Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI
Date: November 1, 2025
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

It’s a big show this time as we have the Raw World Title needing to be decided following Seth Rollins’ injury. Other than that, the Smackdown World Title is on the line as Drew McIntyre gets another shot at Cody Rhodes. The Intercontinental and Smackdown Women’s Titles are both on the line as well so let’s get to it.

The opening video features flashbacks to the original series before shifting to look at tonight’s edition.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre

Rhodes is defending and can lose the title via countout or DQ. We get the Big Match Intros and McIntyre insists on being introduced as the REAL American Dream in a great bit of trolling. Rhodes slugs away to start and McIntyre heads outside to slow things back down. Back in and McIntyre tries to send Rhodes into the referee, which McIntyre thinks should be a DQ. McIntyre bites his head and Rhodes stomps away, which has him almost shoving the referee in frustration.

That’s enough of a distraction for McIntyre to get in a cheap shot from behind and post Rhodes for a bonus. Back in and an elbow drops Rhodes before McIntyre sends him flying with a suplex. McIntyre goes up top and gets superplexed down and…the stream freezes for a few moments. We come back with Rhodes winning a slugout and hitting the Disaster Kick.

The Cody Cutter connects (though it looked like McIntyre tried to counter) for two but McIntyre is back with a spinebuster and sitout powerbomb for two of his own. With frustration setting in, McIntyre grabs the title, which he throws to Rhodes. That’s not enough to get Rhodes to snap as he throws the title away, only to get Claymored for two. They head outside where McIntyre can’t hit another Claymore but can knock him off the apron and through the announcers’ table for a heck of a crash.

Back in and another Claymore misses so Rhodes tries to climb the corner, only to bang up his knee. The knee is fine enough to hit the Cody Cutter for two (the first one must have been a botch) before the referee gets bumped. McIntyre grabs the title, which is knocked away, and it’s a double crossbody to leave everyone down. They both crawl for the belt, with Rhodes giving him a DDT onto it for the knockout. Cross Rhodes retains the title at 18:43.

Rating: B. Good, hard fought match here, which is what you want to see out of these two. They had something interesting with the idea of Rhodes being in more danger than usual. The fans were into what they were doing and it felt like the title was in jeopardy a few times. Rhodes is likely gearing up for his feud with Randy Orton over the title and this was a great way to give him a boost on the way there.

We recap Jade Cargill challenging Tiffany Stratton for the Smackdown Women’s Title. Stratton beat her once but Cargill came back and turned evil, even injuring Stratton’s knee on the way here.

Nick Aldis makes sure that Stratton is good to go, which she insists she is.

Various celebrities are here.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton

Stratton is defending and slugs away to start fast. That earns her a quick chokeslam but Cargill misses a charge into the corner. Cargill is fine enough to catch her on top as Stratton gets caught in the Tree Of Woe. Some cranking on the knee has Stratton down on the floor and Cargill is not impressed. Stratton is able to send her into the steps for a breather and then drops her off the top inside. The Swanton hits Cargill for two but she’s right back with a fall away slam. It works so well that she does it two more times for another near fall. A pair of powerbombs puts Stratton down and Jaded gives Cargill the title at 5:32.

Rating: C+. This was built around the idea of Stratton’s knee being banged up and that’s a fine way to go. It turned into Cargill smashing through the injured Stratton, who got in a flurry to start but then just got overwhelmed. That’s a good way to end Stratton’s long reign, as she was beaten by someone she couldn’t stop. There are already people set to come after Cargill, including a likely soon to return Bianca Belair. This was how the title change should have gone down and it worked rather well.

Saturday Night’s Main Event is back in Montreal on January 24.

Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta vs. Rusev

Mysterio is defending and gets knocked to the floor to start fast. Rusev dropkicks Penta for two and then powerbombs Mysterio, allowing him to sneer a lot. They fight to the floor where Mysterio posts Rusev before Penta flip dives onto both of them. Back in and Penta’s slingshot dropkick hits Mysterio in the corner, with Rusev pulling Penta outside for a ram into the barricade.

Mysterio gets dropped onto the announcers’ table, allowing Rusev to tell the title that he’s coming. Back in and Rusev chokes on the ropes but Penta breaks up the Accolade attempt. The Backstabber out of the corner gives Penta two on Rusev and some basement superkicks make it worse. Rusev shrugs that off and hits the swinging release Rock Bottom for two of his own. With Penta down in the corner, Mysterio grabs a chair and throws it to Rusev…apparently forgetting that it’s No DQ.

Rusev wrecks Mysterio with the chair but Penta kicks it into Rusev’s face. A springboard tornado DDT plants Rusev for two but he’s back with an Alabama Slam. Back up and the Penta Driver plants Rusev, only to have him pop back up and superkick Penta out of the air. The Accolade goes on and the bell rings….but there was no tap out. Mysterio rang the bell for the save, which earns him quite the beating. Rusev gets sent into the steps though and Penta grabs the bell hammer, which accidentally hits Rusev. Mysterio takes Penta out and frog splashes Rusev to retain at 12:37.

Rating: B-. There is something awesome about Mysterio’s “What if Honky Tonk Man was just a little bit smarter?” title reign. On paper, Mysterio should be getting wrecked in every title match but he’s just smart enough to find a way out. That’s all he needs to do, and he’s already approaching seven months as champion. It might not be great, but it makes sense and it’s working well enough, even as Rusev takes yet another fall.

We get a preview of a big interview with John Cena, which will be released in full in the coming weeks.

Cena narrates a video announcing a sixteen man tournament (The Last Time Is Now Tournament) to earn the right to be his final opponent. There will be entries from all three brands and maybe even some surprises.

We recap Jey Uso vs. CM Punk for the vacant Raw World Title. Punk earned the shot against Seth Rollins, who got hurt, so Uso won a battle royal to earn the shot. They’re friends, but they both need to be champion.

Raw World Title: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso

For the vacant title so of course they do the Big Match Intros. They take their time to start with Punk backing him into the corner and they go into the grappling. Uso rolls him up for a quick two before Punk grabs his headlock for the trademark SHOUTING IN HIS OPPONENT’S ear. Apparently the advice is “try to escape the GTS by going to the floor” before Punk takes him down for some elbows.

Punk’s neckbreaker drops Uso (after they seem to both try one at once for a weird visual) and they chop it out. Uso knocks him into the corner but the spear is countered with a front facelock and another neckbreaker gives Punk two. Back up and they slug it out with Uso getting the better of things. A quick GTS sends Uso outside though and Punk sends him back in, with Uso being smart enough to go towards the ropes. Punk grabs a suplex for two but Uso breaks up a superplex attempt.

Uso misses a dive off the top but starts hammering away, setting up the running Umaga Attack. Another is cut off so Uso hits a superkick and the spear into the Superfly Splash for a near fall. Punk catches him on top for a top rope superplex and they’re both down again. Back up and they slug it out until Punk takes over, including a leg lariat. Uso superkicks him out to the floor for a suicide dive and they’re both down for a breather.

Uso is back with a spear through the barricade but the Superfly Splash hits knees. Another GTS gives Punk two but Uso hits his own GTS. Punk hits an awful spear for two more and is back with a GTS. Another is attempted but Punk collapses, with Uso pulling him into the sleeper. That’s reversed into the Anaconda Vice so Uso makes the ropes. Another Vice attempt is countered into a rollup and Uso is back with some superkicks. Uso charges into a knee to the head though and a pair of GTS’s give Punk the pin and the title at 20:58.

Rating: B+. There were only so many ways to go after Rollins’ injury and Punk winning the title on a pretty big stage is the best option they have. Punk gets to show that he still has it without having a Money In The Bank cash-in waiting on him. At the same time, there are several people who could come for the title, including LA Knight, Sami Zayn and eventually Bron Breakker. It wound up being a rather good match as well, with Uso giving everything he could before falling in the end. Nice stuff here, with a limited amount of ways to go given the circumstances.

Punk celebrates as Uso looks up at him to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show was entertaining and less than two hours so they certainly got in and out without wasting time. At the same time, the show really didn’t feel that important. None of the stories came off like they were overly important, even with a pair of World Titles on the line. Punk vs. Rollins would have felt bigger, but there just wasn’t much to see here that kept me engaged. It’s a good show due to the action, but hopefully they have something a bit better on the way to Survivor Series, because they’ll need the upgrade.

Results
Cody Rhodes b. Drew McIntyre – Cross Rhodes
Jade Cargill b. Tiffany Stratton – Jaded
Dominik Mysterio b. Penta and Rusev – Frog splash to Rusev
CM Punk b. Jey Uso – GTS

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

Smackdown
Date: October 31, 2025
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the night before Saturday Night’s Main Event and that means it’s time for the big push before the show. That could make for some interesting builds to tomorrow, including the final setup of Drew McIntyre challenging Cody Rhodes for the Smackdown World Title. That should be enough to carry this week, plus all of the holiday shenanigans. Let’s get to it.

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

We have a theme of the University of Utah vs. the University of Cincinnati football game tomorrow.

We look at Jade Cargill turning heel last week and attacking Tiffany Stratton.

Cue Stratton to say she wants Cargill out here right now but Nick Aldis says it can’t get physical. This brings out Cargill, with Aldis calling for security. Cargill says she wants the title so Stratton goes into the aisle for the brawl, with Cargill getting away before it gets started.

Video on Ilja Dragunov.

R-Truth, dressed as Santa Claus, gives the Motor City Machine Guns some candy. He doesn’t believe that it’s Halloween and leaves but Solo Sikoa comes in to mock the Guns. A tag match seems set for later.

US Title: Ilja Dragunov vs. ???

Dragunov is defending against….Nathan Frazer. Wait hang on though as Tommaso Ciampa comes to the ring, saying Dragunov can’t possibly give him the shot. Dragunov says it’s for everyone but Frazer was here first. Also Ciampa is a jackass. Frazer knees him down to start fast and a spinning enziguri sends Dragunov outside. The suicide dive connects but Dragunov is fine enough to hit a spinning chop back inside.

Frazer manages a necksnap across the top but a springboard is cut off with a jumping knee. Dragunov tells him that it’s nothing personal before giving him a German suplex on the floor. We take a break and come back with Dragunov rolling more German suplexes but missing the Constantine Special. Frazer’s running shooting star press gets two and they trade strikes to the head. Dragunov misses a charge out to the floor but is back in with a shot to the face.

