Since its inception, SummerSlam has been some of the essential reveals of the yr for WWE. That was no completely different this yr, with SummerSlam signaling a serious shift for a lot of of WWE’s greatest stars.

Titles modified fingers, factions have been fractured and certainly one of wrestling’s greatest stars made his return after many months away from the highlight.

In some ways, SummerSlam was not solely laying the groundwork for the rest of the yr but in addition the lengthy construct to 2025’s WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.

For those who’re trying to get caught up on the wild world of WWE, we have got you coated. Let’s check out all the pieces it is advisable find out about the place issues stand now.

New champions in cost

Try the total record of WWE champions right here

Gunther, who set a file for longest reign as intercontinental champion at 666 days, defeated Damian Priest to grow to be the world heavyweight champion. Years in the past, there have been stories that Vince McMahon had misplaced religion in Gunther as a serious participant in WWE regardless of his presence because the cornerstone of the now-defunct NXT UK. With McMahon gone from WWE seemingly for good amid intercourse trafficking and abuse scandals that are actually being investigated on the federal degree, Gunther was lastly given the total likelihood to shine and has not disenchanted.

After elevating the intercontinental championship with a record-setting reign that additionally featured heaps of implausible matches, followers have been keen to purchase into Gunther as a top-level champion. After beating Priest, he now has the possibility to show that to be the case. His first title protection is already set as he’ll defend the title towards WWE legend Randy Orton at Bash in Berlin on Aug. 31.

Nia Jax additionally captured a world title at SummerSlam, taking down Bayley to win the WWE ladies’s championship. This yr has been a implausible redemption yr for Jax, who was as soon as lower from WWE and was thought of by many to be reckless and harmful within the ring. Nonetheless, she has been a gradual hand and produced one of the best work of her profession in 2024, each within the ring and on the microphone. After successful the Queen of the Ring match, Jax punched her ticket to a title match and made good by ending Bayley’s reign.

Two different titles modified fingers at SummerSlam, with LA Knight defeating Logan Paul to win america championship and Bron Breakker taking out Sami Zayn to grow to be intercontinental champion.

Knight’s lengthy profession journey now has a signature second with a predominant roster championship victory. There was some extent when Knight might have been one of many two or three most over males in WWE, however among the steam was misplaced when he got here up quick in a bid to defeat then-undisputed champion Roman Reigns. Knight lastly reached a serious championship, although, and never too quickly given he is a number of months away from his forty second birthday.

Breakker is the opposite finish of the spectrum, closing in on his twenty seventh birthday and being handled as a monster powerhouse who shall be a cornerstone of WWE programming for the following decade, if not longer. Zayn is a beloved determine in wrestling and bought one win over Breakker, however Breakker’s SummerSlam win was inevitable and now it is as much as him and WWE to not screw up his momentum.

What is going on on with The Bloodline?

Roman Reigns made his return at SummerSlam, coming in and destroying the new-look Bloodline that resembles nothing of the group he constructed together with his cousins, The Usos, in 2021. In returning, Reigns price Solo Sikoa his undisputed WWE championship match towards Cody Rhodes.

After Reigns misplaced the title to Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, he disappeared from WWE TV. Sikoa determined to fill the vacuum of management, kicked Jimmy Uso out of the group and led a brand new Bloodline with Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and the breakout star of the group, Jacob Fatu. For as evil because the group was beneath Reigns, Sikoa’s model added in a mixture of wild unpredictability and an instability rooted in Sikoa’s try to cowl his insecurities because the true new model of “the person” within the group.

Sikoa had additionally declared himself the brand new “Tribal Chief” and advised Paul Heyman that Reigns was by no means coming again. He would pay a heavy value for these actions and now issues are arrange for Reigns vs. Sikoa — or, extra doubtless, Reigns’ Bloodline vs. the Sikoa model.

This might attain its first main second at Survivor Sequence: Wargames. It is easy to see Sikoa, Tonga, Loa and Fatu taking up Reigns, Jey and Jimmy Uso and a shock companion (Rhodes?) inside WarGames.

What about Judgment Day?

Judgment Day went by a serious overhaul within the wake of SummerSlam. Whereas it has been clear for months that Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley have been drifting from the heel roots of the group, they’re formally out. Priest was price the world heavyweight championship when Finn Balor repeatedly interfered to assist Gunther and Ripley misplaced her match with ladies’s world champion Liv Morgan when Dominik Mysterio turned his again on her and helped Morgan get the win, adopted by sharing a kiss with Morgan after the match.

On one hand, it is exhausting to really feel sorry for Priest and Ripley. Mysterio is with the group as a result of Priest and Ripley manipulated him into turning his again on his family they usually have by no means truly addressed these actions whereas being turned to the babyface aspect. However Ripley and Priest are extra over with the gang now than they’ve ever been earlier than.

The brand new Judgment Day, as launched on the Uncooked after SummerSlam, is Balor, Mysterio, Morgan, JD McDonagh and Carlito. These 5 are doubtless in for some lengthy months forward as Priest and Ripley shall be searching for revenge at each flip.

What different storylines will dominate the approaching months?

The problems between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre are removed from over. McIntyre received their match at SummerSlam when Punk misplaced focus over the bracelet his spouse made for him, which McIntyre stole. When Punk noticed the bracelet on particular visitor referee Seth Rollins’ wrist, he misplaced focus and as an alternative of ending off McIntyre, went after Rollins. That opened issues up for McIntyre to hit a low blow and end Punk off.

Clearly, the story is nowhere close to its conclusion and McIntyre once more had the bracelet on Uncooked, sending Punk scrambling from a confrontation with Rollins within the ring in an effort to chase McIntyre down.

Punk leaving the ring turned out to be a foul factor for Rollins, as he was blindsided by Bronson Reed. Seeking to make a reputation for himself, Reed unleashed a vicious assault on Rollins, together with delivering six Tsunamis. Rollins was left spitting up blood and it is sure that Reed locked up a serious storyline by the assault. That is good as Reed wants the chance to see if he generally is a main participant and Rollins wants an opponent to work whereas he will get again in ring form after his return from harm towards Priest resulted in an unusually unhealthy Rollins match.

With the primary post-SummerSlam SmackDown taking place on Friday, followers are certain to get a glimpse into what’s coming down the pike for the “blue model.”