The Triple Threader - Aug. 5, 2024
Welcome to this special edition of the Triple Threader, covering three select stories from WWE SummerSlam 2024.
Gunther wins his first world title at SummerSlam. (Courtesy: WWE)
Weltmeister Quality
WWE SummerSlam 2024 was the one to watch this past Saturday. Four new champions were crowned in Cleveland. Bron Breakker won his first main roster title by defeating Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental crown, LA Knight finally has his defining moment, putting away Logan Paul for United States gold, and both King & Queen of the Ring won their respective world title matches, as Nia Jax beat Bayley to become WWE Women’s Champion, and Gunther turned away Damian Priest – with a betraying aid from Priest’s longtime Judgment Day partner Finn Bálor – to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. Gunther already has two impressive reigns to his name as NXT United Kingdom Champion and as Intercontinental Champion, with both respective reigns at 870 days and 666 days; the longest in the history of those titles.
Cody Rhodes stands tall after a chaotic title match. (Courtesy: WWE)
Cody Prevails; The Chief Returns
In the main event of SummerSlam, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes put his crown on the line against Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match, where anything goes, and the Bloodline – the faction of Tonga Loa, and newly crowned WWE Tag Team Champs Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu – has full unfiltered access to get involved in said match. After the group was run off by Kevin Owens and Randy Orton, the familiar music set off the entire arena as Roman Reigns made his return to WWE, his first since losing the gold to Rhodes after holding it for 1,316 days. The Head of the Table Superman Punched and Speared his cousin Sikoa, giving an open hand to the American Nightmare to pick up the win and retain his crown. Liv Morgan would also retain her Women’s World Title against Rhea Ripley, and picked up a dirty kiss from Dominik Mysterio in the process.
Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu. (Courtesy: WWE)
A bad Break
During the SummerSlam main event, Jacob Fatu injured his knee while diving onto the announce table on top of Cody Rhodes. The current WWE Tag Team Champion immediately grabbed the knee afterwards was helped to the back. He was spotted in a walking boot the following day. Triple H informed media on the injury following the show saying, “Jacob’s a little banged up. I’ll see where that nets out here in a little bit. Hopefully nothing serious, but it was bugging him a little bit… we’ll see where is.”
