# WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1 Delivers Major Returns and Shocking Moments The first night set a high bar with unforgettable matches and surprise appearances - **Source:** [Forbes - Business](https://brifing.si/source/e0310925-a7af-4d4b-80a7-c80d400e49fa) - **Published:** 2026-08-02 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ab01af7b-83ed-454e-9627-25ff94001451 ## Night of Memorable Matches WWE SummerSlam 2026's first night in Minneapolis delivered unforgettable moments. Oba Femi scored a major victory by defeating Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match. CM Punk retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes, though Randy Orton's surprise return played a crucial role in Rhodes' defeat. Liv Morgan successfully defended her Women's World Championship against Iyo Sky in a clean victory. ## Oba Femi's Breakout Moment Oba Femi achieved the biggest victory of his WWE career by defeating Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match. Femi countered Lesnar's chair attack and secured the win with his Fall From Grace move. Post-match, Lesnar showed respect to Femi, who described the moment as incredibly special. This victory positions Femi as a major star in WWE's future. ## Randy Orton's Shocking Return The Undisputed WWE Championship match between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes was interrupted by Randy Orton's surprise return. Orton hit Rhodes with an RKO, allowing Punk to retain his title. Lasting 29 minutes and 43 seconds, this was the longest match of the night. Orton's return will likely shape WWE's storylines in coming weeks. ## Liv Morgan Silences Critics Liv Morgan answered her critics by cleanly defending the Women's World Championship against Iyo Sky. This victory came without interference from Judgment Day on the 100th day of her reign. The match quality suggested this rivalry deserves continuation. Morgan's performance justified her five years of hard work in WWE. ## Solo Sikoa Steals the Show Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline delivered a star-making performance. Teaming with LA Knight and Royce Keys to defeat The Usos and Jacob Fatu, Sikoa earned massive crowd support in Minneapolis. This popularity suggests WWE will push Sikoa more prominently in coming weeks. ## Nick Aldis' Redemption Despite losing to Gunther, Nick Aldis ended the night on a high note by being reinstated as SmackDown General Manager. WWE booked the match to protect both competitors. Aldis' combination of managerial skills and in-ring credibility bodes well for SmackDown's future. ## Bella Twins Turn Heel The Bella Twins' betrayal of Paige marked one of the night's low points. During their match against Fatal Influence, Brie Bella appeared to suffer an injury. Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and Lainey Reid won the match, continuing their momentum after retaining the Women's Tag Team Championships on July 18. ## Setting Up Night 2 SummerSlam 2026's second night will air on ESPN Unlimited from the same venue. With Oba Femi's coronation and Randy Orton's return raising expectations, WWE appears poised to deliver another memorable show. The storytelling and character development from this mega-event will likely be discussed in wrestling circles for months. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2026/08/01/wwe-summerslam-2026-night-1-returns-swerves-and-highlights/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._