Summerslam 2025 Night Two
Date: August 3, 2025
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendance: 60,561
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

So the big story of 2025 was the John Cena heel turn as he was on his way out of the company and on his way to retiring. That had been going on for about six months, and then on the Smackdown before this show, Cena basically threw the whole thing out the window and he’s a good guy again. So now he’s defending the title against Cody Rhodes in a street fight, hero vs. hero. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of the bigger matches of Night One.

Druski welcomes us to the show and talks about how things are going to be bigger tonight. We get some short previews for the bigger matches as well. I still can’t stand this whole “it’s all about the moments” jazz as it takes the focus off of the matches and makes it more about one tiny part.

Here is HHH to get things going. You haven’t seen anything yet and this is going to be big. And that’s about it.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Naomi vs. Iyo Sky

Naomi is defending and her father gets to play her to the ring in a really cool moment. You can see how much it means to Naomi and she looks to be having a blast out there. The bell rings and Naomi bails out to the floor, so the other two stare down at her. The case doesn’t go well for Naomi, who gets caught on the way back inside. Ripley accidentally kicks Sky down by mistake though and Naomi is right there with a double high crossbody.

Naomi goes after Sky but Ripley is up to grab Naomi’s hair to quite the reaction. A bite to the hand seems to put Ripley on the floor though and Naomi gives Sky a hanging X Factor for two. Ripley is back in and grabs a front facelock on Sky, with Naomi’s springboard spinning kick to the head knocking both of them down. Naomi kicks the heck out of Ripley and does the same to Sky as this is pretty much all Naomi thus far. She even mocks Sky’s dance…but realizes Ripley is waiting on her.

Ripley fires off the clotheslines and Sky is back in with a 619 to put Naomi outside, leaving us with quite the showdown. An electric chair faceplant gives Ripley two but the Riptide is countered into a small package. The crossface has Ripley in more trouble so she’s right back up, only for Sky to SPIKE HER with a poisonrana. Naomi has to make the save so Ripley kicks her in the head.

A Razor’s Edge gets two on Sky, with Naomi making another save. They fight on the floor until Sky takes them out with an Asai moonsault, which is all the more impressive as you see Sky’s toes catching the rope on the way up. Back in and Sky hits some running Bullet Train Attacks to both of them but Naomi catches her up top. Naomi’s split legged moonsault hits Ripley but Sky’s Over The Moonsault lands on Ripley as well, with Naomi rolling Sky up for a fast two.

Sky gets kneed in the face to send her outside, leaving Ripley to grab Riptide for two, with Sky making a great looking diving save. Sky and Ripley strike it out, with Naomi being knocked outside for daring to interfere. Ripley cannonballs onto Naomi and then breaks up Over The Moonsault. That means a super Riptide to Sky but Naomi runs in to roll Ripley up, with trunks, and steal the pin to retain at 16:23.

Rating: A-. This was great stuff, with everyone working hard and a feeling that any of the three could leave with the title. It was just a hair behind the Wrestlemania triple threat but dang this worked, with Naomi deserving all kinds of credit. She was more than hanging with the other two and that is more than worth some praise. Outstanding opener here and probably Naomi’s best match ever.

Post match Ripley is TICKED, as she should be.

It’s 25 years since the first TLC match so the Hardys and the Dudleys are both here.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Street Profits vs. Wyatt Sicks vs. Andrade/Rey Fenix vs. DIY vs. Fraxiom vs. Motor City Machine Guns

The Wyatts are defending in a TLC match and my goodness does that entrance not really work in the daylight. Everyone looks up at the titles to start and everyone else jumps the Wyatts to start fast. The Wyatts are sent outside and the Guns dropkick a ladder into DIY. Fraxiom and Sabin hit some dives and it’s Fraxiom bringing in the first ladder. After the Guns are dispatches, the Wyatts are back in to throw some chairs and clean house.

The Profits come back in to backdrop Gacy….next to a ladder, so they do it again and this time it connects. We get a tribute to the Dudleys as Dawkins tells Ford to get the tables (the Dudleys approve). That means building a big pile of tables at ringside as Ciampa hits Sabin with a chair. Andrade and Fenix remember they’re in the match and clear the ring, with Andrade trying to throw Fenix up to the belts in a brilliant bit.

That doesn’t work though so we get stereo Three Amigos to the Profits instead. DIY come back in with the chairs to start wrecking things, including throwing Ford into the corner…where he flip dives onto Fraxiom on the floor. Gacy gets missile dropkicked/Downward Spiraled into an open chair and Gargano makes it worse with One Final Beat through a table.

Lumis guillotine legdrops (kind of) Ford through another table and Fenix hits a heck of a frog splash to put Frazer through another table. Dawkins goes up (oh dear) and gets super Spanish Flied by Axiom through two tables (with Ciampa being smart enough to get out of the way). Cue Candice LeRae (Gargano’s wife) to go up the ladder (because reasons) but B-Fab (friend of the Profits) runs in for the save. Nikki Cross (of the Wyatts) goes in to suplex B-Fab off the ladder so LeRae goes up again, with Gargano holding the ladder for her.

Ford kicks Ciampa into Gargano though and LeRae gets sent crashing through a bridged ladder at ringside (Ford’s OH DANG look is great as LeRae is mostly dead). Naturally Gargano gives her a thumbs up and he goes up, with Ford cutting him off again. Cue Erick Rowan (a Wyatt not in the match) to make the save. Ford gets thrown into Dawkins but they get back up to beat on Rowan with some chairs. He’s put through a table as well, which should put him down for a bit. Ciampa goes up and grabs the belts but winds up hanging there.

Frazer tries a dive but Ciampa pulls himself up (geez), allowing Gargano to set up a ladder. Ford springboards onto the ladder and Ciampa is knocked down, leaving a bunch of people to go up for the belts. Uncle Howdy comes in to shove the ladders over, with DIY getting the big crash through the four (well three of them) tables. Frazer gets Mandible Clawed on top of the ladder and Fenix gets the same treatment, with Andrade making the save. A sunset bomb sends Howdy onto the ladder but the Wyatts who are actually in the match make the save with some chairs. Gacy goes up and retains the titles at 16:03.

Rating: B+. I vaguely remember not being overly impressed with this but it was a rather awesome spectacle that could have been even better with one less team. The spot with the women was a good little bonus and it makes sense that the Wyatts would use their numbers advantage since they had so many challengers. Rather good stuff here, with some crazy big spots throughout.

We recap Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria. They were partners for all of a day, winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania and losing them back the next night. Lynch turned on her but Valkyria got the big upset at Backlash. Lynch took the Women’s Intercontinental Title from her and Valkyria had to raise her had. That was in addition to a German suplex though so we’ll do it one more time, with No DQ/No Countout in Valkyria’s last chance at the title.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is defending and anything goes. Valkyria starts fast with some whips into the corner and they’re quickly on the floor. Lynch sends her into the announcers’ table a few times and grabs a kendo stick, only for Valkyria to come back with a crowbar. Believe it or not the metal crowbar wins over the stick and Valkyria takes over.

Lynch is whipped into various things, including a photographer (with Valkyria immediately apologizing as that seemed to be a genuine accident) and over the announcers’ table. A dropkick puts Lynch down again so Valkyria loads up a table, only for Lynch to wrap a chain around her mouth. Back in and Lynch fires off some kendo stick shots but misses a golf swing to the head. Instead it’s a reverse layout DDT for two so let’s grab a toolbox and some chairs.

A drop toehold sends Valkyria face first into the open chair and the toolbox to the ribs gets two. Lynch opens the toolbox and finds a zip tie to basically handcuff Valkyria. That lets Lynch beat on her with a wrench and then tie her over the post, meaning it’s time for the kendo stick to the ribs. Back in and Valkyria tries to find something in the toolbox to cut the tie but somehow manages to get her arms around Lynch for a belly to belly suplex. The tie breaks…but that’s not supposed to happen, so Valkyria has to tie her own hands back together to start the comeback.

Valkyria strikes away and uses a chair for a step up dropkick, followed by a moonsault for two. Lynch is sent into the chair over and over and Valkyria takes a turnbuckle pad off, again having to make sure that her wrists stay together. Valkyria gets sent into the post though and goes outside, where she rolls underneath the ring. That lets her get in a blast with a fire extinguisher to blind Lynch, but more importantly Valkyria can use the sharp part of the extinguisher to cut her arms free (and on purpose this time).

The kendo stick comeback is on, with the stick being mostly broken over Lynch’s back. They fight outside again with Valkyria escaping the Manhandle Slam to put Lynch onto the steps for a big crash. Back in and Lynch manages to send her into the exposed buckle, setting up a Manhandle Slam onto the open chairs….for two. Lynch can’t believe it so they go outside again, with Valkyria being tied into a chair and rammed into the announcers’ table. The threat of a crowbar to the head is broken up by Bayley, with Lynch begging her to take out Valkyria.

With that not working, Lynch tries to hit Bayley with a chain and gets beaten up for her efforts. Lynch avoids a charge but goes over towards a table, with Valkyria diving out of nowhere to send her crashing through it, with Wade Barrett sounding stunned on commentary. Bayley is back up to swinging (complete with chain) at Valkyria but accidentally knocks Valkyria into the Manhandle Slam to retain the title at 25:05.

Rating: C. Dang I feel sorry for them as there was no coming back from that zip tie fiasco, but my goodness who thought this needed 25 minutes? It’s a match that desperately needed to have about ten minutes shaved off as they ran out of things to do somewhere in the middle. Valkyria was trying and punching over her head with a legend like Lynch, but no one was coming back from that zip tie mess.

We recap Solo Sikoa vs. Jacob Fatu. Sikoa has the MFT’s and the US Title but doesn’t think much of Fatu, who left the team after not liking Sikoa’s leadership. This includes framing Fatu for a crime, which didn’t work in the end as Fatu was out the same night. Fatu then wrecked Sikoa and company, setting up a title match inside of a cage. Makes enough sense, with the idea mainly being Fatu getting to wreck Sikoa once and for all.

US Title: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa

Fatu is challenging inside of a cage. Sikoa actually tries to get Fatu back on the team and gets beaten up for his efforts. A running headbutt drops Sikoa but he’s able to block a ram into the cage. Instead Sikoa backdrops him into the cage and splashes him against it as things slow back down.

Sikoa calls for the door to be opened but opts to try the Samoan Spike, meaning it’s a double clothesline to put them both down instead. Fatu is back up to send him into the cage a few times and it’s an implant DDT into the moonsault…for two. Cue the MFTs so Jimmy Uso runs out to give them some superkicks.

Talla Tonga kicks him down but Fatu orders the cage door closed. The distraction lets Sikoa get in the Samoan Spike for two more. Fatu gets up and climbs, only to get chained to the cage by Talla. Naturally Fatu breaks the handcuffs (second match in a row with a similar theme) and goes after Sikoa, with Talla kicking the door into Fatu’s head. Sikoa falls out to retain at 13:06.

Rating: C. I’m not sure why they decided to take away the insanity that made Fatu feel like a star but it was missing here. Sikoa using all of his MFTs to retain is fine, but this didn’t feel like Sikoa escaping as much as he just won. I wasn’t into this one the first time around and that was the case again here. Just not much of a cage match.

Post match Jimmy Uso jumps JC Mateo and throws him inside, where Fatu gets to beat up the MFTs. Fatu goes up and moonsaults onto them for quite the huge crash.

We recap AJ Styles challenging Dominik Mysterio for the Intercontinental Title. Styles came back from an injury, got hurt again in his first match back, and then came back again, with Mysterio interrupting him. Styles wanted the Intercontinental Title but Mysterio kept claiming injury to avoid the match. For some reason Styles wore various disguises and attacked Mysterio, with the match being officially set.

Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles

Styles is challenging and comes to the arena in an Eddie Guerrero style low rider (and in an Eddie style Styles shirt) for the 20th anniversary of the Custody Of Dominik ladder match. Mysterio bails outside to start and gets chased back inside, where Styles hits a backbreaker. The chase is on again, with Mysterio 619ing Styles onto the apron, where a baseball slide puts him on the floor.

A big dive takes Styles down again and the slingshot hilo…doesn’t even give Mysterio one. They go up top and a super hurricanrana and super Styles Clash are both blocked, so Styles settles for a tornado DDT to put them both down. The Pele Kick rocks Mysterio again as the Fireflies are out for some reason. Mysterio is right back with a Michinoku Driver for two more so Styles grabs a nice brainbuster.

The frog splash misses so Mysterio hits a 619. This time Mysterio’s frog splash hits raised knees though and we’re off to the Calf Crusher. That’s broken up and the fans seem to be getting behind Mysterio. The referee gets distracted so Mysterio grabs a chair and throws it to Styles before dropping down.

Styles is smart enough to wrap the chair around his own head and fall down, leaving the referee unsure of what to do. Mysterio tries to go up so Styles kicks the rope into the low blow, setting up another Calf Crusher. This time Styles pulls Mysterio’s boot off, with the referee getting distracted again, allowing Mysterio to hit him with said boot. The frog splash retains the title at 10:47.

Rating: B. Now this was rather interesting as the fans got WAY behind Mysterio here, even openly cheering for him near the end. I don’t think that’s so much anti-Styles as much as it was Mysterio is rather good at his job. He is a lying cheater, but he’s just so good at being a lying cheater. How can you not like him at least a little bit? If nothing else, Mysterio is going to get to brag about the win for weeks and that’s entirely the point.

A replay shows Mysterio unzipping his boot, making it clear that Mysterio completely outsmarted Styles. That’s a great catch as that wasn’t obvious in the original airing.

Stephanie McMahon does the attendance announcement: 60,561, for a two night total of 113,722. Noted.

We recap John Cena defending the Smackdown World Title against Cody Rhodes. Evil Cena won the title from Rhodes at Wrestlemania and has beaten up various heroes since then. Now Rhodes wants one more title shot and wants to face the REAL Cena in a street fight. This led to Cena saying “ok then” and abandoning the heel turn in one of the funniest things I’ve seen in wrestling in years.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena

Cena is defending in a street fight and Rhodes has a Dusty promo playing before his entrance, as you do. They hug to start and Cena whispers something to him before the brawl is on. They’re quickly on the floor with Cena being sent shoulder first into the steps. Back up and Cena grabs Tyrese Haliburton’s crutch and knocks Rhodes silly to take over. The steps are taken in and Cena drops Rhodes onto them, followed by throwing said steps over the top onto Rhodes, who comes up favoring his arm.

Back in and Rhodes snaps off a powerslam for two but Cena backdrops him right back to the floor for the big crash. They both grab chairs for the duel back inside, with Rhodes managing to get in the shot to take over. The chair is wedged into the corner and of course that doesn’t work, as Cena initiates the finishing sequence. The AA is broken up and Rhodes starts striking away, including the Bionic Elbow.

Rhodes gets two off the Cody Cutter but walks into the AA for the same. An electric chair gets two more so Rhodes is right back up with a piledriver. We pause for Cena to appear mostly dead, which is a way to sucker Rhodes into another AA. Back up and they slug it out until Rhodes grabs a pop up powerbomb of all things. Cena is right back with the STF though, sending Rhodes crawling over to the rope.

They’re back on the floor, where Rhodes sends him into the timekeeper’s area but Cena comes back up with a microphone. Naturally that sets up a Canadian Destroyer on the floor, setting up the AA through the announcers’ table. Naturally Rhodes kicks out at two and grabs a quick Cross Rhodes for two of his own. Cena knocks him off the top and hits the top rope Fameasser, followed by the AA for two more. With nothing else working, Cena puts a table in the corner but Rhodes fights back up and they go outside.

The fight heads into the crowd with Cena hitting him with a piece of barricade. Cena takes him underneath the stage….and they rise up on Rhodes’ elevator (with Cena giving an incredible smirk) for the AA onto the ramp. Unfortunately that means Cena has to grab him in a fireman’s carry and walk him all the way back to the ring, which is rather draining. It also lets Rhodes rest enough to send Cena through the table in the corner. The Cross Rhodes gets two and it’s time to unhook a turnbuckle.

