By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE SummerSlam (Night Two)
East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium
Streamed live August 3, 2025, on Peacock (and Netflix internationally)
Ring announcer Alicia Taylor introduced Tigirlily Gold, who performed “America the Beautiful” inside the ring…
Michael Cole welcomed viewers to the show and then narrated backstage/arrival shots of Solo Sikoa and his crew, Jacob Fatu, Lyra Valkyria, Becky Lynch, and Cody Rhodes. Cole listed the attendance as being over 56,000… Druski hosted a SummerSlam video package…
Cole, who was joined on commentary by Wade Barrett, said it was 82 degrees and there was a light breeze…
Paul Levesque was introduced by Taylor while standing at ringside. Levesque entered the ring while one of his entrance themes played. Levesque said this is the moment, and this was “your time.” He said the fans were all a part of the biggest SummerSlam in history. “And if you thought last night was something, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” Levesque said. He ran through the “Are You Ready” schtick and welcomed fans to the biggest SummerSlam in history. Pyro shot off on the stage…
Rhea Ripley made her entrance for the Women’s World Championship match. Barrett called Ripley the face of women’s wrestling in the present era, but then he questioned how she could be without holding the championship. Iyo Sky’s entrance followed. Cole and Barrett were shown at their desk, and then the Spanish broadcast team of Marcelo Rodriguez and Jerry Soto spoke briefly. Naomi’s father, Shawn McCray, played guitar on the stage for her cool entrance…
1. Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky in a Triple Threat for the Women’s World Championship. Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Jessika Carr was the referee. Cole said Naomi has never won at SummerSlam. Cole said Sky was 8-1 in Triple Threat matches.
Naomi exited the ring when the bell rang. Ripley and Sky turned at looked at her. Ripley exited the ring and waved at Naomi, who turned and walked the other way, where Sky stood. Ripley and Sky chased Naomi back inside the ring and then took turns punching her.
Naomi took offensive control and hit a top rope Blockbuster on Ripley for a two count. Sky returned to the ring, but Naomi cleared her from the ring with a boot to the face. Ripley came back and got the better of Naomi, who was then hit by a springboard dropkick from Sky. Ripley applauded and joined in on Sky’s bit where Sky points at herself. Ripley cleared Naomi from the ring.
Ripley and Sky smiled at one another and then fought. Ripley got Sky in Electric Chair position and dropped her face-first on the mat. Ripley set up for her finisher, but Sky countered into a pin for a two count. Sky applied a crossface briefly, then released it and threw a kick at Ripley’s face. Sky hit Ripley with a Poison Rana. Sky covered Ripley, but Naomi returned to the ring to break up the pin. The first “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Moments later, Ripley performed a Razor’s Edge and a powerbomb on Sky. Ripley went for the pin, but Naomi stood on the floor and pulled Ripley to ringside. Naomi tried to return to the ring, but Ripley stopped her and ran her into the ring steps. Sky hit both women with an Asai moonsault.
Back inside the ring, Sky hit double knees on Ripley and Naomi in opposite corners. Sky went to the ropes to set up for her finisher on Naomi, but Ripley ran over and shoved Sky on the ring post. Ripley climbed the ropes behind Sky, but Naomi kicked Ripley down and covered her. Naomi rolled off of Ripley and then Sky hit Over the Moonsault on Ripley.
Naomi drilled Sky with a running knee strike. Ripley hit Naomi with a Riptide and had her beat, but Sky broke it up at the last moment. Ripley caught a charging Sky with a kick and then jumped from the apron and hit Naomi with a cannonball on the floor. Sky appeared to be setting up for a sunset bomb on Ripley, but she took a few steps and then powerbombed Ripley onto Naomi.
Sky got Ripley back inside the ring and set up for her finisher, but Ripley cut her off. They fought for position, and eventually Ripley headbutted Sky and then hit an avalanche Riptide. Naomi returned to the ring, rolled up Ripley, and held the tights while getting the three count.
Naomi defeated Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky in a Triple Threat in 16:20 to retain the Women’s World Championship.
Cole said Ripley was snakebit. He explained that Ripley had seemed to have the title won again, but Naomi stole the pin. Ripley was upset about Naomi holding her tights, but Cole correctly pointed out that there were no disqualifications in the Triple Threat match…
Powell’s POV: A strong match. It wasn’t as good as the Sky vs. Ripley match that headlined Evolution, but it was still fun. It didn’t help that Naomi just won the title by cashing in at that same Evolution show, so it seemed unlikely that she would drop the title this soon.
