WWE veteran Randy Orton has weighed in on the new “WWE: Unreal” docuseries on Netflix, sharing his mixed feelings about the show’s unprecedented look behind the scenes and admitting that the “old school” part of him “doesn’t love it.”
Speaking on the Maggie and Perloff Show, “The Viper” explained his internal conflict with shows that pull back the curtain on the wrestling business. He noted that while he understands the need to evolve, a part of him misses the mystique.
“The old school in me doesn’t love it. But, I had to learn over the last few years especially, you gotta change with the times,” Orton said. “But, there’s a part of me that also misses just the magic. When I was a kid, the number one thing that people would ask my father and kids at school would ask me, ‘Is it real? Is it real?’”
Orton acknowledged that he understands the appeal of the docuseries for a modern audience that is curious about the inner workings of WWE. He said that while he doesn’t personally “love the idea,” he finds it “intriguing.”
“I think there’s a large amount of fans out there that are very curious and they want to know behind the scenes and how we do what we do and make it look so effortless,” he stated. “My job is to go out there in that ring and get you to kind of suspend your belief… and make you believe that what you’re seeing, that there’s real emotion behind it.”
All Elite Wrestling announced today that Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey will host AEW Full Gear on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The event will air live worldwide on pay-per-view, marking the third time the venue has hosted this marquee event.
Tickets for AEW Full Gear go on sale Monday, August 25 at 10 AM ET via Ticketmaster.com and AEWTix.com. Fans seeking early access presale opportunities can register as AEW Insiders at allelitewrestling.com/aew-insider.
“We are thrilled to return to Prudential Center for AEW Full Gear on Saturday, November 22,” said AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan. “AEW is having a fantastic 2025 and based on the history of great support from the fans at Prudential Center for this event in 2022 and 2024, I believe this year’s AEW Full Gear will once again be one of the biggest and most exciting events of the year.”
The Prudential Center has proven to be a successful venue for AEW, having previously hosted Full Gear in both 2022 and 2024 to strong fan reception.
Remaining AEW Pay-Per-View Schedule 2025
With Full Gear’s announcement, here’s the complete lineup of remaining AEW pay-per-view events for 2025:
AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door – August 24, 2025 (London, England – venue TBA)
AEW All Out – September 20, 2025 (Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
AEW WrestleDream – October 18, 2025 (Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, Missouri)
AEW Full Gear – November 22, 2025 (Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey)
AEW Worlds End – December 27, 2025 (NOW Arena, Chicago, Illinois)
The 2025 schedule represents AEW’s continued expansion into international markets, with Forbidden Door marking the promotion’s UK debut for the cross-promotional event with New Japan Pro Wrestling. All Out’s move to Toronto marks the first time the event has been held outside the Chicago area since 2020’s COVID-restricted show.
Tonight’s WWE Raw (August 4, 2025) airs live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York at 8 p.m. ET, and is the fallout episode after SummerSlam 2025. As the dust settles from this weekend’s double-header at MetLife Stadium, WWE fans and Superstars have little to reminisce .
The show streams live on Netflix and will feature appearances from major stars including Gunther, Rhea Ripley, Jey Uso, Dominik Mysterio, and Bron Breakker.
Confirmed segments and matches include:
Sheamus vs. Rusev: A headline match following both superstars’ strong showings at SummerSlam.
AJ Styles and the Kabuki Warriors vs. The Judgment Day: Six-person tag action featuring recent rivals.
IYO SKY, Nikki Bella, Rhea Ripley, and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Naomi, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, and Alba Fyre: An 8-woman tag match with top names in the women’s division.
Expect updates on the major developments that unfolded this past weekend, most notably Seth Rollins and Cody Rhoes leaving SummerSlam as champions, and the shocking return of Brock Lesnar.
Dominik Mysterio wasn’t fazed by AJ Styles’ attempt at mind games.
The Judgment Day member defended his IC title against the Phenomenal One at night 2 of SummerSlam. Both contestants paid tribute to the classic 2005 ladder match between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero by wearing their respective colors.
