Date: August 3, 2025
Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
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Show Recap —
COUNTDOWN SHOW —
The Women’s World Championship triple threat match will open SummerSlam (in three hours).
They showed a few wrestlers arriving. Iyo Sky and Naomi both used carts to get around because the stadium is so big.
There were highlights from night one, and the announcers discussed some of it before running down the card for today.
I’m not going to recap everything the panellists say, but notably, Wade Barrett was openly skeptical of John Cena’s sudden change in behaviour on SmackDown. Big E was skeptical too, but played it more down the middle.
Naomi told Cathy Kelley she would not lose tonight. She recalled losing her title to Natalya eight years ago at SummerSlam and said she would be damned if it happened again.
There’s been a fair amount of repeat content on the pre-show from yesterday, including video packages and Peter Rosenberg doing the walk-through from Gorilla to the stage. Two hours to go.
There was an entertaining Becky Lynch sit-down interview with Michael Cole. She doubled down on blaming the fans for her heel turn. She blamed Lyra Valkyria for costing them the tag titles and ruining her momentum. Valkyria had to learn a lesson. When your dog pees on the floor, you rub their face in it. (Cole made sure to say he doesn’t do this to his dog.) She noted the list that called her the greatest women’s wrestler ever, and stated she was “the greatest woman ever.”
Kelley interviewed Angelo Dawkins (wearing a Ken Griffey Jr. shirt) and Montez Ford (wearing a black cowboy hat). They were all business and focused on winning tonight. Ford mentioned this was the first PLE match for the Street Profits in 16 months.
Byron Saxton handed out (sponsored) breath mints to fans. One hour to go.
Megan Morant and Sam Roberts interviewed Dominik Mysterio. Morant asked about AJ Styles beating him on Raw, and Dom responded by asking her who she ever beat. Dom was offended by their questions, so he blew them off and left.
They plugged AAA Triplemanía XXXIII with Vikingo vs. Dom vs. Dragon Lee vs. El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser).
In previewing Dom’s match tonight, they said Styles has not held a title in WWE since 2021.
Rosenberg interviewed some fans about their experience at the show last night. One fan was happy when CM Punk won the title, but sad that he lost. Funny enough, he was sad because Punk finally won the title after being “gone for ten years.”
The panel spent the final few minutes previewing tonight’s card.
Tigirlily Gold sang God Bless America as we transitioned from the preshow to the main show.
SUMMERSLAM 2025 NIGHT TWO —
Solo Sikoa and his crew (MFT), Jacob Fatu, Lyra Valkyria, Becky Lynch, and Cody Rhodes were shown arriving. Lynch received a big reaction, and Rhodes received a big mixed reaction.
The show intro was once again narrated by Druski. It’s 82 degrees Fahrenheit as the show starts, about 5 degrees warmer than yesterday.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque entered the ring to his music (he was already at ringside, so it wasn’t a full entrance). He told the audience they were part of the biggest SummerSlam in history. He asked them if they were ready, and they responded in the affirmative.
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are the announcers again.
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Naomi’s entrance included her father, Shawn McCray, performing her theme on guitar as she entered.
The opening match kicked off at 6:16 pm ET.
Triple Threat Match for the Women’s World Championship: Naomi (c) vs. IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley
Naomi left the ring as the match started, thinking she could let the other two battle it out, but they went after her instead. Their teamwork came to an end quickly when Ripley accidentally booted Sky. Naomi took out both women with a flying crossbody.
Naomi was in complete control of both women (one at a time as they took turns falling out of the ring). Ripley fought back, and Sky hit Naomi with a springboard dropkick. Sky hit Naomi with a 619, and Ripley hit a German suplex.
Ripley and Sky finally went toe-to-toe, and Ripley got the better of it initially until Sky countered a Rip-tide into a small package for two. Sky hit a poinsonrana, but Naomi broke up the cover. Ripley hit Sky with a Razor’s Edge and powerbomb, but Naomi broke up the cover again.
Ripley attacked Naomi on the outside until Sky wiped them out with an Asai moonsault. With her opponents down in the corners, Sky hit repeated running knee strikes.
Sky set up for a moonsault, but Ripley stopped her. Naomi knocked Ripley off the ropes and hit a split-legged moonsault. Sky tried to break up the cover with a moonsault, but Naomi moved and Sky hit Ripley with the move instead. They traded moves until Ripley hit Naomi with a Rip-tide, but Sky (who was out of sight) broke up the cover.
