The first major WWE show since the announcement of Vince McMahon’s retirement concluded with a main event unlike any other. SummerSlam 2022 is also the first WWE event reviewed by Pro Wrestling Report Card. Doubly historic!
World Wrestling Entertainment
SummerSlam
July 30, 2022
Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tennessee
The report card
Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair (C) (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
Result: Belair p. Lynch (K.O.D.)
In short: Lynch hurt her shoulder early and that probably affected the flow of the bout. They worked a fast tempo but that led to a handful of times the action wasn’t smooth. The ending sequence, however, was very good.
Highlights
+ Lynch hit a leg drop with Belair draped over the barricade.
+ Lynch pulled Belair off the ropes by Bianca’s braid and directly into a Manhandle Slam.
+ Bianca landed a reverse Spanish Fly off the ropes, followed by K.O.D. during a tidy ending sequence.
+ Bayley, who was joined by Dakota Kai and Io Shirai, returned and had a stare down with Belair and Lynch afterward.
Lowlights
– Lynch lost her grip while trying to hit an armbreaker early.
– There were a couple disjointed segments.
Grade: C
Logan Paul vs. The Miz
Result: Paul p. Miz (Skull-Crushing Finale).
In short: It was a spot-to-spot layout in which Paul’s physical gifts were on full display. He worked snug and beat the crap out of Miz. It was very entertaining and extremely impressive for Paul’s second career match.
Highlights
+ Paul has great athletic ability. He dodged an attack by hitting a split, landed a moonsault off the apron, and registered a standing moonsault in the ring.
+ Paul pulled off a wild frog splash through Miz and the announce table.
Lowlights
– AJ Styles hit the ring to dispatch Champa. The whole exchange lasted too long.
Grade: B
Theory vs. Bobby Lashley (C) (WWE United States Championship)
Result: Lashley sub. Theory (Hurt Lock).
In short: Theory jumped Lashley with the Money in the Bank briefcase before the bell and then got his ass kicked in a short, unremarkable fixture.
Highlights
+ The ending was solid. Theory rolled into a military press that Lashley transitioned into the Hurt Lock.
Grade: D
The Judgment Day vs. The Mysterios (no disqualification)
Result: The Mysterios (Rey) p. The Judgment Day (Finn Balor) (double 619 and splash).
In short: The no-disqualification stipulation was only present so Edge could return and smash Damian Priest and Balor. It was barely used otherwise. The entire bout, which was fine, was really just a vehicle to put Edge over.
Highlights
+ Rey hit a sliding folding chair splash from the ring to the outside.
+ Rhea Ripley foiled a double 619 attempt and slammed Dominik into the apron.
Lowlights
– Why the hell were people waiting for tags when it was no disqualification? Ridiculous logic.
– Rey almost landed on his face during his finishing splash.
Grade: D+
Happy Corbin vs. Pat McAfee
Result: McAfee p. Corbin (middle-rope Code Red).
In short: McAfee got a choir to chant “Bum-ass Corbin” and then his … music (?). The whole match wasn’t very crisp, including the finish, which was set up by a punt to the crotch after a ref bump.
Highlights
+ Corbin cracked McAfee with a shotgun dropkick after Pat backflipped off the top rope (one of his now-signature spots).
Lowlights
– McAfee needs to figure out something else for his ring attire.
– McAfee’s leap to the top rope for a superplex was nearly flubbed — he’s a victim of his own success on that one. He also almost slipped on the top rope moments later before flipping to the outside.
Grade: D-
Street Profits vs. The Usos (C) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship; special referee Jeff Jarrett)
Result: The Usos (Jimmy) p. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins) (1-D).
In short: It was an up-tempo clash between two teams with strong chemistry. Jarrett didn’t bring a ton to the table, but he sure did know where the hard camera was located.
Highlights
+ Jay Uso’s popup neckbreaker looked great.
+ A picturesque splash by Ford led to an excellent nearfall.
Grade: B+
Ronda Rousey vs. Liv Morgan (C) (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship)
Result: Liv Morgan p. Rousey.
In short: Rousey beat the tar out of Liv while trying to rip her arm off. The match ended with a referee error. Rousey locked an arm bar but got stacked on her shoulders. Morgan tapped out but the ref was too busy counting to 3. All told, it was a short dud that had its time cut, according to Bryan Alvarez of f4wonline.com.
Highlights
+ Rousey saved face with a postmatch attack on Morgan and the official.
Lowlights
– The pair obviously botched a spot while wrestling on the mat and had to reset before starting the sequence again.
Grade: F
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship; last man standing)
Result: Reigns d. Lesnar.
In short: How do you grade something like this? The match was truly one of a kind (for better or worse) and won’t soon be forgotten. Lesnar drove a tractor down the aisle and later used the front loader to lift the ring. So, moments like that were memorable despite — you know — not actually being wrestling. Lesnar stayed down for the 10 count after Reigns and the Usos buried him under the ring stairs and other debris.
Highlights
+ Lesnar started the action with a Lou Thesz Press off the front loader. He later put Roman in the bin, raised it and dumped him into the ring.
+ The destruction of the ring. I mean, what?
+ Paul Heyman took an F5 through the announce table.
+ Theory ran down to cash in his Money in the Bank contract but ate an F5 instead.
+ Lesnar drew a good reaction from the crowd by continually getting up at 9 while Reigns leveled him with belt shots late.
+ Michael Cole had a winner with his “For the love of God, count faster” line.
Lowlights
– Brock tried to box jump onto the barricade and fell off.
– The outside interference from the Usos was expected, but still a bummer. Their run-ins added to the general chaos, of course.
Grade: A-
In conclusion
There wasn’t an all-time classic wrestling match on SummerSlam’s card, but there was an unforgettable ending. There’s also a general excitement around the product about what will happen with Triple H now calling the shots.
Contact Pro Wrestling Report Card at prowrestlingreportcard@proton.me.
Pro Wrestling Report Card 