WWE SummerSlam 2018 results: Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey win championships

Brian Fritz

WWE SummerSlam 2018 results: Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey win championships image

It took nearly four years but Roman Reigns has finally defeated Brock Lesnar, scoring the victory to close out WWE SummerSlam 2018 to become the Universal Champion.

Reigns failed multiple times to get a career-defining win against "The Beast" and many thought he will come up short again on this night with the thinking that Lesnar would take the title with him to the UFC in hopes of becoming the first-ever dual champion.

MORE: WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 results

But instead, it was Reigns delivering a crushing spear to score the win and become the WWE Universal Champion.

WWE SummerSlam 2018 also saw former UFC champion Ronda Rousey win her first WWE title as she easily beat Alexa Bliss to claim the "RAW" Women's Championship. Two other championships changed hands as Seth Rollins left as the WWE Intercontinental Championship while Charlotte won the "SmackDown" Women's title.

It was a busy night with 13 matches that definitely had some ups and downs. Sporting News had all the WWE SummerSlam 2018 coverage you needed with a live blog that you can check out below.

WWE SummerSlam 2018 live updates

Roman Reigns defeats Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Universal Championship

11:03 p.m. FINISH: Lesnar grabs the MITB case and beats Strowman with it before chucking it to the top of the entrance ramp. He then grabs a chair and smashes Strowman with it. He takes the chair inside the ring and tries to use it on Reigns who connects with a big spear and gets the win. It's over. Roman Reigns has finally defeated Brock Lesnar and wins the WWE Universal Championship.

11:00 p.m.: The action spills outside the ring and Strowman gets too close to Lesnar and pays for it. 

10:58 p.m.: Suplex City is open for business. And while this is happening, the crowd chants "you both suck". 

10:55 p.m.: The match starts and Reigns comes out of the gate fast. Superman punch and a spear. Another spear. He goes for a third but Lesnar catches him in a choke. 

10:52 p.m.: And here comes Braun Strowman! He's got the MITB briefcase and marches straight to the ring. He gets a mic and announces that he refuses to be a coward and cash it in behind someone's back. He does it face to face and says that he will be at ringside and will take on whoever wins. And he doesn't care who it is.

10:50 p.m.: But will he be the champion after this match?

10:44 p.m.: This should be interesting. I seem to be one of the few people who believe that Reigns is going to win the title and leave as champion.

10:42 p.m.: Time for the main event.

Ronda Rousey defeats Alexa Bliss for the "RAW" Women's Championship

10:36 p.m. FINISH: Alexa didn't stand a chance as Ronda rag-dolled her and then locked in an armbar and quickly made her tap to take the championship. Total domination by Rousey.

And look who decided to jump in the ring to celebrate with her.

Plus, she jumped into the arms of her boyfriend Travis Browne who was also sitting at ringside. 

10:33 p.m.: Ronda doesn't seem scared of Alexa.

10:30 p.m.: Nice ovation for Natalya who comes out to be in Ronda's corner. And look who is in the front row?

10:28 p.m.: So, if they do an angle after the match to set up Ronda versus Nikki, is there an Evolution sign hanging that they can both point to?

10:26 p.m.: Could we see Ronda win WWE gold for the first time?

Shinsuke Nakamura beats Jeff Hardy to retain the WWE United States Championship

10:21 p.m. FINISH: Hardy was basically done after that missed Swanton. Nakamura followed with the Kinshasa and it's over. Quick match and was perfectly fine.

Afterward, Randy Orton's music plays and the Viper comes out, teases getting in the ring to go after Hardy who is still down but decided to walk to the back. 

10:19 p.m.: Hardy sets up Nakamura for the Swanton but the champ rolls under the ring. That didn't stop Hardy from trying. 

10:15 p.m.: Hardy connects with the double boots to the midsection but Nakamura kicks out of the pin. Hardy gets him in the corner and connects with Whisper in the Wind.

10:11 p.m.: Nakamura does his "come on!" mocking and then Hardy does it right back at him.

10:09 p.m.:  Mr. Cool.

10:06 p.m.: Daniel Bryan is not happy backstage and is venting to Brie. He can't believe he lost to The Miz.

10:02 p.m.: One more look at the demon. 

Finn Balor beats Baron Corbin

10:01 p.m. FINISH: Corbin didn't stand a chance as the demon took it to him from the opening bell. Dropkicks into the barricade outside the ring then the Coup de Grace and a win. Bing. Bang. Boom.

9:59 p.m.: Check out this makeup. We've missed you demon.

9:56 p.m.: Corbin isn't facing Balor; he's facing the DEMON!

