Can’t Knock the Hustle
THE RUSE OF THE CENTURY!
— WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2025
Seth Rollins just cashed in on CM Punk and just became the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/p7LED0AvPn
I knew the incredible match between CM Punk and GUNTHER would not take up much space here. I knew this straight up wrestling match that took its cues from Rocky (pick one) was the footnote to a larger tale. I realized that even Punk making a god king profusely bleed might pale in comparison to the end result. Punk and GUNTHER told a profound
story in this wrestling match. GUNTHER met yet another man who would break. Punk took all of GUNTHER’S best shots and stood tall. Punk outwrestled a man who, to this point, pretty much put everyone in a class beneath him. Even when he loss.
Punk didn’t win on a fluke or catch The Ring General on an off day; he just had his number. The Second City Saint wanted to win more than anyone GUNTHER faced to this point because of the history. Because of his absence from the company. And because, as he said, he wanted to give something back to all those fans who called his name for a decade, even when he felt no urge to answer back.
The match built its intensity slowly because these two didn’t hate each other. This was a pure wrestling match about the championship. Who could outlast whom and how much punishment would they take? We got our answer and for a minute, it looked like Punk’s night. But, despite what you may have heard, I’m smarter than I look.
This was Seth Rollins’ night. While Punk celebrated, Seth hit the stage with Paul Heyman by his side, a brace on his leg, and crutches in his hands. It looked like he might just issue a warning that one day soon, Punk’s gonna get his. I’m pretty sure I saw him shake his fist like that Shelbyvillian from the “Lemon of Troy” Simpsons episode. Just follow the video for the rest of what happened.
SETH ROLLINS is here!
— WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2025
And he's CASHING IN! pic.twitter.com/LtGSMlBb6V
The only thing missing was Seth impersonating Willy Wonka, which I really wanted. But as a friend reminded me, maybe Seth should stay away from flips and rolls of any kind. Touché.
And just like that, we have a new champion. While the emotions are running high, there is a problem with the story, despite the shock: Seth didn’t need to hustle anyone.
CM Punk wrestled a grueling match with GUNTHER, who promptly took him to hell and back. He could barely stand at the end of it and was clearly running on adrenaline by the end. Narratively, Seth being “injured” added nothing. The story wouldn’t change whether Seth was hurt, fake or real. Let’s say he defeats LA Knight and gets a match with Roman at SummerSlam. Nothing changes.
Let’s say he defeats LA Knight and is in a tag match against Roman ant Jey Uso at SummerSlam. Nothing changes. Let’s propose a scenario where Seth is wrestling some random match on night two, presumably a rematch with LA Knight, and he’s not even involved in night one. Nothing changes.
Seth’s physical status carried less weight than Punk’s when the show closed. Seth was fresh, Punk wasn’t. One might say that Seth used the injury angle to stay clean so he could defeat Punk. Well, again, GUNTHER handled his light work, so that’s still an unnecessary mind game.
Déjà vu... pic.twitter.com/dG4V0zvVfn
— WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2025
While I really dug the moment narratively because Seth vs. Punk is eternal, it feels like another instance of logic getting sacrificed at the altar in name of the moment. Doesn’t mean I’m not down for what comes next because I am. I can’t wait to see how Punk reacts to his biggest rival snatching away his dream. I also wish we got a little Roman there since I find it hard to believe he’d just sit back and watch this happen. But, as you’ll see below, I’m pretty sure the Tribal Chief opened the show for a reason.
Seth Rollins’ group is one step closer to the absolute power they crave. How they got there leaves a bit to be desired, but I hope they do something awesome with this outcome.
B-Sides
Sacrifice
The OTC and the Yeet Man are victorious at SummerSlam! ☝️ pic.twitter.com/S7EzJjLo79
— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2025
Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker opened SummerSlam with an incredible match. It highlighted what each man does best while maintaining a sense of anarchy and fun that this mini war between sides needs. But the story beat that fascinated me the most started at the beginning and went all the way until the match ended: Roman and Jey’s relationship.
Think back to the Bloodline’s early days. Actually, just think back to the Bloodline in general. It was all about Roman. He emotionally abused everyone, with Jey catching the worst of it at every junction. He named Jey “Main Event” and “Right-Hand Man” purely to placate his cousin. He never hesitated when it came to sacrificing anyone for his greater good. Then he’d tell them why his greater good is the greater good. Roman was selfish, ruthless, and heartless during his record-breaking reign.
Contrast that with the man who showed up in New Jersey. Many moons ago, he flinched at the idea of Jey having his own entrance. Here, he not only welcomed it, but joined in Jey’s reindeer games when he ran it back as he’s wont to do.