Rhodes hits him in the face for two but Cena gets the STF with the rope. That’s reversed into a choke from Rhodes, who hits three straight Cross Rhodes for….two, as this keeps going. The frustrated Rhodes grabs the belt but walks into a pair of AA’s. Cena picks up the belt but throws it back down, instead going with the super AA for the rather near fall. Let’s get another table so Cena tries another super AA, which is reversed into a cutter through the table. After a salute, one more Cross Rhodes gives Rhodes the title back at 37:42.

Rating: B-. Uh, well, at least Travis Scott wasn’t here. The biggest issue here is of course that it was almost forty minutes long and really didn’t need to be even half of that. It didn’t help that they threw the personal issues out the window two days before. Cena did his part well enough and Rhodes felt like the better man, but this show had two No DQ/street fight matches that combined to go over an hour. That’s quite a bit of time to spend on such similar matches. What we got was good, but it never got beyond a certain point and then kept going.

Post match Cena presents Rhodes with the title and they say something to each other. Rhodes leaves and Cena soaks in the cheers…..and Brock Lesnar is back for the first time in I believe two years. Cena gives a look that says “oh man this is going to suck” and it’s an F5 to let Lesnar stand tall to end the show. I’m assuming that explains the rapid face turn and I’ve heard worse ideas. Like Lesnar squashing Cena next month and Cena never getting any revenge before retiring.

Overall Rating: B. The big problem here is the lack of regular wrestling. You had a No DQ match, a street fight, a cage match, a TLC match, a triple threat and one regular match. That isn’t exactly focusing on the traditional stuff and it made for a bit of an unbalanced show. Maybe swap one of these matches to the other night, just to mix things up a bit. Either way, the opening two matches and main event are enough to carry this, but the two No DQ matches went WAY too long and it hurt things a good bit.

Overall Overall Rating: B. As usual, there is a heck of a show in there if you combine the two nights together. There is also a good bit of filler and that holds things down a lot. What matters here is the bigger matches mostly delivered, with Punk vs. Gunther and the women’s triple threat being show stealers. It’s a rather nice first two night show, though it would still be better as a big show without all of the filler involved, also as usual.

Results
Naomi b. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky – Rollup with trunks to Ripley
Wyatt Sicks won a TLC match – Gacy pulled down the titles
Becky Lynch b. Lyra Valkyria – Manhandle Slam
Solo Sikoa b. Jacob Fatu – Sikoa escaped the cage
Dominik Mysterio b. AJ Styles – Frog splash
Cody Rhodes b. John Cena – Cross Rhodes

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Summerslam 2020
Date: August 23, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe

We’re a year removed from this show and things have indeed changed a bit. For one thing, we are FINALLY out of the Thunderdome, which was a full two days old when this aired. In something that hasn’t changed, I have no idea what happened at this show, save for the main event. That’s kind of nice for another look so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: US Title: Apollo Crews vs. MVP

Crews is defending and it’s strange to see him as just a guy in trunks and not….whatever he would become next year. As a bonus, the rest of the Hurt Business is banned from ringside. MVP takes him down into a very quickly broken knee bar but Crews is back up with a sunset flip for two. That’s enough for MVP to bail to the floor as things cool down a bit. Back in and Crews flips away from him, setting up a quick dropkick for two. MVP is fine enough to toss him over the top and out onto the steps as the beating begins.

The running boot misses in the corner so Crews goes up, only to get crotched on top. The superplex brings Crews back down but MVP lands hard and the delayed cover gets two. A clothesline puts MVP on the floor and there’s the big flip dive to take him down again. They both dive back in to beat the count and it’s time to slug it out. Crews gets the better of things and it’s a spinebuster into the standing moonsault for two. The toss powerbomb retains the title at 6:37.

Rating: C. This was about as Kickoff Showey of a match as you could get and it happened to have a title on the line. There was nothing wrong with it and Crews gets a win to make him feel that much more important as US Champion. You’re only going to get so much out of a standard Raw level match and this was about it. Not bad, but as forgettable as any other Kickoff Show match.

The opening video is much more about the Thunderdome than anything else, though the matches themselves do actually get some attention. Well the bigger ones at least. The Smackdown World Title match between the Fiend and Braun Strowman has a tagline of “You’ll Never See It Coming”. That’s one way of advertising things.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Asuka

Bayley is defending as part of the Bayley/Sasha Banks Are The Most Amazing Women Ever stretch. Granted it wound up being pretty awesome so it’s kind of hard to complain all that much. Banks (the Raw Women’s Champion and Bayley’s partner as the Women’s Tag Team Champions) is at ringside too as they fight over the grappling against the ropes to start. Asuka dropkicks her in the ribs to take over and pulls Bayley down into a reverse Koji Clutch.

The foot on the rope gets Bayley out of trouble in a hurry so she bails to the apron, allowing Asuka to kick the leg out again. There is something fun about watching Asuka pick someone apart like that and it always works. Bayley gets kicked out to the floor and Banks is already looking worried. Asuka grabs a DDT (or close enough) off the steps for two back inside but Bayley manages to snap her neck across the middle rope for a much needed breather.

Some stomping sets up the chinlock with Bayley shouting a lot as she keeps Asuka down. Back up and a quick Bayley to Belly gets two but Asuka kicks her in the head for a double knockdown. A German suplex into the hip attack gives Asuka two and they head to the apron for the slugout.

That doesn’t last long so they head back inside for an exchange of leglocks. Asuka knees her in the face for two but Bayley is right back with a running sunset flip into the corner. The “patented” (I want paperwork) top rope elbow is countered into a quickly broken cross armbreaker so Asuka is back with a kick to the head. Banks takes the running hip attack though, allowing Bayley to grab a rollup to retain at 11:33.

Rating: B-. Good and logical choice for an opener here with Asuka fighting as hard as she could to pick up the first title. That didn’t wind up working out, but they did a nice job of going back and forth against each other. What mattered here was having Asuka seem ready to pick up the win until Banks’ interference was enough to throw her off for a split second. Nice match with the story making perfect sense.

Post match Banks (who faces Asuka later tonight) and Bayley beat Asuka down and leave her laying.

Dominik Mysterio asks Rey Mysterio to let him go out there alone tonight. Rey, realizing how much of a disaster it would be to ask fans to care about Dominik on his own, says no but is finally talked into staying in the back.

Video on Retribution’s path of….well really just annoyance so far, though this period of breaking stuff would be their apex as a team.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Street Profits vs. Angel Garza/Andrade

Garza and Andrade, with Zelina Vega (who recently poisoned Montez Ford), are challenging and Kevin Owens is on commentary. We get the traditional rain of red solo cups to start as the Profits’ inset promo talks about how they are here for revenge. Andrade slugs away at Ford to start but gets caught with a big jumping clothesline. A jumping hurricanrana brings Andrade off the top and there’s the double flapjack to drop Garza.

Ford loads up the big flip dive, but gets countered into a double powerbomb onto the floor (as tends to happen). Back in and we hit the armbar on Ford, allowing Garza to TAKE OFF HIS PANTS (Vega approves). A cross armbreaker over the ropes has Ford in more trouble and it’s back to Andrade for an armbar of his own. Garza adds a running knee to the ribs (and promises to win the titles, which Owens does not like) and the running kick to the ribs makes it worse.

There’s the top rope Alberto Double Stomp for Andrade’s next near fall. Ford flips out of a belly to back suplex though and the enziguri sets up the diving tag to Dawkins. Chris Jericho’s Judas Effect only takes Dawkins off one foot (ha) and he spears Andrade down. Ford comes back in with the crazy high crossbody but Garza rolls through for two, even with Vega holding his feet on the rope. Vega gets on the apron to yell but Ford knocks Garza into her. The Sky Cash Out into the twisting frog splash retains the title at 7:50.

Rating: C. Total Raw match here which was the latest exhibit of how much charisma that Garza has. The guy can make anything look better but Andrade had the star power and that is what gets you ahead around here. This feud, or some form of it, went on for the better part of ever and never once got interesting because the Profits were that much better. Now get some fresh competition in the tag division.

The long form celebration is on.

Bayley and Sasha Banks don’t like Kayla Braxton’s questions but know that Sasha will beat Asuka tonight. Bayley even busts out a broom because it’s going to be a sweep.

We recap Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose, which has been going on for a long time. Sonya got jealous of Mandy getting all of the attention and eventually turned on her by calling her selfish. Since it’s WWE, we’re supposed to side with the bombshell model, which was made even worse when Sonya was about five levels ahead of Mandy on the mic. Sonya cut off some of Mandy’s hair so the hair vs. hair match was set.

Then a psychotic fan broke into Deville’s house with zip ties and a knife, likely in an attempt to kidnap and/or kill Deville. Rose happened to be staying there and the two got away as the stalker went into the wrong part of the house. This sent Deville into a lengthy legal process and since her lawyer felt that cutting her hair off was a bad idea, it was turned into a No DQ Loser Leaves WWE match. Fair enough, but next time you have a crazed stalker who might be trying to kill you, make sure you think of kayfabe. Go out separate doors or something and worry about being stabbed later.

Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose

No DQ and the loser leaves WWE. Mandy offers a handshake to start so Deville rolls her up for two. Back up and Mandy hits her in the face and they head outside with Deville getting suplexed onto the ramp. A clothesline off the announcers’ table puts Deville down again and let’s get a table. As usual, that takes way too long and it’s Sonya ramming Mandy into the announcers’ table to take over.

Back in and a running knee to the chest gets two and it’s a dragon sleeper with a bodyscissors to put Mandy in even more trouble. The trash talking fires Mandy back up though and it’s a jumping knee for two on Sonya. It’s back outside for more ramming into the announcers’ table before Mandy slides chairs over the regular table, with Sonya having to duck the decapitation attempts. That’s either brilliant or really stupid and I’m not sure which. Back in and three straight running knees set up Angel’s Wings to crush Sonya. Another running knee gives Mandy the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C-. This had the intensity but dang Mandy is not the greatest in the ring. I completely get why WWE would want to push the heck out of here but Sonya was so much more of a complete package and felt like a natural. It’s a shame that she had to go away, though it was a rare instance where something is more important than wrestling (egads that’s hard to say).

Post match Otis comes out to celebrate with Mandy (Yeah remember when that was a thing?), who fails at the Caterpillar.

Here’s what’s coming on the WWE Network!

We recap Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio. This was part of the never ending Rollins vs. Mysterios feud, which saw Rollins gouge Rey Mysterio’s eye out. Dominik is willing to fight for his father in a street fight, which also happens to be his in-ring debut. Rollins also destroyed Dominik by tying him into the ropes and destroying him with a kendo stick for a pretty nasty moment. Other than that though, this feud was complete death by this point and this was the match that I was dreading coming into the show.

Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio

Street fight and Rollins, with Murphy, is in gear inspired by Rey Mysterio at Halloween Havoc 1997. Rey is here with Dominik, as you might expect. Rollins wrestles him down without much trouble to start and seems rather comfortable. He’s so comfortable that he offers Dominik a headlock before tripping him down with ease. Dominik gets in a few right hands before getting dropped again. A springboard armdrag and then some regular versions have Rollins down, which is just a step too far.

Rollins drops him again and gets a kendo stick, which is dropkicked out of his hands. Dominik gives chase but gets knocked down, only to have Rollins kick the stick away. The one armed camel clutch has Dominik in more trouble and Rey is nervous. The Sling Blade lets Rollins work on Dominik’s hand and Murphy sends in a chair. Seth yells at Rey a lot as he stomps away but the Stomp (that’s confusing) is countered into a drop toehold into the chair. The Buckle Bomb is countered into a hurricanrana into the corner to stagger Rollins again as this comeback needs a crowd reaction.

A tornado DDT out of the corner gets two and the kendo stick shots have Rollins in more trouble. Dominik goes up but it’s Rollins running the corner for the superplex into the Falcon Arrow for two. Rollins is mad (as he should be) and it’s time to kendo stick Dominik for a change. Murphy throws in a table but Rollins takes too long going up, allowing Dominik to hit a super White Russian legsweep through the table. Since wrestling logic is a thing, Dominik is fine and hits a frog splash for two.

Dominik takes too long grabbing things again, allowing Rollins to superkick and kendo stick him some more. Saxton: “Rey can do nothing to help his son!” As you try to see the invisible wall keeping Rey from doing anything, Rollins pulls out some handcuffs. Cue Rey’s wife Angie to try and do something but Rey holds her back.

Murphy loads up the steps to take out Dominik’s eye, meaning the invisible wall is smashed as Rey finally gets involved (making the last five or so minutes subject to wrestling logic). With Dominik as backup, Rey is quickly cuffed to the ropes as the villains look up at Angie. Dominik is back up to make the save this time….and his frog splash hits knees, because he isn’t very good at this. Rollins tells Rey to reach for Dominik and then hits the Stomp for the pin at 22:36.

Rating: C-. Being away from this story for a year has taken away some of the bad feelings about it, but this still wasn’t very good. Above all else, this was WAY too long as Rollins felt like he was dealing with an annoyance than any real threat. Dominik isn’t an embarrassment in the ring by any means but he also isn’t ready to be in a 20+ minute featured match at Summerslam. He looked ok for a debut, but the length of the match (and the feud) dragged it way down.

The villains sneer post match and Rey hugs Dominik.

Raw Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Asuka

Banks is defending and has Bayley in her corner. Commentary points out that Banks has never had a successful singles title defense, which does not bode well for her future. Banks goes straight for the knee (ala Bayley in the first match) but Asuka spins up and fires off the Kawada kicks. A sliding forearm (minus some power because of the knee) sends Banks outside and Asuka is right there with a kneebar on the floor.

They wind up on the apron, where Asuka kicks the post by mistake. Bayley cranks up the trash talk (because she’s very good at that) and Banks takes her back inside to fire off kicks in the corner. Banks switches to the shoulders but gets caught in an electric chair faceplant. Asuka can’t be trusted with two legs in front of her and Banks has to bail to the ropes to escape the kneebar.

With that broken up, Asuka gets a bit creative by taking her up top for a super DDT. The missile dropkick gives Asuka two but Banks goes after the knee again, setting up the double knees in the corner. They’re both down so Bayley goes into coaching mode….and Asuka immediately grabs the ankle lock. Bayley isn’t good at coaching. The Bank Statement is countered into the Asuka Lock which is countered as well. Bayley’s distraction fails and the Asuka Lock goes on again to make Banks tap for the title at 11:31.

Rating: B-. I liked this one a good bit as Banks and Bayley had a plan to take Asuka out but still couldn’t do it. That’s a nice way to make Asuka look even more impressive while also continuing the build to Banks vs. Bayley. They took their time to get there but Bayley was awesome almost every step of the way. Banks held up her end as well and it was a heck of a match on top of the storytelling.

Post match Banks glares at Bayley, who begs forgiveness.

We recap Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre for the Raw World Title. Orton has attacked a variety of legends, which has McIntyre ready to fight back and defend their honor, along with his title. McIntyre talked about how Orton has been protected for years while McIntyre fought every day to get here. They did a nice job with the culture clash here and the video does a good job of making this feel big.

Raw World Title: Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre is defending and we get a quick inset promo from Shawn Michaels, who wants Orton to get Claymored. Orton bails to the floor to start as the mind games are going strong early on. Back in and Orton begs off again but does hit a few right hands before bailing to the floor for a second time. This time the chase is on but Orton catches McIntyre on the way back in. The RKO attempt is blocked so McIntyre shoulders him down. Another threat of the RKO sends McIntyre bailing outside and you can see a bit of shock.

Back in again and McIntyre unloads in the corner but has to block the RKO for a third time. The ensuing charge sends McIntyre shoulder first into the post and Orton sends him into the barricade to make it worse. A posting sets up a drop onto the announcers’ table and then Orton does the latter again. Orton gets a bit creative by suplexing McIntyre off the table for a delayed one (that kickout at one was a good deal for McIntyre).