The top rope backsplash misses though and Frazer’s frog splash gets two as we take another break. We come back again with Frazer fighting out of a powerbomb and kicking Dragunov in the head. A superbomb is countered into a super hurricanrana to send Dragunov outside, meaning it’s another dive. The phoenix splash gets two back inside as Frazer can’t believe the kickout. Frazer elbows him off the top but Dragunov is right back up with a nasty middle rope German superplex for two of his own. A powerbomb into the H Bomb retains the title at 18:51.

Rating: B. These guys beat each other up and it’s nice to see Frazer getting to show off a bit. Dragunov is the story again here though, as he continues to look like he leaves everything he has in the ring and that makes for some awesome moments. Do more of this, which seems to be the idea at the moment.

Post match respect is shown but Tommaso Ciampa runs in to jump Frazer again. During the break, Axiom and Johnny Gargano ran in to join the brawl, with Dragunov trying to break it up.

Post break, the brawl continues until Tama Tonga comes in to grab the title and stare at Dragunov.

Kit Wilson vs. Carmelo Hayes

And Hayes is now a good guy. Ok then. Wilson tries to jump him from behind to start and manages a running elbow. A cross arm choke lets Wilson call Hayes toxic before stomping him down. Something like a spinning DDT gets two on Hayes, who fights up and hits a springboard clothesline. Wilson bails out to the floor and gets taken out with a dive…and here is Miz to post Hayes. A top rope elbow gives Wilson two but the First 48 gives Hayes the pin at 3:11.

Rating: C. Not much to the match other than to establish that Hayes is now a good guy. That worked out well enough as he did fine in the role in NXT and it’s not like he’s set the world on fire so far. A feud with Miz has worked for others before and at least he has a nice starting point.

Post match Miz drops Hayes with the Skull Crushing Finale.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss aren’t worried about the Kabuki Warriors. As for tonight, Charlotte says Nia Jax is still in fear because she’s displaying classic Gemini behavior. Bliss isn’t sure what to make of that.

Nick Aldis won’t let Sami Zayn be ringside for the Motor City Machine Guns vs. MFTs as he isn’t cleared. Cody Rhodes comes in and pleasantries are exchanged. Aldis flat out asks Rhodes if he attacked Jacob Fatu and Rhodes gives a definitive no. He’s fine with the contract for the title match against Drew McIntyre.

Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss

Charlotte is here with Bliss. Jax jumps her from behind to start so Bliss gets in a slap to the face. That earns a big shout from Jax, who runs Bliss over. A hurricanrana is cut off but Jax misses a charge into the post. Instead she sends Bliss into the barricade and takes a bow as we take a break.

We come back with a splash in the corner setting up the running hip attack. Jax misses a second attempt and Charlotte offers a distraction, allowing Bliss to get in a neck snap over the ropes. Bliss strikes away and gets two off a basement crossbody. Jax is right back with a Samoan drop for two of her own, with the referee losing his shoe. Back up and Charlotte offers another distraction to break up the Annihilator, allowing Bliss to kick the leg out and get the pin at 9:35.

Rating: C+. This worked about as well as these two are ever going to do, as the size difference hurts it a good bit. What matters here though was that Charlotte and Bliss are still working together and turning into a rather nice team. They’re the team that the division has been needing and hopefully it can last for a long while.

The MFTs run into Rey Fenix, with Solo Sikoa asking if he’s looking for a fight. Fenix says no, because he wants to fight Talla Tonga. Sure.

Damian Priest says it’s now personal with Aleister Black and punishment is coming.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Tiffany Stratton runs into Kiana James and Giulia. James says Stratton should have accepted their offer and Nick Aldis has to keep Stratton from jumping her. Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre come in, with Green not being happy about Giulia coming up on the record for longest Women’s US Title reign. Green wants a match and Giulia is in for next week. Nikki Cross pops in to scare them off.

Earlier today, the Utah Utes mascot beat the Cincinnati Bearcats’ mascot. Eh if they air like 30 seconds of it, fine enough for some crossover appeal.

MFTs vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Shelley and Mateo start things off with Shelley striking away and a missile dropkick/Downward Spiral combination putting Mateo down. The MFT’s are sent outside for the dives and it’s the Dream Sequence for two on Tonga. We take a break and come back with Shelley fighting out of a chinlock and hitting the Downward Spiral into the buckle.

That’s enough for the tag off to Sabin so house can be cleaned, including a tornado DDT to Tonga. It’s already back to Shelley, who knocks Tonga outside for a big dive from Sabin. Back in and Solo Sikoa offers a distraction, allowing Tonga to break up the Skull & Bones. The Cutthroat gives Tonga the pin at 8:42.

Rating: B-. As usual, the Guns are able to work well with anyone and that’s always fun to see. At the same time, I could go for seeing them have some more success, but they got their title win so now it seems to be time to have them job quite a bit. We’re also looking towards the MFTs coming after the Wyatt Sicks and the Tag Team Titles, so it makes sense for them to win here.

Post match the beatdown stays on so Rey Fenix runs in for the save, with Shinsuke Nakamura having to save him. This goes rather badly for Nakamura.

Drew McIntyre has no issues with the contract for Saturday Night’s Main Event and tells Nick Aldis to relax.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Nick Aldis is in the ring for the main event contract signing. Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre join him but McIntyre says he can’t sign this. Rhodes certainly can and does, but McIntyre says it’s a one sided contract. If either of them get disqualified or counted out, Rhodes keeps the title and that’s not fair. Aldis is done with McIntyre’s games and threatens to replace him in the title match. McIntyre says ok and goes to leave but Rhodes tells him to sit down.

Rhodes knows what McIntyre wants: a clause that says if he gets counted out or disqualified, the title changes hands. That’s exactly what McIntyre wants and Rhodes is cool with it, so Aldis makes the change. McIntyre signs and talks about how he made the blueprint that Rhodes followed to end the story. He works to get everywhere he goes because he’s the real American Dream.

Rhodes says McIntyre did indeed write the blueprint but the difference is Rhodes walked away instead of getting fired. Rhodes: “Nice guys used to finish last. Then I showed up.” McIntyre cuts him off from leaving and says that the people will eventually turn on Rhodes too. He brings up Rhodes not being there to take his daughters trick or treating and that touches a nerve.

McIntyre asks what Rhodes’ daughters are named and the fight is on, with Rhodes missing a belt shot. A Claymore drops Rhodes and McIntyre puts him through the table. Some promises of taking the title end the show. They’ve got me thinking that a title change is possible and that’s a nice feeling to have.

Overall Rating: B+. I liked this show quite a bit with the good opener and solid main event segment. The World Title match needed the build to get ready for Saturday and they accomplished that rather well. This felt like a show where they were setting up things and then getting it done, which is what they needed to do. Solid show here and I want to see what happens tomorrow.

Results
Ilja Dragunov b. Nathan Frazer – H Bomb
Carmelo Hayes b. Kit Wilson – First 48
Alexa Bliss b. Nia Jax – Rollup
MFTs b. Motor City Machine Guns – Cutthroat to Sabin

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

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Smackdown
Date: October 24, 2025
Location: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re rapidly approaching Saturday Night’s Main Event and now we get to see what that might mean. We need to have something set for the show on the Smackdown side, which is what we will likely get here. There is a good chance this involves World Champion Cody Rhodes, who is still dealing with Drew McIntyre. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s show, focusing on Jacob Fatu being attacked and setting up Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes in a surprise main event.

Jimmy Uso thanks Rhodes for standing up for Fatu last week. Rhodes asks if Jimmy and Jey are ok. Jimmy appreciates that and is off to talk to Nick Aldis.

Here is Rhodes for a chat. He mentions the upcoming title match against Drew McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event, including mentioning hitting McIntyre with the belt last week. Cue McIntyre, who can’t believe the fans are still cheering for Rhodes. McIntyre lists off a variety of things Rhodes has done to him and promises to destroy the story next Saturday. As for Fatu, yeah he hates the family, but he didn’t do it. McIntyre suggests Rhodes did it so Rhodes wants to fight right now, only for Jimmy Uso to run out and go after McIntyre instead. Things are calmed down but here are Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s for their scheduled match.

Post break, Uso and McIntyre brawl in the back again.

MFT’s vs. Shinsuke Nakamura/Rey Fenix

Tonga strikes away at Nakamura to start but Nakamura slips away, allowing the tags off to Fenix and Mateo. Fenix quickly sends him into the corner and it’s a double Good Vibrations, followed by a double COME ON as we take a break. We come back with Tonga flipping Fenix inside out with a clothesline before Mateo grabs a nerve hold.

That’s broken up and Fenix kicks him in the head, allowing Nakamura to come in and kick away. It’s right back to Fenix for another kick to the head as everything breaks down. Sikoa offers a distraction though and Talla Tonga chokeslams Fenix onto the apron. Back in and Tama gives Fenix a running elbow (the Cutthroat) for the pin at 11:27.

Rating: B-. I can go for Nakamura getting a spot on the show helping to put people over, as it’s a nice way to wrap up his time in the company. On the other hand you have Fenix, who is basically the rotating tag partner, which isn’t a great sign for his current or future status. Then you have the MFT’s, who seem likely to be going for the Tag Team Titles again soon.

Jimmy Uso talks to Nick Aldis, who puts him in a No DQ match with Drew McIntyre tonight.

Chelsea Green and Kay Lee Ray interrupt Giulia and suggests a merger. Kiana James comes in to say not quite, with Giulia not seeming impressed.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James

Non-title and Giulia is here with James. Stratton’s wristlock is quickly escaped with a flip so she does some flips of her own, followed by an armbar. Some running knees to the back send James outside, where Stratton forearms her in the face. Giulia offers a quick distraction though and James gets in a cheap shot as we take a break.

We come back with James hitting a running shoulder in the corner for two. Stratton manages a knockdown for a double breather though and the clothesline comeback is on. It’s too early for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever though and James grabs a Falcon Arrow for two. James goes up but gets knocked down, setting up a Swanton. The Prettiest Moonsault Ever finishes for Stratton at 9:53.

Rating: C+. James is a good choice for the role of annoying assistant who can wrestle a match if needed. That was the case here, but the problem is that the bigger star isn’t doing much. Giulia might be a champion, though she’s not exactly doing much these days. That’s going to need to change, though at least James is getting better.

Post match Giulia runs in to take out Stratton, with Jade Cargill making the save….and then laying Stratton out as well. The big beatdown is on as we have a long overdue heel turn.

