Roman Reigns stood tall over Seth Rollins to close out SummerSlam Night 2, while the rest of the card brought plenty of surprises.
Chelsea Green claimed the interim WWE Women's Championship, while Kevin Owens returned to action in a four-way match that added complexity to the SmackDown championship picture. Chad Gable finally fulfilled his dream of holding the Intercontinental title, and Danhausen once again cursed Dominik Mysterio.
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins tore down the house on Sunday night. The two superstars put together a match that solidified their status as wrestling soulmates. They traded shots, stole each other's moves, and left it all out on the mat.
Their match eloquently told the story of a champion who no longer held a grudge over being stabbed in the back; he's grown to be the genuine face of the company, and is more concerned about proving that on his own than holding onto gold at all costs. The callbacks to Dean Ambrose throughout the rivalry and in their match leave a sore spot. It feels highly unlikely Ambrose ever returns to WWE.
After Reigns celebrated post-match in the ring, part of me questioned whether Oba Femi would make his presence felt. I can't decide if that's muscle memory from WWE's shock endings, or if it just seems like the next logical step for Reigns. He's dispatched Jacob Fatu and has drawn the Bloodline back to his side.
Chelsea Green becoming the interim WWE Women's Champion was a legitimately shocking win. She deserves every bit of it — candidly, I was a huge fan of the pitch from "WWE: Unreal" about Green winning the Royal Rumble by proxy of everyone else being eliminated a few years ago. The storytelling in this one was exceptional.
Green and Tiffany Stratton flexed between partners and challengers, Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill continued to build toward a full-blown rivalry, and it was Green who was there all along to find any opening for the win. The new queen.
Nick Aldis is back in his "SmackDown" general manager role, and he returned with a whole new perspective. Kicking off Sunday's show by announcing Gunther as another opponent in what was meant to be Finn Bálor vs. Sami Zayn made all the sense in the world. The addition of a returning Kevin Owens, however, makes absolutely no sense.
In the actual match, Owens picked up right where he left off and looked as smooth as ever. The story balanced seeing all four guys fighting for the top spot, Zayn taking a moment to appreciate Owens' return, and then doing whatever it takes to get back WWE gold. Ultimately it was Zayn who was the logical loser out of the bunch.
Chad Gable finally did it. His redemption arc was completed at SummerSlam, further establishing the annual two-night extravaganza as an equivalent to WrestleMania. Gable's Intercontinental Championship win was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
The WWE is now resetting for the back half of the year, with the new champions and winners looking to make the most of their opportunities. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins' match has set the stage for a potential rivalry between the two superstars, while Chelsea Green's interim championship win has opened the door for a new storyline in the women's division.
Source: Yahoo Sports