WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1 brought a rollercoaster of emotions, from the crowning of a new star to the frustration of predictable booking. The Wrestling Inc. staff weighed in on the most memorable moments, offering both praise and criticism.

Hated: Liv Morgan's Victory Falls Flat
The in-ring action between Liv Morgan and IYO SKY was easily the best of the night, as both women are among the world's elite. But the result and the match's brevity left a sour taste. Morgan defended her Women's World Championship for the first time in 106 days—nearly four months since winning it at WrestleMania. That gap is unacceptable for a world champion, especially when the same weekend features an Interim Women's Championship match due to an inactive champion. Predictably, Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez interfered, a tired trope for Judgment Day matches. The interference disrupted a promising contest, and just as things picked up, Morgan hit ObLivion for the win. A first title defense after 106 days should be a statement; instead, this match was shorter than a typical Raw main event, even shorter than their Queen of the Ring final. It was five minutes shorter than a non-title match between SKY and Asuka and over five minutes shorter than Morgan's QOTR semi-final against Charlotte Flair. Morgan remains champion, but the lack of progress in the Judgment Day storyline makes subsequent promos and interference-laden matches feel tedious.

Loved: Nick Aldis Shines in WWE In-Ring Debut
Nick Aldis versus GUNTHER exceeded expectations. Unlike GUNTHER's match with Pat McAfee last year, this one had perfect pacing and felt like a legitimate contest. WWE treated Aldis as a credible threat, highlighting his pre-WWE accomplishments in TNA and NWA with a graphic listing his world championship reigns. Introduced as "The National Treasure" with an Oasis soundtrack, Aldis blended technical wrestling and strength, making viewers believe he might force GUNTHER to tap to the King's Lynn Cloverleaf. The match proved that Aldis belongs in the ring, potentially opening doors for more appearances.

Hated: Undisputed WWE Championship Match Underwhelms
Despite Randy Orton's surprise return, the CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes match was a letdown. The feud boiled down to friendship, ignoring the rich history between the two. Promo segments were boring, and the match not main eventing the show was telling. At just under 30 minutes, it felt like an eternity, especially the first 20 minutes moving in slow motion. It resembled any other Undisputed Championship match, despite Rhodes and Punk not facing off since 2008. Punk's moves looked sloppy—his moonsault missed badly, and his Go to Sleeps were lackluster, partly due to camera angles. The referee bump was telegraphed. Punk's elbow drop from the top rope to the commentary desk was risky given his injury history. The match avoided overbooking, with only Orton interfering, but that sets up a Rhodes-Orton feud, adding another contender to a crowded blue brand title scene already featuring GUNTHER, Sami Zayn, and Finn Balor.

Loved: Orton vs. Rhodes Do-Over?
The moment Cody Rhodes returned to WWE in 2022, a WrestleMania clash with Randy Orton became a dream match. Their actual encounter at WrestleMania 42 was ruined by Pat McAfee's involvement. Now, with McAfee gone and Orton back for vengeance, WWE has a chance to correct that. The story is simple: Rhodes learned under Orton, then surpassed him, winning the Undisputed WWE Championship three times while Orton hasn't held major gold in nearly six years. Orton wants to prove he's still the top predator, and a 15th world title would inch him closer to John Cena's record. The original WrestleMania match was clouded by unnecessary additions, but now with Rhodes no longer champion, a pure grudge match fueled by bitterness is possible. The world title scene is saturated—CM Punk, GUNTHER, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, and a potentially returning Drew McIntyre—so a Rhodes-Orton feud can stand apart. The foundation is there; WWE's creative team just needs to deliver.

Hated: Waste of a Hell in a Cell
The main event between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell achieved its goal: Femi beat Lesnar clean to make their series 2-1, and Lesnar even put him over on the mic. But the match barely used the cell. It could have been a No Holds Barred match, with only one table and a few chairs. The bout was a finisher-fest, similar to their previous encounters. The highlight came when Lesnar exposed the ring boards and dropped Femi with a Tombstone Piledriver, a callback to his match with The Undertaker. Femi kicked out, then hit Fall From Grace on the padded part—ignoring the exposed boards. The trilogy felt unnecessary; Femi was already over after his first win. He took his first main roster loss to set up this match, which wasted potential rubs for other talents like Gunther, Royce Keys, or Jacob Fatu. If this is Lesnar's last match, it could have been used to build someone else while Femi was crowned King of the Ring champion. A wasted cell match, Lesnar match, and King of the Ring opportunity.

Loved: Oba Femi, the Next Big Thing
Oba Femi emerged from his Hell in a Cell match with a stamp of approval from Brock Lesnar. Michael Cole called him "The Next Big Thing" on commentary, echoing Lesnar's 2002 moniker. Lesnar putting Femi over twice is massive, even if the story should have ended at WrestleMania 42. Femi took a beating and kept rising, showcasing resilience. His powerbombs and the move where he shot-puts a man across the ring were impressive. The ending had flaws—Femi kicking out of a Tombstone on exposed wood was a stretch, and he should have hit Fall From Grace on the boards. But Lesnar likely avoided that bump. After the match, Lesnar returned to hug Femi and raise his hand, then put him over on the microphone. It was a nice touch, signaling the feud is over and Femi is moving on to bigger things. The night belonged to Femi, and WWE's future looks bright.