By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,338)
Seattle, Washington at Climate Pledge Arena
Simulcast live April 11, 2025 on USA Network and internationally on Netflix
[Hour One] Shots aired of Seattle while Joe Tesstore checked in on commentary. Backstage shots were shown on Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, Legado Del Fantasma, Rey Fenix, and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes…
Tessitore was joined by Wade Barrett on commentary and they were shown speaking at their desk. Tessitore set up a recap of Kevin Owens announcing his neck injury on last week’s show followed by Randy Orton coming out and putting Nick Aldis down with an RKO after being told he no longer has a WrestleMania match…
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis stood in the ring and said there were a lot of memorable and viral moments from last week’s show and he was there to address one in particular. Aldis said he had been instructed to maintain his professionalism and said he would do that.
Randy Orton made his entrance after being invited to the ring by Aldis. In a rarity, Orton walked out wearing pants(?!?) along with a hooded sweatshirt. Orton said he could tell by the look in Aldis’s eyes that he took what happened personally.
Orton said Aldis can’t expect him to believe he didn’t see himself eating an RKO at some point. Orton recalled paying a double fine last time it happened and said he considers them even.
Orton said this is supposed to be his twentieth time working a match at WrestleMania. Orton said he needs his match, even if that means Aldis ditches the suit and wrestles a match. Aldis said he doesn’t need Orton’s money, he needs his respect.
Orton said Aldis has his respect and gained it a long time ago. Orton said that he can’t promise he will apologize to Mickie James after he does what he will do if he doesn’t get his WrestleMania match.
Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga made their entrance. Solo had a mic and asked Aldis to tell Orton to leave the ring. Solo said no one wants to hear Orton whine about not having a WrestleMania match. Solo said Orton is in the past, and that’s where LA Knight will end up after Jacob Fatu beats him for the U.S. Title at WrestleMania.
Orton said he was trying to be diplomatic for the first time in his career, but Solo and Tama were making him hear the voices. Orton called for them to get in the ring. The duo eventually got the better of Orton.
U.S. Champion LA Knight ran out and helped Orton clear the heels from the ring. Knight got a mic and said he took his name out of Solo’s mouth and put his fist in it. Knight said he knows Orton didn’t get enough and neither did he. Knight asked Aldis how he felt about a tag match. Aldis said he felt good about the match, which was immediately billed as the main event by Barrett…
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were shown walking backstage while Tessitore hyped the gauntlet match heading into a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: You know Orton was taking the diplomacy thing seriously when he wore pants in the ring. I’d love to see Aldis get a WrestleMania match, but I have no idea if he’s ring ready on such short notice.
Highlights aired from Pat McAfee’s Big Night AHT. The event is streaming on Hulu…
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were seated at ringside for the gauntlet match. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley made their entrance as the first entrants in the gauntlet match. Valkyria stopped and signed a fan’s sign. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark came out to the Pure Fusion Collective entrance…
1. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. Michin and B-Fab vs. Piper Niven and Alba Fyre vs. Natalya and Maxxine Dupri in a gauntlet match for a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania. The first leg of the match was Bayley and Valkyria vs. Baszler and Stark. Baszler was on the offensive when Valkyria tackled her and rolled into a pin for a three count.
Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark were eliminated by Lyra Valkyria and Bayley in 3:20.
Natalya and Maxxine Dupri made their entrance. [C] The second leg of the match was joined in progress. Dupri caught Bayley with a nice kick and then lowered the straps on her gear. Dupri did her reverse Caterpillar on Bayley. Dupri went for a Sharpshooter, but Bayley caught her in an inside cradle for the win.
Natalya and Maxxine Dupri were eliminated by Lyra Valkyria and Bayley in 9:20.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance came out next. Carter launched Chance onto Bayley, who put her knees up. Bayley dropped an elbow on Carter for a two count. Tessitore said this was just the second match of the year for Carter and Chance. The duo rallied and hit their Keg Stand finisher on Valkyria, who kicked out at two.
Carter took out Bayley on the floor with a twisting suicide dive. In the ring, Valkyria hit Night Wing on Chance and then pinned her.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance were eliminated by Lyra Valkyria and Bayley in 12:50.
Michin and B-Fab made their entrance heading into a break. [C] Bayley took a hot tag, but Michin got the better of her and hit a tornado DDT for a near fall. A short time later, B-Fab checked in. Bayley stuffed a kick and then hit her with the Rose Plant for the three count.
Michin and B-Fab were eliminated by Lyra Valkyria and Bayley in 17:30.
