By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,340)
April 25, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas at Dickies Arena
Simulcast live on USA Network and internationally on Netflix
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore checked in on commentary while arrival shots aired of WWE Tag Team Champion The Street Profits, Motor City Machine Guns, DIY, U.S. Champion Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton. Tessitore noted that the TLC match will air commercial-free during the final hour of Smackdown…
A WrestleMania 41 recap video package aired…
WWE Champion John Cena made his entrance and was serenaded by the fans singing “John Cena sucks” during his entrance. Cena wore a green t-shirt and a hat with a logo that had a cowboy hat on it. Wade Barrett checked in on color commentary.
Cena motioned for ring announcer Mark Nash to join him in the ring. Cena handed Nash a note while the fans chanted “Let’s Go Cena” and “Cena sucks.” Nash apologized and said his announcement had once again been deemed disrespectful.
Nash introduced Cena as the greatest of all time and said that he was gracing Fort Worth with his presence for the last time. Cena had Nash leave the ring. Cena was about to speak when he was interrupted by entrance music.
Randy Orton came out and pointed to fans holding up “RKO” signs before joining Cena inside the ring. The fans sang Orton’s entrance theme. Cena stood across the ring and held up his title belt.
Orton said in a couple months, it will be 25 years since he and Cena shook hands for the first time. Orton said Cena never changed and was about hustle, loyalty, and respect until recently. Orton said it was a way of life for Cena.
Orton said there’s a void in Cena’s life. He spoke about the children who looked up to Cena, and how Cena granted more wishes than anyone in the history of Make-A-Wish. Orton said Cena can’t tell him that those sick kids didn’t leave with a piece of his heart.
Orton told Cena that he figured out how he could fill the void. Orton told Cena that he needs to have kids. He said the world would be a better place if there were a bunch of square-jawed, big-forearmed kids running around. Orton told Cena that having kids will make him a better human being.
“How dare you,” Cena started. “How dare you prance out here with a smile on your face under the guise of making me feel better, and then parent-shame me front of the whole world. Congratulations. Randy Orton, you have children and you love them. Good for you. Do you want to know the real reason I don’t have kids?”
Cena looked to the crowd and said, “Because I spent the last 25 years raising yours.” He said he was a better father to kids than the parents in the crowd could ever be. Cena told a kid in the crowd that his father is a loser. Cena took issue with a six-year-old flipping him off and said he’s been policing brats like him for a quarter of a century.
Cena told the kid not to bring a knife to a gun fight, then said that he bet his father never taught him that one. Orton asked if the Hollywood rot had set in Cena’s brain. Orton said the fans and WWE are the reasons Cena made it to Hollywood.
Orton said he can hold his head up high and get respect from his peers. Orton said he’s a piece of furniture in WWE and is there to stay. “You, you’re just a guest,” said Orton. Cena said we all have our perspectives. Cena said he used to believe that there would be no WWE without the fans and that “we” win together.
Cena said he was wrong, he won, and he didn’t need the people. Cena said the fans chant “Let’s Go Cena, Cena sucks” in the same breath. Cena said he just called out a rando who turned pale white. He said to imagine being told that you suck for 25 years.
Cena called the fans hypocrites. He said once they get tired of him, they can put their energy into any wrestler they want to cheer for. But if the roles are reversed and he puts his energy into anything other than WWE, he’s an outcast and a guest.
Cena said that’s why it’s dysfunctional and why it doesn’t work. He said it’s manipulation, and the fans are manipulating the truth to make themselves feel good because they’ve done nothing with their lives. Cena said he’s an outcast for doing something different.
Orton said his words weren’t penetrating Cena’s thick skull. Orton mentioned Cody Rhodes’ theme song stating that there’s more than one royal family. Orton said Cody isn’t just talking about his own family, he’s talking about Orton’s family. Orton spoke about what wrestling has done for him.
Cena told him to shut his mouth. Cena said that he’s won the title 17 times, and Orton has won it 14 times. Cena said that Orton will be forever frozen at 14 once he takes the title home. Cena called Orton a babbling moron and said he’s trying to make sure that Orton’s family is erased.
