WWE SummerSlam 2025 Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights from Night 2
On the heels of an unforgettable conclusion to a so-so Night 1, WWE returned to MetLife Stadium Sunday for a second night of SummerSlam, headlined by John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in a rematch of their WrestleMania 41 bout.
Could The American Nightmare regain the title that was stolen from him in Las Vegas or did Cena prove he did not need a platinum-selling rapper to help him reign supreme against wrestling's top babyface?
Find out in this recap of Sunday's premium live event, which also featured Naomi defending the Women's World Championship against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky.
Match Card
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Announced for Sunday's show:
* Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena (c)
* Triple Threat match for the Women's World Championship: Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky vs Naomi (c)
* Intercontinental Championship: AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio (c)
* No Disqualification match for the Women's Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria vs Becky Lynch (c)
* Steel Cage match for the United States Championship: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa (c)
* TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Championship: The Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. The Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Fraxiom vs. Andrade and Rey Fenix vs. DIY
Women's World Championship: Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky vs. Naomi
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Less than a month after cashing in Money in the Bank and winning the Women's World Championship by interrupting the main event of Evolution, Naomi defended her title against the two women she stole it from, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, in a Triple Threat match to kick off the show.
Despite the babyfaces jumping on her early, Naomi eventually seized control, using inventive offense to take down The Eradicator and The Genius of the Sky.
Ripley fought back, though, and eventually sent the champion to the floor before pairing off with Sky.
Back-and-forth action ensued, with the previous two champions seeking to one-up each other before Naomi rejoined the fray. Sky flattened Ripley with the Over the Moonsault, but The Glow delivered a Full Nelson Bomb to almost seal the win.
Chants of "This is awesome" rained from the stands as Ripley blasted Sky with a big boot and followed with a somersault senton to Naomi on the floor. Iyo answered with a sunset flip powerbomb that drove the Australian into the her opponent at ringside.
As she was at Evolution, Naomi proved resourceful in the match's finale as she waited until Ripley delivered an avalanche Riptide from the top rope, then rolled Mami up for the pinfall victory.
Result
Naomi defeated Ripley and Sky to retain her title
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Naomi getting the superstar entrance, complete with her own father, guitarist Shawn McCray, playing her to the ring, only helped to elevate her star and make her feel that much more special.
* The champion bit Ripley's thumb to break up a potential suplex to the floor in a great spot that earned "Oos" from the fans.
* The reaction for the mid-match staredown between Ripley and Sky proved it is still the matchup fans are eager to get back to, thanks to the quality of their Evolution bout and the preexisting story of Mami's record against her rival.
* The finisher was excellent. Not only does it allow WWE to tell the story of Naomi having to rely on another sneaky victory to escape with gold, but it also saw Ripley come within seconds of exorcising the demon that is her winless record against Sky. Instead, she will have to wait to regain the title that has eluded her since March, gain revenge on Naomi and finally defeat Sky.
Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match for WWE Tag Team Championship
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After months of chaotic action within the tag team division on SmackDown, it was only appropriate that its six most prominent teams did battle in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
The Wyatt Sicks' Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis defended against Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom), DIY (Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano), Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley), The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) and the team of Andrade and Rey Fenix.
As advertised, the match was a car wreck, a demolition derby featuring all 12 competitors and then some as Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Candice LeRae, Nikki Cross and B-Fab all got involved in hopes of helping their teams earn victory.
Ultimately, it was The Wyatt Sicks who outlasted the high-risk and punishing bumps to emerge victorious, retaining their title as the numbers game proved too much for the others to overcome.
Result
The Wyatt Sicks defeated The Street Profits, DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and Andrade and Fenix to retain the titles
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* For as much television time as these teams have received in recent weeks, the subdued reactions for them were fairly damning. Perhaps giving them some creative depth rather than defining them solely by chasing the tag titles would have served them well.
* All 10 challengers attacked Gacy and Lumis, recognizing The Wyatt Sicks were the greatest threat to them winning the tag titles. That is how you get a team over.
* Finding a way to work Cross, B-Fab and LeRae into this match was a nice development. LeRae's bump off a ladder and through another was cringeworthy. Hopefully, she is OK after that.
