Rapper Cardi B has been announced as the host for the two-night SummerSlam event on August 2 and 3, 2025, taking place in New Jersey. As preparations heat up, Cardi has been fully engaged with ongoing WWE storylines, closely following the rising conflict involving Naomi and Jade Cargill, with Bianca Belair caught in the middle of the tensions.
The drama intensified when Bayley became involved, leading to a public exchange between Cardi B and Bayley on social media. After Triple H hinted that Cardi could take any action she wished at SummerSlam 2025, even physically, Cardi responded sharply, provoking Bayley’s reply that she was ready to step in. Cardi fired back with a brief dismissal, telling Bayley to “leave her at home.” This back-and-forth has fans wondering if a confrontation between Cardi B and Bayley could be part of the SummerSlam storyline.
John Cena and Cody Rhodes Officially Booked for SummerSlam Street Fight
A major highlight for SummerSlam 2025 was solidified during a volatile segment on WWE SmackDown, where John Cena and Cody Rhodes committed to a street fight that promises high stakes and intense rivalry. Cody Rhodes reflected on his family legacy, mentioning his father Dusty Rhodes and brother Dustin Rhodes as outlaws, emphasizing his desire to carve out his own path as the Undisputed WWE Champion.
He referenced a recent message he posted on social media, saying,
Do not flinch and thank you for riding with me,
suggesting it was a mantra for himself, stating he never flinched during battles with Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Jey Uso, or Randy Orton, nor against the backstage politics or nicknamed “The Final Boss.” However, he admitted to flinching only once—at WrestleMania 41 facing John Cena.
Labeling SummerSlam 2025 as
one match for the rest of his life,
Cody declared his readiness to wage war in their upcoming fight.
In a surprising twist, Cena initially announced he would not compete at SummerSlam, citing emotional exhaustion and commitments filming a major Netflix project. He told WWE management and Cody that he preferred to postpone the rematch for a different location, like Paris or Perth, and refused to sign the SummerSlam contract with a clear conscience.
The situation escalated as Cody confronted Cena, chasing him down and igniting a chaotic brawl outside the ring. Back in the ring, Cena attempted to assault Cody with the Undisputed Championship belt, but Cody turned the tide and struck Cena with the title instead. Cody then climbed to the top rope with the contract in hand, performed a devastating splash on Cena through a table, and forced Cena to sign the contract, officially confirming the Street Fight match at SummerSlam 2025.
Arianna Grace to Represent WWE NXT at Reality of Wrestling Event
WWE NXT rising star Arianna Grace is set to compete outside WWE for Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion. She will face HollyHood Haley J on July 26 at the Walker Texas Lawyer Arena in Texas City, Texas. This offers her a chance to showcase her skills on a different platform before the SummerSlam event.
🚨 MATCH ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
The contract is signed and it’s official!@WWENXT Superstar @AriannaGraceWWE will go head-to-head with @HollyHoodHaleyJ on Saturday, July 26th as Reality of Wrestling presents: GLORY 5 in Texas City, Texas!
📍 Walker Texas Lawyer Arena
9300 Emmett F… pic.twitter.com/Rs9JvQmR0n
— Reality of Wrestling (@TheOfficialROW) July 18, 2025
Rockin’ Robin to Release Autobiography Highlighting Wrestling Legacy
Legendary former WWF Women’s Champion Rockin’ Robin is preparing to publish her autobiography next month, titled Worthless: The Robin Smith Story. The book contains forewords from WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin and pioneering wrestler Susan Tex Green, underscoring its importance as a wrestling memoir.
Robin Smith is the daughter of Grizzly Smith and sister to Sam Houston and Jake Roberts. She made her wrestling debut in 1986 and competed in the WWF between 1987 and 1990, notably holding the Women’s Championship and feuding with Sherri Martel during that time. Robin captured the title on a USA Network special aired from Paris, France, before the WWF retired the belt after her departure. She also wrestled for LPWA and Herb Abrams’ UWF before retiring in 1992.
Upcoming WWE SmackDown Matches and Attendance Figures
This week’s WWE SmackDown episode was held at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, drawing an attendance of 15,112 fans. The event featured many significant moments and set the stage for next week’s exciting matchups.
The scheduled matches for the upcoming SmackDown include the WWE Tag Team Championships with The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) defending against Andrade and Rey Fenix, Alexa Bliss facing Roxanne Perez, and appearances by Jelly Roll, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, and Logan Paul.
Updated SummerSlam 2025 Match Card Revealed
The confirmed match lineup for WWE SummerSlam 2025 reflects high-profile title defenses and multi-star bouts, with the following matches officially announced:
- Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship: GUNTHER (c) vs. CM Punk
- WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
- WWE Women’s World Championship: Naomi (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. IYO SKY
- Cage Match for WWE United States Championship: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria
- Tag Team Match: Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul
This card illustrates a blend of championship battles and compelling personal rivalries, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated WWE events of the year.
Significance and Anticipation Surrounding SummerSlam 2025
With Cardi B in the hosting role and the buzz around a possible confrontation with Bayley, the SummerSlam 2025 WWE Street Fight is generating increased excitement and speculation. The involvement of celebrities like Cardi B adds a new dimension of unpredictability. The intense rivalry and contract drama between John Cena and Cody Rhodes only add to the event’s tension, promising a fiercely physical showdown.
The inclusion of multi-title matches featuring top stars such as GUNTHER, CM Punk, Tiffany Stratton, and Becky Lynch reinforces SummerSlam’s stature as a major event in WWE’s calendar. Fans can expect explosive in-ring action and shocking twists as the countdown to August begins.