Orton recalled Cena claiming to be the last real champion. Orton told Cena to put the title on the line and fight him on the spot. Cena held up the title belt and said no. Cena said that just like so many other times over the last 25 years, he was doing it to save Orton’s ass. Cena said there should be a match between them for the title, but it shouldn’t happen there.
Cena said the match should happen at WWE Backlash in St. Louis. Cena noted that Orton is from St. Louis, and he could spend the whole day with his family. Cena told Orton to show up rested, because when he fails, he will have no excuse. Cena held up the title belt and told Orton to take a good look because it’s what the last real champion looks like.
Cena said this was as close as Orton would ever get to the title, and then tossed the belt to him. Cena hit Orton while he was catching the belt. Orton eventually dropped Cena with an RKO. Orton picked up the title belt and posed on the ropes with it while his entrance theme played…
Tessitore and Barrett spoke at ringside. Tessitore said that after 230 days as NXT Tag Team Champions, Nathan Frazer and Axiom had arrived at Smackdown. A brief video package aired on the Fraxiom duo… Los Garza made their entrance with Santos Escobar heading into a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I like that Cena continues to acknowledge that he knows the show will go on with a new title belt after he retires with the WWE Championship, but it’s hard to look past the lineage of the belt he carries being a hot mess.
The broadcast team said John Cena vs. Randy Orton was official for WWE Backlash on May 10… Fraxiom made their entrance…
1. “Fraxiom” Nathan Frazer and Axiom vs. “Los Garza” Angel and Berto (w/Santos Escobar). Frazer and Axiom got out to a quick start, but the heel duo took offensive control heading into an early picture-in-picture break. [C]
There was a brief “this is awesome” chant. Axiom caught Angel on the ropes and joined him. Axiom hit a Spanish Fly from the top rope and then Frazer followed up with a Phoenix Splash and got the pin…
“Fraxiom” Nathan Frazer and Axiom defeated “Los Garza” Angel and Berto in 8:20.
Powell’s POV: A nice win for Frazer and Axiom on their first night as Smackdown wrestlers. The broadcast team welcomed them to the blue brand, so this was more than just a one-off before they return to NXT. Good for them. Frazer and Axiom have had some of the best tag team matches in the business over the last year or so. For those reading live, Seth Rollins is about to announce a pick at the NFL Draft unless the Chicago Bears trade down again.
“DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were shown seated in their dressing room while Tessitore hyped the TLC match… Tessitore hyped Tiffany Stratton for after the break while the WWE Women’s Champion was shown… [C]
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton made her entrance. She asked the fans what time it was. She said it was Tiffy Time at WrestleMania in front of 60,000 people. Stratton said she went toe-to-toe with one of the greatest of all time, Charlotte Flair. Fans booed.
Stratton said there were times when she doubted herself, but she walked out of WrestleMania as the WWE Women’s Champion. She said people told her she was the next Charlotte Flair. She said there’s only one Charlotte, but she guaranteed there is only one Tiffany Stratton.
Jade Cargill made her entrance and said, “Tiffany, cut it.” Jade said she came to give credit where it’s due. Jade spoke as she walked to the ring, saying Stratton’s match with Flair was impressive, but it put an even bigger target on her back. Jade said she has nothing but time after finishing her business with Naomi.
Jade entered the ring and said she came to WWE to be a champion. She said beating Charlotte doesn’t make Stratton the best, especially when she hasn’t faced her. Stratton asked her to put her money where her mouth was and they could have the match on the spot. A referee ran out… [C]
Powell’s POV: Rollins announced the pick at the NFL Draft. I ran a brief story on the main page for anyone looking for more details.
2. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill in a non-title match. The referee called for the opening bell when the show returned from a break. After an early two count, Stratton offered a handshake but then pulled Jade in for a headlock. Made broke free and put Stratton down with an arm drag.
[Hour Two] Jade performed a spinebuster for a two count. She avoided a pump kick and rolled up Jade for two, then hit a spinebuster of her own for another two count. Stratton hit her handspring elbow in the corner and played to the crowd before covering Jade for two. Stratton was in control heading into a break [C]
A “this is awesome” chant broke out after Jade got a near fall following a sit-out powerbomb. Stratton came back and hit a basement dropkick for a two count. Stratton showed frustration over not getting the pin. Stratton went up top and was cut off by Cargill, who superplexed her. Naomi ran in and attacked Jade to end the match.
