Tribal Combat at SummerSlam is the biggest WWE match of the year so far

Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso in Tribal Combat at SummerSlam will be hard for WWE to top in 2023.

In a perfect wrestling world, the biggest possible match WWE can produce takes place at the promotion’s biggest show, WrestleMania.

Heading into this year’s WrestleMania, Roman Reigns versus Cody Rhodes felt every bit of that. The big hook was Rhodes looking to finish the story of capturing the one title that has eluded his family, with an unstoppable champion standing in his way.

But heading into SummerSlam, Rhodes’ story remains unfinished, as he lost to Reigns at WrestleMania, albeit in controversial fashion. I, along with many others, assumed that Rhodes would get another chance to vanquish Reigns at SummerSlam, the event WWE promotes as its second-biggest show (although you could make the case that distinction actually belongs to the Royal Rumble).

Rhodes versus Reigns would have been a fine main event for the summer extravaganza. However, WWE is offering fans something even better: TRIBAL COMBAT! 

On the July 21 edition of Smackdown, Jey Uso ripped up the contract he was supposed to sign to make his Undisputed WWE Universal title match against Reigns at SummerSlam official. Instead, he went to the elders of the Anoa’i family and asked for permission to challenge Reigns to Tribal Combat. No, not Mortal Kombat, which has another edition of its long-running series set to release in September. Tribal Combat.

What is Tribal Combat? We don’t fully know. Judging by the concern that washed over Reigns’ face after Jey Uso laid down the challenge, it is a brutal family affair, except without the hideous shirts you typically see at family reunions.

What we do know is that the elders approved Jey Uso’s request and we will see Tribal Combat in the main event of SummerSlam. No legal documents are needed when the Anoa’i family elders sign off, apparently. 

We also know that “anything goes,” according to Jey Uso, and that Reigns is putting not only his titles on the line, but his status as Tribal Chief as well.

Between the story, the talent in the ring, the stipulation, and what’s at stake, we have the ingredients that make up the most anticipated match WWE has promoted all year — and it will be extremely difficult to top during the last quarter of 2023.

On the surface, Tribal Combat sounds a little absurd. But because the story has been so well done leading up to this point, the fans don’t even care. They have already bought in. Actually, they have leaned in — all the way in — and they have been doing so for three years now. So much so that fans are having fun just talking about what outfits they are going to wear to Tribal Combat.

For those wondering, I plan on being hella fresh come August 5.

Fans don’t typically pick out their attire for one match. For an entire show like WrestleMania or SummerSlam? Sure. But for one match? That is not a common occurrence.

But neither are the immaculate vibes surrounding just one match. Regardless of what else happens at SummerSlam, one thing wrestling fans can almost certainly count on is that Tribal Combat will deliver in a variety of ways.

It should make a fun night in Detroit.