2019 WWE SUMMERSLAM PARTICIPANTS’ HISTORY

As I do every month, it’s time to look at this weekend’s SummerSlam Pay-Per-View and see the history of all of the participants, as well as other facts about 2019. To see the entire 31 year history of SummerSlam, visit the SummerSlam History HERE. And for any feedback or comments about this, comment below or tweet me (@hbkid718). Thanks.

This will be the 1^st time since 2017 that the Intercontinental Title will not be defended at SummerSlam & 1^st PPV since Money In The Bank on May 19 that it won’t be defended in 2019. This will be the 1^st time since 2014 that there will be no Tag Team Championship Match at SummerSlam & the 1^st time since 2014 that no member of The New Day are competing in a Tag Team Title Match. It will be the 1^st PPV since Money In the Bank on May 19 that the Smackdown Tag Team Titles won’t be defended, the 1^st PPV since Stomping Ground on June 23 that the Raw Tag Team Titles won’t be defended, & will be the 5^th straight PPV that the Women’s Tag Team Titles will not be defended.

This will be the 1^st PPV of 2019 that Samoa Joe & Baron Corbin did not wrestle, making Kofi Kingston the only wrestler to compete on every PPV in 2019.

Since WWE hasn’t announced any Kickoff Matches, here are the facts about it. 3 Kickoff Matches have taken place at the last 3 SummerSlams. The Cruiserweight Title has been defended 3 times in Kickoff Matches, including the last 2 years in a row. Tag Team Titles have been defended twice in Kickoff Matches the last 2 years in a row. The Intercontinental Title has never been defended in a Kickoff Match at SummerSlam. The following wrestlers on the roster have competed in a Kickoff Match: Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas the last 2 years in a row, Cedric Alexander, Andrade, Scott Dawson, Drew Gulak, Rusev, & Dash Wilder in 2018, Big E, The Miz, Akira Tozawa, & Xavier Woods in 2017, The Usos in 2016 & 2017, Mojo Rawley & Sami Zayn in 2016, Cesaro in 2012, 2014, & 2016, Zack Ryder in 2010 & 2016, Brian Kendrick in 2007, & Rey Mysterio in 2003.

 

Since no opening matches have been announced, here are the facts about it. If the US Title opens, it will be the 2^nd US Title Match to open SummerSlam & the 1^st since Chris Benoit VS Orlando Jordan in 2005. No other title that is being defended this year has opened a SummerSlam. If Goldberg VS Dolph Ziggler opens, it will be Ziggler’s 2^nd opener in a row & the 1^st to open back-to-back SummerSlams since Kofi Kingston in 2010 & 2011, & 6^th opener overall, which is the most in SummerSlam History. If Kevin Owens VS Shane McMahon opens, it will be Owens’ 2^nd opener & 1^st since 2016. If Finn Balor VS Bray Wyatt opens, it will be Wyatt’s 2^nd opener & 1^st since 2013. If Kofi Kingston VS Randy Orton opens, it will be Kingston’s 3^rd opener & 1^st since 2011 & Randy Orton’s 2^nd opener & 1^st since 2015. It will be everyone else’s 1^st SummerSlam opener.

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SETH ROLLINS VS WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION BROCK LESNAR