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton fought Jade Cargill to an apparent no-contest in a non-title match in 8:00.
Naomi worked over Cargill and then ran her through the ropes and into the ring post casing. Naomi laughed. Stratton returned to the ring and flashed a mean face at Naomi, who exited the ring.
Nia Jax ran in and attacked Stratton from behind. Jax looked down at Naomi, who watched from the floor, and then hit a leg drop on Stratton. Jax followed up with an Annihilator. Jax picked up the title belt and held it above her head before dropping it on Stratton…
“The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin were shown warming up backstage… Tessitore hyped new U.S. Champion Jacob Fatu for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I didn’t expect to see them actually go with eight minutes of Stratton vs. Cargill before Naomi interfered. The match was fine and logically concluded without a clean finish, but I’m surprised they didn’t save the first-ever singles meeting between the two for premium live event.
U.S. Champion Jacob Fatu made his entrance with Solo Sikoa. Fatu had his title belt around his neck and wore a Fatu jersey with No. 42 on it. A “Fatu” chant broke out. Solo told the fans to show some love and respect to Fatu. There were boos when Solo started to speak, but fans applauded for Fatu.
Solo said everyone saw at WrestleMania what he already knew, which is that Fatu is the future of the company. Solo said no one in his family wanted Fatu in WWE other than him. The fans gave Solo the “What?” treatment. Solo said he’s the reason Fatu is the champion. Solo said Fatu wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for him.
Fatu took the mic from Solo and told him not to get it twisted. Fatu recalled telling Solo that he would win the U.S. Title and bring it home to the family with him or without him. Fatu played to the crowd while holding up the title. He said he knows the title makes him America’s most wanted and a menace to society.
LA Knight’s entrance music interrupted Fatu. Knight walked out with a microphone in hand and spoke from the stage. Knight recalled saying that Fatu would eat a BFT, and said that’s what he did at WrestleMania. Knight conceded that Fatu beat him and said that he gives credit where it’s due. Knight said people told him he had a hell of a match at WrestleMania. Knight said he isn’t worried about having a great match, he’s worried about winning. Knight said he wanted his rematch on the spot.
Drew McIntyre made his entrance and spoke as he walked to the ring. McIntyre boasted about beating Damian Priest in one of the most violent matches in WWE history. McIntyre looked into the camera and thanked Priest, saying it was an absolute pleasure to beat him in front of Priest’s entire family.
McIntyre spoke from the apron while saying that he wants to fight the baddest dog in the yard and the baddest champion in the yard. “Jacob, I want to fight you,” McIntyre said. Knight was lying over the top turnbuckle and told the fans to wake him up when the mush mouth was done.
McIntyre said Knight always has a joke. He said the only joke was Knight’s last U.S. Title run. Knight dropped from the ropes and said he’d say that McIntyre’s last title reign was a joke, but he can’t remember it. Knight said that if McIntyre thinks he deserves the title shot, he should get in the ring and show him. “Okay,” McIntyre said before dropping the mic.
Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis walked out and booked McIntyre vs. Knight for a shot at the U.S. Championship…
Backstage, Byron Saxton spoke with Zelina Vega, who said she was speechless. She spoke about how she’s wanted this for so long and then talked about challenging Chelsea Green for the Women’s U.S. Title… [C]
Powell’s POV: Vega is speechless because she’s been waiting a long time to win a title that was awarded to the first champion on December 14, 2024?
Entrances for the Women’s U.S. Championship match took place…
3. Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven, Alba Fyre) vs. Zelina Vega for the Women’s U.S. Championship. Vega went to the apron and tripped Green. Niven and Fyre distracted Vega, who was dropkicked by Green. Tessitore noted that referee Ryan Tran was the same referee who worked the last match when Green was counted out while facing Vega two weeks earlier. Tran got caught up with Green while Niven and Fyre took cheap shots at Vega. [C]
Vega had a run of offense and then had to knock Fyre off the apron. Green took advantage for a moment, but Vega put her down with a Backstabber. Green ran the ropes and was tripped by Niven. The referee scolded Niven and then caught Fyre winding up to punch Vega. The referee ejected Niven and Fyre. Vega hit a Destroyer on Green and then pinned her.
