WWE SummerSlam 2025 Recap: The Review and Match Ratings Only a Real Fan Could Write by NWO Sparrow

✅ SummerSlam Night One – Quick Winners/Ratings List

Tiffany Stratton (retained against Jade Cargill) 7/10

Sami Zayn (defeated Karrion Kross) 6.5/10

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (defeated Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez – new WWE Women’s Tag Champs) 7/10

Drew Mcntyre & Logan Paul ( defeated Randy Orton & Jelly Roll) 8/10

Roman Reigns & Jey Uso (defeated Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker) 9/10

CM Punk (defeated Gunther to win World Heavyweight Championship… BUT THEN Seth Rollins cashed in MITB and won the World Heavyweight Championship) 10/10

SummerSlam Night 1 Average Score - 7.9/10

WWE SummerSlam 2025: Night One Recap

Let me tell y’all something , I’ve been watching SummerSlam since it was airing on cablevision in ‘98, and I can confidently say this year’s event wasn’t just a spectacle, it was a statement. The first-ever two-night SummerSlam was bold, loud, and unapologetically theatrical , just how we like it. And Night One, hosted by none other than Cardi B (who rocked a black feathered robe), gave us a blend of chaos, storytelling, and some lowkey match-of-the-year candidates. Bonus points to Cardi for working a little cross-promo heat with her new album "Am I The Drama?" dropping this fall, pure marketing brilliance.

Night One wasn’t perfect, but it hit hard where it needed to. From celebrity chaos to emotional storytelling and a shocking Money in the Bank cash-in that might go down in WWE history, this was a night that had the Internet buzzing and barbershop debates going strong ( barbershops wrestling heads go to ). You had title changes, and new stars proving they belong on the big stage. But above all, you had matches that felt big. SummerSlam lived up to the name.

So grab your cold drinks, get ready to say m wrong, and let’s dive in. Here's my full rundown of every match from Night One , what hit, what missed, and what might shape the rest of the year in WWE.

Roman Reigns & Jey Uso def. Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker – 9/10

This was a straight-up heavyweight brawl with main-event level energy to kick off the show. I was not sure where this match was going to land on the card but Roman and Jey vs. the new Heyman-led monsters was anything but a filler. Jey throwing in a full-on "YEET!" mid-match with music blasting over the speakers had me howling, and Bron Breakker’s return fire with mid-match pushups gave it that cocky flavor only he can bring. The action was tight, the power spots were nasty, and the pacing was crisp.

Bronson Reed and Breakker dominated the early goings, and a standout moment was Bronson yanking Roman off the apron just as Jey went for the tag, classic heel stuff, beautifully timed. Roman’s wild dive over the ropes and awkward landing looked rough, and I’m hoping he’s alright. Bronson’s dive outside was just as wild, big man flew like a cruiser. Oh, and shoutout to Breakker doing the ol’ “pull the straps down just to pull ‘em back up” before the final spear, pure troll behavior. A physical, chaotic, and surprisingly funny match that worked on every level.

Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Jade Cargill – WWE Women’s Championship – 7/10

This match was short but sweet, and honestly, one of Jade Cargill’s best WWE outings to date. She came out repping Jamaica with that fire gear, and you could feel the pride in her presentation. The crowd wasn’t entirely sure who to rally behind, but both women brought the energy. Stratton continues to prove she’s not just a character, she’s got the in-ring presence and psychology to back it all up. The match only ran about 8 minutes, but the sequences were clean and both ladies landed some crisp power spots. My biggest critique is that it ended just as it started to cook. Tiffany retains, and while that makes sense, the bigger question now is, what’s next for both of them? Jade clearly leveled up, and Stratton’s going to need a strong challenger soon. This result is a bit haunting in that way, it feels like we’re standing at a crossroads, and either route could lead to something explosive...or something forgettable.

