WWE SummerSlam 2025 predictions: The Rock shows up? Which championships change hands?

With a stacked weekend for a historic SummerSlam, the landscape of WWE can dramatically shift inside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The first two-day SummerSlam takes places Aug. 2-3, and having it take over a weekend means more matches at WWE's second major event, behind WrestleMania. The 2024 edition had seven matches, but there will be 12 bouts taking place Saturday and Sunday, with plenty of gold and heavy implications on the line.

Nine of the matches will be for titles, headlined by the Undisputed WWE Championship street fight between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. Plus, Roman Reigns is back in the ring with Jey Uso, and Jelly Roll will have his first match, teaming up with Randy Orton.

Will championships change hands? Who will emerge in the WrestleMania rematch? Will there be any shocking moments? USA TODAY Sports' wrestling reporters give their predictions for SummerSlam:

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

Jordan Mendoza: This feud has been hit and miss, but it feels like this could be a big moment for a fan favorite in Kross. He gets the victory and finally breaks Zayn. Winner: Karrion Kross.

Richard Morin: Is Kross telling the truth, or is he wrong about everything? Zayn finally breaks here. He gets the win, but compromises himself – and validates Kross in the process. Winner: Sami Zayn.

Randy Orton and Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul

Jordan Mendoza: How good is Jelly Roll? Expect Orton to take plenty of bumps before he gets the hot tag. It may not be the prettiest, but there's no doubt this ends with the singer getting the pinfall. Winner: Randy Orton and Jelly Roll.

Richard Morin: Not much to say about this one. Jelly Roll will get the pin on Paul. Winners: Randy Orton and Jelly Roll.

Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed

Jordan Mendoza: This is critical point for Seth Rollins' group, as they can really enforce their dominance with a victory. However, it makes sense to show Breakker and Reed need their leader to really succeed. Reigns and Uso take the victory, but a surprise may be in store for them after the match. Winner: Roman Reigns and Jey Uso.

Richard Morin: I can't shake the feeling we were supposed to get Reigns vs. Seth Rollins here, but this is an OK pivot in wake of Rollins' injury. Breakker needs a win to legitimize this faction in Rollins' absence. Winners: Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss

Jordan Mendoza: The all-gold Judgment Day would be perfect to keep until Liv Morgan returns, but the partnership of Flair and Bliss has been nothing short of incredible television. The decorated stars could really make some magic as champions, and they finally get it done while some friction comes up again in the faction. Winner: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.

Richard Morin: There are two interesting routes WWE could take here. Do they want the biggest payoff for Liv Morgan's return to Judgement Day? Or do they want to run with Flair and Bliss? If Morgan is still far off from a return, I think we get a title change here. Winners: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.

Tables, ladders and chairs match for WWE Tag Team Championship

Jordan Mendoza: This match could very well steal the entire weekend. All tag teams with amazing chemistry putting on incredible highlight reels. A case could be made for all teams, but this is the night the new main roster tag team catapults themselves into the spotlight. Winner: Fraxiom.

Richard Morin: These guys have earned the stage. The SmackDown tag division might be the best division going in WWE. Yes, it's the match we should have had at WrestleMania 41, only twice as chaotic. Is 16 wrestlers is too many? I hope not. As for the result, I'll go with the newest team; WWE may have caught lightning in a bottle with these two. Winners: Andrade and Rey Fenix.

Steel cage match for United States Championship: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jacob Fatu

Jordan Mendoza: A steel cage match makes it seem like MFT can't help Sikoa much, but they will find a way to get involved. Sikoa keeps his title, and this sets Fatu up for a new path, possibly in some WWE title conversation. Winner: Solo Sikoa.

Richard Morin: Fatu is a powerhouse, and they only took away the title for him to win it back in epic fashion. He's a future face of the WWE. Winner: Jacob Fatu.

No disqualification, no countout match for Women's Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria

Jordan Mendoza: The rivalry has drawn plenty of heat, and it will finally reach an end. With a no disqualifcation match, Bayley is bound to get herself involved. The question is, who does it benefit? The veteran goes back into heel mode and helps the champion retain. Winner: Becky Lynch.

Richard Morin: This has been a great feud and it comes to an end here. It's time for Valkyria to carry the mid-card and Lynch to jump to a women's main-event scene that desperately needs a heel. Winner: Lyra Valkyria.

Intercontinental Championship match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. AJ Styles

Jordan Mendoza: Can Mysterio capture by far the biggest win of his career? Who knows how long Styles keeps it going, with this possibly being one last time to have gold around his waist. The "Phenomenal One" shows he's still got it and dethrones Mysterio. Winner: AJ Styles.

Richard Morin: How does Mysterio competing for the AAA Mega Championship next month affect this match? Quite a bit, I think, because I've got him winning in Mexico City. WWE may have a large program planned for Mysterio in AAA, so I've got Styles here. Winner: AJ Styles.

WWE Women's Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Jordan Mendoza: This match has the potential to be a banger, but very easily could be a flop. Cargill has been pushed heavy since her debut in the company, but she isn't ready to be a major champion just yet. Winner: Tiffany Stratton.

Richard Morin: It feels like the title run for Stratton has reached its destination. There were ups and downs but it's time for a new direction. Stratton would benefit from a heel turn. Winner: Jade Cargill.

World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. CM Punk

Jordan Mendoza: Finally, CM Punk gets a chance to win a title. He has shown he can still put up great matches, and expect this one against Gunther to cook. Gunther's reigns haven't really been great as champion, and he needs a big time to keep any semblance of a legit wrestler. He holds on in what should be the first of many battles between the two. Winner: Gunther.

Richard Morin: If Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed carry a hobbled Seth Rollins to the ring for a cash-in, it would be incredible. But I don't think it's going to happen. Punk has been praising Gunther in his promos, so I've got The Ring General in this one. Winner: Gunther.

Women's World Championship match: Naomi (c) vs. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley

Jordan Mendoza: How do you top the five-star classic at Evolution? There's high expectations for this fight, but they certainly will live up to the hype. Sky and Ripley have had an interesting relationship, and it's what costs them for re-claiming the title, failing to proceed with caution. Winner: Naomi.

Richard Morin: WWE will try to recapture the magic that was Ripley vs. Sky at Evolution. I think we get another excellent match – and Naomi will again be the one standing tall at the end. They're already building Stephanie Vaquer and Naomi for Clash in Paris. Winner: Naomi.

Street fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

Jordan Mendoza: Given the high stakes in this match, there's bound to be complete chaos in this one. Do we finally get the Rhodes heel turn? Does Cena finally come to his senses? Does The Rock actually come back to the storyline? There's plenty of options, and it ends with Rhodes finally selling his soul to get the title, while Cena gets back in the good graces of fans. Winner: Cody Rhodes.

Richard Morin: This isn't the end of Cena's heel run. This is the climax. I think The Rock has to show up here to pay off the events of Elimination Chamber. Cena's programs are only getting better. Don't end it yet. Winner: John Cena.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE SummerSlam 2025 predictions: The Rock appears, Championship picks