Paul Levesque was featured in an ad for SummerSlam 2026 that will be held on August 1-2 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at U.S. Bank Stadium. A drone shot aired over U.S. Bank Stadium while Cole plugged next year’s event…
Powell’s POV: It’s an indoor stadium, but just to give you a feel for the weather in the Twin Cities at this time of the year, it’s currently 74 degrees. We’ll be back in the upper eighties by mid-week. It gets humid, but we do have real summers here despite the fact that some people seem to think we live in a blizzard that never ends.
NBA star Tyrese Haliburton, Nick Hogan, and Michelle McCool were shown in the crowd…
Alicia Taylor introduced “The Dudley Boyz” Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley, and then Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy as two of the teams that took part in the original TLC match. Both teams were shown seated separately in the crowd. Cole hyped their final meeting for TNA Bound For Glory…
Entrances for the TLC match took place. The challenging teams received fairly basic entrances, while the Wyatts had their usual entrance with the rocking chair and lantern on the stage. Howdy grabbed the lantern and then sat down on the chair. Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy headed to the ring while their allies stayed on the stage…
2. Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy (w/Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross) vs. “Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa vs. Andrade and Rey Fenix vs. “Fraxiom” Axiom and Nathan Frazer in a TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Titles. There were tables, ladders, and chairs set up at ringside. The Profits attempted to backdrop Gacy onto a ladder that was leaning against the top rope in the middle of the ring, but he missed the ladder and rolled to the floor. Ford went to ringside, threw him back in the ring, and then he and Ford repeated the backdrop, and this time Gacy landed on the ladder, which got a rise out of the crowd.
Bubba and D-Von were shown in the crowd. The Profits stacked two sponsored tables on the floor. In the ring, Andrade tried to launch Fenix up to the belts. Fenix got a hand on the belts, but the Profits cut them off. Gargano used a DDT off the apron to put Gacy through a table. Lumis jumped from the top rope and put Ford through another table with a leg drop.
Fenix performed a top rope frog splash that put ?? through a table. Dawkins went up top, but Axiom cut him off. Ciampa rolled off a table below them, and then Fenix frog splashed Frazer through another table.
Candice LeRae and B-Fab came out and made plays for the belts that were hanging above the ring. Nikki Cross took out B-Fab. LeRae climbed the ladder while Gargano held it in place. LeRae got a hand on the belts before her ladder was tipped over, and LeRae crashed through a ladder bridge that went over the apron and the broadcast table. Wow.
Erick Rowan ran in and was eventually shoulder-blocked by the Profits through a table that was leaning in a corner of the ring. Ciampa made a play for the belts, but the Guns pulled the ladder out from under him, leaving Ciampa hanging from the belt. Frazer went for a spear, but Ciampa pulled himself up to avoid it. Gargano placed a ladder under Ciampa, who dropped onto it. Ford raced up and knocked Ciampa down.
Ford got his hands on the belts, but Axiom cut him off. Six wrestlers ended up on two ladders attempting to grab the belts. Uncle Howdy tipped over the first ladder, and then he tipped over the second, which sent Gargano and Ciampa crashing through the stacked sponsored tables. Frazer raced up the ladder. Howdy applied the Mandible Claw and then let Frazer fall off the ladder. Andrade did a sunset bomb that sent Howdy crashing onto a ladder bridge.
Eventually, Lumis and Gacy hit their double-team finisher on Fenix. Lumis stood guard while Gacy climbed the ladder and pulled the title belts down…
Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy defeated “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, Andrade and Rey Fenix, and “Fraxiom” Axiom and Nathan Frazer in a TLC match in 16:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: I tried to hit some of the highlights, but I took the sit back and enjoy approach to this match rather than try to keep up with everything. I get the idea of getting all of these deserving teams a spot on the card, and they all added something to the match, but I actually prefer fewer teams because it allows for more storytelling beyond the carnage. Again, though, really hard work and some crazy spots. LeRae had the biggest bump of the match. Hopefully, she’s okay. She sailed right through the cut ladder, so it didn’t slow her down before she hit the floor.
Cole mentioned Paul Levesque appearing at the White House for the return of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, and still shots of the ceremony were shown…
Highlights aired of Seth Rollins cashing in the Money in the Bank contract at SummerSlam night one, while they played audio of the match call in various languages…
A video package set up the Women’s Intercontinental Championship match. Lyra Valkyria made her entrance first. Becky Lynch debuted new entrance music…
3. Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria in a no disqualification, no count-out match for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Per the match stipulations, Valkyria won’t be allowed to challenge Lynch for the title again if she loses. Valkyria went for an early dropkick through the ropes, but Lynch moved and then shoved Valkyria into the side of the broadcast table.