The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by the Orton Stomp and some slow staring at the….uh, screens. McIntyre comes back with a Stunner to the knee in the corner and a spinebuster for the double knockdown. With the knee banged up, McIntyre goes Flair with the Figure Four (nice job given Orton attacking Flair and other legends leading up to this). Orton can’t roll out so he grabs the referee for a distraction and goes to the eye to escape. McIntyre’s eye looks to be cut a bit as they slug it out from their knees. Make that from their feet, with McIntyre having to block the RKO again.

The overhead belly to belly sends Orton flying and McIntyre does it again for a bonus. A top rope shot to the head drops Orton and McIntyre nips up as the adrenaline starts flowing. McIntyre loads up a superplex, gets knocked into the Tree of Woe, and pulls himself up to send Orton flying with the choke superplex as usual. As impressive as that is, commentary shouldn’t be that impressed or surprised, but WWE commentators are seen as stupid for a reason.

The Futureshock gets two but McIntyre misses coming off the top. Orton’s powerslam gets two and he is busted open as well. The hanging DDT is broken up and it’s a Cactus Clothesline to put both of them on the floor. They get back in fast but this time the hanging DDT connects. With nothing else working, Orton loads up the Punt but McIntyre cuts him off. The Claymore misses so Orton tries the RKO again, only to get caught in a backslide of all things to retain the title at 20:34. Commentary shouts about how Orton NEVER SAW IT COMING because they need to hit that tagline.

Rating: B. I liked this one a good bit as they were playing up the story they had established coming in. The idea was that Orton was the seasoned veteran who had learned from the legends and he was cheating every chance he had here. Throw in the RKO as the ultimate weapon (which he never hit, as it is probably being saved for later) and this was a chess match with McIntyre using everything he could while Orton just waited to hit the RKO. I liked what they were doing and the ending worked well. Good match, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Orton looks up at McIntyre from the floor because this isn’t over.

We recap Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt for the Smackdown World Title. These two have been feuding for MONTHS in one bad match after another. Last month, they fought in the swamp (because reasons) and Wyatt made Alexa Bliss appear because Strowman has always wanted her. Strowman doesn’t buy it because he knows the Fiend is going to corrupt her as well. Bliss slapped Strowman a bunch so he teased attacking her but decided to fight the Fiend instead. In other words, this feud was really, really stupid and nothing they were changing made it any better at all.

Smackdown World Title: The Fiend vs. Braun Strowman

Strowman is defending and this is Falls Count Anywhere. Fiend is driven back into the corner to start but comes back with a heck of a clothesline to drop Strowman. They’re already on the floor with Fiend busting out a toolbox. A few shots with said toolbox don’t do much to Strowman, who runs Fiend through the barricade. Strowman chokeslams him onto (not through) the announcers’ table and a steps shot to the face drops Fiend again.

Back in and the powerslam sends Fiend right back to the floor, which doesn’t mean as much as he can get pinned out there as well. Strowman kicks him up the ramp and they fight backstage. Fiend whips him into a few walls and Sister Abigail gets two. They come back into the arena where Strowman is sent into the video screen to bust up some of the color.

The Mandible Claw goes on but Strowman gets up anyway and shoves him into the apron for the break. Back in and another powerslam gets another two on Fiend so Strowman yells a lot. Strowman grabs a box cutter from the toolbox and starts cutting up the mat to expose the wood. That takes WAY too long so Fiend is back up with a Rock Bottom and a pair of Sister Abigails onto the wood for the pin and the titles at 11:58.

Rating: C. The shorter time helped but egads this feud was death and everyone but WWE seemed to know it. You could have seen this title change coming from before Extreme Rules last month, making for a very long and slow build. They kept this the way they should have and the lack of anything involving Bliss helped here. It could have been worse, but you’re only getting so much out of a hoss fight like this one. As long as Strowman isn’t champion any longer though, it’s an upgrade.

Post match Roman Reigns is back (for the first time since March) with the spear to the Fiend and the beating is on. Another spear hits Strowman and Reigns shouts about how they aren’t monsters unless he’s here. Reigns bends a chair over Strowman and spears Fiend down again. He grabs the title, says it has always been his, and calls Fiend a freak in a mask. Cole: “WE NEVER SAW THIS COMING!” Reigns would win the title a week later, as he should have, along with joining Paul Heyman, which was an amazing twist.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a bit of an odd show as the stuff that was good was quite good but the weaker stuff just felt tacked on. WWE was still figuring things out after getting into the Thunderdome and this came off as somewhat of a Summerslam in name only. It certainly isn’t a bad show with the Bayley/Banks/Asuka stuff and McIntyre vs. Orton all being good. Tighten things up a bit and it could be great, but for now it just has to settle for being pretty good.

Ratings Comparison

Apollo Crews vs. MVP

Original: C
Redo: C

Asuka vs. Bayley

Original: B-
Redo: B-

Street Profits vs. Andrade/Angel Garza

Original: C
Redo: C

Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose

Original: D+
Redo: C

Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio

Original: D+
Redo: C-

Asuka vs. Sasha Banks

Original: B
Redo: B-

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

Original: B+
Redo: B

Fiend vs. Braun Strowman

Original: C+
Redo: C

Overall Rating

Original: C
Redo: B-

I’m not sure if that overall rating makes sense but the rest of the show was certainly in the same ballpark, save for Rose vs. Deville.

Here is the original review if you are interested:

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Wrestlemania XL Night One
Date: April 6, 2024
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 72,543
Commentators: Pat McAfee, Corey Graves, Michael Cole
National Anthem: Coco Jones

It’s hard to believe that a show this big was over a year ago and things still feel so hot. This is one of the things WWE does best, with a big milestone event and a huge main event which has big ties to night two. They’re in another NFL stadium and the fans are going to be hot all night, or at least they will be in theory. Let’s get to it.

Note that I was in the stadium for this show, sitting in the upper deck with the entrance on my right. It was VERY cold after the sun went down and that had a big impact on the fans all night.

We get the debut of the new “Then, Now And Forever” opening, which looked awesome then and now.

The opening video looks at the city of Philadelphia and features rapper Meek Mill. The focus is on the big tag team main event, with Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins teaming up to face Roman Reigns and the Rock, with the stipulations for Rhodes vs. Reigns on the line. The rest of the matches get a look, but they’re all paling in comparison to the big tag match.

Cole says that it’s 52 degrees but feels like 48. That would drop fast.

Coco Jones sings the National Anthem, ending a longstanding tradition of America The Beautiful.

Here is HHH for the big opening. He wastes no time in welcoming us to the show and we’re ready to go.

We recap Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley for the latter’s Raw Women’s Title. The video looks at some passages from Lynch’s book, which talk about how important this is to her and how it is all she wants to do. Lynch got the shot by winning the Elimination Chamber and it’s pretty much a dream match, with Lynch being one of the only people close to Ripley’s level.

Raw Women’s Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch

Ripley is defending and gets played to the ring by Motionless In White in an outstanding entrance. She keeps singing the song even as she walks down the ramp to make it feel even more special. Commentary points out that Lynch has been sick with strep throat all week, which isn’t likely going to go well. Ripley shoves her down to start but Lynch avoids a charge into the corner.

Back up and Ripley muscles her over with a northern lights suplex for two, followed by a regular suplex for the same. Ripley kicks her down and goes up for an Eddie Guerrero frog splash but takes too long, allowing Lynch to armdrag her down (nice counter). Lynch strikes away and hits a tornado DDT for two, followed by a springboard kick out of the corner.

The middle rope Fameasser in the ropes sends Ripley outside, setting up a suplex into the barricade. Back in and another Fameasser gets two so Ripley fireman’s carry slams her down. One heck of a knee to the face gives Ripley two but she gets caught in a cross armbreaker. Three powerbombs finally break it up to give Ripley two and some screaming ensues.

Ripley hammers away but a charge into the post makes Ripley’s arm even worse. The arm is fine enough to grab the Prism Trap and it Ripley even pulls her into a bodyscissors for a unique twist (and crank). Somehow Lynch gets out and manages to counter Riptide into a Manhandle Slam for two. Back up and the Riptide out of nowhere gives Ripley two of her own, with the kickout leaving her angry.

Ripley goes up again and gets crotched back down again, setting up the Disarm-Her. That’s reversed into an electric chair and they fall over the top, with Ripley somehow sticking the landing. An electric chair drop onto the floor knocks Lynch silly, followed by a frog splash for two back inside. McAfee is LOSING IT on the kickout, asking why Lynch would kick out from all this while having a 102 degree fever. They both go up with Lynch’s super Manhandle Slam being broken up. Ripley punches her in the face, hits a Riptide onto the buckle (ow) and adds a regular version for the pin to retain at 17:08.

Rating: B. This was indeed a dream match and Lynch is always a threat to win a big fight, but Ripley getting this kind of a win was the right move. Ripley was on absolute fire at this point, having held the title for a year. It never quite got into that higher gear, but as someone who has had more than 30 (diagnosed) cases of strep throat, I can move than live with Lynch not being up to her normal level.

Pretty Deadly previews the six team ladder match for the Tag Team Titles. Wilson: “New Catch Republic.” Prince: “That’s a team?” They aren’t fans of most of the teams, but really hate the New Day. They even mock Xavier Woods’ trombone skills!

DIY vs. New Catch Republic vs. Awesome Truth vs. Judgment Day vs. A-Town Down Under vs. New Day

Judgment Day is defending and both the Raw and Smackdown titles are hanging above the ring, meaning two different teams can win them for a split. The Republic doesn’t get their own graphics at first, coming out with the Awesome Truth stuff appearing on the Titantron. There are twelve people in this so it’s going to be total insanity for a long time. A bunch of people brawl to the floor and the rest join them as it’s a big mess to start.

A-Town Down Under both grab ladders and go for an early climb but get caught, with a bunch of people going up and getting pulled right back down. New Day puts a ladder up between the belts and knocks the other ladders over, only to get pulled down by Judgment Day. A ladder to the head puts Ciampa down but Bate puts Balor in a torture rack…while Balor is holding a ladder at the same time. The ladder is eventually dropped, just like Balor onto another ladder in the corner.

For some reason Bate and Dunne climb a ladder on the floor, setting up stereo moonsaults onto piles of people. There is a big ladder bridged between the announcers’ table and the ring as Priest tries to go up. Miz cuts that off and gets beaten down for his efforts…as R-Truth wants a tag. The fans get into it and Priest’s look of “what am I doing here” is great.

Naturally Miz tags him in for the John Cena sequence, with the AA…pinning Balor. Priest comes back in to break it up and is taken out just as fast, but R-Truth wants Gargano (who he thinks is Shawn Michaels because reasons) to tune up the band. You do that at Wrestlemania, so it’s a superkick into Ciampa’s Fairy Tale Ending (close enough to the Pedigree) to drop Priest. Awesome Truth and DIY agree to get a set of titles each but A-Town Down Under break it up…and win the Smackdown Tag Team Titles at 7:30.

The Republic is right there to powerbomb Waller, still holding a title, through the bridged ladder to likely get rid of him, at least for a bit. DIY takes out the Republic and some others, with Bate being sent through the Prime Hydration Station. Since it’s Philadelphia (and wrestling in 2024), we need tables to go with the ladders. Ciampa is put on a bridged ladder (rather than a table) for a rope walk elbow from Woods.

New Day both goes up the ladder, with Kingston doing a big trust fall dive to take out the pile in a smart move. Theory is there to cut Woods off though, with the Republic having to cut him off. Gargano hits the One Final Beat over the top to send Dunne through a table on the floor for a nasty crash.

Not to be outdone, Ciampa hits a super Air Raid Crash off the latter to knock Bate silly. R-Truth is all alone but here is JD McDonagh, who wants to be in the Judgment Day, to make the save (because this match needs ANOTHER person). Kingston makes the save with a chair though and McDonagh is stuck on the ladder, which is tipped over for a pretty scary bump over the top through some tables.

Priest gives Kingston a Razor’s Edge onto a chair and goes up, with Miz making the save. Miz gets chokeshoved off the ladder and Priest grabs a fresh ladder, only to be taken out by R-Truth. That’s enough for R-Truth to get the Raw Tag Team Titles and finally wrap things up at 17:23.

Rating: B-. Total stunt show match and that’s a fine way to go, though dang there were a lot of people involved in this thing and it hurt the match. I’m really not a fan of splitting up the titles again, but at least we did get a fun moment with the Awesome Truth win. This was the “get a bunch of people on the show” match and the ladders…well they’re pretty much a Wrestlemania tradition these days. Fun match, but total insanity.

We get an ad for the Bray Wyatt documentary so the Fireflies are out in a nice moment.

Cole talks about the weather again, complete with the graphics, which is such a weird thing to see.

We recap Santos Escobar/Dominik Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio/Andrade, which started with Escobar turning on Rey and injuring his knee. Dominik was added for the family touch and…well it was going to be Dragon Lee but then he got attacked last night so Andrade is there to make it a tag match. In other words, it’s a total mess of a story but we get the tag match anyway.

Dominik Mysterio/Santos Escobar vs. Rey Mysterio/Andrade

The rest of Legado del Fantasma and the LWO are here too. Escobar wastes no time in hitting a knee as Cole talks about how the wind is picking up, which is where the cold really started being a problem. It’s quickly off to Dominik, who gets hit in the face by Andrade. The spinning back elbow (better than the Judas Effect) connects and it’s off to Rey for a headscissors. Escobar puts Rey on his shoulders in an electric chair and they both dive onto the floor to take the villains out.

Back in and Rey tries to whip Dominik ala last year, but this time Dominik saves himself from the pain. Escobar comes back in with a middle rope legdrop, setting up a backbreaker/slingshot hilo combination for two. Another backbreaker keeps Rey in trouble but he gets a boot up in the corner to stop a charging Escobar. That’s enough for the tag off to Andrade so house can be quickly cleaned.

The running knees hit Dominik in the corner and the double jump moonsault gets two. It’s already back to Rey for the 619 to Escobar, leaving Andrade to moonsault onto Dominik. A super hurricanrana gives Escobar two so Elektra Lopez gets on the apron, only to be taken out by Zelina Vega.

The other seconds get involved, with Joaquin Wilde hitting his huge slingshot dive. Back in and Escobar sends Rey shoulder first into the post before telling Dominik to get a chair. Cue two rather muscular men in Rey masks (McAfee seems to recognize them) to break it up though, allowing Rey and Andrade to take out the villains. Rey’s top rope splash finishes Escobar at 11:02.

Rating: C+. This was another “get a bunch of people on the show” match and the video before the match didn’t make it feel any less complicated. Seeing the Mysterios fighting again after their far better match last year was a weird way to go and it was only so good of a match in the first place. Just do Rey vs. Escobar in their big grudge match.

On a personal note: I met Escobar at the Rocky Balboa statue the next day. Nice guy.

Post match the masked men unmask as Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson, former Philadelphia Eagles for a heck of a reaction.

We recap Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso, which is a look at how they have been brothers their whole life, having only been born nine minutes apart. They have shared everything over the years, from birthdays to family members to the main event of Wrestlemania. Then Roman Reigns caused them to split up (over and over), with Jey becoming more of a singles star.

Jey even challenged Reigns for the WWE Championship at Summerslam but Jimmy cost him the match and the title. Then they waited about eight months before the match because….I have no idea really, but in theory it’s so they can have this match at Wrestlemania. Ignore that it killed the feud’s momentum.

Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso

Lil Wayne (billed as the “greatest rapper of all time”) does part of Jey’s entrance. Jey isn’t wasting time and dives onto Jimmy during his entrance to start fast. A clothesline sends Jimmy outside for a suicide dive, followed by a high crossbody back inside. Jimmy grabs a pop up Samoan drop (doesn’t quite make it work), followed by the running Umaga attack in the corner.

Jey goes up but gets knocked out of the air, allowing Jimmy to start firing off the superkicks. Four or five leave Jey down and Jimmy goes up top, only to have to roll through the Superfly Splash. Jey’s superkick hits somewhere in the shoulder area, meaning it’s time for the YEET/NO YEET slugout.