Sami Zayn congratulates Ilja Dragunov on his US Title win last week and Dragunov says he respects Zayn. Now it’s time for Dragunov to keep up the US Open challenge because Zayn knows he is the man to do it.

Jade Cargill is tired of not being rewarded so she’s going with power. That starts with her winning the Women’s Title.

Here is Ilja Dragunov for his open challenge, but first he talks about how he didn’t know if he was going to be back from his injury. He doesn’t know how to quit though and now he’s back, so get the challenger out here.

US Title: Ilja Dragunov vs. ???

Dragunov is defending against….Aleister Black, with Zelina Vega. Dragunov strikes away to start but it’s too early for the Constantine Special. Instead Black knocks him outside for a hurricanrana from Vega to send him into the barricade. We take a break and come back with Dragunov fighting back and going up.

Vega offers a distraction though and Black gets up for a Meteora. Dragunov kicks him into the corner but gets kneed in the face for two. Back up and Dragunov connects with the Constantine Special as we take a break. We come back again with Dragunov’s missile dropkick connecting for two, followed by a backsplash for two more.

Torpedo Moscow is kneed out of the air though and a brainbuster gives Black two. Back up and Torpedo Moscow connects but Dragunov can’t cover. Vega trips Dragunov and gets ejected…and here is Damian Priest, complete with a bad eye. Dragunov used the distraction to hit another Torpedo Moscow and retain at 15:42.

Rating: B+. It didn’t quite hit some great level but this was two guys beating the fire out of each other for a long time. That’s what matters the most here as Dragunov gets to retain, despite needing a bit of a distraction, just like last week. Either way, Dragunov is likely going to do this for a few weeks, which is a nice way to get him back in the fans’ minds after such a long time away.

Post match Priest goes after Black and loads up a Conchairto. Vega makes a save though and Black bails into the crowd.

We recap Carmelo Hayes and the Miz blowing up.

Hayes is glad Miz helped him get here, but Miz went too far when things got physical. Now it’s time to for him to work on being Him. Kit Wilson comes in to call Hayes toxic and a match is set for next week.

Ilja Dragunov runs into Fraxiom, who would love shots at the US Title. Dragunov says that’s the point of the US Open Challenge and he’ll see them later. With Dragunov gone, DIY comes in to mock Fraxiom, with Axiom saying Gargano is scared to face him. Tama Tonga pops up to…make noises at Fraxiom.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss accept Bayley’s challenge for a Women’s Tag Team Title match on Raw. Nia Jax comes in to suggest that they’ll turn on each other and Jax vs. Bliss is set for next week.

Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso

No DQ. Uso starts the fight in the aisle and sends McIntyre into the barricade but McIntyre slugs away inside. Back up and Uso kicks him outside, where McIntyre cuts off a dive with a forearm. The fight heads into the crowd, where Uso snaps off a suplex. They go back to ringside, where Uso loads up a table and we take a break. We come back with Uso enziguring him out to the floor, where McIntyre snaps off an overhead belly to belly.

McIntyre cracks him in the back with a chair but the Claymore in the chair is cut off. A Whisper In The Wind gives Uso two and he chairs McIntyre down over and over. McIntyre fights up but charges into a Samoan drop through the table. Instead of covering though, Uso goes up and gets chaired out of the air. The Claymore gives McIntyre (who gives a great facial expression, which says “thank goodness that’s over”) the pin at 12:21.

Rating: B. I liked these two beating each other up, as while Uso didn’t win, he did get the revenge that he wanted here. There was no reason to believe that Uso was going to win without some huge interference, but at least it went as it should have. McIntyre gets momentum and Uso gets what he wanted, which is quite the nice result.

Post match McIntyre stays on Uso so Cody Rhodes makes the save. McIntyre Claymores Rhodes to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This show came together well and pretty much everything worked well. That’s a nice way to push the show towards Saturday Night’s Main Event, which should be a major event if given the chance. Rhodes vs. McIntyre is interesting, as it’s either going to be totally flat or have some kind of a twist. This show did a nice job of getting things ready, which is one of the most important parts in the whole thing. Nice show here.

Results
MFT’s b. Rey Fenix/Shinsuke Nakamura – Cutthroat to Fenix
Tiffany Stratton b. Kiana James – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Ilja Dragunov b. Aleister Black – Torpedo Moscow
Drew McIntyre b. Jimmy Uso – Claymore

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

Smackdown
Date: September 26, 2025
Location: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Booker T.

We’re done with Wrestlepalooza and things have kind of reset, with Cody Rhodes retaining the Smackdown World Title over Drew McIntyre. Normally that would mean a new challenger emerging but instead we have Crown Jewel and champion vs. champion coming up for the next few weeks. Other than that, the Women’s Title is on the line in a three way so let’s get to it.

Here is Wrestlepalooza if you need a recap.

Long Wrestlepalooza recap, including a shot from the post show of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins having a staredown.

Here is Paul Heyman for a chat. He has a lot to talk about and paraphrases a “secondary champion” by asking what we want to talk about. The fans cut him off with an OTC chant but Heyman points out that Reigns was stretchered out of Paris by Bronson Reed. Maybe we should talk about Bron Breakker, who will be the star of the next ten years? Or maybe the conspiracy theories about Brock Lesnar? Either way, here is Cody Rhodes to interrupt.

Rhodes apologizes for calling Heyman a goon last week, so he wants to hear about Brock Lesnar. We look at a still of Heyman introducing Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza and Rhodes suggests that it wasn’t a one night thing. Is he talking to the Oracle, a wiseman, or an advocate? Heyman: “You’re talking to the GOAT.” The reality is that Lesnar is going to put everyone in danger but here is the Vision.

Rhodes says it’s about time they met, because he knows what it’s like to be the son of a legend. He grew up the son of a booker and was around all kinds of people in wrestling but he always knew where their loyalties lied. Where do Heyman’s loyalties lie though? No one knows, but they aren’t with Breakker. The fight is teased and Rhodes takes his watch off but the numbers get the better of him in a hurry. The beatdown is on until Randy Orton runs in for the save. That’s a heck of a tag match whenever they get around to it, along with the eventual Rhodes vs. Orton title match.

The Street Profits talk about how they have issues at times but the goal is always the same.

Street Profits vs. Carmelo Hayes/The Miz

For a future Tag Team Title shot. Miz rolls Ford up a few times to start and it’s off to Hayes, who gets his own rollup for two. Everything breaks down in a hurry and the Profits clear the ring but Hayes dropkicks Dawkins on the floor. We take a break and come back with Miz DDTing Ford for two and Hayes knocks Dawkins off the apron in a smart move.

Ford slips out of a belly to back suplex but Miz is right there to pull Dawkins down. The First 48 connects and Hayes loads up Nothing But Net, only for Miz to tag himself in. The argument is on, allowing the tag off to Dawkins. A Sky High into the frog splash gives Ford the pin at 9:28 (with Hayes glaring at Miz rather than making the save).

Rating: C+. Good enough match, with the Profits seemingly getting back on the same page. The question now is whether or not that is maintained at the title match, as the Wyatts are the reason for their strife in the first place. At the same time, Miz and Hayes are still having issues, which has been the case since they got together in the first place.

The Wyatt Sicks come out for the staredown.

Jade Cargill is tired of Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax so she’s ready to become champion. Stephanie Vaquer comes in and Cargill says she’s coming for her at Crown Jewel.

Giulia/Kiana James vs. Michin/B-Fab

B-Fab forearms at James to start and gets two off a basement clothesline. Giulia comes in for a running dropkick and sends B-Fab down hard, only for B-Fab to hit a running dropkick. Michin comes in and everything breaks down with the fight heading outside. Michin’s dropkick off the announcers’ table hits Giulia and we take a break.

We come back with James kicking B-Fan in the face so Giulia can hit a missile dropkick for two. B-Fab fights out of trouble though and it’s off to Michin to take over. Everything breaks down and Michin hits Eat Defeat on James. Giulia comes back in with the running knee though, followed by the northern lights bomb for the pin at 10:14.

Rating: C. Michin and B-Fab haven’t felt like viable challengers to Giulia so there wasn’t much of a reason to believe that they were going to win here. James was fine as backup for Giulia, who needs to string together a few wins. There are only so many challengers for the title, but Michin and B-Fab need to move on already as it doesn’t feel like they’re any kind of a threat to Giulia.

Sol Ruca and Zaria (from NXT) come in to ask Charlotte and Alexa Bliss for a Women’s Tag Team Title shot. Charlotte says you can’t just wave your hand and get a title shot, which Zaria finds funny. Bliss tells them to go prove themselves, with Charlotte liking the assertiveness.

Video on the Crown Jewel Title matches.

Here is Drew McIntyre, in a walking boot, for a chat. McIntyre talks about his history in Orlando, including returning to WWE in 2017 and winning his second WWE Title. He should be here with the title but Cody Rhodes was one step ahead. The referee cost him the title because it should have been a disqualification. Do the referees work for WWE or for Rhodes? Cue Nick Aldis to interrupt who says McIntyre shouldn’t make excuses because he’s better than that. That boot didn’t come from the WWE medical team but McIntyre calls himself a champion without a championship.

Cue Jacob Fatu and this should be interesting. Fatu takes the mic from McIntyre and tells him to shut up and stop b*******. McIntyre asks who Fatu thinks he is so Fatu hits his catchphrase. A Glasgow Kiss staggers Fatu, who is right back with a superkick and a shot with McIntyre’s medical boot. Yeah Fatu getting elevated like this is a good sign and he seems ready for the spot.

Stephanie Vaquer comes in to see Tiffany Stratton, saying they might face off at Crown Jewel. Stratton respects Vaquer, but will put her in the ground if they meet.

Rey Fenix and Sami Zayn are good after last week and Fenix is looking forward to finding out who is next for the US Open Challenge.

Solo Sikoa praises JC Mateo, who says he loves Sikoa.

US Title: Sami Zayn vs. ???

Zayn is defending against…NXT’s Je’Von Evans (a young and talented high flier). As luck would have it, Evans’ opponent at tomorrow’s NXT No Mercy, Josh Briggs, is here too. They trade armdrags to start and Evans takes him into the corner for a chop. A top rope hurricanrana takes Zayn down but he cuts a dive off with a running clothesline.

