‘WWE SummerSlam 2025: Night 2’ Review
After a chaotic, story-heavy Night 1, WWE returned to MetLife Stadium for the second half of its ambitious two-night SummerSlam event. Night 2 focused more on emotional storytelling and satisfying conclusions, though, true to WWE form, it still delivered one last gut-punch surprise before the lights went out.
Things kicked off with a fast-paced Triple Threat for the Women’s World Championship, with Naomi, Rhea Ripley, and IYO SKY putting on one of the better opening matches of the year. Naomi retained her title with a clever roll-up after Ripley nailed SKY with a massive avalanche Riptide. It was quick, chaotic, and crisp. After the bell, Ripley’s gesture of lifting an injured SKY onto her back earned her huge cheers, an unexpected emotional beat that set the tone for the rest of the night.
Next up, Becky Lynch defended her Women’s Intercontinental Title in a brutal no-disqualification match against Lyra Valkyria. There were kendo sticks, chairs, and more than a few outside interferences, including a key miscue that helped Lynch get the win. It was scrappy and wild, but the crowd was with it the whole way. Lynch looked like a warrior by the end, and Lyra held her own.
The Steel Cage match between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu brought the violence. This was stiff, methodical brawling from two guys with something to prove. Fatu’s agility impressed, but Solo’s cunning and outside interference gave him the edge. While the action was strong, the finish felt muddled, and the crowd didn’t seem entirely sure who to root for.
The TLC tag match featuring The Wyatt Sicks, DIY, Street Profits, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and Rey Fenix & Andrade was pure madness. The spots were outrageous—ladders flying, bodies crashing through tables—but with so many teams involved, it was hard to track the flow. The Wyatt Sicks retained in a chaotic finish that felt more like survival than triumph.
Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles was a sleeper hit. Styles put on a veteran-level performance, and Dominik showed real growth as a singles star. Dom retained his Intercontinental Title clean, and it felt like a genuine step forward for him, even if the match wasn’t flashy.
Then came the main event: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena in a no-holds-barred Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship. This was exactly what it needed to be – gritty, dramatic, and violent. Both men took punishment, used everything from steel steps to crutches, and laid their stories bare. Cody won, and Cena embraced him afterwards in a moment that felt like a passing of the torch.
But WWE wasn’t done. Just as Cena waved goodbye and the pyro began, Brock Lesnar returned to a stunned crowd. One F-5 later, Cena was flat on his back. Whether this was setting up Cena’s final match or simply meant to stir the pot, it was a shocking end to a night that was otherwise full of earned emotion.
Final Verdict
Night 2 of SummerSlam 2025 felt more like it was focused on storytelling. From Naomi’s clever win to Cody’s cathartic triumph, the show felt more cohesive and emotionally rewarding than Night 1. The chaotic undercard didn’t always hit, and Lesnar’s return, whilst shocking, was unnecessary and, for me, unwanted – dragging down Night 2 in its final moments IMHO.