Ripley wiped out Naomi with a cannonball off the apron. Sky caught Ripley and powerbombed her onto Naomi on the outside. Sky went to the top, but Ripley cut her off and eventually hit an avalanche Rip-tide.
Ripley had it won, but Naomi jumped in and caught her in a schoolboy while holding the tights for the pinfall win.
Match result: Naomi defeated Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY to retain the Women’s World Championship (16:24)
This was a pretty fun match, though nothing outstanding. The story was that Ripley had the match won multiple times, but came up short once again.
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Tyrese Haliburton (who was booed), Nick Hogan, and Michelle McCool were shown in the crowd.
To honour the anniversary of the first TLC match, the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and the Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) were shown in the crowd. Cole mentioned their upcoming match at TNA Bound for Glory.
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Six-way TLC Match for the Tag Team Championships: The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) (c) vs. The Street Profits vs. DIY vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Rey Fénix & Andrade vs. Fraxiom
This was insane.
There was a spot early where the Street Profits tried to give Gacy a backdrop onto a ladder, but he went sideways, missed the ladder and fell out of the ring. They grabbed him and did the spot properly, which delighted the crowd (and the Dudleys).
The crowd gasped when Fénix leaped on the shoulders of Andrade and tried to grab the belts that way, but the Street Profits cut them off. Fénix and Andrade gave them the three amigos, and the crowd chanted for Eddie Guerrero.
Tommaso Ciampa tried to throw Montez Ford into a corner table, but Ford did his crazy dive over the ring corner onto a group of guys. Johnny Gargano put Gacy through a table with a DDT off the ropes, and Dexter Lumis did a splash to put Ford through a table.
Fénix did a crazy top rope frog splash to put Nathan Frazer through a table outside the ring. Angelo Dawkins wanted to do it too, but Axiom cut him off. Axiom put Dawkins (and himself) through outside tables with a Spanish fly off the top—one of the craziest spots you’ll see in WWE. The crowd went nuts.
Candice LeRae tried to climb the ladder, but she was taken out by B-Fab. Nikki Cross gave B-Fab a backdrop off the middle of the ladder.
LeRae went back to the ladder as Gargano held it steady. Ford shoved Gargano into the ladder, and it tipped over, causing LeRae to crash through a ladder bridge outside the ring. Another insane bump.
Refs checked on LeRae, and Gargano gave her a thumbs up before turning his attention back to the ring. (More officials ran out to check on her.)
Erick Rowan, not a legal competitor, attacked Ford and Dawkins, but they fought him off with chairs and put him through a corner table with a double tackle.
Ciampa grabbed the harness holding the belts, but MCMG yanked the ladder away. With Ciampa holding on helplessly, Frazer tried a spear off the ladder, but Ciampa managed to do a sit-up to avoid it, and Frazer crashed and burned.
Moments later, a few teams scrambled up separate ladders to grab the belts, but Uncle Howdy/Bo Dallas knocked everybody down. That included knocking DIY through tables set up outside the ring.
Dallas (not a legal competitor either) climbed the ladder, but Fénix cut him off. Andrade followed by giving Dallas a sunset flip powerbomb onto a ladder bridge. Fénix climbed the ladder, but Lumis and Gacy took him out with their double team finisher.
With everyone down, Gacy grabbed the belts as Lumis guarded the ladder. The Wyatt Sicks retain the titles.
Match result: The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) defeated The Street Profits, DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Rey Fénix & Andrade and Fraxiom to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships (16:03)
This was a crazy match, worth going out of your way to watch. The only negative was the ending, because the crowd did not want the Wyatts to win, so that felt sorta flat after all the insanity.
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They showed Triple H at the White House with Donald Trump. They did not show the live crowd’s reaction.
They replayed Seth Rollins cashing in his MITB briefcase on CM Punk, and showed the reaction from different international broadcast teams.
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There was a video package for this match set to ‘Greed’ by Royale Lynn.
Becky Lynch has new entrance music.
No Disqualification, No Countout Match for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria
Lynch grabbed a kendo stick but was stunned upon seeing Valkyria present a crowbar. Valkyria smashed the kendo stick out of Lynch’s hand and tried to kill her with the crowbar, but Lynch avoided it and yelled at Valkyria for trying to kill her.
Valkyria went right back on offence and tossed Lynch around ringside. There was an unintentionally funny spot where Valkyria tried tossing Lynch into the barricade, but instead shoved her into an unsuspecting cameraman. The cameraman acted like nothing happened and sheepishly walked to the other side of the barricade.
