By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,339)
April 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada at T-Mobile Arena
Simulcast live on USA Network and internationally on Netflix
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore checked in on commentary while shots aired of WrestleMania and Smackdown host venues Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was shown signing autographs at a backstage table. Shots aired of “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, and “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins.
Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga were shown arriving outside the venue in a black SUV. Tonga grabbed his phone out of the backseat and was attacked by LA Knight, who slammed a car door on Tonga’s left hand. Wade Barrett joined Tessitore on commentary…
Seth Rollins made his entrance and headed to the ring for a promo. A CM Punk chant broke out. Rollins sat down cross-legged in the middle of the ring. An “OTC” chant broke out. Rollins said they’d get to the OTC in a minute, but he wanted to start with the other guy first.
Rollins said Punk returned to the ring after ten long years, but it wasn’t a WWE ring. Rollins asked if Punk returned because the fans chanted his name or because someone wrote him a big fat check.
Rollins said that when Punk burned that bridge like all others, he returned to WWE. Rollins said it’s because “they wrote him another big fat check.” Rollins told the crowd to tell him when he was telling lies. He said Punk didn’t come back to WWE because of the fans. He called Punk a liar and a coward.
Rollins said Roman Reigns doesn’t even pretend to care about the fans or WWE. Rollins said that Reigns is in the Reigns business, and called him Mr. Private Jet, Mr. Limited Schedule, and Mr. Handpicked Opponent. Some fans sang Reigns’ name.
Rollins said he knows everything about sacrifice, unlike his WrestleMania opponents. Rollins recalled Paul Heyman bringing him, Reigns, and Dean Ambrose into WWE to be a shield for Punk. Rollins said he sacrificed everything he had in the ring to be that shield.
Rollins said he didn’t get credit because everyone in the back wanted the cameras and the spotlight on Reigns. Rollins said it was all about Reigns and how he would be the next cash cow for WWE. Rollins spoke about sacrificing last year with a bad knee and with his stepfather dying of cancer. Rollins said he made sure Reigns lost. The fans chanted Rollins’ entrance theme.
Rollins said the story started 12 years ago when Heyman brought him and Reigns into WWE, and it would end at WrestleMania with the most important Triple Threat match in history. Rollins promised to leave it all on the line. He said he would sacrifice everything he has to make sure that the business, the company, and the industry moves forward in the right direction. “That’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler,” Rollins said before cackling and tossing the mic behind him…
Powell’s POV: A top-notch go-home show from Rollins. It’s going to be interesting to see how the fans react to all three men in the Triple Threat. If the fans at Smackdown are any indication, the WrestleMania crowd likes all three wrestlers.
Tessitore and Barrett spoke at ringside. Tessitore said that Barrett will be on the WrestleMania call with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. They ran through the WrestleMania lineups for both nights…
The Andre the Giant trophy was shown at ringside and then ring announcer Mark Nash introduced the participants starting with Rey Fenix. An Andre video package aired as the entrances continued.
1. Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. The 26 entrants included Rey Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamura, Carlito, R-Truth, Chad Gable, Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, The Miz, Karrion Kross, Carmelo Hayes, Andrade, Tyler Bate, Otis, Akira Tozawa, Angel, Berto, Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, Elton Prince, Kit Wilson, Santos Escobar, Ludwig Kaiser, Pete Dunne, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, and Dragon Lee.
The final four were Nakamura, Hayes, Andrade, and Fenix. Andrade dropkicked Nakamura over the top rope to eliminate him. Hayes set up for a springboard move. Andrade joined him on the ropes. Fenix pushed both men over the top rope, but they skinned the cat. Fenix ran the ropes for a spot, but El Grande Americano showed up and tripped him to eliminate him from the match.
Andrade and Hayes were the final two. Tessitore recalled their best-of-seven series. Andrade tried to toss Hayes over the top rope, but Hayes stood on the middle rope. Andrade joined him on the middle rope again, but this time Hayes tossed Andrade to the floor to win the match.
Carmelo Hayes won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in 15:30.
Hayes posed with the Andre trophy at ringside. The Miz came out and joined the celebration…
Powell’s POV: Is the battle royal creative’s way of telling Hayes that he won’t be teaming with Miz forever? Let’s hope so. I thought they might show a little more love to Kaiser. Thank goodness Gable was in the match, as it’s a shame that his WrestleMania spot was stolen by El Grande Americano. Anyway, it was a battle royal that got a lot of people on the show. Jake Barnettt speculated during Dot Net Weekly that Braun Strowman or Omos could be in the match. They seemed like logical entrants, but there was no sign of either man.