We take a break and come back with Evans hitting a heck of a dive to take Zayn out on the floor. A spinning kick to the face gives Evans two so Zayn fights back and goes up. That’s fine with Evans, who runs up the corner for a super hurricanrana and another near fall. The springboard spinning splash misses for Evans but he misses a Helluva Kick. Evans’ top rope cutter connects for two but he misses a charge, allowing Zayn to hit the Helluva Kick. The Blue Thunder Bomb retains the title at 10:17.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a showcase for Evans, who went out there and gave it everything he had, even in defeat. Evans started off rough in his career but he has turned into a rather entertaining star as he’s figured a lot of what he needs to do. It was a fast paced match and Zayn had to wait for the opening to catch him, which made for a good story. Heck of a match here.

Chelsea Green offers Nia Jax in the Secret Hervice but Jax rips up the offer. Jax runs into Stephanie Vaquer and threatens her.

Kit Wilson complains to Damian Priest about his toxic, patriarchal attitude last week. Priest lunges at him and Wilson falls down. Priest: “B****** be tripping huh?” Aleister Black comes up from behind and kicks Priest in the head, followed by some mockery.

Women’s Title: Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax vs. Jade Cargill

Stratton is defending and gets knocked down to start, leaving Jax to shrug off Cargill’s running shoulder. Stratton dropkicks them both down and we take a break. We come back with Stratton’s suicide dive getting caught in the ropes so Cargill sends her back inside. Jax runs both of them over but gets caught on to. Cargill chokes Stratton but gets legdropped by Jax, leaving Stratton to hit a Swanton for two.

We take another break and come back again with a double superplex dropping Jax to leave everyone down. Stratton gives Cargill a Regal Roll and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever hits Jax, with Cargill making a save. Jaded hits Stratton so Jax pulls the referee out at two. Jax busts Cargill open so Cargill gives her a Samoan drop on the steps (geez).

We pause for the referee to try to close the cut on Cargill’s head but Cargill comes back in for the Eye of the Storm on Jax, with Stratton making the (late) save. Stratton covers and the referee just stops counting at two, with Jax clearly yelling at her as a result. Stratton pops up and hits The Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax to retain the title at 13:55.

Rating: C+. That botched kickout sequence at the end was terrible and brought things down a good bit. I’m assuming Cargill was supposed to make the save, but at least Stratton was smart enough to get up and hit the finish to get out of there. Either way, Stratton gets the two out of the way for the time being and can move on to the…well really the far less important match but it’s what we’re getting anyway.

Post match Stephanie Vaquer comes out for the staredown with Stratton to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I cannot bring myself to get into this Crown Jewel stuff as it feels so unimportant. I know it’s treated as a big deal at the time, but the whole thing is then basically ignored for eleven months. Why should I care about it if WWE doesn’t? That was one of the big focal points of this show, though the Zayn vs. Evans match was a lot of fun. It’s definitely not a bad show, but I’m really looking forward to moving on past the champion vs. champion stuff as it feels like such an unimportant side trip.

Results
Street Profits b. Carmelo Hayes/The Miz – Frog splash to Miz
Giulia/Kiana James b. Michin/B-Fab – Northern lights bomb to Michin
Sami Zayn b. Je’Von Evans – Blue Thunder Bomb
Tiffany Stratton b. Nia Jax and Jade Cargill – Prettiest Moonsault Ever to Jax

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

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Smackdown
Date: September 19, 2025
Location: Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the last show before this weekend’s Wrestlepalooza and that means we’re going to be seeing Brock Lesnar before he faces John Cena. That likely means some serious violence, as tends to be Lesnar’s tradition. We’ve also got Sami Zayn defending the US Title against Carmelo Hayes. Let’s get to it.

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

Michael Cole starts welcoming us to the show but is told that he needs to head to the back for a sitdown interview with Brock Lesnar. As Cole goes to the back, Lesnar comes out to interrupt though and carries Cole around the ring. Then he puts Cole inside said ring, which draws Graves in for some attempted peacekeeping. Lesnar lays him out with an F5 and then grabs the camera to shout that he’s coming for John Cena’s blood. That’s not enough though as Lesnar hits another F5 on Graves.

Post break, Graves is still pretty much destroyed and we look at the segment again.

Lesnar is walking through the back and runs into the Vision. He says he and Paul Heyman should talk, with Heyman smiling and nodding. With Lesnar gone, Nick Aldis comes in to say this isn’t the time for the Vision. He has too much going on but Heyman says he’s here to broker a peace with the Usos. Aldis says Heyman likely knows that the Usos are already in Indianapolis, so Heyman says they’ll just enjoy the show.

Michael Cole is back on commentary and is rather disturbed by the whole thing.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green/Alba Fyre

Charlotte and Bliss are defending. Charlotte drops Green to start fast and everything breaks down, with Green taking Bliss into the corner. We take a break and come back with Miz having joined commentary and Bliss diving for a tag. Fyre pulls Charlotte off the apron though, only for Green to miss a charge into the post. That’s enough for the tag to Charlotte, who tries to fight back but has her moonsault broken up. Charlotte saves Bliss from a double suplex and Natural Selection finishes Green at 7:54.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here when you factor out the commercial but Charlotte and Bliss are turning into some rather dominant champions. Unfortunately that becomes a problem when they don’t have many high level teams to face, but I’m liking their matches more and more. It’s something that is working well and if they can keep that up, they might be able to break the curse that these belts seem to have.

B-Fab tries to get the Street Profits on the same page but Michin needs to talk to her. The Profits talk about wanting to get the Tag Team Titles back and things seem to be good. Ford leaves so Bo Dallas comes in to talk to Dawkins. That brings Ford back to cut Dallas off, with the Wyatt Sicks coming in to take out the Profits.

R-Truth, in a neck brace, explains how to order the ESPN App to Los Garza.

Fraxiom comes to the ring for a match but the Vision jumps them from behind, with Heyman saying Fraxiom reminds him of the Usos. Fraxiom is back in with some dropkicks to the floor and some dives so Nick Aldis comes out to make the match.

Vision vs. Fraxiom

We’re joined in progress with Breakker taking Axiom to the top but getting knocked down. Breakker hits a heck of a running clothesline and it’s off to Reed for a backsplash. It’s back to Breakker to load up the Super Spear, which is cut off by Axiom’s dropkick. Frazer comes in to kick Reed down and hit a frog splash for two. A Phoenix splash misses though and Reed hits the Jagged Edge. Axiom goes up after Reed but gets shoved off, right into a Super Spear. The Tsunami finishes Frazer at 3:57.

Rating: C+. This was a good enough match for a quick destruction as Fraxiom was only able to do so much here. That’s the right idea too as the Vision has their biggest match to date tomorrow and it’s nice to give them a bit of momentum on the way there. At the same time, it’s kind of a shame to see Fraxiom falling down the ranks, as they’ve gone from being a fun team close to the titles to this in just a few months.

Post match Heyman handles the announcement but the Usos pop up from Indianapolis, saying that it’ll be a different kind of match tomorrow.

We look at WWE stars appearing on ESPN programming.

Here is Nia Jax for a chat. She insults Toledo and talks about how this division is getting on her nerves. The reality is she is the alpha of this division and mocks Tiffany Stratton’s catchphrase in a funny bit. Then you have Jade Cargill, who looks incredible until the bell rings. Jax is the alpha but here is Stratton to interrupt. Stratton is sick of Jax running her mouth and doesn’t think Cargill is a superhero, but here is Cargill to shove her way to the ring. Nick Aldis comes in to calm it down, saying it’s a triple threat for the title next week.

R-Truth explains ESPN to the Motor City Machine Guns and Rey Fenix. Then he puts his phone in a toaster.

We look at the Lesnar beatdown again.

United States Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. Sami Zayn

Zayn is defending and Miz is VERY enthusiastic about Hayes. They fight over wrist control to start until Hayes is back with a dropkick. Back up and Zayn punches him into the corner for some right hands but Hayes is right back with the Fadeaway. We take a break and come back with Hayes dropping a knee for two. Some chops against the ropes wake Zayn up and a middle rope ax handle puts Hayes down.

A tornado DDT gives Zayn two, followed by a Michinoku Driver for the same. Hayes is back up with a knee but his frog splash only hits raised knees. We take another break and come back with Hayes blocking an exploder. Instead he knocks Zayn down and hits the frog splash for two. Hayes’ First 48 gets two and the suplex cutter drops Zayn again. Zayn is right back up with a kick to the face and the Blue Thunder Bomb retains at 15:07.

Rating: B. This is exactly the point of the US Open Challenges, as you have Zayn out there giving Hayes a chance to showcase himself for a change. It helps that the match got some time rather than being rushed, making it feel like a struggle. I could go for a few months of this, and there is a good chance that’s what we’ll be getting.

Damian Priest storms into Nick Aldis’ office and wants Aleister Black next week. Kit Wilson, who was in Aldis’ office, accuses Priest of toxic masculinity. He is then thrown through a wall.

Cody Rhodes explains how to watch Wrestlepalooza.

We get the second half of the John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar history, starting with Cena becoming the biggest star in the world during Lesnar’s absence. Meanwhile, Lesnar became the UFC Heavyweight Champion and turned into an even scarier human being. Then Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012 and wrecked a bunch of people, including Cena in a long form squash at Summerslam 2014 (the first F5 had me screaming at my TV). We’ll get the last part on the Kickoff Show tomorrow.

Wrestlepalooza rundown.

We recap Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre.

Solo Sikoa talks about how Tonga Loa has been part of the team since the beginning and Sikoa let him down by not making him a champion. Loa confirms his love for Sikoa. That’s not a great sign for Sikoa’s future, as he and Loa were all alone here.

It’s time for the contract signing, with Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes joining Nick Aldis in the ring. Before they sign, Rhodes actually brings up their time as Tag Team Champions. The thing is though, not everyone cares about that and just want to see people fight. Lately, the only kind of warrior McIntyre has been is a keyboard warrior (the fans gasp at that) and McIntyre busts out his phone to post THANK YOU CODY. McIntyre talks about how Rhodes is a company man but he’s been in Rhodes’ spot before.