They alternate the same sequence of strikes before trading superkicks (with Jey telling him to “GIVE ME THAT S***!”). Jey slowly superkicks him down, despite not seemingly wanting to do so. Jimmy apologizes and seems to offer a reunion, only to superkick Jey down. The Superfly Splash gets two on Jey but he’s back up with a spear. Now the Superfly Splash finishes Jimmy at 11:05.

Rating: D. Yeah this really was as bad and dull as it was seen as being. This was about eleven minutes of the two of them throwing superkicks and doing the same move to each other. I like the idea of having the brothers getting to fight at Wrestlemania and it’s a story that was set up, but they waited eight months to let the heat die off. This was a pretty cold match and then they just did the same moves until Jey won. Terribly boring stuff here and one of the worst matches you’ll see at Wrestlemania.

We recap Bianca Belair/Naomi/Jade Cargill vs. Damage CTRL. After Damage CTRL injured Belair, she realized she needed help so she got some friends. This is Belair’s first match since debuting at the Royal Rumble, making this more of a showcase for her than anything else.

Damage CTRL vs. Naomi/Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill

Damage CTRL comes to the ring with a bunch of geisha women dancing with fans. The other three rise up on a platform though and then step over onto the ramp, looking like superheroes (that was great). Naomi and Asuka start things off but Naomi has to kick Sane down as well. A splits splash in the corner gets two but Sane knocks Naomi outside, setting up an Insane Elbow to a standing Naomi on the floor.

Back in and Asuka and Sane double team her down, only for Naomi to hit a heck of a kick to the head in the corner. The tag brings in Belair to clean house, including a moonsault over a charging Kai in the corner so she can hammer on all three at once. A handspring moonsault gives Belair a triple near fall but Kai breaks up the tag attempt. Asuka’s running knee gets two but Belair flips out of a double suplex and dives over to Cargill.

That’s good for a heck of a reaction and Cargill gets to clean house. Cargill pulls Sane out of the air and throws her down, setting up a splash to Kai in the corner. Everything breaks down and Asuka mists Sane by mistake. The hair whip hits Asuka with a skin curdling sound, leaving Cargill to grab Kai (and walk her around the ring) for Jaded and the pin at 8:04.

Rating: C. This was little more than a countdown until Cargill got in at the end to do her big finisher. That’s quite the way to debut someone (at least outside of the Royal Rumble) and Cargill absolutely felt like a star. The problem is it wasn’t much of a match, as they only had so much time with so many people involved. Either way, it was all about Cargill and nothing more, which worked fairly well.

Post match the winners all get to pose for a nice moment.

We recap Gunther defending the Intercontinental Title vs. Sami Zayn. Gunther has rewritten all of the title’s records Gunther talks about the title’s history and all of the greatness that it has seen, but the legacy ends with him. Zayn wants to win a big singles match on his own and has been trained by Chad Gable, resulting in something of a Rocky III story as Zayn is scared of losing everything he has if he loses again. Gable talked him into training even harder though and we’re ready to go.

Zayn talks to his wife and son in the back, with his son saying he can do it. Zayn asks his wife to stay in the back with his son because he doesn’t want them to see the violence. With that done, Zayn runs into Gable, who wants Zayn out there on his own for his big moment. Zayn walks to the ring….and runs into Kevin Owens, who hugs him and tells him to go do it.

Intercontinental Title: Gunther vs. Sami Zayn

Gunther is defending and backs him into the corner to start. Zayn switches places and hammers away, with some of the chops staggering Gunther. A springboard doesn’t work so well though as Gunther German suplexes him out of the air. One heck of a chop and a boot to the head rock Zayn again but he keeps getting up and coming back. Gunther puts him on the top for a chop and then stands on Zayn’s face, which always looks painful.

More chopping has Zayn in trouble as Zayn’s wife is shown in the front row. Zayn is back up with a running shot of his own for a much needed breather. The chops rock Zayn again but Zayn PUNCHES HIM IN THE FACE to take over. Some half and half suplexes have Gunther rocked but he hits his big clothesline for two. Zayn is back up with his running up the corner tornado DDT so it’s time to load up the Helluva Kick.

Gunther pulls that into the sleeper so Zayn goes towards the ropes, which is countered with a suplex. A charge into the corner is cut off and Gunther gets suplexed, only to come out of the corner with the dropkick. One heck of a powerbomb gives Gunther two and he can’t believe the kickout. Gunther hits his own Helluva Kick, only to have Zayn hit one of his own (to the shoulder) for two.

Another big clothesline into a double powerbomb gets two and the fans are WAY into this. Gunther glares down at Zayn’s wife and then stomps on his head, leaving Zayn looking shaken. Zayn gets planted again and there’s another powerbomb to make it worse. Back to back top rope splashes crush Zayn….but he fights his way up and Helluva Kicks Gunther on top. The brainbuster onto the buckle connects (commentary JUMPS up in the background for a great visual) and a pair of Helluva Kicks FINALLY finish Gunther to make Zayn champion at 15:32.

Rating: A-. I knew where this was going and they pulled me into this match all over again. It really did feel like a Rocky story, as Zayn was in over his head with someone so much bigger and stronger, but Zayn was never going to give up and took it to Gunther until he won. It was an excellent story and I got way into this whole thing. Gunther losing isn’t going to hurt him after the most dominant reign ever and now he can move up to the next level. Awesome match with what felt like a Wrestlemania Moment.

Various wrestlers talk about the importance of Wrestlemania. There are a bunch of highlights from over the years and wrestlers talk about what it means to them. I have no idea what the point of this way other than “Hey, this thing that you’re watching is awesome isn’t it?”.

We look back at Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson getting involved earlier.

Cole has another weather report! It supposedly feels like 45 degrees and…there’s no way it was that warm.

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis are here to say thank you to the 72,543 fans.

Various celebrities are here.

Wrestlemania Sunday rundown.

We hit the long recap on Seth Rollins/Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns/The Rock. Back in February, the Rock came back and teased facing Reigns at Wrestlemania, with Rhodes seemingly stepping aside. This led to a big fan movement to get Rhodes (the Royal Rumble winner) back in the match, with Rhodes saying he wanted to face Reigns. They argued over their families’ legacies, with Rock joining forces with his cousin as part of the Bloodline.

Rollins (the World Heavyweight Champion, who is also defending on Sunday) offered to be on Rhodes’ side to take out the Bloodline once and for all. The tag match was set, with some special stipulations: if Rollins/Rhodes win, Reigns vs. Rhodes is a clean match with no Bloodline. If Rock/Reigns lose though, the match is Bloodline Rules, where anything goes. Rock wasn’t done though and even insulted Rhodes’ mother to make it extra personal. He also busted Rhodes open but that’s not as bad as messing with his mom.

The Rock/Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes/Seth Rollins

If the villains win, Rhodes vs. Reigns is Bloodline Rules but if the good guys wins, the Bloodline is barred from ringside. Naturally the Rock has his own title (which he got last night) and comes out in a flaming Brahma Bull symbol, because this has to take its sweet time. So after the Big Match Intros, we’re ready to go over TWENTY SIX MINUTES after the recaps and entrances started.

They all stare at each other for over a minute to start until Reigns and Rollins start things off. We get more stalling as Reigns looks at the singing crowd. They finally lock up over two and a half minutes after the bell, with Reigns grabbing a headlock. Reigns knocks him down so Rollins starts running the ropes, setting up a kick to the ribs to slow Reigns a bit. Rhodes comes in to work on Reigns’ arm but gets clotheslined in the corner for his efforts. Some forearms don’t get Rhodes very far and it’s a standoff.

Rollins comes in off a blind tag and we get a big two on one staredown with Reigns. Rock (slowly, like everything else) comes in to shove Rollins down as McAfee sounds like he’s getting antsy about the slow pace. Rollins hits Rock in the face and it’s time for the fans to sing again. Some right hands put Rollins down and a clothesline does it again so Rock wants Rhodes.

That’s exactly what he gets for a lockup before Rhodes wins a slugout. Everything breaks down for a four way staredown and the big brawl is on. Rollins spits Prime into Rock’s face as Rhodes and Reigns fight up the aisle. Rock fights back and tells the referee that if he counts, he’s fired (nice little way to get around the countout). Rollins and Rock fight into the crowd with Rollins sending him into various hard objects.

Reigns and Rhodes fight over a suplex on the stage as Rollins is sent into a trashcan. Some water to the face seems to wake Rollins up a bit and everyone comes back to ringside. Reigns gets in a cheap shot on Rollins to knock him off the apron, with Rollins coming up favoring his knee. They actually get back inside, with Rock starting in on the knee, including wrapping it around the post.

Reigns grabs a half crab but Rollins fights out, only for Reigns to knock Rhodes outside. That means there’s no one for Rollins to tag so he clotheslines Reigns outside and follows him, only to get whipped into the steps. Back in and Reigns hits some corner clotheslines, allowing him to strike the Bloodline pose for a bit. The Superman Punch is countered into a neckbreaker but Rock is right there with a low blow.

The referee even goes over to Rhodes with an apology, which is unique if nothing else. Granted it makes you wonder why Rock hasn’t ordered the referee to say “Rollins can’t continue, Bloodline wins”, but maybe I’m thinking too much into this. The jumping enziguri gets Rollins out of trouble but Reigns pulls Rhodes off the apron to break up the tag. Rock gets the Sharpshooter so Rhodes comes in with a slap to break it up.

Rollins manages to hit the Stomp and crawls over for the needed tag. Rhodes Disaster Kick and Cody Cutters Reigns for two but Reigns is back with a Superman Punch. The spear is countered into a sunset flip for two and a top rope Cody Cutter…is more a top rope headbutt, with Rollins tagging himself in for a frog splash and a near fall. Heyman tells Rollins “I hate your d*** song” to make it personal as Rollins gets up. Well that’s a bit extreme.

Some superkicks put Reigns down but Rock cuts Rollins off, leaving Reigns to spear Rhodes for two. The guillotine goes on to put Rhodes in more trouble, with Rollins making the save with another stomp. Rock whips out the bloody weight belt and yells at Mama Rhodes, who yells back with quite the fire in her voice. Rhodes knocks the belt away from Rock but walks into a spinebuster. The People’s Elbow is countered into a Cody Cutter (thanks for diving into it Rock) but Reigns is back in with a Superman Punch.

The spear….hits the Rock though and stereo Pedigrees drop the Bloodline for a double near fall (Heyman’s panicked face in the background was great). Back up and they fight to the floor, where Rock spits water on Rhodes and loads up the announcers’ table. Rollins breaks up the Rock Bottom through the table though and Rhodes gives Rock a Rock Bottom through the other one instead.

One heck of a spear puts Rollins through the barricade and everyone is down. Rock and Rhodes get back inside, but Reigns cheap shots Rhodes from the floor. Back in and Reigns slugs it out with Rhodes for the BOO/YAY until a pair of Cross Rhodes drops Reigns. The third is broken up with a weightlifting belt to the back and Reigns hits the spear. The Rock Bottom and People’s Elbow finish Rhodes (Cole declares him “screwed”) at 44:32.

Rating: C+. This is almost fascinating in a way, as it’s not a bad match, but it’s almost the length of the first three matches on the card combined. You could have EASILY cut off about twenty minutes of this and gotten the same thing, but everything was just taking its sweet time out there. I can go with the Empire Strikes Back style ending as the villains get to stand tall and our hero looks dead to rites, but dang man this was just far too long. The fact that the match was taking place in front of a freezing stadium and so many of the fans just wanted to go home and warm up made it even worse.

The villains pose and the heroes realize they’re in big trouble tomorrow.

A long highlight package wraps us up.

Overall Rating: B-. For what was supposed to be the first half of the biggest show of the year, this really didn’t stand out that much. Lynch vs. Ripley felt big but never got to that next level, Zayn vs. Gunther was genuinely great and the main event was WAY too long. The other four matches on the show ranged from forgettable to bad, and that doesn’t make for much of a four plus hour show. It’s not awful or bad, but I was expecting a bit more than what we got here.

Ratings Comparison

Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch

Original: B
Redo: B

Tag Team Ladder Match

Original: C+
Redo: B-

Dominik Mysterio/Santos Escobar vs. Andrade/Rey Mysterio

Original: C+
Redo: C+

Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso

Original: D
Redo: D

Damage CTRL vs. Jade Cargill/Naomi/Bianca Belair

Original: C+
Redo: C

Sami Zayn vs. Gunther

Original: A-
Redo: A-

The Rock/Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes/Seth Rollins

Original: C+
Redo: C+

Overall Rating

Original: B-
Redo: B-

That’s almost the same, or at least close enough, up and down the card, which doesn’t happen very often.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Summerslam 2025 Night Two
Date: August 3, 2025
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re back for the second half of the show after yesterday’s pretty snazzy first half. In this case we’re headlined by Cody Rhodes challenging John Cena for the Smackdown World Title. Cena seems to have seen the light again and that could make for a big change of pace. Other than that, Solo Sikoa is defending the US Title against Jacob Fatu in a cage. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening video looks at last night’s highlights, along with that Druski guy talking about how this is another chance to shake up the world. The regular opening video again features various reaction shots.

Here’s HHH to fire up the crowd with a “you ain’t seen nothing yet”.

Raw Women’s Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky vs. Naomi

Naomi is defending and is played to the ring by….her dad. Well that’s awesome. Naomi drops to the floor to start but is thrown back inside and surrounded. Ripley kicks Sky in the face by mistake so Naomi drops Sky across the top and bites Ripley’s thumb for a change of pace. A hanging X Factor drops Sky and Ripley gets knocked into the corner. The Blockbuster puts Sky down and Naomi sends her outside.

Ripley is back up with a belly to back faceplant to Naomi and Sky is back up with the springboard missile dropkick. Sky’s 619 into a German suplex sends Naomi outside and it’s time for the big showdown. Sky small packages Ripley into a quickly broken crossface, followed by a poisonrana. Naomi is back in and goes to the floor with Ripley, allowing Sky to Asai moonsault both of them.

Back in and Sky’s Over The Moonsault is broken up so Sky goes up again and hits Ripley. Naomi rolls Sky up for two and everyone is down. Ripley is back up for Riptide on Naomi, with Sky making the save. Sky and Ripley kick Naomi out to the floor before Ripley flip dives onto Naomi on the floor. Sky follows them outside and powerbombs Ripley onto Naomi for the nasty landing. Back in and Ripley catches Sky on top for a super Riptide, only for Naomi to come in and roll Ripley up with trunks for the pin at 16:23.

Rating: B. Good start to the show here, as Ripley’s frustrations continue to mount. At the same time, Naomi has been on a roll as of late and it’s great to see her getting a chance like this. She’s won me over in recent months and that’s a nice feeling. Ripley might have to do something drastic soon and I’m not sure how that’s going to go. As for Sky…well she’s Iyo Sky, which is quite the praise.

The Dudleys and Hardy Boyz are here for the TLC match.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Wyatt Sicks vs. DIY vs. Andrade/Rey Fenix vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Street Profits vs. Fraxiom

The Wyatts are defending in a TLC match. The challengers jump the Wyatts to start and it’s time for the parade of dives to the floor. Fraxiom brings in a ladder, with the Guns picking it up, only to have it dropkicked back against them. The Wyatts cut Fraxiom off from climbing and go up, with the Profits making the save. The Profits backdrop Gacy at a ladder….but completely miss it, so they try it again to make sure they get it right (nice reaction for that).

Some more tables are set up at ringside but Andrade and Fenix come in, with Fenix climbing onto Andrade’s shoulders and touching the belts (the fans are impressed). That’s broken up and it’s time to set up a bunch of tables around ringside. Lumis dives onto Ford and then Fenix hits a dive of his own through Fraser. Dawkins goes up but gets taken down by Axiom’s super Spanish Fly through some tables.

With everyone else down, Candice LeRae, B Fab and Nikki Cross go up for the belts but get pulled back down. LeRae goes up again and gets knocked down through a bridged ladder for a terrifying crash (her knee looked like it landed badly). Gargano goes up but gets pulled down by Ford, with Rowan coming in to kick him in the face. Rowan cleans house until the Profits send him through a table in the corner.