Lynch grabbed a kendo stick. Valkyria grabbed a crowbar and knocked the kendo stick out of Lynch’s hands. Valkyria tried to hit Lynch with the crowbar, but she moved, causing Valkyria to hit the ring steps. Moments later, Valkyria ran Lynch toward the barricade, but she ran into a photographer, who stayed on his feet and seemed fine. Valkyria ran Lynch into the ring post (there are no cases for the ring posts due to the cage match).
Valkyria set up a sponsored table. Lynch hooked her mouth from behind with a chain and then ran her into the ring steps. Back inside the ring, Lynch worked over Valkyria with a kendo stick. Lynch used it to perform a side Russian Leg Sweep, which led to the first two count of the match. Lynch swung the kendo stick into Valkyria’s ribs and then acted like she was watching a baseball soar.
Lynch wound up for a golf shot with the kendo stick. Valkyria avoided it, while Cole mentioned Lynch’s role in Happy Gilmore 2. Lynch pulled a toolbox and chairs out from underneath the ring and then placed them in a corner of the ring. Lynch worked over Valkyria with one of the chairs. Valkyria showed signs of life, but Lynch used a drop toe hold that sent her face-first on top of one of the chairs.
Lynch pulled a zip tie out of the toolbox and tied Valkyria’s wrists together in front of her body. Lynch grabbed a wrench and beat Valkyria with it. Valkyria ended up at ringside and tried to use the steps to cut the zip tie, but Lynch cut her off and then put Valkyria’s hands over the ring post and beat her with a kendo stick.
Lynch freed Valkyria from the ring post and threw her back inside the ring. Lynch went up top and performed a leg drop that led to a two count. Lynch placed two tables next to one another and then kicked the toolbox out of the ring. Lynch went for a Manhandle Slam, but Valkryia blocked it and got her zip-tied hands around Lynch’s back. Valkyria performed a belly-to-belly suplex. Valkyria jumped off the chairs and dropkicked Lynch.
Valkyria went to the ropes and executed a moonsault that led to a two count. Valkyria slammed Lynch’s head on the two chairs that were set up in the ring. Valkyria removed a turnbuckle pad with the goal of cutting the zip tie, but Lynch cut her off and ran her through the ropes and into a ring post. Valkyria ended up at ringside. Lynch looked around and couldn’t find her.
Lynch went to ringside and pulled up the ring skirting. Valkyria sprayed a fire extinguisher at her. Valkyria tried to free herself using the fire extinguisher, but she gave up and crawled under the ring and used something to free herself while the camera was focused on Lynch, who grabbed a kendo stick. Valkyria blocked the kendo stick shot and then worked over Lynch with it.
Back inside the ring, Valkyria performed a fisherman’s suplex and got a two count. Lynch went to ringside and grabbed a chair. Valkyria dropkicked the chair through the ropes. Lynch and Valkyria fought on the ring steps. Valkyria stuffed a Manhandle Slam and then jumped off the steps while hitting Night Wing on the floor. Cole pointed out that the pin had to occur inside the ring.
Both wrestlers returned to the ring. Valkyria charged Lynch, who moved, sending Valkyria crashing into the exposed turnbuckle. Lynch gave Valkyria a Mandhandle Slam onto the two chairs that were set up. Lynch covered Valkyria for a good near fall. Valkyria rolled to the floor, and Lynch followed.
Lynch slammed a chair over Valkyria’s back and then grabbed her head and slammed it on a chair repeatedly. Lynch hooked a chair around Valkyria and kicked her, then stood her up and ran her into the side of the Spanish broadcast table while she still had the chair wrapped around her. Lynch climbed on top of the table and then jumped down and kicked Valkyria, who was left lying on the mat while still stuck inside the chair.
Lynch grabbed a crowbar while Cole wondered if the referee could call off the match. Lynch wound up to use the crowbar, but Bayley showed up and took it away from her (after an awkward second where Lynch had to wait for Bayley). Lynch spoke to Bayley and encouraged her to hit Valkyria. Bayley threw the crowbar down. Lynch wrapped a chain around her fist. Bayley worked over Lynch with punches and ran her into the barricade twice. Bayley went for a running knee, but Lynch avoided it, and Bayley tumbled into the front row.
