From Battle Royal to Megastar, top champions - 5 WWE stars who massively progressed from SummerSlam last yearÂ
WWE's next premium live event is just a few weeks away. The big-time show will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, and it is sure to be a memorable night. So far, a handful of bouts have been confirmed, with several top stars still not yet officially announced to appear at the event.
Despite the card still taking shape, enough has been advertised or teased to give fans an idea about what the creative team will offer on August 3. With that, it is interesting to take a look back at stars who have progressed in World Wrestling Entertainment over the past year.
This article will take a look at five names who are either confirmed to compete at SummerSlam or will likely be showcased in some way. From there, it will tackle what they're doing now and compare it to their positioning just one year ago.
#5 Gunther was the Intercontinental Champion last year
Gunther is arguably the most talented in-ring performer in the world. While his matches may not feature a lot of flashy moves, there is endless substance in his in-ring work. Since joining WWE, he has held two titles, enjoying record-breaking championship reigns with both of them.
At WWE SummerSlam 2023, Gunther was the reigning Intercontinental Champion. He put the title on the line against Drew McIntyre and ultimately came out on top.
Instead of being the mid-card champion this year, The Ring General will be challenging Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship on August 3. A win here would solidify Gunther as a main event act in World Wrestling Entertainment.
#4 Johnny Gargano & #3 Tommaso Ciampa, DIY wasn't even reunited in WWE at SummerSlam 2023
DIY is a tag team currently assigned to the SmackDown brand. The pair consists of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. They recently captured the WWE Tag Team Title by defeating A-Town Down Under.
Last year was a mixed bag for both members of DIY. Johnny Gargano wasn't even back on WWE television, having disappeared abruptly after a brief singles run. Meanwhile, Tommaso Ciampa was in a Battle Royal at The Biggest Party of the Summer.
Fast forward a year and not only are both Gargano and Ciampa reunited, but they are in a strong position. The two have won tag team gold and may end up defending the belt at the big show. At the very least, they'll be in a featured match on the SmackDown before SummerSlam.
#2 Cody Rhodes is now a world champion
Cody Rhodes is on top of the world. He won the Undisputed WWE Champion by defeating Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania XL Sunday. Now, he's arguably the face of the company.
The American Nightmare had a good showing at WWE SummerSlam last year. He went one-on-one with Brock Lesnar in a singles match and ultimately won the bout. While it was a big deal, he is in an even better spot one year later.
Now Rhodes is a world champion. Not only that, but he will seemingly be in the main event of The Biggest Party of the Summer. He will likely go one-on-one with Solo Sikoa, and that bout could very well headline the show.
#1 LA Knight was in a Battle Royal
LA Knight is one of the most popular stars in all of WWE. He is a veteran of the game who has competed in various promotions. However, he didn't truly take off until joining NXT and then Friday Night SmackDown.
The Megastar had a decent enough spot at last year's show. He was in the Slim Jim SummerSlam Battle Royal. Not only did he participate in it, but he won the bout and was the featured star of the bout. It was a good spotlight, but ultimately, it was still just a multi-man contest.
Fast forward to a year later, and Knight has gone from being a Battle Royal competitor to being a Megastar. In fact, he will seemingly face Logan Paul. There is a very real chance that Knight will leave SummerSlam with the United States Title around his waist.