Ciampa goes up but the Guns move the ladder. Frazer tries a spear off the ladder but Ciampa pulls himself up onto the belts to send Frazer crashing (that was NUTS). DIY goes up but Uncle Howdy comes in to shove them both down, with DIY going crashing through a pile of tables at ringside. Fraser goes up but gets caught in Howdy’s Mandible Claw. Andrade dives up with a sunset bomb to bring him back down but the other Wyatts go up, with Gacy pulling down the titles to win at 16:03.

Rating: B. This was a total spectacle and stunt show, with that Ciampa sit up spot being an all time highlight. At the same time, this didn’t have the flow of the classic TLC match from earlier this year, partially due to how many people were involved. This one felt more like it was about going viral than having a great match and the segment in the middle where people dove off the posts to the floor summed up the issue. While they were getting ready to dive, the ring was empty and a ladder was set up. Why was no one going for the belts? Yes it’s a spotfest, but at least try to look like you want to win.

We look at Seth Rollins cashing in last night….in various languages.

We recap Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Title. They won the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania but lost them on the following Raw. Lynch turned on her and then won the Intercontinental Title while basically saying she used Valkyria as a stepping stone. Now it’s Valkyria’s last chance and anything goes. There’s also the Bayley factor, as she isn’t happy with being left out of Summerslam.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria

Anything goes, Lynch is defending and she comes out to new music. Valkyria knocks her outside to start but Lynch takes over, allowing her to whip out a kendo stick. Valkyria isn’t worried as she comes out with a metal crowbar, which knocks the stick away. A crossbody off the barricade drops Lynch and Valkyria sends her…well right into a photographer actually. That doesn’t seem to do much damage as Valkyria sends Lynch into the post and then over the announcers’ table.

A table is pulled out but Lynch uses the delay to whip out a chain. Said chain is wrapped around Valkyria’s mouth as commentary gets into it about whether Valkyria is a threat to Lynch without having beaten her. Cole: “She has beaten her.” Lynch knocks her down again and grabs a toolbox, with a hard shot getting two. Lynch finds a zip tie in the toolbox and ties Valkyria’s hands together so the beating can continue.

The chairs are loaded up…but Valkyria slips her arms around Lynch and gets a belly to belly. Valkyria gets back up (ignore the camera showing the zip tie coming undone and having to be reset) and manages a moonsault with her hands tied together. The turnbuckle pad is taken off but Lynch sends her to the floor, where Valkyria (hands still tied) comes out with a fire extinguisher blast. Valkyria uses the edge of the fire extinguisher handle to cut herself free and unloads with a kendo stick.

A fisherman’s suplex gets two and they go back outside, with Valkyria hitting Nightwing off the stairs for a nasty crash. Back in and Valkyria misses a charge into the exposed buckle, setting up a Manhandle Slam onto some open chairs….for two. Lynch ties her up in a chair and kicks away, including ramming Valkyria into the announcers’ table.

Lynch grabs the crowbar but cue Bayley to take it away and beat on Lynch around ringside. Bayley misses a running knee but Valkyria is back up with a legdrop to send Lynch through a table. Back in and both finishes are countered…and Bayley accidentally knocks Valkyria silly with a chain. The Manhandle Slam finishes for Lynch at 25:07.

Rating: C+. On one hand, this was a heck of a fight with some creative spots and Valkyria getting to show off some incredible athleticism when her hands were tied. It also helps that despite here interference being pretty obvious, it didn’t feel like a countdown until Bayley showed up. At the same time though, MY GOODNESS this did not need to be so long. It’s a great example of a match that could have been ten minutes shorter and improved as a result. That’s on top of the main event being a street fight, with this one making that one feel less unique. Good parts to it, but it desperately needed some cuts.

We recap Solo Sikoa defending the US Title against Jacob Fatu in a cage. They were close, then Fatu turned on him because he was tired of Sikoa taking advantage of him. Sikoa stole the US Title and tried to get Fatu arrested so it’s time for a cage match to ensure that it’s 1-1.

US Title: Solo Sikoa vs. Jacob Fatu

Fatu is challenging in a cage and knocks Sikoa down to start. A running elbow drops Sikoa but he sends a charging Fatu into the cage. The slow beating continues but Fatu is back up with a hard clothesline. Sikoa sends him into the cage…and Fatu shrugs it off. A pair of moonsaults connect to give Fatu two so cue the MFT’s. The distraction brings out Jimmy Uso, who gets taken out without much trouble.

Fatu has to hold off the MFT’s, who start to climb into the cage. That’s broken up, but one of them manages to handcuff Fatu to the cage (in case the tied hands deal in the previous match wasn’t enough). Sikoa goes to the door but Fatu pulls the cuffs apart and makes the save. Talla Tonga slams the cage on Fatu’s head though and Sikoa escapes to retain at 12:05.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t much to see and the problem comes down to the fact that it didn’t feel like any kind of big moment. Instead it was just the two of them doing stuff until the interference started. It wasn’t an interesting match and Fatu only got to do so much. Sikoa keeping the title is fine, but they could have found a better way to do it.

Post match Uso gets back up and goes after Tonga Loa and JC Mateo. They’re thrown inside and Fatu takes both of them down. The moonsault off the top of the cage takes both of them down to show off that Fatu is awesome. And that’s kind of the problem with this whole story: win or lose, they’re going to keep fighting, which makes this match feel kind of unimportant.

We recap Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Title. Styles has been wanting a title shot but Guerrero has claimed an injury to avoid having to defend against him. For some reason Styles put on a bunch of costumes to….I’m really not sure why as it was about waiting for Mysterio to get healthy. Anyway, the match is on.

Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles

Styles is challenging….and comes out in a low rider (with his son next to him), a STYLES HEAT shirt and does the Eddie dance. Styles hammers away to start fast and takes over on Mysterio in the corner. A missed charge sends Styles crashing out to the floor though and Mysterio puts him on the top. The super hurricanrana is countered into a failed Styles Clash attempt, leaving Styles to hit a diving tornado DDT.

Styles slips on a Phenomenal Forearm attempt and charges into a Michinoku Driver as the Fireflies come out for some reason. The Three Amigos are loaded up but Styles reverses the third into a brainbuster. Styles can’t hit a brainbuster but can reverse Mysterio’s frog splash into the Calf Crusher. That’s broken up and the referee gets dropped, so Mysterio goes to grab a chair.

Mysterio throws it to Styles and drops down, but Styles wraps it around his own neck and drops too. The referee gets up but didn’t see what happens so they keep going. Styles goes for the Calf Crusher again but pulls the boot off so Mysterio can escape. The referee has to duck a swing so Mysterio boots Styles in the head, setting up the frog splash to retain at 10:35.

Rating: B-. This one is going to depend on your tolerance for Eddie Guerrero tributes. I’ve been over them for years, so seeing just about every Eddie reference possible in one match was a bit much. That being said, it was a much more lighthearted match and that made for an easier match to watch. If nothing else, it was so different from the other violent/car crash matches on the night and that’s what it needed to be.

Stephanie McMahon announces the attendance: 60,561, for a two night total of 113,722.

We recap Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena. Rhodes lost the Smackdown World Title to Cena at Wrestlemania when Cena hit him low, but now Rhodes wants a shot at the REAL Cena. This caused Cena to turn back to the good side, as he needed someone to remind him what he used to be.

Smackdown World Title: John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes

Cena is defending in a street fight. Rhodes gets a special entrance with a Dusty Rhodes quote (“The view never changes.”) appearing on the screen. Cena gets quite the strong reaction and does his old run to the ring. They do the Big Match Intros and stare each other down with Cena giving him a hug. The brawl is on fast and they go outside, with Cena grabbing NBA star Tyrese Haliburton’s crutch for a shot to the back.

Cena throws the steps inside but gets knocked onto them, only to pop up and knock Rhodes off the top. The steps are thrown over the top onto Rhodes’ head but he’s right back up with a Disaster Kick. Back in and Cena sends him over the top for a crash, allowing both of them to grab chairs. Rhodes knocks Cena’s out of his hands and gets in a shot to the back for two. Cena fights up again and initiates the finishing sequence but Rhodes is back up with a Cody Cutter. The AA gets two but Rhodes hits the top rope moonsault.

Another Disaster Kick gets two on Cena, who is back with an electric chair for two more. Back up and a piledriver gives Rhodes another near fall but we have to pause to check on Cena. That’s goldbricking though and Rhodes walks into an AA, followed by the STF (STFU as Cole calls it), sending Rhodes to the apron (remember ropes don’t matter here) for the break. Cena is back up with a microphone to the head, followed by a Code Red on the floor. The AA through the announcers’ table knocks Rhodes sillier but he gets back up anyway.

A quick Cross Rhodes gives Rhodes two but Cena knocks him down again. The top rope Fameasser into another AA gets two so it’s time for a table. Another (yes another) AA takes too long though and Rhodes reverses into a DDT. Said table is put up in the corner but they go outside to fight into the crowd. Cena grabs a piece of barricade and shoves it in Rhodes’ general direction before Rhodes suplexes him onto it instead. They go underneath the stage and come up the elevator Rhodes uses for his entrance with Cena holding him in the fireman’s carry (that was GREAT).

One heck of an AA sends Rhodes onto the ramp (Cena LAUNCHED him) before Cena picks Rhodes up and they go back to the ring (heck of a carry job by Cena). Back in and Rhodes sends him through the table in the corner and hits another Cross Rhodes for two. A chair to the head knocks Cena silly and Rhodes takes the turnbuckle off. The shot to Cena’s hands in front of his face thankfully doesn’t get a cover and another big shot connects, with the fans not liking this version of Rhodes.

The third shot is loaded up but Cena pulls him into the STF with the rope. That’s reversed as well so Rhodes hits back to back to back Cross Rhodes for two, leaving Rhodes stunned. With nothing else working, Rhodes grabs the belt but misses the big shot, allowing Cena to hit back to back AA’s, followed by the super AA for two. Another table is loaded up but Rhodes reverses a super AA into a Cody Cutter through the table. Cena is up in about five seconds and another Cross Rhodes gives Rhodes the title back at 37:33.

Rating: B. I’m not even going to try to defend this match, as it was a totally insane and ridiculous match (eight AA’s if you lost count) with nothing but ridiculous spots and kickouts. That being said, I was laughing my head off at some of this stuff, as they were leaning into the ridiculousness. That’s what it should have been and I liked it far more than I should have.

Post match Cena hands Rhodes the title and says something to him, which seems to mean a lot to Rhodes. With Rhodes gone, Cena soaks in a THANK YOU CENA chant….AND BROCK LESNAR IS BACK. Cena looks like he has seen a ghost and gets F5’ed to end the show. That’s certainly going to raise some eyebrows, and I do wonder if that had something to do with the abrupt Cena face turn.

Overall Rating: B. It definitely wasn’t as strong as last night, but I had a good enough time with this show. The problem here was having way too many gimmick/violent matches as it was so much of the show. The cage match wasn’t very good and the Valkyria vs. Lynch was too long, but I had a good time with most of the rest. Not an all timer, but for a three hour and forty five minute shot, I had a good time.

Overall Overall Rating: B+. The best thing I can say about this was it wasn’t dull. They had a long, drawn out weekend with a bunch of stuff taking place and some memorable moments, even if some of the matches might have been a bit lacking. I can absolutely see why Summerslam is going to be a two night event going forward and if this is what we’re getting every year, it’s going to be fine. Strong overall showing from WWE, though it would have been even better if they mixed the cards up a bit.

Results
Naomi b. Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley – Rollup with tights to Ripley
Wyatt Sicks b. Andrade/Rey Fenix, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, Street Profits and DIY – Gacy pulled down the titles
Becky Lynch b. Lyra Valkyria – Manhandle Slam
Solo Sikoa b. Jacob Fatu – Sikoa escaped the cage
Dominik Mysterio b. AJ Styles – Frog splash
Cody Rhodes b. John Cena – Cross Rhodes

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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It’s time to do the other half and since we’ve never actually done that before with Summerslam, it’s hard to say what we’re going to be getting here. We have the same amount of matches as last night so everything should be balanced equally, though the star power kind of varies a bit from one night to the other. This could work well too though so let’s get to it.

Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio(c) vs. AJ Styles

When did Mysterio become one of the best things going in WWE? His stuff with Styles has been all over the place but rather funny at the same time, with Mysterio doing everything he can to avoid Styles. The good thing here is Styles is going to be able to make Mysterio look great here and that’s exactly why they’re being put into this match on this stage. Mysterio is on a roll, and I’m curious to see how far he can go.

Of course I’ll go with Mysterio retaining the title here, as Styles isn’t someone who needs any kind of gold or accomplishments at this point in his career. Let him go out there and make Mysterio look even better than usual. I’m not sure what is next for Mysterio, but at least he’s getting this kind of a spot, as he can more than hold up his own end in the ring by now.

Raw Women’s Title: Naomi(c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky

Now this is one of the bigger surprises in a good while, as Naomi has absolutely nailed the heel run and is feeling like a star every time she’s out there. That’s rather impressive after she was destroyed by Jade Cargill multiple times. She’s gotten the PROCEED WITH CAUTION deal over and I could go with seeing where she goes from here. At the same time, you have the awesome Ripley and Sky, who have to merge with Naomi to make this work.

So how well will it work? Well I’ll go with Naomi retaining the title, as it feels too early to take it off of her so far. Other than that, Ripley and Sky should both be able to nail their usual stuff and carry the action. At some point they’ll have their singles rematch later on to carry on from their classic at Evolution, but this is more about Naomi retaining as she can get a big win.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch(c) vs. Lyra Valkyria

This is anything goes as well as Valkyria’s last shot at the title, which feels like it’s setting up something for the ending. Valkyria has been trying as hard as she can to make this work and is getting close, but it really isn’t working yet. Lynch has been her usual good self, though it still feels more about making the title feel important. There’s one more factor to mess with the whole thing though and that might be enough to sway the result.

I’ll take Lynch retaining here, likely with the recently distraught Bayley interfering to cost Valkyria the match. That’s the story they’ve been setting up and it’s something Bayley might be needing. For now, it should be enough to give us another Bayley vs. Valkyria match and I could go for seeing how that goes. Lynch can move on to someone else though, as she’ll retain the title here.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Wyatt Sicks(c) vs. Street Profits vs. Andrade/Rey Fenix vs. DIY vs. Fraxiom vs. Motor City Machine Guns

This is the big six team TLC match as they’re trying to recreate their instant classic from earlier in the year. That is going to be one heck of a trick to pull off but I can’t blame them for trying to pull it off. This is going to be the total car crash match of the show and there is a good chance that it works. I’m not sure if it’s going to get enough time to really get that far, but at least they’re doing the logical thing at this point.

As for a winner, there’s never much of a way to predict these things but I’ll go with the Wyatts winning to retain. The idea is supposed to be that the division is getting together to deal with the evil Wyatts, but it would be a much better result to have one of the teams take the Wyatts out. That can happen later on when more of the hope is lost, which only comes if the Wyatts retain here.

US Title: Solo Sikoa(c) vs. Jacob Fatu

In a cage, which should make for a nice spectacle. Obviously the question hers isn’t whether someone will interfere but rather when and how many. That’s exactly what should be happening here, as the idea of Sikoa being able to hang with Fatu one on one is nonsense. Instead this is about whether or not Sikoa has enough backup to hold Fatu off, which is far from easy.

This feels like a way to keep Fatu from getting the title back while giving him an out so I’ll take Sikoa to retain. You could easily have him slip out of the cage to escape while Fatu is attacked or distracted somehow, which would show Fatu that he needs more help. Fatu is likely going to get his win back down the line, but this feels more like a way to keep the title on Sikoa, which should be the case at the moment.

Smackdown World Title: John Cena(c) vs. Cody Rhodes

Finally we have this one, which was turned completely on its head during this week’s Smackdown. Cena seemingly turned back to the side of good after months of being evil, and that opens up the field quite a bit. There are several ways this could go, and unfortunately I’m not exactly feeling most of them. Now we just need to see which direction they actually take.