The final entrants were Piper Niven and Alba Fyre. Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green walked out with her team, but she headed to the back while they went to the ring. Niven and Fyre wrestled in their Secret Hervice suits and were dominant over the weary babyfaces heading into a break. [C]
The heels isolated Bayley until she hit them both with simultaneous DDTs. Valkyria tagged in and hit Niven with a top rope crossbody block. Valkyria cleared Fyre from the ring and then put Niven down with a tornado DDT.
Niven stuffed a suplex attempt and then suplexed Valkyria into a corner of the ring. Niven went to the ropes, but Valkyria recovered and powerbombed her. Valkyria tagged Bayley, who hit a top rope elbow drop on Niven, which only resulted in a one count.
Niven hit a Boss Man Slam on Bayley. Fyre tagged in and hit a Swanton on Bayley. Fyre had the pin, but Valkyria shoved Niven into both women to break it up. A short time later, Valkyria slid through the legs of Niven, who was on the apron, and tried to powerbomb her, but Niven held the ropes. Bayley dropkicked Niven into the powerbomb from Valkyria.
Fyre got the better of Bayley and picked up a two count, but Bayley came back with a Rose Plant after Valkyria had tagged in. Valkyria performed a leg drop from the top rope on Fyre and then pinned her.
Lyra Valkyria and Bayley defeated Piper Niven and Alba Fyre in the final stage of a gauntlet match in 28:40 to earn a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 41.
After the match, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodrigeuz entered the ring and held up their title belts while jawing with Valkyria and Bayley…
Powell’s POV: It was pretty routine early with quick matches, but it was a lot of fun once they got down to the last two teams. The outcome felt predictable if only because it was hard to believe that Bayley wouldn’t get a match on the WrestleMania card. The match was logically laid out with the babyfaces starting and then overcoming the fresh heel team at the end. Valkyria and Bayley challenging Morgan and Rodriguez for the tag team titles has the potential to be a sleeper.
Tessitore said there’s a viral video making the rounds of a confrontation between WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair. Tessitore said both women crossed a line during their verbal exchange last week and face disciplinary actions. Tessitore said that Flair had been asked to go home for the rest of the week due to what happened earlier in the day…
Footage aired of Damian Priest putting Drew McIntyre through a car windshield two weeks ago. Priest vs. McIntyre was listed as a Sin City Street Fight for WrestleMania. Priest was shown walking backstage… [C]
[Hour Two] A sponsored ad recapped The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18…
Damian Priest made his entrance. An eye patch-wearing Drew McIntyre attacked Priest from behind and worked him over at ringside. Security guards and producers came out and escorted Priest toward the back while McIntyre watched from the ring apron.
McIntyre stood in the ring and said he always tells the truth and every action is justified. McIntyre said he accepted the street fight challenge despite wearing an eye patch. McIntyre said he would give Priest the beating of a lifetime at WrestleMania.
“Wolverine here has some good news,” McIntyre said. He removed his eye patch and said that he’s 100 percent cleared and therefore Priest is one hundred percent screwed.
Damian Priest came out and shrugged off referees and producers. Priest attacked McIntyre and slammed his head on the ring steps. McIntyre used his thumbs to gouge Priest’s eyes. McIntyre picked up the top piece of the ring steps and struck Priest with them. McIntyre gave Priest a Future Shock DDT onto the bottom piece of the ring steps. McIntyre tore the necklace from Priest’s neck…
Backstage, “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa watched footage of their match and claimed they were screwed because Ciampa’s head hit an exposed turnbuckle before he was pinned. “Pretty Deadly” Elton Prince and Kit Wilson told them they’d gone crazy.
“The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin showed up after Pretty Deadly left. Shelley and Sabin spoke about challenging The Street Profits for the WWE Tag Team Titles next week. They also told DIY that what happened to them was karma…
A Rey Fenix video package aired. Ring announcer Mark Nash delivered the introductions for Berto, who was accompanied by Santos Escobar and Angel. Berto headed to the ring while Escobar and Angel walked to the back… [C]
Triple H footage aired and then the broadcast team promoted the WWE Hall of Fame… Rey Fenix made his entrance…
2. Rey Fenix vs. Berto. Fenix went up top, but Berto tossed him to the floor and then hit him with a flip dive heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C] Berto had Fenix on the ropes when he threw a kick at him and then covered him for a near fall.
Berto performed a sunset flip into a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Fenix came back with a top rope Frankensteiner. Fenix threw a nice kick at Berto, who came back with another sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
Berto went for a top rope moonsault, but Fenix put his feet up. Fenix walked across the top rope and kicked Fenix, then threw another kick at him in the corner. Fenix followed up with the Mexican Muscle Buster and got the three count.
Rey Fenix vs. Berto in 10:45.
