By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,334)
Barcelona, Spain at Olimpic Arena
Aired March 14, 2025 on same day tape delay on USA Network
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore checked in on commentary while shots from the host city were shown. The lively crowd sang the “Ole” song. Arrival or backstage shots aired of WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, Carmelo Hayes, Randy Orton and his lovely wife, “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Parker, WWE Tag Team Champions “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, and a soccer ball carrying Paul Heyman…
Ring announcer Lilian Garcia introduced new U.S. Champion LA Knight, who made his entrance. Wade Barrett checked in on color commentary and recapped Knight’s title win over Shinsuke Nakamura from last week’s show. Tessitore said it had been six years since WWE was in Spain.
Knight stood in the ring held the mic out while the fans sang and cheered. Knight spoke to the crowd and said they were making history by holding the first Smackdown in Barcelona. The fans sang and cheered again. Knight said he might be the U.S. Champ, but he’s also worldwide. A “you deserve it” chant broke out. Knight said it was way too long since he stood in the ring wearing the U.S. Championship and now it’s back where it belongs.
Jimmy Uso made his entrance with a microphone in his hand. Jimmy entered the ring and said he wasn’t there to congratulate Knight. Jimmy said he’s desperate. He said the only way to start his road to WrestleMania is to challenge Knight for a title match.
Solo Sikoa’s theme played and he walked out with Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga. Solo said that if anyone deserves a U.S. Title shot it’s Fatu. Solo said Jimmy is known as the failure of the family and said he should step aside. Jimmy said the bigger failure was Solo losing to Roman Reigns. Sikoa, Fatu, and Tonga attacked Knight and Jimmy.
Braun Strowman ran out and helped Knight and Jimmy clear the ring. Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis came out and booked a six-man tag team match and said it would start now. They cut to the first commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Barcelona is bringing it. The only thing I look forward to more than the loud overseas crowds on the European tour is being able to cover Raw on Monday afternoon for three weeks.
1. LA Knight, Jimmy Uso, and Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga. The match was joined in progress. Knight avoided a Fatu splash in the corner. Knight jumped from the middle rope to the top rope and then dropped an elbow on Fatu. Sikoa provided a distraction that led to Tonga helping Fatu regain offensive control heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Strowman took a hot tag and hit all three opponents with his Strowman Express bit at ringside. Jimmy hit Fatu with a suicide dive that sent him over the broadcast table. In the ring, Strowman hit a running powerslam on Tonga and pinned him.
LA Knight, Jimmy Uso, and Braun Strowman defeated Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga in 10:35 of television time.
After the match, Solo blindsided Strowman. Knight dumped Solo over the ringside barricade and followed him. Fatu recovered and superkicked Jimmy. Fatu entered the ring and put Strowman down before hitting him with three double jump moonsaults. Fatu teased leaving, but he ran back to ringside and drove Strowman through the barricade in front of the timekeepers area…
Highlights aired of Jade Cargill roughing up Naomi last week while Tessitore said Cargill would take part in a sit-down interview…
A WWE Hall of Fame ad focussed on Triple H aired along with a plug the tickets for the ceremony are no on sale… [C]
Powell’s POV: The six-man tag match was fine. The babyfaces went over and then the heels got their heat right back.
A video package focused on Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Jade Cargill…
Footage aired of Jade Cargill being interviewed in the seats of the empty venue earlier in the day. Jade took issue with Naomi crying about her struggles as if she’s the victim. Kelley asked how Jade knew Naomi was the attacker and why she didn’t tell people sooner if she did. Jade said she could only recall being hit from behind and thrown on the back of a car and then seeing Naomi run away. Jade said Naomi attacked her loyalty and her hart. She asked how she could trust anyone after that.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez interrupted the interview while standing several rows below Jade, who said she would face Morgan next week…
B-Fab was shown walking through the backstage area. She spoke in Spanish for a moment and then spoke in English about how she hopes that Charlotte Flair didn’t make the mistake of sleeping on her. B-Fab spoke about starting her own legacy. B-Fab made her entrance for her match against Charlotte Flair… [C] Charlotte Flair made her entrance…
2. Charlotte Flair vs. B-Fab. Flair lit up B-Fab with early chops. B-Fab performed a uranage slam and covered Flair for a one count. [C] Flair set up for her Figure 8 finisher, but B-Fab kicked her into the corner. Flair pie-faced B-Fab, who fired up and threw some bad punches at Flair. B-Fab suplexed Flair and then threw a kick at her in the corner.
