NASHVILLE -- Roman Reigns retained the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship with a victory over Brock Lesnar in an action-packed Last Man Standing Match to close out SummerSlam.
It was a matchup billed as their final encounter ever and after a violent back-and-forth affair, Reigns finally buried Lesnar in a pile of chairs and broken tables for the 10-count.
Reigns' victory likely brings him to a showdown vs. Drew McIntyre at Clash at the Castle on September 3 in Cardiff, Wales.
The threat of a Theory Money in the Bank cash-in hung over the proceedings and sure enough, "A-Town Down" finally hit the loudspeaker and Mr. Money in the Bank sprinted to the ring. He immediately smashed Roman in the head with the briefcase, but before he could attack Brock, too, and officially cash-in with the referee, he swiftly received an F-5 and was out of commission for the remainder of the match.
The match kicked off with Lesnar, who entered the stadium on a tractor, jumping off the vehicle to attack Reigns before he unleashed a series of punches. The former UFC heavyweight champion then clotheslined Reigns outside the ring and sent him crashing into the stairs.
.@BrockLesnar just lifted the ring with a tractor!!! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/HBJPzZmEgb
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2022
Lesnar welcomed Reigns to Suplex City with a belly-to-belly off the stairs, leading to a four count, before he delivered a suplex onto a nearby platform. Lesnar attempted an F-5, but Roman reversed it. Still, Lesnar was able to recover and rammed Reigns into one of the set-piece anchors before he connected with a belly-to-back.
Reigns finally mounted some offense with a Samoan Drop through a table before he smashed Lesnar with the stairs. Then, he sent Lesnar through another table with a Uranage. Two Superman punches and a spear followed for an 8-count before he attempted another spear. This time, Lesnar caught Reigns and threw him on his shoulders for another F-5, but Reigns was able to escape and tossed the challenger to the outside.
Lesnar belted Reigns with the stairs, and then finally brought the fork lift into play by throwing Roman into the front-loader and dropped him into the ring.
Three more belly-to-back suplexes followed, but Reigns was up at the count of 8. Another F-5 brought a 9-count. Yet another F-5 attempt was reversed into a guillotine, but Lesnar turned it into a guillotine of his own. The official stated that Reigns had passed out, but still Reigns made it to his feet at 9.
.@_Theory1 tried to cash-in and gets met with an F-5 from @BrockLesnar! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/kUHOUrmxHy
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2022
Then came the most shocking moment of the match -- or really, any match -- when Lesnar, using the tractor, tipped the ring halfway over, sending Reigns rolling out of the ring from great heights. Lesnar then cleared the announce table, but before he could send Roman crashing through it, The Usos interfered and attacked him.
Lesnar took out the Usos and sent Paul Heyman through the table with an F-5. During the interference, Reigns got back up to his feet and capitalized on a distracted Lesnar by hitting a spear.
That's when Theory rushed out to the ring, sensing his moment. Lesnar hit him with the F-5 before the Usos connected with a double superkick on him. Reigns speared Lesnar for another 9-count before he viciously attacked Lesnar with Theory's Money in the Bank briefcase. It was worth another 9-count.
Reigns smashed Lesnar with the WWE championship title, but Lesnar was up at 9 again. Then it was the Universal title's turn to meet Lesnar's head. Finally, Reigns ended matters -- and his rivalry with Lesnar -- when he cleverly buried Brock in a mountain of tables and chairs. The official hit the 10-count and Reigns remained champion.
Results from the rest of the card:
Logan Paul def. The Miz
In his WWE singles debut, social media star Logan Paul defeated The Miz after delivering the Skull Crushing Finale. Of course, that's Miz's own finisher, a move Logan Paul learned when he teamed with the A-Lister at WrestleMania to defeat The Mysterios.
The Miz turned on Paul following that April matchup, leading to a rivalry that culminated with this meeting at SummerSlam.
