The 5 Results We Want to See at WWE SummerSlam 2024

The 5 Results We Want to See at WWE SummerSlam 20240 of 5

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The results of any given WWE Premium Live Event can ultimately determine its overall success. They can put an exclamation point on a so-so show and send fans home happy or they can take an otherwise excellent show and drag it down into mediocrity.

SummerSlam is one of the company’s most important shows of any year and thus, the results are accentuated in ways they are not on lesser significant events.

Ahead of the Aug. 3 extravaganza in Cleveland, find out which results are the ones we most want to see out of wrestling’s most prominent promotion and why with this preview of the show.

Bayley Retains Over Nia Jax1 of 5

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Bayley has had a rather subdued reign as WWE women’s champion, with successful title defenses against Naomi and Tiffany Stratton, but no real earth-shattering storyline to speak of.

Others have been emphasized while she pops up on occasion to remind everyone that she is, in fact, the champion.

That has changed recently as WWE’s creative team has highlighted the rivalry between her and Nia Jax ahead of their SummerSlam clash, in which the Queen of the Ring will challenge for the top prize in the women’s division on SmackDown.

Jax feels like the Vader to Bayley’s Sting because she is bigger, stronger, and nastier than the babyface and could easily womanhandle her en route to a decisive victory. But Bayley has heart, which has often fueled babyfaces to big-time wins.

That second scenario is the best fit for this particular feud as Bayley continues to win over fans as the tough, resilient babyface who never quits and ultimately slays her competition.

Until, that is, she someone takes advantage of her weakened state.

Someone with a guaranteed title opportunity that they can utilize at any time.

Tiffany Stratton Cashes In2 of 5

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Tiffany Stratton sneakily defeating a weakened Bayley for the title by cashing in Money in the Bank is the perfect outcome for several reasons.

The young star petitioned Jax to form a team with her and this would be the perfect scenario to prove that Tiffy was using the Irresistible Force to her benefit. It would prove there is more going on in the head of Stratton than self-centeredness and spoiled brattiness while also giving her another potential opponent to keep an eye on.

More importantly, it lets Bayley chase the title, something we did not get on the road to WrestleMania XL and her match with Iyo Sky.

That match was more about proving herself and avenging the loss of friends and teammates in Damage CTRL than it was about the championship. Pitting Bayley against Stratton and, potentially, Jax throughout the fall will only further endear her to fans.

As strong as WWE’s creative efforts have been, she is the one major babyface who has been underserved by the writing team.

This would give her motivation and fans a reason to support The Role Model while presenting Stratton as a lead heel in the women’s division. She would have a legitimate storyline behind her for the first time since WrestleMania and would take center stage instead of wandering, waiting for the next challenge to be determined.

It is a story that benefits Bayley, someone who should have been more of a focus these last four months.

Liv Morgan Defeats Rhea Ripley3 of 5

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All signs would seemingly point to Rhea Ripley obliterating Liv Morgan in their match for the Women’s World Championship at SummerSlam and while that is the apropos finale to this ongoing storyline involving them, Dominik Mysterio, and The Judgment Day, their Aug. 3 match in Cleveland does not feel like the concluding match in the program.

Ripley has only been back for two weeks, Morgan is on the run of a lifetime, and several factors that have not yet reared their heads in terms of the overarching story to this point.

We know Morgan and Finn Bálor have some arrangement, thanks to both being caught on camera associating in the past. We know Bálor took Morgan’s hotel key and has quickly defended her to Damian Priest.

That chapter still has yet to play out and seemingly would not if Ripley simply squashes Morgan.

That is not to mention that Morgan’s momentum is essentially extinguished if she rolls into SummerSlam and is demolished in a one-sided match. In that scenario, Ripley goes back to dominating and WWE loses out on another potential star in that women’s division.

Morgan winning is the right call because it keeps her red-hot, gives Ripley even further revenge fuel, and if handled correctly, propels The Judgment Day storyline forward.

Gunther Wins the World Heavyweight Championship4 of 5

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At the center of Damian Priest’s reign as champion has been the notion that he cannot successfully defend without someone or something altering the outcome of his defenses.

He has repeatedly expressed his desire for The Judgment Day not to get involved. Even when they listen to their leader, CM Punk gets involved, screws Drew McIntyre over, and enhances questions about his ability to win on his own.

At SummerSlam, he defends against the 2024 King of the Ring, Gunther, in a match that has felt like the conclusion of his title reign from the moment it was officially announced.

Not only is The Ring General the superior wrestler, but The Judgment Day as we have known it is falling apart at the seams, with Bálor being more vocal about his displeasure with Priest’s decisions and the assertion that El Campeon does not need his teammates as much as they need him.

That story thread coming to the surface and playing a key role in this match should bring about Gunther’s win and the next chapter in the Judgment Day story.

An outcome that sees the challenger win the title by outlasting Priest and beating him clean in the center of the ring, without interference or any appearance from Bálor, JD McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio, or even Carlito, is the one this match and the story at the center of it deserves.

Cody Rhodes Retains Over Solo Sikoa5 of 5

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There is a path to Solo Sikoa vs. Roman Reigns that includes the Undisputed WWE Championship that also involves The Rock and his promise to Cody Rhodes that their story was only beginning.

That is not the path WWE should take.

Rhodes outlasting Sikoa at SummerSlam as Reigns, Jimmy Uso, or even Jey thwarts outside interference from the revamped Bloodline, is the right call.

It allows The American Nightmare to wrap things up with the faction with whom he has feuded for the last two years and move on to a program with someone like Randy Orton, who took a big beating at the hands of The Bloodline in the name of backing his friend up,

Sikoa can then move onto the inevitable feud with the reunited OG Bloodline and the SmackDown brand will have two main event stories to feature every Friday night.

It is the best outcome and one that protects Sikoa from being exposed in a role as champion that, as good as he has been thus far in this incarnation of his story, he is not ready for.