Valkyria set up a table, and the crowd didn’t even care because we just saw a bunch of tables in the last match (and they don’t seem to care about Valkyria). Lynch grabbed her from behind by wrapping a chain around Valkyria’s mouth.
Lynch shoved her into the steel steps and attacked her repeatedly with a kendo stick. The bored crowd began entertaining themselves. Lynch used the kendo stick like a golf club (to reference her role in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’).
Lynch continued the beatdown, using a steel chair and a toolbox. Lynch ziptied Valkyria’s hands together and attacked her with a wrench. (Valkyria had to pretend she couldn’t prevent this from happening.)
Valkyria kicked out of a cover despite her hands being tied together. Lynch followed with exploder suplexes. Lynch trapped Valkyria over the ring post and attacked her repeatedly with the kendo stick.
Valkyria blocked Lynch’s next move and hit a belly-to-belly suplex. Her hands were still trapped, so the landing looked no fun. Valkyria fought back with kicks and a leaping dropkick off some chairs. Valkyria even managed to hit a middle rope moonsault with her hands tied for two.
For whatever reason, at no point did the referee think to help Valkyria out of these zip ties. Valkyria untied a turnbuckle cover, but Lynch drove her into the ring post.
Valkyria disappeared under the ring, and when Lynch went after her, Valkyria sprayed her with a fire extinguisher. Valkyria tried using the extinguisher handle to break the zip ties and eventually got them off.
With her hands finally free, Valkyria attacked Lynch with a kendo stick until it broke. Valkyria dropkicked a chair into Lynch’s face and hit a Nightwing off the second step of the ringsteps.
Valkyria tried a charge in the corner, but Lynch moved, and Valkyria crashed into the exposed buckle. Lynch followed with a Man-handle Slam onto two chairs for a close nearfall.
Lynch trapped Valkyria in a chair and drove her into the announce table and ring post. With Valkyria still trapped in the chair, Lynch leaped off the table and stomped the chair. That looked and sounded great.
Lynch was about to kill Valkyria with the crowbar, but Bayley suddenly appeared to stop her. Lynch reasoned with Bayley and tried talking her into hitting Valkyria. Bayley wouldn’t do it, so Lynch tried to attack her with the steel chain, but Bayley attacked her instead. Lynch avoided a charge, and Bayley flew into the crowd.
Lynch tried using a table to get to her feet, but Valkyria flew out of nowhere and drove her through the table with a diving leg drop.
As they traded counters in the ring, Bayley tried to punch Lynch with the chain, but Lynch ducked and Bayley clocked Valkyria instead. Lynch followed with a Man-handle Slam for the pinfall win, and mercifully, it was over.
Lynch retains, and Valkyria can no longer challenge for the IC title belt as long as she’s champion.
Match result: Becky Lynch defeated Lyra Valkyria to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (25:06)
It was a mistake to put this on right after the TLC match, but they also tried to do too much. I was enjoying it for the first half or so, but it just kept going, and the stuff with the zip ties ultimately hampered the match. It was designed to get people behind Valkyria, but it didn’t work. It may not have worked even if they did go before TLC.
And now it’s time for a cage match.
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Jelly Roll, Metro Boomin, Tigirlily Gold, and Russell Wilson were in the crowd.
Steel Cage Match for the United States Championship: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
You could win this match by pinfall, submission, or escaping the cage.
Cole tried to put over Sikoa by saying he hasn’t been pinned since losing to Roman Reigns in January. He’s had four singles matches since then, two of which ended in a no contest. In fact, Sikoa had four wins in fifteen matches so far this year.
Sikoa had the early edge, using the cage as a weapon. Fatu fought back, and when Sikoa tried driving him into the cage again, Fatu no-sold it. Fatu hit a running hip attack, and consecutive moonsaults—but only for a nearfall.
Sikoa’s MFT crew ran out and surrounded ringside, but Jimmy Uso ran out to fend them off. However, Tala Tonga drove him into the cage and over the announce desk.
Fatu could have escaped the cage, but he told the referee to lock the door because it was all gas time. Fatu turned around, and Sikoa hit him with a Samoan spike for a nearfall.
They followed zip ties in the previous match with handcuffs in this one. Tala Tonga handcuffed Fatu to the top part of the cage. JC Mateo opened the door, and Sikoa tried to crawl out, but Fatu ripped himself free of the handcuffs and stopped Sikoa from escaping.
