Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Reported Planned Main Events for SummerSlam Nights 1 and 2
Two major title matches have reportedly been discussed to serve as the main events for Nights 1 and 2 of SummerSlam next month.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlePurists), WWE’s original plans called for the WWE Championship bout between John Cena and Cody Rhodes to be the main event of Night 2, potentially with the inclusion of a stipulation.
Meanwhile, Gunther vs. CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship was penciled in as the main event of Night 1.
It isn’t yet clear if those matches will indeed serve as the main events, but they were reportedly at least scheduled to at one point.
Given Rhodes’ status as one of the faces of the company and the fact that Cena is in the midst of his retirement tour, their match being the Night 2 main event seems like a slam dunk.
Their WrestleMania 41 main event was roundly criticized due largely to interference from rapper Travis Scott, but running it back in the main event of SummerSlam will give Rhodes and Cena a chance to redeem themselves.
The Night 1 main event is a bit less certain since there are a few options that would make plenty of sense.
Gunther vs. Punk is among them, but so is the Women’s World Championship Triple Threat match between Naomi, Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley, especially after Naomi interrupted the Evolution main event between Sky and Ripley by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract to win the title.
Also, Roman Reigns returned on Raw after three months away, and whether he is in a singles match against Bron Breakker or a tag team match with Jey Uso against Breakker and Bronson Reed, his viability as a main eventer can’t be discounted.
Whatever the case, the first-ever two-night SummerSlam is shaping up to have a stacked card featuring hugely important matches from top to bottom.
Reported Details on Rollins Injury Angle, SummerSlam Plans
A new rumor has emerged regarding Seth Rollins’ status after seemingly injuring his knee during a match against LA Knight at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
According to Meltzer (h/t WrestlePurists), “multiple people” have said WWE planned to run an injury angle involving Rollins at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which would set the stage for him to execute a surprise cash-in of his Money in the Bank contract during or after the World Heavyweight Championship match between Gunther and Punk at SummerSlam.
Meltzer added that “everyone” backstage was told Rollins was actually hurt at SNME and “everyone was under the impression that it was real.”
About 10 minutes into the SNME match between Rollins and Knight, Rollins went for a springboard moonsault, but when he landed on his feet, he immediately began favoring his knee.
The referee and a doctor checked on Rollins, and shortly thereafter, Rollins stood up, took a BFT from Knight and lost the match.
Videos circulated on the internet afterward, showing a frustrated Rollins needing help to get backstage, and he was later spotted wearing a knee brace and using crutches.
On Wednesday, Rollins appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and provided an update on the state of his knee:
Rollins said he felt his knee “pop and buckle” at SNME, adding that while he underwent some imaging on his knee, it was still too swollen to determine anything.
Although nothing was definitive at the time, Rollins said he felt it was likely he would be “out for an extended period of time.”
If the SNME injury was indeed a work, though, along with Rollins’ comments on the Rich Eisen Show, it could be setting up for one of the most shocking moments in recent memory at SummerSlam.
It is difficult to truly “swerve” fans nowadays due to the constant access they have to backstage news, but the uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of Rollins’ injury proves it is still possible to create some doubt.
Latest on Cardi B at SummerSlam, Travis Scott in WWE
Rapper Cardi B was announced as the host for next month’s SummerSlam back in April, but questions recently emerged about her involvement since WWE has not stopped advertising her appearance in commercials.
However, Fightful Select (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News) reported this week that plans remain in place for Cardi to appear at SummerSlam.
Cardi is a longtime wrestling fan who has made posts about WWE on her X account in the past, so it won’t be surprising if she has some significant involvement in the show, which will emanate from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Aug. 2 and 3.
Rapper Travis Scott seemed poised to be a regular on WWE programming after being featured in key moments at Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania 41.
At Elimination Chamber in March, Scott accompanied The Rock to the ring for a segment in which Rhodes responded to The Rock’s offer for Cody to sell him his soul.
When Rhodes refused, it led directly to Cena’s heel turn, and the trio of Cena, The Rock and Scott proceeded to beat down Rhodes.
Then, at WrestleMania 41, Scott interfered in the main event of Night 2 and helped Cena beat Rhodes for the WWE Championship.
Despite rumors and speculation that Scott was supposed to make more appearances and possibly even have a match, it hasn’t happened, and there is apparently a reason for that.
Per Meltzer (h/t Carrier) there is a belief within WWE that Scott “doesn’t like to commit to anything” and only “goes half-in,” which prompted WWE to pivot away from him.
Meltzer’s report comes on the heels of TC from WrestleVotes reporting that he was told Scott is “not a quick learner for the business” of pro wrestling.
It remains to be seen if fans have seen the last of Scott in WWE, but they can get their celebrity fix at SummerSlam regardless with Cardi B hosting and country music star Jelly Roll teaming with Randy Orton in a tag team match against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul.