In the semi-main event spot of SummerSlam, Drew McIntyre put his WWE Championship on the line against Randy Orton. Before the match got started, Shawn Michaels said (via video conference) that he is rooting on McIntyre to deliver a Claymore upside Orton’s head.
Notes written in real-time during the match:
Orton started out by playing games and sliding out of the match to frustrate McIntyre. Orton almost hit an RKO in the first couple of minutes of the match as McIntyre slid out of the ring with a frustrated look on his face. The fight continued at ringside with Orton ramming McIntyre into the announcer’s table and ring post and then slamming him onto the announcer’s table twice. Orton then hit a suplex off the announcer’s table and to the floor. Orton continued to work on McIntyre’s left knee throughout this match.
McIntyre fought back and locked in the figure four, as a tribute to Ric Flair. Orton broke out of it by using a thumb to the eye as he pulled the referee into him for the distraction. Orton’s knee was also bothering him. Both men slugged it out with punches and upper cuts and Orton went for the RKO but McIntyre shoved him off and then delivered overhead belly to belly suplexes. McIntyre tried a super plex off the top but Orton countered with punches to the face and McIntyre ended up being hung upside down on the top rope but McIntyre sat up and pulled Orton off the top and into the ring for a near fall.
McIntyre hit the Future Shock DDT but Orton kicked out and the camera showed blood coming out of Orton’s forehead. McIntyre was going for the Claymore but Orton caught him in a powerslam for a near fall. McIntyre hit the Glasgow Kiss and a clothesline over the top rope and both men crashed to the floor. As they got in the ring, Orton hit the draping DDT and then a running punt kick attempt but McIntyre moved and then hit a powerbomb. McIntyre went for the Claymore but Orton moved but McIntyre got a backslide and the pin to retain the title.
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#WWEChampion @DMcIntyreWWE is manhandling #TheViper at #SummerSlam! #WWETitle @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/iMIuwD9WDW
— WWE (@WWE) August 24, 2020
Back. And. Forth. We. Go.#SummerSlam #WWEChampionship @DMcIntyreWWE @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/1yhyagENpm
— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 24, 2020