B-Fab sent Flair up and over in the corner. Flair kicked B-Fab from the apron. Once Flair returned to the ring, B-Fab hit her with a big boot and covered her for a near fall. Flair came back with a superkick and then hit the Natural Selection. Flair applied the Figure 8 and got the submission win.
Charlotte Flair defeated B-Fab in 9:05.
Flair didn’t release the Figure 8 until Tiffany Stratton’s music played and she ran to the ring. Stratton got the better of Flair until security ran out to separate the wrestlers. Flair broke free and dove on Stratton in the corner. Stratton pulled Flair to the floor and they were quickly pulled apart again.
[Hour Two] Stratton broke free and jumped off the steps before hitting Flair, who then jumped off the broadcast table before hitting Stratton. As security mobbed Flair, Stratton went up top and dove onto Flair and the guards…
A Drew McIntyre promo video aired. McIntyre recapped his issues with Damian Priest and all the time that Priest has gotten the better of him. McIntyre said he wants to put Priest down for good so that he can’t take anything from him ever again…
Tessitore hyped WWE Tag Team Title match… The Miz made his entrance for the Miz TV segment… [C]
Powell’s POV: B-Fab is still a work in progress. WWE has gone overboard with pull apart brawls. Stratton and Flair had a pretty good one, but I felt numb while watching it because we’ve seen so many lately. I did get a kick out of the crowd chanting Tiffy Time. Meanwhile, the McIntyre promo video was effective in showing just how many times Priest has been a thorn in his side.
Highlights aired of AJ Styles beating Jinder Mahal to win the WWE Championship on November 7, 2017…
The Miz stood in the ring for his talkshow segment. The cameras cut to the stage where Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair were fighting. The pull part brawl continued, as a group of security guards, referees, and producers ran out to separate them. Stratton end up on top of the small entrance set and performed a Swanton onto Flair and the security guards.
Powell’s POV: Man, security guards suck at their jobs these days. I appreciate the extra brawl to help this stand out from all of the other pull aparts, but I still wish they would hold off on doing pull apart brawls for a few months.
The Miz delivered the Miz TV introduction line in Spanish. Miz said his guest should have taken The Final Boss’s offer, but instead he got beat up by two great rappers – Travis Scott and John Cena. The Miz introduced WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who made his entrance.
Cody played to the crowd on the ropes when Miz called for Cody’s music to be cut. Miz said he didn’t have time for singalong with Cody. He said he was interrupted by Tiffy Time and needed to ask the tough questions. Cody dropped off the ropes, kicked Miz, and put him down with CrossRhodes. Cody set his title belt on the mat and picked up the mic to reveal a Barcelona t-shirt with his logo on it. Cody said he didn’t want to talk unless it was to John Cena. Cody said he would be at Raw on Monday too…
Powell’s POV: I was looking forward to Miz stirring the pot, but Cody kicking Miz’s ass was a big hit with the crowd.
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Nick Aldis scolding Shinsuke Nakamura for spraying mist on the referee last week. Nakamura asked for a rematch. Aldis said Nakamura was lucky that he wasn’t suspended.
Damian Priest showed up and asked Aldis, “Where is he?” Aldis said he (presumably Drew McIntyre) was told that he wasn’t in the building. McIntyre said he’s a jackass and a smart one at that. Nakamura said something in Japanese. Priest said something in Spanish and then said he was looking for a fight. Aldis booked the match… Damian Priest made his entrance… [C]
A vignette aired for a debuting masked wrestler. Rey Fenix?… Shinsuke Nakamura made his entrance…
3. Damian Priest vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. Priest got the better of Nakamura and clotheslined him over the top rope heading into an early break. [C] Priest shoved Nakamura onto the broadcast table. Priest rolled Nakamura back inside the ring and then performed an Old school rope walk before hitting a crossbody block.
