WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1 Recap: Oba Femi Conquers Brock Lesnar as Randy Orton Costs Cody Rhodes

WWE SummerSlam 2026 opened with a memorable first night on Saturday, August 1, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The six-match card featured two championship defenses, a brutal Hell in a Cell main event, the return of Randy Orton and a shocking betrayal involving The Bella Twins and Paige.

Although no championships changed hands, the WWE landscape still shifted dramatically. CM Punk escaped with the Undisputed WWE Championship after outside interference, while Oba Femi scored the biggest victory of his career by defeating Brock Lesnar and receiving a powerful endorsement from The Beast Incarnate.

Liv Morgan Retains the Women’s World Championship Against IYO SKY

Result: Liv Morgan defeated IYO SKY

Liv Morgan and IYO SKY opened SummerSlam with an athletic and highly competitive Women’s World Championship match.

SKY immediately used her speed, striking and aerial offense to frustrate Morgan. The champion responded by dropping her challenger ribs-first across the barricade and attempting to slow the pace.

Roxanne Perez eventually distracted SKY, allowing Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez to deliver a devastating chokeslam. SKY survived and responded with a spectacular moonsault onto Rodriguez and Perez outside the ring.

The challenger nearly captured the championship after hitting Morgan with her own Oblivion finisher. Morgan survived, delivered an avalanche codebreaker and countered SKY’s attempt at Over the Moonsault. One final codebreaker followed by Oblivion allowed Morgan to score the pinfall and retain her championship.

The interference protected SKY while giving Morgan one of the most important victories of her current championship reign. SKY may have produced the match’s most spectacular moments, but Morgan demonstrated the resilience and opportunism required to remain champion.

LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys Defeat Jacob Fatu and The Usos

Result: LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys defeated Jacob Fatu, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso

The evening’s six-man tag team match continued the complicated rivalry involving Solo Sikoa, The Usos, Jacob Fatu and Royce Keys.

Sikoa mocked his brothers by starting his own version of Jey Uso’s popular “YEET” celebration. Jacob Fatu responded by confronting his former ally and attacking him with his trademark intensity.

Royce Keys provided the match’s power, delivering a World’s Strongest Slam and a spinebuster before fighting Fatu around ringside. Their confrontation ended with Keys powerslamming Fatu over the barricade near the timekeeper’s area.

Inside the ring, Jey Uso connected with a Spear on LA Knight before Jimmy followed with an Uso Splash. Sikoa saved the match by striking Jimmy with the Samoan Spike, giving Knight enough time to hit Jey with the BFT and secure the victory.

The result gave Knight an important pinfall over a former world champion while advancing the increasingly personal rivalry between Keys and Fatu.

Gunther Spoils Nick Aldis’ WWE In-Ring Debut

Result: Gunther defeated Nick Aldis by submission

Nick Aldis exchanged his suit for wrestling gear and made his WWE in-ring debut against one of the most dangerous competitors on the roster.

Aldis showed little evidence of ring rust. He matched Gunther’s physicality, caught The Ring General in midair and delivered an impressive suplex. Gunther eventually gained control with his trademark chops before taunting Aldis’ wife, Mickie James, at ringside.

That confrontation motivated Aldis, who came close to applying the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf. Gunther reached the ropes and regained control before trapping Aldis in a Sleeper Hold. After delivering several Hammer and Anvil Elbows, Gunther tightened the submission and forced Aldis to tap out.

Aldis received a standing ovation following the match and shared an emotional moment with his family inside the ring. Despite losing, the former SmackDown general manager proved that he could still compete at a high level.

Gunther won the match, but Aldis may have earned additional opportunities by pushing The Ring General much harder than expected.

Fatal Influence Defeats The Bella Twins and Paige Before a Shocking Betrayal

Result: Fatal Influence defeated The Bella Twins and Paige

Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid entered SummerSlam facing three of the most recognizable women in WWE history.

Nikki Bella received a strong reaction during her return from injury and briefly overwhelmed all three members of Fatal Influence. The younger faction recovered by isolating Brie Bella and preventing the veterans from establishing a consistent rhythm.

