WWE SummerSlam 2024 grades, results: Roman Reigns returns, Cody Rhodes retains Undisputed WWE Championship

WWE's biggest event of the summer, SummerSlam, took place on Saturday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

The biggest news from the 37th installment of SummerSlam was the return of Roman Reigns, who had been absent from WWE programming since losing to Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40. Reigns returned in the closing moments, helping Rhodes defeat his real-life cousin Solo Sikoa in a "Bloodline Rules" match.

Beyond that, there were four new champions crowned — Bron Breakker (Intercontinental), LA Knight (United States), Nia Jax (WWE Women's) and Gunther (World Heavyweight) — setting up the potential for new feuds and angles for the second half of the year. Liv Morgan was the only other champion to retain in Ohio besides Rhodes.

The card was strong from top to bottom, delivering solid in-ring action — particularly from Morgan, Rhea Ripley, Logan Paul and LA Knight — while shaking up the two most dominant factions in WWE in the Judgment Day and the Bloodline.

WWE SummerSlam results, grades, analysis

Liv Morgan defeats Rhea Ripley in 15:51 to retain her Women's World Championship

• Grade: A

• Best spot: Ripley kicking out of Oblivion

• Analysis: Mission accomplished with this match on all fronts. An absolutely enthralling match to kick off SummerSlam that hit every note it needed to, making Ripley look incredibly strong in defeat while adding nuclear heat to Dominik Mysterio and Morgan. The Judgment Day got an entire makeover at SummerSlam, with Ripley and Priest both being crossed, opening the door for Morgan to perhaps become the de facto leader. Ripley remains one of the biggest talents on the entire WWE roster and her chase for the championship will undoubtedly continue.

Bron Breakker def. Sami Zayn in 5:39 to win the Intercontinental Championship.

• Grade: C

• Best spot: Breakker’s Frankensteiner

• Analysis: Mostly forgettable action bell-to-bell, but Breakker getting the win was the right call here. Breakker, who gets his first championship on the main roster, looked incredibly strong, while Zayn will always be popular and can now focus on working his way up to the top of the card — unless we get a rubber match between these two stars.

LA Knight def. Logan Paul in 11:59 to win the United States Championship

• Grade: A

• Best spot: Paul’s springboard moonsault

• Analysis: Knight finally gets his championship in WWE and should get an extended run as United States champ. This match went above and beyond — a normal occurrence when Paul is involved — and the outcome means we should see SmackDown’s mid-card men’s championship defended on a more regular basis. Paul likely steps away until at least November, when another Saudi Arabia show and Survivor Series takes place.

Nia Jax def. Bayley in 12:35 to win the WWE Women's Championship

• Grade: B+

• Best spot: Bayley’s second-rope powerbomb on Jax

• Analysis: Bayley’s championship reign ends somewhat abruptly, due in part to Tiffany Stratton who threatened a cash-in during SummerSlam. Jax will always be a formidable champion, but with Stratton looming — even in this alliance she has with the new champion — and a possible Charlotte Flair return on the horizon, another change soon would not surprise me.

Drew McIntyre def. CM Punk in 16:58

• Grade: A

• Best spot: Punk drops McIntyre mid-GTS, confronts Rollins

• Analysis: I think we can pencil in McIntyre vs. Gunther for Bash in Berlin later this month. On the flip side, this match sets up CM Punk and Seth Rollins to have a program before either returns to the World Heavyweight Championship picture. Really strong storytelling and in-ring work between all three men involved in the payoff for a monthslong feud.

Gunther def. Damian Priest in 16:40 to win the World Heavyweight Championship

• Grade: B+

• Best spot: Priest’s hurricanrana and broken arrow

• Analysis: Priest joins Ripley in exile from the Judgment Day and has a legitimate claim at taking on Gunther sometime down the line. As mentioned above, McIntyre vs. Gunther seems like an excellent fit for Bash in Berlin while we could see a mixed tag-team match between Priest and Ripley against Morgan and either Balor or Mysterio.

Cody Rhodes def. Solo Sikoa in 29:13 to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

• Grade: A-

• Best spot: Roman Reigns’ return