The story continues; rivalry of the year? - Ranking all 7 WWE SummerSlam feuds from worst to best
WWE has been on fire since WrestleMania 40, and it will continue at SummerSlam in Cleveland. For the first time since April, every singles title is booked on the same card. Unfortunately, that leaves all of the tag team Champions off the SummerSlam card.
DIY will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga on next week's SmackDown from Cleveland. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair will also get another shot at Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn on the same episode.
While those feuds materialized over the last few weeks, the rest of the SummerSlam card has been marinating for months. Some feuds have been hotter than others. Here, they are ranked from the worst to the best.
#7. Bron Breakker tries to take the Intercontinental title from Sami Zayn
Bron Breakker will win gold sooner rather than later. He's the future of WWE and may end up as the next Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar when all is said and done.
Instead of shoving him right into the main title scene on RAW or SmackDown, he's getting safe booking by going for a mid-card title first. He's unsuccessfully challenged Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship at Money in the Bank already and will go for the title a second time at SummerSlam.
Since Bron lost the first showdown, it telegraphs a likely win in Cleveland. Losing twice will hurt his upward momentum. The build has been fine but has trouble standing up against the other feuds for SummerSlam.
#6. Can Damian Priest make Gunther eat his words?
Since Gunther won King of the Ring, all he had to do was sit around and wait until Money in the Bank was over to see who would emerge as World Heavyweight Champion.
He popped up immediately following the show to run down Damian Priest and his upbringing. Part of the problem with this feud's buildup is that many people consider Priest a paper Champion.
He won the title after cashing in, and his wins have been tainted. Despite those factors, he's still a worthy titleholder who has worked hard to get to that spot.
Gunther is expected to win, taking some of the luster off the match. The recent pull-apart brawl helped build the tension, but the pause between King of the Ring and now hurt it.
5. Bayley and Nia Jax renew their rivalry
A few factors worked for and against the SummerSlam feud between Bayley and Nia Jax. One factor against it is that the pairing isn't fresh. The two competitors mentioned their history in a sit-down interview, but they also crossed paths in NXT.
Another factor against it is there was a lull between Queen of the Ring and SummerSlam, like between Priest and Gunther. Jax loomed as Bayley predictably beat Piper Niven at Clash at the Castle.
Adding Tiffany Stratton freshens up the feud, as does the fact that she could turn on Jax to win the title. That unpredictability is the most interesting aspect heading into Cleveland.
#4. Logan Paul finally defends the US title against LA Knight
This SummerSlam feud has been teased a few times before in the past, including last year's Money in the Bank. Knight attempted to get a shot at the United States Championship this year, but Paul rejected his attempts at every turn.
The Megastar pinned Paul to earn a spot in this year's ladder match. Knight has enough charisma to sell a feud where the other person shows up sporadically. He's done that with Paul and even upped the ante by crashing The Maverick's home while he was busy at a Tetris tournament.
The fans are desperate for a title swap since Paul is a part-timer, and Knight is a huge fan favorite. That fact alone raises the bar compared to some other SummerSlam feuds.
#3. The Liv Morgan Revenge Tour meets Rhea Ripley's Brutality Tour
Whether you like the love triangle or hate it, one thing is certain - the fans love Rhea Ripley. The feud has been active for years, stemming back to when Ripley betrayed Morgan, her tag team partner, to join the Judgment Day.
It became even more personal as The Eradicator purposely injured Morgan last summer, costing her six months. Morgan returned at the Royal Rumble and embarked on her Revenge Tour.
That endeavor has included winning Ripley's Women's World title and disrupting Dominik Mysterio and The Judgment Day. While Ripley should run through Morgan, the other members of the Judgment Day could factor into the outcome at SummerSlam.
That makes the feud more intriguing, as does Dirty Dom's role during the match. Will he stay loyal to Mami or join Morgan even after berating her on the latest episode of RAW?
#2. Solo Sikoa challenges Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam
The Bloodline continues to be involved in the top feud on SmackDown. Even without Roman Reigns, bookers have kept Solo Sikoa and the new group at the forefront of Friday nights following WrestleMania.
Cody Rhodes had to win the title from Reigns. If he hadn't, it would have hurt all of the build over the last two years. Sikoa was a side player at that time, but one that cost The American Nightmare the win at WrestleMania 39.
Adding new faces to the group has kept everyone on their toes while also planting seeds for a potential feud with Reigns. Rhodes has been the man in the middle and must fend off the hard-charging Sikoa.
The fact that Roman Reigns could return at SummerSlam should make this the best-built feud, but one from RAW takes the cake.
#1. CM Punk and Drew McIntyre have had the feud of the year
The ongoing feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre proves that every angle doesn't need a title to be interesting. The best performers can operate in storylines outside of Championship pictures.
It helps that both stars are on fire in promos, including the best mic work of McIntyre's career. His fiery barbs and insults have carried the feud while Punk has been off TV to heal the triceps injury suffered in the Royal Rumble.
Those accidental moments only added to the feud as The Scottish Warrior took Punk's planned spot against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. McIntyre had the upper hand more in the early stages, but Punk evened the odds by costing the former WWE Champion the title four times.
Unfortunately, the Money in the Bank case was collateral damage. Rollins has been at odds with both stars, and his every move will be watched as a Special Guest Referee. McIntyre vs. Punk has been one of the best feuds of the last decade.