WWE SummerSlam Night 1 vs. Night 2, End of the Road For Karrion Kross, More Reaction
A brief build for SummerSlam 2025 hasn't deterred WWE from putting together a promising card across the two nights at MetLife Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.
The execution of the event, though, will have a major effect of the company's momentum heading into the fall. One night is bound to overshadow the other, but it is possible for both to leave fans satisfied and excited for what's next.
Several Superstars will be in prime position to shine at SummerSlam, specifically Karrion Kross when he looks to settle his score with Sami Zayn. The two have been at odds for many months, but it will be this bout in particular that determines whether Kross' push will definitively stick.
All of the online interest in Kross has led to this major opportunity, and anything less than a stellar showing will be justifiably criticised by fans. This is his time to rise to the occasion, silence his critics and take that next step toward singles stardom.
From a potential career-making night for Kross to AEW's finding Toni Storm's successor, these are the top takeaways from the week that was in wrestling.
Which Night of SummerSlam Is Stronger on Paper?
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This year's SummerSlam will be an important one with it marking the first time WWE's Biggest Party of the Summer will be two nights, both of which are being loaded with marquee matches.
The confirmed lineup for Night 1 features CM Punk vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship as well as Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Both bouts have an equal chance of headlining and should carry the show from an in-ring standpoint.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill, The Judgment Day vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Sami Zayn and Karrion Kross, and Randy Orton and Jelly Roll vs. Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre are all solid additions to the undercard but aren't guaranteed show-stealers.
Sunday has the slight edge, and not because John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes in a Street Fight serves as the main event. In fact, the rest of the card is significantly stronger courtesy of the Triple Threat for the Women's World Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria, and Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa inside of a steel cage.
The newly-announced Six-Pack TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Championship could be considered the most anticipated attraction on the card, assuming WWE is aiming for six matches on each night. Both have potential, akin to WrestleMania 41, Night 2 should end up being more memorable.
SmackDown's Tag Team Renaissance Is Real
2 of 5The recent three-hour era of SmackDown that lasted six months experienced a noticeable dip in quality compared to what the program was producing previously, but the biggest bright spot was the loaded tag team division.
The storylines within the tag scene on SmackDown have lacked substance as it's only ever an effort to include as many tandems on the show as possible, but the matches themselves have always excelled and electrified audiences almost every single time.
The decision to announce a Six-Pack TLC match with The Wyatt Sicks, DIY, The Motor City Machine Guns, The Street Profits, Fraxiom, and Andrade and Rey Fenix was a wise one after the Triple Threat TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Championship was relegated to the SmackDown after WrestleMania earlier this year.
It's more evident now than at any other point that not only is tag team wrestling is alive and well on Friday nights, it's also the closest WWE has come to recreating the magic of the unforgettable feud that The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, and Edge and Christian had throughout 2000 and 2001.
Regardless of the outcome at SummerSlam, that match is their opportunity to outshine everyone else on both nights of the event and remind the world of just how great tag team wrestling can be with the right mix of direction, exposure and talent.
SummerSlam Will Be Make or Break for Karrion Kross
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Karrion Kross has long waited for a meaningful opportunity to show what he's capable of, but limited television time has prevented him from doing so.
Although the pacing of his storyline with Sami Zayn dating back to the beginning of the year has been painfully slow, he's finally landed a recurring role on Raw as well as a spot on the SummerSlam card against the four-time intercontinental champion.
The two men split wins in previous encounters at Night of Champions and on Raw. Neither match was anything out of the ordinary and failed to back up the buzz that Kross has managed to organically generate since his online-exclusive tirade in the immediate aftermath of WrestleMania 41.
If Kross doesn't deliver a standout performance in their rubber matchup at SummerSlam, the chances of his push being prolonged could decrease drastically.
The WWE deals of Kross and Scarlett are reportedly up in August, and per the latest update from Fightful Select, that situation has not changed as they have yet to re-sign with the company. If true, SummerSlam should be where they prove they're worth keeping around and investing in.
Kross' success going forward will depend entirely on how much he's showcased and if he can live up to his own hype, something that has been questioned by fans since the start of his stint with WWE five years ago.
Athena Is Correct Successor to Toni Storm
4 of 5One of the only drawbacks of Toni Storm's remarkable ascent to the top of the AEW women's division is that no one has been able to match her level of popularity, entertainment or excellence in the ring, leaving her without a proper successor to the AEW Women's World Championship.
She's had a stranglehold on the title since the summer of 2023 and only Mariah May was able to dethrone her for a six-month period. Storm regained the gold once it became clear May was on her way to WWE and Mercedes Moné wasn't the correct choice to take the title from her at All In.
Now that All Elite Wrestling is finally in the process of doing more with Athena, there's no better option than her to build the division around.
The Fallen Goddess may still be amid her historic reign as ROH Women's World champion, but that shouldn't be the reason why she doesn't successfully cash in the title shot she earned at All In.
It doesn't necessarily have to be imminent, but Athena will benefit big-time from being the one to defeat Storm while she's still as beloved as she is.
Storm will eventually need to be back in chase mode to avoid growing stale, and Athena is the perfect person to usher in the next era of the division.
Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia Shouldn't Be Rushed
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Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia will be two major cornerstones of the WWE women's division for years to come, but there's no need to rush their respective pushes.
Vaquer has adapted exceptionally well to the main roster following her call-up at the onset of the summer. She's set to challenge for a world title at Clash in Paris and is coming off another excellent outing against Iyo Sky on last Monday's Raw.
Meanwhile, Giulia is already in possession of gold, having knocked off Zelina Vega on the pre-Night of Champions edition of SmackDown. While she hasn't had much of presence on SmackDown so far, the title should serve as a stepping stone toward bigger and better things for her.
The WWE Women's Championship and Women's World Championship scenes are stacked with the likes of Tiffany Stratton, Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Jade Cargill and now Naomi. Vaquer and Giulia will be better off positioned at the midcard level for the foreseeable future and potentially elevating the titles in those divisions before working their way up the card.
Giulia's path to world championship glory is a little less obvious, but a high-profile WrestleMania match with Ripley should be the endgame for Vaquer.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.
