Summer Slam 2023, the 37th Summer Slam and 146th WWF PPV is from Detroit.
(Dark: Steen/Zayn d. The Culture (Hayes/Williams)
Gargano d. Garza
Dark Ride Title: Steiner d. Dragunov (switch)
Bron Steiner becomes the 17th Dark Ride Wrestling champion in Detroit - the PPV proper opens immediately after the match, Steiner celebrating in the ring to a pretty good fan reaction, given that we are in Michigan.
The announcers then open the show, Michael Cole does the entire card it's his 5th PPV and the 3 color commentators each do 4 of the 12 matches (Graves and Barrett are each doing their 7th show and this is Steve Regal's 26th). Detroit centric video package to lead into the show proper. Hey look, Tommy Hearns, that sort of thing.
1. The Clique (Riddle/Knight w HBK) d. Viking Raiders
Knight gets the fall when he steals the pin from Riddle. This wraps up the Viking Raiders as a Counterfactual PPV act. It also starts Knight's heel turn; he doesn't appear at Survivor Series, so I'll go through that turn and the end of Riddle's WWF run in the build to the Rumble. If you'd like to hear me return to a Marty Jannetty joke I used to tell nearly 20 years ago, stay tuned.
2. Bronson Reed (w/Defiance) d. Apollo Crews
Reed goes over pretty hard here - he replaced Solo in the act the RAW after Mania so this configuration of Defiance (Priest/Dom/Reed) has all summer to gain some steam - they stand together triumphantly on the ramp post match, about to go behind the curtain - when - from out of nowhere - Randy Orton flies into the frame and RKOs Dom into oblivion. It's babyface Randy Orton time.
3. Union of Crowns (McIntyre/Dunne w/Bate) d. JD McDonagh/Sheamus
Unless they add Sheamus to Summer Slam 2024, this is his last PPV appearance - his old partner McIntyre beats him one more time.
4. Tommaso Ciampa (w/Gargano) draw Santos Escobar (w/Twisted Sun Gods)
Time limit draw, postmatch Garza/Carrillo/Escobar attack, babyface save by Zayn/Steen - and the former stablemates stand tall. Zayn/Steen reunited at Mania, they spend the summer in Dark Ride, winding up in a feud with The Culture (Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams - the number will eventually be four, it's the long promised black Horsemen, suits, limos, jets, the whole thing; its unlikely that we'll add the full squad before Summer Slam next year. I have a third in mind with an angle that either I'll do or not and I'd like to keep the 4th open for, like, Ricky Starks). It's a real era of good feelings for Zayn/Steen, everyone wanted them back together, they want to spend the summer close to the people, back to their roots, at Dark Ride - it's a real love fest. Except -- they get a frosty reception from the Kings of Wrestling -- it has been a loooong road for Gargano/Ciampa from their entrance into WWF as the "JV" element of the Steen/Zayn/Claudio/Pac version of GDI. GDI blew up, most blame Steen, and that's an oft told story - it's taken years for Ciampa/Gargano to both find their ways to the "main roster" - but here we are, and they now, unexpectedly, stand with their former stablemates. Perhaps these 4 will once again be aligned!
5. Iyo Sky d. Shayna Baszler (w/Horsewomen)
Sky won her multi match feud with Asuka and now beats Baszler here - the tension between Ripley/
Stratton on the outside costs Baszler in a critical spot - and postmatch she chews both of them out, saying changes need to be made. Another big win for Sky, on a year long roll now.
6. Jey Uso d. Ricochet (w/BWI)
Biggest singles win for Jey Uso (he's the heel, Jimmy the face, in their "Roman didn't pick us for his stable" bust up). Announcers look to put Jey over as gaining significant singles momentum in 2024.
7. Bianca Belair d. Charlotte Flair (w/Lynch)
Flair/Lynch are in their imperial phase as inaugural modern womens tag champs, a Belair win and she and a yet to be named partner become number one contenders - Belair gets that win and the speculation begins about her choice of partner.
8. Roman Reigns d. Chad Gable
Pre match, McIntyre returns, joining the announce table. Reigns' stable had a full bust up this summer, Gable turning babyface - there's a key spot where Reigns and McIntyre go nose to nose - leading to a heated brawl with all 3 former stablemates, McIntyre pulled away by security - Roman gets the clean pinfall (that'll teach Gable to do the right thing).
Intermission - video package promoting the rest of the "biggest year in wrestling history" - Survivor Series in Chicago, then the Rumble, then Wrestlemania 40 and culminating one year from now with WWF 150, the 150th WWF PPV.
9. IC Title: Tyler Black d. Logan Paul (w/McAfee)
The 83rd IC Champ and 18th Triple Crown Winner is Tyler Black - it's Black's biggest babyface moment of his career - and when Lynch comes to the ring to embrace him, the first on camera recognition of their relationship - that really adds to the babyface element. The weeping they will do in Detroit! Black upholds the dignity of the WWF from the interloper Paul.
10. Tag Titles: Triple Crown (Styles/Nakamura) d. Dangerous Alliance (Walter/Lesnar w/Heyman)
The 118th tag team champs are Styles/Nakamura and Shinsuke becomes the 19th Triple Crown Winner.
Talk about an imperial phase, Walter/Lesnar understandably are tag team monsters, obliterating the competition and even given the enormous resume from Styles/Nakamura, the Heyman group was the decided favorites. They lose though - with Nakamura getting the fall on Brock. Brock is inconsolable, and leaves on his own, leaving Walter/Heyman behind. Like Black before, Nakamura gets the video package highlighting his career, Styles beams with pride - tomorrow will be the joint ceremony for both new winners.
11. WWF Title: Cody Rhodes d. Prince Devitt
Speaking of inconsolable - Devitt, who feels a little like Cody has stolen his life, fails in an increasingly desperate attempt to win his first WWF Title; it's probably Cody Rhodes's best ever singles match, he offers a postmatch handshake which Devitt does not accept.
12. Womens Title: Asuka (w/Sane) d. Ronda Rousey (w/Heyman)
The first womens PPV main event is the end of Rousey's run; once again, she loses to Asuka, unable to avenge that defeat before leaving the promotion. Asuka is the 17th modern Womens Champ and the second to hold the belt 3 times (3 is also the high for the mens belt). Asuka, who has been a heel, offers Rousey a handshake postmatch, Rousey accepts but Asuka attacks her -- save by Kairi Sane, who was in Asuka's corner - Sane drags Asuka away - the two having words as they head back up the aisle -- Rousey recovers -- Walter (no Brock) returns to the ring and, for what appears the final time, this version of the Dangerous Alliance stands together in the ring.
And thats Summer Slam 2023.
We get a rematch, Cody/Devitt, at Survivor Series, we get a tournament (a Survivor Series), to name a number one contender, and, I don't know, maybe consider staying to the end of the PPV.
But we don't know any of that yet - back in September for Part 1 in the build to Survivor Series.