Dom is wearing reys SS gear and AJ is wearing Eddies SS gear… smart way to pay homage. pic.twitter.com/lVWuuvJm39
— (taji) “el sucios wife”?? (@queentajii) August 4, 2025
The IC Champion was asked about AJ wearing the colors of his role model while appearing on the SummerSlam post-show. Dominik claimed that stuff like this does not affect him at all:
“You know, I know he was trying to play mind games with me because of my alleged father. But what he doesn’t know is that stuff like that doesn’t get to me. I’m Dirty Dom, I’ve been playing here… I’m as homegrown as it gets.”
AJ Styles finally got to challenge Dominik Mysterio for the IC title at SummerSlam, after the later avoided the bout for weeks due to a rib injury. Mysterio tried to use Eddie Guerrero’s chair trick to get AJ disqualified but Styles saved himself by pretending to be hit as well.
The former WWE champion then grabbed Dirty Dom’s leg for the Calf Killer submission but the IC Champ slipped out of his boot. AJ ended up accidentally hitting the referee and Dom used the spare boot to finally get the upper hand on his opponent and retain the title.
Despite being one of WWE’s most hated heels for years, Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio has started to receive more cheers from the fans. In a new interview with Bleacher Report, Mysterio addressed the changing crowd reactions and discussed the possibility of a future babyface turn.
“Dirty Dom” acknowledged that while he is still mostly booed, he has noticed fans chanting along with his theme song, which he admits is a funny experience after being booed for so long.
“You know, I react to what is being given to me, right? And as of now, they’ve been booing me, but every now and then, they’ll chant that Dirty Dom song,” he said. “And that Dirty Dom song, for one way or another, it always gets a crack out of me and I tend to break and smile because it’s funny hearing everyone singing it together — because I’ve just been getting booed for years.”
When asked if this growing support could lead to him embracing a babyface role, Mysterio was non-committal. He stated that he hasn’t changed anything about his character and that any potential turn would have to happen naturally.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever embrace it ’cause I haven’t changed anything about myself. I’ve just been Dirty Dom all the way,” he explained. “We’ll have to wait and see… it’s got to be organic. You can’t force anything. Can’t force it.”
Mysterio’s comments on his character come just one night after a major victory at the SummerSlam premium live event. On Night Two of the show from MetLife Stadium, “Dirty Dom” successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship against “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, securing one of the biggest wins of his career. It remains to be seen if the fan support he has been receiving will continue to grow in the wake of his successful title defense.
WWE’s decision to bring back Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world. Rather than a simple surprise, this move was the result of a carefully orchestrated strategy by WWE leadership, designed to maximize impact and control the narrative during a turbulent period for the company.
WWE reportedly weighed three major scenarios before finalizing Lesnar’s return. The first involved a gradual build-up, teasing Lesnar’s involvement over several weeks. The second scenario focused on a one-night-only shock appearance, leveraging the element of surprise to dominate headlines. The third scenario, ultimately chosen, was to reintroduce Lesnar in a way that would overshadow ongoing controversies and legal challenges facing the company.
Lawsuit Connection
The timing of Lesnar’s return was not coincidental. WWE is currently entangled in a high-profile lawsuit, and bringing back a marquee star like Lesnar was seen as a way to shift public attention and energize the fanbase. This calculated move demonstrates WWE’s willingness to use its biggest assets to navigate difficult situations.
Press Conference Elimination
In a further sign of WWE’s strategic thinking, the company eliminated the traditional post-SummerSlam press conference. This decision limited opportunities for the media to question executives about the lawsuit or Lesnar’s return, allowing WWE to maintain tighter control over the narrative.
Strategic Media Control
WWE’s approach to media management was evident throughout the process. While wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer was among the first to report on the backstage discussions, WWE’s own communications team worked diligently to ensure that the story unfolded on their terms, minimizing external speculation and focusing attention on Lesnar’s in-ring impact.
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) August 4, 2025
Becky Lynch had been using the ‘Celtic Invasion’ theme by former WWE music producers CFO$ for the last 10 years. With this new theme, she has managed to avoid a theme by Def Rebel, who took over the WWE music production in 2019.
