CM Punk’s first WWE world title reign in 12 years lasted only five minutes. Punk overcame a fantastic, grueling match with Gunther at WWE SummerSlam on Saturday only for Seth Rollins to spoil the evening. 

There were legitimate injury concerns after Rollins’ knee buckled against LA Knight at Saturday Night’s Main Event. However, his injury appeared to be a ruse. Rollins returned after SummerSlam Night 1, successfully cashing in his briefcase on the newly minted world heavyweight champion.

Saturday’s main event was the high point in an otherwise middling SummerSlam, which notably featured the in-ring debut of country music star Jelly Roll.

CBS Sports was with you the whole way through the event, providing updates and highlights as the action unfolded.

A rebellious CM Punk knocks down Gunther

Punk and Gunther worked hard to rescue SummerSlam Night 1 from mediocrity. The talented wrestlers evoked an old school match rife with psychology, chain wrestling and rugged strikes. The veteran Punk could only partially apply his technical experience against a tactician like “The Ring General.” Gunther’s timeless combination of strength, size and skill generally kept him ahead of the title challenger. Punk’s best weapon was his defiance. He’d occasionally outmaneuver Gunther, like when he countered a sharpshooter with his own, but kicking out of three powerbombs emphasized Punk’s edge.

Gunther’s hubris has become his growing weak spot. “The Ring General” chose a celebratory march on the announcers’ table instead of attacking his enemy. Gunther’s self-imposed distraction allowed Punk to pull his leg out from underneath him. When Gunther emerged, his face was bloodied from the table he had smacked his head off. Punk capitalized on the red mask blinding Gunther, hitting two GTSes after brief resistance for the win.

The best match by a mile on a mostly stale card. Punk and Gunther executed a slow burn with a great finish. My only criticism is that Gunther’s posturing conflicts with his character’s nature as the ultimate in-ring tactician. Punk def. Gunther via pinfall to win the world heavyweight title — Grade: A

Seth Rollins spoils Punk’s return to the top, cashes in Money in the Bank briefcase

Post-match, “Burn it down!” rang over the MetLife Stadium speakers. Rollins, accompanied by Paul Heyman, limped out on crunches wearing a knee brace. Rollins promised he’d be back before turning his back to the camera. Rollins dropped his crutches, revealing his injury to be a ruse. Rollins hit the ring, cracked Punk with the briefcase and cashed it in. One stomp is all it took for Rollins to win the world heavyweight title. 

I’m mixed on the execution of this. Rollins did a fantastic job faking his injury at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Subsequent reporting cast doubts on its legitimacy, but it’s unclear how much that matters to the average fan. This wasn’t a shocker by any stretch, but a dramatic conclusion to SummerSlam Night 1 and an important commitment to Rollins’ push. Hopefully, a sustained title reign is still in Punk’s future. Rollins def. Punk via pinfall to win the world heavyweight title — Grade: N/A

Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul ruin Jelly Roll’s in-ring debut

Jelly Roll’s SummerSlam journey is inspiring. The country musician caught the wrestling bug at WrestleMania 40 and started a weight loss journey with the goal of wrestling. Eighteen months later, Jelly Roll made his in-ring WWE debut down 100 pounds. His inexperience was the primary story driver. Paul, despite being relatively new to WWE, had a high school amateur wrestling and celebrity boxing background to lean on. McIntyre and Paul took turns walloping Jelly Roll, regularly mocking his tag team partner Randy Orton. A backdrop over the top ropes gave Jelly Roll a small window to tag in Orton. 

The 14-time world champion sprang into action, taking out McIntyre and Paul. Orton dropped both opponents on the announcers’ table before a Claymore kick took him out. Jelly Roll’s inexperience again hindered him, walking into Paul’s titanium fist after checking on Orton. No one will excuse Jelly Roll for taking the easy way out; he took the most precarious move of the match. Logan Paul climbed to the top rope and body-splashed Jelly Roll through the announcers’ table. Jelly Roll could be seen bracing for the move, but that’s a demerit for whoever chose the camera angle. 

Jelly Roll brushed away medical staff assisting him to the back, choosing to rescue Orton from a two-on-one beatdown. Jelly Roll received the hot tag. The country star planted Paul with a visually appealing — if painfully wound up — chokeslam, hit Mcintyre with a blackhole slam and countered Paul with a bodyslam. A Claymore kick to Jelly Roll and RKO to McIntyre opened the door for Paul. The social media star chucked Orton from the ring before splashing Jelly Roll for the win. 

