John Cena’s the bad guy? CM Punk is back? Roman Reigns and Jey Uso are reunited?
In anticipation of the first-ever two-night SummerSlam hosted at MetLife Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, here’s a quick review to get you up to speed on the most recent goings on in the WWE.
Both nights will be jam-packed with action for both new and old WWE fans. And, with this being touted as one of the biggest events of the year for the company, who knows what surprises might be in store?
Night One: Saturday
With six scheduled matches on the card, Saturday night’s show is set to be a must-watch, especially for fans of old-school names, like CM Punk.
Saturday’s slate includes a match between Sami Zayn and Karrion Kross, who have been at odds recently, with Kross encouraging Zayn to explore a different side of himself: the darker side. Zayn is a veteran wrestler who has consistently held the title of underdog, so it may be interesting if this match is his final breaking point into a new path for him.
The WWE Tag Team Women’s Championship is also on the line on Saturday, featuring The Judgment Day’s Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez defending their title against the unlikely pairing of Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. The latter couple have become a solid pairing, although Bliss noted on Friday Night Smackdown that Flair “doesn’t like using the F-word” (friend, in this case). This should be a fun match for all fans, especially considering the potential for storylines both within the match and following it.
Two more tag team matches will take place on Night One, but these are personal.
The first match is between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. During a Gauntlet Match, which decided who would face Gunther for his World Heavyweight Championship, CM Punk was attacked by Reed, prompting Uso to come to his rescue. While Reed and Uso sparred outside the ring, the match continued, where Punk was able to perform his signature GTS move, essentially a knee to the head, causing his opponent to “go to sleep” and win the one-fall. After the pin, the assault by Reed and Breakker continued until the all too familiar music of Roman Reigns interrupted, with him settling the score. His return excited fans and should make for an entertaining tag match on Saturday.
The other tag team match added some spice on Friday Night Smackdown. Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre will face off against country music star Jelly Roll and Randy Orton. On Smackdown, Paul called out Jelly Roll, calling him an outsider, saying that he doesn’t belong—rich coming from Paul—and ultimately, stating that Jelly Roll is “a country star, not a super star, and [that he] will never, ever belong here.” The camera then cut to an SUV pulling into the Prudential Center, bringing Jelly Roll to New Jersey, prompting McIntyre to claim that if he walked into the ring on Friday night, no match would happen on Saturday. Following McIntyre’s statement, Orton popped out as well, both he and Jelly Roll heading into the ring. The two ambushed Paul and McIntyre with a horde of security personnel pouring out from backstage. McIntyre and Paul were able to flee the ring, mostly with bruised egos. With the crowd chanting “RKO, RKO, RKO,” Orton performed his signature move on two security guards before encouraging Jelly Roll to choke slam a third, sending the Newark crowd into a frenzy. With tensions at an all-time high, this is shaping up to be an intriguing showdown.
Tiffany Stratton will also look to defend her WWE Women’s Championship from Jade Cargill, whom she rescued on last week’s SmackDown. On Friday night, Stratton claimed it was just so she could beat Cargill fair and square, with no excuses left on the floor when she wins.
Finally, a one-fall match for the World Heavyweight Championship between CM Punk and defending champion Gunther will likely headline as the main event for Saturday night’s card. Punk has not seen the glory of a title since his long-awaited return to the universe and fans would likely explode seeing him win against an athletic and prepared Gunther on Saturday night.
Night Two: Sunday
If you thought Saturday night’s card was crazy, then boy, oh boy, are you in for a treat on Sunday. Six more matches are scheduled for the Sunday night show of the first-ever two-night SummerSlam. All six matches are for a title.
The WWE Tag Team Championship is on the line in a six-way tables, ladders, and chairs match. The infamous TLC match was coined 25 years ago at SummerSlam, so it’s only fitting that this six-pack tag team match draws attention to the weekend. The teams have been at each other’s throats for weeks, so Nick Aldis, Smackdown General Manager, announced that the only way to settle the score would be through a brutal TLC match. For old-school fans, this should be quite the thrill. And for new fans, prepare to watch through your fingers.
Another match featuring more than two contestants is the Triple Threat match between Naomi, Iyo Sky, and Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship. Ripley and Sky were in the middle of a thrilling match at Evolution, the women’s exclusive pay-per-view, when Naomi cashed in her Money in the Bank contract, which allows her to fight for the title at any time she chooses. Naomi won the title and both Sky and Ripley feel cheated. Is it possible that fans see the two team up to eliminate Naomi so they can have it out of the way, as they intended?
The women’s side of the card should prove to be must-watch TV, especially with Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria in a brutal no disqualification rematch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Considering the attempted attack with a kendo stick by Lynch did not work out in her favor on Monday Night RAW, The Man will likely be out for blood.
The Intercontinental Championship is also up for grabs in a match featuring Dominik Mysterio and AJ Styles. With Mysterio finally medically cleared to wrestle, Styles is ready for his chance to finally come. The two were supposed to face off earlier, but Mysterio always had a doctor’s note handy; however, there will be no note to save him on Sunday.
Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu will meet in a steel cage to determine the United States Championship title. After Sikoa’s attempted framing of Fatu for a car accident, civility has been out of the question. Following a match between Talla Tonga and Jimmy Uso on Smackdown, Solo and his camp attacked Uso and demanded that the cage be brought down. Solo slipped out unharmed, leaving Uso to fend for himself after having been brutalized by Tonga. Just before the cage could fully descend, Fatu ran out, coming to Uso’s rescue and obliterating Solo’s camp, sending a message.
And for what is the most anticipated match of the weekend: John Cena versus Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. During the Elimination Chamber match back in March, Cena attacked Rhodes at the behest of The Rock, turning heel for the first time in his long career with the WWE. Cena’s career was always founded on respect, which is part of what made him the greatest: he didn’t have to cheat to win. The last few months have been a slippery slope for Cena: disrespecting fellow wrestlers, refusing to answer media questions, and being rude to fans who had differing opinions about him—a true villain. Earlier in the summer, Cena told Rhodes he was tired and that their match at SummerSlam wasn’t a good idea on the last leg of his farewell tour. Rhodes, not accepting any excuses, “forced” Cena into participating in a street fight match set to take place on Sunday night.
Shockingly, on Friday Night Smackdown, Cena opened the show by goading Rhodes for forcing him into “one of the most dangerous matches,” but followed up by thanking Rhodes. Cena claimed it was the kick he needed to see the light. He said that he had a 25-year career based on respect, and he flushed it all down the toilet in March. Cena wants August 1, 2025, to be remembered as a significant date. Remembered as the day that John Cena came back to the WWE. Cena and Rhodes shared a beer on stage to an enormous applause: the babyface of all faces was back, and no one could be upset. What does this mean for Sunday? With “tensions” mostly resolved, WWE fans should anticipate one of the best fights between two of the best wrestlers at this stage of the WWE. Although you never know if someone may come along to ruin that.
SummerSlam kicks off on Saturday at 6 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.