Lynch pulled herself to her feet using a sponsored table. Valkyria flew back into the picture and leg dropped Lynch through the table. Back in the ring, Lynch slipped out of a Night Wing attempt, but Valkyria took her down with an arm drag. Lynch stood up near the ropes. Bayley stood on the apron and swung at Lynch, who ducked, causing Bayley to accidentally hit Valkyria instead. Lynch hit the Manhandle Slam and scored the pin…
Becky Lynch defeated Lyra Valkyria in a no disqualification, no count-out match in 25:05 to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
Powell’s POV: Great effort from both wrestlers. The match was laid out in a way that made Lynch look sadistic, yet more importantly, made Valkyria look like she had heart for hanging in there despite everything Lynch did to her. I wasn’t surprised by Bayley’s involvement, but I mistakenly suspected that she would turn heel and help Lynch retain the championship. Will this lead to Valkyria dressig up as a crazy masked bird woman so that she can get another title shot?
Jelly Roll was shown in the crowd. He played to the crowd and then sold jaw pain from his match the night before. Metro Boomin and Tigirlily Gold were shown elsewhere in the crowd. New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson was shown holding a Giants’ replica title belt with his kids…
The cage started to lower while the cage-lowering music played. Cole set up a video package on the U.S. Championship match. Solo Sikoa made his entrance without his usual sidekicks. Jacob Fatu’s entrance wearing a werewolf mask…
4. Solo Sikoa vs. Jacob Fatu in a cage match for the U.S. Championship. Cole said it was the fifth cage match in SummerSlam history, and the first since 2001. Daphanie LaShaunn was the referee. Fatu mounted Solo in the corner and headbutted him several times. Solo came back by backdropping Faut against the cage.
Solo said he gave Fatu everything. Solo ran Fatu into the cage. Cole said the last time Solo was pinned was when Roman Reigns beat him on the Raw on Netflix premiere back in January.
Solo had ringside referee Ryan Tran open the cage door. Solo went for a Samoan Spike, but Fatu ducked it and then superkicked Solo. Fatu clotheslined Solo, and both wrestlers stayed down. They traded punches as they got to their feet. Fatu got the better of it and ran Solo into cage three times.
Solo ran Fatu into the cage, but he no-sold it. Fatu put Solo down with a DDT and then hit him with two double jump moonsaults that led to a near fall. Cole asked if that was the first time that someone had kicked out of a Fatu moonsault. Barrett said absolutely.
Talla Tonga, JC Mateo, and Tonga Loa ran out. Jimmy Uso’s entrance theme played. Jimmy popped up at ringside without making an entrance. Jimmy dropped Mateo and Loa with superkicks. Talla put Jimmy down with a big boot and then ran him into the side of the cage. Talla tossed Jimmy over the Spanish broadcast table.
Solo tried to leave through the cage door, but Fatu stopped him. Fatu barked at ringside referee Tran about locking the cage door, and then Tran complied. Fatu turned around and ate a Samoan Spike, which led to a near fall for Solo.
Solo tried to escape over the top of the cage. Solo stood on the top rope and pulled Fatu back inside the cage. Mateo and Loa climbed the side of the cage. Fatu knocked Mateo down. Loa got inside the cage. Talla climbed to the top of the cage and then handcuffed Fatu to it.
Mateo unlocked the cage door. Fatu freed himself somehow and then stopped Solo from leaving. Cole said he had no idea who Fatu got loose. Solo tried to escape again. Fatu stopped him again, but this time Talla swung the cage door at Fatu’s head. Solo escaped through the cage door to win the match.
Solo Sikoa defeated Jacob Fatu in a steel cage match in 12:40 to retain the U.S. Championship.
Afterward, Jimmy superkicked Mateo and threw him inside the ring with Fatu and Loa. Fatu went to the top of the cage while Mateo and Loa were standing in the ring. Fatu performed a moonsault onto both men…
Powell’s POV: Cage matches are a joke. The original concept was that no one could get in or out. For some reason, the creative forces in pro wrestling seem to take it as a challenge to find new and not-so-exciting ways to have wrestlers interfere during almost every cage match. It happens so frequently that I stopped looking forward to cage matches a long time ago. And don’t even get me started on the silliness of Fatu breaking the handcuffs.
An ad aired for WWE Clash in Paris, which has a 1CT/2ET start time on Sunday, August 31… Cole also hyped AAA Triplemania for August 16 on the WWE YouTube page. Mr. Iguana and Psycho Clown were shown in the crowd, just as they were the day before…
A video package set up the Intercontinental Title match. Dominik Mysterio made his entrance. Cole said Dom was wearing a prototype of what his father wore during the match between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero for custody of Dom. AJ Styles drove a lowrider to the ring, which Cole said was also a tribute to that match, which happened 20 years earlier. Cole said Styles was wearing gear like Eddie wore during the match. Barrett said the message to Dom was that Styles is his papi…
5. Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Championship. Eddie Orengo was the referee. There were dueling chants for the champion and challenger. Styles jumped out to the quick start, but Dom came back and dove from the top rope onto Styles on the floor.