The standard for celebrity matches has increased thanks to Paul, Stephen Amell, Bad Bunny and Pat McAfee. Jelly Roll gave it his best shot and didn’t shy from impact, but the match around it wasn’t exciting either. Having McIntyre and Paul win was a responsible decision, at least. Paul and McIntyre def. Jelly Roll and Orton via pinfall — Grade: C

‘Tiffy Time’ keeps ticking on as Tiffany Stratton beats Jade Cargill

This WWE women’s championship match was a major gut-check moment for two of WWE’s potential future superstars. Cargill and Stratton are each approximately five years into their careers, wrestling for the top women’s prize at a cornerstone event. Stratton’s face run has been underwhelming while Cargill’s in-ring development has yet to catch up to her aura. Their match was solid with no major issues, but minor errors demoted it. Stratton’s Alabama slam was muted by Cargill’s long legs catching the mat. Cargill’s nearfall after landing Jaded was muddled by an exaggerated attempt to position Stratton for a rope break. 

The match-ending sequence, which saw Stratton counter a second-rope Jaded by flinging Cargill from the corner, was impaired by Cargill’s reluctance to take the move. The finish still looked decent, punctuated by Stratton’s Prettiest Moonsault Ever. A decent, if unmemorable match, that was wisely kept short. Stratton def. Cargill via pinfall to retain the WWE women’s title — Grade B-

Sami Zayn puts Karrion Kross series in the rearview mirror

Kross and Zayn fought over principles. Zayn believed that Kross was a distraction in his world title ambitions. Kross argued Zayn wasn’t made of main event material. Saturday’s winner would have to admit they were wrong. Kross’ power and Zayn’s speed contrasted with each other, but their intensities mirrored one another. Kross pummeled Zayn into the mat while demanding he concede. Zayn replied with rapid-fire strikes and a sharp tongue. 

Late in the match, Kross whiffed on a crowbar-assisted strike behind the referee’s back. Scarlett, Kross’ wife, offered Zayn the crowbar to corrupt him. Zayn hurled the crowbar into the distance, snatched Kross for an exploder suplex and match-winning Helluva Kick. Post-match, Kross acknowledged Zayn, but never got on the microphone to concede his beliefs. An odd choice to add a stipulation that WWE didn’t emphasize. The match was solid, but never kicked into that next gear. Zayn def. Kross via pinfall — Grade: B-

Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair overcome issues to take women’s tag titles from Judgment Day

Bliss snatched Roxanne Perez early for Sister Abigail, but an eye rake smothered that. The recipe of Perez’s speed, Raquel Rodriguez’s power and Judgment Day’s nefariousness often stifled Bliss. The fan-favorites turned the corner once Flair received the hot tag. Flair played the greatest hits, taking out Judgment Day with a moonsault and figure eight leg lock. 

Their momentum was stifled by miscommunication between Bliss and Flair, inexperienced allies of convenience. Bliss inadvertently struck Flair, allowing Rodriguez to hit Flair with a combination Texana Bomb and Pop Rox. Bliss hit undo on her mistake just in time, breaking the nearfall. Flair, after brief consideration, opted against payback, intercepting Rodriguez so Bliss could finish Perez with Sister Abigail. A little post-match tension gave way to celebration for the new tag champions. 

A decent match with the right winners. Bliss and Flair’s prestige and uneasy partnership present creative opportunities rarely afforded to the women’s tag division. Bliss and Flair def. Judgment Day (Perez and Rodriguez) via pinfall to win the WWE women’s tag team titles — Grade: B

Roman Reigns, Jey Uso persevere as family over Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed

The Bloodline has a complex history, but family prevailed at SummerSlam. The Usos were regularly the fall guys during Reigns’ record-setting world title reign. On Saturday, Reigns took a bullet numerous times for his cousin, putting his ego aside for the team’s benefit. SummerSlam’s opening match was big on carnage. Uso took flight, Reigns went over the announcers’ table and Breakker was speared through the barricade. The cousins seemed to have victory in hand after hitting Reed with 1D, but Breakker recovered in time for the save. Breakker was the match’s most physical force. He was the first to his feet despite being speared ringside, lining up Uso for his own spear. Reigns shoved Uso out of the way, taking the spear for his cousin. Reigns’ sacrifice allowed Uso to drop both of his opponents before finishing Reed with a superkick and spear. 

Breakker and Reed were never going to win this match. The best they could hope for was a competitive match against two recent former world champions. Seth Rollins’ henchman looked good in defeat, Uso got a much-needed win and Reigns developed his character. It’s the best outcome to a match booked into a corner. Reigns and Uso def. Breakker and Reed via pinfall — Grade: B+