WWE SummerSlam continues its storied legacy as a cornerstone WWE event. Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland hosts the promotion’s third-longest running pay-per-view on Saturday and the card is shaping up nicely.
Two matches have been known for a long time: the world heavyweight championship and WWE women’s championship matches. Gunther and Nia Jax won the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments, respectively, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on May 25 to earn title shots for their brands’ championships at SummerSlam. World heavyweight champ Damian Priest and WWE women’s champ Bayley enter SummerSlam season as defending champions. The card has since filled out with a series of big matches, including Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa, Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley and CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.
Take a look below at the confirmed matches for WWE SummerSlam. The event streams live on Peacock on Saturday with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET.
2024 WWE SummerSlam matches
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (*Special Guest Referee match): The most anticipated SummerSlam match is arguably the one without a title at stake. WWE has masterfully told the story of Punk and McIntyre. The Scotsman repeatedly mocked Punk’s injury proneness after Punk was hurt in the ring with him at the Royal Rumble. Punk retaliated by ruining McIntyre’s WrestleMania moment, Scotland homecoming and Money in the Bank cash-in. McIntyre hospitalized Punk with a brutal assault in Chicago between Clash at the Castle and Money in the Bank, further adding to their blockbuster showdown in Cleveland. People wondered how Seth Rollins’ long-stemming issues with each man would work into the match. Rollins will serve as the special guest referee for Punk vs. McIntyre, stating that he will enforce rules as he sees fit throughout the match.
Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa: Rhodes ended Roman Reigns’ dominance at WrestleMania but he’s far from done with The Bloodline. The Sikoa-led version of the faction upgraded dramatically with the addition of Jacob Fatu. The Bloodline defeated Rhodes, Orton and Kevin Owens in a six-man tag team match at Money in the Bank, giving Sikoa a reasonable claim to challenge Rhodes for the undisputed title at SummerSlam.
World Heavyweight Championship — Damian Priest (c) vs. Gunther: Gunther defeated Randy Orton in the King of the Ring tournament finals to solidify his world title shot at SummerSlam. Priest’s run as world champion has been solid but he’s yet to stand on his own feet. Priest defeated McIntyre at WrestleMania 40, Clash at the Castle and Money in the Bank but required assistance from Punk each time. Many expect record-setting former intercontinental champion Gunther to be crowned world champion at SummerSlam.
WWE Women’s Championship — Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax: Jax defeated darkhorse finalist Lyra Valkyria to be crowned Queen of the Ring. Jax hasn’t been a pivotal presence on SmackDown since but her new alliance with Tiffany Stratton could give her an edge against fighting champion Bayley.
Women’s World Championship — Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley: “Mami” is home and Morgan has a real problem. Morgan’s injury revenge tour was unintentionally authentic. Ripley was legitimately injured during a backstage brawl with Morgan, a story built on the legitimate injury Morgan previously suffered in a match with Ripley. Morgan subsequently captured the women’s world title from Becky Lynch thanks to an assist from Dominik Mysterio. After wooing Mysterio for weeks and helping him defeat his estranged father, Rey Mysterio, Morgan planted a kiss on Dominik that preceded Ripley’s return moments after. The rivals will collide at SummerSlam with the women’s world title at stake.
United States Championship — Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight: There was no way WWE was going to omit Paul from a PPV event in his hometown. Knight has been hunting Paul for months, broke into Paul’s mansion to use his swimming pool and pinned Paul in a Money in the Bank qualifier match. Knight goaded Paul into signing a contract for a title defense at SummerSlam on the July 19 episode of SmackDown. Knight seems poised to win his first main roster title and elevate the U.S. championship in one fell swoop.
Intercontinental Championship — Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov: Breakker is the baddest new thing walking on Raw but his inexperience cost him in an intercontinental title match with Zayn at Money in the Bank. Breakker earned a shot at redemption after defeating Ilja Dragunov in a No. 1 contender’s match on the July 22 episode of Raw.
*Rollins will serve as the special guest referee