The sun was down, and a lot of fans did the firefly bit with their phones. Styles set up for his finisher, but he had to roll through when Dom avoided it. Dom put Styles down with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Styles came back with a brainbuster. Styles went for a top rope frog splash, but Dom put his knees up.
Dom kicked Styles into position and then hit him with a 619. Dom went up top and jumped toward Styles (no idea what he was supposedly going for), but Styles caught his leg on the way down and put him in a Calf Crusher. Dom reached the ropes to break the hold.
Styles crashed and burned in the corner. Dom removed a turnbuckle pad and threw it to the floor. The referee went to ringside and retrieved the pad and reattached it. Meanwhile, Dom went to the floor and returned with a chair. Dom slammed the chair on the mat and then dropped down on the mat. Styles put the chair around his neck and joined Dom on the mat in a funny Eddie Guerrero tribute spot.
Styles caught Dom in a Calf Crusher. The idea was that Dom’s boot would come off to free him, but Styles had to pull it off. Styles lunged at Dom, who ducked, and the referee ducked between the ropes to avoid Styles. Dom hit Styles with the belt while the referee was distracted. Dom followed up with a frog splash and got the three count.
Dominik Mysterio beat AJ Styles in 10:45 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
After the match, they showed highlights of Dom loosening his boot while the broadcast team marveled over Dom planning for that to happen…
Powell’s POV: The Eddie vs. Rey callbacks surely worked for some, while younger or newer fans relied on the broadcast team to let them know what was happening. The idea that Dom loosened his boot because he knew Styles would go for the Calf Crusher felt contrived, but I still enjoyed the match.
An ad aired for next week’s WWF LFG… Cole said it was 75 degrees in the stadium…
Stephanie McMahon stood in the ring and was introduced by Alicia Taylor. Stephanie announced the attendance as 60,561. She said the two-night attendance was 113,722, making it the biggest SummerSlam in history. Pyro shot off above the stage…
Footage aired from the TLC match with international broadcast teams calling the action…
Cole plugged the post-show and a Monday recap show. He also pointed out a military veteran who had his seat upgraded due to a sponsor…
A video package set up the main event. Cody wore a gold American Nightmare mask and was slowly raised from underneath the stage. John Cena made his entrance and played to the crowd in an over-the-top manner, including strutting from one side of the stage to the other. Cena looked into the camera and asked, “Do you have a run in you? Let’s run then.” Cena said it was time to go to work and then ran down the entrance ramp. Cena was cheered loudly when he held up his title belt. “We’re back,” Cena said. Cody smiled as he watched Cena play to the crowd…
6. John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes in a Street Fight for the WWE Championship. Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. It sounded like there were more boos than cheers for Cody. Cena put his arm around Taylor while she introduced him as the greatest of all time. Cena saluted and then did the “you can’t see me” hand gesture. Cena kissed the title belt while she introduced him as the last real champion.
There were loud chants for Cena before referee Dan Engler called for the bell to start the match. A lot of fans stood, and there were dueling chants as Cena and Cody met in the middle of the ring. Cena hugged Cody. They spoke and then threw punches at one another to start the match. Cena tossed Cody to the floor and followed. Cody ran Cena into the ring steps.
Cena came right back and ran Cody into the ring steps. Cena approached Tyrese Haliburton, did the “you can’t see me” hand gesture, and grabbed Haliburton’s crutch, which he slammed over Cody’s back. Cena brought the bottom half of the ring steps inside the ring. Cody cut off Cena and then slammed him on the steps. Cody went up top, but Cena shot up and pushed Cena to the floor. Cena picked up the ring steps and threw them at Cody, who grabbed his arm in pain.
Back in the ring, Cody caught Cena with a Disaster Kick. Cody used a side Russian Leg Sweep to get a quick two count. Cody did a drop-down uppercut and covered Cena for two. Cody powerslammed Cena and got another two count. Cody pounded the mat and then ran toward Cena, who launched him over the top rope to the floor.
Both wrestlers went to ringside and returned with chairs. They slammed the chairs together, and then both men dropped them. Cody kicked one chair to the floor and then picked up the other and slammed it over Cena’s back. Cody wedged the chair in a corner of the ring, but Cena reversed a whip, sending Cody crashing into the chair.