A Triple H video aired to promote him as the headliner of the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony that will be held later tonight. The ceremony will be streamed on Peacock and YouTube…
A portion of Barrett’s sit-down interview with Charlotte Flair aired. He asked why things had gotten so ugly between her and Tiffany Stratton. Flair said she doesn’t love it and they’ve moved past it. Flair said she has a chip on her shoulder and Stratton probably does too. She said the fans are invested. She said that’s what the business is about. She said it can be insensitive, but that’s how you get tough skin and that’s how you make it…
The broadcast team hyped the Smackdown lineup. They added LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa and said that Tama Tonga had been taken to a hospital due to Knight’s attack…
Rhea Ripley was shown walking backstage… [C]
Powell’s POV: So much for the commercial-free hour. They didn’t even make it 50 minutes this time. But I’m not complaining as someone trying to keep up with the live coverage.
Rhea Ripley made her entrance. Tessitore listed the attendance as more than 17,000. Ripley said she’s heading into her sixth WrestleMania. She said this is probably the most important of her WrestleMania championship matches.
Ripley said she lost the Women’s World Championship recently. She said she could complain, but she wouldn’t do that. She said she would do what she needed to do at WrestleMania and would walk out the three-time champion.
Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky made her entrance. Sky started to speak when Bianca Belair’s entrance music interrupted her. Belair came to the ring and was booed when she started to speak. “Okay,” Belair said in response to the boos. Belair said this could be her final night on Smackdown because she intends to win the championship.
Naomi made her entrance and addressed Belair. Naomi said she’s been calling and texting Belair and she knows she received the messages. Naomi entered the ring and said Jade Cargill wasn’t there for Belair like she was. Naomi said she would finish what she started with Jade at WrestleMania.
[Hour Two] Jade Cargill’s music played and she stormed to the ring. Belair stood in Jade’s way while Naomi made her exit. Jade and Belair bickered. Ripley told Cargill that it’s not about her. Naomi returned to the ring and shoved Cargill into Ripley. Belair and Ripley fought while Jade and Naomi fought at ringside. Sky went up top and performed a moonsault onto Ripley and Belair. Sky pointed at the WrestleMania sign…
Powell’s POV: I don’t think they were killing two birds with one stone. I expect Naomi to play some part in the Triple Threat. I could see her helping Belair or at least trying to, only to have Jade stop her. The crowd’s reaction to Belair shows that the time is right for a heel turn.
Rey Fenix was backstage selling his ribs when “American Made” Chad Gable, Brutus Creed, and Julius Creed showed up. Gable mocked him and asked him about being eliminated by El Grande Americano. Dragon Lee showed up and then Rey Mysterio followed. Mysterio issued a six-man tag match challenge…
“The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin made their entrance for the WWE Tag Team Title match…
A sponsored video package recapped “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins beating “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa to win the WWE Tag Team Titles… [C]
Barrett said the Mysterio, Lee, and Fenix vs. American Made match was made official for later in the show…
The Street Profits made their entrance. The Guns kicked the Profits from the ring…
2. “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. The referee rewarded the pre-match attack by calling for the bell once a wrestler from each team was in the ring. Shelley set up for a suicide dive, but Dawkins punched him from the floor heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Ford did an over-the-ring post dive onto his opponents and partner, who were on the floor. “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa attacked the Profits for the apparent no-contest finish.
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins fought “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin to a no-contest in 8:40 in a WWE Tag Team Title match.
After the match, Gargano and Ciampa grabbed the tag team title belts. Shelley grabbed the belt that Gargano held until Ciampa drilled Shelley with a knee strike. Gargano and Ciampa headed backstage…
Powell’s POV: The match was fine, but the live crowd was quiet. I don’t blame the teams as much as I blame the booking, as I don’t think the fans know how to react to the Profits these days. The finish was weak, but we’ll see where this leads.
Nick Aldis was on the phone telling someone that he was on his way when he was interrupted by Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green, who was accompanied by Piper Niven and Alba Fyre.