The IC Champion defended her title against Lyra Valkyria in a No DQ match at the show. The defending champion used every weapon she could think of on her opponent, but Valkyria showed great courage and survived all the punishment.
Bayley showed up at the ringside towards the end to stop Becky from using a crowbar on her opponent. Unfortunately for Lyra, Bayley ended up hitting her accidentally while trying to hit Becky. It allowed the Man to retain the title.
As per the match stipulation, Lyra Valkyria now cannot challenge for the IC title again as long as Lynch is the champion. It’s possible we’ll see her feuding with Bayley in coming times.
The SummerSlam PPV featured an unexpected fight, though not between wrestlers.
The company presented the first ever two-night SummerSlam event from MetLife Stadium this week, with both the nights ending on completely unexpected notes.
One of the most surprising moments of weekend however, was completely unplanned. The moment came during Solo Sikoa’s entrance on night two, when a fight broke out between two women in the crowd:
Solo Sikoa defended his United States Championship against former teammate Jacob Fatu in a steel cage match at the show. The trio of JC Mateo, Talla Tonga, and Tonga Loa showed up towards the ending of the bout to help Solo.
Jimmy Uso then came out to even the odds but his support proved to be inadequate. Solo Sikoa retained the title by escaping the cage in the end, after Talla Tonga smashed the cage door into Fatu’s face.
Jimmy Uso attacked Mateo after the match and threw him into the steel cage. Jimmy put Loa with him and Jacob Fatu ended the segment with a Moonsault off the cage on his opponents.
Apart from this, the show also featured the surprise return of Brock Lesnar who attacked John Cena after the main event. You can check out some backstage details of how WWE pulled this off here.
WWE went to great length to keep Brock Lesnar’s WWE return a surprise.
The Beast Incarnate showed up after the SummerSlam Sunday main event between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare had left the ring after winning back the WWE title but Cena was still around. Brock ended up taking John out with an F5 to end the show.
Top WWE officials had kept the plans for the main event and the post-match angle close to their chest. Not many people were aware of Brock’s return and due to Cena and Cody’s history, some wondered if The Rock was going to make an appearance.
Fightful Select revealed that the former UFC Champion was flown into Minnesota on Saturday and then brought to the Teterboro airport via a private plane.
He was kept hidden throughout the day of his appearance and the former world champion was only seen backstage at about 9:15 PM ET when the main event was already underway. Some staff members then made their way to the stage mid-way through the main event to start filming things.
It’s unknown if the company’s legal department got any kind of ‘clearing of wrongdoing,’ before the officials brought him back. Brock Lesnar has been named in the ongoing Janel Grant Lawsuit against Vince McMahon, though he is not one of the parties being sued.
Many media persons had travelled to the city expecting to take part in the post-SummerSlam press conference before it was cancelled last minute. While not officially announced, the expected backlash over Lesnar’s return is largely believed to be the reason behind this move.
It’s not surprising that Brock is planned for a program with Cena in the coming month after his return, though it’s unknown if he’ll be sticking around the company afterward.
The Game took part in the SummerSlam post show after night 2 of the event from MetLife Stadium. During the talk, he was asked about Naomi’s performance while defending her women’s title at the event.
The WWE Chief Content Officer mentioned how the Women’s World Champion has been part of the roster for a long time. The last few months however, she has shown a completely new side of her:
“Naomi — to me, she might be one of those people where, even though she’s been here for a long time? All of a sudden, [she’s] most improved? You know, where she has just come out of her shell
And for whatever reason — I don’t know if the stuff with Jade (Cargill), that whole situation. But something motivated her to take it to another level and she is. And what a moment tonight with her dad.”
Naomi defended her championship against Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY in the opening match of SummerSlam Sunday. The ending of the bout saw Ripley hitting an Avalanche Riptide on SKY. As the Mami went for the pin however, the defending champion swooped in with a rolling pin and retained her title.
Apart from this, Triple H also talked about Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE after the SummerSlam main event. He suggested that a top name was the reason behind it. You can check out what he said here.
Cody Rhodes has commented on his SummerSlam entrance.
