Night 2 of WWE SummerSlam Delivers on All Fronts
Introduction
The highly-anticipated Night 2 of WWE SummerSlam delivered on all fronts at the MetLife Stadium. The event was filled with electrifying matches and unexpected returns, making it a night to remember for wrestling fans. ESPN's Greg Wyshynski breaks down all the action, including Brock Lesnar's shocking comeback and Cody Rhodes' victory in the undisputed WWE championship match.
Key Details
The second night of SummerSlam saw the return of Brock Lesnar, who made his presence known by attacking Seth Rollins during the main event. In the women's division, Bayley successfully defended her SmackDown Women's Championship against Ember Moon, while Becky Lynch retained her Raw Women's Championship against Natalya in a Submission Match. In the main event, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious in a grueling match against Randy Orton, becoming the undisputed WWE champion.
Impact
Night 2 of SummerSlam not only provided exciting matches, but also set the stage for future storylines. With Lesnar's return and his attack on Rollins, a new rivalry has been sparked. Bayley's successful title defense solidifies her as a dominant champion, while Becky Lynch's continued reign as Raw Women's Champion further cements her position as "The Man" in the WWE. Cody Rhodes' win in the undisputed championship
About the People Mentioned
Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar is an American professional wrestler, mixed martial artist (MMA), and former collegiate wrestler born on July 12, 1977, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He gained early recognition as a dominant NCAA Division I collegiate wrestler, winning the national heavyweight title in 2000 while at the University of Minnesota. Lesnar made a rapid rise in professional wrestling after debuting in WWE (then WWF) in 2002. Within six months, he won the WWE Championship at age 25, becoming the youngest WWE Champion in history. Over his wrestling career, he has secured seven WWE Championships and three WWE Universal Championships. Lesnar has also won the King of the Ring (2002), Royal Rumble twice (2003, 2022), and Money in the Bank (2019) tournaments. Among his most notable WWE achievements is ending The Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak at WrestleMania 30 in 2014, a landmark moment in WWE history. Lesnar has headlined multiple WrestleManias and major pay-per-views such as SummerSlam[1][2][3][4]. Outside WWE, Lesnar competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship once, and had a successful MMA career in the UFC. He became the UFC Heavyweight Champion in 2008, compiling a professional MMA record of 5 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. He briefly pursued a career in American football and was part of the Minnesota Vikings practice squad in 2004[2][3][5]. Lesnar is known for his physical dominance and signature finishing moves, including the F-5 and Kimura Lock. Managed often by Paul Heyman, he is nicknamed “The Beast Incarnate” and “The Next Big Thing.” As of late 2025, Lesnar remains an active and prominent figure in WWE, continuing to headline major events and maintain his status as one of the most formidable competitors in sports entertainment[1][3][4].
Cody Rhodes
Cody Garrett Runnels Rhodes (born June 30, 1985) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes and has established himself as a prominent figure in wrestling with multiple championship wins and notable storylines. Cody initially debuted in WWE in 2007 and competed there until 2016, winning two Intercontinental Championships and six Tag Team Championships during that period. After leaving WWE in 2016, Rhodes wrestled on the independent circuit and internationally for promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Ring of Honor (ROH), and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he was a co-founder and served as executive vice president. During this time, he captured several titles including the ROH World Championship, IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and the AEW TNT Championship. Rhodes returned to WWE in 2022 with a high-profile comeback at WrestleMania 38, defeating Seth Rollins. Since his return, he has won prestigious accolades including the Royal Rumble matches in 2023 and 2024, the inaugural WWE Crown Jewel Championship in 2024, and the King of the Ring tournament in 2025. He became a two-time WWE Champion and the 34th Triple Crown Champion in WWE history. Rhodes has headlined WrestleMania four times (including WrestleMania 39, 40, and 41). Known for his resilience and in-ring storytelling, Cody Rhodes has also been involved in memorable matches such as the Hell in a Cell contest against Rollins, which he competed in despite a torn pectoral muscle. His current reign as Undisputed WWE Champion and King of the Ring winner underscores his status as one of WWE’s top stars and a key figure in contemporary professional wrestling[1][2][3][4].
About the Organizations Mentioned
WWE
WWE, or World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., is the world's largest wrestling promotion, operating as a global sports entertainment company. Founded in 1980 as Titan Sports by Vince McMahon, it has evolved into a multifaceted media organization with operations in media, live events, and consumer products[1][6]. WWE's main roster is divided into two touring brands, **Raw** and **SmackDown**, with developmental brands like **NXT** and **Evolve**[1]. ### History and Key Achievements - **Early Years**: Initially known as Titan Sports, the company was renamed World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and later World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)[1]. - **Global Reach**: WWE's programming is available in over a billion homes worldwide, broadcast in multiple languages[2]. - **Notable Events**: WWE has hosted numerous iconic events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the recent Evolution event, which marked the first all-women's wrestling event broadcast on both Netflix and Peacock[3]. ### Current Status - **Mergers and Acquisitions**: In 2023, WWE merged with UFC's parent company, Zuffa, forming **TKO Group Holdings**. This move positioned WWE under the majority ownership of Endeavor Group Holdings[1][4]. - **Recent Developments**: WWE has seen significant changes in leadership and operations. Vince McMahon stepped down and later departed, with Ari Emanuel taking over as executive chairman of TKO Group[1][4]. - **Ticket Pricing**: Post-merger, WWE ticket prices have nearly doubled, reflecting a shift in the company's pricing strategy in the live event market[7]. ### Notable Aspects - **Creative Structure**: WWE's creative team is led by Paul "Triple H" Levesque, with a hierarchical structure involving lead writers for each brand[5]. - **Partnerships**: WWE recently announced a multi-year partnership with TNA Wrestling
ESPN
ESPN, originally the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is a dominant American sports media corporation headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut. Founded in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen, Scott Rasmussen, and Ed Eagan, ESPN pioneered the concept of a 24-hour all-sports cable network, quickly establishing itself as the "Worldwide Leader in Sports." Today, ESPN is owned 80% by The Walt Disney Company and 20% by Hearst Communications, operating as ESPN Inc. The organization broadcasts from its main studios in Bristol, with additional offices and studios across the U.S., and reaches audiences globally through 64 linear networks and digital platforms in 141 countries. ESPN’s rise was fueled by securing broadcast rights to major professional and collegiate sports, making it a household name. At its peak in 2011, ESPN reached over 100 million U.S. pay TV households, though that number has since declined to about 70 million as viewership shifts toward digital platforms. ESPN’s portfolio now includes seven U.S. cable networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network), ESPN on ABC, ESPN Radio, and a robust digital presence via ESPN.com, the ESPN App, and ESPN Fantasy Sports. A key achievement in recent years is the launch of ESPN+, its direct-to-consumer streaming service introduced in 2018, which has expanded to include thousands of live events and original programming. In August 2025, ESPN launched a new flagship direct-to-consumer product, offering two subscription tiers—ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select—providing access to all ESPN networks and exclusive content. This move reflects ESPN’s strategic pivot to adapt to changing media consumption habits, including partnerships with entities like WWE for premium live events. Despite facing challenges such as rising broadcast costs and criticism over coverage biases, ESPN remains a major force in sports media,