Green gave Aldis a formal complaint about the way her match went last week. Aldis said Green was right, there was an injustice last week. Aldis said they were supposed to compete in a six-woman tag match, but Green would instead defend her title against Zelina Vega without Niven and Fyre at ringside. Green threw a fit…
Randy Orton was shown walking backstage… [C]
Backstage, Nick Aldis told Gargano and Ciampa to hand over the tag team title belts. The Street Profits and Motor City Machine Guns showed up. DIY gave the belts back. Aldis said the three teams would compete for the titles in a TLC match on next week’s Smackdown…
Powell’s POV: We want you guys to go out there and put your bodies through hell in a TLC match. At WrestleMania? No. On Raw or Smackdown in the WrestleMania host city? No. Let’s do it on the Smackdown after WrestleMania! Ugh.
Randy Orton made his entrance while the fans sang his entrance theme. Orton looked at the WrestleMania sign and said that he doesn’t have an opponent. He spoke of his father being in the first WrestleMania, and said this would be his own 20th WrestleMania.
Orton said he would show up on Sunday with his boots on and “just the right amount of baby oil on my skin.” Orton challenged anyone in the locker room or on the Vegas Strip to face him at WrestleMania. Orton warned the person who accepts the challenge that they will fall to the RKO…
Powell’s POV: I vote for Rusev’s second tank entrance at WrestleMania.
Footage aired of a brief pull-apart brawl between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest at the kickoff event that was held earlier in the say…
Byron Saxton tried to interview Damian Priest in the backstage area. Priest said that with all due respect, he’s tired of talking about WrestleMania. Priest looked into the camera and addressed McIntyre by saying he would make him wish that he was getting future endeavored again…
Zelina Vega made her entrance to a quiet reaction for her Women’s U.S. Title match… [C]
A vignette aired for what appeared to be Aleister Black and closed with a graphic that listed the date of “4.25.25”…
Black’s wife Zelina Vega was sitting on the top rope when Chelsea Green made her entrance…
3. U.S. Champion Chelsea Green vs. Zelina Vega in a non-title match. Green threw part of her gear at Vega before the bell, but Vega avoided it. There was a “Chelsea” chant that Green acknowledged. In the end, Vega stuffed a superplex attempt and hit a Destroyer from the ropes and scored the pin…
Zelina Vega defeated U.S. Champion Chelsea Green in 3:35 in a non-title match.
Powell’s POV: Doh! This was not a title match. My apologies for not catching that earlier.
LA Knight was shown walking backstage… [C]
LA Knight made his entrance and spoke about how Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, and Tama Tonga like to use the numbers advantage. He said he took out Tama and will take out Solo next so that he will get a one-on-one match with Fatu. Knight said he knows that Fatu is a force. Knight said Fatu has never seen anything like him. Knight said chances are that Fatu will be a champion someday. Knight said guaranteed that Fatu will eat a BFT at WrestleMania…
Powell’s POV: For what it’s worth, Knight didn’t guarantee that Fatu wouldn’t pop right up after taking that BFT.
Solo Sikoa made his entrance. Knight met him at ringside and they brawled. Solo ran Knight into the ring steps… [C]
4. U.S. Champion LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa in a non-title match. The match was joined in progress with both wrestlers fighting at ringside.
[Hour Three] Solo dumped Knight on the apron. Knight battled back once they were back in the ring. Knight dropped Sikoa with a DDT. Knight went to the ropes and was attacked by Jacob Fatu for the apparent disqualification finish.
LA Knight beat Solo Sikoa by DQ in roughly 3:00 of television time.
Braun Strowman ran out and hit a double crossbody block on Fatu and Solo. The babyfaces cleared the heels from the ring. Nick Aldis came out and asked the fans if they were thinking what he was thinking (Aldis could also go for two shots and six beers?). Aldis booked a tag team match (so much for great minds thinking alike)… [C]
5. U.S. Champion LA Knight and Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa. The match started during a picture-in-picture break. Knight hit Solo with a top rope elbow drop and had him pinned, but Fatu broke it up.
Strowman sent Fatu to the floor and then did his Strowman Express spot, but Fatu tossed him over the broadcast table. Knight put Fatu down with a kick through the ropes. Knight ducked a Samoan Spike from Solo and then hit him with the BFT before pinning him.
U.S. Champion LA Knight and Braun Strowman defeated Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa in roughly 6:45.
