By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,349)
June 27, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Kingdom Arena
Simulcast live internationally on Netflix (same day delay on USA Network)
Editor’s Note: This review was written while the show streamed live on Friday afternoon. If you are watching at the traditional start time in the United States, be cautious of how far down you scroll and you can still read the report while not having anything spoiled.
[Hour One] Michael Cole checked in on commentary and touted the show being held in Saudi Arabia. Pyro shot off on the stage. Arrival shots included WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax, WWE Tag Team Champions Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, Women’s U.S. Champion Zelina Vega, Giulia, Jade Cargill, and Asuka…
Cody Rhodes made his entrance and was introduced by ring announcer Mark Nash. Cole and Wade Barrett checked in from their broadcast table at ringside, as did the Arabic broadcast team. The podium with the King of the Ring crown was in the ring. The fans continued to sing Cody’s entrance theme once it stopped playing. Cody was about to speak when he was interrupted by entrance music.
Randy Orton walked to the ring, which had a “Riyadh Season” logo in the middle. The crowd continued to sing Orton’s theme after it stopped playing. Orton asked the crowd if they watched Monday’s Raw. The fans cheered. Orton put over Cody’s win over Jey Uso in the KOTR semifinals. Orton said that if Cody and Jey are not in the running for match of the year at Slammy time, then something’s wrong. Orton said the match was a pleasure to watch.
There was a feed issue with Netflix, as a graphic apologized for the interruption, and then a “we’ll be right back” graphic appeared.
Powell’s POV: The “we’ll be right back” graphic is a dirty f’n liar! Sigh. Hey, we’re finally back in action. I’ll insert whatever was missed once the replay is available.
Cole and Barrett sat at their desk and apologized to viewers for the technical difficulties that lasted roughly 30 minutes. Barrett said this never happened when Joe Tessitore was on the call…
Backstage, Solo Sikoa told JC Mateo to take care of Jimmy Uso and remind everyone what it’s like to have no backup. Solo said that after this weekend, everyone will see that they are just getting started…
Jimmy Uso made his entrance, and then the show went to break… [C] JC Mateo and Solo Sikoa made their entrance…
1. Jimmy Uso vs. JC Mateo (w/Solo Sikoa). Cole ran through Mateo’s New Japan Pro Wrestling title history. Mateo was in control heading into a break. [C] Mateo performed a spinning suplex. Cole said Mateo reminds him a lot of his former broadcast partner (and current AEW color commentator) Taz.
Jimmy tried and failed to hoist up Mateo for a Samoan Drop, but he dropped him with a spin kick. Jimmy backed it up in the corner, then superkicked Mateo, who tumbled through the ropes to the floor. Jimmy hit Mateo with a suicide dive.
Jimmy rolled Mateo back inside the ring. While the referee was focused on Mateo, Solo grabbed Jimmy’s leg to distract him momentarily. Jimmy went up top and then jumped over and rolled through when Mateo was ready for him, but Mateo put him down with the Tour of the Islands and scored the pin.
JC Mateo defeated Jimmy Uso in roughly 6:00.
After the match, Solo helped Jimmy to his feet and asked him if he was ready to come back. Solo opened his arms for a hug while the fans booed and Mateo stood in a corner of the ring. Jimmy slapped Solo. Mateo hit Jimmy from behind. Solo set up for the Samoan Spike.
U.S. Champion Jacob Fatu’s entrance music stopped Solo. Fatu ran to the ring and put Mateo down with a Samoan Drop. Fatu turned his attention to Solo, who exited the ring and stood on the floor. Fatu hit Mateo with a double jump moonsault.
Fatu and Jimmy looked at one another. Eventually, Jimmy shoved Fatu out of the way and superkicked Solo before he could attack Fatu from behind…
Powell’s POV: The match was solid, and the expected occurred in terms of Jimmy and Fatu appearing to be inching closer to becoming allies. I wonder if Jimmy will counter Mateo during the Fatu vs. Solo match for the U.S. Title at Night of Champions.
Backstage, “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa spoke with “Fraxiom” Nathan Frazer and Axiom, “Los Garza” Angel and Berto, and “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. Ciampa told the other teams that if the Wyatt Sicks win the tag team titles, then none of the other teams would have a chance to win the titles for the foreseeable future.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis showed up and asked Ciampa what he was talking about. Ciampa continued to rant, and he and Gargano told Aldis to do something. Aldis said he would and waved to someone off-camera.