What happens when Rhodes loses? He’ll be in McIntyre’s spot, talking about how things used to be. They both sign in a hurry and the brawl is on again, with McIntyre getting the better of things. He teases the Claymore through the announcers’ table but stops, because it would cost him the match tomorrow. Rhodes gets back up and they brawl even more, with McIntyre hitting a Claymore to end the show. This was a simple segment, but it did boost the match up in a rather needed way.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t exactly great this week, with only Zayn vs. Hayes going that well. At the same time though, they did a nice job of getting things ready for the pay per view. Wrestlepalooza is feeling like a major show and the contract signing helped it out a bit. There is going to be some pressure on them tomorrow, but this wound up being a good enough show to get them to the big event.

Results
Charlotte/Alexa Bliss b. Chelsea Green/Alba Fyre – Natural Selection to Green
Vision b. Fraxiom – Tsunami to Frazer
Sami Zayn b. Carmelo Hayes – Blue Thunder Bomb

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: September 12, 2025
Location: Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re just over a week away from Wrestlepalooza and that makes it’s time to have Brock Lesnar around. With John Cena not here, it’s time to see who else Lesnar can smash, with Sami Zayn being a possibility. Other than that, Randy Orton is facing Drew McIntyre in what should be a good one. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of John Cena vs. Sami Zayn last week, with Brock Lesnar interrupting to take them both out.

Here is Lesnar to get things going and the fans aren’t wild on seeing him. Lesnar gets a mic but here is R-Truth of all people to interrupt. Lesnar tells him to shut up but R-Truth wants to be the first star to welcome him back. That makes Lesnar smile, but R-Truth makes the mistake of saying he used to be scared of him. Lesnar isn’t sure who R-Truth is so R-Truth says that John Cena is his older brother.

Lesnar: “How old are you and what is your name?” The reality is Lesnar is here to find Cena, but if R-Truth doesn’t know where Cena is, why is he here? R-Truth is here to defend his older brother, because his name is Ron Cena. He’s here to stop the disrespect from Lesnar, because Cena went nuts this year.

Super Cena is coming for Lesnar and he is filled with hustle, loyalty, respect, and tears from the kid he made cry a few months ago. Lesnar confirms R-Truth’s identity (with R-Truth getting confused for a bit) but points out that he’s missing a tooth. The F5 lays R-Truth out and Lesnar splits his pants in the process. Lesnar finds it funny and points out that he’s wearing blue underwear.

Sami Zayn is happy to restart the US Open challenge and he’s glad that someone is his first challenger. And it’s Rey Fenix. Ok then.

Solo Sikoa talks about the sacrifices he made to win the US Title, including attacking his own flesh and blood. Just to prove what? Sikoa snaps as he talks about losing the title but calms down to say he’s lost everything. Change is going to happen sooner than later and he’s going to get everything back.

US Title: Sami Zayn vs. Rey Fenix

Zayn is defending. An armdrag takes Fenix down to start but he’s back up with the rather bouncy armdrag. Zayn is sent outside and a tease of something like a 619 has him backing up as we take a break. We come back with Zayn hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Fenix sends him outside. The big running corkscrew dive takes Zayn down and a high crossbody drops him for two back inside.

Back up and the Blue Thunder Bomb is countered into a hurricanrana, followed by a superkick to give Fenix two. Fenix misses a great looking moonsault but Zayn misses the Helluva Kick. A rolling DDT gives Fenix a VERY close two and we take another break. We come back again with Fenix slipping out of a fireman’s carry on the top.

Fenix kicks him down and hits the moonsault for two but backflips into a Blue Thunder Bomb to give Zayn his own near fall. The exploder sends Fenix into the corner but he’s back with a hurricanrana for (a slow) two. Fenix misses a springboard kick in the corner and gets explodered. Now the Helluva Kick can retain the title at 15:49.

Rating: B+. This was definitely in the vein of the John Cena US Open Challenge, as Fenix is someone talented with nothing to do but he gets a chance to let it all hang out here. Fenix was trying everything he could here and it was pretty easily his best match in WWE. If this is what we’ll be seeing from Zayn every week, we’ll be in for a great time.

B-Fab was interrupted by Giulia and Kiana James and cattiness ensued.

The Wyatt Sicks talk about the cracks in the Street Profits, who can either split up or be destroyed. So where do the Profits go from here? Follow the buzzards.

Giulia vs. B-Fab

Non-title. Giulia jumps her before the bell to start and sends B-Fab into the barricade. Back in and Kiana James stomps on B-Fab, allowing Giulia to hit the big knee. Michin runs in for the save. No match.

Aleister Black says Damien Priest can either keep fighting or give up.

Women’s Title: Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton

Stratton is defending and hits a dropkick to cut off a charging Cargill. Back up and Cargill snaps off a powerslam. Back up and Stratton sends her to the floor for a dive and we take a break. We come back with Stratton hitting a clothesline but having to hurricanrana her way out of a powerbomb. Stratton’s handspring elbow connects in the corner and a basement dropkick drops Cargill again.

A Swanton hits Cargill for two and she is sent outside, where Stratton’s baseball slide is cut off. Back in and Stratton hits a Regal Roll but the Prettiest Moonsault Ever is cut off. A Blue Thunder Bomb out of the corner gets two so Cargill seems to kiss her on the cheek. The ensuing rollup is countered into a rollup to give Stratton two and she hits an Alabama Slam.

Stratton’s Prettiest Moonsault Ever misses again and Cargill blasts her with a pump kick. They slug it out on the steps and Cargill misses a charge into the post, allowing Stratton to hit another basement dropkick. The moonsault to the floor misses though and Cargill tackles her through the barricade for the double countout at 11:10.

Rating: C+. It was better than their Summerslam match, but you could see that they were missing some stuff here and there. The double countout is designed to set up a rematch and I’ve heard worse ideas, as these two do have some chemistry together. The problem is they’re still both relatively inexperienced at this level (especially Cargill) and that’s creating some issues in their matches. Still though, not a bad idea for an ending, as the pay per view rematch should be better.

Post match Nia Jax runs in and takes them both out. That probably sets up a triple threat title match, because that’s what we do around here.

Nick Aldis is cut off by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, who want their title shot. Green thinks Charlotte is being protected and threats are made, with Aldis giving them the next Women’s Tag Team Title shot after NXT Homecoming next week. Aldis goes to leave but Miz comes in, only to be told that Carmelo Hayes has already talked to him about an opportunity. No specifics are given, but Miz is pleased.

We get a long and rather detailed look at John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar, including training footage of their early days in OVW. They worked their way up through the ranks and had their own style but it was clear that they were going to be big deals. Lesnar would become the star first, while Cena took more time but wound up being a much longer term star as Lesnar was only around for about two years. They finally got together on the main roster and had a few matches but then Lesnar left due to the schedule. The night Lesnar left, Cena won his first title. Part two next week. As usual, WWE does these things incredibly well.

Rey Mysterio hypes up Worlds Collide but Dominik Mysterio interrupts, promising to win the Mega Title. Rey isn’t convinced but Dominik says how about Rey puts the title around his waist when he wins. Rey: “IF you win.” Finn Balor comes in and tells Dominik to prove himself by winning alone. Dominik isn’t sure.

Sami Zayn praises Rey Fenix but Carmelo Hayes comes in to say he’s got next. Works for Zayn, who tells him to not miss. Hayes is happy but Miz comes in and asks what that was. Apparently Hayes talked to Aldis about a title opportunity, meaning for the US Title. Miz freaks out and says he’s trying to guide him to the Tag Team Titles, but Hayes wants some trust.

Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton

Orton takes him into the corner for some right hands to start but seems to tweak his ankle coming back down. A clothesline puts McIntyre on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Orton favoring his knee but being able to hit a suplex anyway. Orton drops a knee but hurts himself in the process, allowing McIntyre to hit a chop block. The Figure Four stays on the leg but Orton turns it over and they head outside.

McIntyre goes to the eyes to cut Orton off though and drops him onto the announcers’ table. Another chop block cuts Orton down again and we take another break. We come back with McIntyre staying on the leg and taking him up the aisle to keep up the beating. Back in and Orton pokes him in the eye (the ensuing shrug is funny) but gets dropped without much trouble. The Figure Four is loaded up again but this time Orton kicks him into the post for the block.

Orton’s powerslam gets two and the fans are wanting an RKO. They head outside with Orton getting in the drop onto the announcers’ table but McIntyre manages a Claymore. Ont he way back in, Orton hits the RKO but McIntyre rolls outside. Back in and the hanging DDT connects and Orton loads up the Punt, with the referee cutting him off. Orton tries it anyway but hurts the knee, allowing McIntyre to shove him towards (but not into) the referee. The Claymore finishes Orton at 17:40.

Rating: B. This was a pay per view level match and it’s great to see McIntyre get a win in a pretty high profile match. McIntyre is pretty clearly next in line for Cody Rhodes and this was a good warmup match to get him there. Orton losing to anyone is a big deal so it’s nice to see this work out so well.

Post match McIntyre loads up the Claymore against the announcers’ table but Cody Rhodes is back. Rhodes beats McIntyre down and says he’ll see him at Wrestlepalooza. Dang that show is stacked.

Overall Rating: B+. I can go for a show that is built around the wrestling side of things and that is exactly what we got here. The focus was on the in-ring side of things, with the opener being rather awesome and the main event being pay per view worthy. The women’s match was good enough and the backstage segments in the middle made for some nice filler segments. Rather good show here, as you don’t get a pair of TV matches that good very often.

Results
Sami Zayn b. Rey Fenix – Helluva Kick
Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill went to a double countout
Drew McIntyre b. Randy Orton – Claymore

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: September 5, 2025
Location: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re back from Europe after Clash In Paris and the main story here is something from Raw. In this case that’s because hometown legend CM Punk has all but said he’ll be here, while suggesting that he might be bringing a certain family member with him. John Cena is here too, and that might make for some big moments with just over two weeks to go before Wrestlepalooza. Let’s get to it.

Here is Clash In Paris if you need a recap.

We open with a long Clash In Paris recap.

Here is John Cena to get things going and the fans are happy to see him. Cena says he’s glad to hear that because he’s been trying to give it everything he has on this farewell tour. He’s out there with nothing planned and tonight he’s here to just take it in. Cena isn’t used to the most positive receptions around here but these people are special. Their chants can bring people back to WWE but this is Cena’s final time in Chicago and on Smackdown (oh that’s big).

This place is important for him though because he started his WWE career right here. This place is special though, because for Cena it is the greatest crowd WWE has. Cena thanks the fans but here is Sami Zayn to interrupt. The fans don’t seem happy to see him but Zayn is here to thank Cena for everything he’s done. Zayn reminds Cena that he debuted against Cena in a US Open Challenge and here he is as the US Champion. Therefore, with Cena’s permission, he wants to bring back the US Open Challenge.