Sami Zayn def. Karrion Kross – 6.5/10

This match had some baggage going in, I’ll be real. Sami and Kross haven’t had the best chemistry in past encounters, but they managed to step it up big here. Kross looked like a menace from the bell, and Scarlett continues to be an underrated part of his act. But let’s talk truth , Sami Zayn didn’t need this win. And honestly, giving it to him does more for his story than it does to elevate Kross. That being said, this was still an upgrade from their last outing. The physicality was snug, the pacing was sharper, and Kross carried the psychology of the match. He made this feel like a fight, not just a storyline beat. Sami’s descent into a darker place feels inevitable now, and if this is a slow-burn heel turn, then this match did its job in setting that up. Kross walks out with an L, but maybe not a loss in momentum.

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – 7/10

This one caught me by surprise. The video package that aired before the match did a lot of heavy lifting, it gave the bout emotional weight and made it feel like more than a bathroom break. Roxanne and Raquel have been holding the division down, and this felt like a proper PPV-level tag match. The work was clean, the pacing was tight, and the chemistry between the four showed real promise.

Alexa Bliss accidentally socking Charlotte mid-match was either a happy accident or brilliant booking, because that little moment spoke volumes. You could see the frostiness afterward , these two are champions, sure, but not besties. Their win kicks off what could be a powder keg reign full of tension. It’s smart storytelling, giving the women more depth and forward momentum. The womens tag division might actually have something to say again.

Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul def. Randy Orton and JellyRoll – 8/10

This was pure sports entertainment in the best way. Jelly Roll continues to be the unexpected fan favorite, and Logan Paul proves again that he gets this business. But the real MVP? Randy Orton. He carried this match with veteran poise, giving it structure and gravitas while letting the celebs shine. The crowd was electric, and you could tell they were eating it up. The spot of the match? Logan Paul splashing Jelly Roll through the announce table. That pop? Instant classic. I didn’t expect it to work this well, but they leaned into the spectacle and it paid off. McIntyre looked strong , and Logan getting the pin protects Drew for what’s next. All in all, this was a masterclass in mixing mainstream appeal with in-ring storytelling.\

CM Punk def. Gunther (c) – WWE World Heavyweight Championship – 10/10

Match. Of. The. Night. And maybe Match of the Year, if we’re keeping it a buck. This was gritty, technical, brutal, and emotional from bell to bell. CM Punk vs. Gunther felt like a modern-day Clash of the Titans. Punk used every bit of experience and ring IQ to counter Gunther’s raw power and relentless pace. The storytelling was masterful , especially the moment where Gunther’s eye got bloodied, slowing him down just enough for Punk to take advantage.

Punk finally hit back-to-back GTS finishers and sealed the deal—but the post-match twist took this to another level. Seth Rollins emerged, still on crutches, acting like he was just reminding Punk of his presence. But then the swerve , he drops the crutches, slides in, and curb stomps Punk to cash in and become World Heavyweight Champion. The pop was nuclear. This whole moment worked because of the months of subtle build. And shoutout to LA Knight, he quietly played a major role in giving Rollins direction while this story simmered. Looking back, Knight’s involvement made Rollins’ rise feel earned. Beautifully executed chaos.

Vocal Opinion-Night One

WWE didn’t just open SummerSlam with a bang—they opened it with a cannon blast. Night One was a rollercoaster of emotion, nostalgia, and new-age storytelling. From Cardi B setting the stage with flair and fire to CM Punk getting blindsided by destiny, this show delivered in nearly every category. Even the weaker matches had purpose, which is something WWE hasn’t always nailed in multi-night formats.

The blend of main-event level booking with rising stars and mainstream celebrity involvement made Night One feel like a real event, not just another stop on the calendar. And most importantly, it left us with questions, what’s next for Punk? Can Cody redo the story tomorrow night against Cena ? Are Bliss and Flair headed for a break-up disaster? That’s how you keep fans invested.

This was a hell of a start. If Night Two can match this energy, or somehow top it, we might be looking at one of the most memorable SummerSlams of all time. Now let’s see if they can stick the landing. See y’all tomorrow night, same time, same dirt-sheet channel.

P.S , my prediction score for night one is 4-2 , i only got Logan & Drew and Sami Zayn match wrong. You can check out my prediction article here

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