The biggest party of the summer resumed on Sunday as WWE returned to New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium for the second part of its two-night extravaganza, SummerSlam.
In the main event, Cody Rhodes sought redemption and the Undisputed WWE Championship as he battled John Cena, who seemingly renounced his evil ways last Friday on SmackDown. With five other titles on the line, Night 2 promised to close out SummerSlam with a bang.
Did WWE deliver? Read on to find out.
Redemption and returns
If SummerSlam had been John Cena’s final
match in WWE, he would have gone out on his shield with a performance for the ages.
After being forced into a Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE title by Cody Rhodes, Cena came to SmackDown last Friday, telling the world that Rhodes had helped him see the error of his evil ways. He declared that the real John Cena — the man who was a superhero to kids and an all-around good guy — was back.
On the surface, it seemed too good to be true.
And then came Sunday night, and Cena was a man of his word.
Shortly after his music hit, Cena’s name appeared on the big screen in black-and-white font. As the beat kicked in, the screen exploded in color as Cena made his familiar babyface march to the ring.
Once the bell rang, Cena held nothing back. Despite being 48, having a history of neck issues and carrying responsibilities beyond wrestling, Cena wrestled like there was no tomorrow. He took a body slam on the steel steps, ate a piledriver and a powerbomb. As he and Rhodes brawled through the crowd, Cena took a nasty suplex onto a steel barricade.
As the match wore on, Rhodes displayed some heel tendencies. He undid the bottom rope and used the steel frame as a weapon. At times, it felt like a double turn was coming.
Absolute SHOCK right now! pic.twitter.com/VFscp2d73e
— WWE (@WWE) August 4, 2025
But Cena gave back as much as he got, trapping Rhodes in the STFU while choking him with the ring ropes. Later, he tried for a second Avalanche AA off the ropes through a table, but Rhodes countered and drilled him with a Cody Cutter, driving the champ through the wood.
As Cena struggled to his feet, an emotional Rhodes looked at his longtime hero and saluted him like a soldier before putting him away with a series of Cross Rhodes for the win.
While the match was over the top, each series of false finishes and the anticipation of who would win and how was enough to overcome all that.
When it was over, both men hugged and shook hands. Cody could be seen mouthing “I’m sorry,” but Cena consoled him. Ever the class act, Rhodes left the ring, allowing Cena to bask in the adulation of the crowd.
As Cena took in the sights and sounds of his final SummerSlam, an old rival made a shocking return. Just as he had in 2021, Brock Lesnar reemerged from hibernation, receiving a welcoming ovation from the crowd. After stalking the ring for a bit, Lesnar rushed in and dropped Cena with an F5.
BROCK. LESNAR. IS. BACK.
— WWE (@WWE) August 4, 2025
HERE COMES THE PAIN! pic.twitter.com/uR2z9RVoZu
Now that Cena’s “reign of terror” has come to an end, it’s clear that his road to retirement will now pass through Suplex City.
As for Rhodes, this was by far his best match since first winning the title at WrestleMania XL. Despite being booed for much of the match, he’ll likely carry on as WWE’s top good guy. Cena’s embrace at the end seemed to suggest he had no issues with Rhodes’ actions, given the context and rules of the match.
In short, if Cena is OK with Cody, fans should be too.
If chaos is your thing
SummerSlam featured two back-to-back brawls that pushed the limits of physical punishment — and this reviewer’s patience.
The first was a six-team Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWE Tag Team Titles. The champions, Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy of the Wyatt Sicks, defended their gold against Andrade and Rey Fenix, DIY, Fraxiom, the Motor City Machine Guns, and The Street Profits.
In total, the match featured 17 participants. It saw interference from Erick Rowan and Uncle Howdy for the Wyatts, B-Fab for the Profits, and Candice LeRae backing DIY. There were also more than half a dozen table spots — including a brutal stretch of four in a row.
Later, as LeRae tried to retrieve the titles for DIY, she was knocked off the ladder and crashed onto another positioned between the apron and the announce table. A swarm of officials rushed from the back to check on her as the carnage continued.
OFF A LADDER
— WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2025
THROUGH A LADDER
pic.twitter.com/aXGSwcdMFV
In the end, the numbers favored the Wyatts, as interference from Rowan and Howdy helped Gacy and Lumis retain the titles.