Works for Cena, who goes to leave, but Zayn stops him. If this is Cena’s last night on Smackdown, he wants to repay the favor and give Cena a shot at the US Title. Again, works for Cena. This was a more emotional moment for Cena and you could tell it was meaning something to him. Zayn’s part was a nice call back and bonus as well.

US Title: John Cena vs. Sami Zayn

Cena is challenging. We’re joined in progress with Cena working on the arm but Zayn is right back with an armbar of his own. Cena’s armbar is broken up and Zayn springboards over him, only to get suplexed back down. One heck of a whip into the corner has Zayn in trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Cena hitting the AA for two and blocking the exploder into the corner. A pop up powerbomb gives Cena two (nice nod to Kevin Owens) but he misses a charge into the post. The Helluva Kick misses and Cena hits an Angle Slam (Cole completely misses the point but Graves catches it) for two.

We take another break and come back with Zayn hitting the exploder into the Helluva Kick for two and they’re both down. Zayn misses a charge in the corner and walks into a GTS of all things for two more. A spear of all things gives Cena two (Cole AGAIN misses the point, saying that was a nod to Roman Reigns, with Graves suggesting it was a certain Canadian) and the fans, in on the idea, want an RKO. Instead it’s a super AA and they’re both down again….and here’s Brock Lesnar. The referee is pulled out and we’ll call it a no contest at 21:30.

Rating: B+. They were rocking near the end and I think we can accept the interference ending as a way to keep either from taking a loss. Cena just going nuts and doing a big tribute to a bunch of his old opponents (he used an ankle lock during a break) was a lot of fun. Zayn wasn’t exactly popular here, but it was still a heck of a match as they were both feeling it.

Post match it’s an F5 apiece as the fans aren’t pleased. Lesnar gives Cena another F5, puts his hat back on, and leaves.

Post break, Lesnar says he’ll see Cena at Wrestlepalooza and the match is on.

And with that, we’re over 50 minutes into the show. Not a bad start.

Carmelo Hayes and Miz talk to a busy Nick Aldis about a Tag Team Title match. He’ll consider it and hurries off.

Becky Lynch arrives.

Video on Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest.

Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black

Black jumps him from behind during the entrance and sends Priest over the barricade before the bell. We take a break and come back with a limping Priest trying to get inside but Black kicks him down. Black sends him inside and the bell rings, with Priest falling down off a big swing. Black gets in something like an Octopus hold, followed by a middle rope Meteora and we take a break.

We come back with Black getting crotched on top but he elbows Priest in the head for two more. Priest fights up and slugs away, including some hard kicks to the chest. The Old School crossbody connects and Black Downward Spirals him onto the apron, followed by a Razor’s Edge onto the announcers’ table. They get back in and Black begs off but grabs the referee to block South Of Heaven. A quick Black Mass finishes for Black at 9:37.

Rating: B-. Priest is more than protected in the loss and that’s fine, as he’ll have a reason to come back for revenge later. It’s a good way for Black to look superior, though Priest is going to need to crank up the violence. That could make for a good Smackdown main event down the line, especially with some special stipulations.

Video on Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Tiffany Stratton is ready to shut Jade Cargill up next week.

Cargill is ready as well but Nia Jax interrupts. Cargill says get out of her way or catch these hands tonight.

Nick Aldis comes in to see a rather enthusiastic Becky Lynch. CM Punk is here and they can’t have anything going wrong here, but Lynch says it’ll be fine.

Women’s United States Title: Giulia vs. Michin

Giulia, with Kiana James, is defending. They slug it out to start and James gets on the apron, which doesn’t make much of a difference. Giulia misses a charge to the floor but comes back with a neckbreaker outside and we take a break. We come back with Giulia snapping off a German suplex, only for Michin to hit her own. Michin whips her into the corner for the cannonball but Giulia’s sitout driver gets two more. Michin fights up but has to hurricanrana driver James. The distraction lets Michin hit the running knee to retain at 7:35.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see Giulia actually get in the ring, though she’s going to need a much bigger opponent than Michin. This didn’t feel like it was supposed to be some big title defense or anything close, so maybe someone new can come after the title soon. Giulia and James are a fine enough combination, with James mainly there as the standard talking distraction.

We look at Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre attacking Charlotte last week.

Charlotte is upset over her knee but Alexa Bliss, with a stethoscope comes in, saying the power of friendship will heal her pain. Charlotte talks to Lily and realizes she might be losing it.

Here is Seth Rollins, in the crowd, for a chat. He’s ready to kill the legend of CM Punk and introduces Becky Lynch, through the entrance, to make it happen. Lynch DOES NOT like the Chicago crowd and runs down their local sports teams (minus the Bears, as Rollins is a fan). Cue CM Punk to interrupt (yeah they like him), with Rollins waving with a big grin on his face in a funny bit.

Lynch thinks Punk should be embarrassed but he has nothing to be embarrassed about. Punk is tired of Rollins hiding behind everyone and Lynch asks how his jaw is feeling. The fans chant for AJ LEE and Lynch tries to cut them off but Punk says they can chant her name. Punk says he could snap his fingers and have one of his sisters (who raises her hand) take Lynch out. Or he could call Bayley or Rhea Ripley and have them do it.

Lynch slaps him over and over (Rollins dances over this) and Punk goes to the floor. This is the kind of situation he wanted to avoid, because he would never put his hands on a lady. Thankfully he knows someone who will and LET’S LIGHT IT UP. Lynch and Rollins panic as AJ skips to the ring, takes a quick lap, and gets inside as the fans are losing it. The brawl is on and Lynch drops her, followed by a big slap. Lynch and Rollins bail as Punk hugs AJ to end the show.

The pop for AJ’s return was massive as they weren’t exactly subtle that she was coming back. It helps that she doesn’t have to be some kind of all generational talent but rather just able to do what she did before. She’s only 38 so it’s not like this is someone twenty years passed their prime. This worked well and it has me interested in the mixed tag.

Overall Rating: B+. Despite having a 21 minute opening match, this wasn’t a wrestling heavy show. Instead, this was built around the very lengthy (yet great) opening segment/match/fallout and the big closing. That sets up two major matches at Wrestlepalooza and that’s what it needed to be. They didn’t bother with anything close to subtlety here, as it was two huge segments, a big match, and two midcard matches to pad it out. Heck of a show here, with the big stuff nailing it on both sides.

Results
John Cena vs. Sami Zayn went to a no contest when Brock Lesnar interfered
Aleister Black b. Damian Priest – Black Mass
Giulia b. Michin – Running knee

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: August 29, 2025
Location: LDLC Arena, Lyon, France
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re taped from France this week as the company is in the country for Sunday’s Clash In Paris event. That means this is going to be one of the big TV shows before we get to the pay per view and in this case, we have Solo Sikoa defending the US Title against Sami Zayn. John Cena is here too so things should be interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s Logan Paul/John Cena showdown to further set up their Clash In Paris match. Paul then knocks Cena out to end the show, following a Brock Lesnar tease.

Paul arrive and walks from his car into the arena for a chat. After bringing up Cena calling him a parasite last week, Paul insists on sticking with English even though he’s in France. Paul lists off a bunch of stats about his money and how much he brings to the company (“YOU’RE WELCOME TKO!”). This place is becoming the WW-ME and Cena represents the past. Paul starts yelling at the fans in French and insults Cena as well, which brings out Cena to interrupt.

Cena gets right to the point: the fans are the ones who decide what kind of career Paul has. While Cena likes the idea of Paul taking WWE to new heights, he doesn’t think Paul is willing to put in the effort. Paul wants to talk about being a disrupter, but Cena was doing that twenty years ago. His brass knuckles even said WORD LIFE and he shook up all kinds of things. He even wore jorts! Cena talks about how Paul wasn’t on a list of influential influencers so he’s here to save his career.

After they take turns speaking French, Cena says that Paul is just a gimmick and goes to the floor as he talks about respect. Cena says respect is saying something bad to a fan because you’re having a bad day but then seeing them later and saying you’re sorry (which he does to a young fan). Paul tells Cena to wrap this up, but Cena says that Paul “asked for this match s*** head.” Cena says that wrestling is going to ruin Paul to wrap it up. The fact that we wasted six months on the awful heel run is astounding.

The Street Profits and B-Fab are ready to become #1 contenders again but Bo Dallas (looking and sounding incredibly like Bray Wyatt) comes in to interrupt. Dallas says the Wyatt Sicks are a family and when the Profits come for the titles, they’ll find out if the two of them are really brothers. Minor spoilers aside, I do like Dallas being himself for some promos, as it could actually allow the team to make some more sense.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs. Alba Fyre/Chelsea Green

Green (substituting for an out of action Piper Niven) and Fyre are challenging but they jump Charlotte in the aisle before the match. We take a break and come back with a change having been made.

Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green

Bliss charges at her to start and hammers away but gets distracted by Fyre. Back in and Green hits her in the face and yells a lot, earning a slap right back from Bliss. Green sends her into the corner and chokes on the rope, followed by a big boot. Bliss sends her outside but goes after Fyre again, allowing Green to get in a shot of her own as we take a break. We come back with Green dropkicking her out to the floor but getting sent into the barricade for her efforts.

They get back in with Bliss winning an exchange of forearms but Sister Abigail is countered with something like a Zig Zag. Back up and Bliss knocks off the top but has to deal with Fyre. Twisted Bliss doesn’t work and neither does Sister Abigail, leaving Bliss to roll her up for the pin at 8:43.

Rating: C+. Not bad here with Bliss having to fight against the odds without her partner around. I’m assuming they switched things up here due to Niven not being around and not wanting to burn off the match, which is understandable enough. Bliss getting a win on her own is good, though it would be nice to see Green not lose so often.

Post match Fyre and Green jump Bliss again until Charlotte limps out to make the save. The bad knee is taken out though and Green/Fyre stand tall.

Sami Zayn feels confident about the main event and wants to become US Champion in France.

Cody and Brandi Rhodes have had another daughter. Well that’s great.

Aleister Black asks what Damian Priest thought would happen. Black plans to show how misguided Priest really is. He’ll be the one kneeling on Priest’s chest, saying I WARNED YOU.

Priest says he knows Black wants to be like him but he just isn’t. He’s going to teach Black to run from someone like him and enjoy the beating Black receives. Priest even throws it back to commentary.