* Gacy was an all-star here, taking big bumps and selling everything for his opponents. He seized the moment and shined.
No DQ Match for Women's Intercontinental Championship
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Arguably the best rivalry in all of WWE since WrestleMania 41 concluded Sunday when Becky Lynch defended the Women's Intercontinental Championship against Lyra Valkyria in a No Disqualification Match.
A win for Valkyria would make her the first two-time IC champion in the women's division. A loss and she would never be allowed to challenge for the gold as long as The Man holds the title.
The rivals brutalized each other, unloading with their own impressive offense and adding some pro wrestling plunder to the mix for good measure. The cerebral Lynch bound her opponent's wrists to together using a pair of zip ties, putting Valkyria on the defensive for a large portion of the match.
Not to be deterred, the challenger executed a picture-perfect dropkick and moonsault, then freed herself in time to unload on The Man with a barrage of kendo-stick shots.
Late in the match, Bayley saved Valkyria from significant injury at the hands of her opponent and unloaded on Lynch. A missed charge sent The Role Model into the front row, but she was far from out of the picture.
Later, she re-emerged, accidentally blasting Valkyria with a steel chain and setting up Lynch's victory via the Manhandle Slam.
Result
Lynch defeated Valkyria to retain her title
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* The new Lynch theme, by The Wonder Years, is a banger but will take some time to train the audience on given how iconic the previous Celtic Invasion tune was. The fans will come around, like The Man, but it will take a few weeks.
* It was way too easy for Lynch to zip-tie Valkyria's hands together. The slightest bit of resistance would have brought much more urgency and credibility to the spot.
* The competitors borrowed from John Cena and Randy Orton, with the heel hanging Valkyria from the ring post and teeing off with kendo-stick shots to the midsection.
* The zip-ties came undone from Valkyria's wrists momentarily but the babyface, wise beyond her years, did enough to get back in her planned trap and continue the match as laid out.
* The placement on the card let this one down. This was a fantastic bout that earned a far greater reaction from the audience, which was burned out by the excellent opener and TLC. This was a great match that built on previous spots, the established story and propelled things forward with Bayley's interference.
Steel Cage Match for United States Championship: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa
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The debut of Talla Tonga at Night of Champions helped deliver Solo Sikoa the United States belt. Sunday night, the titleholder defended against the man he robbed of the gold, Jacob Fatu, in a Steel Cage match.
Sikoa impressed early, pouncing on Fatu and dominating the action. Still, The Samoan Werewolf fought his way back into the bout and appeared to be on his way to victory when The MFTs (JC Mateo, Talla Tonga and Tanga Loa) interfered.
Jimmy Uso attempted to make the save but ate a big boot from Tonga, who factored into the finish moments later.
Fatu escaped an attempted handcuffing and stopped Sikoa from a cowardly escape through the door. He dispatched Mateo, but Tonga booted the door back in his face, taking him out and allowing Sikoa to fall to the floor for the win.
The defeated babyface got his heat back afterward, delivering a splash from the top of the cage to Loa and Mateo.
Result
Sikoa defeated Fatu to retain
Grade
C
Top Moments and Takeaways
* They are doing nothing for Jimmy Uso's credibility by having him make the save only to eat a big boot from Tonga like he would not have accounted for the tallest guy out there.
* Between TLC, a No DQ match and this one, WWE Creative put its main event between John Cena and Cody Rhodes in an unenviable position of making their Street Fight stand apart from the other specialty and weapons-filled contests on the card.
* This would be the first "meh" of the night. Fatu is an explosive performer and the crowd loves him. He is a great worker, too, but he has little chemistry with Sikoa and it showed in a match that did not need to be held inside a steel cage.
Intercontinental Championship: AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio
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After weeks of torment at the hands of AJ Styles, intercontinental champion Dominik Mysterio defended against The Phenomenal One Sunday night.
Champion and challenger wrestled a match that was one big ode to the late, great Hall of Famer, Eddie Guerrero.
From Styles' gear to several trademark Guerrero spots to the finish itself, it was a match that paid tribute to one of the greatest influences in either competitor's career.
Late in the bout, Mysterio unzipped his boot. When Styles grabbed hold of his ankle to tighten his grasp on the Calf Crusher, the boot slid off and Mysterio slithered free.