Powell’s POV: Knight had some redness on his right bicep, but I didn’t notice him favoring it.z
Footage aired of Wade Barrett’s sit-down interview with WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton. Barrett recalled the interview between Stratton and Flair going off the rails. Stratton said she felt bullied and taken advantage of which made her feel like she wasn’t cut out for this. She said she used it as motivation, and then she came at Flair with a kill shot. Stratton said Flair doesn’t have to like her, but she has to respect her now. Stratton said she’s standing up to a bully and will walk out of WrestleMania as champion…
Powell’s POV: They said that Barrett’s interviews were sneak peeks. The full interviews will air on one of WrestleMania countdown shows. It’s amazing that they will be able to find time with only six hours of pre-show time to work with. Yes, that’s sarcasm.
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee made their entrance for the six-man tag match against American Made… [C] Rey Fenix was in the ring coming out of the break (his entrance was televised before the battle royal). American Made made their entrance…
6. Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Rey Fenix vs. “American Made” Chad Gable, Julius Creed, and Brutus Creed. Lee hit an early flip dive onto Julius at ringside. Back in the ring, Lee followed up with a top rope crossbody block and went for the pin, but Gable broke it up. A short time later, the American Made trio all hit simultaneous top rope headbutts on Lee. [C]
Lee continued to be isolated and was hit with a Brutus Ball. Lee ended up tying up all three opponents in a tree of woe and then double stomped them before tagging out. Fenix had a brief offensive flurry. Late in the match, Lee hit Operation Dragon on Julius. Fenix followed up with a top rope meteora and then got the pin…
Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Rey Fenix beat “American Made” Chad Gable, Julius Creed, and Brutus Creed in 12:10.
Powell’s POV: There was a spot before the commercial break with Julius pulling Rey from the apron by one leg and dumping him on the floor. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but Rey never returned to the ring. He got up slowly and limped to his team’s side of the ring and was still down when the match was over. It would be a shame if he’s unable to work WrestleMania, so here’s hoping that it’s something minor.
A video package aired on the Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins feud and Paul Heyman’s involvement…
Tessitore hyped the Cody Rhodes and John Cena segment for after the break… [C] Tessitore recapped the results of the earlier matches while graphics displayed the results…
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance dressed in a suit. A fan held up a sign that read “Forever A John Cena Kid” (I am so sorry about your affliction, sir). Once Cody’s music stopped playing, he received a mixed reaction. Cody held up the mic, but he didn’t get a word out.
John Cena’s entrance music played and he walked out sporting new Las Vegas themed attire. Barrett called Cena a piece of garbage and accused him of disrespecting Cody, the fans, and the entire industry. There were dueling chants for Cena.
“Shut your mouth, kid,” Cena told Cody. He said it would be his 20th WrestleMania and his 12th title match at WrestleMania. He said he knows Cody can get lost with all of the voices, but his voice is the one that Cody should listen to.
Cena said Sunday is the last time he will compete in a WrestleMania ring. Cena said no one has had the courage to end their career the way he has. He leaned in and told Cody that there’s nothing he can do to prepare for a man who knows he’s going to die.
Cena said that what he’s doing is so unprecedented that the fans don’t believe he’s actually going to retire. He said there’s no such thing as a wrestling retirement. He said the reason there aren’t wrestling retirements is because every other wrestler is an insecure loser.
Cena said he has love, joy, and worth in his life and doesn’t need the fans, unlike other wrestlers. He said the only reason he is there is to take away the WWE Championship from Cody and the fans forever. Cena recalled telling Cody last year that the title becomes heavier every day he holds it. Cena said Cody will lose because he cares about the fans. Cena said the fans don’t write history; winners do.
Cena told Cody that when he won the Elimination Chamber, he knew it would be impossible to beat him at WrestleMania. Cena said Cody changed all that with what he said to The Rock. Cena said Rock gave him the choice of doing what the fans think is right or win. Cena said he knew then that Cody doesn’t stand a chance.
Cena said that once you stop caring about the fans, you can accomplish anything you want in life, but Cody is too weak to understand that. Cena said that to beat him, Cody will have to either do what the fans think is right or win. Cena said Cody is scared and naive.
Cena said Cody is tough and driven, but he’s also scared, insecure, and naive. He recalled Cody saying he wears a suit and has a tattoo because he wants to be somebody. Cena said he didn’t need either because on Sunday he will make Cody somebody, somebody who realizes that in order to be someone, you have to sever ties with the losers (fans).