The American Nightmare has always been vocal about his love and respect for his dad and late wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes. This emotion was on display once again during his SummerSlam entrance, which featured a special Dusty tribute in the form of one of his classic promos.
During the SummerSlam post-show, Cody Rhodes talked about this. The new Undisputed Champion revealed that it was his idea but he gave credit to the WWE team for the execution:
“You’ve got a really wonderful — Brian in the truck and you have Triple H. I had an idea of maybe some words that could describe the journey of a champion. The words of somebody describing the chase. The words they used — the words they used were his words.”
Cody Rhodes claimed that the words used for his entrance is his favorite Dusty Rhodes quote, and it made him feel like the wrestling legend was with him for his big win over John Cena at the show:
“And ‘The view never changes’ is my favorite thing he ever said because it’s so accurate. And no matter what you do here, it’s so hard to climb and to put that view in a different perspective, and to try and lead the way he suggested.
I can’t have him here with me, but in a moment like that I can feel him with me. And that’s a blessing, I’m lucky to have that. It’s like he came down to the ring with me in a way.”
Triple H is happy with how Brock Lesnar’s WWE return played out.
The Beast Incarnate made his surprise return to the promotion during the closing moments of SummerSlam. He attacked John Cena after his return, setting up a future match between the two.
The Game talked about Brock’s comeback while appearing on the SummerSlam post-show. He mentioned the crowd reaction to Lesnar’s appearance and said that it’s incredible to have him back:
“My reaction was exactly what I thought it was going to be, which is if there was a roof on this place it wouldn’t be there anymore. The dynamic in the room changes when The Beast is here.
Seeing Brock Lesnar come back, anything you thought was happening goes out the window because the factor of Brock now just changes that dynamic. It makes it so unpredictable. So yeah, incredible, just incredible to have him back.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Triple H also suggested that John Cena was responsible for Brock Lesnar’s WWE return, saying that everything that’s happened this year is according to Cena’s retirement wishlist.
While the WWE Executive seem happy about the turn of events, fans online have been vocal in their criticism of this move. You can check out some reactions to Brock’s return here.
The fans have been demanding a more prominent spot for the former NXT Champion for months, but the company has continued to mostly ignore his popularity.
This partiality was on display once again when Triple H appeared on the SummerSlam post-show. The fans were chanting for Kross, but the WWE Chief Content Officer played it off as the chants for the returning Brock Lesnar.
The former NXT star reacted to Triple H’s actions on Twitter. He replied to the video of the incident writing that fans are the one who write the truth:
“Unreal. They write the scripts… But the fans write the truth. Thank you, Tick tock.”
Karrion Kross went up against Sami Zayn during SummerSlam night 1 on Saturday. The former TNA star, however, ended up losing the bout. This decision was criticized by many, including former WWE star Matt Morgan.
It’s believed that the 40-year-old’s contract with the company is set to expire sometimes this month and he could become a free agent if he chooses.
With Kross losing the SummerSlam match and now targeting Triple H, it seems more likely that he will be leaving the promotion instead of sticking around with a new deal.
Triple H has suggested that John Cena is responsible for Brock Lesnar’s WWE return.
The Beast Incarnate made his surprise return during the closing moments of the 2025 SummerSlam PPV. Lesnar attacked John Cena after the main event, setting up a potential future match with him.
The Game talked about the turn of events during his appearance on the PLE post show. Triple H claimed that everything that’s happening is part of John Cena’s retirement tour wishlist:
“This is John Cena’s wishlist. John Cena’s… it’s him writing the last chapter of his book, and I think people saw a conversation with us where he said we’d have to screw it up pretty badly to ruin his career. But it’s not about that for me. It’s about John being able to go out the way he wants to go out. To write his chapter.”
While Triple H did not directly name Brock, he insinuated that John Cena requested the former UFC star as an opponent in his final run:
“I know what that’s like as a performer. I know what that’s like for everybody to feel that, and I think for John to be able to do what he wants to do. One of the very first things I said to him is ‘Who do you want? And how?’ And we’re working through that.”