Michin vs. Kiana James

Giulia is here with James, who swings the briefcase at Michin and gets rolled up for the pin at 7 seconds.

Post match Giulia jumps Michin and sends her into the steps.

Here is Drew McIntyre for a chat. McIntyre goes around ringside to ask for an update on Cody Rhodes, thinking Michael Cole would know it because he’s “always kissing Cody Rhodes’ a**.” With no update available, McIntyre tells Randy Orton to get out here so the fans can sing his song. Cue Orton, and they do sing. McIntyre isn’t sure why Orton attacked him last week, but hopefully it wasn’t out of loyalty to Rhodes.

The reality is that Rhodes doesn’t have real friends and he’s always out for himself. Rhodes probably checked on Orton during his two year recovery from back surgery because he was gathering intel. Orton says he’ll give that some thought, but he dropped McIntyre last week because he doesn’t think much of McIntyre. That earns him a Glasgow Kiss and the fight is on, with Orton hitting a hanging DDT. Security and agents come in for the save so Orton takes them (including Hurricane Helms) out with RKO’s, allowing McIntyre to escape. Good enough stuff here, as the Rhodes vs. Orton seeds continue to be planted.

Carmelo Hayes and Miz still aren’t exactly on the same page but Miz gives him a pep talk. Bo Dallas pops in to say there is a difference between perception and reality, asking if Hayes can handle that. Hayes tells him not to write a reality check his mouth can’t cash.

Nick Aldis yells at Randy Orton, who gives Aldis a bottle of whiskey. R-Truth comes in, mistakes Aldis for someone else, and leaves.

Carmelo Hayes/The Miz vs. Street Profits

For the Clash In Paris Tag Team Title shot. Ford takes over on Miz to start and it’s off to Dawkins for a double back elbow. Dawkins hits the running spinning corner splashes but Miz grabs a foot. Hayes gets in the Fadeaway for two and we take a break. We come back with Dawkins planting Hayes and the double tag bringing in Ford and Miz.

House is quickly cleaned and a standing moonsault gets two on Miz. Back up and Miz hits a DDT for two on Ford but the Skull Crushing Finale is blocked. Hayes tags himself back in and hits a frog splash for two on Ford as things slow back down. Cue the Wyatt Sicks for a distraction to Miz, who gets knocked to the floor. The Revelation finishes Hayes at 9:07.

Rating: B-. I’m a bit surprised at the result here as Hayes and Miz have been on something of a winning streak, though the Profits feel like a bigger threat to the titles. The Wyatts are at least doing something different and they might be going after Miz and Hayes in the coming weeks. That’s better than what we’ve been getting so this was at least somewhat encouraging.

Jade Cargill surprises Tiffany Stratton in the back and reveals that she is Stratton’s next #1 contender. Cargill promises to show that they were never on the same level.

Solo Sikoa is ready to take out Sami Zayn.

Clash In Paris rundown.

US Title: Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa

Sikoa, with the MFT’s, is defending. Zayn throws him to the floor to start and does his flip back into the ring as we take a break. We come back with Sikoa hitting the running Umaga Attack for two but Zayn is right back with a clothesline to the floor. The big running flip dive connects but the MFT’s cut Zayn off outside. Spinning Solo gets two and the MFT’s jump Zayn again, so here are Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso to go after them. The Blue Thunder Bomb gives Zayn two as most of the others brawl to the floor.

The threat of a Helluva Kick sends Sikoa outside, where he plants Zayn on the announcers’ table as we take a break. We come back with Zayn missing something off the top and getting caught in the Samoan Drop. The Superfly Splash gives Sikoa two but the Samoan Spike misses. Zayn suplexes him into the corner, only to charge into a superkick. Another Spike misses though and Zayn hits a pair of Helluva Kicks for the pin and the title at 13:27.

Rating: B-. Points for the big title change here, as that’s not something I was expecting. Zayn getting the win and the title is a nice moment for him and a good way to give him something to do before he can move on to the World Title scene. Sikoa will have multiple options to go after and Zayn’s challengers will be lined up, so this was a nice way to go.

Zayn celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Good enough show here, with the focus being split between the pay per view and the regular stuff around here. That’s a nice mixture to have, as it lets WWE look a bit towards the future beyond this Sunday. The big promo exchanged worked well and the main event was a fun surprise. Now just follow it up after this with a strong showing on Sunday and the build towards….Wrestlepalooza, because that’s really what it’s called.

Results
Alexa Bliss b. Chelsea Green – Rollup
Michin b. Kiana James – Rollup
Street Profits b. Miz/Carmelo Hayes – Revelation to Hayes
Sami Zayn b. Solo Sikoa – Helluva Kick

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: August 22, 2025
Location: 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re just over a week away from Clash In Paris so the company is already over to Europe. The big appeal of this week’s show is John Cena making another appearance as he is on his way to facing Logan Paul next weekend. Other than that, Brock Lesnar is looking and we might be seeing that in less than a month. Let’s get to it.

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

Commentary welcomes us to the show and introduces hometown star Becky Lynch (the introduction loses a lot with the terrible music). Lynch is very fired up to be here and the fans tell her that she deserves it. She came to a live event here when she was younger and Randy Orton made eye contact with her. Now that they’re here for TV…..the people don’t deserve it.

Lynch is AGHAST at the lack of media coverage she has received and as a result, she is let down by everyone here. Lynch lists off her accomplishments, including having a VERY hot American husband. That brings up the CM PUNK chants so Lynch complains about a bunch of celebrities getting more attention than her, including a boxer, who can fight but “CAN SHE CUT A PROMO???”.

Cue Tiffany Stratton to interrupt, saying she can’t believe how ungrateful Lynch is to DUBLIN, IRELAND. Stratton threatens to make her leave and here is Nia Jax to go after Stratton, with Jade Cargill running in for the save. Cargill stares Lynch to the floor and Nick Aldis comes in to make the tag match main event. Putting Stratton and Cargill in there with Lynch is a good thing, and they managed to get the fans against Lynch, which is a heck of a trick.

Fraxiom tells Carmelo Hayes that the Miz is a schemer, which brings Miz up to protest. Hayes defends Miz and the team’s awesomeness is declared.

Carmelo Hayes/The Miz vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Hayes takes Sabin down to start but Sabin snaps off some armdrags. Shelley comes in and sends Miz outside for the for the big dives as we take a break. We come back with Shelley kicking him away and diving over for the tag to Sabin. Miz breaks up Skull And Bones and Hayes hits a Codebreaker on Sabin. Shelley clotheslines Hayes to the floor and it’s a slingshot dive, only for Miz to steal the pin on Sabin at 8:18.

Rating: C+. Take a team, give them some kind of a bond and have them win matches. That’s the trick to making a team feel important and it’s working here. Miz and Hayes are a team of two guys who needed something to do and this is a simple story and it’s working. Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be.

Jimmy Uso (the birthday boy) is very happy that he’s going to be a father. Sami Zayn comes in for the big congratulations but Solo Sikoa and the MFTs interrupt. Sikoa says they can name the baby after Uncle Solo, but Zayn says Sikoa needs to worry about holding onto his title. The bad guys leave.

Charlotte vs. Piper Niven

Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre are here too but there is no Alexa Bliss. Niven sends her into the corner to start but Charlotte flips over to the apron. A crossbody takes Niven down, only for Green to offer a distraction. Niven crushes Charlotte for two and we take a break. We come back with Charlotte firing off the chops for a needed breather. Niven is dropped so Charlotte can hit the moonsault for two, followed by a spear for two. The Figure Eight goes on but Fyre distracts the referee, allowing Green to rake the eyes. That’s enough for the hold to be broken and the Piper Driver finishes Charlotte at 8:24.

Rating: C+. Nice enough match here, with the story being that Charlotte was fighting without her friend and partner, meaning the numbers game cut her off. That’s something that works well and this will probably set up the Women’s Tag Team Title match. The match didn’t have much time to work, but Green being a thorn in Charlotte’s side is a good way to go.

Michin interrupts Kiana James and Giulia, asking for a title match. James says Michin will have to go through her first, which is fine with Michin.

Wrestlepalooza is coming.

Here is John Cena to a hero’s welcome. After the big special introduction, here is Logan Paul to cut him off before Cena can say a word. Paul doesn’t think anything of Cena, who is just a fake. How is Paul seen as the outsider? He’s been doing this for four years while Cena is a corporate shill who will do whatever the company tells him.

Paul asks who is the impostor: the one who risks his life at every PLE, or the guy who has been doing the same five moves for twenty years? Cena admits that Paul is a presence and a tremendous athlete, along with being a future Wrestlemania main eventer, but he is stuck on the term “outsider”. Paul is not an outsider, but rather a disappointment. Cena talks about how he and WWE embraced Paul, who comes in here and tries to sell us Prime. And now, Paul is bragging about putting his life on the line for 23 matches?

Cena has been doing this for twenty three YEARS, including all kinds of times when there were no cameras around. It doesn’t matter how many moves he has, but rather how much he can give to the fans. The reality is Paul is a parasite and Cena lists off some names he could be dealing with, but he’s facing Paul instead. Paul knows a lot about hustle, but he knows nothing about loyalty and respect. He better bring his a game to Paris, or Cena will “beat the ever loving s*** out of you.” Paul knocks the hat off and is promptly dropped with the AA. Cena was bringing the straight fire here and it was great.

Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill agree to work together tonight, but Cargill is coming for the title after.

Logan Paul runs into Drew McIntyre, who praises Paul’s abilities.

Street Profits vs. MFT’s

Loa runs Dawkins over to start so it’s off to Ford for a dropkick. Ford is taken into the corner but fights out of the corner rather quickly, only to be pulled outside. A hard posting cuts Ford down and we take an early break. We come back with Ford sending Loa crashing outside, allowing the needed tag off to Dawkins. Everything breaks down and Ford knees Mateo in the face so Talla Tonga tries to get involved. Cue Jimmy Uso to chair Talla in the back and Sami Zayn to cut off Solo Sikoa. Back in and Dawkins’ spinebuster to Mateo sets up Ford’s frog splash for the pin at 9:57.

Rating: B-. Remember earlier when I said Miz and Hayes were a pair of guys who were put together and getting somewhere because they won matches? Well the Profits are the same kind of thing but as a regular, long term team. That’s something that works well and the Profits vs. Miz and Hayes for a title shot would make sense.

