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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 25, 2025
FORT WORTH, TEX. AT DICKIES ARENA
AIRED ON LIVE ON USA NETWORK AND LIVE ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 10,942 tickets were distributed so far, which is considered a sellout as it was set up for 10,974 including obscruted view seats. The arena has a capacity of 14,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Joe Tessitore introduced the show as a drone shot aired of Ft. Worth, Tex. and the arena. Then they cut to The Street Profits walking into the arena with their WWE Tag Team Titles, then the Motor City Machine Guns arriving, and DIY walking backstage with their bags. Tessitore said those three teams would battle in a TLC match. He said the final hour would be commercial-free. Then they showed Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu and Tiffany Stratton before cutting to the crowd.
-A five minute video package aired of WrestleMania 41 highlights.
-John Cena’s music played and the crowd popped huge. Fans loudly sang “John Cena sucks!” to his entrance theme. He wore his WWE Title belt backwards and came out with a no-frills black background on the video wall with his name in plain white font as a way to “get back at fans” for an entrance without fanfare. Barrett said wearing the belt backwards is “just a bit of no-no in this business.”
Cena entered the ring and called for ring announcer Mark Nash to enter the ring. Barrett said apparently Cena believes Nash did something wrong this week on Raw. Cena had Nash read a note as fans roared with a “Let’s Go Cena / Cena sucks!” chant. Nash said his announcement was deemed disrespectful. He then read Cena’s note that he introduce him as the greatest of all-time who was “gracing Ft. Worth with his presence for the final time, the last real champion, John Cena!” Cena pointed for Nash to leave the ring with a nasty disposition.
Cena lifted the mic to talk and Randy Orton’s music interrupted. Orton walked out and eyed the ring. Barrett said keeping the title might not be as easy as Cena thought. As he entered the ring, fans chanted, “Randy! Randy!” He said a couple of days ago he found out that in a couple of months, it’ll be 25 years ago to the day that they first shook hands. He said until a couple months ago, he never changed. He said he was hustle, loyalty, and respect, it was a mantra. He said he meant that as a compliment. He said he’s been trying to figure out what’s going on with him the last couple months. He said he determined there’s a void in him. He said kids set goals because of him and achieved those goals. He said he made those children better and generations of kids looked up to him. “Surely that means something to you,” he said. He brought up all the Make-a-Wish visits Cena made. He said he knows that meant something to him.
“So I figured out how to fill the void,” he said. “Take it from me, John. You need to have some kids. Can you imagine some square-jawed, thick-forearmed little Cenas running around? The world would be a better place.” He said if he becomes a father, he’ll grow up and become a better human being.
Cena said, “How dare you.” Orton looked quizzically at him. Cena accused Orton of “parent-shaming me in front of the whole world.” He added: “Congratulations, Randy Orton. You have children and you love them. Good for you.” He said the real reason he doesn’t have kids is because “I spent the last 25 years raising yours,” he said while turning to the crowd. He said he has apparently done an impeccable job, based on the crowd response tonight. He said he has been a better parent to their children than they could ever be. He yelled into the crowd, “You’re right kid, your dad is a loser.” He said a six year old just gave him the finger. “Very classy,” he said. He said he doesn’t have kids because he was “policing brats for a quarter century.”
Orton asked if the Hollywood rot has taken hold of his brain. He said it doesn’t have to be one or the other. He said the fans are the reason he is in Hollywood. He said he is crushing it in Hollywood, but he developed his skills and work ethic in WWE. He said without WWE, there is no Hollywood, and without the fans, there is no WWE. He said the fans are the biggest reason he is standing in the ring with him today.
Orton said he’s made a lot of mistakes and learned from them, but he gets respect from his peers. He said he is a piece of furniture and he is there to stay, whereas Cena is “just a guest.”
Cena said they have their own perspectives, and he used to believe what Orton said. He said he used to believe they won together. He said he has never needed a single one of the fans. He said they will chant in the same breath, “Let’s Go Cena / Cena sucks!” The crowd started doing just that. He said he just called out “a rando” and he turned pale white. “Imagine being told you suck for 25 years,” he said. “They don’t mean anything to me.” He said Orton is like all of the fans. “You’re all hypocrites.”
Cena said once you get tired of him, they can cheer for any “Superstar” they want. He said as soon as he turns his attention elsewhere, he’s merely “a guest” or “an outcast.” (Wait, he accused The Rock of abandoning WWE and vowed he’d never do it.) He said that’s not a functional relationship. He said they are manipulating the truth to make themselves feel good even though they have done nothing with their lives. He pointed toward the crowd and said the fan has done nothing but dress up like Jack Black. He said that’s all he has to show for his life.