Brock Lesnar was taken off TV in early 2024 after being named in the Janel Grant Sexual Trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon. Fans have been vocal about their displeasure of the company bringing the former champion back while the lawsuit is still active. You can check out some reactions to his return here.
# What Happened After SummerSlam: John Cena’s Emotional Final Moment Cut Short by Brock Lesnar Attack
**Exclusive footage reveals John Cena’s touching post-match moment at SummerSlam 2025** was dramatically interrupted by Brock Lesnar’s shocking return to WWE.
After losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes in a grueling Street Fight, the 48-year-old Cena remained in the ring at MetLife Stadium as the broadcast concluded. What followed was an emotional scene that showcased why Cena remains one of wrestling’s most beloved figures.
**Cena took his time soaking in the moment** with the 60,561 fans in attendance, clearly moved by what was his final SummerSlam performance. The 16-time world champion appeared to be saying goodbye to the venue and the fans who have supported him throughout his legendary career.
The retiring superstar was visibly emotional as he walked around the ring, taking in the crowd’s appreciation for his effort in the brutal championship match. **It was the kind of genuine moment that defines Cena’s farewell tour** – authentic connection with the WWE Universe during his final year as an active performer.
However, **the touching scene was shattered when Brock Lesnar’s music hit unexpectedly**. The Beast Incarnate, making his first WWE appearance since SummerSlam 2023, immediately targeted the vulnerable Cena who was still recovering from the 40-minute war with Rhodes.
Lesnar wasted no time delivering a devastating F-5 to the unsuspecting legend, leaving Cena laid out in the center of the ring as the show went off the air.
The attack transforms what should have been a beautiful farewell moment into the setup for one final major feud in Cena’s storied career.
The WWE fans are unsure about Brock Lesnar’s WWE return.
The Beast Incarnate made his shocking return to the company to close out night 2 of the 2025 SummerSlam PPV. He came out after the main event match between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. The Cenation Leader dropped the Undisputed WWE title back to The American Nightmare.
Cody had left the ring by the time Lesnar came around but Cena was still in the arena. The former UFC Champion ended up attacking the 17-time world champion and then stood tall to end the show.
Brock Lesnar had not been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at the 2023 SummerSlam event. He was scheduled for the 2024 Royal Rumble PPV but the company nixed those plans after the former champion was named in the Janel Grant sexual trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon.
Brock Lesnar's name is mentioned and cited 44 times in Janel Grant's amended complaint against WWE and Vince McMahon. The complaint alleged Vince McMahon tried using Grant for sex favors to get Lesnar under a new contract. pic.twitter.com/BhF1BOb98N
It was alleged that McMahon offered Grant as a favor to the former MMA star in return of re-signing with the company, and Lesnar made demands to her during their phone conversation.
WWE officials seem to be expecting the backlash over Brock’s return as they cancelled the usual post-PLE press conference for the event and replaced it with a more controlled post show.
Though fans have still been voicing their opinion about the whole thing on social media, questioning the company’s decision. You can check out some of these reactions below:
FYI, if anyone comes into my mention defending Brock Lesnar, who enabled and participated in the abhorrent torture of a young woman. I will not argue- I will block you. Protect women! pic.twitter.com/W4HNQPq2SN
— ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? (@SatNextTo) August 4, 2025
Brock Lesnar is a piece of shit. Triple H is a piece of shit. Nick Khan is a piece of shit. TKO board are pieces of shit.
No word of ANY innocence but sure, whatever, hype moments and aura over a woman’s life and the fact he held the title picture hostage for YEARS. Fuck off. pic.twitter.com/KMsy4cyZXw
The main event of the 2025 SummerSlam PPV saw John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in a street fight.
Both opponents took each other through hell and hit their finishers multiple times, but failed to get the pin. In the end, Rhodes send Cena crashing through a table from the top rope with a Cody cutter. He then delivered a Cross-Rhodes to win the match and regain the title he lost at WrestleMania 41.
Both WWE veterans showed respect to each other after the match, and the new champion left after shaking hands with John. The Cenation Leader then soaked in the crowd reaction for a while before trying to leave.
