Brock Lesnar successfully defends his WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam. Photo by WWE.com
Brock Lesnar escaped his toughest test yet to successfully defend his WWE Universal Championship in the fatal-4-way main event of SummerSlam Monday (Manila time) at Barclays Center.
The Beast Incarnate survived Roman Reigns spearing him through the barricade, Braun Strowman driving him through two announce tables and crushing him with another, and Samoa Joe locking him in a Coquina Clutch as he fought back and defied the doctor’s orders.
Lesnar reversed a Spear attempt from Reigns and turned it to an F5 for the pinfall victory.
The win assured the WWE Universe that Lesnar will stay with the company after Paul Heyman’s earlier pronouncements that they will leave WWE if he loses the match.
Jinder Mahal continued his reign as the WWE Champion, beating Shinsuke Nakamura thanks to the distraction of the Singh Brothers.
The King of Strong Style was primed to hit the Modern Day Maharaja with the Kinshasa before the Indian twins interjected themselves in the match, allowing Mahal to connect with the Khallas.
AJ Styles also completed the trifecta of titlists who retained their title as he beat Kevin Owens with the Styles Clash to keep his United States Championship.
However, other champions weren’t so lucky as five titles changed hands in the night.
Uneasy as their alliance was, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins wagered on and claimed the Raw Tag Team Championship from Sheamus and Cesaro after Rollins nailed Cesaro with the Ripcord Knee, followed by Ambrose hitting the Dirty Deeds.
Sasha Banks won her fourth Raw Women’s Championship, forcing Alexa Bliss to tap out to her Bank Statement.
Natalya submitted Naomi with the Sharp Shooter to win the SmackDown Women’s title, her first in six years.
In the kickoff show, The Usos reclaimed the SmackDown Tag Team Championships from The New Day after they hit Big E with a double superkick followed by a double frog splash.
Neville also became a two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, avenging his loss against Akira Tozawa last Monday on Raw after nailing a Red Arrow on the Japanese champion’s back.
In the night’s other matches, Finn Balor showed his demon side against Bray Wyatt, topping the Eater of Worlds following his Coup de Grace.
John Cena beat Baron Corbin with an Attitude Adjustment to open the show, while Randy Orton survived a pre-match attack from Rusev and needed only one RKO out of nowhere to come away with the quick victory.
Big Cass, on the other hand, needed a pair of Big Boots and an Empire Elbow to pin the Big Show despite his former tag team Enzo Amore escaping the Shark Cage suspended above the ring.
The Miz and his Miztourage gained a measure of redemption against Jason Jordan and the Hardy Boyz after the reigning Intercontinental Champion connected with a Skull Crushing Finale on Raw general manager Kurt Angle’s son for the pinfall win.