Orton said he was so stupid that in this bizarro world where he is the good guy and Cena is the bad guy, Cena would listen to him, but they’re not penetrating his skull. He cited Cody’s entrance theme saying “wrestling has more than one royal family.” He said Cody is referencing the Rhodes family, but also the Orton family. He said pro wrestling has provided everything he has. He said Cena will ruin pro wrestling over his dead body. Cena yelled for him to shut his mouth. He told Orton that he has 17 reigns and Orton is at 14. He said when he takes the title with him, Orton will be frozen at 14. He said if Orton wins a tin foil replacement belt, his counter will start over at one “you babbling moron.”
Cena said when he leaves there, he will make sure three generations of Orton’s family is erased. Cena paced behind Orton as Orton scratched his head and soaked up what Cena said. Orton turned back and told Cena to put his title on the line “right here, right now” and prove it. He yelled off-mic, “How dare you say that!”
Cena held up his belt and said, “No.” He said he’s saying no to save Orton’s ass. He said there should be a match between them for the title, but it shouldn’t happen in Ft. Worth. He said it should happen at Backlash because it’s in St. Louis. He said Randy is from St. Louis, so he can spend the whole day with his family and show up rested. He said he needs Orton at his best, because after Backlash, when he fails, he will have no excuses. He threw the belt at Orton, and as Orton caught it, Cena jumped him and stomped away at him. He waited for Orton stop and, then charged at him. Orton ducked and landed an RKO. Fans chanted, “Randy! Randy!”
(Keller’s Analysis: Very good segment. Orton has some advantages playing off of Cena that Cody doesn’t. There’s no dark cloud of the awkward Rock story hanging over Orton. He’s the babyface challenger trying to take the heel from Cena rather than the current champion keeping it from him. He also has more history with Cena, going back nearly 25 years. That said, Orton is incorporating more obvious talking points than Cody did for some reason. Cody seemed to hold back on some seemingly obvious talking points while Orton didn’t seem to be guarded or holding back. While Orton brought up Make-a-Wish, I’m glad Cena didn’t respond directly to that. Saying he doesn’t want kids of his own because he’s burned out raising everyone else’s kids was a fun angle to take.)
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. Tessitore threw to a vignette hyping the arrival of Fraxiom, Nathan Frazer and Axiom.
(1) HUMBERTO & ANGEL GARZA vs. FRAXIOM (Nathan Frazer & Axiom)
The bell rang 37 minutes into the hour. Barrett called Fraxiom a massive pick-up for Smackdown. Tessitore said they ruled NXT’s tag division until losing at Stand & Deliver, but now “they have a chance to set a new course.” (That’s the best framing I can recall of why a wrestler was “called up” after losing in NXT.) Axiom and Frazer cleared the ring of Angel and Humberto. Then they landed a dives to ringside and then they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
After Humberto landed a top rope moonsault on Angel, Axiom broke up the cover at 7:00. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Axiom blocked a top rope move by Angel and then landed a Spanish Fly. Frazer then landed a Phoenix Splash for the win.
WINNERS: Fraxiom in 8:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fraxiom have been a standout team in NXT and their arrival got enough fanfare to suggest they’ll be featured and protected.) [c]
-Tiffany Stratton made her entrance. Barrett said WrestleMania showed that Stratton can win ugly as well as pretty. She asked the crowd, “What time is it?” She said it was Tiffy-time. She said she went toe to toe with one the greatest of all time, Charlotte Flair, and she said there were moments she doubted herself and the pressure got to her, but she prevailed and left WrestleMania as the Women’s Champion. She said she was told for the longest time that she was the next Charlotte. “Wrong!” she said. “There is only one Charlotte Flair and there is only one Tiffany Stratton.” She was interrupted by Jade Cargill’s music.
Jade said her match with Charlotte was impressive, but it did nothing other than put a bigger target on her back. She said now that she’s done with Naomi, she wants to face her. She said beating Charlotte doesn’t make Tiffany the best. She said she has to beat her. Tiffany suggested they get a ref out there and have a match. A ref ran to the ring. They cut to an abrupt break. [c]
(2) TIFFANY STRATTON vs. JADE CARGILL – Non-title match
The bell rang after the break, 57 minutes into the hour. Tessitore called it “one of those unexpected gifts.” Barrett said when you’re a tag champion, but your partner was an established all-time great like Bianca Belair, people ask were you being a passenger. He said Jade proved at WrestleMania she can win a big match and she is looking to follow up on it.
