CM Punk and GUNTHER had an excellent match to close out night one of WWE SummerSlam 2025. Punk picked up the victory, pinning Gunther in the middle of the ring to take the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. But, before he could celebrate out came Seth Rollins who would pull off another major steal of his career, cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase and taking the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
This booking decision was an easy call. Seth Rollins looked like he was injured in his match against LA Knight at Saturday Night's Main Event. Almost immediately after, rumors started swirling that Rollins wasn't seriously injured, but this was a move made to get him treatment for a minor injury and set the stage for this surprise cash-in. Did it work? Who knows, but the anticipation for this moment was clear, especially when it came out that Punk versus Gunther was the main event.
Rollins taking the championship makes sense for several reasons. He was clearly the focal point of the main event on Monday Night Raw. His faction with Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker continues to gain momentum. Several angles are tied to the group and this title victory sets the stage for some interesting developments.
Seth Rollins as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship creates branching paths
Rollins with the title creates big angles with multiple names on WWE Raw. Of course, he and Punk will have to continue their feud. Rollins versus Punk is a main event on any night, regardless of PLE. Expect them to continue battling for months on end. It is hard to predict who will come out on top. Rollins is WWE's ACE while Punk is a superstar who is getting up in age. Perhaps this leads to another title victory and one last run atop the promotion.
Expect LA Knight to get involved in this angle. Worked or not, Knight picked up a clean win over Rollins at SNME. With Rollins being the new champion, that paves the way for Knight to demand a title shot. He won't win the title, and that won't sit well with his legions of fans, but it will be another moment for him to enter the main event.
Gunther is another name to consider. Where does he factor into this? He will not just go away as the former champion. He's a threat to anyone at the top of the roster. Perhaps he aligns himself with Rollins for a bit in an attempt to clear the way to get back to the title. That's an interesting dynamic that cannot be ignored.
Plus, there's Roman Reigns and Jey Uso as well. They also should not be forgotten in this angle. Expect them to play a part in things moving forward as well. Roman Reigns versus Seth Rollins has the value to main event a WrestleMania. Will that happen next year? That's a big question on the horizon and one that will take shape over the next several months.
SummerSlam 2025 closed night one with a big moment that fans saw coming. Seth Rollins is once against the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and he stole the title from CM Punk to make it happen. That move opens the door for a branching angle at the top of WWE Raw that should have fans excited to witness.