4 things Triple H got right on The Road to SummerSlam
SummerSlam 2024 is less than two weeks away, and the card for The Biggest Party of The Summer has beautifully fallen into place. Cody Rhodes will write the next chapter in his saga with The Bloodline as he defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Solo Sikoa. Damian Priest will also put his World Heavyweight Title on the line against King of the Ring Gunther.
The returning Rhea Ripley will look to regain her Women's World Championship from Liv Morgan, who has relentlessly pursued Mami's Dom Dom. After months of one-upping each other, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre will finally battle in the ring.
There is so much more packed for the show, and Triple H has brilliantly executed the build to SummerSlam.
#4. Triple H has added serious fuel to Damian Priest vs Gunther for SummerSlam
At first, Damian Priest vs. Gunther felt like a standard, one-off championship match designed to give The King of The Ring his crowning moment. However, a few weeks into the program, fans are thoroughly invested in this World Title feud.
Gunther made it personal by mentioning Priest's tough time on the streets, referring to the champion as "street trash." Given the drastically different backgrounds of the two stars, Gunther vs. Priest has an interesting dynamic that significantly adds to their feud.
Not to mention that their promo work has been stellar. Both men have shown tremendous character, with fans seemingly siding with The Punisher of The Judgment Day.
The two rivals sparked a massive brawl on RAW this week, which left the crowd wanting more. Gunther vs. Priest is a compelling program, and Triple H's creative should be given credit for adding an intriguing narrative into the mix.
#3. Depriving Cody Rhodes of allies before his big showdown
The Bloodline outnumbers Cody Rhodes. Four vicious members of The Anoa'i Family are up against The American Nightmare, who has lost both of his allies - Kevin Owens and Randy Orton.
On the SmackDown after Money in the Bank, Orton reaffirmed his support for Rhodes. However, The Viper's night ended in agony as The Bloodline triple-powerbombed the legend through the announce table, writing Orton off TV.
Last Friday, Rhodes needed a partner and KO stepped up to the task. Unfortunately, Jacob Fatu took care of The Prizefighter and brutally assaulted the former Universal Champion. In both scenarios, the WWE Champion was helpless.
Depriving Rhodes of allies is an understandable move. The Bloodline 2.0 seems formidable and unstoppable owing to their dominance. The American Nightmare feels like a legitimate underdog again, a role he excelled in while finishing his story.
WWE is building towards Roman Reigns' return, perhaps as soon as SummerSlam. Until then, they must make Solo Sikoa and his family look unstoppable.
#2. Having Bron Breakker earn his spot at SummerSlam
When Sami Zayn retained the Intercontinental Championship over Bron Breakker at Money in the Bank 2024, fans were confused. Fortunately, Triple H was quick to remedy the damage done to Breakker's aura as he quickly built the former NXT star's momentum.
The Big Bad Booty Nephew speared Zayn multiple times, nearly chopping the champion to bits. Furthermore, he won a Number One Contender's Match via referee stoppage when he defeated Ilja Dragunov with a scary bump that saw Dragunov's head bounce off the apron.
Watching Breakker stand tall over Zayn is a common sight for fans, and WWE is building towards the inevitable at SummerSlam when the star finally wins the IC Title.
#1. Seth "Freakin" Rollins as Special Guest Referee was a stroke of genius
Fans saw CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam coming from miles away. However, WWE threw a major curveball when they added Seth "Freakin" Rollins into the mix at Money in the Bank.
McIntyre interrupted Rollins' title match against Damian Priest at MITB to cash in his contract. But, Punk re-emerged to cost The Scottish Warrior again. However, he also angered The Visionary in the process.
The drama left Rollins seemingly without a definitive direction. Fortunately, The Game's creative knew what they were doing. The Visionary has no love for Punk or McIntyre. With a bone to pick with each, he would ensure that neither man takes unfair advantage.
Rollins was in danger of being left out of SummerSlam. However, WWE gave him an important role by making him the Special Guest Referee for Punk vs. McIntyre.