The more I think about this, the more sense it makes for Rhodes to get the title back here, but now we have to wonder about how. There is always the chance that Rhodes takes Cena’s place as the Corporate Champion, which opens up a bunch of weird options. I’m not wild on that idea, but I’ll absolutely take it over Cena swerving us to keep being a villain. The Cena heel run has been weird to say the least and I’d much rather they just abandon it for his last five months in the ring.

Overall Thoughts

This night is rather stacked and the action should be very good, but I’m almost afraid of how they’re going to get out of that main event. What matters is, at least for now, they seem to have dropped one of their weakest ideas and are moving in a new direction. That’s what we get to see in the main event, and if the rest of the card lives up to it, this has a lot of potential of its own.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Smackdown
Date: July 18, 2025
Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution and that means we have just over two weeks to go before Summerslam. Tonight the build will be on again, as John Cena and Cody Rhodes sign the contract for their match. That should make for a big moment, but there is more to cover than that alone. Let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

We open in the parking lot, where Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s have been in a car wreck. It’s not clear what happened but more on this later. Cody Rhodes comes up to Adam Pearce and makes sure that we’ll have a contract signing later tonight.

Earlier today, Alexa Bliss said she and Charlotte should just go their separate ways but Charlotte has gotten them a Women’s Tag Team Title match at Summerslam. As for tonight, Charlotte needs Bliss by her side. Bliss: “Do I look like a cheerleader?” They both confirm that yes, she does.

Charlotte vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Alexa Bliss and Roxanne Perez are here too. They shove each other a bit to start until Charlotte is knocked into the ropes. Back up and Charlotte knocks her to the floor, where Rodriguez gets in a clothesline. Charlotte gets posted and we take an early break. We come back with Rodriguez grabbing something like a Gory Stretch backbreaker before kicking Charlotte down.

The spinning Vader Bomb hits Charlotte but she’s back up to chop away anyway. Charlotte’s high crossbody is rolled through for two but Charlotte is back up to go after the leg. Perez offers a distraction so Bliss snaps Rodriguez’s throat across the top rope. A superkick gives Charlotte the pin at 9:14.

Rating: C. Not terrible, but more about establishing Charlotte and Bliss as a team. One might think that the better way to do this would have been the team face other teams but this is about as good as we can get. If nothing else, I’ll absolutely take Charlotte doing something other than going after the singles titles for a change.

Security asks Adam Pearce about Jacob Fatu, calling him a person of entrance in the car crash. Pearce finds him and Fatu is not happy about having to answer questions.

Video on Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill, with Stratton being ready to face anyone and Cargill being ready to be the best.

We look at Aleister Black attacking Damian Priest last week.

Earlier today, Carmelo Hayes didn’t think much of Priest, who seemed ready to beat Hayes up anyway. The match is made for later tonight.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Damian Priest

Hayes jumps him from behind to start but Priest fights back and takes his jacket off. They go outside where Hayes dropkicks him up against the post to send us to a break. We come back with Hayes keeping Priest in trouble but having a superkick blocked. South Of Heaven is broken up too but Hayes is back with the spinning faceplant.

Priest uppercuts him out of the air but the Razor’s Edge is escaped as well. South Of Heaven is escaped and Hayes knocks him down so that a frog splash can connect for two. Priest knocks him outside again and hits a lifting Downward Spiral onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Old School…is broken up by Aleister Black for the DQ at 8:58.

Rating: B-. They were starting to cook here but they weren’t exactly trying to hide that Black would be doing something to Priest tonight. It’s not a bad thing either, and I do like that Hayes didn’t take another pin. Black vs. Priest could be interesting, as Priest hasn’t really had the chance to fight back yet, so we’re still in the early going.

Post match Black hits Black Mass and Hayes leaves after a quick stare.

The Wyatt Sicks talk about wanting the gold and they are built for this. One by one, they will take out the other teams.

Here is Solo Sikoa, with the MFT’s, for a chat. After an OTC chant, Sikoa says tonight was a perfect example of exactly what Jacob Fatu really is. Fatu only cares about himself and has no discipline. Sikoa turned Fatu’s life around, put money in his pocket, and made him a champion. Sikoa says that if Fatu is once a criminal, he is always a criminal.

We cut to the back, where Fatu arrives in a police car, with one of the officers saying that upon further review, Fatu was NOT the person of entrance and he is free to handle his business. Fatu comes to the ring, with Jimmy Uso sneaking in to even the odds a bit. Tala Tonga cuts Jimmy off but Fatu hits one of those big dives.

Fatu dances but Tala gets up, earning himself a double team down. JC Mateo and Tonga Loa are destroyed as well as Tala and Sikoa leave. Hold on though as Adam Pearce pops up to say if Sikoa wants to get Fatu locked up, let’s see how Sikoa likes it when he and Fatu are locked in a cage at Summerslam. The police officers come out and arrest Sikoa.

We look at Jelly Roll putting Logan Paul through a table while Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre brawled on Jimmy Kimmel Live earlier this week.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Alba Fyre

Vaquer starts fast with some rollup for two each but Fyre gets in a knockdown of her own. That doesn’t last long as Vaquer is right back with the Devi’s Kiss. The SVB finishes for Vaquer at 2:04.

Post match Piper Niven jumps Vaquer but gets fought off.

The Street Profits say the Wyatt Sicks are in a different reality, but they’ll get the belts back. DIY comes in to laugh at them for screwing up the tag team division last week. Watch the next match, because the Profits could learn something.

DIY vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Fraxiom vs. Andrade/Rey Fenix

For a future Tag Team Title shot. DIY takes over to start but Fenix (in a shirt for some reason) comes in to clean house. Fenix and Andrade’s dives are cut off by stereo superkicks but the Guns break up Fraxiom’s dives. The Guns hit stereo baseball sliced into a dive from Sabin as we take a break.

We come back with the Guns getting in a double team double Downward Spiral to DIY. Fraxiom gets to take over for a bit, with a missile dropkick hitting Ciampa for two, with Andrade making the save. Andrade suplexes Axiom and Fenix adds a frog splash for two, with five people coming in for the same. Fraxiom takes over on DIY but Andrade and Fenix are back in for some double teaming but Gargano catches Andrade with a slingshot DDT. Ciampa hits Project Ciampa for two on Axiom and we take another break.

We come back with the Dream Sequence connecting on Gargano but Skull & Bones is broken up. The super Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash hits Andrade but Fenix makes the save with a Codebreaker to Gargano. Fenix’s corkscrew dive to the floor takes out a bunch of people but Candice LeRae’s distraction lets Ciampa grab a rollup for two. Gargano superkicks Ciampa by mistake and the spinning back elbow into the Message gives Andrade the pin at 15:49.

Rating: B. This was the wild tag match that it needed to be, with Andrade and Fenix, who are new but at least something of an established team getting a surprise win. It was a wild match with everyone getting in something, as tends to be the case with the tag division these days. Fun match and I could go for more of Andrade and Fenix.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Adam Pearce is in the ring to emcee the contract signing between Cody Rhodes and John Cena. Rhodes comes out first and talks about how he got to be WWE Champion. Earlier this week he said “no not flinch and thank you for riding with me”. Rhodes did not flinch when he has faced adversity and now it is time to try to take the title back from one of the most beloved wrestlers in history.

That is the task he has received for Summerslam so he would like Cena out here now. Cena says that he is emotionally exhausted and has a movie for Netflix coming up so there is no way he can have the match. Instead they can have the match in Paris or Perth, Australia. They wanted to give these people fireworks and a night to remember but this is all Cena can give them tonight.

Cena goes to leave but Rhodes takes the jacket off and goes after him (Wade Barrett approves) and the brawl is on, with Cena sending Rhodes into the steps. Cena grabs the title but Rhodes takes it away and knocks him cold. A top rope splash puts Cena through the table and Rhodes grabs Cena’s hand to make him sign (as Rhodes seemed to do somewhere earlier). Also: it’s a street fight. Rhodes holds up the title to end the show. It’s still not great, but that’s an upgrade over another regular match between these two.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked this one well enough, with a good main event segment, plus the solid tag match to boost it up. Summerslam is already feeling like a big show and that is exactly what is should be. The show is going to need to be huge for the two night version and the first first few bits have come together rather nicely. They have a long way to go, but the first steps have me intrigued. Nice show here, with the rapid fire build to Summerslam starting off well.

Results
Charlotte b. Raquel Rodriguez – Superkick
Damian Priest b. Carmelo Hayes via DQ when Aleister Black interfered
Stephanie Vaquer b. Alba Fyre – SVB
Andrade/Rey Fenix b. Motor City Machine Guns, DIY and Fraxiom – Message to Ciampa

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: July 11, 2025
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s the last show before a rather busy weekend, which will see both Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution. That means we are probably going to be getting the last push towards both shows tonight, which should keep things busy. Other than that, we have the Wyatt Sicks getting their shot at the Tag Team Titles. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is LA Knight to get things going. Knight says predictions and spoilers are common themes in wrestling, including coming out of Paul Heyman’s mouth. Heyman seems to control some power like Seth Rollins, who needed some backup. Knight gets serious when he talks about Rollins ordering his goons to try to take him out.

They’re fighting at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He wants dignity, he wants justice, and he wants to hurt Rollins. Just because Rollins isn’t scared, it doesn’t mean he won’t get a beating. Cue Heyman, who talks about looking into the future for himself and his guys. Their future is the future of this entire industry. As for Knight, Heyman sees nothing, because he has no future.

Cue Solo Sikoa and company, which has Heyman a bit confused. Sikoa talks about how nothing has really changed for Heyman, who needs to get out of here before he goes through a table again. That’s enough for Heyman, who walks out. Sikoa mocks Knight before saying he’s gotten rid of Jacob Fatu. Knight is offered the same chance but won’t leave, with the MFT’s surrounding the ring.

Cue Jimmy Uso to throw Knight a chair though and the save is made, with Uso and Knight standing back to back with a chair each. Nick Aldis comes out to make the tag match for later tonight. Knight being treated as more of a main event star is a good thing, as he can certainly back it up on the microphone.

Alexa Bliss comes up to Charlotte (dressed as a cowgirl) and they seem to be on the same page. Bliss doesn’t think Charlotte would be a great cheerleader, though Charlotte says she cheers for herself.

Roxanne Perez vs. Sol Ruca vs. Kairi Sane vs. Alexa Bliss

Their partners are here too. It’s a brawl to start with Sane clearing the ring, only to get dropped by Perez. Back up and Ruca hits a big flip dive onto everyone and we take a break. We come back with a Tower Of Doom putting everyone down. Ruca gives Perez a running knee but Sane catches Ruca on top.

The top rope double stomp connects on Ruca but she’s back up with a double Sol Snatcher (an inverted flipping cutter, which always looks impressive). Raquel Rodriguez breaks up the cover though and the seconds get in a brawl on the floor. Charlotte cleans house and Bliss gets her feet up to block the Insane Elbow. The Sister Abigail DDT finishes for Bliss at 10:00.

Rating: B-. Bliss continues her successful streak since returning and that’s a good thing to see. The fans are going to react to whatever she does and it would be dumb of WWE to not try and capitalize on it. At the same time, I’m hoping this doesn’t lead to Bliss and Charlotte winning the titles, as it’s hardly the most interesting option.

Evolution rundown.

Tag Team Titles: Wyatt Sicks vs. Street Profits

The Profits are defending. Dawkins drives Gacy into the corner to start and gets a rather crazy laugh. Gacy elbows his way out of trouble but Dawkins is right back with a Sky High. Ford (looking like he’s in 1997 Shawn Michaels tribute gear) goes up top but Lumis pulls Gacy outside. Ford’s mocking of Lumis’ crawl takes us to a break.

We come back with Ford getting in a sunset bomb for a needed breather, allowing the tag off to Dawkins. House is quickly cleaned and Dawkins hits the big running flip dive. Back in and Dawkins hits a Swanton for two on Gacy, who is right back with the Upside Down clothesline. Lumis sends Dawkins into the announcers’ table and we take another break.

We come back again with Dawkins getting over for the tag off to Ford. A spinebuster cuts him off in a hurry for two but the Doomsday Blockbuster gets the same on Gacy. Cue Erick Rowan to take Ford out though, earning himself a Pounce into the timekeeper’s area. Ford’s frog splash misses though and an assisted sitout powerbomb/neckbreaker combination finishes Ford to give us new champions at 17:23.

Rating: B. What a weird world as Gacy and Lumis have titles in WWE. This was the right way to go, as the Wyatts needed to do something to validate everyone being so afraid of them. Someone is going to have to rescue the titles, despite the Wyatts not really doing anything wrong. Good match here too, with the Profits getting to show off their impressive athleticism.

The tag division doesn’t think that’s good, with DIY saying this wouldn’t happen if they had just listened to them. Rey Fenix and Andrade come in to mock DIY, which sends Ciampa into another tailspin.

Video on Goldberg vs. Gunther.

Here is Jelly Roll to perform a song live but Logan Paul cuts him off. Paul doesn’t like celebrities and influencers coming into their world, because it’s disrespectful to wrestlers like him. Paul starts talking about his podcast signing a new deal but Roll cuts him off. Roll says no one cares about the podcast, but Paul calls Roll an outsider.

Cue Randy Orton, who goes on one heck of a rant about how Paul is the real outsider. Roll deserves respect but here is Drew McIntyre to Claymore Orton. McIntyre is taken out by security so Paul jumps Orton, with Roll making the save. Paul is taken out by security but stops to break Roll’s instruments. They might as well announce the Summerslam tag match from here.

Post break, Roll says he’ll be at Saturday Night’s Main Event to watch Orton vs. McIntyre.

R-Truth vs. Aleister Black

Black misses a running boot to start but slips out of a suplex. Some strikes puts R-Truth in the corner but he comes back with the Lie Detector. Black rolls outside and gets sent hard into the post, meaning it’s time to grab a chair. That’s taken away and R-Truth grabs a rollup for the pin at 2:08.

Post break Damian Priest cuts off Black from wrecking R-Truth. Black wrecks Priest instead.

Here are Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus for a face to face meeting. Stratton says she picked Stratus because she has beaten everyone else. Why wouldn’t she want to face one of the best of all time? Stratus says she doesn’t need to win to be the best ever, but when she does, Stratton will leave with nothing. Stratton says she learned about Trish on those VHS tapes, with Stratus asking if she heard that on TikTok. Stratus praises her but says she’ll be winning the title. Cue Naomi to tease a cash in but Jade Cargill runs out to jump her from behind.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Jimmy Uso/LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa/JC Mateo

Knight stomps Sikoa down into the corner to start but he fights his way out of trouble. Uso gets caught in the wrong corner, only to drop down with the uppercut for a breather. Sikoa pulls Uso out to the floor though and hits the Samoan drop onto the announcers’ table. We take a break and come back with Sikoa hitting a running Umaga Attack in the corner, only to miss the second attempt.

Uso flips out of a suplex though and hits an enziguri, allowing the diving tag to Knight. The jumping neckbreaker out of the corner drops Mateo, followed by the jumping top rope elbow. Sikoa’s Superfly Splash gets two, with Sikoa making the save. The fight goes outside but here is Paul Heyman with his phone. The distraction lets Tala Tonga kick Knight in the face…as Uso rolls Sikoa up for the pin at 9:03.

Rating: C+. The ending was a way to set up Sikoa vs. Uso for the US Title at Saturday Night’s Main Event and I’ve seen worse ideas. At the same time, Knight gets to deal with Heyman again, as this was a rather nicely put together deal. The action was fine enough, but what mattered here was advancing two stories at once and they made it work.

Post match Knight drops Sikoa with the BFT but gets speared down by Bron Breakker, followed by a Tsunami from Bronson Reed.

Overall Rating: B. Solid show here, as they set up some stuff for both upcoming major shows, while also having some good action of its own. That’s more than I was expecting on this show, but dang it’s great to see what happens when this show drops down to two hours. I want to see where these stories are going and that’s the right feeling with a pair of major shows coming up this weekend.