After the match, Santos Escobar and Angel returned to the ring. Escobar spoke with Berto and then pulled Fenix up to his feet. Escobar wanted Berto to shake Fenix’s hand, but Berto blew him off and left the ring with Angel. Escobar shook Fenix’s hand before leaving the ring…
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable match that was more competitive than I anticipated. How about giving Angel and Berto their last names back?
Byron Saxton stood outside of Nick Aldis’s office and put over Rey Fenix. Roxanne Perez was standing at the door. Saxton asked her what brought her to Smackdown. Perez said that since Ava wouldn’t give her an answer about Stand & Deliver, she decided to speak to Aldis. Perez said that as the runner-up of the Royal Rumble, she will gladly compete for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. Perez said Tiffany Stratton just can’t handle the pressure.
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton showed up and said Perez could learn something from her. Perez said she was happy that Stratton finally showed her true colors. Perez said she hopes it doesn’t cost Stratton her WrestleMania match. Stratton said at least she didn’t come to Smackdown to beg for a match.
Nick Aldis walked out of his office. Stratton told Aldis that she would give Perez a match tonight. Aldis said he would think about it and told Stratton to cool off… [C]
A video package focused on the history between CM Punk and Paul Heyman….
Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green knocked on the trainer’s door and called for Piper Niven and Alba Fyre because she needed them at ringside. Zelina Vega showed up and mocked Green for having to fight alone. Green went back to pounding on the door while Vega made her entrance… [C]
A vignette aired that appeared to be for Aleister Black…
3. Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green vs. Zelina Vega in a non-title match. The end of Green’s entrance was televised. The match spilled over to ringside where Green hoisted up Vega and dropped her face first on the broadcast table. Green tossed Vega back inside the ring and then barked at Tessitore about not having Piper Niven and Alba Fyre in her corner. The referee counted to ten just as Green was returning to the ring.
Zelina Vega defeated U.S. Women’s Champion Chelsea Green via count-out in 1:00 in a non-title match.
Powell’s POV: That was a mess. There were more boos than cheers when Green was counted out. More than anything, it seemed like the crowd was confused by the count-out and it was hard to blame them since it’s so rare to see a referee follow through with a ten count when the wrestler is on the verge of returning to the ring.
Backstage, Santos Escobar spoke with Angel and Berto. Escobar recalled some of the negative things that Berto said about Rey Fenix before they wrestled. Escobar told Angel that he wanted to find Fenix to congratulate him on a job well done…
Barrett hyped the tag team main event…
Andrade congratulated Berto on having a great match with Rey Fenix. Andrade said Berto is a great wrestler and should be proud. Berto told him to mind his own business and walked away…
The production crew was shown setting things up in the ring while Tessitore hyped WWE Champion Cody Rhodes for after the break… [C]
Naomi was featured in a promo video. She called Jade Cargill a snake and then laughed about pushing her off a ledge onto the hood of a car. Naomi said she took her rightful place as champion. She said Bianca Belair won’t even look at her now that Jade is back. Naomi said she’s doing what’s best for her and is going to get hers. Naomi told her to proceed with caution.
Jade Cargill responded during the second half of the video. She asked what happens when a star starts to fade. She said they try to steal the shine from somewhere else. Jade said Naomi’s glow is fading and that’s what this is all about. Jade said she’s not a rookie anymore. She said she’s Naomi’s biggest threat. Jade said a storm is coming…
Powell’s POV: Good mic work from both women.
Tessitore said they would reveal the full WrestleMania card later in the show and share which matches are on Saturday and which are on Sunday…
Shots aired of six different iterations of WWE Championship belts that were set up in the ring.
[Hour Three] WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance while the broadcast team hyped his title match with John Cena for WrestleMania. The fans sang Cody’s name and he stood on the ropes and played to them.
Cody had the current WWE Championship on a podium in the middle of the ring and said that it says you are the best wrestler in the world. Cody said he’s blessed to be able to carry the belt and its mighty weight, but he won’t always be champion.
Cody said it’s about the next 20 champions – whether it’s NXT kids, WWE ID prospects, or a kid in Seattle who wants to grow up and become champion. Cody said John Cena wants to take it all away. There were “Let’s Go Cena” and “Cena Sucks” chants.
Cody said that Cena neglected to make Seattle part of his farewell tour. He said that Cena opted to be in Las Vegas for next week’s Smackdown. Cody recalled Cena saying that the placement of his tattoo makes him a common fan. “So what,” Cody said. He said he has the tattoo for the same reason he wears a suit – not because he thinks he’s somebody, but because he wants to be somebody.
Cody name-dropped Latino Heat while pointing at one of the title belts, which led to “Eddie” chants. Cody spun the spinner title and said Cena considers it a bad thing. Cody said he considers it a man who was trying to break the wheel and who was trying to find himself.