Paul's match was filled with big spots. He clotheslined The Miz outside the ring to start the action and then nailed a springboard moonsault. Later on, Paul hit Miz with an impressive Blockbuster followed by a running powerslam. Then, he tossed The Miz into another one of his own moves, the Figure Four, and followed it with a flying crossbody from the top rope.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME @LoganPaul?!?!#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/qOOrRMTffg
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2022
Ciampa, who had been helping the Miz over the past few weeks, interfered and then refused to leave ringside when the referee ejected him. AJ Styles' music hit and came Paul's aid. After Styles chased Ciampa out of the picture, Logan hit The Miz with Styles' finisher, The Phenomenal Forearm. Then, in the biggest spot of the night so far, Paul sent The Miz through the announce table with a Frog Splash.
Once back in the ring, The Miz attempted to punch Logan Paul with a chain wrapped around his wrist, but Logan evaded the shot and hit him with The Skull Crushing Finale for the 1-2-3.
What's next: Logan Paul once again impressed with his in-ring work, and now that's he under contract with WWE, he could be featured at either Crown Jewel or Survivor Series in November. The Miz, meanwhile, can seemingly take a loss and not let it affect his credibility. He should return to the mid-card picture, or possibly even a program with AJ Styles. It's also likely that Ciampa and Styles will take things a bit further.
Raw women's championship: Bianca Belair def. Becky Lynch
In a rematch of their matchup at last year's SummerSlam, Bianca Belair turned the tables on Becky Lynch to retain her Raw women's championship.
Lynch attempted a second Manhandle Slam, this time from the second turnbuckle, only for Bianca to reverse the move into a Spanish Fly. Belair capitalized and then immediately dropped Becky with a second KOD for the pinfall victory.
After the pin, Lynch in an uncharacteristic move for her heel character, embraced Belair and hugged her to close out their long-standing rivalry.
Suddenly Bayley's music hit. Bayley, who's been sidelined since last July with a torn ACL, stood on the ramp with a smirk on her face. But she didn't return alone.
.@itsBayleyWWE is back and it looks like she came with some backup 👀#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/6jrDeLkvcY
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2022
Dakota Kai, who was released by WWE in April, made a surprise appearance alongside the former champion and was also joined by former NXT champion Io Shirai -- referenced on TV as Io Sky. Before they could seemingly attack Belair, Becky came to her aid, completing her face turn.
What's next: Clearly, it'll be Bayley and Belair feuding over the Raw women's championship after her long-awaited return. Seemingly, Becky will be involved in a program with either Io Shirai or Dakota Kai, or maybe even a tag-team match with Bianca against the trio at some point.
Pat McAfee def. Happy Corbin
That's what you get @BaronCorbinWWE!@PatMcAfeeShow #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/4KkYJ1c13G
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2022
SmackDown analyst and former All-Pro punter Pat McAfee defeated Happy Corbin after he connected with a low blow followed by a roll-up after it appeared he was going for the Panama Sunrise.
Corbin attempted to finish the match with End of Days, but collided with the referee when McAfee escaped, leading to an illegal kick to the groin.
The action kicked off when McAfee connected with a Hurricanrana, but Corbin later rebounded with a shotgun dropkick inside the ring followed by a Deep Six. Corbin took the fight to the outside and attacked McAfee on the announce table in front of his partner, Michael Cole.
McAfee later connected with a Superplex and then a flying Senton to the outside. When the action returned to the ring, Corbin attempted the End of Days leading to the finish.
What's next: With another feud seemingly concluded, Happy Corbin should move onto a new singles program while McAfee will return to his commentary position on Fridays. Surely, he'll emerge for another match at Survivor Series in November.
Undisputed WWE tag team championship: The Usos (c) def. The Street Profits
In a rematch of their instant classic at Money in the Bank, The Usos retained the Undisputed tag team championships with a pinfall victory over The Street Profits with Jeff Jarrett as the special guest referee.
After Angelo Dawkins connected with a Spinebuster, followed by the Frog Splash from Montez Ford, it appeared they would finally topple The Bloodline, but Ford himself was hurt from the maneuver and took a few extra seconds to go for the pin.