This will be the 50^th or 51^st WWE, World, or Universal Championship Match in SummerSlam History & 28^th year in a row, but 4^th Universal Title Match in a row. It will be the 9^th Universal Title Match of 2019 & 1^st since Extreme Rules on July 14. It will be the 4^th year in a row that there will be 2 WWE or Universal Championship Matches at SummerSlam. There have been 14 WWE, World, or Universal Title Changes in SummerSlam History with the last title change taking place in 2018 when Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Title. The Universal Title has changed hands 2 times in 2019 with the last title change taking place on July 14, at Extreme Rules when Brock Lesnar defeated Seth Rollins. This will be Seth Rollins’ 6^th SummerSlam in a row, his 5^th Title Match in a row, but 2^nd Universal Title Match & 1^st since 2016. This will be Brock Lesnar’s 10^th SummerSlam, tying him with Edge & Rey Mysterio for 5^th most SummerSlam matches, & 8^th in a row, tying him with Bret Hart & Dolph Ziggler for 2^nd most consecutive SummerSlam matches in history. This will be his 6^th WWE, World, or Universal Championship Match in SummerSlam History & 3^rd year in a row. Brock Lesnar is the 1^st wrestler since Alberto Del Rio from 2011 to 2013 to compete in 3 back-to-back WWE, World, or Universal Championship at SummerSlam. He will be the 1^st WWE, World, or Universal Champion to be defending Champion at 3 consecutive SummerSlams. This will be the 4^th match to be re-matched from Extreme Rules, & their 3^rd re-match overall with their other matches at WrestleMania on April 7 & Extreme Rules on July 14. This will be the 21^st WWE, World, or Universal Title to be the main event of SummerSlam & 3^rd year in a row. It will be Rollins’ 1^st SummerSlam main event in history & will be Lesnar’s 8^th SummerSlam main event, keeping him as the wrestler with the most SummerSlam main events in history & 6^th in a row, which is the most consecutive SummerSlam main events in history. Rollins will be the 1^st wrestler since Randy Orton in 2015 & 2016 to go from the SummerSlam opener to the following year’s main event.

Seth Rollins (4-1-0)

1. Defeated Dean Ambrose in a Lumberjack Match (8/14/14)
2. Defeated WWE United States Champion John Cena in a Title For Title Winner Takes All Match to retain his title & win the United States Championship (8/23/15)
3. Lost to Finn Balor for the Vacant WWE Universal Championship (8/21/16)
4. With Dean Ambrose defeated WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus to win the titles (8/20/17)
5. Defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler to win the title (8/19/18)

Brock Lesnar (6-3-0)

1. Defeated WWE Undisputed Champion The Rock to win the title (8/25/02)
2. Lost to WWE Champion Kurt Angle (8/24/03)
3. Defeated Triple H in a No Disqualification Match (8/19/12)
4. Defeated CM Punk in a No Disqualification Match (8/18/13)
5. Defeated WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena to win the title (8/14/14)
6. Lost to The Undertaker (8/23/15)
7. Defeated Randy Orton by TKO (8/21/16)
8. Defeated Samoa Joe, Roman Reigns, & Braun Strowman in a Fatal 4-Way Match to retain the WWE Universal Championship (8/20/17)
9. Lost the WWE Universal Championship to Roman Reigns (8/19/18)

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: WWE CHAMPION KOFI KINGSTON VS RANDY ORTON

This will be the 50^th or 51^st WWE, World, or Universal Championship Match in SummerSlam History & 28^th year in a row. This will be the 13^th WWE Championship Match of 2019 & 1^st since WWE Smackville on July 27. It will be the 3^rd year in a row that there will be 2 WWE or Universal Championship Matches at SummerSlam. There have been 14 WWE, World, or Universal Title Changes in SummerSlam History with the last title change taking place in 2018 when Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Title, but the last WWE Title Change to take place at SummerSlam was in 2013 when Randy Orton defeated Daniel Bryan. The WWE Title has changed hands only once in 2019, when Kofi Kingston defeated Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania on April 7. This will be Kofi Kingston’s 7^th SummerSlam & 1^st since 2016, his 5^th Title Match at SummerSlam, but 1^st ever WWE Title Match, & only his 2^nd Singles Match & 1^st since he wrestled Dolph Ziggler to a No Contest in 2010. This will be Randy Orton’s 14^th SummerSlam, tying him with John Cena for 2^nd most SummerSlam matches in history, & 1^st since 2017, his 8^th WWE or World Championship Match, which is 2^nd after John Cena for most Championship Matches at SummerSlam, & his 1^st WWE Title Match since 2013. SummerSlam continues Kofi Kingston’s streak of competing on every PPV of 2019. SummerSlam will be Randy Orton’s 1^st PPV since Super Showdown on June 7. SummerSlam will be the 9^th 1-on-1 match between Kingston & Orton, with their 1^st match taking place on Raw on November 2, 2009, which ended in a No Contest & their last match taking place on Raw on January 20, 2014, with Orton winning by Disqualification. In their previous 8 matches, Kingston won twice & Orton won 5 times, with 1 match ending in a No Contest.

