The match ratings for WWE Summerslam 2024 are in, courtesy of Cagematch & Dave Meltzer.
Summerslam is one of the biggest shows of the year. Billed as the “Biggest Party of the Summer”, it sits just below WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble as WWE’s third most prestigious event.
The show will be shown live in the United Kingdom on the WWE Network. The event begins at 1am on Sunday, August 4th 2024, although the company have announced a three-hour pre-show to begin at 10pm. This will be broadcast on YouTube.
One of the most highly anticipated matches on the show features one of Britain’s greatest wrestlers. Drew McIntyre will look to conclude his eight month-long feud with CM Punk on the show, with Seth Rollins as their special guest referee.
The card for Summerslam 2024 is:
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa – Undisputed WWE Championship
- Damian Priest (c) vs. Gunther – World Heavyweight Championship
- CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre – Seth Rollins is the special guest referee
- Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax – WWE Women’s Championship
- Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley – Women’s World Championship
- Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker – Intercontinental Championship
- Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight – United States Championship
Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley – Women’s World Championship
A huge shock happened to open Summerslam this year, when Dominik Mysterio turned on his “Mami”, former NXT UK Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. He helped Liv Morgan retain her Women’s World Champion, kissing the woman who has been obsessing over him for months.
That is not to overshadow the match. It was a great match, with the hatred shown toward each woman apparent. Ripley looked like a monster, popping her dislocate shoulder back into place (twice), fuelled by her desire to maim Morgan.
It was a great opener that set the tone for the event. Even without the turn, it would be a great match. However, Dominik’s heel turn (into an even bigger heel) made this a four-star match, definitely.
- Dave Metlzer’s Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 6.49
- BritWrestling Rating – 4 Stars
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker – Intercontinental Championship
A disappointing end to Sami Zayn’s Intercontinental Champion reign. Triple H’s struggle to let anything significant happen outside of a “big four” PLE meant that Bron Breakker won the title one month later than he should.
He used his physical prowess to get the best of Zayn. The story meant to be told was pitting Zayn’s brain against Breakker’s brawn. However, it was conveyed poorly, with just five minutes not enough to make it a match worth watching.
The match should have seen Breakker dominate. This didn’t help anybody.
- Dave Metlzer’s Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 5.29
- BritWrestling Rating – 2 Stars
Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight – United States Championship
The crowd split was clear. Logan Paul’s recent controversies and poor title reign encouraged the crowd to chant expletives, while yelling “Yeah!” every time LA Knight even considered throwing a punch.
It was a good brawl, with both men playing their part brilliantly. Say what you want, but Logan Paul is an excellent heel. He could go right to the top if he took it seriously and stayed out of trouble.
LA Knight continued to impress as the ultra-popular babyface. This was probably his best match, and he can clearly have great matches when paired against a hated babyface (like his match with Roman Reigns).
- Dave Metlzer’s Star Rating – 4 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 6.95
- BritWrestling Rating – 3 Stars
Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax – WWE Women’s Championship
A rather nothing match that bookended a poor title run. Nia Jax,in something that nobody wanted, won the title thanks to Tiffany Stratton’s run-in.
It was…fine. Not worth a rewatch, and probably better than Nia Jax’s usual performances. A disappointing ending of Bayley’s title though, and its worrying what Triple H has for her going forward.
- Dave Metlzer’s Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 5.66
- BritWrestling Rating – 2 Stars
Drew McIntyre vs CM Punk
The most anticipated match on the show may not have lived up to the hype, but it was still a great watch for fans of both men.
CM Punk got the visual win, but he was not happy with Seth Rollins’ work as the special guest referee. He was knocked out when Punk won the match, and counted the pin when McIntyre finally got the pin fall over his nemesis.
The main criticisms were the focus on Seth Rollins, and the fairly tame nature of the bout. In our Bash in Berlin predictions, we said that a rematch was in the works, and this match makes that seem likely.
- Dave Metzler’s Star Rating – 3 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 6.42
- BritWrestling Rating – 3.5 Stars
Damien Priest (c) vs Gunther – World Heavyweight Championship
Gunther vs Damien Priest was the best match on the Summerslam 2024 card, and the most likely to get that coveted five-star rating.
It was probably Priest’s best title defence, which isn’t hard going against an elite talent like Gunther. The Austrian completed his rise to the top by winning his first World Championship in the WWE.
The fact that Finn Balor turned on Damien Priest to end the match only added to the bout. It will set up a match between the pair in the future, and completes the annihilation of the Judgement day.
- Dave Metzler’s Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 8.11
- BritWrestling Rating – 4 Stars
Cody Rhodes (c) vs Solo Sikoa – Undisputed WWE Championship
A poor match ended Summerslam. Solo Sikoa proved he was not a main event talent yet, and even with all the bells and whistles of the Bloodline Rules, he failed to shine.
The most impressive person in the match was Jacob Fatu, whose selling after his interference was top-notch. The bout was saved as a spectacle by the return of Roman Reigns, although this is not a match you’ll ever go back to rewatch.
- Dave Metzler’s Star Rating – 4 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 4.56
- BritWrestling Rating – 2 Stars
