Wild Title Changes and Star Power Light Up SummerSlam Night 1
If you thought typical pay-per-views were dramatic, WWE SummerSlam 2025’s first night at MetLife Stadium tossed out the rulebook. The stadium was crackling from the opening bell, with thousands filling the New Jersey air with energy. The evening kicked off with host Cardi B getting the crowd hyped. Then, in a rare but fitting moment, Bret Hart stepped into the ring—not for a match, but to deliver a heartfelt rendition of “God Bless America.”
The story everyone’s talking about? WWE SummerSlam 2025 crowned not one but two new World Heavyweight Champions in one night. CM Punk clawed his way past Gunther after a brutal, physical main event, finally getting his hands on the championship gold. The crowd barely caught its breath before the lights shifted and Seth Rollins’ music hit—he was cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. In a flurry of action, Rollins pinned a battered Punk, stunning the live crowd and snatching the title just minutes after Punk’s celebration had started. The arena practically shook. Fans are already calling this one of the fastest turnarounds in title history.
Championships and Debuts: Women’s Gold and Celebrities Crash the Ring
Elsewhere on the card, the women’s division made its own headlines. Tiffany Stratton, putting all doubts to rest, defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill in a high-intensity match. No tricks—Stratton beat Cargill clean, showing why her reign isn’t just hype. In the Women’s Tag Team Championship bout, Charlotte Flair teamed with an energized Alexa Bliss to take down Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez of The Judgment Day. The new champs didn’t mince words afterward, promising a fresh start for the tag team scene.
The tag team opener was pure chaos. Roman Reigns, still looking every bit the Tribal Chief, teamed up with Jey Uso to top the powerhouse duo of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Despite the recent soap-opera-worthy friction between Reigns and Uso, the pair found their groove when it mattered. Fans who expected dysfunction saw the opposite—unexpected chemistry leading to a decisive win.
Sami Zayn versus Karrion Kross was billed as the end of their rivalry, and it delivered. Zayn outlasted Kross in a gritty, emotional battle. In the most WWE way possible, Zayn made Kross admit defeat to the entire arena, capping a feud that’s had fans talking for weeks.
Then came the much-hyped celebrity tag team grudge match. Drew McIntyre joined forces with crossover social media star Logan Paul. Their opponents? The always-dangerous Randy Orton and rapper Jelly Roll, who surprised with a solid in-ring showing for his WWE debut. Despite their best attempts, Orton and Jelly Roll fell just short, but the crowd loved every minute.
The show wrapped with Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight gold in hand, cued up in front of a storm of pyro as fans wondered what twists Night 2 might bring. With so many titles and egos unsettled, it feels like anything could happen the next night in Jersey.