Results
Alexa Bliss b. Kairi Sane, Sol Ruca and Roxanne Perez – Sister Abigail DDT to Sane
Wyatt Sicks b. Street Profits – Powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to Ford
R-Truth b. Aleister Black – Rollup
Jimmy Uso/LA Knight b. Solo Sikoa/JC Mateo – Rollup to Sikoa

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Smackdown
Date: July 4, 2025
Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s a holiday show, but more importantly we’re back to the two hour editions every week. That’s a nice plus as the three hour versions just felt too long more often than not. We’re also finishing up the build towards Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution next weekend so it’s time to set things up. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Jacob Fatu jumps Solo Sikoa and company in the parking lot but it gets broken up.

Here is Cody Rhodes to get things going. He has the King Of The Ring crown in his hand, but first of all he wants to hear it for a kid named Cam battling leukemia. That gets a nice reaction (as it should) before Rhodes talks about what winning the tournament means. It means that we have the main event of Summerslam set…and here is Randy Orton to interrupt.

Orton talks about how he had Rhodes dead to rites at Night Of Champions but he couldn’t go that far. Rhodes was able to pull the trigger and Orton can respect that. Now he wants Rhodes to go on to Summerslam and take Cena out…and here is Drew McIntyre to interrupt. McIntyre says this sounds like people on the phone saying “you hang up, no you hang up” and he’s sick of it.

Rhodes has been buttering Orton up for months and then he put a knife in Orton’s back. That same back that Orton tweaked and Rhodes worked it over. The legend of Randy Orton is dead, and McIntyre wants Rhodes to win at Summerslam. That way he can take the title from Rhodes, because he won’t hesitate, like somebody. McIntyre turns to Orton, who drops him with the RKO. This felt like a way to set up Orton vs. McIntyre while reminding us that Rhodes won the tournament. In other words, it was fine.

Earlier today, Charlotte was put in a #1 contenders tag match with Alexa Bliss, who got the match set up. Charlotte isn’t happy, but Nick Aldis says let him handle this.

Drew McIntyre wants Randy Orton and gets him at Saturday Night’s Main Event. With McIntyre gone, Jacob Fatu is told to find a partner and he can face two of Solo Sikoa’s team tonight. Jimmy Uso pops up and we have a team.

Secret Hervice vs. Michin/B-Fab vs. Charlotte/Alexa Bliss

Chelsea Green is here with the Hervice. Michin, Bliss and Niven start things off but Charlotte tags herself in before anything else happens. Charlotte chops Niven away but gets jumped by Michin. Niven and Michin knock Charlotte outside, where Niven flip dives onto Michin and B-Fab.

Fyre flip dives onto all of them and we take a break. We come back with Niven’s backsplash getting two on Charlotte, allowing B-Fab to come in and strike away. Bliss gets her own tag and house is quickly cleaned for a parade of finishers. Charlotte hits a spear on Niven and pats Bliss on the head, which counts as a tag, so Twisted Bliss can finish Fyre at 9:12.

Rating: C+. Another qualifying match for another more important match later on, because we have to have something like that almost every single week these days. Bliss and Charlotte are fine for a team who don’t get along but work well together, though Charlotte could start to turn to the good side. It’s something that can be a success, and at the very least it would be something different for her for once.

Post match Charlotte hugs Bliss and then gives her a friendly shove.

Nick Aldis yells at the tag division and makes Andrade/Rey Fenix vs. Axiom. Other than that, one member of each team can face the Wyatt Sicks in an eight man tag. Johnny Gargano tries to get a SMACKDOWN TAG DIVISION chant going and it fails miserably.

Wyatt Sicks vs. Montez Ford/Chris Sabin/Johnny Gargano/Berto

Gacy and Berto start things off with Berto taking him into the corner for a corner clothesline. A springboard elbow drops Gacy and it’s off to Lumis, who shrugs off a kick to the head. Gargano comes in and gets caught with a swinging Side Effect for two and everything breaks down for the brawl. Lumis superkicks Ford down on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Ford still in trouble, including Gacy powerbombing Lumis onto him for two. The neck crank goes on for a bit but Ford is up for the tag to Sabin. Everything breaks down and Ford hits a big running flip dive but Howdy comes in to plant Sabin. Rowan comes back in, only for Sabin to catch him with a DDT. Gargano drops tot eh floor rather than come in to face Rowan though and the claw slam finishes Sabin at 10:36.

Rating: C+. This was a way to set up the Wyatt Sicks against the rest of the division without having one of the regular teams lose. At the end of the day, the Wyatts feel like the monsters who are going to take over the division. That makes for an interesting future as everyone tries to fight them off. This was at least different from what we usually get and I’ll absolutely take that.

Giulia wants everyone to come after her title because the blue flame will destroy them.

Video on the 4th of July.

Here is Tiffany Stratton to brag about her win over Nia Jax last week in the Last Woman Standing match. Now though, she’s ready to face Jade Cargill at Summerslam and then she’s going to get to choose her opponent at Evolution. Cue Cargill to interrupt, who respects what Stratton did against Jax. She wants Stratton to make a good choice…and here is Trish Stratus to interrupt (Wade Barrett is VERY happy).

Stratton gets right to the point and offers Stratus the title shot at Evolution. Works for Cargill, and Stratus talks about how great it is to see an all women’s show. Stratus wants her kids to see her as a champion, but Stratton says WWE runs on Tiffy Time. This was a very, very fast way to set up a title match and that’s all you can do with just over a week before the show.

Solo Sikoa and company are in the back, where he welcomes Tala Tonga to the team. They’re ready to take out Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu tonight, because the family is complete.

Jade Cargill tells Trish Stratus that she’ll see her at Evolution. Naomi decks Cargill with the briefcase, prompting Cargill to tell Nick Aldis that she wants Naomi once and for all. Deal.

Andrade/Rey Fenix vs. Fraxiom

Andrade and Frazer start things off with the latter taking over on the arm for some cranking. Axiom comes in for some running forearms but Fenix flips out of a tornado DDT. Fraxiom clears the ring for some stereo dives and we take a break. We come back with Fenix trying to fight out of trouble but getting launched into Chasing The Dragon for two.

Back up and Fenix grabs a running DDT, which is enough for the tag to Andrade. Frazer is quickly taken down for Fenix’s frog splash and a near fall. Back up and another Chasing The Dragon gets two with Frazer making the save as we take another break. We come back again with Frazer missing his phoenix splash, allowing Fenix to send him flying with a release German suplex.

Andrade’s running knees in the corner get two and the double moonsault gets two. The super Spanish Fly into the phoenix splash gets two more on Andrade, with Fenix making the save. Fenix is back up with the big running flip dive to take out Axiom, leaving Andrade to give Frazer the Message for the pin at 15:38.

Rating: B. This was about two teams getting to do nuts and do their thing, which is all it needed to be. Andrade and Fenix are another makeshift team, but at the same time, I’m not wild on seeing Fraxiom losing clean like this. They were red hot there for a bit and have already cooled off, which isn’t a good sign for their futures.

Damian Priest runs into Aleister Black, who will be facing R-Truth next week. Black says Priest is the good guy right now but violence begets violence. Priest doesn’t think he’s the good guy and thinks R-Truth might take care of Black next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Jacob Fatu/Jimmy Uso vs. JC Mateo/Solo Sikoa

Sikoa immediately tags Mateo, who gets to face Fatu. They waste no time in going outside to start the brawl, with Fatu sending him into the barricade. Back in and Mateo takes over on Uso, meaning Sikoa is willing to come in for a change. The Spinning Solo plants Uso and we take an early break.

We come back with Sikoa hitting a running Umaga attack to Uso, who manages to send Mateo into the corner. The diving tag brings Fatu in to clean house, including ten headbutts to Sikoa. Back to back running Umaga attacks get two and Uso is back in with a superkick. Fatu’s implant DDT hits Sikoa and the triple jump moonsault finishes him off at 8:51.

Rating: B-. Another strong showing for Fatu, as he beats Sikoa when he gets his hands on him. That makes all the sense in the world, as Sikoa himself has never been the force but rather the people he has around him. That’s all we were seeing here and it went well, with Fatu showing that he’s someone who can run through anyone on his own.

Post match the announcers’ table is loaded up but Tonga Loa and Tala Tonga are in to lay out Uso and Fatu. The villains powerbomb him through the table to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Sweet goodness the two hour time frame makes this show so much easier to watch. It isn’t that it’s so much better, but rather that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. That is nice to see after so many months of the longer form and it’s nice to see it staying. Good show, with the build towards both Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution at the same time, with Summerslam waiting in the not so far distance.

Results
Charlotte/Alexa Bliss b. Secret Hervice and Michin/B-Fab – Twisted Bliss to Fyre
Wyatt Sicks b. Montez Ford/Chris Sabin/Johnny Gargano/Berto – Claw slam to Sabin
Andrade/Rey Fenix b. Fraxiom – The Message to Frazer
Jacob Fatu/Jimmy Uso b. Solo Sikoa/JC Mateo – Moonsault to Sikoa

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: June 27, 2025
Location: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re overseas for tomorrow’s Night Of Champions event and that means we have a rare TV show in Saudi Arabia. This could be an interesting week as they certainly have a stacked card. That includes some title matches, featuring Tiffany Stratton defending against Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing match. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Cody Rhodes to get things going and the fans seem to appreciate him. The fans sing the song to him, which is quite the nice touch, but here is Randy Orton to interrupt before he can say anything. Orton gets the song treatment as well before bringing up Rhodes’ match with Jey Uso on Raw. He says it should be the Match Of The Year when the Slammys come up (and we go to what looks like a phone camera shot, with a caption talking about technical issues during the show, which apparently shut the show down for about half an hour).

Anyway, Orton talks about how he wants the crown because he lost in the finals last year, but he also lost to John Cena. He needs to right that wrong as well and there is nothing he won’t do to become the King Of The Ring. This includes the RKO, which leaves Rhodes saying no one has let him get a word in edgewise lately. Rhodes knows what it means to be embarrassed by Cena and the RKO will still be deadly, but Orton won’t be King Of The Ring. That was kind of an abrupt ending but they probably had to get out of there after everything went haywire.

Solo Sikoa tells JC Mateo to give Jimmy Uso one more opportunity to come back to the family. Then it’s time to focus on Jacob Fatu.

JC Mateo vs. Jimmy Uso

Solo Sikoa is here with Mateo, who starts fast and hammers away in the corner. Uso tries to fight back but gets clotheslines down for his efforts. A spinning kick to the face sends Mateo outside but Sikoa tells Uso this is his last chance as we take a break. Back with Mateo planting him down and hitting the standing moonsault for two. The waistlock stays on the ribs but Uso fights up and makes the comeback. The Running Umaga Attack connects but Sikoa offers a distraction, setting up the Tour Of The Islands to give Mateo the pin at 8:13.

Rating: C+. This is the story that keeps going but the Jacob Fatu factor is going to change things up a bit. Uso has someone who might kind of be on his side (though it’s hard to ever tell with this family) and that could make for something interesting. For now though, Mateo gets to look like a monster as he beats a fan favorite, even with some help.

Post match Sikoa helps Uso up but Uso slaps him in the face. Mateo and Sikoa go for the beatdown but Jacob Fatu runs in for the save. Fatu and Uso clear the ring and Uso shoves Fatu out of the way to cut off Sikoa’s shot from behind and dropping Sikoa with a superkick.

DIY rallies the tag division against the Wyatt Sicks but Nick Aldis comes in to ask what is going on. DIY rants again and gets….a match against Andrade and a partner of his choosing for tonight.

Giulia wants the Women’s US Title, but only as a stepping stone. Zelina Vega doesn’t like that and is ready to fight to keep her title.

Women’s United States Title: Zelina Vega vs. Giulia

Vega is defending. They trade some early rollups for two each until Giulia grabs a quick suplex. Vega sends her outside though and tries a moonsault, only to bang up her knee on the landing. We take a break and come back with Vega in trouble and getting sent outside. Vega is able to send her into the steps for some running knees, including the banged up one going into the steps. Back in and the Meteora gives Vega two but Giulia catches her on top, setting up a butterfly superplex. Vega manages a quick Code Red for two but Giulia knees her in the head. The northern lights bomb gives Giulia the pin and the title at 8:18.

Rating: C+. They had to do this as Vega has gotten her run with the title to make her feel more important, but Giulia is the possible star of the future. As she said earlier, this is basically a stepping stone for her and that should be a good thing, as it’s hard to imagine Giulia in the midcard for very long. This was a case of doing the logical thing and they got it right.

Charlotte comes up to Alexa Bliss after last week’s save and insists that she does NOT need friends. Bliss suggests they be “allies of convenience” and that seems to get Charlotte’s attention.

We look at Wade Barrett winning the 2015 King Of The Ring.

Barrett is in the ring for a face to face confrontation between Asuka and Jade Cargill. First up, Cargill says she sees purpose in the finals and plans on taking the whole throne. Asuka agrees that Cargill is strong, but Asuka has experience and skill. Naomi comes in to say she has the real power because she’ll cash in at some point. Cargill goes after Naomi but runs over Asuka in the process, earning herself a knockdown. Asuka leaves and Naomi mocks Cargill.

This sums up one of my biggest issues with Money In The Bank. Rather than focusing on a showdown between two stars who are set for a major match, we need to shift over to Naomi, who very well may have absolutely nothing to do with the match. It’s having to remember that this thing, which may not even be a factor, is there and that takes away so much attention and focus on the match itself. Stop doing that so much.

Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce are here when Aleister Black comes in. R-Truth interrupts, saying he wants John Cena tonight. That isn’t going to happen, but Black follows R-Truth out.

We look at Los Garza winning the AAA Tag Team Titles.

DIY vs. Andrade/???

The mystery partner is…Rey Fenix. Well that works. Ciampa gets double teamed to start and the villains are sent outside for stereo dives and we take a break. Back with Fenix striking away at Ciampa as Gargano is on the floor favoring his knee. We go split screen to look at a trailer for the new Jurassic World movie and come back with Fenix knocking Ciampa off the top. Fenix hits a dive and brings in Andrade to clean house. Gargano avoids the running knees in the corner but manages a reverse tornado DDT for two. A Shatter Machine drops Andrade though and we take a break.

Back with Andrade hitting the running knees in the corner and a moonsault gets two. Fenix’s running flip dive takes Ciampa out before Fenix flips back in for a German suplex go Gargano. Project Ciampa gets two on Fenix as everything breaks down. Ciampa misses a running knee in the corner though and it’s the Black Fire Driver into the Message to give Andrade the pin at 14:41.

Rating: B-. This is one of the places where WWE shines and has a good advantage over a lot of promotions. They have the roster depth that allows them to throw something like this together and get a near fifteen minute match of completely acceptable quality. Andrade and Fenix worked well together, though I’m not sure I can picture this being anything more than a one or two off.

We look at John Cena on the Late Show.

We get another yin/yang video on Cena vs. CM Punk. I believe this is the third time we’ve seen this, or something similar, in eight days.

Here is R-Truth to say he is Ron Killings so put some respect on his name. He wants John Cena right now but gets Black Mass from Aleister Black.

The Street Profits talk about what they had to do to get the titles back so they’re ready to face the Wyatt Sicks tonight. B-Fab comes in to say she has their back if needed.

Aleister Black runs into Damian Priest, who says if Black tried that on him, it would go differently. Black isn’t impressed and leaves, with Carmelo Hayes coming in to say stay out of it. This time it’s Priest who isn’t impressed.

Tag Team Titles: Street Profits vs. Wyatt Sicks

The Wyatts are challenging. Lumis hammers on Ford to start and here are a bunch of teams to watch at ringside. Gacy comes in to take over on Ford but Dawkins makes a save. Gacy’s handspring lariat drops Ford as well and we take a break. We come back with Ford and Lumis colliding for a double down, followed by a double tag. Everything breaks down and Los Garza pull Lumis to the floor. The brawl is on and Dawkins gets jumped by DIY and Los Garza for the DQ at 6:08. Not enough shown to rate but this was about the screwy ending rather than the match.

Post match the other teams beat up the Wyatts but Erick Rowan is sent in. The other teams take him out but Uncle Howdy comes in as well. The Profits fight up and really clean house, leaving Howdy staring with them.

