New World Heavyweight Champion crowned at WWE SummerSlam in surprise moment
After last holding a version of the World title in 2013, CM Punk closed the first night of WWE SummerSlam Saturday as the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion — a celebratory moment more than a decade in the making.
That was until Seth Rollins came out with Paul Heyman and ruined everything, leaving MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey, as the new champion instead.
Several minutes after Punk had defeated Gunther to win the title, Rollins came out to the entranceway on crutches as if he was playing mind games. He then started to walk to the back before stopping, tossing the crutches, ripping off his jacket, and running down to the ring.
He hit Punk nearly ten times with the Money in the Bank briefcase before telling the referee he was cashing in. He then hit a curb stomp to get the pin and title win, shocking his rival five minutes after his crowning achievement. He, Heyman, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed all celebrated afterward in the ring.
As was previously reported, the knee injury Rollins pretended to suffer at last month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event was just that, designed for this moment.
The win gives Rollins his second run with the World Heavyweight title and first since a near year-long run ended in April 2024. He also notably cashed in a MITB briefcase a decade ago at WrestleMania 31 by shockingly cashing in on Brock Lesnar to leave as the World Champion.
While the end will be remembered for the cash-in, Punk did eventually pin Gunther clean to win the title after he was brutalized for about 15 minutes.
The turn came when Gunther was celebrating on the broadcast table when Punk pulled out his legs to take him down. Gunther came out from under the table bleeding from the head and Punk then rallied, hitting a running knee, a top rope elbow and a GTS attempt that was reversed into a sleeper.
Punk fought out and finally hit a GTS but Gunther didn’t fall. A second GTS did the trick as Punk got the pin and win, crying in the ring as he held the title belt.
The night ended Gunther’s 54-day second run with the title that saw just one successful title defense, that being against Goldberg on the same night Rollins faked his injury.