The Miz defeats Daniel Bryan

9:47 p.m. FINISH: Bryan comes off the apron with a knee to The Miz who ends up in front of his wife Maryse who is sitting at ringside. She puts some foreign object in his hand before Bryan continues the onslaught. He gears up for the big dive from the ring to the floor but The Miz punches him with that object and Bryan is out. Miz gives Maryse back the weapon and scores the pin. Really good, hard-hitting match between these two and arguably the best match of the night.

9:45 p.m.: Both men and battling through injured legs but continue the fight. Bryan rolls up Miz for a pin but he lifts his shoulder at the last second. Some big elbows and then the YES! Lock as Miz fights his way to the ropes. This is pretty tense.

9:42 p.m.: The Miz runs at Bryan but gets caught with a big kick to the head. They fight on the apron and Bryan misses with a kick and hits the post/lighting grid. The Miz goes after the injured leg and slaps on the Figure Four but Bryan tried to punch his way out of it before reversing it.

9:38 p.m.: The Miz turns it around with a big DDT from his knees and now is connecting with IT! kicks but Bryan is just taking them. He's fired up and slaps The Miz silly.

9:35 p.m.: The Miz is defenseless hanging upside down in the corner and Bryan punishes him with a series of YES! kicks and then a belly-to-back suplex. He goes for the pin but The Miz kicks out.

9:32 p.m.: The Miz wants to punch Bryan in the face but he blocks it and now Bryan fires away with punches and then a big clothesline. Some YES! kicks in the corner and then Bryan goes high risk.

9:27 p.m.: The Miz is doing all of Bryan's moves with kicks in the corner and now a surfboard. Mind games but Bryan turns it around and puts The Miz in a surfboard of his own.

9:25 p.m.: All Daniel Bryan has wanted to do is punch Miz in the face. Mission accomplished.

9:22 p.m.: Someone is a little popular.

9:20 p.m.: LIT

9:18 p.m.: So, The Miz ran into the Miztourage, er, the "B" Team.

9:13 p.m.: Just when he was about to play, this unfortunate turn of events happened.

Elias is not happy and kicks his broken guitar around. At least that was quick.

9:11 p.m.: Concert time.

Samoa Joe defeats AJ Styles by disqualification in a match for the WWE Championship

9:06 p.m. FINISH: Joe connects with a big kick that knocks Styles off the top rope to the floor. Joe then grabs the mic and tells his family: "I made you a promise but it looks like daddy isn't coming home tonight. But I'll be your new daddy". A bloody Styles snaps and goes after Joe.

He then starts beating up the ring crew and then grabs a chair and goes wild on Joe with the match ending in a disqualification. Styles wife the tell her husband to stop. He walks over to her and holds his daughter and finally realizes that he's bleeding from the head. He hands his daughter back to his wife and they walk away together. Wild match with an unsatisfying finish but one that makes sense with this storyline. Styles retains the WWE Championship and this will rivalry will continue.

9:00 p.m.: Styles clash and Joe kicks out. Thank goodness he didn't get seriously hurt.

8:58 p.m.: Styles catches Joe, picks him up, and drops him down over his knee. But Styles pays the price having all that weight come down on his knee. Joe comes back with a massive powerslam.

8:55 p.m.: Styles isn't the only one with some high-flying moves.

8:52 p.m.: Styles rocks Joe with a big punch to the face and follows up with this.

8:48 p.m.: And now it's Joe on the attack.

8:46 p.m.: Crisp.

8:39 p.m.: A message to AJ Styles' family.

8:37 p.m.: Here some the challenger.

Charlotte defeats Carmella vs. Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat Match to win the "SmackDown" Women's Championship

8:30 p.m. FINISH: Becky puts Charlotte in the Disarmer and almost gets the win before it gets broken up. Then Becky slaps it on Carmella but Charlotte breaks it up hitting her friend with the Natural Selection and pins Becky for the win to take the championship.

After the match, Becky hugs her friend but then explodes and slaps her in the face and the crowd explodes in joy! She kicks Charlotte out of the ring and holds up the title. Then she goes back on the attack outside the ring, throwing Charlotte over the announcer's table. Becky Lynch has snapped!

8:25 p.m.: Nice sequence with both Carmella and Becky almost getting the win but it gets broken up both times. Then Carmella hits a drive onto Becky outside the ring and Charlotte follows up with a twisting moonsault off the top rope.

8:23 p.m.: No more playing nice as Becky and Charlotte are going at it now. But Carmella has been in control for a good chunk of this match.

8:20 p.m.: Notice an ongoing theme?

8:17 p.m.: Carmella is taking advantage of the issues between her two opponents.