[HOUR TWO]
They fought back and forth early. Barrett touted each of their performances at WrestleMania with specifics. Tiffany landed a handspring elbow into the corner and played to the crowd and then scored a two count. She landed a second handspring elbow into the corner. They cut to a break at 6:00. [c]
Tiffany landed a rolling senton and then a springboard Prettiest Moonsault Ever. She slipped on the first attempt, but recovered. Jade moved. Jade then landed an Alabama Slam. Barrett said that was evidence that Tiffany is beat up from WrestleMania since he’s never seen her slip before on that move.
A minute later, Jade met Tiffany on the second rope and delivered a superplex. Both were down and slow to get up. Naomi ran out and attacked Jade.
WINNER: No contest in 11:00.
-After the match, after Naomi beat up Jade some more, Nia Jax attacked Tiffany from behind. Barrett called Jax, “The ghost of Christmas past.” Jax landed the Annihilator. She then held up the title belt.
(Keller’s Analysis: WWE is doing too many no contest interference endings to matches, but if you’re going to do it on occasion, this is the time – an unadvertised “bonus” impromptu non-title match between two babyfaces. There’s still the downside of making the match content itself feel irrelevant, and in a meta-sense, it’s seen as a booking copout, but this set-up minimizes the damage. The match forwarded two separate feuds for the two babyfaces. Jax’s annihilator looked as gentle as I’ve ever seen.)
-They showed the MCMGs warming up backstage. [c]
-Jacob Fatu made his entrance, accompanied by Solo Sikoa. Fans loudly chanted, “Fatu! Fatu!” Solo told fans to “show some love and respect for your new United States Champion, Fatu.” (Uh, they already did.) He said everyone saw at WrestleMania what he already knew, which is that Fatu is the future of the company. He said nobody in his family wanted to associate with Fatu other than him because they thought he was too much of a risk and too much trouble. “I made it all happen,” he said. “I’m the reason that Jacob’s the champion.” He said he took him to the promised land, taking him off the streets. The camera angle showed Jacob glaring at him. He finally yanked the mic away from Solo and snarled at Solo as fans chanted “Fatu!”
Fatu said, “Let’s not get it twisted.” He said he told him he was going to win the U.S. Title and it was coming home to the family. He said he told him he’d do it with him or without him, and that’s what he did. He told Texas to look at their new U.S. Champ. He said he knows the title makes him America’s most wanted and a menace to society. He said at the end of the day, you better get in where you fit in. He said he’s all gas, no brakes. L.A. Knight’s music then played.
Knight walked out, mic in hand of course. He gave Fatu credit for beating him and said it can happen to anyone some of the time. He said everyone told him afterward he had a hell of a match. He said he wasn’t worried about having “a hell of a match,” he said wanted to win. (Love that!) He entered the ring and said he wanted a rematch right now.
Drew McIntyre’s music played. As Drew walked out, Barrett said it’s amazing Drew is on two feet after the abuse he absorbed at WrestleMania on his way to winning the Sin City Street Fight. Drew said it isn’t easy being McIntyre. He said he’s tall, jacked, and handsome and, “like Texas, I have some big guns.” He said he has been screwed over and over again. He said he beat Priest in one of the most violent matches in WWE history and he got over the last road block. He said he was going to challenge Cena for the title, but then Orton leaped ahead of him in line. He asked if it’s the Nepo Wrestling Federation.
Knight yawned in the corner and asked if he was done. Drew said he’d get to him in a minute. Drew looked at Fatu and said he wants to fight the baddest champion in the yard. Knight said, “Blah blah blah blah.” He asked someone to wake him up when Drew is done. Drew said he’s got jokes, but the only joke is his last U.S. Title run. Knight stood up and said he thinks his last title run was a joke, but he can’t remember it. He said if he has an issue with Orton, go talk to Orton. He said he’s standing in the ring with him now. He told him to show him he deserves a U.S. Title match. Drew said “okay” and entered the ring. Nick Aldis walked out and offered an alternative. He said they should put their tights and boots on and then wrestle each other, and the winner would be the no. 1 contender for the U.S. Title. Drew shrugged and accepted that, then left the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: Well done segment. Fatu isn’t playing a subservient role to Solo. It does seem fans are too into Fatu for WWE to not officially turn him babyface and match him primarily against heels. It appears a break-up with Solo is coming sooner than later. Knight represented himself well, not whining and making excuses about losing. Drew was superb, as usual, being insufferable on the mic.)