From SummerSlam to YEET-SLAM! pic.twitter.com/JjGOjBISI8
— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2025
Old Roman blames Jey for that. He says Jey took his eyes off the prize to showoff for a bunch of people rather than handling his business. But not here. Bron & Bronson took advantage while Roman yapped to Paul E. Dangerously, Jey made the save, and the match continued.
While Jey took the brunt of the hits during the match, Roman became his biggest cheerleader. He beckoned (yes, beckoned) the crowd for their support and came to Jey’s aide whenever. All that reinforced that opening moment where he willingly ran it back with his cousin.
But then the end happened. After the match turned into a melee. After Bron Breakker dominated in ways only he can, which included him putting his straps back on only to pull them back off, he put Jey in his sights. We all knew a Spear was coming and what that might mean. Jey didn’t see it coming but the Tribal Chief did. He pushed the former World Heavyweight champ out of the way and took the proverbial bullet. Yes, that helped them get the win when Jey hit Bronson with the Superkick/Uso Splash combo, but Roman didn’t know that would happen. He saw his family in danger and reacted.
If I have one criticism, it’s that the match ended so soon after that. I wanted more exploration of that moment and this renewed relationship. Hopefully we get more of that as the world turns. But consider me satisfied and intrigued. Oh, and shoutout to Roman for this:
AIR ROMAN pic.twitter.com/yPSoUES3Rp
— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2025
Thank God he survived but he also leaped over two huge size humans.
Bang up job, bruvs.
Album Cuts
- Karrion Kross is definitely out of here. Right? Sami Zayn pretty handedly beat back any notion that he’s not the man he says he is, and any inkling that Karrion is on his level. This doesn’t look like a man who’s walking back into a WWE locker room.
- Roxanne Perez, Raquel Rodriguez, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss didn’t have an easy road to walk following the opening match. But, unsurprisingly, they met the challenge and passed with those things that fly. We got the inevitable moment where the challengers fell victim to some friendly fire. Alexa accidentally rocked Charlotte’s jaw with a haymaker after Raquel ducked. Rather than repay that moment with more animosity when Alexa had her back towards her not friend, Charlotte did the right thing and Pump Kicked Raquel into Night Two, and Alexa finished Roxanne with a Sister Abigail.
- I thought for sure this was Jade Cargill’s coronation. I said as much in our predictions. But nope, the clock still reads Tiffy. Tiffany Stratton and Jade put on a better match than I thought possible. One that protected Jade a bit after she hit Jaded but did her usual pull back pin but not without Tiffany’s feet touching the ropes. Jade had the match won but she messed up. Solid match but nothing crazy. It gave Jade more time in the ring, narratively gave her an out while proving she can hang with the champ, but ultimately said Tiffany is just better at the moment.
- Man, props to Jelly Roll. He took the brunt of the beating here because the match formed around him proving he belonged. Randy Orton told him to show them who he is. Well, he did. Jelly Roll tagged himself in when the match started and begged for what he got. He stood toe-to-toe with Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. He took a beating. I mean, he really took a beating But he gave as good as he got. The biggest moment came when Drew laid Jelly out on the announce table and Logan took to the skies. It looked nasty! It Logan did it with shades on and when they popped off because of, well, gravity, he looked lost. Like I said, props to Jelly Roll for willingly putting his body on the line. This created a nice comeback moment for the musician as he walked back to the ring after WWE officials tried escorting him to the locker room. He refused to let Randy go down solo, despite the fact he could barely stand. He even hit a Bossman Slam! Shoutout to the man from Cobb County, GA. But it was all for naught. Jelly eventually fell to a Claymore from Drew and a Frog Splash from Logan, which ended the match. The finish surprised me since celebrities usually get Ws in this situation. But it lends creedence to Mr. Ortman’s report about this not being Jelly Roll’s final dance in a WWE ring. Fun match that easily surpassed my low expectations.
- Random aside but WWE doing a Lash Maybelline ad without Lash Legend is wild. It’s in her name! And her whole thing is about being bougie.
This was a solid show. It opened strong and closed strong, despite the wonky logic all around the Seth story. Night Two will probably have more heavy hitters but this felt like a nice appetizer. We got a few title changes, the worst kept surprise in Seth’s cash-in, and WWE’s lead character, Roman Reigns, continues his subtle development into a gentler, kinder Tribal Chief.
Grade: B
What say you, Cagesiders?
More from cagesideseats.com:
- Not everyone is marking out about Eva Marie’s return
- Mansoor’s Raw Debut was classic WWE
- Is this who caught Lilly’s eye?
- Former WWE champs face off on (checks notes) Main Event
- Yes, Angel Garza shoved a rose up Drew Gulak’s butt on Raw
- Raw recap & reactions: Flip the switch
- Flair already added to title match at WrestleMania Backlash
- EVA MARIE IS BACK