Commentary confirms that next week marks the return of Smackdown to two hours.

We look at JC Mateo beating Jimmy Uso earlier tonight and the post match brawl with Jacob Fatu.

Fatu is leaving and runs into Uso, and they seem to respect each other. Uso seems to want the US Title though.

Women’s Title: Nia Jax vs. Tiffany Stratton

Jax is challenging in a Last Woman Standing match. Jax jumps her to start fast but Stratton sends her to the floor for a baseball slide. Stratton sends her into the steps but gets sent into them for her efforts. A Samoan drop onto the announcers’ table plants Stratton again and we take a break.

We come back with Stratton knocking her down, only to be sent hard into the corner. That’s good for an eight count so Jax runs her over again, followed by a splash through a table at ringside. Stratton is up at nine so Jax sets up another table as we take another break. We come back with Jax beating on her with a chair, which is laid on Stratton’s chest. The Annihilator crushes Stratton, who is up again at nine, earning herself a kendo stick shot.

Another table is loaded up but Jax can’t hit a super Samoan drop. Instead Stratton powerbombs her through it for nine and we have Naomi. Stratton cuts that off and hits them both in the head with the briefcase, setting up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever onto them…for nine. Back up and Stratton briefcases her through two more tables at ringside to retain at 17:22.

Rating: B-. They got really close here but it went a bit too long with one or so false finish too many. I wasn’t wild on Naomi being out there either as she was yet again a distraction, as almost every Money In The Bank person winds up being. It’s still a good, hard hitting match, but it needed to be trimmed a bit and with less cashing in teased.

Night Of Champions rundown.

Here is John Cena for the final confrontation with CM Punk before their big fight. Cena says that Punk is out of tricks and can do nothing about it….and it’s Basic Thuganomics. The Titantron says PUNK LIFE and here is Punk, dressed as the Dr. of Thuganomics, complete with the DRUG FREE knuckle jewelry. Punk: “Yo. Check it. This is basic Punkanomics.”

He rhymes about how Cena stole the Pipe Bomb so now he’s stealing word life. Cena steals to hide the fact that he’s in slow motion and has buried more talent than the Undertaker. He doesn’t have any respects, but Punk would do it too…if this company hired his ex. Batista is a better actor and Cena is a “fish belly white Hulk Hogan but somehow more problematic.” When it comes to best in the world, Punk is your vessel, because they chant for him and tell Cena YOU CAN’T WRESTLE.

Cena may work for DC, but to Punk, he’ll always be the Marine. Punk: “That’s straight to DVD, better find a PS3 and now understand you can’t see me.” The Pipe Bomb was fourteen years ago and Cena tried to make it all about himself, because that’s what he did. Punk gets in a Kendrick Lamar/Drake reference to wrap it up, allowing the fans to sing him out. Cena sold this like his mind was blown and the look of shock and awe on his face made up for Punk’s less than amazing rhyming abilities.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a nice final cap on the Night Of Champions build but they also did a good job with the title change and the Tag Team Title stuff. I liked the closing promo about as much as I could and it was nice to see something different from Punk, especially when it might have been a way to avoid the Saudi Arabia fans booing him. Overall, a nice show, but my goodness the news about shifting back to two hours is such a great thing to hear. The show is too long at three hours and hopefully they can find their rhythm again with the proper time slot.

Results
JC Mateo b. Jimmy Uso – Tour Of The Islands
Giulia b. Zelina Vega – Northern lights bomb
Andrade/??? b. DIY – Message to Ciampa
Street Profits b. Wyatt Sicks via DQ when Los Garza interfered
Tiffany Stratton b. Nia Jax – Briefcase shot through two tables

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: June 13, 2025
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re on the way to Night Of Champions and the big story is John Cena vs. CM Punk for the Smackdown World Title coming up in Saudi Arabia. Other than that, we have a pair of Money In The Bank briefcases floating around, which are likely going to be teased for a good while now. This week we should be seeing some more things being set up for the pay per view so let’s get to it.

Here is Money In The Bank if you need a recap.

This show was in my hometown but I had something more important to do. Happy birthday buddy.

We open with a long recap of Worlds Collide and Money In The Bank.

Here is John Cena to get things going. After his special introduction, Cena says that the Mount Rushmore of wrestling is four of him because no one has ever been him. He is smarter than everyone and he is always 1000 steps ahead of you. Last year, he announced his retirement a year in advance so he could have six months to scout his biggest opponents.

Cena goes through the year, explaining every action he has taken like a maniacal movie villain. Now Punk is coming up on Night Of Champions but he’ll have to become a hypocrite to get his shot. Seth Rollins won’t cash in on him because he wants Cena to take the title away so Rollins can be the one champion. Cena has solved everything because he is smarter than everyone and it will take you years to understand it.

No one is capable of hanging with him but here is Cody Rhodes to interrupt. Rhodes calls Cena a genius and agrees that Cena’s plans have been right the entire time. Cena has this twenty five year master plan but there is one detail he overlooked: Rhodes pinned him at Money In The Bank. Rhodes isn’t part of Cena’s plan, because Cena is part of his. Cue Randy Orton to say he has Cena beaten at Backlash until someone saved Cena again. Now Orton is ready to win the King Of The Ring to get to Cena and he’ll go through Rhodes to get there.

Cue LA Knight to interrupt (Barrett: “YES!”), who knows that no one in the ring wants him walking down there. Knight is the sore thumb against the WWE establishment and that’s how he likes it. King Of The Ring is here and if he has to drop any of them to be WWE Champion, so be it. Cena goes to leave but R-Truth jumps him from behind. Everyone lining up to come after Cena as the clock is ticking is an interesting story, and Knight jumping into the main event scene is a logical way to go for him. The US Title doesn’t mean anything for him anymore so see what he can do.

King Of The Ring First Round: Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Aleister Black

This could be interesting. Hayes and Black slug it out to start, leaving Orton and Knight to brawl in the corner. Hayes gets two off a quick rollup but gets sent outside for a moonsault from Black. Knight, Orton and Black all miss their finishers and we take an early break. Back with Knight stomping Hayes down in the corner and then doing the same to Orton. Hayes is back up to kick Knight down and the Fade Away puts him down.

A running flip dive takes Black out but Knight is up to send Hayes into the announcers’ table. Orton drops Black onto the table but can’t superplex Hayes. Instead Black posts Orton, leaving Hayes to frog splash Knight for two as we take another break. Back again with Black striking away but having to block an RKO. A series of strikes give Black two on Hayes but Orton gives everyone a powerslam.

The double hanging DDT is loaded up, with Knight coming in with a neckbreaker to Orton, driving the other two down in the process. The BFT hits Black with Hayes making the save but cue Bronson Reed to cut off the jumping elbow. Bron Breakker is in for a Super Spear to Knight and Hayes adds a frog splash….into an RKO onto Knight. Orton gets the pin on Knight to advance at 16:17.

Rating: B. I was digging this one with the ending being quite the creative way to go to wrap it up. That’s one of the best things you can see, as it came out of nowhere for a cool way to go. Other than that, it was nice to see all four of them being an option to win. The interference was a fine way to keep Knight looking strong, though I could have gone with someone else taking the fall.

Jacob Fatu warns us that he is coming.

Here is Jacob Fatu for a chat and the fans are happy to see him. Just because you are family doesn’t mean you can go behind someone’s back and take credit for their success, which is what Solo Sikoa did to him. That’s why he took Sikoa out at Money In The Bank and he’s on his own. Cue a clapping Sikoa on the Titantron, saying he brought Fatu here a year ago because Fatu was doing nothing. He gave Fatu a chance and next week he’ll give him another one. Fatu can apologize and say he loves Sikoa, because Sikoa can take him out. This should be interesting, but Fatu as a monster face has all of the potential.

The Secret Hervice comes in to see Nick Aldis, with Chelsea Green on the phone, saying that she needs to have her Queen Of The Ring match in a city other than Lexington. Aldis isn’t doing that and puts Alba Fyre in her place. The Secret Hervice leaves and Zelina Vega comes in, saying she wants Giulia. That can’t happen this week, so she’ll face Giulia next week, with Aldis not really able to get a word in.

Queen Of The Ring First Round: Michin vs. Piper Niven vs. Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax

Niven and Michin go to the floor, leaving Cargill to shoulder Jax in the corner. Michin comes in and gets taken down by Cargill, who gets two off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Back up and Michin hits a running dropkick to put Cargill down but Niven hits a running backsplash on Michin. Jax is back in to take over on Cargill, who avoids a charge to send Jax shoulder first into the post. Michin is back up for an Asai moonsault onto all three and we take a break.

Back with Cargill superkicking Jax but getting taken down by Niven. Some running shots in the corner have Cargill in trouble but it’s time for Jax and Niven to argue. Michin is back in to pick up the pace with a running hurricanrana, with Jax making the save. Cargill slugs away on Jax and Niven on the floor, only for them to throw Cargill over the announcers’ table (and over Wade Barrett) for the big crash.

Back in and Michin grabs a spinning DDT on Niven, only to get dropped by Jax. The Annihilator hits Michin but Niven makes the save. Niven drives Jax through the barricade and hits the Piper Bomb on Michin. Cargill is back in though and Jaded finishes Niven at 12:52.

Rating: B-. There is something amazing about watching Cargill muscle someone up and plant them down with Jaded and that’s what she did again here. It was fun to see someone going power vs. power with Jax, as that isn’t something you often see. It was an entertaining match and Cargill feels like she could be in for something big sooner than later.

Here is Miss Money In The Bank Naomi for a chat. Naomi says people here are looking real shocked and real stupid but she took what she deserved. The entire time when she was trying to take the title from Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton was there to stop her. Too nice Naomi allowed it to happen…and here is Stratton to interrupt. Stratton says just cash in right now and take the title if she’s so confident.

Naomi is all talk and no action and that’s why she couldn’t beat Jax. That doesn’t work for Naomi, who wants to surprise Stratton and is going to make her life h***. Proceed with caution. Naomi leaves but here is Nia Jax to jump Stratton and hit the Annihilator. Naomi teases the cash-in but Jax glares her off. And so we start what is likely going to be a months long ordeal with one tease after another.

Earlier today, Nick Aldis talked to the tag division, all of whom want the Wyatt Sicks. The Motor City Machine Guns get the nod this week.

Wyatt Sicks vs. Motor City Machine Guns

It’s Dexter Lumis/Joe Gacy for the Wyatts with the rest of the team here too. It’s a brawl to start with the Wyatts taking over and Lumis’ jumping spinning legdrop gets two on Sabin. Gacy comes in but gets low bridged to the floor, with the Guns following with stereo slingshot dives.

We take a break and come back with Sabin cleaning house and the stereo apron superkicks rocking Lumis. Gacy is back in with a double clothesline to take over and powerbombs Lumis onto Sabin for two. Sabin is back up with a DDT to Lumis and the Dream Sequence connects. Skull & Bones is broken up though and Lumis’ guillotine legdrop finishes Sabin at 9:23.

Rating: C+. It’s about time to do something with the Wyatts, as you can only have them do a bunch of random beatdowns. Going after the Tag Team Titles isn’t a bad idea and it feels like this is the start of setting up the Wyatts to go through the division and maybe even take the titles. Good enough stuff here, which is absolutely no shock given that the Guns were around.

John Cena comes up to Jimmy Uso in the back and is looking for R-Truth. Uso hasn’t, but Cena wants R-Truth to meet him in the ring.

Here is an angry Cena for a chat. He can tolerate a certain level of disrespect but R-Truth has crossed the line. Cena calls R-Truth out for a fight right now but gets CM Punk instead. Punk says he has a mic and wants Cena to turn around and let the fans celebrate him like they want to. Cena: “Why?”

He wants to know why he should waste his time in front of a bunch of people who don’t matter. These people don’t matter. This place doesn’t matter. Basketball doesn’t matter. Horse racing doesn’t matter. The title is all that matters. Punk gets serious and says there is one reality: Cena cannon beat him. When Punk was at his best, Cena could not beat him. It is Punk’s belief in himself that brought him here and he’s not here dressed like a toddler who just struck out at t-ball.

Punk wants that one back because it sounds like PG John Cena, but “I’m going to take the title and walk out” sounds like something Punk would say. It’s ironic that Cena is stealing Punk’s material because Cena couldn’t stop him. Punk will meet him in Saudi Arabia and he will sacrifice the goat to the gods of wrestling. The reality is Punk can see through him and that’s the truth. Cue R-Truth to jump Cena from behind and put him in the STF. This was more of the hard sell from Punk, with R-Truth being an interesting side piece to the whole thing.

Alexa Bliss is ready to move closer to being Queen Of The Ring but Charlotte comes in to say there is one queen.

R-Truth requests and receives a match with John Cena next week.

Queen Of The Ring First Round: Charlotte vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Alba Fyre vs. Candice LeRae

Bliss cuts off Charlotte’s entrance to make this especially personal. LeRae and Fyre break up the staredown but Charlotte is back up to knock both of them down and take over. Bliss comes in with a high crossbody to Charlotte but Charlotte takes them all down again as we go to a break.

Back with Bliss hitting a Tower Of Doom and we get a parade of faceplants. Charlotte gets the Figure Eight on Bliss but LeRae breaks it up with an Asai moonsault. Bliss is back up with Twisted Bliss to Fyre, only for Charlotte to break it up. Charlotte’s spear gets two on LeRae and she grabs the Figure Eight on Fyre. Bliss is right back with the Sister Abigail DDT to pin LeRae for the win at 10:49, just before Fyre taps.

Rating: C+. I like seeing Charlotte lose, but why do I have a feeling this is going to result in her complaining about a lot of things and probably costing Bliss the semifinals? Either way, Bliss getting a push is intriguing as she could be slotted into the title scene rather easily, though Charlotte will likely have something to say about that. Other than that, this won’t sit well with Chelsea Green, which should be great.

Post match Charlotte glares a lot.

Cody Rhodes runs into CM Punk, who wishes him luck tonight.

King Of The Ring First Round: Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest vs. Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura bails to the floor to start so Rhodes decks him, leaving Andrade to knock Priest into the corner. Rhodes is back in to clothesline Priest out to the floor but Nakamura is back up to go after both of them. Andrade hits a big dive to the floor to take everyone out as we take a break.

Back with Nakamura hitting the sliding German suplex on Priest but he’s back up to knock everyone else down. Rhodes breaks up Old School though, leaving Nakamura to cross armbreaker Andrade. That’s broken up so Rhodes brings out a (Slim Jim) table but Nakamura saves Andrade from going through it. Instead Rhodes is kicked through the table and we take a break.

Back with Andrade cleaning house but Rhodes fires off a string of clotheslines. Nakamura breaks up Cross Rhodes and hits Kinshasa for two but Andrade is back up. The Message gets two on Priest and Andrade slugs it out with Nakamura. Rhodes breaks that up and Cody Cutters Priest, followed by Cross Rhodes to pin Nakamura at 16:46.

Rating: B-. You could all but guarantee who was taking the fall the second Nakamura was announced for the match and that’s not the worst thing. He’s leaving when his deal is up so why bother wasting a loss on anyone else? Rhodes needs a nice run in this tournament after Wrestlemania and putting him against Cena again at Summerslam is hardly a bad idea.

Overall Rating: B. This show was heavily focused on the tournaments, with only the tag match getting attention otherwise. As a result, the wrestling was rather good, though my goodness I could go a long time without seeing a qualifying/first round multi person match. Other than that though, this was about people lining up to come after John Cena, who is trying to run out the clock on this time in WWE. I’m curious to see where that is going, and the match with Punk at Night Of Champions should be more than worth a look. Good show here, and things are looking up around here.

Results
Randy Orton b. LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes and Aleister Black – Frog splash to Knight
Jade Cargill b. Piper Niven, Nia Jax and Michin – Jaded to Niven
Wyatt Sicks b. Motor City Machine Guns – Guillotine legdrop to Sabin
Cody Rhodes b. Shinsuke Nakamura, Andrade and Damian Priest – Cross Rhodes to Nakamura

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6