Cardi B previews new music whereas internet hosting WWE SummerSlam
Cardi B lastly made her long-rumored WWE debut on Saturday, taking middle stage because the official host of SummerSlam Night time 1 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Recognized for her unpredictable aptitude and headline-making type, the Grammy-winning rapper made positive the night time began with a bang.
This wasn’t simply any SummerSlam. It was the primary time in WWE historical past that the occasion was cut up right into a two-night format, drawing over 50,000 followers for the opening night alone. As quickly as Cardi’s music hit, the stadium erupted in cheers, and her shock entrance was some of the talked-about moments of the night time.
A Purple Carpet Look, A Ring-Worthy Second
Cardi didn’t enter the ring in customary gear. As an alternative, she made her WWE entrance in a dramatic black feather robe, full with a towering headpiece that would’ve handed for a Met Gala ensemble. The look was a callback to her Paris Trend Week wardrobe from earlier within the 12 months, mixing excessive vogue with sports activities leisure in a means solely Cardi may pull off.
Floating above her on the stadium’s jumbotron was a digital raven show, matching the eerie tone of the instrumental taking part in beneath her entrance. Her larger-than-life type reminded followers that WWE isn’t simply wrestling—it’s efficiency artwork.
New Music Preview: “Whats up, It’s Me”
Whereas making her option to the ring, Cardi previewed a snippet from what seems to be her new single, presumably from her long-anticipated sophomore album Am I the Drama?, set to drop September 19, 2025. The hook? A hauntingly easy “whats up, it’s me,” repeated with layered results that despatched followers dashing to social media with hypothesis.
Whereas some on-line mentioned the sound felt “a bit outdated,” others praised it for being a daring pivot from her regular membership hits. Both means, it did what Cardi all the time does—it received folks speaking. The WWE Universe now had a second that blended music advertising with sports activities leisure in actual time.
Pop Tradition Meets Professional Wrestling
Cardi B wasn’t simply there to wave and smile. She embraced the mic like a veteran, shouting to the New Jersey crowd, “We’re coming to you reside from the Tri-State! We’re making historical past tonight!” Her energetic supply gave the night its opening sizzle.
She overvalued Logan Paul, Randy Orton, and teased shock appearances whereas protecting the vitality at most. Given her long-standing social media flirtations with the WWE—particularly with Bianca Belair—followers are already speculating: may Cardi be making ready for an precise in-ring look down the road?
Social Media Feuds Spark Fan Hype
Lengthy earlier than getting into the stadium, Cardi had already stirred drama with a number of WWE stars on X (previously Twitter). Her playful jabs at Bayley, Chelsea Inexperienced, and Naomi went viral earlier this summer time. When Bayley supplied herself as an opponent, Cardi replied with a blunt “inform Triple H to go away Bayley at residence.”
That on-line vitality now looks like greater than banter—it might have been a sluggish construct to a storyline. WWE typically builds feuds via digital channels, and Cardi’s fiery persona matches completely into that technique.
Jelly Roll’s Wild WWE Debut
Music wasn’t simply within the air—it was additionally within the ring. Jelly Roll, the country-rap crossover artist, made his in-ring debut throughout Night time 1. He partnered with legend Randy Orton in a high-profile tag match towards Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre.
Whereas his group didn’t win, Jelly delivered a memorable efficiency. The spotlight? Logan Paul hit him with a frog splash via a desk, drawing one of many night time’s greatest reactions. For a primary match, it was about as dramatic because it will get.
Followers appreciated Jelly’s willingness to get bodily and take actual bumps. It’s one factor to seem at an occasion; it’s one other to throw your physique right into a picket desk for a very good present.
Ladies Take the Highlight
One of many defining options of this 12 months’s SummerSlam is the continued highlight on WWE’s girls’s division. Whereas Cardi’s look leaned into popular culture, the matches showcased a few of the most gifted athletes within the business.
Bianca Belair: The Unfinished Storyline?
As Cardi stood within the ring, many followers on-line have been calling for yet another look: Bianca Belair. The EST of WWE has exchanged playful jabs with Cardi for years, main followers to imagine a Cardi vs. Bianca showdown is a matter of when, not if.
Even when a match by no means occurs, the storytelling potential is very large. A backstage phase, a face-off, or perhaps a team-up might be sufficient to gentle up the subsequent WWE premium occasion.
Championship Matches on Night time 1
The cardboard for SummerSlam Night time 1 included a number of top-tier matchups:
- Tiffany Stratton vs Jade Cargill for the WWE Ladies’s Championship.
- CM Punk vs Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Each matches featured hard-hitting motion and gave followers the high-caliber fights they got here for.
Why WWE Makes use of Celeb Hosts
WWE has an extended historical past of bringing in celebrities to host main occasions. From Mike Tyson at WrestleMania to Unhealthy Bunny’s current wrestling performances, stars exterior the squared circle assist usher in new audiences.
With Cardi B, WWE tapped right into a youthful, extra music-centric demographic, and her large social media following (over 150M mixed throughout platforms) ensures SummerSlam stays viral even days after the occasion.
Internet hosting offers these stars a low-risk option to contribute, however Cardi’s entrance, interplay, and musical tease counsel she’s greater than only a informal visitor. She’s a fan, a performer, and probably a future competitor.
What’s Subsequent for SummerSlam Night time 2?
The motion continues on Sunday, August 3, with extra high-stakes matches:
- John Cena vs Cody Rhodes in what might be Cena’s ultimate SummerSlam earlier than his rumored retirement later this 12 months.
- Triple Risk Ladies’s World Championship match.
- Tag Staff title defenses, with fan-favorite factions seeking to go away with gold.
And who is aware of—perhaps Cardi B isn’t achieved but. A second look or a cameo might be WWE’s secret weapon to shut the weekend.
Why This Second Issues
This 12 months’s SummerSlam wasn’t nearly matches. It was about cultural crossover, vogue, music, and the persevering with evolution of what WWE may be. By pairing Cardi B’s vitality with traditional wrestling depth, WWE created a spectacle that felt recent, trendy, and shareable.
It’s simple to miss simply how massive this shift is. By shifting to a two-night format, streaming on Netflix internationally, and integrating chart-topping music acts, WWE is reinventing itself for a brand new technology—with out dropping the old-school followers.
Cardi B introduced swagger, shock, and sound to the beginning of SummerSlam. Her internet hosting debut was greater than a star cameo—it was a strategic mix of leisure platforms. Along with her album dropping in simply weeks, that is clearly half of a bigger marketing campaign.
And the followers? They received a present they’ll be speaking about for months.
