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WWE SummerSlam weekend had a lot of highs and lows. There were hard-hitting grudge matches between Seth Rollins and Edge, and John Cena and Roman Reigns. There were also shocking returns for Becky Lynch and Brock Lesnar, and the disaster that was Bianca Belair's title reign ending.
The question is, who stood out at this year's SummerSlam when it came to style?
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8. The King, Shinsuke Nakamura returns to SummerSlam
There is something about white that looks amazing on TV, and Nakamura – in his all-white gear – has truly cemented himself as The King.
Current Intercontinental Champion Nakamura donned all-white even though the strap in WWE is no longer that color. White has become synonymous with the Intercontinental Championship in both WWE and New Japan Pro-Wrestling and while Nakamura brought prestige to the title in New Japan, can he do the same in WWE?
Nakamura wasn’t alone in his white look. Eric Bugenhagen and Pat McAfee also received white-look memos for this year’s SummerSlam. Buganhagen wore an all-white look like someone out of the 80s, which isn’t a negative at all, while Pat McAfee looked incredible in his white suit jacket that was polished off with a black lapel. The three of them having the time of their lives together while Nakamura’s theme rung out around the stadium was definitely a highlight of the weekend.
7. Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley represent the misfit in all of us
Both Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley are known for their quickness, strength, and rockstar-inspired personas. While Priest is always out there with his presentation and choice of tag team partner (hello, Bad Bunny) Rhea is heavily inspired by the metal music she listens to, and this can be seen in her gear.
Damian Priest represented his American and Puerto Rican heritage in his attire at this year's SummerSlam, including both flags adorning his tights. His match against Sheamus for the United States Championship was a sleeper hit and even his gear reflected his championship glory by the end of the match. With blue and touches of silver it seemed he was destined for the secondary belt, but will he achieve the big one in the next year?
Rhea Ripley went with a red and black motif within her gear. Ripley, a fan of comic books and the band New Years Day, tied it into her gear. The biggest thing to notice is the way the red and black alternates, very much like the woman from our nightmares that you would also want to date, Harley Quinn. Both are punk and know who they are after a journey of self-discovery. Rhea never veers too far away from her black and chain motif, but she always brings the noise.
6. Edge embraces the darkness of his past this SummerSlam
At this year’s SummerSlam, Edge took himself to his namesake and fully embraced his Brood history. After weeks and weeks of attacks from the callous and villainous Seth Rollins, Edge finally snapped. Going back to his roots, his entrance and gear were inspired by his time in The Brood; full black, sunglasses, and red accents, descending from the floor in a blaze of fire and smoke.
It gave older fans chills while newer fans understood the significance and power of The Brood. It was truly a magnificent moment before it all went quiet and we got the Edge we all know and love, and that killer entrance theme too!
For younger fans who might not know, The Brood was formed by Gangrel who portrayed a vampire, more in the vein of Ann Rice and the role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade with a sprinkle of The Lost Boys for good measure.
The Brood was together between 1998 and 1999 and originally consisted of Gangrel, Edge, and Christian. They would douse their opponents in “blood baths” and would temporarily join The Undertaker and his Ministry of Darkness. In the early part of 1999, The Brood would split from the Ministry targeting the Hardy Boyz but soon Gangrel became annoyed with his followers and turned on Edge and Christen only to side with The Hardy Boyz renaming themselves as The New Brood. By late 1999 The Brood was done.
5. LA Knight and Cameron Grimes takes us to the 80s
Cameron Grimes and LA Knight’s feud has been old school, with Ted DiBiassie as the all-smiling ring leader and his Million Dollar Championship as the ultimate prize.
LA Knight channeled his inner Hulk Hogan from his Hulkamania heyday during this year's SummerSlam weekend. Knight was sporting a yellow and red color scheme. This isn’t the first time Knight has worn this outfit. He previously wore this gear with a matching yellow leather jacket the night he won the Million Dollar Championship. This is not the first time he has referenced one of the NWOs with his gear as he previously wore a red and black Scott Hall/Razor Ramon-inspired look.
Cameron Grimes came out sporting new sparkly gear inspired by his budding friendship with the Million Dollar Man. His black and silver trunks and waistcoat combo are reminiscent of fellow Million Dollar Champion Steve Austin, but unlike Austin it’s not his badass attitude that has endeared him to fans, it’s his wholesome and likable attitude. SummerSlam weekend ended on a high for Grimes at NXT Takeover 36 beating his nemesis and raising the Million Dollar title.
4. Bow Down to the Queen of SummerSlam, Charlotte Flair
Just as Thanos's' goal is to collect every Infinity Stone, it seems Charlotte Flair’s destiny is to collect as many world championships as possible. And her gear at this year's SummerSlam reflects just that: inspired by the main villain of the first three phases of the Marvel franchise, Charlotte Flair donned a purple robe with its peacock collar, which sported the Infinity Stones. Looking like a goddess with gold accents, she embodied the wrestling royalty we all know she truly is and the ultimate franchise player in WWE and possibly the new Queen of Summer.
Being a 5-time Smackdown Champion, a 2-time NXT Champion, Women's Tag-Team Champion with Asuka, and now a 6-time Raw champion, what else is left for her to achieve?
3. Wait for It, Seth Rollins
Is Seth Rollins slowly morphing into the WWE’s version of The Bullet Club leader and possible pirate cosplayer Jay White?
Of course not, but they do have similar looks, and both have worn similar jackets with a Welcome to the Black Parade feel as if they are the conductor of some gothic marching band or leading a parade of melancholy misfits.
It wasn’t until Rollins finally entered the ring that the camera panned out and we saw who or what he was representing. The ring is his stage, and this is his story to tell. The look feels very reminiscent of the Broadway hit Hamilton.
2. Xavier Woods of NDR
Xavier Woods brought the nostalgia yet again with his gear and a very brief appearance at this year’s SummerSlam. Dressed as Scott Hall or, more importantly, his WWF character Razor Ramon, we got to see Woods in classic red and black while also repping the New Day’s NWO Wolfpack-inspired shirt.
The New Day always pulls it out of the bag and even though Woods was only in a small segment at this year's SummerSlam, it was still great to see. The detail that has gone into this look is incredible, from the red and black color scheme to the razor blades and dripping blood motif that has become so iconic. Woods also had the classic gold chain, which included a little nod to his love for video games, Tails from Sonic, as well as the colors of his UPUPDWNDWN YouTube channel.
1. Dakota Kai is the Star of SummerSlam Weekend
Dakota Kai came out in another black number, this time being enhanced by bright yellows and pink to match her newly dyed hair at NXT Takeover 36. There are elements of polka dots around the waistband of her bottoms which tie into previous gear she has worn. The color scheme is reminiscent of her war games gear in 2019; the night she would turn on former friend Tegan Nox.
And just like with Tegan Nox, Kai would turn on Gonzalez, attacking her and going after the title that has eluded her for so long. Despite the way the bookers in the back may have wanted this to go, it has unintentionally created a movement and huge support for Kai. Facing her former friend this SummerSlam weekend, she would replicate the look, but with much brighter colors than the night, she turned heel.
Unfortunately, Dakota Kai wasn't victorious in her efforts against her former friend. Kai ended up in the shadow of a friend and chose violence, looking like something out of a comic book.
