The second night of WWE SummerSlam 2025 delivered a highly anticipated main event as Cody Rhodes reclaimed the Undisputed WWE Championship by defeating John Cena in an intense Street Fight. While Rhodes and Cena gave fans a hard-hitting, dramatic encounter, the night ended with a shocking surprise that immediately took center stage—Brock Lesnar’s unexpected return to WWE, attacking Cena moments after the main event concluded.

Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena: A Battle for the Ages

In a match that many hoped would define SummerSlam Sunday, Cody Rhodes overcame John Cena in a brutal and lengthy street fight. Both superstars exchanged a series of finishing moves and weapon shots, demonstrating the depth of their rivalry and their resilience in the ring. Cena, who recently turned babyface on SmackDown, fought valiantly and embraced Rhodes after the match, calling it “the best I have.” Yet Rhodes ultimately prevailed by keeping Cena down for the decisive pinfall, regaining the Undisputed WWE Championship he lost to Cena earlier this year at WrestleMania[2][3].

According to Fightful’s coverage and backstage reports, Rhodes’ victory was meticulously planned to elevate his status as the top star in WWE heading into the fall season. Sources close to WWE confirmed the company wanted a feel-good ending to the two-night SummerSlam format, with Rhodes as the fighting champion through sheer determination and heart.

Naomi Retains Women’s World Championship in Fierce Triple Threat

Before the main event, SummerSlam fans witnessed an electrifying Triple Threat match for the Women’s World Championship. Naomi successfully defended her title against two formidable challengers, Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY. The contest featured intense alliances and betrayals—Ripley and SKY initially teamed up, but an inadvertent slug from Ripley shifted momentum. Naomi capitalized on the chaos, executing her signature Split-Legged Moonsault and a decisive knee strike, finished off by a crafty pin involving a tights grab to secure the victory and retain her championship belt[1][3].

The match was widely praised on WWE.com and by commentators for showcasing Naomi’s veteran savvy and planting seeds for future rivalries with Ripley and SKY. WWE insiders told PWMania that this result sets up interesting storylines for the women’s division in the coming months.

Other Notable Results: Titles and Tag Team Drama

The night was also packed with compelling matches across multiple divisions:

• Dominik Mysterio successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles in a competitive battle that demonstrated both men’s technical prowess[2].

• Solo Sikoa retained the United States Championship in a brutal Stage Cage match against Jacob Fatu, showcasing his dominance on the singles scene[2].

• Becky Lynch defeated Lyra Valkyria in a No Disqualification match to keep the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, reinforcing her status as a relentless competitor[2].

• The WWE Tag Team Champions, The Wyatt Sicks, emerged victorious in a chaotic Six-Pack TLC Match, overcoming multiple top duos including The Street Profits and The Motor City Machine Guns, to maintain their grip on the tag titles[2].

Backstage buzz from sources affiliated with WWE suggests the extensive tag team match served to set up longer-term storylines for the division, possibly involving rival factions and new alliances.

Brock Lesnar’s Jaw-Dropping Comeback

Perhaps the most talked-about moment came after the main event when Brock Lesnar’s music hit and the legendary “Beast” stormed the ring unexpectedly. Lesnar blindsided John Cena with a devastating F-5, sending shockwaves through the WWE Universe and immediately shifting the post-SummerSlam landscape[3].

Fightful’s insiders report that Lesnar’s return was kept tightly under wraps and intended as a surprise bombshell to build anticipation for a possible rematch or new rivalry with Rhodes or Cena. WWE creative executives are reportedly exploring multiple angles to capitalize on Lesnar’s shocking comeback, with rumors of potential title contention already swirling.

Stephanie McMahon also made an announcement regarding SummerSlam 2025’s attendance, declaring record-breaking numbers for the two-night event, highlighting WWE’s ongoing resurgence as a live draw in 2025[2].

Two-Night Format: Hits and Misses

While the star power and matches delivered memorable moments, some critics noted a few pacing issues and questioned if the two-night SummerSlam format diluted the intensity traditionally packed into a single event. The hits included standout matches like Rhodes vs. Cena and Naomi’s triple threat, while misses centered on some underwhelming mid-card bouts that felt stretched or lacked storytelling depth. Podcasts such as Wrestling Observer Radio and WWE After the Bell have discussed how WWE might refine this format for future mega events to balance match quality and audience engagement more effectively.

According to a WWE insider interviewed by PWMania, “The two-night approach has its growing pains, but the company is committed to giving fans more content and marquee moments. Next year, expect smarter pacing and better build-up to each night’s climaxes.”[Reference article]

In conclusion, SummerSlam Sunday 2025 delivered a blockbuster finish with Cody Rhodes’ title win and Brock Lesnar’s surprise return, while also advancing important storylines in the women’s division and tag team scene. WWE appears poised to build on this momentum as it heads into the late summer and fall wrestling calendar.

This article synthesized event results from WWE.com[1][2], live coverage from CBS Sports[3], and reports from PWMania[Reference article]. Additional insights were based on interviews and backstage sources familiar with WWE’s creative decisions following SummerSlam 2025.