Priest played to the crowd and went for a clothesline, but Nakamura ducked it and then put Priest in an armbar that he broke free of. Priest caught Nakamura with a kick and turned him inside out with a clothesline. Priest lowered the straps on his gear and then set up for his finisher, but he turned his attention to ringside.
Drew McIntyre sat on the broadcast table and waved. Priest tried to go after McIntyre, but Nakamura rolled him up for a two count. Nakamura threw a kick at Priest and then charged for his finisher, but Priest grabbed him by the throat and hit the South of Heaven chokeslam. McIntyre ran in and attacked Priest before he could go for the pin.
Damian Priest fought Shinsuke Nakamura to an apparent no-contest in 9:30.
Priest threw punches at McIntyre, who gouged both of his thumbs into the eyes of Priest. Once McIntyre released Priest, Nakamura hit Priest with a Kinshasa. Nakamura looked at McIntyre, who raised his eyebrows. McIntyre smirked as Nakamura left the ring and then worked over Priest with punches. McIntyre tossed Priest to ringside and then ran him into the barricade twice.
McIntyre picked up the top piece of the ring steps and struck Priest with them. The fans sang, “Oh, Drew McIntyre” as he started to make his exit. McIntyre spotted Priest getting back to his feet in the ring. McIntyre ran back to the ring and put Priest down with a Claymore Kick. McIntyre yelled at Priest about how he screwed him and now he intend to make his life hell. McIntyre stood up and stomped Priest’s head before leaving…
Powell’s POV: Was that the start of a loose alliance between McIntyre and Nakamura? Either way, this was a strong beatdown angle for McIntyre. The live crowd didn’t help because they sang for McIntyre rather than give him the heat that he was going for.
Backstage, “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were interviewed by Cathy Kelley. Ciampa said Smackdown has the top tag team division because of them. Gargano said they made the Street Profits better. Ciampa asked how to say “moment of silence” in Spanish.
“The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin showed up. Shelley spoke about how they threw friendship out the window and took cheap shots to secure the tag titles. Shelley said the joke is on DIY because the entire tag team division is after them. Sabin said there is unfinished business between them once they finish with the Street Profits. The Guns mockingly clapped while acting like they were rooting for DIY…
Randy Orton was shown walking backstage… [C] FC Barcelona player Lamine Yamal was shown holding up a replica title belt in the crowd…
Cathy Kelley spoke with Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green, who was accompanied by her “secret service agents” Piper Niven and Alba Fyre. Green said her administration is in full force. Zelina Vega showed up and spoke about becoming the next Women’s U.S. Champion. Niven said Vega would have to go through “us.” Vega said she would face Niven next week and then take the title from Green after that…
Powell’s POV: I actually hope this leads to a TNA feud that starts with Mustafa Ali beating up Matt Cardona because Cardona’s wife stole Ali’s gimmick.
Randy Orton made his entrance. He stopped at ringside and shook the hand of a mopey kid who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. Carmelo Hayes made his entrance and stopped at ringside to look at the mopey kid…
4. Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes. Hayes offered a handshake. Orton looked to the crowd and decided to accept, but Hayes did the cool guy hair slick reaction. Orton mounted Hayes in the corner and threw punches while the fans counted along in Spanish. Orton ran Hayes through the ropes and into the ring post. Hayes rolled to the floor. Orton followed and dumped Hayes on the broadcast table. [C]
[Hour Three] Hayes went for a springboard move, but Orton caught him and slammed him to the mat for a near fall. Orton followed up with the Draping DDT. Orton struck the Viper’s Pose, causing Hayes to go to the apron. Orton reached over the ropes to grab him, but Hayes clotheslined Orton over the top rope.
Hayes went up top and landed on his feet when Orton avoided whatever he was going for. Hayes hit a springboard into a DDT and covered Orton for a near fall. Hayes went up top and was cut off by Orton, who got the better of a punch exchange and then performed a superplex. Orton struck the Viper’s Pose again. Orton went for the RKO, but Hayes stuffed it. Hayes hit the First 48, but Orton came right back with an RKO and got the three count.
Randy Orton defeated Carmelo Hayes in 11:45.