8:14 p.m.: Uh oh. Becky went for the pin on Carmella and Charlotte pulled her off. Then Charlotte tried to pin Carmella and Becky pulled her off. Not good for their friendship.

8:11 p.m.: Mad Becky Beyond Thunderdome.

Braun Strowman crushes Kevin Owens to keep the Money in the Bank briefcase

8:03 p.m. FINISH: That was quick. Strowman literally destroyed Owens, battering him all around ringside and then finished him off with a big powerslam for the win in less than two minutes. He's still the Monster in the Bank. Will he cash in later tonight?

8:01 p.m.: Braun doing Braun things.

7:58 p.m.: KO calling his shot with a new t-shirt.

The New Day beat The Bludgeon Brothers by disqualification in a match for the "SmackDown" Tag Team Championship

7:52 p.m. FINISH: Well, the Bludgeon Brother have had enough of this and grabbed their mallets and hit The New Day for the DQ. The New Day get the win but the titles don't change hands on the disqualification. Good match with some wild action but a pretty lame finish.

7:50 p.m.: Harper and Rowan hit big powerbombs on both Big E and Woods but can't get the win. Then Woods fights back and takes to the air.

7:47 p.m.: Big E with a big dive from the ring. Yes, he is crazy.

7:44 p.m.: The Bludgeon Brothers and bludgeoning (get it?) The New Day but Big E starts throwing around bodies. 

7:40 p.m.: BTW, the Bella Twins are here to watch Ronda Rousey. Well, this could lead to something with rumors than Nikki Bella could face Ronda Rousey in the main event of the all women's "Evolution" pay-per-view in late October.

7:38 p.m.: The champs are here.

Seth Rollins (w/Dean Ambrose) beats Dolph Ziggler (w/Drew McIntyre) to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship

7:34 p.m. FINISH: Quite the wild finish with McIntyre jumping up on the apron but Ambrose pulls him down and hits Dirty Deeds. Meanwhile, Ziggler is setting up for the superkick but Rollins avoids it, connects with a superkick of his own, and hits THE STOMP to win I-C Championship. Slow start to the match but it picked up with the crowd going nuts by the end. Really good opener. Burn it down!

7:31 p.m.: McIntyre distracts Rollins and Ziggler takes advantage of it with the Zig Zag and Rollins is bleeding but he's still alive in the match.

7:29 p.m.: Ziggler goes to the top rope but Rollins jumps up right behind him and hits an inverted superplex. He holds on for an inverted slam and makes the cover with Ziggler just kicking out.

7:25 p.m.: They're fighting on the apron when Ziggler kicks Rollins backward into the post grid and then a big DDT. As we all know, the apron is the hardest part of the ring!

7:21 p.m.: Ziggler flies off the top rope but Rollins catches him and then they both topple over the ropes to the floor. Some back and forth in the ring and then Rollins connects with a big move.

7:16 p.m: Early on, it's Ziggler with the upper hand as he sends Rollins to the floor. Ambrose and McIntyre go face-to-face once again but keep it civil.

7:12 p.m.: Some muscle outside the ring.

7:08 p.m.: The wonderful world of magic!

7:05 p.m.: Honestly, this could be the best match of the night — and it's opening the show!

7:02 p.m.: And here's the awesome opening video package with Terry Crews.

7:00 p.m.: So much for my prediction on the opener.

6:57 p.m.: I'm back after a thunderstorm knocked out my internet here in Central Florida. I will not be denied SummerSlam and live coverage!!! (Please storm, don't knock out my service again.)

6:43 p.m.: Not exactly a strong in-ring start to the show. Hopefully, it picks up once we get to the main card. BTW, I'm predicting that Braun Strowman versus Kevin Owens opens the main show. We shall see. 

The "B" Team beats The Revival to retain the "RAW" Tag Team Championship

6:40 p.m. FINISH: The Revival dominated the entire match and Dawson rolls up Dallas in a small package. However, the referee was paying attention to the other two arguing. Then, Dash pushed Axel who fell backward and helped reverse the pinfall with Dallas on top to score the win. The "B" Team escapes yet again with the titles. Just a match. 

6:36 p.m.: At least someone in WWE likes The Revival. 

6:33 p.m.: Dash and Dawson take out Axel with a Shatter Machine and have Dallas all alone in the ring.

6:29 p.m.: Tag team titles on the line. These guys work hard. (Say yeah!)

6:26 p.m.: Samoa Joe shooting fire at Renee Young.

And more for tonight's opponent.

6:23 p.m.: Amazing to see Samoa Joe and AJ Styles squaring off once again but this time in WWE and for the heavyweight championship. Who saw that coming five years ago?

