Date and location

Sunday, Aug 23 | 7 PMET/4 PMPT

Where to watch

Get the Network

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins def. United States Champion John Cena in a Winner Takes All Match

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins: SummerSlam 2015 (WWE Network Exclusive)

After interference from Jon Stewart, Seth Rollins celebrates with both the U.S. and WWE World Heavyweight Titles: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Thanks to their SummerSlam showdown, there now exists a key difference between John Cena and Seth Rollins. Unlike the Cenation leader, Rollins no longer needs quotation marks to describe himself as the “real Champ.”

One hundred forty-seven days after they won their respective titles at WrestleMania 31, Seth Rollins defeated John Cena at SummerSlam in a Winner Takes All Match, thus securing the former’s WWE World Heavyweight Title reign and ending the latter’s tour as U.S. Champion. Rollins sealed Cena’s fate with a Pedigree on to a steel chair provided by former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, who shocked the WWE Universe by coming to the WWE World Heavyweight Champion’s rescue in the closing moments of the match.

Cena vs. Rollins match photos |  WWE Network: Watch their WrestleMania 31 title wins

The encounter at Barclays Center in Brooklyn almost didn’t happen at all. Four weeks prior to the 2015 edition of SummerSlam, the Cenation leader suffered a broken nose during a successful U.S. Title defense on Raw against Rollins. Cena underwent emergency surgery for the injury, and his SummerSlam status remained in limbo until mere days before WWE’s hottest event of the summer.

For his part, Rollins’ motivation for a rematch with Cena included far more than revenge for their Raw showdown. The Davenport, Iowa, native publicly declared his hope of adding the U.S. Title to his trophy case, but privately has dealt with criticism of his championship pedigree as well as claims of his reign being regularly protected by The Authority.

Watch SummerSlam 2015 on WWE Network

Cena’s stature and strength set the tone in the bout’s early moments. While the crowd feverishly chanted their thoughts about the U.S. Champion, Cena, who competed without any kind of protective mask to protect his recent nose injury, powered past his opponent with a series of takedowns and shoulder blocks that demonstrated his physical capabilities in the ring.

Momentum stayed behind Cena until Rollins started to show off an arsenal of moves that was as flashy as the all-white outfit he wore to ringside. The maneuvers, from a wicked neckbreaker to to a vicious chest stomp from the top rope to a successful Figure Four Leglock reversal, each appeared as part of the former Shield defector’s overall goal — expose the vulnerability of the 15-time World Champion’s broken nose by hitting him with a Pedigree.

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins: SummerSlam 2015 (WWE Network Exclusive)

After interference from Jon Stewart, Seth Rollins celebrates with both the U.S. and WWE World Heavyweight Titles: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

Nothing Rollins tried led to the desired outcome, but a change of fortune came his way thanks to the unfortunate positioning of the referee. A late Attitude Adjustment by Cena knocked out his rival and the ring official, who suffered an unfortunate collision during the U.S. Champion’s execution of his signature finishing move. The confusion left the Cenation leader struggling to stay in control, and signaled the start of a controversial moment that will leave the WWE Universe talking for years to come.

Jon Stewart, who was on hand at Barclays Center to serve as the host of SummerSlam, rushed out to the ring with a steel chair. Stewart initially pointed the chair at Rollins, a Superstar whose checkered past with the former “Daily Show” host includes a physical altercation on Raw last March as well as multiple confrontations on the Comedy Central program.

WWE Network: Watch John Cena's SummerSlam debut |  Rollins' SummerSlam debut

However, the SummerSlam host revealed his true reason for being at ringside by hitting a weary Cena with the steel chair. Stewart cemented his role in the scandalous moment by leaving the chair in the center of the ring, allowing Rollins to finally connect his planned Pedigree and finish off his foe for good.

The victory makes Rollins just the second Superstar to claim a victory in a Winner Takes All bout at SummerSlam, putting him in the company of Jeff Jarrett, who won the Intercontinental and European Titles at SummerSlam 1999. Cena, who is now winless at SummerSlam since 2010, concludes his fourth U.S. Championship tenure with a mark of 147 days, which stands as his longest reign with the coveted title.