Crash carnivals aren’t my thing, and LeRae’s fall pulled me out of the match entirely. But as Jim Cornette would say, “For people who like that sort of thing, that’s the sort of thing those people will like.”
Up next was the No Disqualification match for the Women’s Intercontinental Title between champion Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria.
In the past, I’ve enjoyed their matches, praising them on this site.
But this one? Not so much.
To be fair, they had a tough act to follow after the TLC match. Perhaps because of that, they overcompensated — dragging the bout out with excessive, cartoonish violence that quickly became tedious.
Lynch zip-tied Valkyria’s hands and unloaded on her with a toolbox, kendo stick, steel chair shots, and even a wrench to the ribs — none of which kept Valkyria down. Later, Lynch continued her assault, slamming Valkyria into an exposed turnbuckle and hitting a Manhandle Slam.
All that for a two-count.
In the closing moments, Bayley appeared and stopped Lynch from using a crowbar on the downed Valkyria. That helped the challenger regain her momentum — until Bayley accidentally clocked her with a chain-wrapped fist. That created an opening for Lynch to hit a final Manhandle Slam for the win.
Both women worked hard, but the match went too long and asked too much of this writer’s suspension of disbelief — especially the idea that 130-pound Lyra could endure all that, only to be finished by an errant punch, chain or not.
The best of the rest
Women’s World Championship
SummerSlam opened with a hot triple threat match for the Women’s World title, as Naomi battled Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. The match featured some innovative spots, including Sky’s 6-1-9 that sent Naomi stumbling into Ripley’s German suplex.
After Naomi was incapacitated, Ripley scored with a Riptide on Sky from the second rope. Just when it seemed over, the formulaic finish of triple threats kicked in. Naomi “rose from the dead” and rolled up a stunned Ripley for the win.
Naomi looked sharp and in control throughout, reinforcing why she’s earned this title run with her ring presence and character work. While this wasn’t a definitive loss for Ripley and Sky, it likely pushes them back in the division’s pecking order.
Steel Cage for the United States Championship
Jacob Fatu failed to beat Solo Sikoa for the United States Title, thanks to interference from Sikoa’s MFTs and a timely assist from the nearly seven-foot Talla Tonga. Despite Jimmy Uso showing up to back Fatu, Talla proved to be the difference-maker.
After disposing of Uso, Talla handcuffed Fatu to the top of the cage. But the Samoan Werewolf snapped the cuffs and continued his pursuit of Sikoa, who was halfway out the cage door. As Fatu tried pulling him back in, Talla kicked the door into Fatu’s face, allowing Sikoa to drop to the floor for the win.
Post-match, WWE ran a spot to give Fatu some shine back. After Uso locked Tonga Loa and JC Mateo inside the cage, Fatu climbed to the top and leveled them both with a massive moonsault.
For now, it appears Sikoa is done with Fatu, who seems headed for a feud with Talla. Of note, Sikoa became the first man in WWE to kick out of Fatu’s moonsault. That gives Sikoa a legitimate bragging right.
Intercontinental Championship
On the 20th anniversary of the infamous custody battle between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio over Dominik Mysterio, AJ Styles entered in a lowrider, wearing gear inspired by Guerrero’s 2005 look. But it was “Dirty” Dom who truly channeled Eddie to win.
In a nod to Guerrero’s WrestleMania XX match with Kurt Angle, Mysterio loosened his boot before the finish. When Styles applied the Calf Crusher, the boot slipped off. Momentarily stunned, Styles dropped it and charged — nearly hitting the referee. Mysterio capitalized, smashed Styles in the face with the boot, and followed with a frog splash for the win.
Mysterio now heads to Mexico and a shot at the AAA Mega Championship at AAA’s Triplemanía on Aug. 16. As for Styles, who keeps talking about retirement, he looked as crisp as ever despite the loss.
Final bell
SummerSlam Night 2 began with an exciting women’s triple threat. It closed with an emotionally charged title match between Cody Rhodes and John Cena, capped off by Brock Lesnar’s shocking return.
As for the quality of the middle of the show, that depends on the viewer. Fans who enjoy insane spots and extreme violence, the TLC bout and the Women’s Intercontinental title match will hit the mark. But for those less inclined toward overbooked carnage and constant interference, your best bet is to catch the opener, the men’s Intercontinental title match, and the main event.
Grade: B
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