CM Punk can do whatever the hell he wants to do”
according to Michael Cole.
So last week’s show was all about the Shield drama (started
in 2012). This year, it’s about trying to relive the Summer
of Punk (started in 2011). So I guess next week, we’re
getting an attack from a revitalized Nexus?
Anyway, at least Sami got his big moment and had fun with
the belt for 9 days. That’s as good as Stan Stasiak did.