Cedric Alexander beats Drew Gulak to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

6:15 p.m. FINISH: The two traded reversals and pinfalls that started out smooth and quickly got sloppy with the referee counting while Gulak had a shoulder clearly off the mat. Alexander adjusted, folded him up, and scored the pin. Solid match but the crowd was not into it until late which, unfortunately, is typical of 205 Live/cruiserweight action.

6:10 p.m.: After a slow start, Alexander is on fire!

6:05 p.m.: Gulak is looking to keep Alexander grounded and is focusing on the champion's neck, hitting a neckbreaker off the apron to the floor. 

6:00 p.m.: The second hour of the kickoff show begins with the first title match of the night. Could this guy leave as champ?

5:54 p.m.: The advocate for Brock Lesnar has spoken.

Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega defeat Rusev and Lana

5:49 p.m. FINISH: Lana slaps Almas who is on the apron and Vega hen rolls her up from behind and uses the ropes to score the win. Not much of a match. One down, 12 to go.

5:46 p.m.: Big reversal by Almas.

5:44 p.m.: Just another day in the ring.

5:39 p.m.: Time for the first match of the night with some mixed tag action. Stay out it Aiden. 

5:36 p.m.: And now, a statement from the NXT Champion:

5:27 p.m.: Believe it or not, this will be the first time in 15 YEARS that John Cena will not be a part of SummerSlam.

5:19 p.m.: The New Day doing it for the right reasons.

5:15 p.m.: We're finally going to see Daniel Bryan and The Miz square off following their issues over the years. Could that be the match of the night? And could this be just the first chapter in a series of matches or will this be something much shorter?

5:07 p.m.: If the broadcast team for the kickoff show wasn't big enough already, both Peter Rosenberg and JBL are also a part of it. Sure.

5:01 p.m.: Here we go with the kickoff show and its Renee Young, Booker T, Sam Roberts, and David Otunga.

4:57 p.m.: Last night, I went 4 for 5 in my predictions of NXT TakeOver. Check out my SummerSlam predictions below of all 13(!) matches and we'll see how well I do. Hey, this is serious business!

4:49 p.m.: Welcome to SN's live coverage of WWE SummerSlam 2018. We still have a few minutes before the kickoff show, so before then, check out my recent interview with Roman Reigns heading into his WWE Universal Championship match versus Brock Lesnar and the results from last night's NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 event. And make sure to follow the Sporting News wrestling section on Twitter @sn_wrestling.

 

WWE SummerSlam 2018 lineup

— Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship

— AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship

— Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey for the "RAW" Women's Championship

— Carmella vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte in a Triple Threat Match for the "SmackDown" Women's Championship

— Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens for the Money in the Bank briefcase 

— Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz

— Dolph Ziggler (w/Drew McIntyre) vs. Seth Rollins (w/Dean Ambrose) for the WWE Intercontinental Championship

— Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy for the WWE United States Championship

— The Bludgeon Brothers vs.The New Day for the "SmackDown" Tag Team Championship

— Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin

— Rusev and Lana vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega (kickoff show)

— Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship (kickoff show)

— The "B" Team vs. The Revival for the "RAW" Tag Team Championship (kickoff show)

 

WWE SummerSlam 2018 predictions

— Roman Reigns finally gets his victory over "The Beast".

— Samoa Joe's head games pay off as he beats AJ Styles to become WWE Champion.

— Ronda Rousey claims her first WWE title, defeating Alexa Bliss to become "RAW" Women's Champion.

— Carmella escapes as the "SmackDown" Women's Champion and the friendship between Charlotte and Becky Lynch begins to crumble.

— Braun Strowman keeps the MITB briefcase with a win over Kevin Owens but does not cash it in on this night.

— The Miz will continue to brag with an upset win against Daniel Bryan.

— Seth Rollins regains the Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler.

— Shinsuke Nakamura retains the U.S. Championship against Jeff Hardy.

— The New Day recapture the "SmackDown" Tag Team Titles with a win over the Bludgeon Brothers.

— Finn Balor gets the win against Baron Corbin.

— Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega score a win against Rusev and Lana when Aiden English's interference backfires again.

— Drew Gulak beats Cedric Alexander for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

— The "B" Team defeats The Revival to keep the "RAW" Women's Championship.

Brian Fritz can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrianFritz and listen to his Between The Ropes podcast on iTunes.

Brian Fritz

Brian Fritz Photo

Brian Fritz is a contributor with The Sporting News covering the NBA and NFL who previously worked at BasketballNews. He is a 20-year veteran of sports talk radio in Orlando, Florida, after graduating from the University of Central Florida. He now resides in Durham, North Carolina.