-They showed Zelina Vega backstage. Byron Saxton approached her. He said if she wins tonight, she’ll be the new Women’s U.S. Champion. Zelina said she is known for always having something to say, but she’s actually speechless tonight. She then talked for a minute about the match. She said in Texas you either go big or you go home, and she’s not going home. [c]
(3) CHELSEA GREEN (w/Piper Niven, Alba Fyre) vs. ZELINA VEGA – U.S. Title match
Vega made her entrance. Fyre checked the ref for foreign objects. The bell rang 35 minutes into the hour. Vega went for a move from the ring apron, but Niven and Fyre distracted her. Green then knocked her to the floor. Niven dropped an elbow on her. They cut to a break a minute in. [c]
Vega rallied after the break with a Meteora and scored a two count. Fyre climbed on the ring apron. Vega yelled at her, then went back after Green. She set up a 619, but Niven tripped her. Green threatened to hit Vega. The ref ordered Fyre and Niven to the back. “Justice is served!” said Tessitore, emphatically. Vega then gave a Code Red to a distraught Green. “A stunner in Texas!” said Tessitore. “Zelina Vega, her first singles title!” Barrett said she has slayed that demon and said they’re all in shock over the ultimate underdog scoring a shocking victory. Tessitore said she earned that. Barrett thought Tessitore was too much and told him to at least try to be neutral.
WINNER: Vega in 8:00.
-Tessitore said a lot happened since last Friday, but don’t forget that Carmelo Hayes came out on top of the Andre Battle Royal. A sponsored video recap aired.
-Miz and Carmelo stood backstage with the trophy. Miz said he’ll go down as the greatest Andre Battle Royal winner of all time. He said he has a vision for Carmelo. He said he got him a gift. Carmelo opened the gold box and revealed a neck chain with a big Andre head ornament on it. Carmelo said it represents a chip on his shoulder. He said he is larger than life and the tenth wonder of the world and “I am Him.” Miz said he just inspired him. He said he’s heading to the ring to get something off his chest. He told him to enjoy the moment because he’s about to get his. [c]
-Miz stood mid-ring and said since 2007, he’s been an integral part of WrestleMania. He said this year, he had no match and no mention and was nowhere to be found. He said he headlined WrestleMania and beat John Cena. He said Cody didn’t accomplish that, but he gets cheers. He said when Rey Mysterio had to miss his match, Aldis didn’t come to someone like him. He said he gifted his spot to a new guy in a mask. He said the fans wants a guy who is an internet meme or does musical theater in a wrestling ring. He said he’s sick of it. He said he’s tired of people showing up in WWE whom he is a bigger star than getting opportunities he deserves. He said may them never forget that he is The Miz. The lights went dark.
The big screen lit up as Aleister Black’s music played. He was sitting in a chair that was tilted upright. He stood from it and walked to the ring. Tessitore said he’s ultra mysterious. Barrett said he’s a former NXT Champion and one of the most devastating strikers WWE has ever seen. He called him other-worldly, ominous, and eerie. “Miz, what the hell have you awoken here?” Barrett asked. Fans chanted, “Welcome back!”
Miz looked irked by the interruption. He asked, “Who the hell do you…” at which point Black kicked him and knocked him out onto his back. He then sat cross-legged mid-ring. “Things just got real different around here,” Tessitore said.
-They cut to the Street Profits backstage warming up. Tessitore said their TLC match will be part of a commercial-free final hour. He plugged Drew vs. Knight. [c]
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Smackdown: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “wade Keller” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
[HOUR THREE]
-Saxton told Belair her match was an instant classic. He asked what happened to her finger, which was wrapped. She said she walked out of WrestleMania with a couple broken fingers, but she was proud of what all three did at WrestleMania. Saxton said she didn’t win. Belair said Sky did what should should have and capitalized on the situation. She took issue with Rhea Ripley slipping into a match she didn’t belong in. She said her home is Smackdown and right now it’s divided, but when she returns, she’ll handle some unfinished business.
-They cut to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. Tessitore said the women’s Triple Threat was “five-stars every which way.” Then he pivoted to clips of Naomi and Jax attacking Jade and Tiffany earlier.
-They cut to Naomi walking backstage when Jax just happened to cross paths with her. She told Naomi to stay out of her way. Naomi said, “As long as you proceed with caution.” Jax called her “rude.”