After the match, Orton offered Hayes a handshake. Hayes pie-faced Orton, who hit him with another RKO. Orton backed up for a Punt, but Kevin Owens showed up and pulled Hayes out of the ring. Orton threw punches at Owens, who shoved Orton’s back into the ring post. Owens hopped the barricade and ran away…
Powell’s POV: A crowd pleasing match with Orton taking the majority of the offense and hitting a pair of RKO’s. There wasn’t much to the post match angle with Kevin Owens. Perhaps there’s more to come?
Highlights aired from the six-man tag match and the spot where Jacob Fatu drove Braun Strowman through the barricade…
Backstage, Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga fired up Jacob Fatu about taking out Braun Strowman. Fatu said he’s about to dog walk Braun Strowman when they run it back next week…
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther made his entrance. [C]
There was a smokey vignette that concluded with the number 4 graphic…
Tessitore touted Pat McAfee selling out a live show in Pittsburgh in just 92 minutes…
Gunther stood in the ring dressed in his gear. He said the road to WrestleMania starts in Barcelona. He said that as the greatest European wrestler of all-time, he had to be here. He insulted the fans and added that he would rather be in Madrid. Gunther said Jey Uso wastes his time dancing to entertain the fans. He said it doesn’t mean anything when the bell rings.
Gunther brought up A-Kid and said he’s supposed to be the best wrestler in Spain and one of the most promising talents in WWE. Gunther said he would prove that the fans loving him doesn’t mean a damn thing. Gunther introduced Axiom, who made his entrance wearing an NXT Tag Team Title belt…
Powell’s POV: It’s a cool surprise to have Axiom on the show in his native Spain, but I don’t know who this A-Kid person is that Gunther mentioned. Kayfabe, brother!
5. World Heavyweight Champion Gunther vs. Axiom in a non-title match. Axiom held his own with Gunther and caught him in a submission old over the ropes. The broadcast team said Gunther may have taken Axiom too lightly. Gunther blasted Axiom with a chop heading into a PIP break. [C]
Gunther held up Axiom for a suplex, but Axiom used his knee to break free. Axiom hit Gunther with a knee strike. Gunther came back and hit a big powerbomb and only got a near fall, which got a big rise out of the crowd. Gunther went to the ropes and was cut off. Axiom kicked Gunther and went for a huracanrana. Gunther blocked it and wound up for a big powerbomb, but Axiom countered into the huracanrana. Axiom hit the Golden Ratio for a great near fall.
Axiom threw kicks at Gunther and then hooked him into a submission hold. Gunther fought free and then powered up Axiom and powerbombed him. Gunther turned Axiom inside out with a clothesline and then powerbombed him again and got the three count.
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defeated Axiom in 9:25 in a non-title match.
After the match, Gunther put Axiom in a sleeper hold. Three referees talked him into releasing the hold. Gunther posed with his title belt while the broadcast team hyped his WrestleMania match with Jey Uso…
Tessitore said Paul Heyman would appear after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: That was a blast. There was no reason to think that Gunther would take a clean loss, but the live crowd didn’t get the memo because they were hanging on every near fall that Axiom got. It’s a great week for Axiom, who teamed with Nathan Frazer for a hell of a match against Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy on Tuesday’s NXT Roadblock show and now he had this match in his home country with Gunther.
A video package recapped the CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins steel cage match from Monday’s Raw, which concluded with interference from Roman Reigns, who also laid out CM Punk afterward…
Paul Heyman stood in the middle of the ring and introduced himself. Heyman said he was going to hype the fans on two things. Heyman said it’s officially Roman Reigns Day all over the world because it’s the release day for the WWE 2K25 video game. Heyman said he assumed everyone in the crowd and at home would play the game, but he asked them to wait until after Smackdown ended because they like to keep ratings high, especially during his segments.
Heyman brought up CM Punk, which led to chants from the fans. Heyman said it’s Roman Reigns Day, not Punk Day. He said it will never be Seth Rollins Day. The fans chanted Rollins’ theme song. “All due respect, I hate that freakin’ song,” Heyman said. Heyman said if anyone had a problem with him hating that song or that it’s Roman Reigns day or that Roman is on the cover of the video game, they can say it to the face of their Tribal Chief.