Cena put Cody down with shoulder blocks and then slammed him to the mat. Cena signaled for the Five Knuckle Shuffle before hitting the move. Cena hoisted up Cody, who slipped away and clotheslined him. Cody threw punches and a bionic elbow at Cena before connecting with a Cody Cutter that led to a near fall.
Cena hoisted up Cody and put him down with an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. Cena went for the STF, but Cody kicked him away. Cody went to the ropes and dove onto Cena for a near fall. Cody hit a Disaster Kick. Cody hit another Cody Cutter for a two count. Cena powered up Cody in the Electric Chair and then dropped to the mat and covered him for a near fall.
Cody performed a piledriver on Cena for a near fall. Barrett said the move is technically banned in WWE. A “you can’t do that” chant broke out. The referee checked on Cena. Cody opted to go after Cena anyway. Cena acted like he was out cold, but then shot up and put Cody down with an AA, which left both men down on the mat.
Both wrestlers traded punches once they were on their feet. Cody powerbombed Cena, who then countered into an STF. Cody scrambled and reached the ropes. Barrett pointed out that there are no rope breaks in a Street Fight. Cody went under the bottom rope. Cena maintained the hold until he had to release it because he was being choked by the bottom rope.
Cena followed Cody to the floor. Cody tossed Cena over the barricade into the timekeepers’ area. Cena hit Cody with a mic and then followed up with a Destroyer on the floor. Cena looked into the camera and smiled as he cleared the Spanish broadcast table. Cena placed Cody on the English broadcast table and then joined him. Cena hoisted up Cody and gave him an AA through the Spanish broadcast table. Cena rolled Cody back inside the ring and covered him for a near fall.
Cena charged Cody, who moved, causing Cena to crash and burn in the corner. Cody hit CrossRhodes for a good near fall. Cody sat Cena on the top turnbuckle and then joined him on the ropes. Cena fought back and headbutted Cody to the mat. Cody jumped from the ropes and hit a leg drop to the back of Cody’s neck. Cena hit an AA and covered Cody for another good near fall.
Cena went to the floor and pulled a sponsored table out from underneath the ring, and then set it up inside the ring. Cena smirked as he waited for Cody to turn around. Cena hoisted him up, but Cody pushed the table over and put Cena down with a DDT for a two count. Cody placed the sponsored table in a corner of the ring. Cody tried to whip Cena at the table, but Cena reversed it, and Cody stopped short.
Both men ended up on the floor. Cody tossed Cena over the barricade and then followed him into the crowd, where they fought amongst the fans. Cody raked Cena’s back. Cena grabbed a piece of the barricade and rammed Cody with it twice. Cena leaned the barricade against another barricade and set up Cody for a move, but Cody countered with a suplex that launched Cena onto the barricade.
Cena sent Cody through a curtain and followed him under the stage. Cena smirked as he had Cody on his shoulders as they were slowly elevated via the Codyvator. Cena gave Cody an AA on the stage. Cena grabbed Cody and put him over his shoulders, and then walked down the ramp and dumped Cody inside the ring.
Cena sold being tired before entering the ring. Cody grabbed him and ran him through the table set up in the corner of the ring. Cody hit CrossRhodes for a near fall. Cody charged Cena, who pulled the top rope down, sending Cody tumbling to the floor. Cody grabbed a chair and hit Cena with it (Cena wisely put his hands up).
Cody unscrewed the bottom turnbuckle and then slammed it over the head of Cena. There were boos from the crowd. Cena shook his head as he waited for Cena to stand up. Once Cena was back on his feet, Cody hit him with the turnbuckle again. The referee checked on Cena while Barrett said Cody begged him to call off the match. Cena got back to his feet. Cody came at him with the turnbuckle, but Cena used a drop toehold and then used the rope from the turnbuckle while applying the STF. Cody escaped and choked Cena with the rope. Cena broke free and hoisted up Cena for an AA, but Cody slipped out and hit CrossRhodes three times. Cody covered Cena, who kicked out at the last moment.
Cody showed frustration and disbelief. Cody went to ringside and grabbed the WWE Championship belt off its podium. Cody returned to the ring with the belt and shook his head. Cody waited for Cena to stand up and then ran toward him, but Cena hit him with an AA and followed up with another. Cena tossed the title belt away and placed Cody on the top turnbuckle. Cena went to the second rope, put Cody on his shoulders, and hit him with an avalanche AA for another near fall.