Cody said he can teach Cena a lesson that his old man struggled with as a career babyface. “They are allowed to love somebody else,” Cody said while pointing to the crowd. Cody spoke about how he calls himself the quarterback. He listed the names of several top stars and said they make each other better.
Cody said he does his best work when he is backed into a corner. He said he doesn’t flinch, he wrestles. Cody said that when it’s over, he will leave the ring and let Cena say goodbye. He said he could say “your time is up, my time is now,” but Cena has known that his time is up for some time and that’s why he did what he did. Cody said the title is timeless and “this stays with us”…
The broadcast team listed the following matches and segments for next week’s Smackdown: John Cena appears live, the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, and Alba Fyre vs. Zelina Vega, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance, and “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin for the WWE Tag Team Titles…
Byron Saxton interviewed Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, who spoke about facing the Motor City Machine Guns until they were interrupted. The Miz and Carmelo Hayes put the Profits on notice. Hayes said they most definitely want the smoke. Ford held back Dawkins from going after the duo…
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton made her entrance for a match against Roxanne Perez… [C] An ad for Monday’s Raw in Sacramento listed appearances by CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns… Roxanne Perez made her entrance to a flat reaction…
4. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Roxanne Perez in a non-title match. Tessitore referenced the viral video and said that Charlotte Flair was asked to go home for the rest of the week. Perez was in offensive control heading into a break. [C]
Stratton picked up a couple of near falls coming out of the break. Perez came back and went for a moonsault from the middle rope, but Stratton put her knees up. The picture cut out while Perez performed a move.
A short time later, Perez caught Stratton in a crossface. Stratton hoisted up Perez on her shoulders and performed a rolling senton. Stratton followed up with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and scored the pin.
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defeated Roxanne Perez in 9:15 in a non-title match.
After the match, Charlotte Flair pulled Stratton to ringside and ran her into the barricade and the ring post. Flair tossed Stratton over the broadcast table. Barrett actually blocked Flair from going after Stratton. Flair climbed onto the broadcast table and soaked up the boos… [C]
Powell’s POV: I’m ready Flair vs. Barrett! I finally had a chance to watch the footage of Flair attacking Stratton in the parking lot. It was a brief video. It was pretty tame. It’s better that the broadcast team spoke about it and left it up the imagination of viewers who were too lazy to find it online.
Tessitore and Barrett hyped the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony for next Friday…
A video package recapped last week’s segment with CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins that concluded with Paul Heyman agreeing to be in Punk’s corner at WrestleMania…
The following matches were advertised for WrestleMania 41 night one: Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Seth Rollins in a Triple Threat, Jade Cargill vs. Naomi, “War Raiders” Erik and Ivar vs. “New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods for the World Tag Team Titles, Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano, LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu for the U.S. Championship, Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women’s Championship, and Gunther vs. Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The following matches were advertised for WrestleMania 41 night two: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight, Bron Breakker vs. Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Finn Balor in a four-way for the Intercontinental Title, AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul, and Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat for the Women’s World Championship…
Randy Orton made his entrance for the main event… [C] The broadcast team recapped the match results from earlier in the show and then the remainder of the entrances for the main event took place…
5. U.S. Champion LA Knight and Randy Orton vs. Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga. Solo and Tama were in offensive control heading into an early break. [C] Orton dropped Tama with an RKO. Solo pulled Orton to ringside. Orton tossed Solo over the barricade and then followed him. Orton and Solo fought to the back. In the end, Knight hit the BFT on Tama on pinned him.
LA Knight and Randy Orton beat Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga in 8:55.
After the match, Jacob Fatu entered the ring and attacked Knight. Fatu hit his moonsault finisher on Knight. Fatu picked up the U.S. Title belt and licked it while the executive producer credits were shown. Fatu went up top and hit another moonsault to close the show…
Powell’s POV: I’m not sure if the plan is for Orton to face Solo since they brawled into the crowd, but they didn’t do enough to create much buzz if that’s the plan. Overall, an enjoyable show. I will be back later tonight with my same-night audio review of Smackdown for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by grading the show below.
Give Berto and Angel their names back. Lol
I’m just wondering – and it might be wishful thinking on my part – if we could have Solo and Tama Tonga facing Randy Orton and….
Aleister Black.
Maybe Randy could demand Solo and Tama and Aldis tells him to get a partner – and Randy gets one at the last minute. Just thinking on the fly.
Perhaps it’ll be “Rusev day” instead.
So are they just gonna forget that Heyman turned on Punk in 2013?
I want to set a challenge for all WWE – go a whole year without mentioning Eddie Guerrero or Dusty Rhodes.