Before SummerSlam gets underway, it's time for the pre-show, which features one match from the Raw brand and one from SmackDown. Both Money in the Bank briefcase winners will be in action, so if you haven't read that post, this is your final warning to read it now, lest you spoil yourself.
Mustafa Ali and Alexa Bliss vs Chad Gable and Sonya Deville
Ali and Bliss, the two Money in the Bank winners, were the fan favorites heading into this tag match against Gable and Deville. The women were feuding after Deville claimed Bliss had cheated to win the briefcase, with Sonya distracted while brawling with Ronda Rousey at the time Alexa unhooked the briefcase. Meanwhile, the men had an issue stemming from Backlash, where Ali defeated Gable, with Chad forging a new alliance with Otis, formerly of Heavy Machinery, to beat down the men's briefcase holder on SmackDown. Gable and Deville were in control for most of this mixed tag match, each using their mat wrestling skills and striking to full effect. But Ali and Bliss proved to be a more effective team, breaking up covers after a Chaos Theory by Gable and the Roundhouse Kick from Deville, before each thrilling the crowd with a high-flying manuever. Ali took out Gable with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to the floor, while Alexa delivered Twisted Bliss to Deville, and that was enough for the two briefcase holders to triumph.
Winner: Mustafa Ali and Alexa Bliss
Pete Dunne vs Sami Zayn
Dunne and Zayn squared off a few weeks ago on Raw, a match which former WWE Champion Zayn won after in sneaky fashion, getting his feet on the ropes during a roll-up. He then proceeded to celebrate extravagantly, even taking over Raw GM Paul Heyman's office to dance, which a furious Heyman took as a sign to book a rematch between Zayn and "The Bruiserweight". We knew these men were built tough from what they've accomplished in the past, but both took this opportunity to prove that they are still two of the best in the world in a match of the year contender. Each kicked out of their opponent's finishing manuever, the Bitter End and the Helluva Kick, and Zayn upped the stakes by soaring between the turnbuckles for a Tornado DDT on the floor. Dunne, though, shook that devastating move off, and dropped Zayn with an X-Plex on the floor! Back in the ring, each man traded a powerbomb, with Zayn gaining extra force by flipping in the air to deliver his, but that still wasn't enough. Dunne got a Kimura Lock applied, but Zayn fought free to deliver a Blue Thunder Bomb. Sami lined up another Helluva Kick, but missed in the corner, and Dunne connected with another X-Plex, before a second Bitter End finally finished off this war. I sincerely hope Paul Heyman was watching this one, because it was a heck of a match, and showed that both of these men deserve to be fighting for championship gold.
Winner: Pete Dunne
Coming soon, the main card for SummerSlam, featuring Roman Reigns defending his Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar in the main event.
- Henry
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