Aleister Black vs. Ron Killings

Hold on though as Killings pops up on screen and says he won’t be here because he flew to Dublin, Georgia. Instead, someone else is here in his place. Cue Damian Priest to return and attack Black, with security having to break it up. No match.

Commentary doesn’t have an update on Cody Rhodes but here is Drew McIntyre to interrupt. The update is that Rhodes is a little b**** and the next time they fight, McIntyre is taking that title. Rhodes has no friends….but Randy Orton is here with an RKO to lay McIntyre out.

Nia Jax and Becky Lynch argue a bit but seem to be ok.

Here’s what’s coming next week, including Miz/Hayes vs. the Street Profits in a #1 contenders match. See? Makes sense.

Becky Lynch/Nia Jax vs. Tiffany Stratton/Jade Cargill

Stratton slugs away at Lynch to start and knocks her outside for the big flip dive off the top. Back in and Lynch grabs Stratton’s leg so Jax can drop a leg as we take a break. We come back with Stratton making the tag to Cargill, who gets to face Lynch. Cargill gets to clean house, including a spinning torture rack powerbomb for two. Jax comes in off a blind tag but Cargill powerbombs her out of the corner. The Prettiest Moonsault Ever and Cargill’s top rope splash finish at 6:33.

Rating: C+. This didn’t have the time to go anywhere and it barely broke the threshold to get a rating. Again, the point here was to have Stratton and Cargill in there with the biggest female star in WWE history and they kept Lynch protected at the same time. Jax losing is the way to go here, as it’s not like she’s doing anything.

Nick Aldis tells John Cena that he just heard from Brock Lesnar….and Logan Paul knocks Cena cold to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The Cena promo was the big highlight of the show and the matches were good enough to back it up. They teased Lesnar again at the end, but the story that kept my attention was the tag team stuff. I love seeing something that you can logically follow rather than all of the material based on swerves or guessing. Nice show here, and they’re getting ready for the next big events.

Results
The Miz/Carmelo Hayes b. Motor City Machine Guns – Codebreaker to Sabin
Piper Niven b. Charlotte – Piper Driver
Street Profits b. MFT’s – Frog splash to Mateo
Jade Cargill/Tiffany Stratton b. Nia Jax/Becky Lynch – Top rope splash to Jax

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: August 15, 2025
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re coming up on Clash In Paris and the big news from last week is that John Cena will be facing Logan Paul in just over two weeks. That should make for a fun battle of promos on the way there, especially here in Cena’s hometown. In addition, the issues between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu continue and I’m sure we’ll hear more about it this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Here are Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s to get things going. Sikoa makes it clear that they run Smackdown and if you don’t like it….well too bad! Last week, Sami Zayn showed up and attacked them, which is why he got a beating on Raw. The same thing happened to Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu, so if anyone wants to come out here and do something about it…and here is Zayn to interrupt. Zayn says he’s here to talk because he wants to win the Royal Rumble.

If he had beaten Rusev on Raw, that could have been in the cards. Then the team attacked him and he wants to say thank you. Aside from the World Title, the one title he has never won around here is the US Title. Sikoa says that isn’t changing anytime soon so go back to Raw. Zayn laughs that off, because he is officially on Smackdown. The fight is on, with the MFT’s beating Zayn down until Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu run in for the save. Nick Aldis wastes no time in coming out to make the six man main event. If Zayn is going to keep popping up around here, they might as well just officially move him over.

Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice are not happy with last week’s caking, because it was VERY DANGEROUS.

Alexa Bliss vs. Piper Niven

Charlotte, Alba Fyre and Chelsea Green are all here too. Bliss makes the mistake of holding up the Lily doll and gets jumped from behind to start. That’s reversed into a sleeper but Niven powers out of it and hits a nice Boss Man Slam to plant Bliss. We take a break and come back with Bliss hitting her running Blockbuster for two. Niven sends her into the corner for the Cannonball though, only to miss the Vader Bomb. Bliss grabs a DDT, only for interference to break up Twisted Bliss. Not that it matters though as Bliss rolls Niven up for the pin at 7:37.

Rating: C+. This was a power vs. speed match with Bliss getting out of the way enough to make Niven miss. That worked rather well, though that swinging Boss Man Slam was the highlight of the whole thing. Niven knows how to be a force when she gets the chance and Bliss made her look good here, even in defeat.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Charlotte getting taken out too. Bliss gets crushed by Niven’s Vader Bomb to leave her laying.

Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton argue until Nia Jax interrupts. Stratton isn’t scared of either of them and tells them to bring it, because the outcome will be the same.

The Miz/Carmelo Hayes vs. Fraxiom

Miz and Axiom start things off but hang on as the Wyatt Sicks pop up in the crowd to watch. They lock up and fight over a test of strength until Miz takes him down for a quickly broken top wristlock. Frazer comes in and runs the ropes rather quickly, leaving Miz rather frustrated. It’s off to Hayes, who is taken into the corner as everything breaks down. Fraxiom hit stereo dives and we take an early break.

We come back with Hayes planting Axiom for two but he’s right back up for the tag off to Frazer. Some kicks to the head put the villains down and a springboard reverse Spanish Fly gets two on Hayes. The super Spanish Fly plants Hayes into the Phoenix splash but Miz steps up for a tornado DDT to Axiom and the save (and a nice one at that). Back up and Frazer tries a superplex but gets reversed into a cutter, leaving Hayes rather fired up. Hayes goes up but Miz runs in with the Skull Crushing Finale and the pin at 12:17.

Rating: B. These guys got going here and it was fun to watch the four of them going out there and go nuts. I could go for Miz and Hayes being around more often, but it already seems like we’re on the way to them having issues (again). At the same time, Fraxiom felt like they were going to be a big deal and yet here they are and it’s not going well. Maybe that changes, but they might have already hit their peak.

We look back at Drew McIntyre attacking Cody Rhodes last week.

Kiana James comes up to Tiffany Stratton in the back and suggests that Giulia wants a title shot. Stratton isn’t impressed but Michin comes in to say she’s coming for Giulia anyway.

Here is Drew McIntyre for a chat. We see the attack on Cody Rhodes last week but McIntyre makes it clear that he did not attack him. There is no medical update on Rhodes and it might be due to to WWE not wanting to admit that the golden boy is damaged. Five years ago, McIntyre was Rhodes but he knows that the fans will forget him.

Now he wants the title because of the paycheck it brings. The reality is that Rhodes attacked him and McIntyre goes outside to recap what happened. Rhodes even cleared off the announcers’ table. Why else was he going to do that? Was he going to “fashion me a fine cuisine?” McIntyre says if he’s provoked, he’s the real nightmare. Good stuff here, with McIntyre delivering as he can do so well.

The Street Profits and B-Fab are ready for DIY but Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s interrupt. Sikoa says they’re coming for the titles but Montez Ford says the Profits are coming for the smoke. Talla Tonga is distracted by something and a large bunny is behind them.

Street Profits vs. DIY

B-Fab and Candice LeRae are here too. Ford dropkicks Ciampa to start but gets taken into the wrong corner so Gargano can hit a running knee. That doesn’t last long as it’s off to Dawkins who runs DIY over without much trouble. DIY cuts that off and does their back patting as we take a break.

We come back with Dawkins knocking Gargano down, allowing Ford to come in to clean house. An assisted German suplex gets two on Ciampa and the Doomsday Blockbuster is loaded up, only for LeRae to take B-Fab out on the floor. The Fairy Tale Ending gets two and the Profits are sent outside, where Gargano gets caught with an uppercut. The referee goes to check on him but the distraction lets LeRae hurricanrana Ford off the apron. One Final Beat gets two on Ford but Dawkins breaks up Meet In The Middle. Ford knees Ciampa and a spinebuster into the frog splash gives Ford the pin at 9:25.

Rating: B. This got nuts by the end and I was wondering who was going to win. The tag division getting out there and working in matches where they’re given the chance to do something is a lot of fun and it’s making things a bit more interesting. Throw in LeRae finally getting to do something and it’s that much better.

Carmelo Hayes and the Miz are in the back with the Motor City Machine Guns, who think Miz is manipulating Hayes. An argument ensues and Aldis makes a tag match for next week.

We look back at John Cena and Logan Paul’s argument last week, setting up their match at Clash In Paris.

R-Truth is glad to have his childhood hero John Cena back but Aleister Black doesn’t like it. They go face to face and R-Truth is suddenly a lot more serious (showing the difference between himself and Ron Killings).

Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso say it’s like old times, but Jacob Fatu doesn’t know anything about Zayn and doesn’t seem to want to.

MFT’s vs. Jimmy Uso/Jacob Fatu/Sami Zayn

Mateo and Uso start things off with Uso striking away, including a jumping enziguri. Zayn comes in and gets knocked into the corner before being tossed outside. Talla gets in a big boot and we take an early break. We come back with Sikoa unloading on Zayn but Mateo misses a charge into the corner. Sikoa is right there to cut off the tag attempt but Zayn manages a tornado DDT.

That’s enough for the tag off to Fatu and the ten headbutts in the corner have Loa in trouble. Uso’s big dive over the top takes Mateo out but Loa gets his knees up to cut off Fatu’s Swanton. Sikoa drops a Superfly Splash for two and it’s back to Zayn as everything breaks down. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets two and Fatu hits a heck of a suicide dive onto Talla. Back in and Zayn exploders Sikoa into the corner for the Helluva Kick and the pin at 11:02.

Rating: B. That was about the only way this match could end and that’s not a bad thing. They had set up the idea of Zayn coming after Sikoa and now he’s gotten a pin to set up the title match. Throw in Fatu getting to throw himself at a variety of people and it was a fun way to go. It might not have done anything overly complicated, but it was what it should have been.

Overall Rating: B+. This turned into a heck of a show, with a bunch of nice action, logical stories being moved forward and more than enough things to keep me interested. I’m sure at least a little of this will move on to Clash In Paris (Sikoa vs. Zayn is a likely candidate) and the show flew by, which is always a nice feeling. Pretty great show here and one of the better Smackdowns I’ve seen in a good while.

Results
Alexa Bliss b. Piper Niven – Rollup
The Miz/Carmelo Hayes b. Fraxiom – Skull Crushing Finale to Frazer
Street Profits b. DIY – Frog splash to Ciampa
Sami Zayn/Jimmy Uso/Jacob Fatu b. MFT’s – Helluva Kick to Sikoa

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