Andrade entered the picture and shook hands with Aldis, who asked him if he’d like to find a tag team partner to face DIY. Andrade told DIY that he’d see them tonight…
A promo video aired for the Zelina Vega vs. Giulia match for the Women’s U.S. Championship. Subtitles were used for Giulia, who said the belt means a lot to Vega, but it’s just a stepping stone to her. Vega said Giulia would have to pry the title “from my cold, dead body”…
Zelina Vega made her entrance while wearing what Cole said was a king cobra outfit… [C] Giulia made her entrance…
2. Zelina Vega vs. Giulia for the Women’s U.S. Championship. Vega and Giulia traded four pin attempts during the opening seconds of the match. They stood up and then threw simultaneous kicks that knocked them both down briefly. Giulia went up top and was cut off by Vega, who sent her to the floor. Vega went to the middle rope and performed a moonsault. Vega came up holding her right knee and her back. [C]
Vega hit Code Red for a near fall. Vega went for a top rope moonsault that Giulia avoided. Giulia drilled Vega with a couple of knee strikes and then hit the Northern Lights Bomb before scoring the clean pin.
Giulia defeated Zelina Vega in roughly 7:30 to win the Women’s U.S. Championship.
Pyro shot off on the stage while Giulia stood on the middle rope and held up her title belt…
Powell’s POV: I like the title change. It was a little odd to have the new champion say before the match that the belt is just a stepping stone to her. That’s what secondary titles should be, but I’m just surprised to hear it when the belt is fairly new and doesn’t seem to hold much value in the eyes of fans.
Cole announced that Smackdown will revert to being two hours in length starting with next week’s show…
Powell’s POV: God Bless America!!!
Backstage, Charlotte Flair told Alexa Bliss that she doesn’t need friends. Bliss said she wasn’t trying to be Flair’s friend, but it wouldn’t hurt to be on the same page. Bliss said Flair should think of them as allies of convenience. Flair awkwardly lowered her shades and looked into the camera after Bliss walked away…
Powell’s POV: Have they considered being friends with benefits? Er, never mind.
Cole hyped Barrett interviewing the Queen of the Ring finalists… [C] Cole narrated footage of Barrett being crowned King of the Ring in 2015 after he defeated Neville (a/k/a Pac)…
Barrett stood in the ring with a podium that had the Queen of the Ring crown on it. Barrett introduced Jade Cargill and Asuka, who made separate entrances. There were Asuka chants once she was in the ring.
Barrett asked Jade what makes her so confident that she’ll beat Asuka to become QOTR. Jade said when people see Asuka, they get nervous, whereas she sees her as an opportunity to show why she’s in WWE. Jade said she doesn’t plan on just taking the crown; she plans to take the whole throne. There were boos.
Asuka said Jade is strong, but power isn’t everything. Asuka said she has skills and experience. “Do you know who I am?” Asuka asked. “I am Asuka!” Asuka said no one is ready for her. Jade was about to respond, but she was cut off by entrance music.
Naomi made her entrance and spoke about being the Money in the Bank holder as she walked down the ramp. The Saudi fans were censored for actually chanting “Shut the f— up.” Wow.
Naomi said it brings her pure pleasure when she thinks about how sweet it would be to ruin the biggest night of their careers. Jade plowed through Asuka to knock Naomi off the apron. Asuka stood up and then threw a series of strikes at Jade, which was capped off with a big kick. Asuka stood tall, and her entrance music played while Jade was down. Naomi climbed on the apron and talked smack to Jade while holding up the MITB briefcase…
Backstage, Nick Aldis spoke with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce. Aldis said they need to work out the last few details about what they intend to do with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Pearce agreed and said they need to do it quickly.
Aleister Black entered the room and said he wants a “redo.” R-Truth burst into the room and yelled that he was driving now. Truth cut in front of Black and told the general managers that he wanted John Cena. Aldis told him that Cena was there, but he was there for CM Punk. Truth left the room, and Black followed…
DIY made their entrance heading into a break… [C] Cole recapped footage of Angel and Berto winning the AAA Tag Team Titles two weeks earlier… Andrade made his entrance and then Rey Fenix followed as his tag team partner…
3. “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa vs. Andrade and Rey Fenix. A “Johnny Wrestling” chant broke out. Andrade and Fenix hit stereo dives from the ropes to the floor. [C] DIY took offensive control. Cole plugged Jurassic Park 63 (or whatever we’re up to). It seemed like a trailer was supposed to air, but only the audio played. DIY hit Shatter Machine on Andrade. Ciampa covered him for a near fall. [C]
Late in the match, Ciampa held up Fenix, and then Gargano kicked Fenix before he followed through with a Fairytale Ending for a near fall. Ciampa followed up with Project Ciampa, but Andrade broke up the pin that followed.
Andrade dropped Gargano with a back elbow. Fenix avoided a charging Ciampa in the corner and then kicked him before tagging out. Fenix hit a Black Fire Driver on Ciampa, and then Andrade followed up with The Message before pinning Ciampa…
Andrade and Rey Fenix defeated “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in 14:40.
