Darius Rucker sets tone for WWE SummerSlam with national anthem performance in Minneapolis

Darius Rucker was tapped to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" to commencement Night 2 of WWE SummerSlam successful Minneapolis connected Sunday and brought down the house.

The multi-time Grammy Award victor was gearing up for the show passim the time and delivered connected 1 of the biggest stages WWE has to offer. Thousands of radical jammed into U.S. Bank Stadium for the nighttime of matches and were treated to an epic performance.

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Darius Rucker performs the nationalist anthem during SummerSlam astatine U.S. Bank Stadium successful Minneapolis, Minn., connected Aug. 2, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

"U-S-A" chants instantly broke retired aft the rendition was finished.

Rucker appeared connected the pre-show earlier SummerSlam took disconnected and revealed conscionable however heavy his pro wrestling fandom is. He said helium grew up a instrumentality of the athletics and remembered watching the 2nd epic bout betwixt Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar" Billy Graham erstwhile helium was increasing up.

He besides said helium owns an authentic Ric Flair robe.

"I spent a luck for it and it was worthy each penny," Rucker said.

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Darius Rucker performs the nationalist anthem during SummerSlam astatine U.S. Bank Stadium successful Minneapolis, Minn., connected Aug. 2, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

For Rucker, it’s the storytelling that pro wrestling provides which drew him into the sport. He said determination was thing similar erstwhile a storyline comes afloat ellipse and the close decisions are made.

"That, for me, is the gully of wrestling," helium said. "The matches are fantastic and large but it’s the stories. You get down somebody. You recognize wherever the story’s going and the times they get it close is the astir satisfying happening successful the world."

Corey Graves, Darius Rucker and Peter Rosenberg grin astatine WWE Countdown during SummerSlam astatine U.S. Bank Stadium successful Minneapolis, Minn., connected Aug. 2, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

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SummerSlam Night 2 was already acceptable to beryllium a large woody successful the pro wrestling satellite and Rucker managed to acceptable the code conscionable right.