Just as Cena was getting ready to get out of the ring however, Brock Lesnar’s music hit. The Beast came out in a new cowboy look to the surprise of everyone.
Brock Lesnar circled the ring for a bit before losing his jacket and hat. John Cena got prepared for a fight but Lesnar took him down with a single F5 after entering the ring. The show ended with Brock standing tall.
The former UFC champion was taken off TV after being named in the Janel Grant sexual trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon. His name has not been dropped from the suit as of this writing.
Naomi is set to defend her Women’s World Championship in a high-stakes triple threat match against Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY as the opening contest of SummerSlam 2025 Night Two. WWE made the official announcement earlier today, confirming that the three top superstars will kick off the highly anticipated second night of the event.
Naomi, who captured the Women’s World Championship earlier this year, has been a fighting champion, taking on all challengers. Her reign has been marked by resilience and athleticism, but she faces perhaps her toughest test yet. Rhea Ripley, a former champion herself, has been on a dominant run since returning from injury, while IYO SKY has dazzled fans with her high-flying offense and technical prowess.
The rivalry between these three competitors has been building for weeks, with each woman scoring victories and making statements on Raw and SmackDown. Ripley and SKY have both staked their claim to the title, but Naomi has remained undeterred, vowing to walk out of SummerSlam still the champion.
WWE officials have promised that the opening match will set the tone for the rest of the night, and with three of the best in the division competing for the gold, fans can expect a fast-paced, action-packed showdown. Will Naomi continue her reign, or will Ripley or SKY seize the moment and capture the championship?
Stay tuned to WWE for more updates and full coverage of SummerSlam 2025.
With just hours to go until the main event of SummerSlam Night Two, a new report has revealed that the plans for the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and John Cena are being kept a closely guarded secret, even from many within the company.
According to a report from Fightful Select, the result and major moments for tonight’s main event are on a strict “need-to-know” basis. “We’re told the result and general happenings of the Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena are being kept very close to the vest,” the report states. “There are a number of writers and producers who have not been clued into the direction, by design.” The report adds that as of Sunday, staff had not been informed of any potential involvement from The Rock.
The secrecy surrounding the match adds to an already unpredictable storyline. The feud took a major turn on this past Friday’s SmackDown with John Cena’s apparent return to his babyface persona, which reportedly caught many off guard. That segment was also the first time WWE had vaguely addressed the months-long absences of The Rock and Travis Scott, who were part of Cena’s original heel turn at Elimination Chamber.
The intense secrecy around tonight’s main event follows a shocking conclusion to Night One of SummerSlam last night. In a moment that stunned the wrestling world, Seth Rollins revealed his recent injury was a work and successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on a newly crowned CM Punk to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, setting a high bar for surprises this weekend.
Cody Rhodes has offered massive praise for United States Champion Logan Paul, calling him one of the “hardest working people” he’s ever seen and predicting that he will one day become a world champion in WWE.
Speaking on a new episode of the Bill Simmons podcast, Rhodes was asked if he gets mad at how quickly Paul has taken to professional wrestling. “No. If he had just stepped in and was immediately as good as he was, I’d be furious,” Rhodes said. “One of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen… He took it as seriously as anybody ever.”
“The American Nightmare” then made a bold prediction about Paul’s future, stating his belief that the social media megastar will eventually reach the pinnacle of the industry. “I have a feeling he is going to end up being World Champion or WWE Champion as some point. The internet will explode and we’ll be fine. He is very special,” Rhodes stated. “As legitimate as a prick as you can meet, but I love having him on the team. He is a massive asset to WWE. Going to be a future champion, for sure.”
Rhodes’ high praise comes just one night after Logan Paul competed in a high-profile celebrity tag team match on Night One of SummerSlam. Paul teamed with Drew McIntyre to score a victory over the team of Randy Orton and musical artist Jelly Roll, adding another major win to his impressive resume.
Jacob Fatu has opened up about his journey to the company, revealing in a new interview that he never asked his famous cousins for help and that the official call to bring him in came from Paul Heyman.
