WWE SummerSlam 2025 (Netflix, Saturday and Sunday)
Netflix has officially entered the live-streaming arena, and its next target is this weekend’s SummerSlam. The annual spectacle has been one of WWE’s most anticipated events since its debut in 1988, and the 2025 show promises to continue that trend with the inaugural two-day lineup. The event features 10 high-profile matches from the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, including a WWE World Heavyweight Championship fight between Gunther and CM Punk. There’s also a celebrity bout in which rapper and singer Jelly Roll makes his wrestling debut and teams with Randy Orton to face Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul. But the biggest event of the weekend is the rematch between John Cena and Cody Rhodes, with Rhodes seeking redemption after losing to Cena at WrestleMania in April. Considering Cena vowed to “ruin wrestling” and retire with the belt as the “Last Real Champion,” fans are likely rooting for Rhodes to win this street fight.
Chief of War (AppleTV+)
Te Kohe Tuhaka, Jason Momoa and Siua Ikale’o in a scene from Chief of War.Nicola Dove/The Associated Press
Jason Momoa has earned a reputation for tackling iconic characters, from Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones to Aquaman and Dune’s Duncan Idaho. This Friday, he makes his debut as another meaty character, Hawaiian warrior Ka’iana. Momoa also executive produces and co-created the historical drama alongside Thomas Pa‘a Sibbett. The story begins in the early 1800s, when Ka’iana returns to the islands with information about the white men invading his home. As he fights to unite the warring Hawaiian Islands to prevent colonization, bloody yet based-on-real-life events unfold. The nine-episode series is told from an Indigenous perspective, features a predominantly Polynesian cast, incorporates the Hawaiian language and showcases gorgeous Hawaiian backdrops. The battle scenes are equally impressive, as you’d expect a project backed by Apple money to be. The first two episodes unroll this weekend, with subsequent instalments dropping every week until Sept. 19.
Code of Silence (BritBox)
Lip reading may have its advantages, but for the character at the centre of this British crime thriller, it’s the key to her survival. Rose Ayling-Ellis, of Ludwig and Doctor Who fame, stars as a deaf canteen worker named Alison Brooks who struggles to make ends meet while also caring for her deaf mother (Fifi Garland, Switch). But when a high-stakes police investigation arises, DS Ashleigh Francis (Charlotte Ritchie, Wonka) asks Alison to utilize her skills to help crack the case. The problem? As Alison monitors the criminal gang, she also grows closer to suspect Liam Bayne (Kieron Moore, Masters of the Air), complicating the case and her safety. It’s a unique twist on the traditional crime thriller, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. However, it’s the strong performances, quick pace and creative visuals that make this one worth streaming.
Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues (Prime Video)
Tom Brady in Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues.Prime/Supplied
Tom Brady must be a fan of Ryan Reynolds and Ryan McElhenney. That’s the only explanation behind the NFL superstar’s latest venture: becoming a minority owner in Birmingham City Football Club. All right, so the real reason is that he was already an investor in Knighthead Capital, which acquired a majority stake in the club. But Brady is the celebrity face attached to this five-part docuseries, which feels like a weird cross between Welcome to Wrexham and Ted Lasso. As he establishes himself in the U.K. and among soccer fans who don’t recognize his name, viewers meet a slew of interesting figures who are invested in taking this team back to the Premier League in the 2025-26 season. From passionate fans to a manager firing to the area’s real-life inspiration of Peaky Blinders, this is an intense look at soccer from the inside out. As Brady says at one point, “We’re coming for you, Wrexham!”
FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2025: Jokes, Jokes, Jokes (CBC Gem)
Ngozi Paul on Freeup! Emancipaton Day 2025: Jokes, Jokes, Jokes.CBC Gem/Supplied
Aug. 1 is Emancipation Day in Canada, and CBC is recognizing the strength and perseverance of Black Canadians in an unconventional way. This fresh take on the historic day that abolished slavery across the British Empire is a celebration of truth, joy and resistance. And what better way to do that than through comedy? This collection of eight, six-minute digital shorts features stories, observations and moments of Canadian comedians taking the mic to talk about their experiences. Chris Robinson, Lisa Berry, Daniel Woodrow, Ngozi Paul, Keesha Brownie, Alan Shane Lewis, Hoodo Hersi and Tamara Shevon use humour and honesty to discuss family dynamics and historical absurdities, sharing laughter to foster connection and encourage reflection on the important day.