Kofi Kingston (3-2-1)

1. With Mickie James lost the WWE Intercontinental & Women’s Championships to Santino Marella & Beth Phoenix in an Inter-Gender Winner Takes All Match for both titles (8/17/08)
2. Wrestled WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler to a No Contest (8/15/10)
3. With John Morrison & Rey Mysterio defeated Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth) & Alberto Del Rio in a 6-Man Tag Team Match (8/14/11)
4. With R-Truth defeated The Primetime Players (Titus O’Neil & Darren Young) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship (8/19/12)
5. With Big E as The New Day defeated The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara & Kalisto), Los Matadores (Diego & Fernando), & WWE Tag Team Champions The Primetime Players (Titus O’Neil & Darren Young) in a Fatal 4-Way Match to win the titles (8/23/15)
6. With Xavier Woods as WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day lost to The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) by Disqualification (8/21/16)

Randy Orton (7-6-0)

1. Lost to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H along with Goldberg, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, & Kevin Nash in an Elimination Chamber Match (8/24/03)
2. Defeated WWE World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit to win the title (8/15/04)
3. Defeated The Undertaker (8/21/05)
4. Lost to Hulk Hogan (8/20/06)
5. Lost to WWE Champion John Cena (8/26/07)
6. Defeated John Cena to retain the WWE Championship (8/23/09)
7. Defeated WWE Champion Sheamus by Disqualification (8/15/10)
8. Defeated WWE World Heavyweight Champion Christian in a No Holds Barred Match to win the title (8/14/11)
9. Defeated WWE Champion Daniel Bryan with Special Guest Referee Triple H to win the title (8/18/13)
10. Lost to Roman Reigns (8/14/14)
11. Lost to Sheamus (8/23/15)
12. Lost to Brock Lesnar by TKO (8/21/16)
13. Defeated Rusev (8/20/17)

WWE RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: BECKY LYNCH VS NATALYA

This will be the 13^th or 14^th Women’s/Diva’s Championship Match in SummerSlam History & the 4^th year in a row. This will be the 10^th Raw Women’s Championship Match of 2019 & 1^st since Extreme Rules on July 14. The Women’s/Diva’s Title has changed hands 8 times & has changed hands the last 3 years in a row, but 5^th time in a row, as it wasn’t defended in 2015, & both titles changed hands the last 2 years in a row. The Raw Women’s Title has changed hands only once in 2019, when Becky Lynch defeated Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35 on April 7. This will be the 3^rd year in a row that there will be 2 Women’s Championship Matches at SummerSlam. This will be Becky Lynch’s 4^th SummerSlam & 2^nd in a row, & her 2^nd Women’s Title Match in a row, making her the 3^rd year in a row that someone will be competing in back-to-back Women’s Title Matches at SummerSlam. This will be Natalya’s 5^th SummerSlam & 1^st since 2017, & 2^nd Women’s Title Match & 1^st since 2017. This will be Natalya’s 1^st PPV since Money In The Bank on May 19.

Becky Lynch (1-2-0)

1. With Charlotte & Paige as Team PCB defeated Team Bella (Brie & WWE Diva’s Champion Nikki Bella & Alicia Fox) & Team B.A.D. (Sasha Banks, Naomi, & Tamina) in a 3-Team Diva’s Triple Threat Elimination Match (8/23/15)
2. With Carmella & Naomi lost to Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss & Natalya in a 6-Women’s Tag Team Match (8/21/16)
3. Lost to Charlotte Flair along with WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Carmella in a Triple Threat Match (8/19/18)

Natalya (3-1-0)

1. Lost to Beth Phoenix in a 15-Diva’s Battle Royal in the Dark Match prior to the PPV with Special Guest Referee Chavo Guerrero (8/23/09)
2. Defeated Brie Bella (8/18/13)
3. With Nikki Bella & Alexa Bliss defeated Carmella, Becky Lynch, & Naomi in a 6-Women’s Tag Team Match (8/21/16)

