Dominik Mysterio retained his Intercontinental Championship title at SummerSlam, marking AJ Styles as his latest conquest.
In the thrilling main event of SummerSlam 2025, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on August 3, AJ Styles and Dominik Mysterio went head-to-head. The match was a nail-biting affair, filled with unexpected twists and turns.
AJ Styles, a veteran of the ring, used his signature calf crusher hold on Dominik Mysterio. However, in a split second, the tide turned. With the referee momentarily distracted, Dominik took advantage and retaliated by hitting AJ with his own boot.
The event marked a significant moment for AJ Styles, who is expected to be very close to retirement from in-ring professional wrestling. He has signed a one-year contract extension with WWE, which is likely his final deal as an active performer. AJ has openly discussed this SummerSlam possibly being his last, expressing a desire to "tear the house down one last time."
WWE appears to be planning a farewell similar to those of legends like John Cena, with backstage roles potentially lined up for Styles once he retires from active competition. Despite this, AJ has been managing an increasing number of injuries over the past year, which has factored into his decision to consider stepping away from active wrestling.
Meanwhile, Dominik Mysterio emerged victorious from the match, adding another win to his record. The current Intercontinental Champion has successfully defended the title twice against Penta and once against Octagon Jr. Post-SummerSlam, Dominik will compete in a fatal four-way match for the AAA Mega Championship, facing off against El Hijo del Vikingo, Dragon Lee, and El Grande Americano.
The article detailing this event was written by Ryan Gaydos, a senior editor for our website Digital, which covers sports extensively and sends out a Sports Huddle newsletter. For those interested, our website Digital also covered the cross-promotional return of AJ Styles to TNA Slammiversary 2025, an emotional nod to his roots, but he remains under WWE contract and is not leaving the company to join AEW or any other promotion.
Triple H was present at SummerSlam, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event. As we look forward, the future of AJ Styles in professional wrestling remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: his impact on the industry will be felt for years to come.
AJ Styles, despite his impending retirement, utilized his renowned calf crusher hold during the match against Dominik Mysterio. In a shocking turn of events, Dominik seized the opportunity to counter-attack when the referee was distracted.