SummerSlam
SummerSlam
Subscribe Now

Featured Superstars

SummerSlam
SummerSlam
Subscribe Now

Featured Superstars

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins: SummerSlam 2015 (WWE Network Exclusive)

After interference from Jon Stewart, Seth Rollins celebrates with both the U.S. and WWE World Heavyweight Titles: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Thanks to their SummerSlam showdown, there now exists a key difference between John Cena and Seth Rollins. Unlike the Cenation leader, Rollins no longer needs quotation marks to describe himself as the “real Champ.”

One hundred forty-seven days after they won their respective titles at WrestleMania 31, Seth Rollins defeated John Cena at SummerSlam in a Winner Takes All Match, thus securing the former’s WWE World Heavyweight Title reign and ending the latter’s tour as U.S. Champion. Rollins sealed Cena’s fate with a Pedigree on to a steel chair provided by former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, who shocked the WWE Universe by coming to the WWE World Heavyweight Champion’s rescue in the closing moments of the match.

Cena vs. Rollins match photos |  WWE Network: Watch their WrestleMania 31 title wins

The encounter at Barclays Center in Brooklyn almost didn’t happen at all. Four weeks prior to the 2015 edition of SummerSlam, the Cenation leader suffered a broken nose during a successful U.S. Title defense on Raw against Rollins. Cena underwent emergency surgery for the injury, and his SummerSlam status remained in limbo until mere days before WWE’s hottest event of the summer.

For his part, Rollins’ motivation for a rematch with Cena included far more than revenge for their Raw showdown. The Davenport, Iowa, native publicly declared his hope of adding the U.S. Title to his trophy case, but privately has dealt with criticism of his championship pedigree as well as claims of his reign being regularly protected by The Authority.

Watch SummerSlam 2015 on WWE Network

Cena’s stature and strength set the tone in the bout’s early moments. While the crowd feverishly chanted their thoughts about the U.S. Champion, Cena, who competed without any kind of protective mask to protect his recent nose injury, powered past his opponent with a series of takedowns and shoulder blocks that demonstrated his physical capabilities in the ring.

Momentum stayed behind Cena until Rollins started to show off an arsenal of moves that was as flashy as the all-white outfit he wore to ringside. The maneuvers, from a wicked neckbreaker to to a vicious chest stomp from the top rope to a successful Figure Four Leglock reversal, each appeared as part of the former Shield defector’s overall goal — expose the vulnerability of the 15-time World Champion’s broken nose by hitting him with a Pedigree.

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins: SummerSlam 2015 (WWE Network Exclusive)

After interference from Jon Stewart, Seth Rollins celebrates with both the U.S. and WWE World Heavyweight Titles: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

Nothing Rollins tried led to the desired outcome, but a change of fortune came his way thanks to the unfortunate positioning of the referee. A late Attitude Adjustment by Cena knocked out his rival and the ring official, who suffered an unfortunate collision during the U.S. Champion’s execution of his signature finishing move. The confusion left the Cenation leader struggling to stay in control, and signaled the start of a controversial moment that will leave the WWE Universe talking for years to come.

Jon Stewart, who was on hand at Barclays Center to serve as the host of SummerSlam, rushed out to the ring with a steel chair. Stewart initially pointed the chair at Rollins, a Superstar whose checkered past with the former “Daily Show” host includes a physical altercation on Raw last March as well as multiple confrontations on the Comedy Central program.

WWE Network: Watch John Cena's SummerSlam debut |  Rollins' SummerSlam debut

However, the SummerSlam host revealed his true reason for being at ringside by hitting a weary Cena with the steel chair. Stewart cemented his role in the scandalous moment by leaving the chair in the center of the ring, allowing Rollins to finally connect his planned Pedigree and finish off his foe for good.

The victory makes Rollins just the second Superstar to claim a victory in a Winner Takes All bout at SummerSlam, putting him in the company of Jeff Jarrett, who won the Intercontinental and European Titles at SummerSlam 1999. Cena, who is now winless at SummerSlam since 2010, concludes his fourth U.S. Championship tenure with a mark of 147 days, which stands as his longest reign with the coveted title.