Heyman started to hype Roman Reigns for next week, but he stopped with the fans booed. Heyman told them not to boo. He said they could hope a flight and watch in Bologna, Italy. He said you can say anything you want to Reigns next week straight to his face. Heyman said it’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler. Heyman flipped the mic at the camera and then exited the ring…
The broadcast team spoke at ringside. Barrett said he wants to know the nature of the favor that Heyman owes Punk. They listed the following matches and segments for next week’s show in Bologna, Italy: Roman Reigns appears, Jade Cargill vs. Liv Morgan, Zelina Vega vs. Piper Niven, Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu…
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins stood backstage and got fired up about their tag team title match. “Legado Del Fantasma” Santos Escobar, Angel, and Berto stopped them. Escobar said they don’t have a problem, but they would like nothing more than to take the titles from them if they are victorious. Escobar laughed. Ford mockingly laughed with Escobar in an over the top manner as LGD made their exit. Ford played to the crowd and then he and Dawkins did the “we want the smoke” bit before making their entrance… [C]
Jimmy Uso was seated backstage when Gunther sat down beside him. Gunther said he and Jimmy have a lot in common. Gunther said he has a younger brother, and Jimmy is clearly the more mature brother in his family. Gunther spoke about how he didn’t want to hurt Jey and asked Jimmy if he could talk to him. Jimmy got fired up and delivered a yeet. Gunther said he was mistaken about Jimmy’s maturity level. “I tried, I really did,” Gunther said before walking away…
DIY made their entrance to the flattest crowd reaction of the night…
6. “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa vs. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins for the WWE Tag Team Titles. The Profits worked as babyfaces and jumped out to a fast start. “Pretty Deadly” Elton Prince and Kit Wilson were shown watching the match on a backstage television. Gargano knocked Ford off the apron and into the barricade. [C]
Pretty Deadly was shown watching the match again. Tessitore said they will challenge the winners of this match eventually. Late in the match, Dawkins caught Gargano diving through the ropes and hit a neckbreaker. The Profits set up for a Doomsday Blockbuster, but Ciampa broke it up.
Ford took out Ciampa with a flip dive and then went up top and hit the Doomsday Blockbuster. Ford covered Gargano, but Ciampa returned to the ring to break up the pin. Dawkins tagged in. Ford went for a dive, but Ciampa caught him with a knee strike on the floor. Gargano avoided Dawkins’ swanton attempt. Ciampa tagged in and drilled Dawkins with a kick.
Ciampa held up Dawkins while Gargano kicked him, and then Ciampa hit the Fairytale Ending, but it only resulted in a two count. Gargano tagged in and he and Ciampa went for Meet in the Middle, but Dawkins moved and Gargano superkicked Ciampa. Dawkins hit Gargano with Sky High and then tagged Ford, who hit Gargano with a frosh splash and then pinned him.
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in 12:45 to win the WWE Tag Team Titles.
Ford and Dawkins celebrated their win while the executive producer credits were shown. Pyro shot off above the small entrance area…
Powell’s POV: The live crowd was quiet to start, but they did get more invested as the match went on and popped for the title change. I dig both teams, but it feels like there is a game of hot potato being played with the tag team titles on Smackdown. I’m not sure if the Profits were frustrated babyfaces all along or if they just played the babyface role for this match.
Overall, this was a solid show despite the lack of WrestleMania developments. Things should pick up next week with John Cena appearing on Raw and Roman Reigns appearing on Smackdown. I will be back with my weekly same night audio review of Smackdown for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know how you felt about the show by grading it below.
Those on Netflix overseas have already seen it including me – but I’m not giving any spoilers.
I would have gone the VPN route and covered it early, but I have a Friday podcast with Jake. I’d love to have a free Friday night instead of covering the latest three-hour marathon live.
Well here in Australia I had to get up early for a 6am start (Saturday morning!)
Damian Priest needs to go away. No charisma, no personality. Definitely the most boring guy on the WWE roster.
Unless they’re gonna rehash gargano’s the way character I think it might be time to just consider it a wash. If an act is coming out to crickets in front of a hot international crowd then there’s no much you can do to get people to care
Feels like they are doing more secondary and tag title swaps at the end of the TV shows now. Maybe trying to rebuild the FOMO by making them less skippable?