By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE SummerSlam Night One Countdown Show
East Rutherford, New Jersey at MetLife Stadium
Streamed live August 2, 2025, on social media and Peacock (and Netflix internationally)
-Michael Cole hosted the pre-show. He narrated arrival/backstage shots of Gunther, CM Punk, and Jey Uso.
-Cole and pre-show panelists Big E and Wade Barrett were set up on a platform in front of the stadium, with fans standing behind them. Cole stood up and tried to lead a J-E-T-S chant for his favorite NFL team.
-Jackie Redmond and Peter Rosenberg checked in from the main floor inside the stadium. Byron Saxton and Cathy Kelley spoke from the parking lot where they stood in front of a loud truck for some strange reason. Sam Roberts and Megan Morant were shown talking in a backstage area inside the stadium.
-WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was interviewed by Saxton in a backstage area. Stratton said she didn’t think anyone expected her to hold the title as long as she has. She said she would show she’s the future and now by walking out with her title.
-Footage aired of Jelly Roll’s appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast. He said that when he walks to the ring at SummerSlam, he will weigh less than 300 lbs. for the first time since middle school. Good for him.
-Joe Tessitore spoke from what appeared to be a loading area just outside the stadium.
-Cole said this will be his 28th SummerSlam event. He recalled watching Bruno Sammartino with his grandmother on a New York television station. There was a “Michael Cole” chant, which Cole thanked the fans for.
-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez were interviewed inside the stadium by Roberts. They played up Charlotte Flair’s inability to work with others, and the lack of time that she and Alexa Bliss have been together as a team.
-Peter Rosenberg checked in from the nosebleed seats. He said that’s where you’ll find “the realist wrestling fans on earth.”
-Cole questioned why none of the male backstage interviewers have hair. Stop hating on my bald brothers, Cole!
-Jackie Redmond and Peter Rosenberg joined Big E at the desk, replacing Cole and Barrett. Redmond narrated backstage shots of Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, Randy Orton, and Jelly Roll.
-The first part of Redmond’s sit-down interview with Jelly Roll aired. He recalled seeing Rock vs. Steve Austin when he was 13. He said he doesn’t want to take anyone’s spot; he wants to bring value to WWE. Jelly Roll recalled pleading with the company to let him wrestle if he continued to lose weight. Paul Levesque told him they would love to have him and encouraged him to get healthy. He recalled being miserable when he was morbidly obese. He said he’s not dying now, he’s living right. He said he’s never felt more alive.
-Actor and comedian Druski joined the panel at their desk. Rosenberg asked him about appearing in the ring. Druski asked the crowd. He joked that he just likes doing that. He said maybe, and you never know regarding a match. He continued to yell random things to the crowd, which got laughs out of the panelists.
-Redmond said the main card will open with Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.
-Time stood still while Saxton hosted a cosplay contest. A kid who dressed like Cody Rhodes beat the adult contestants.
-Joe Tessitore spoke with Paul Levesque in the Gorilla Position. Levesque expressed enthusiasm for SummerSlam and also said the response to WWE Unreal has been incredible. Levesque spoke about how people who normally do not appear onscreen are getting that opportunity. Tessitore pointed to the buttons that Levesque uses to communicate with various people. Tessitore said Levesque frequently tells them to listen to the fans.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn in the backstage area. She said his mood seemed different, and his focus seemed fractured. Zayn said he felt a little angry. He said it hit him when he walked through the stadium and saw 65,000 seats. He said he saw the big names on the poster. He complained about having to prove himself to Karrion Kross. Zayn said he is who he says he is, and he would put an end to things tonight, “one way or the other.”
-The panelists plugged Karrion Kross’s “Life Is Fighting” book, which will be available on Tuesday.
-The second part of Redmond’s interview with Jelly Roll aired. They aired a video package of him training at the WWE Performance Center. Undertaker and Matt Bloom praised his work ethic. Jelly Roll said he’s called his wife to ask if this is real. “F— Logan Paul,” Jelly Roll said in a censored moment. Redmond laughed and said they were using that footage.
-Additional footage aired of Jelly Roll’s appearance on Stephanie McMahion’s podcast. He said his goal is to be on the cover of Men’s Health in March 2026, and a “shirt off cover” in 2027. He said he’s way off from that now, but he’s been putting in the work.
Powell’s POV: The more I hear Jelly Roll talk, the more I like him.
-Stephanie McMahon joined Redmond and Big E, who moved to a new location inside the stadium. Stephanie said Jelly Roll made his goal by weighing in at 299 lbs. today. Big E asked Steph about the possibility of returning to the ring. Stephanie said she can’t hang with the women. She said she could be the mouthpiece.
-Tessitore walked down the ramp. Ring announcer Alicia Taylor made her entrance while Tessitore spoke from ringside. Taylor told Tessitore that this was her first SummerSlam and she was excited. Tessitore played up the mystery of which match would open the show. Oops. Redmond reiterated that it would be Reigns and Uso vs. Breakker and Reed.
-Breland performed “God Bless America” on the stage, and then jets flew over the stadium.
Join me for my live review of SummerSlam in a seperate report available via the main page.
Stephanie dressing like a soccer mom on her podcast.lol