Moments later, with the referee momentarily hung up in the ropes, Dirty Dom blasted his challenger with the boot and delivered the frog splash for the win.
Result
Mysterio defeated Styles to retain his title
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Styles entered in a lowrider and sported tights identical to those worn by Guerrero at SummerSlam 2005, when Latino Heat fought Rey Mysterio for custody of Dominik. Styles' son rode in the car with him and sported the same buzzed, dyed-blonde hairstyle Dom had at the event. A great touch.
* The double Guerrero lie, cheat and steal spot, with both guys feigning a chair shot from the other, was fantastic and drew a great reaction from the fans in MetLife Stadium.
* This was a great undercard match that featured fun spots, had the fans invested and employed a finish straight out of WrestleMania 20, which was also held in New York and where Guerrero defeated Kurt Angle with the boot gag.
Street Fight for Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena
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The real John Cena stood up Sunday night and defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in a Street Fight, the main event of Night 2 of SummerSlam 2025.
The combatants utilized weapons early, as if to remind everyone that this was, in fact, a Street Fight. From there, the match took the form of a more traditional bout, in which Rhodes survived the Attitude Adjustment, kicking out at two.
His mettle would be tested later when Cena drove him through the Spanish announce table with the same move, to the delight of a majority of the fans in MetLife Stadium. It was not enough to keep Rhodes down, though, as the challenger kicked out at two.
The fight spilled out of the ring, through the stands and onto the stage before returning to the ring, where frustration began to set in for Rhodes.
After failing to defeat the champion despite throwing him through a table and delivering the Cross Rhodes, he removed a turnbuckle and blasted his opponent with it twice.
On the third attempt, Cena tripped him up and applied the STF with the ropes, a throwback to his Royal Rumble 2007 classic against Umaga. The American Nightmare escaped it and eventually delivered his Roman Reigns-defeating trifecta of Cross Rhodes.
Cena kicked out.
The back-and-forth continued until Rhodes countered an avalanche Attitude Adjustment through a table, delivering a Cody Cutter from up top and finishing the champ off with another Cross Rhodes.
After the bout, Rhodes and Cena embraced in a passing-of-the-torch moment, not unlike the one the latter enjoyed with The Rock in the same building 12 years earlier.
From there, the night ended on a shocking note as Brock Lesnar made his first WWE appearance since 2023, stalking toward the ring and laying Cena out with an F-5 to close out the show.
Result
Rhodes defeated Cena to win the title
Grade
A+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* There was a deafening pop for Cena's graphics turning from black to his iconic, colorful background. If there was ever a time to pull a Daniel Bryan and turn it back on the fans and show them how fickle they can be, the time is now.
* Cena tried the alternating looks to the crowd that Rock and Hulk Hogan made famous in their WrestleMania X-8 match, but Rhodes remained locked on him, staring his opponent down. It was a nice microcosm of the story: Cena is jumping between heel and babyface in his last dance, while The American Nightmare has tunnel vision about one thing: Regaining the title he lost at WrestleMania.
* Cena hoisting Rhodes on his shoulders on the elevator platform on the stage and delivering an Attitude Adjustment was a great spot.
* This was an all-timer; a Match of the Year candidate that ranks as one of the best in either man's long lineage of excellence. This was Cena's best performance since his series of matches against AJ Styles in 2016-17 and was on a par with Rhodes' recent classics against Reigns and Styles.
* Unfortunately, the cherry on top of it all proved spoiled as no one asked for the return of Lesnar and any rerun of his feud with Cena.
Overall Grade
8 of 8
Night 2 of the 2025 SummerSlam event was an all-timer.
From the opening match to the main event, it delivered something for everyone, with great in-ring action and the only real "dud" coming in the form of Sikoa vs. Fatu.
Cena vs. Rhodes, the match the show was essentially built on, was an all-time great, an instant classic that highlighted what makes each man special. Excellent storytelling, even better action and an appropriate finish made for a legitimate five-star affair.
The ending of the show, though, is one that is incredibly difficult to be excited for.
Brock Lesnar is back. For how long remains to be seen.
Still, despite that dampening of the mood, this was everything Night 1 was not: A pro wrestling epic befitting of the event.
Grade: A