A “this is awesome” chant broke out while Cena sat on the mat, and Cody was lying on his back. Cena went to the floor and returned with another sponsored table that he set up in the middle of the ring. Cena sat Cody on the top turnbuckle again. Cena set up for another avalanche AA, but Cody elbowed his way free. Cody pulled Cena off the top rope with a Cody Cutter through the table. Cena got back to his feet and then fell onto the middle rope. As Cena stood up, Cody saluted him, then hit CrossRhodes and pinned him…
Cody Rhodes defeated John Cena in a Street Fight in 37:45 to win the WWE Championship.
Engler presented Cody with the title belt and raised his hand. The belt ended up on the mat. Cena picked it up and handed it to Cody, who got emotional as Cena spoke to him. Cena raised Cody’s arm. Pyro shot off above the stage. Cody shook Cena’s hand again. Cena smiled and spoke with him. Cody pointed at Cena while looking to the crowd. Cole spoke about Cena passing the torch to the man who will carry WWE into the future. Cody raised Cena’s hand, then exited the ring to let him have a moment. Cody waved from the floor before heading up the entrance ramp.
Cole said there are four months left before Cena retires. Cody’s theme stopped. A “Thank you, Cena” chant broke out. Cole told fans to enjoy it while they can because there are four months left to enjoy the greatness of Cena.
Brock Lesnar’s entrance music hit. “What?” Cole asked. “Holy shit. It’s The Beast! It’s the Beast!” A bearded Lesnar walked out wearing a black cowboy hat, a leather vest, a black t-shirt, and jeans. Lesnar headed to the ring while Cena looked stunned. Cole said it had been years. Cole said Lesnar had beaten the hell out of Cena over the years. He said Cena called Lesnar his greatest, toughest, and most physical rival.
Lesnar took a stroll around the ring and eyed up Cena. Lesnar removed his vest and his hat. Lesnar entered the ring, ducked a Cena clothesline attempt, and then put him down with an F5. Lesnar looked to the crowd. Barrett said everything we thought we knew about WWE just changed. The executive producer credits were shown. “The Beast is back and he’s hungry as hell,” Cole said before the screen went black for a moment, and then the post-show picked up where they left off.
Lesnar put his hat on, threw his vest over his shoulder, and then headed to the stage. Lesnar looked back at the ring and smiled before heading backstage. Cena sat on the apron and then scooted to his feet on the floor. Cena’s music started to play. Cena motioned for it to stop, and it did. Cena walked up the ramp while the fans cheered. Once Cena got to the stage, he unleashed his heat and saluted the fans. He teased going backstage, but he turned around again and looked at the crowd. Cena motioned that he took a mental picture, and then made his exit…
Powell’s POV: As much as I was disappointed by Cena’s heel run, it was as if he found the Fountain of Youth for this match. He worked hard and put together a hell of a brawl with Cody. They could have shaved some time off the match, but it was much better than I anticipated.
Brock Lesnar returns on the same weekend that WWE stopped holding post-PLE press conferences. Coincidence? The WWE talking heads boasted on the post-show about how nobody saw it coming. Gee, guys, why might that be?
Overall, I enjoyed night two more than night one. I will have a lot more to say about SummerSlam night two when I team up with Jake Barnett for a same-night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons), who are already listening to our night one review. Let us know what you thought of SummerSlam by voting for the match and grading the overall show below.
Check back on Monday for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jonny Fairplay and Jason Powell discussing SummerSlam.
Really smartly worked triple threat. Most of the time they feel too cooperative, but this one kept those spots to a minimum and pulled off several that actually felt organic for that type of match.
It would have been easy for Naomi to feel out of place, but they highlighted her in just the right way.
Are they selling greenshirtguy shirts at the merch table now?
Im from Duluth. Im psyched to have a Big 4 in my home state.
The obligatory three amigos!Twenty years and Eddie still can’t rest in peace.
Spot Spot Spot
Spot Spot Spot
This is Stupid (da na na, da na na na)
Fucking Stupid
The AEW portion of the show right?
110%, but the goofy ass no DQ/no count out following it is turning this into an episode of Dynamite.
Am I the only one still laughing that they did the “Presidential Fitness” plug and completely faded Linda McMahon?
why didn’t bailey
stop the pin instead of looking like a friggin idiot. after all it’s a street fught
If every match is a gimmick match then no match is a gimmick match.
At least the triple threat was laid out in a smart way. Still feel like Dom vs AJ will be the best match of the night by default.
This is currently sitting at an F despite the good opening match.
Dom/AJ/Cena/Cody need to save this show.
Keep in mind Cena/Cody is a street fight so you might hate that too!
I thought this was Summerslam not Extreme Rules!
Lol
Do they dare do a Cody heel turn tonight since the crowd is just flat out cheering Cena?
Nope. Now Cena gets to feud with Lesnar.