Speaking to Peter Rosenberg on Cheap Heat, Fatu explained his desire to make it to WWE on his own merits, without a “handout” from his family, who were at the center of the hottest storyline in wrestling.
“I never asked my cousins for a handout because they were doing Bloodline, the hottest thing. How could I ask them for something when they’re so busy?” Fatu said. “It was more motivating for me, watching them because I’m a fan of my brothers. I love them and am such a fan of their work.”
Fatu revealed that after keeping his free agency quiet, the call finally came from a legendary figure who has always been connected to his family. “It was from Paul Heyman,” he recalled. “Mr. William Regal text me throughout the years, ‘Let us know what’s going on.’ Mr. Heyman has always been tapped in.” Fatu also expressed his gratitude to the company for the opportunity, saying, “Shoutout to Triple H for giving me a chance… WWE blessed me. Took care of everything. They took a chance on me.”
Fatu’s journey has led him to one of the biggest matches of his career tonight on Night Two of SummerSlam. He is scheduled to challenge his cousin, Solo Sikoa, for the United States Championship inside a steel cage.
A former WWE star has criticised the company for its SummerSlam decisions.
Night 1 of the latest WWE PLE featured many unexpected developments, including Seth Rollins’ Money In the Bank cash-in. The one result that fans questioned the most, however, was Karrion Kross’ loss to Sami Zayn.
The former TNA star has seen a rise in popularity in recent times despite the company giving him limited TV time. Many believed that Kross deserved the victory in this rubber match between the two wrestling veterans.
Retired wrestling personality Matt Morgan seems to agree with the sentiment of the fans. He sent out a tweet after the show, claiming that he doesn’t understand the company’s decision not to support a self-made man like Karrion Kross:
“I say this as a huge Sammy Fan. I don’t understand how #WWE continues to beat THE SELF MADE MAN, @realKILLERkross! You can hear it when the most beloved babyface in the company pinned him! The fans were not feeling it. No disrespect to Sammy.”
I say this as a huge Sammy Fan. I don’t understand how #WWE continues to beat THE SELF MADE MAN, @realKILLERkross ! You can hear it when the most beloved babyface in the company pinned him! The fans were not feeling it. No disrespect to Sammy. Secondly don’t put @Jade_Cargill…
Morgan also called out the company on the decision of Tiffany Stratton retaining the Women’s title over Jade Cargill. The former WWE star claimed that Stratton has done nothing to grow the title, and objected to the finish of the match.
The ending of the Women’s title match at SummerSlam saw Jade Cargill hitting her finisher, only for Stratton to use the ropes to break the pin. The defending champion then hit the PME to retain her title.
One of the realities of John Cena’s farewell tour is that he wasn’t actually around that much for the first two months of it. Yes, he cut an emotional promo on the Raw premiere on Netflix and he worked the Royal Rumble, including finishing as the match’s top runner up. That’s really all Cena gave WWE fans to remember from the first sixth of his final year, though.
At Elimination Chamber, Cena turned heel, completely reinventing his 2025. Going into SummerSlam, this is the version of him fans have seen for five months, with the three and a half months of that stretch spent as reigning WWE Champion.
Cena’s WWE Championship defense against Cody Rhodes is expected to close out SummerSlam 2025 and that match should mark both the end of Cena’s last title reign and the end of his work as a heel.
John Cena’s Heel Run Has Run its Course
John Cena on SmackDown. Photo: WWE
Many fans have rejected John Cena’s heel run—citing the matches have been lackluster and the heel alignment falls flat when most of the audience wants to cheer him on his way out of the WWE Universe.
This creative arc has been better than those fans give it credit for, with the novelty of the heel persona making rematches with classic rivals feel fresh, besides the booking intrigue covering up that the champ has clearly lost a step in the ring. However, he’s running out of iconic feuds to revisit and, after over a quarter of the year, the top title in the business does deserve a better in-ring champion.
In many ways, WWE rolling out its Unreal series on Netflix has put a bow on Cena’s heel run, showing how the powers that be decided upon this monumental booking decision in ways that lend closure to the meta-story alongside what should be the end of a story on screen.