Zelina Vega defeated Chelsea Green in 6:35 to win the Women’s U.S. Championship.
Vega got the title belt and fled the ring, then got emotional as she held it up on the stage…
The broadcast team spoke at their desk. A guy standing right behind Tessitore gave a thumbs down to Green losing…
Powell’s POV: I’m with the dude who stood behind Tessitore. That said, good for Vega for winning her first title in WWE. It clearly meant a lot to her.
A sponsored recap video aired on Carmelo Hayes winning the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal on last week’s show…
Carmelo Hayes and The Miz stood in front of The Dre trophy while both men were dressed in white in the backstage area. Miz claimed that he sacrificed himself so that Hayes could win. Miz gave Hayes a box that contained a chain with a hideous gold Andre the Giant head hanging from it. Miz said he was heading to the ring to get something off his chest. He told Hayes to stay backstage and enjoy the moment while he went and made his own…
Powell’s POV: Holy shit, that gold Dre head is hideous. The Jobu statue in Major League is a thing of beauty compared to that thing.
The Miz stood in the ring and vented about Rey Fenix and Joe Hendry getting WrestleMania matches. He said Hendry is an internet meme. Miz said he’s sick of people showing up in WWE and getting opportunities. Miz tried to close with his catchphrase, but the lights went out.
Aleister Black made his old school entrance. A “welcome back” chant broke out once Black was in the ring. “Hey, who the hell do you…” Miz said before walking into a Black Mass Kick. Black sat down crosslegged next to Miz…
Powell’s POV: I’m fan of Black’s entrance, so I was happy to see it return. This was a rare time when Tessitore’s call felt off. Tessitore didn’t act surprised or play up Black’s return in a major way. Fortunately, Barrett stepped up and helped.
WWE Tag Team Champions “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins were getting ready backstage. Good news for everyone not covering the show, it turns out the entire final hour of the show will be commercial-free, and will include the TLC match and McIntyre vs. Knight…
[Hour Three] [C] Byron Saxton interviewed Bianca Belair, who had her hand taped and her ring finger in a split. She said she walked into WrestleMania with a couple of broken fingers. She said it was all worth it. She said they all fought to the end, and at least she can say that she’s proud of what they were able to do in the three-way match at WrestleMania. Belair credited Iyo Sky for taking the perfect opportunity to capitalize. Belair said she would have done the same thing. She took issue with Rhea Ripley sneaking into the match and said they haven’t seen the last of one another, but then added that Smackdown is her home and it’s divided…
Naomi was walking backstage when Nia Jax approached her. Jax said she didn’t care about Naomi going for revenge on Jade, but she told her to stay out of the way when it comes to her going after Tiffany Stratton’s title. “As long as you proceed with caution,” Naomi said before walking away…
LA Knight made his entrance heading into a PIP break (they went ad-free for a whopping six minutes in the final hour). [C] Drew McIntyre’s entrance took place during the PIP break…
4. Drew McIntyre vs. LA Knight for a shot at the U.S. Championship. Charles Robinson was the referee. Tessitore listed the attendance as 11,644 in a sold-out venue. Knight performed a top rope elbow drop for a near fall around eight minutes into the match.
Both wrestlers ended up at ringside. Knight slammed McIntyre’s head on the broadcast table repeatedly before rolling him back inside the ring. Solo Sikoa showed up at ringside and dropped Knight with a Samoan Spike while the referee was tending to McIntyre.
McIntyre shot Solo a nasty look and then shot up and started his countdown. Damian Priest pulled McIntyre out of the ring and attacked him to end the match.
Drew McIntyre defeated LA Knight by DQ in 9:40 to earn a shot at the U.S. Championship.
Priest chokeslammed McIntyre through the broadcast able. Knight confronted Priest. Jacob Fatu showed up and hit them both with a suicide dive. Fatu ran Priest into the ring post and then ran Knight into the ring steps. Fatu got both men in the ring and hit them with hip attacks and moonsaults. Fatu stood in the ring and held up his U.S. Title belt…
Powell’s POV: So the idea was that the referee was distracted and missed Solo’s interference, but he saw Priest interfere and disqualified Knight for it. I was only sure of this because they showed the match result graphics (see below) and listed the result as such. I assume this is leading to a four-way match at some point. I wonder if Solo was working on behalf of Fatu’s character when he interfered or if he went into business for himself.