4. Defeated WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi to win the title (8/20/17)

WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION BAYLEY VS EMBER MOON

This will be the 13^th or 14^th Women’s/Diva’s Championship Match in SummerSlam History & the 4^th year in a row. This will be the 9^th Smackdown Women’s Championship Match of 2019 & the 1^st since Extreme Rules on July 14. The Women’s/Diva’s Title has changed hands 8 times & has changed hands the last 3 years in a row, but 5^th time in a row, as it wasn’t defended in 2015, & both titles changed hands the last 2 years in a row. The Smackdown Women’s Title has changed hands 4 times in 2019, with the last title change taking place at Money In The Bank on May 19, when Bayley defeated Charlotte Flair. This will be the 3^rd year in a row that there will be 2 Women’s Championship Matches at SummerSlam. This will be both Bayley & Ember Moon’s SummerSlam debut, making it the 2^nd year in a row that someone will be making their SummerSlam debut competing for the Women’s Title. This will be Ember Moon’s 1^st PPV since Money In The Bank on May 19.

Bayley (0-0-0)

This will be Bayley’s SummerSlam debut

Ember Moon (0-0-0)

This will be Ember Moon’s SummerSlam debut

WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: RICOCHET VS WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION AJ STYLES

This will be the 8^th United States Championship Match in SummerSlam History & 3^rd year in a row. This will be the 12^th United States Championship Match of 2019 & 1^st since Extreme Rules on July 14. The United States Title has changed hands 3 times in SummerSlam History with the last title change taking place in 2015 when Seth Rollins defeated John Cena. This will be Ricochet’s SummerSlam debut & he will be the 1^st wrestler since Dean Ambrose in 2013 to make his SummerSlam debut in a United States Title Match. This will be AJ Styles’ 4^th SummerSlam in a row & 2^nd United States Title Match & 1^st since 2017.

Ricochet (0-0-0)

This will be Ricochet’s SummerSlam debut

AJ Styles (2-1-0)

1. Defeated John Cena (8/21/16)
2. Defeated Kevin Owens to retain the WWE United States Championship with Special Guest Referee Shane McMahon (8/20/17)
3. Lost to Samoa Joe by Disqualification (8/19/18)

KEVIN OWENS VS SHANE MCMAHON (IF OWENS LOSES, HE WILL QUIT WWE)

This will be Kevin Owens’ 5^th SummerSlam in a row & his 1^st regular 1-on-1 Match since he defeated Cesaro in 2015. This will be Shane McMahon’s 5^th SummerSlam & 1^st since 2006, tying him with Bret Hart from 1997 to 2010 at 13 years for 4^th longest gap between SummerSlam matches, & 1^st ever regular 1-on-1 Match at SummerSlam.

Kevin Owens (2-2-0)

1. Defeated Cesaro (8/23/15)
2. With Chris Jericho defeated Enzo Amore & Big Cass (8/21/16)
3. Lost to WWE United States Champion AJ Styles with Special Guest Referee Shane McMahon (8/20/17)
4. Lost to Braun Strowman for Strowman’s Money In The Bank Briefcase (8/19/18)

Shane McMahon (1-3-0)

1. Lost to Test in a Greenwich Love Her or Leave Her Street Fight (8/22/99)
2. Lost the WWF Hardcore Championship to Steve Blackman in a Hardcore Match to win the title (8/27/00)
3. Defeated Eric Bischoff in a No Disqualifcation Falls Count Anywhere Match (8/24/03)
4. With Mr. McMahon lost to D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) (8/20/06)

FINN BALOR VS BRAY WYATT

This will be Finn Balor’s 4^th SummerSlam in a row. This will be Bray Wyatt’s 5^th SummerSlam & 1^st since 2017. This will be the 5^th match to take place multiple times at SummerSlam & the 1^st since Randy Orton VS Sheamus in 2015. This will be Bray Wyatt’s 1^st match of 2019 & his 1^st match overall since he & Matt Hardy lost to The B-Team in a Triple Threat Match with The Revival on Raw on August 13, 2018.