Fatu smashed the door into Mateo, but Tala smashed the door into Fatu. Sikoa slipped out of the ring and fell to the floor to win the match. Sikoa retains.
— After the match and after Sikoa and Tala made their way to the ramp, Jimmy attacked Mateo, while Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa were trapped in the ring with Fatu.
Fatu beat them up and climbed to the top of the cage. He went to the very top and laid out both men with a moonsault. He absolutely obliterated Tonga Loa in particular on the landing.
Match result: Solo Sikoa defeated Jacob Fatu to retain the United States Championship (12:38)
This was a boring cage match with too much interference and a lazy finish.
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Psycho Clown and Mr. Iguana were in the crowd.
In the last two matches, they’ve had the champion enter first.
They noted it’s been 20 years since the custody over Dom match between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. Styles entered in a Chevy low-rider as a tribute to Eddie, and he wore Latino Heat-inspired gear.
Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. AJ Styles
There were duelling chants through the early portion of the match. The sun had set, so fans decided to wave their cellphone flashlights.
Dom was in control until Styles hit a tornado DDT. Styles held control until Dom ducked a Phenomenal forearm and hit a Michinoku Driver. Dom tried three amigos, but Styles countered the last suplex into a brainbuster.
Styles went for a frog splash, but Dom got his knees up. Dom hit a 619 and went for a frog splash (sort of), but Styles caught him and applied a calf crusher until Dom got a rope break.
Dom removed a turnbuckle pad (which Valkyria did earlier) to distract the referee. As the ref fixed the buckle, Dom grabbed a chair to do an Eddie spot.
Dom smashed the mat and fell down. But the ref was still distracted, so Styles wrapped the chair around his head and acted like he was dying. The crowd enjoyed all this, and I’ll always get a kick out of the Eddie spots. (Although, Styles would not have won the title if the ref disqualified Dom.)
The match simply continued because the ref didn’t know who was or wasn’t guilty. Styles applied a calf crusher, but Dom’s boot slipped off in the process (as Eddie’s did at WrestleMania XX). When they showed replays later, it was clear that Dom loosened his boot on purpose.
The ref almost got bumped, so while he was still distracted, Dom hit Styles with the boot. Dom followed with a frog splash for the pinfall win.
Match result: Dominik Mysterio defeated AJ Styles to retain the Intercontinental Championship (10:41)
While nothing amazing, this was a fun match and a breath of fresh air after the last two matches.
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WWE “icon” Stephanie McMahon announced an audience of 60,651 tonight (7,000 more than last night). The total for both shows was 113,722.
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Rhodes entered first, and his entrance started with words from Dusty Rhodes (with yellow polka dots displayed on the tron). It may have been an AI version of Dusty’s voice (which is not the first time they would have used AI, sadly).
Rhodes rose through the stage and his regular entrance music hit. Rhodes wore a gold version of his goofy skull mask, and he removed it fairly quickly. Fireworks went off as Rhodes, dressed in blue, white and red, entered.
Cena entered second. The tron was initially all-black as it had been during his heel run, but it turned colourful as he entered the stage. Cena also happened to be wearing a blue, white and red t-shirt. Cena acted like his usual babyface self, and fans cheered.
Rhodes received a heavy mixed reaction during his in-ring introduction, with the boos seeming to outweigh the cheers.
Cena was roundly cheered, and he couldn’t help but smirk when Alicia Taylor announced him as the greatest of all time.
Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
They hugged as the match began, then kicked things off by trading punches. The fight quickly went to the outside, and there were boos when Rhodes slammed Cena into the steps.
Cena recovered and approached Tyrese Haliburton. Cena gave him the ‘you can’t see me’ gesture and stole one of his crutches to use on Rhodes. (The crowd hates Haliburton.) Rhodes fought back and slammed Cena onto the steel steps, which were now in the ring.
With Rhodes outside the ring, Cena grabbed the steps and threw them at Rhodes. Cena did this before to Bray Wyatt, and it nailed Bray right in the face (with Bray protecting himself). However, the steps appeared to catch Rhodes lower, and he sold his arm. (He continued and seemed ok.)
Some fans tried to sing Rhodes’ name, but it didn’t really pick up. Cena and Rhodes grabbed chairs, but Rhodes managed to hit Cena with it first. Cena did his usual comeback as the crowd went nuts. Cena hit a five knuckle shuffle, but Rhodes avoided an AA.
Rhodes followed with clotheslines, jabs, and a bionic elbow as the crowd booed. One fan had the audacity to chant, “Same old sh-t,” at Rhodes, seconds after Cena did the five moves of doom.
