East Rutherford, NJ — On August 3, WWE concluded Night 2 of its inaugural two‑night SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium, marking a historic milestone in the promotion’s 38‑year legacy. Traditionally a single‑night affair, the 2025 edition was expanded to span both Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3, a format previously reserved only for WrestleMania.
Sponsored by TKO Group and held in partnership with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, WWE presented this double‑header from East Rutherford, New Jersey in what became not only its first SummerSlam weekend over two nights but also one of the largest live‑aid spectacles in the company’s history.
In the U.S., SummerSlam streamed exclusively on Peacock, while international fans could view the show via Netflix—a first for SummerSlam following the merger of WWE Network into Netflix in early 2025. Simultaneously, select Regal Cinemas across the United States served as live screening venues in partnership with Fandango, offering fans a cinematic experience of the two‑night spectacle.
Read Also: https://nyreview.com/yankee-stadium-hosts-bronx-stem-expo-celebrating-student-innovation/
Rapper Cardi B took on the role of special host for SummerSlam 2025, having been instrumental in announcing the two‑night format back in 2024 alongside WWE star Bianca Belair. Another high‑profile moment came when country music artist Jelly Roll made his WWE in‑ring debut, teaming with Randy Orton in Night 1 against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul.
Night 1 began at 6:00 p.m. ET with a long pre‑show countdown on Peacock before the main pay‑per‑view card kicked off. The card featured six major matches: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez defended the Women’s Tag Team Championship against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss; GUNTHER retained the World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk; Randy Orton and Jelly Roll faced Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul; Roman Reigns and Jey Uso battled Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed; Tiffany Stratton retained the WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill; and Sami Zayn took on Karrion Kross.
The main event saw CM Punk challenge GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Title in what quickly emerged as the climactic match of the evening, and a surprising Money in the Bank cash‑in angle featuring Seth Rollins also stirred speculation throughout the card. Night 1 also included a tribute to the late wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. Nick Hogan, Hogan’s son, appeared amid emotional moments as his father was honored with “Real American” playing in the arena.
Attendance reached new heights on Night 2, with 60,561 fans filling the stadium—surpassing Night 1’s crowd of 53,161 and setting a new SummerSlam attendance record.
That evening’s lineup included six high-stakes matches. Dominik Mysterio defended the Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles. Naomi retained the WWE Women’s World Championship in a triple threat match against Iyo SKY and Rhea Ripley. Becky Lynch defended her Women’s Intercontinental Championship in a “Last Chance” no‑DQ/no‑countout match against Lyra Valkyria. Solo Sikoa retained the United States Championship in a Steel Cage match against Jacob Fatu. The Wyatt Sicks successfully defended the WWE Tag Team Championship in a Six‑Pack TLC match featuring Andrade and Rey Fénix, #DIY, Fraxiom, Motor City Machine Guns, and The Street Profits. In the main event, Cody Rhodes defeated John Cena in a brutal Street Fight to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship. Immediately afterward, Brock Lesnar made a shocking return, delivering an F5 to Cena and signaling a new chapter in the farewell arc of Cena’s in‑ring career.
By adopting a two-night format, WWE aligned SummerSlam with WrestleMania’s expanded structure, reflecting its strategy to maximize viewer engagement, stretch narrative storytelling arcs, and boost ticket revenue. The economic impact for the region was significant—NJSEA invested over US $7.1 million from ARP federal pandemic relief funds, with projections of generating roughly US $80 million for northern New Jersey.
This SummerSlam also marked John Cena’s final appearance at the event as part of his announced retirement tour, giving added emotional weight to his loss and Brock Lesnar’s return. SummerSlam 2025 broke new ground not only in its structure but also in how WWE is positioning its product globally, with expanded streaming deals, cinematic screenings, and celebrity integrations.
WWE’s SummerSlam 2025 will be remembered as a landmark moment in the company’s history—the first two-night SummerSlam, high-profile matchups blending retired icons and hot new talents, and a global streaming expansion that brought the event to a broader international audience. As WWE looks ahead to its next SummerSlam in 2026, the scale, ambition, and spectacle of this New Jersey weekend has set a new standard.
