WWE SummerSlam Pre‑Injury Card Revealed: Original Lineup Including Rhodes‑Punk Title Fight Before Rhea Ripley’s Injury

Dave Meltzer addressed WWE’s planned SummerSlam card in this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Meltzer reported that Rhea Ripley was slated to face either Alexa Bliss or Jacy Jayne before her recent injury. Additional planned bouts included Gunther vs. Royce Keys, Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill and Paige & Brie Bella vs. Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid.

“What we do know is that the planned SummerSlam card, and this was before the injury to Rhea Ripley, was Rhodes vs. CM Punk for the WWE title, Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the World title, Liv Morgan vs. Iyō Sky for the world women’s title (so Ripley’s injury did not change this scenario and beating Morgan for Queen to set up the title shot was always planned) Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar Hell in a Cell, Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill, Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes for the US title, Gunther vs. Royce Keys and Paige & Brie Bella vs. Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid for the women’s tag team titles. The plan for Ripley’s match before the injury was to be either Alexa Bliss or Jacy Jayne.”

The plan, however, did not include current WWE Champion Sami Zayn. Meltzer noted that the crew that creates WWE Championship belt nameplates had not prepared a plate for Zayn because they were not given advance notice for his involvement.

Zayn is scheduled to defend the title against Cody Rhodes on Monday’s edition of WWE Raw.

“If Rhodes wins it back Monday, it is possible the Zayn thing was just planned to give people a feel‑good moment, but to those fans who invested in it and liked it, they will hate Rhodes making him a nine‑day champion,” Meltzer added.

WWE SummerSlam announced lineup for August 1 & 2:

• World Heavyweight title: Roman Reigns defends against Seth Rollins
• Hell in a Cell: Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
• Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against IYO SKY

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