Grammy-nominated country music artist Jelly Roll is scheduled to make his WWE SmackDown debut on July 11, 2025, kicking off a storyline expected to extend through the upcoming SummerSlam event. This marks a significant entry for Jelly Roll into wrestling, blending his music career with WWE’s entertainment spectacle.
Insiders from WWE, as reported by WrestleVotes through Backstage Pass Radio, indicate that Jelly Roll’s involvement will go beyond a single appearance. Following his memorable in-ring cameo at SummerSlam 2024, where he delivered a chokeslam to Austin Theory, WWE plans to integrate him into an ongoing storyline. His presence continues WWE’s recent trend of leveraging popular music figures like Bad Bunny and Travis Scott to broaden viewership and create buzz around major shows such as TKO.
The Impact of Jelly Roll’s Wrestling Role
While some wrestling fans remain skeptical about mixing non-wrestlers into wrestling narratives, Jelly Roll himself is enthusiastic about this crossover. His chokeslam on Austin Theory received praise as one of the most impressive in recent WWE memory. His participation is expected to attract new fans, partly fueled by his significant transformation—shedding nearly 200 pounds from over 400—and his candid storytelling about overcoming addiction and hardship.
Jelly Roll’s personal journey, marked by resilience and change, aligns well with WWE’s storytelling style and could provide a compelling foundation for his character arc. This depth could resonate with the WWE Universe and create meaningful conflict, especially if utilized by a villainous character in future feuds.
SummerSlam 2025 as a Platform for Growth and Exposure
The timing of Jelly Roll’s debut is strategic for both the artist and WWE. The SummerSlam 2025 event will be held over two nights, August 2 and 3, at MetLife Stadium—an unprecedented format for WWE’s landmark pay-per-view. This extended event offers space to introduce new storylines and characters like Jelly Roll while maintaining fan engagement across both nights.
WWE anticipates that Jelly Roll’s engagement will draw increased mainstream interest, supporting their goal of expanding the audience. There is also speculation about a possible storyline involving WWE icon John Cena, especially considering Jelly Roll’s previous SummerSlam appearance alongside R-Truth and the Awesome Truth faction. This potential rivalry could further elevate Jelly Roll’s presence within WWE programming.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is WrestleMania or SummerSlam bigger?
A. SummerSlam is a professional wrestling event held every year by WWE, the largest pro wrestling company. It’s nicknamed “The Biggest Party of the Summer” and is considered the second most important WWE event after WrestleMania.
Q. Is SummerSlam 2025 2 nights?
A. Attend WWE SummerSlam 2025, the first two-night SummerSlam event. It will be live on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3. Watch the top Superstars and thrilling moments at MetLife Stadium. Experience this monumental event that changes the biggest party of the summer!
Q. Is SummerSlam 2 nights in 2025?
A. The 38th annual SummerSlam is planned for 2025 and will occur over two nights. It will happen on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3. The event is set for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown divisions will participate.
Q. Will John Cena be at SummerSlam 2025?
A. The event will include John Cena’s final match at SummerSlam, as he plans to retire from wrestling at the end of 2025.