Powell’s POV: A strong tag team match. One can only assume that Andrade and Fenix beating an established duo means the plan is to keep Andrade and Fenix together as a team.
Cole hyped a look at John Cena vs. CM Punk for after a break… [C] Cole said Cena would appear later in the show, and then footage aired of Cena’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert… Cole said he can’t believe there are fewer than six months left in Cena’s career. Another yin and yang video package aired on Cena and Punk…
The broadcast team was speaking at their desk when R-Truth walked past them wearing a black hoodie. Truth entered the ring and said to put some respect on his name. Truth called out John Cena.
Aleister Black entered the ring behind Truth. When Truth turned around, Black hit him with a Black Mass. Black sat down next to Truth and said he and Killings were even now. Black exited the ring…
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviewed the WWE Tag Team Champions “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins about facing The Wyatt Sicks. Ford said they went four years without the tag team titles, and people were out of their minds if they thought the Wyatts were going to take the belts from them.
B-Fab showed up and told the Profits that she had their back if they needed it. Ford and Dawkins said they appreciated it and then made their entrance… [C]
Footage aired of Cody Rhodes’ podcast interview with Kevin Owens…
Aleister Black was walking backstage when he crossed paths with Damian Priest, who assumed he was feeling really tough. Black said no, but he told Priest that if he’s really a friend, he’d tell Truth to stay away. Black said the debt was paid as far as he was concerned. Priest told Black to do it to Truth’s face next time, and things would be different. Black got close to Priest. “I’m sure it will be,” Black said before walking away.
Carmelo Hayes approached Priest and suggested that he stay out of Black’s business before he ends up a casualty. Priest told Hayes to walk away…
The Wyatt Sicks made their entrance…
4. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy (w/Uncle Howdy, Nikki Cross, Erick Rowan) for the WWE Tag Team Titles. Lumis put Ford down with a spinebuster, and then Gacy followed up with a senton for a near fall.
“DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, “Fraxiom” Nathan Frazer and Axiom, “Los Garza” Angel and Berto, and “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin all showed up at ringside. [C]
Gacy dropped Dawkins with a headbutt and then tagged out. Gacy ran his own partner toward the ropes, but Angel and Berto pulled Lumis out of the ring. Dawkins rolled out of the ring and then shoulder blocked Lumis into Angel and Berto.
Dawkins rolled Lumis back inside the ring. Gargano and Ciampa stopped Dawkins from returning to the ring and attacked him. The referee called for the bell to end the match.
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins fought Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy to an apparent no-contest in 6:30.
Afterward, all of the teams fought in the ring. Howdy sent Rowan to the ring and he got the better of multiple people before the Guns and Fraxiom teamed up on him and cleared him from the ring with superkciks. Frazer dove at Rowan, who caught him. The Guns kicked Frazer’s back to knock Rowan down.
Uncle Howdy hit Sister Abigail on Axiom. Ford kicked Howdy, and then Dawkins cleared Howdy from the ring. Dawkins and Ford hit dives onto the other teams at ringside. The Profits returned to the ring and stood tall while Howdy laughed while standing above the pile of wrestlers on the floor…
Powell’s POV: Meh. Even the typically amenable Saudi crowd booed that shit finish.
Cole reminded viewers that Smackdown will be moving to two hours starting next week…
Powell’s POV: We’re almost there. We’re going to survive the three-hour era of Smackdown! Pour one out for those who weren’t so fortunate.
Outside the building, Jimmy Uso told Jacob Fatu that he didn’t need his help earlier in the show. Fatu told Jimmy that he didn’t need his help the week before. Jimmy said he respects the way Fatu is standing up to Solo. Jimmy said he wished he had done the same thing sooner. Fatu told Jimmy that if he can get in where he fits in, they’ll be all right…
Nia Jax made her entrance… [C] WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton made her entrance…
5. Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing match for the WWE Women’s Championship. As is always the case, the female wrestlers (and referees) had their arms and legs covered due to the show being in Saudi Arabia. Mark Nash delivered in-ring introductions for the title match.
Jax attacked Stratton before the bell. The referee idiotically rewarded her for it by calling for the bell to start the match. The action spilled over to ringside where Jax stood on the floor and performed a Samoan Drop onto the broadcast table. Stratton got back to her feet. [C]
Jax jumped off the apron and put Stratton through a table with a splash. Stratton barely beat the referee’s count. [C] Jax dominated Stratton on the floor and then mockingly asked some kids in the front row what time it was. Stratton grabbed a chair and worked over Jax with it. Coming out of the break, Jax had the chair and struck Stratton with it while they were both in the ring.
