WWE SummerSlam 2025 Betting Odds and Predictions: John Cena to Stun Cody Rhodes?

• CM Punk (-260)
• Gunther (+170)

On Saturday, CM Punk and Gunther headline the first night of 2025 SummerSlam with a match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Gunther is a two-time heavyweight champ after winning his maiden title at SummerSlam last year.

After Jey Uso captured the strap at WrestleMania 41, Gunther defeated him to reclaim the title on RAW in April. According to the best WWE betting sites, he is not expected to retain the championship against CM Punk.

However, this appears to be a 50-50 match between Punk and Gunther. I don’t know if laying -260 on Punk presents any value whatsoever. In fact, I think there’s enough doubt to consider placing your money on Gunther at +170 instead of the favorite.

I would be more confident in Punk if Seth Rollins were healthy at the moment. But, without Rollins available, Gunther likely keeps the belt around his waist.

I acknowledge that Rollins could limp down to the ring to cash in the MITB briefcase after CM Punk wins, but Gunther deserves a win over a formidable opponent.

Has Gunther met his match?
We’ll find out at SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/J3xtCu7EJ0

— WWE (@WWE) July 22, 2025

Additionally, the WWE Clash in Paris PPV is right around the corner on August 31. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have a European heavyweight champion heading to France? This allows Gunther to retain the title for France, while giving Rollins extra time to recover.

There’s enough of a window of opportunity pointing to Gunther that he is worth betting on at +170.

• Cody Rhodes (-260)
• John Cena (+170)

Rhodes is a heavy favorite to defeat Cena and take back the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. He captured the title after defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 and ultimately lost it a year later on Night 2 of WrestleMania 41.

The 40-year-old has plenty of legs left in his career, but we are coming to an end for Cena. He intends to retire from professional wrestling at the end of the year, so 2025 is a victory lap of sports for the future WWE Hall of Famer. Would WWE remove the strap from Cena in August with his retirement approaching?

SPEECHLESS. 💔

JOHN CENA just viciously TURNED on CODY RHODES at #WWEChamber! pic.twitter.com/jSyaCud7Wz

— WWE (@WWE) March 2, 2025

I think there is a chance that Cena loses and then wins it one final time before going out on top as an 18-time champion. I’m confident that a baby face turn will happen before he hangs up the boots as well.

However, I have faith in Cena retaining the title, which leads to solid value for your SummerSlam 2025 picks at +170!

Simply put, Rhodes is flying to Australia soon to film the Street Fighter movie. Rhodes was cast as Guile, so he won’t be available for WWE programming over the next month, at least.

This isn’t expected to be a long-term obligation that keeps him away for multiple months, but it could be enough for WWE to want to avoid scheduling conflicts with their champion.

Cena has promo work for HBO’s Peacemaker: Season 2 ahead of him this month, but I don’t believe it will prevent him from being absent from WWE shows on a weekly basis. With Cena’s impending retirement ahead, the company likely wants to give the superstar a final push as champ, perhaps as a face.

Laying -260 on Rhodes isn’t the sharp play, so I recommend Cena as a hefty underdog at +170!

• Solo Sikoa (-130)
• Jacob Fatu (-110)

In what has match of the weekend potential, Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu square off in a Steel Cage Match. I am excited for what should be a highly entertaining bout for the United States Championship.

Sikoa captured the title after defeating Fatu at Night of Champions on June 28. It’d be a quick turnaround as champion if Sikoa falls, but the SummerSlam betting odds suggest this one could go in either direction.

The 32-year-old Sikoa has really come into his own and been an entertaining superstar to watch in the ring. That’s a stark contract with his early career, when it was often difficult for him to find his spots.

Now, though, Sikoa has held his own and been a pretty good US champ, in my opinion.

THIS IS CHAOS! 😱

Solo Sikoa and The MFTs just took out Jacob Fatu… pic.twitter.com/EODCL7CrJC

— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2025

He’s finally getting well-deserved recognition, but Fatu can still win and Sikoa remains hot in the company. Putting the title back in Fatu’s corner is likely the better move for the future of this storyline.

Fatu will have big backup in his corner for this match, as Jimmy Uso could get involved to help him secure a win and counter the MFT.

WWE has done a good job of elevating Fatu’s status in the company and giving him an opportunity to excel. He’s running with it, and I anticipate he’ll have the United States Championship back soon at SummerSlam.

Both are in a groove right now, though I think the better course would be for a Fatu win!

• Dominik Mystero (-150)
• AJ Styles (+110)

Earlier this month, AJ Styles signed a one-year deal with the WWE. The 47-year-old has stated he intends to retire before he turns 50 years old, so the clock is ticking!

Styles’ feud with Mysterio has been one of the better ongoing rivalries in the WWE recently.

The Intercontinental Championship feels as if it has a lot of meaning with these two respected superstars. In April, at WrestleMania 41, Mysterio became the new champ with a win over Bron Breakker, Finn Balor, and Penta.

Mysterio has retained the belt since then, with Styles developing into his biggest threat. “Dirty Dom” has spent most of the time flaunting a doctor’s note stating he isn’t clear to fight Styles. It’s been a comical feud, but there have been some entertaining moments, and the match should be a good one.

The way this feud has been handled is setting up Balor to interfere in the match to try to help Styles pull off the upset. Ahead of Styles threatening him for the title, Mysterio regularly asked Balor to take him out. However, this is where Balor likely stands up for Styles at SummerSlam.

Will it be enough to crown Styles? I don’t believe so, but it likely paves the way for a future feud between Balor and Mysterio for the IC Championship. Despite Mysterio having the belt since April, he hasn’t been in many big-time matches to defend his title.

The WWE needs a little more time with Mysterio as the champion. I’d like to see Styles get a title run before retiring, but I don’t expect it to happen at the moment. At -150 odds, Mysterio is one of the best 2025 SummerSlam picks!