A Five-Month Version Of The Babyface Farewell Tour Will Work Better Than The Originally Expected Year
Photo credit: WWE
When John Cena announced that he’d work all of 2025 but that that would be his final year as an in-ring performer, it made fans emotional and created a lot of interest. An uncomfortable truth to go with that narrative, though, was that it was hard to imagine a babyface Cena being featured for twelve months straight and not having the fans turn on him. That point only became clearer as Cena demonstrated he wasn’t as sharp in the ring as he once was.
The heel run gave a segment of fans permission to boo him and a more jaded demographic a chance to cheer the villainous character a lot of them had been calling for for over a decade and had long given up hope of seeing.
However fans have felt about the last five months, now that Cena only has five months remaining as a wrestler, it’s much more palatable for fans of all persuasions to fully get on board the nostalgia train and celebrate a final babyface run.
Another Turn Invites One More Chapter Of The Rock’s Involvement John Cena’s Story
The Rock and John Cena. Photo: WWE.com
The big loose end WWE left dangling coming out John Cena’s heel turn was The Rock’s involvement in it. After all, Rock was there for the moment itself and, alongside Travis Scott, helped Cena brutalize Cody Rhodes. The Final Boss was conspicuous in his absence from WrestleMania 41, though, and hasn’t been a presence in a WWE arena since.
Cena renouncing his bad guy ways could invite one last angle with The Rock. Might The Great One feel betrayed by Cena for eschewing what they’d agreed on. Might he pick another proxy to represent him against Cena and Cody Rhodes, or might The Final Boss himself get back in the ring, be it in singles or tag team action? While folks who loved the Rock vs. Cena matches at WrestleMania 28 and 29 are few and far between, there’s still a lot of intrigue around the possibility of a final showdown between The Final Boss and one of the greatest babyfaces in WWE history in 2025.
WWE has filed to trademark “The Vision” with the United States Patent Trademark Office, officially branding Seth Rollins’ faction that has dominated Monday Night Raw for months. The application was submitted on August 2, 2025 – the same date as Rollins’ triumphant “Ruse of the Century” at SummerSlam.
The faction, consisting of Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and advocate Paul Heyman, formed in April following Heyman’s shocking betrayal of CM Punk and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41. Breakker joined the alliance on the April 21 episode of Raw, while Reed was added during Saturday Night’s Main Event in May.
The Vision
The trademark filing represents the final piece of the puzzle for a group that has lacked an official identity despite months of on-screen dominance. The goods and services description follows WWE’s standard template for entertainment properties, covering wrestling exhibitions and performances across broadcast media and digital platforms.
The strategic timing proves particularly significant, as the trademark application coincided with Rollins’ masterful deception at SummerSlam. After weeks of appearing injured on crutches, Rollins revealed his condition was fabricated when he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on the newly-crowned CM Punk, reclaiming the World Heavyweight Championship in what Michael Cole dubbed the “Ruse of the Century.”
During Rollins’ absence, Breakker and Reed have stepped into leadership roles. The official “Vision” trademark signals WWE’s long-term commitment to this powerhouse stable, even as its leader recovers.
The filing transforms months of unnamed dominance into a branded legacy, cementing “The Vision” as Rollins’ evolution from solo “Visionary” to faction leader.
While WWE SummerSlam weekend is in full swing, a new report has revealed that one top Raw star was originally expected to have a more significant role on the card. According to Fightful Select, sources within WWE had expected The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest to have a “bigger role” at the event.
The report notes that some within the company were surprised that Priest was not booked for a major match at the two-night premium live event. This is especially the case after he reportedly worked through multiple injuries during his recent high-profile feud with Drew McIntyre.
Despite being a former World Heavyweight Champion and a key member of the dominant Judgment Day faction, Priest does not have a match scheduled for either night of SummerSlam. His last major bout was at the Saturday Night’s Main Event special in July, where he unsuccessfully challenged GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship.
While Priest is not in action, his Judgment Day stablemates have had a busy SummerSlam weekend. On Night One last night, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez lost their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to the team of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Tonight on Night Two, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio is scheduled to defend his Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles.