BROCK FUCKING LESNAR???
Isn’t Lesnar still named in the lawsuit? Ballsy move.
Hunter was at president pedo’s office, his mother in law is destroying the dept of education. His father in law is the ring leader of the sex scandal that Trips says is just allegations. Why not bring back this sicko.
Cry more.
Opening match was really good and the main event was good enough, but that Lesnar appearance is the most shocked I’ve been in a while. Perfect person for a 4 month feud and Cena going out conquering the beast one more time.
Oh, and a B/B+ for night one with a D+ for night two.
Oh thank goodness… I might’ve burned out the refresh button waiting for your special grades. The one thing you can’t lose at is cringe. Unmatched. Nicely done!
Shock that you had problems with every element of the show, but are fine with someone involved in a sex trafficking lawsuit returning.
Two more nail UselessOne to the wall. I’m sure he tells his buddies (who actually work a job) and the women he tries to meet online that he runs this site.
“I’Ve BeEn BuSY TypINg WresTling ThOugHtZ on MA SiTe”
Get your facts straight. He’s not “involved in a sex trafficking lawsuit.” Unless you can tell us the crime he’s being accused of. Two years of this nonsense.
Exactly. Lesnar’s name is mentioned due to the allegations that Vince offered to send him photos. Not that it even happened, just that it was offered.
Someone whose “involvement” is his boss offering to send photos that we have no evidence were ever sent?
So now we know why Cena turned face.
BRRRROOOOCK LESNAAAARRR!!
I really think hogan dieing changed the cena storyline for some reason. I also think its smart for cenas final face match is against the guy who killed him last time they met in the ring.
Apologies for the question as I don’t watch WWE weekly television but watch most of the PLEs; was the end of Cena’s heel run really just him turning up one week and saying “actually, forget all of that” and everyone else just saying “ok”?
Yes, that’s pretty much it. Cody called for the hustle, loyalty, and respect version of Cena, and then Cena showed up on Smackdown and blamed an unnamed person (Rock?) for convincing him that it would make for some great television.
So after spending 2 weeks honoring a racist they now bring back one of their sex traffikers. This sordid cesspit of a company finds ways to sink to new despicable lows. And that show was d/e worthy.Awful.
Have you ever said anything you’re ashamed of?
Does it define you?
Brock Lesnar is a sex trafficker??? LOL! GTFO
You can hate watch and/or be tribal or you can stop watching and don’t give them your business.
Literally ZERO allegations against Lesnar.
No one’s going to mention Valkyria’s hand slipping out of the zip tie in the ring, eh? It sure threw the announcers for a loop and she did manage to wrangle her hand back into it, but it took me out of the whole segment.
Neither here or on Wade Keller’s report mention it on his site. Maybe they were both typing their play by play and didn’t see it? Barrett even started talking about it and then had to awkwardly transition that he must have seen it wrong.
This. Well, at least for me. It’s easy to miss things like that while doing a live review. Jake mentioned it in our audio review. I can’t speak for Wade, but I suspect he saw and didn’t say a word because he has stock in the zip-tie company. That’s my conspiracy theory and I’m sticking to it.
I was so bored with that match that I don’t even remember it happening. Flappy isn’t going to get over no matter what but HHH insists on putting her out there for what feels like hours on end.
Aj Styles wrenching at the supposedly loosened boot to get it off was also hilarious.
Yeah, that spot sounded a lot better when they planned it than it actually looked in the ring.
By the time it got to Aj?Dom I was so fatigued i just didn’t care. As much as I love Wrestling, I was oversaturated. too many matches, and one day to many.
Botches happen, but it was the saturation that did me in, not the zip-tie or boot thing. Yesterday was a C at best. I don’t think I’m completely “over” it but man, i could take a month off and prob not miss it.
JP, real question- your typing out live reviews was mentioned in these comments. I’ve wanted to know for a years and years… do you literally type what you see, correcting spelling and grammar errors as you go. Or are you hitting the pause button at times, perhaps during a rest hold or after a bug, meaningful spot?
Sorry for the rambling question(s) but I really would like to know.
I type as I go. In theory, I make corrections as I go. More often than not, I’m struggling to keep up, so I try to catch typos when I use the report as my outline for my audio review. I’m far from perfect, but I think most people understand that mistakes will be made during live coverage. I rewind a fair amount during promos or if I miss something during a match while looking at my computer. So I use ad breaks or time between PPV matches to catch up. That’s what makes covering AEW PPVs so difficult. WWE has big gaps between PLE matches, and AEW runs brief video packages before going from one match to the next. Anyway, I hope that answers the question.