Rhodes hit a Cody Cutter for two, and Cena followed with an AA for two. There were light chants of “You can’t wrestle,” and “Yes, he can,” and I had no idea who they were directed at. Rhodes hit a Disaster Kick and another Cody Cutter for two counts. Cena hit an electric chair drop for two.
Rhodes hit a piledriver for two, and some fans chanted, “You can’t do that.” Rhodes seemed unsure of how to proceed after that, and the hesitation allowed Cena to hit an AA. Rhodes hit a sit-out powerbomb for two, and Cena quickly applied an STF until Rhodes escaped.
Rhodes sent Cena over the barricade before Cena bonked Rhodes with the microphone. Cena followed with a Code Red on the outside.
Cena hoisted Rhodes on his shoulders and put him through the unbreakable announce desk with an AA. Cena struggled to get Rhodes in the ring, and the extra time allowed Rhodes to kick out.
Cena missed a charge in the corner, and Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes for a nearfall. Cena knocked Rhodes off the ropes and followed with a diving leg drop and AA for a close nearfall.
Cena set up a table in the ring and went for an AA, but Rhodes tipped over the table and countered with a DDT for two. Rhodes set up a table in the corner, but they both managed to avoid it—so we’ll get to this later.
Beyond the 20-minute mark, they found themselves fighting in the crowd. Cena grabbed a steel bike rack, but Rhodes suplexed him onto it.
The brawl continued, and they disappeared under the big stage. The camera focused on the elevator platform that Rhodes used during his entrance. Smoke rose through the opening, and Cena emerged with Rhodes on his shoulders. Cena then dumped Rhodes onto the ramp with an AA.
Cena hoisted Rhodes on his shoulders and carried him all the way to the ring. Barrett noted how difficult this must be so long into a match. Indeed, Cena was exhausted, so Rhodes drove him through the corner table and hit a Cross Rhodes for a nearfall.
Rhodes bonked Cena on the head (softly) with a steel chair. Rhodes unscrewed a corner turnbuckle, causing the bottom rope to loosen. Rhodes used the metal turnbuckle rod as a weapon (although he really hit Cena with the padding).
The crowd booed, and Rhodes showed regret on his face. Cena got to his feet, and Rhodes hit him with the turnbuckle again. Cena avoided Rhodes’ third attempt and hit a drop toe hold. Cena applied an STF, using the bottom rope to choke Rhodes, but Rhodes escaped.
Rhodes avoided an AA and hit consecutive Cross Rhodes. The crowd was exasperated because they could feel the end coming. Rhodes hit his finisher one more time—but Cena kicked out. The crowd popped and chanted, “Super Cena.”
Rhodes grabbed the title belt and went to use it as a weapon, but Cena ducked and hit consecutive AAs. Cena grabbed Rhodes and hit an AA off the middle rope—but Rhodes kicked out.
Cena set up another table in the ring, but Rhodes blocked the avalanche AA attempt. Rhodes instead hit an avalanche Cody Cutter (or something resembling a cutter) through the table.
Rhodes gave Cena a salute and hit one final Cross Rhodes for the pinfall win.
(The fans probably would have exploded if Cena won, but they weren’t necessarily booing the result.)
— Cena handed Rhodes the title belt and hugged him. Cena said something to an emotional Rhodes. A big-ass fireworks display went off as Rhodes stood alone with the belt. Rhodes embraced Cena again and raised his hand for the crowd.
Rhodes left, and the fans chanted for Cena, who remained in the ring. Before he could leave…
Brock Lesnar entered. The crowd lost it.
Lesnar entered slowly, wearing a cowboy hat, jeans, and a t-shirt with his logo.
Lesnar removed his cowboy hat, hit the ring, and nailed Cena with a huge F5. Lesnar was pumped.
Lesnar grabbed his cowboy hat as the show ended. (Not sure where Rhodes disappeared to.)
Match result: Cody Rhodes defeated John Cena to win the Undisputed WWE Championship (37:43)
This was a genuinely enjoyable street fight, and the best Cena has looked in forever. He’s been in entertaining no-rules matches before, and this was up there with those. The drama around Cena’s final run certainly helped. It did go too long, but this was likely Cena’s last title match, so I’m sure they wanted to leave no doubt who the winner was in the end.
However, none of that really matters because of how the show ended. A mixed bag of a SummerSlam could have ended on a high note, but instead came crashing furiously down to earth.
