The opening night of WWE SummerSlam 2025 delivered unforgettable drama, seismic returns, and monumental twists, none bigger than the stunning finale involving CM Punk, Gunther, and Seth Rollins.
In the headline match of the night, CM Punk seemingly completed his redemption arc by dethroning Gunther to win the World Heavyweight Championship, only for Seth Rollins to cash in his Money in the Bank contract moments later and snatch the title in shocking fashion.
Main Event Chaos: Punk Wins, But Rollins Laughs Last
The main event was a brutal, emotionally-charged contest between CM Punk and the dominant reigning champion Gunther. Punk fought valiantly, enduring punishing offense before hitting back-to-back Go To Sleep (GTS) finishers to claim the World Heavyweight Title. But just as Punk celebrated the hard-fought victory, Seth Rollins’ music hit, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Revealing that his recent injury was a ruse, Rollins sprinted to the ring, cashed in his briefcase, and swiftly defeated a fatigued Punk with a Stomp to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, ending Punk’s title reign in a matter of minutes and setting the stage for a fiery new feud.
Full Match Results – WWE SummerSlam 2025 Day 1:
Roman Reigns & Jey Uso def. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (Tag Team Match)
In a deeply personal bout, Roman Reigns and Jey Uso teamed up to take on Paul Heyman’s new protégés, Breakker and Reed. Reigns absorbed heavy punishment, including a barricade-shattering spear from Breakker, but it was Jey Uso who secured the win with a devastating splash on Reed. The result left Heyman visibly shaken, having betrayed Reigns weeks earlier.
Roman Reigns and Jey Uso celebrate their win during SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium Aug. 2, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
New champions were crowned as Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss ended the reign of Judgment Day’s Rodriguez and Perez. Despite brief in-fighting after Bliss accidentally hit Flair with Sister Abigail, the duo recovered and Bliss pinned Perez to claim the gold. A post-match embrace squashed any tension between the new champs.
Sami Zayn def. Karrion Kross (Singles Match)
Sami Zayn continued his momentum with a gritty win over Karrion Kross. Zayn controlled the early exchanges, but Kross roared back with physical dominance. In a match that tested Zayn’s resolve, he ultimately triumphed, prompting a surprising and emotional admission from Kross, who acknowledged he was wrong about Zayn.
Sami Zayn def. Karrion Kross at SummerSlam. Photo: WWE.com
Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Jade Cargill (WWE Women’s Championship Match)
Defending champion Tiffany Stratton retained her title in a tightly-contested battle against Jade Cargill. After weathering Cargill’s early onslaught, Stratton reversed a Jaded attempt from the turnbuckle and connected with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win. The victory further solidified Stratton’s reign atop the women’s division.
Tiffany Stratton celebrates her win during SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 2, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)
Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul def. Randy Orton & Jelly Roll (Tag Team Match)
In a wild celebrity-tag match, Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul defeated Randy Orton and debutant Jelly Roll. With Orton neutralized by a vicious Claymore, Paul used a loaded titanium fist to knock out Jelly Roll and steal the victory. Despite Orton’s efforts, the inexperienced Jelly Roll became an easy target for the cunning heels.
CM Punk def. Gunther (c) – World Heavyweight Championship Match
The long-awaited showdown ended with CM Punk toppling Gunther’s historic reign after two crushing GTS finishers. But his celebration was short-lived…
Seth Rollins cashes in Money In The Bank, defeats CM Punk
Seth Rollins makes his entrance before cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to take on CM Punk in the the WWE World Heavyweight Championship during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 02, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
In the ultimate betrayal, Seth Rollins, presumed injured, revealed he was ready all along. Exploiting Punk’s exhaustion, Rollins cashed in his Money In The Bank contract and hit a Stomp to leave SummerSlam as the new World Heavyweight Champion.
WWE SummerSlam 2025 Day 1 will be remembered for its rollercoaster of emotions, from Punk’s brief championship euphoria to Rollins’ cunning opportunism, from intense tag team drama to rising stars cementing their dominance. With Day 2 already concluded, the fallout from this opening night is bound to shape WWE’s landscape for months to come.
Written By Rodney Mbua