Tessitore recapped the results of the matches as a graphic displayed them. He also hyped Cena vs. Orton for the WWE Championship at Backlash…
The crew was shown bringing tables, ladders, and chairs to the ring while the tag team title belts were attached to the hook that was then raised above the ring…
A video package aired on Seth Rollins, Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk…
R-Truth caught up with John Cena in the parking garage and told him that he’s been his hero from the beginning. Truth told Cena to call him if he ever needed him. Cena walked away. Jimmy Uso showed up and asked when Cena became so whack. Truth said there are two sides to every story. Truth called Cena a real world champion and said he wants to be just like him once he grows up. Jimmy pointed out that Truth is already grown up…
Aleister Black vs. The Miz was announced for next week’s Smackdown in Des Moines, Iowa… Entrances for the TLC match took place with the Motor City Machine Guns out first, followed by DIY and then the Street Profits…
5. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in a TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Titles. There were tables, ladders, and chairs at ringside. Ciampa has trimmed his beard down to stubble, which means he’s probably being set on fire during the match tonight (okay, he really did shave his beard, but I might be lying about the fire part).
Ciampa and Sabin were fighting on a ladder that was set up under the hanging title belts when Dawkins pushed the ladder over. The Guns climbed the ladder, but Ciampa slammed a chair over their backs. Ciampa put a chair around Sabin’s neck, and then Gargano hit that chair with a second chair. Sabin took a bump onto a chair. DIY set up two chairs back-to-back and tried to suplex Dawkins, who avoided it. Dawkins performed a twisting neckbreaker on Gargano, who took the bump on top of the two chairs. Damn.
The Profits did a “get the table” call. A short time later, Ford did a flip dive over the top rope and hit a Doomsday Blockbuster on Ciampa on the way down. Ford grabbed a prosthetic leg from a happy fan and beat Gargano with it. Ford placed a ladder over the barricade and ring, but Ciampa ran Ford’s head into the ladder. Sabin put Dawkins through a table with a dive from the ring. Ford performed another flip dive from the ring that put Ciampa through a table on the floor. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Later, Ciampa jumped from the apron with Ford on his back and put him through a ladder bridge with White Noise. Ciampa motioned for Gargano to go for the belts, which he did, but the Guns cut him off. Sabin brought Gargano onto a table on the floor and held him up while Shelley dove over the top rope and put Gargano through the table with a variation of Skull & Bones. “I’ve seen it all,” Tessitore said.
Ciampa made a play for the belts and got his hands on the hook, but the Guns took the ladder out from under him. Ciampa swung from the hook and was hit by a chair. The Guns put a table below Ciampa, and then Dawkins jumped from a ladder in the corner of the ring and spared Ciampa, who fell off the hook and through the table in the middle of the ring. Damn.
The Guns moved the ladder under the belts. Gargano returned and hit Sabin with a chair, and then tossed it at the head of Shelley (he wisely put his arm up) to knock him off the ladder. Gargano and Sabin climbed opposite sides of the ladder and traded punches. Sabin knocked Gargano down. Ford springboarded his way onto the ladder and knocked Sabin off.
Gargano pulled Ford down and got him between the rungs of the ladder. Gargano climbed the ladder and got his hands on the belts, but Sabin climbed the other side. Ford recovered and climbed up the middle of the ladder, knocked both opponents down, and then removed the belts from the hook to win the match…
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, and “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in a TLC match in 22:30 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
The Profits celebrated their win, and highlights were shown to close the show. The Profits took the celebration into the crowd while the executive producer credits were shown. Tessitore called it an all-time classic TLC match to end the night…
Powell’s POV: Yep, the company really should have made room for this match on the WrestleMania card. Fantastic big spot work from all six wrestlers. If they ever have a rematch, it really should be at WrestleMania 42.
Overall, it was just a decent WrestleMania fallout show until the main event bumped it up a couple of notches. I will have more to say about this episode during my weekly same-night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by grading the show below. Have a great weekend.
Join me for my live review of TNA Rebellion on Sunday night.
Black back with the stamford clown show and getting the star treatment … the miz what a reintroduction