Afterward, the Usos hit Dawkins with the double Superkick, followed by the 1-D for the finish.
The Street Profits were in control earlier in the matchup after Ford came through with a series of kicks followed by a standing Shooting Star Press. Ford then delivered a running Blockbuster before Dawkins cleared the top rope with a somersault to the outside. Inside the ring, The Street Profits teamed up for a double Suplex before Jimmy turned the tide with a splash from the top rope. Jey joined him, and Jimmy delivered another splash, this time in conjunction with his brother on both Ford and Dawkins.
.@RealJeffJarrett got caught in the middle of things again but The @WWEUsos stay alive! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/8XxsBdLDVS
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2022
What's next: The Usos still possess both the Raw and SmackDown tag team titles, so it will be interesting if they split the belts at some point soon. The Usos will need to find new challengers, while we wait to see if Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins split and pursue a singles run.
WWE SmackDown women's championship: Liv Morgan (c) def. Ronda Rousey
In an abbreviated match for the Smackdown women's championship, Liv Morgan retained the title when Ronda Rousey's shoulders touched the mat for the three count while she applied the arm bar on Morgan. Morgan, however, also tapped to the armbar which should have resulted in Rousey winning.
Rousey, surprised with the result, snapped and attacked Morgan, putting her in another arm bar, and then put the referee into one as well.
What's next: It looks the program between Morgan and Rousey will continue, but with a new element now that Rousey is a heel.
WWE United States championship: Bobby Lashley (c) def. Theory
A rematch of the United States championship bout from Money in the Bank, Bobby Lashley again defeated Theory to retain the title.
Theory attempted a third consecutive Rolling Thunder maneuver, but The Almighty military pressed him and then tossed him in the Hurt Lock for the submission victory.
Before the bell rang, Theory attacked Lashley with his Money in the Bank briefcase and then connected with Rolling Thunder into a Blockbuster. Lashley slammed Theory into the mat before Theory attempted to leave the match, walking up the ramp only to be stopped by Lashley.
Once inside the ring, Theory then hit Lashley with a Rolling Thunder into a dropkick. Moments later they traded punches in the center of the ring before Lashley scooped Theory up for the running powerslam. Lashley proved to be too much for Theory, who still has the Money in the Bank briefcase that looms over the rest of the night.
What's next: The match wasn't all that long, and the rivalry is now clearly over. Lashley should find a new challenger on Monday Night Raw, while Theory could walk out of SummerSlam with an even bigger prize. After all, he stills holds the Money in the Bank briefcase and has repeatedly teased a cash-in after the main event that pits Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar in a Last Man Standing Match for the Undisputed Universal Championship.
No disqualification match: The Mysterios def. Finn Balor and Damian Priest (The Judgement Day)
Edge returned to exact revenge on his former faction, The Judgment Day, and helped The Mysterios score the victory in a No Disqualification tag team match.
The Mysterios had Finn Balor and Damian Priest set up for a double 619 but were reeling after Rhea Ripley interfered. That's when Edge, one of WWE's biggest stars, made his return after approximately a two-month absence from TV.
.@EdgeRatedR is back and has his sights set on @ArcherOfInfamy and @FinnBalor! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/3y2TU09N0w
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2022
He did so with a new look -- and music -- accompanied by fire and brimstone. He hit both Balor and Priest with a Spear before Rey Mysterio scored the pinfall.
As expected there were a ton of high-flying spots from the Mysterios. Dominik Mysterio first connected on a suicide dive, which was followed by his father's springboard moonsault. Then Dominik hit Balor with a flying crossbody inside the ring.
Rey pulled out a chair to turn the tide after some sustained offense from The Judgment Day, and after hitting Priest, slid with it under his stomach for a splash on Finn on the outside. Rey then hit Finn Balor with a Hurricanrana from the top rope before they attempted the double 619, leading to the conclusion of the matchup and perhaps the rivalry.
What's next: Edge could enter a singles program with Balor, which has the potential to deliver some incredible matches. The Mysterios, meanwhile, should return to the mid-card tag-team picture.