“Or somebody who had a chance to be a real winner and blew it,” Cena said. “And in that very moment, you will realize that you are not the captain, you are not the quarterback, you are still a kid in a man’s world who doesn’t have the balls of the last real champion.”
Cody said Cena always has to say something. Cody was booed by some fans. “This is who you fight for,” Cena said. Cody recalled Cena saying that he doesn’t bury talent, he is talent. Cody said there’s a graveyard of talent who would disagree with that statement.
Cody asked Cena if he knew the name of the crew member who handed him the microphone. Cody guessed that Cena didn’t know the names of others who work for the company and said it’s changed since he left.
Cody recalled Cena calling him underwhelming. Cody said Cena is overrated, overbearing, out of touch, and out of time. He said his face is melting wax, he has a stack of dimes for a neck, spindly-ass legs, is paler than Sting at Starrcade ’97, and is sanctimonious.
Cody said Cena made a sanctimonious comment about how he is an errand boy. Cody said the whole world saw Cena stand naked on the Oscars stage in front of the people that he runs errands for now. Cody said it’s 2025 and Cena still can’t wrestle. Some fans chanted, “You can’t wrestle,” while others sang Cody’s name. “Idiots,” Cena said.
Cena said the fans are just like Cody in that they don’t know what they want. Cena told Cody that he doesn’t have to wrestle to beat him. Cena slapped Cody’s head and scooped him up for his finisher. Cody slipped away and put Cena down with CrossRhodes. Cody held up the WWE Championship and looked at the WrestleMania sign. Cody picked up Cena’s hat and tossed it at him before exiting the ring.
Cody left the ring and held up the title belt while backing toward the entrance. The broadcast team ran through the WrestleMania lineup and then highlights aired of Cody hitting CrossRhodes. The executive producer credits were shown while Cody kissed the title belt on the stage while Tessitore closed the show by telling fans he would see them at WrestleMania…
Powell’s POV: I figured there would plenty of heel Cena fans in Las Vegas this weekend, but the boos for Cody were louder than I anticipated. The question is whether the fans who are cheering Cena now will get behind Cody again once the feud ends or if this is the start of a trend.
Overall, this was a good go-home show. It would have been better without a third hour to fill, but it is what it is. I will have more to say about Smackdown during my same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the go-home show by grading it below.
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Pfft, Boremello Hayes. It’s always some boring fuck who wins these lol.
I’m surprised W.W.E. allows the MC Machine Guns to do the gun stuff.
Cena is doing exactly what the best heals do: Telling the God’s honest truth as he sees it. Imagine if he’d been this dynamic the last 15 years.
Give me a break, protecting Flair with a studio interview!
Stratton’s promo should have been in front of the live crowd.
WWE could have built on that segment, but they would obviously rather protect Flair, and downplay tje segment.
What do they think is going to happen at Mania? Flair is going to be booed out of the arena, and they just made it worse.
Not saying they aren’t protecting Flair in part, but they are also protecting the image of the company. Clearly felt it was too much of a risk to let either or both in the ring with a live microphone. Better to do the backstage stuff where they can control what is said. Agree that Flair will be booed out the building though.
Nice of WWE to leave a spot on their most important show of the year empty, just in case someone wants to show up on the night to wrestle Randy Orton.
Just like they did when they brought Cody Rhodes back 3 years ago at WM 38.
Or when Owen Hart had a mystery partner at WM 11 and it ended up being Yokozuna.
Or the way they’ve done at Royal Rumble and Survivor Series cards for the last 40 years.
1) Strowman kinda disappeared at the end of the match, keeping the joining the Wyatt Sicks rumor alive.
2) Cena keeps saying he doesn’t care what the crowd thinks, yet he’s still doing that bewilderment act when they take over the din with the chanting and singing. Weird.
3) The crowd seemed to REALLY come around for Cody after his “You can’t wrestle” declaration, saying what they’ve been saying throughout Cena’s career. (chef kiss)
Any truth to the rumor that A1 Steak Sauce has become a partner with W.W.E.?
The tag teams aren’t over because they aren’t any good. MCMG were a bit of an anomaly 15-20 years ago when they were the only guys doing their style of matches, but now everyone is a 160 lb weakling with no personality and an offensive arsenal filled with 7,000 meaningless flips so they’re nothing special anymore.
Kudos to Cody for saying the thing out loud and getting the crowd back on his side with it.