Jax hit her Annihilator finisher. Jax placed a chair over Stratton and then hit another Annihilator. Stratton used the ropes to pull herself to her feet at the referee’s nine count. Jax knocked her back down with a kendo stick.
Jax set up a table and then hoisted up Stratton and brought her to the middle rope for a Samoan Drop. Stratton slid out of it and then powerbombed Jax through the table. Both women barely beat the referee’s count.
Naomi’s entrance theme played. Naomi ran to the ring with the Money in the Bank briefcase and held it while talking to the referee. Stratton hit Naomi and then sent Jax on top of her. Stratton hit both women the the World’s Prettiest Moonsault. Cole noted that Naomi did not officially cash in.
Jax got to her feet and caught Stratton with an elbow while Naomi rolled to the floor. Stratton picked up the MITB briefcase and knocked Jax off the apron and through two tables below. The referee counted and Jax didn’t budge…
Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing match in 17:25 to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: The wrestlers worked hard, but they weren’t able to sell most fans on the threat of Jax winning. In fact, Naomi’s cash-in tease didn’t get a big rise out of the crowd.
Cole reminded viewers that Raw will start at 5CT/6ET on Monday, and then said Smackdown will be a two-hour show “each and every week.”
Powell’s POV: A wrestling promoter actually sang the words that sum up how I’m feeling about two-hour Smackdowns going forward and an early Raw start time: Today is the greatest day I’ve ever known!
Cole and Barrett ran through the Night of Champions lineup… Cole hyped John Cena and CM Punk meeting face-to-face after the break… [C]
WWE Champion John Cena made his entrance and received the over-the-top introduction from ring announcer Mark Nash. Cena held up his title belt and told the fans to get used to it. “This is what a winner looks like,” Cena said.
Cena said CM Punk is a loser. Cena boasted that CM Punk is outmaneuvered and is out of tricks. Cena said Night of Champions is now a formality, and there’s nothing Punk can do about it.
Cena’s “Doctor of Thuganomics” era entrance theme played while a logo displayed “PunkLife” on the screen. CM Punk walked out wearing a Chicago Cubs jersey, a chain with a padlock on it, a Chicago Bulls hat on backwards, and jorts. Punk also had big rings on like Cena once wore.
Cena did a jaw-drop reaction while looking at Punk. “Yo, check it, this is basic Punkanomics,” Punk said. “Don’t adjust your television set, your eyes are just right. This clown plagiarized my pipe bomb, so now I’m stealing WordLife.”
Punk continued to rhyme while including jabs about how slow Cena moves and has buried more talent than the Undertaker. Punk also rhymed about how he’d retire too if WWE rehired his ex. Punk said Cena is like a fish-bellied Hulk Hogan, but somehow more problematic.
Punk rhymes continued and included a line about Cena not being as good at acting as Batista, and not having time for the people going forward because he’ll be washing underwear for James Gunn. Punk said Cena is DC, but he’ll “always be The Marine to me.”
“Before you go, John, there’s one more wish to make, because tomorrow night you’e going to lose to Kendrick, because bitch, you’re my Drake.” Punk dropped the mic and did the “you can’t see me” hand gesture in Cena’s face. The fans sang Punk’s “Cult of Personality” entrance theme as Punk stood on the ringside barricade to end the show…
Powell’s POV: I didn’t see that coming. The live crowd was pro-Cena to start, but they were all singing Punk’s entrance theme by the end, so it worked on the fans in the building. It was a fun throwback. I can’t say that PunkLife or Cena’s pipe bomb got me fired up for their WWE Championship match, but they both made for entertaining television for whatever that’s worth.
Overall, this was a decent go-home show that may have been better had the Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton segment not been interrupted. I’m not sure how that will be handled on the replay or when the show airs tonight in the United States, but I’ll keep an eye out for the replay and adjust this report if necessary. I’ll be back this afternoon with my same-day audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by grading the show below.
Join me for my live review of WWE Night of Champions on Saturday at noonCT/1ET.
Just watched the Wrestlelamia video on Smackdown and they were saying that it was a power outage in Riyadh, and not a problem with NetFlix itself. They also said that WWE would likely be retaping that segment for US fans when it airs tonight.
Gotta say, they made great use of cell phone videos to cover the video – they obviously saved the audio and synced it nicely. That must’ve been a nightmare for the crew but damn, they saved it.
I wonder if those promos Zelina and Giulia cut were aired in Saudi. THeir arms were showing!
Ugh I don’t want smackdown to go back to 2 hours. I love the 3 hour shows,they’ll find reverting back to be a mistake, just like they’ve started to learn moving raw to Netflix was.
WWE feels flat to me. Nothing against the talent, but there’s nothing with any buzz.