When all six women entered the ring, Jacy Jayne caught Paige with the Rolling Encore and recorded the decisive pinfall.

The larger story occurred after the bell. Nikki and Brie suddenly attacked Paige, ending their reunion and completing a surprising heel turn.

The betrayal transformed what appeared to be a one-night legends match into the beginning of a new rivalry. Paige must now respond to two former allies who deliberately left her lying in the middle of the ring.

CM Punk Retains After Randy Orton Attacks Cody Rhodes

Result: CM Punk defeated Cody Rhodes to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

CM Punk and Cody Rhodes produced Night 1’s strongest traditional wrestling match.

The opening portion featured technical exchanges and strategic limb work. Punk attacked Rhodes’ arm, while Cody concentrated on the champion’s knee. Rhodes connected with a Disaster Kick and Super Cody Cutter before applying the Figure-Four Leglock.

Punk escaped and later trapped Rhodes in the Anaconda Vice, but Cody reached the ropes. The match then became increasingly dangerous when Punk attempted a flying elbow through the announce table. Rhodes moved, sending the champion crashing through the table.

Rhodes subsequently struck the referee accidentally with a Disaster Kick. With the official incapacitated, Cody delivered Cross Rhodes but could not receive a count.

Randy Orton then emerged from the crowd and hit Rhodes with an RKO. Punk did not see the interference. He returned to the ring, delivered the GTS and pinned Rhodes to retain the championship.

The finish allowed Punk to retain without knowingly accepting Orton’s assistance. More importantly, it reignited the rivalry between Rhodes and Orton.

Cody can argue that he had the match won before Orton interfered. Punk, meanwhile, leaves SummerSlam with his championship but may eventually have to prove that he can defeat Rhodes without controversy.

Oba Femi Defeats Brock Lesnar Inside Hell in a Cell

Result: Oba Femi defeated Brock Lesnar

Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar entered Hell in a Cell with one victory apiece in their rivalry. SummerSlam provided the final battle and an opportunity for Femi to prove that he belonged among WWE’s biggest stars.

Femi attacked immediately with running uppercuts, but Lesnar responded by taking his younger opponent to Suplex City. Femi shockingly rose after three German suplexes and continued fighting.

The action quickly became violent. Femi drove Lesnar through a table, while The Beast used steel steps and delivered three consecutive F-5s. None of those attacks could keep Femi down.

Lesnar then ripped away the ring canvas and exposed the wooden boards underneath. He lifted Femi and delivered a Tombstone Piledriver onto the exposed surface, but The Ruler somehow kicked out.

Femi eventually blocked another weapon attack, destroyed a steel chair with a powerful right hand and planted Lesnar with the Fall From Grace to win the match.

The post-match moment was even more important than the result. Lesnar embraced Femi, raised his hand and declared him the future of WWE.

It was a definitive passing-of-the-torch moment. Femi did not merely survive Lesnar—he defeated him after absorbing everything The Beast could deliver. After conquering Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell, Femi appears ready to enter the Undisputed WWE or World Heavyweight Championship picture.

Final Thoughts

SummerSlam Night 1 succeeded because its biggest moments created meaningful consequences.

CM Punk retained the Undisputed WWE Championship, but Randy Orton’s return prevented Cody Rhodes from receiving a fair conclusion. The Bella Twins revealed their true intentions by attacking Paige. Gunther continued his dominant run, while Nick Aldis proved that he could still perform against elite competition.

However, the night belonged to Oba Femi.

Surviving three F-5s and a Tombstone onto exposed wood established Femi as something more than a promising young powerhouse. Defeating Brock Lesnar completed his transformation into a legitimate main-event star.

Match of the Night: CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes Biggest Surprise: Randy Orton’s return Most Shocking Turn: The Bella Twins attacking Paige Star of the Night: Oba Femi Overall Grade: B+

Night 1 may not have featured a championship change, but it concluded with the creation of WWE’s next potential franchise superstar.