Finn Balor (3-0-0)

1. Defeated Seth Rollins to win the Vacant WWE Universal Championship (8/21/16)
2. Defeated Bray Wyatt (8/20/17)
3. Defeated Baron Corbin (8/19/18)

Bray Wyatt (2-2-0)

1. Defeated Kane in a Ring of Fire Match (8/18/13)
2. Defeated Chris Jericho (8/14/14)
3. With Luke Harper lost to Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns (8/23/15)
4. Lost to Finn Balor (8/20/17)

GOLDBERG VS DOLPH ZIGGLER

This will be Goldberg’s 2^nd SummerSlam & 1^st since 2003, making the 16 years between matches the 2^nd longest gap between SummerSlam matches, after Trish Stratus’ 19 years this year. It will be his 1^st match overall since he lost to The Undertaker at Super Showdown on June 7. This will be Dolph Ziggler’s 10^th SummerSlam, tying him with Edge & Rey Mysterio for 5^th place for most SummerSlam Matches in History & his 2^nd in a row, & will be his 1^st Non-Title Singles Match since he lost to Chris Jericho in 2012.

Goldberg (0-1-0)

1. Lost to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H along with Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, & Randy Orton in an Elimination Chamber Match (8/24/03)

Dolph Ziggler (3-4-2)

1. Lost to WWE Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio (8/23/09)
2. Wrestled Kofi Kingston to a No Contest (8/15/10)
3. Defeated Alex Riley in a Non-Title Dark Match prior to the PPV (8/14/11)
4. Lost to Chris Jericho (8/19/12)
5. With Kaitlyn defeated to Big E. Langston & WWE Diva’s Champion AJ Lee in a Mixed Tag Team Match (8/18/13)
6. Defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz to win the title (8/14/14)
7. Wrestled Rusev to a Double Count Out (8/23/15)
8. Lost to WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose (8/21/16)
9. Lost the WWE Intercontinental Championship to Seth Rollins (8/19/18)

TRISH STRATUS VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR

This will be Trish Stratus’ 2^nd SummerSlam & 1^st since 2000, giving her the longest gap between SummerSlam matches at 19 years. It will be her 1^st 1-on-1 match since she lost to Vickie Guerrero on Raw on March 14, 2011. This will be Charlotte Flair’s 4^th SummerSlam & 2^nd in a row & her 1^st ever 1-on-1 Non-Title Match at SummerSlam.

Trish Stratus (0-1-0)

1. With WWF Intercontinental Champion Val Venis lost to Chyna & Eddie Guerrero in a Mixed Tag Team Match (8/27/00)

 

Charlotte Flair/Charlotte (3-0-0)

1. (As Charlotte) With Becky Lynch & Paige as Team PCB defeated Team Bella (Brie & WWE Diva’s Champion Nikki Bella & Alicia Fox) & Team B.A.D. (Sasha Banks, Naomi, & Tamina) in a 3-Team Diva’s Triple Threat Elimination Match (8/23/15)
2. Defeated WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks to win the title (8/21/16)
3. (As Charlotte Flair) Defeated WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Carmella along with Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat Match to win the title (8/19/18)

WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: ONEY LORCAN VS WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION DREW GULAK

This will be the 5^th Cruiserweight Championship Match in SummerSlam History & 3^rd year in a row. It will be the 8^th Cruiserweight Championship Match of 2019 & the 1^st since Extreme Rules on July 14. The Cruiserweight Title has changed hands only once in SummerSlam History, when Neville defeated Akira Tozawa in 2017. It has changed hands twice in 2019, with the last title change taking place at Stomping Grounds, when Drew Gulak defeated Tony Nese & Tozawa in a Triple Threat on June 23. This will be Oney Lorcan’s 1^st SummerSlam, making it the 3^rd year in a row that someone made their SummerSlam debut competing for the Cruiserweight Title & his 1^st PPV since Super Showdown on June 7. This will be Drew Gulak’s 2^nd SummerSlam in a row & 2^nd Cruiserweight Title Match in a row. He is the 1^st wrestler in history to challenge for & then defend the Cruiserweight Title at back-to-back SummerSlams.

Oney Lorcan (0-0-0)

This will be Oney Lorcan’s SummerSlam debut

 

Drew Gulak (0-1-0)

1. Lost to WWE Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander in a Kickoff Match prior to the PPV (8/19/18)