Cody Rhodes wins, Brock Lesnar returns: Cena’s farewell tour takes a new turn at SummerSlam

John Cena's final WrestleMania earlier this year — where he defeated Cody Rhodes to become a record 17-time World Champion — was supposed to be a moment for the ages. Instead, it fell short of expectations. 

So too did his ambitious heel turn during the twilight of his career. In fact, the direction of Cena's farewell tour left many fearing it might go down as one of the most underwhelming exits in wrestling history.

But then, everything changed with a single promo on last SmackDown, where Cena turned babyface once again. The crowd popped, but scepticism lingered — was this another bait-and-switch? That question hung heavily in the air heading into SummerSlam weekend.

Saturday's main event also set the bar high. CM Punk endured a brutal battle against Gunther, only to lose the World Heavyweight Championship to his arch-rival Seth Rollins within minutes. 

The shocking twist intensified anticipation for Sunday, though not without a sense of caution. After all, at WrestleMania earlier this year, Night Two failed to outshine Night One, and fans feared history might repeat itself.

So, did SummerSlam Sunday deliver?

In many ways, yes — though not without debate.

In the main event, fans got exactly what they had been craving for: the return of Super Cena — not just in name, but in performance. In what was arguably his best match since his legendary series against AJ Styles in 2016–17, Cena faced off against Cody Rhodes in a chaotic, emotionally charged street fight. 

Steel steps, chairs, tables — all came into play as the two exchanged punishing blows and near-falls that pushed both men to their limits. The brawl spilled onto the MetLife Stadium crowd as well, amplifying the stakes and spectacle. Ultimately, Rhodes emerged victorious in a wild, plunder-filled main event. 

From an in-ring standpoint, the match delivered everything fans could have hoped for. But the outcome left some divided. The most popular opinion must have been that Cena's likely final title reign came to an end far too quickly. 

However, viewed through a different lens, it felt like a classic passing-of-the-torch moment — one babyface handing the baton to another. Crucially, Rhodes didn't need to turn heel to win, preserving his current alignment for now.

And for Cena, the loss may have set the stage for a far more compelling arc. Rather than coasting as a dominant champion — especially as a villain — he is now positioned as a man on a mission again, chasing rather than defending. At this stage of his career, that may be the more emotionally resonant and dramatic route.

But the biggest twist of the night was yet to come. 

Just as fans were catching their breath, Brock Lesnar made a shocking return — a moment few thought they would ever see again. As the lights dimmed and the crowd erupted, Lesnar walked down the ramp, stared Cena dead in the eyes, and delivered a crushing F5. The message was crystal clear: Cena's journey isn't winding down — it's about to get even more intense.

All things considered, this year's SummerSlam was above average — an event packed with surprises, nostalgia, and a few standout matches beyond the main event.

Night Two featured a memorable 25th Anniversary TLC match, won by the Wyatt Sicks. Dominik Mysterio successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles, while Naomi triumphed over Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY to retain the Women's World Championship.

On Night One, Roman Reigns and Jey Uso scored a victory over Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss overcame a mid-match miscue to win the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles, while Tiffany Stratton retained the WWE Women's Championship in a short but flashy contest against Jade Cargill. The tag match featuring Jelly Roll and Randy Orton against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul proved to be a crowd-pleasing spectacle, with the latter duo picking up the win.