-Knight’s ring entrance took place and they cut to a double-box break that included commercials. Drew’s entrance also aired during the break. [c/db]
(4) DREW MCINTRYE vs. L.A. KNIGHT – No. 1 contendership match for the U.S. Title
The bell rang 9 minutes into the hour. Drew went on sustained offense. When Drew landed a Future Shock DDT, Knight turned it into a jackknife cover for a two count. Knight then played to the crowd before landing a double-jump flying elbow out of the corner for a two count at 8:00. Knight tried to snap Drew’s neck over the top rope on the ring apron, but Drew appeared to be expecting something else and dropped to the floor. Knight bashed Drew’s head into the announce desk over and over. Solo attacked Knight with a Solo Spike. The ref didn’t see it as Drew was chatting with the ref. Solo rolled Knight into the ring. Drew somewhat reluctantly was ready to seize the moment, but Priest showed up and yanked him out of the ring.
WINNER: No contest in 10:00.
-Priest chokeslammed Drew over the announce desk, which collapsed. The crowd chanted, presumably “Holy shit,” was bleeped. Knight yelled at Priest. Fatu then leaped from the ring and tackled both of them. He threw Priest into the ringpost and then Knight into the ringside steps as fans chanted “Fatu! Fatu!” Back in the ring, Fatu landed a double-jump moonsault. He then delivered the moonsault to Priest, also. Tessitore declared him “the most dangerous man of all.” He held up the U.S. Title belt as his music played.
(Keller’s Analysis: This is the example of WWE not picking their spots for non-finishes and overdoing it.)
-A video package aired on Paul Heyman turning on both C.M. Punk and Roman Reigns and then revealing an alliance with Seth Rollins with Bron Breakker joining them.
-The camera was showing John Cena in the parking garage for no apparent reason when R-Truth approached him. He said he’s been his hero from the beginning and if he needs anything, give him a call. Cena didn’t react and continued on his way. Jimmy Uso went up to Truth and asked, “When did John Cena become so whack.” Truth said there are two sides to every story. He said Cena is a real world champion and when he grows up, he wants to be just like him. Jimmy said, “But you’re already grown up, dog.”
-Tessitore hyped Cena vs. Orton at Backlash and Miz vs. Black on Smackdown next Friday.
(5) THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa) vs. THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) – TLC match
The MCMGs came out first, then DIY, and finally the Profits. Barrett said these three teams didn’t make WrestleMania and they have something prove as a result. The bell rang 32 minutes into the hour. Barrett said it has a chance to top anything from WrestleMania weekend.
When Sabin dove through the ropes, Gargano blocked him with a chair. Dawkins picked up Gargano and rammed him into the ringpost. With everyone else down at ringside, Dawkins brought a ladder into the ring. Fans chanted, “We want tables!” Sabin leaped onto Dawkins’ back. Dawkins elbowed him off and began climbing the ladder. Shelley grabbed Dawkins’ leg and executed a dragon screw to his leg.
At 6:00, Ford landed his obligatory flip-dive to ringside, crashing on a crowd below. Ford the slid a table into the ring and set it up. As he began to climb it, Ciampa met him on the other side. Gargano set up a second ladder and climbed it. He oddly kept reaching for the belts which were out of reach rather than climb another rung. He then gave Ford a twisting flatliner. Ciampa then grabbed at the belts, but Dawkins yanked him down.
Sabin and Shelley climbed the ladder. Ciampa and Gargano knocked them down. Ciampa put a chair around the neck of Shelley and then Gargano swung a chair at the chair. Shelley collapsed to the corner. They continued to fight until the Profits took control and cleared the ring. Ford landed a running leap over the top rope and delivered a blockbuster on Ciampa off of Dawkin’s shoulders onto the rest of the wrestlers at ringside. All six were down and slow to get up. “We’ve got bodies everywhere!” said Tessitore. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Ford smashed Gargano with a prosthetic leg a fan offered him from the front row.
Ciampa set up a table at ringside. Sabin leaped off the top rope and splashed Dawkins through the table. Ford then landed a running flip dive over the top rope onto Ciampa through another table at ringside. Tessitore called it an instant classic. Sabin and Shelley delivered a Skull & Bones through a table set up at ringside.
Back in the ring, Ciampa hung from the belts above the ring as the MCMGs pulled the ladder away and bashed his legs with chairs. Dawkins leaped off the ladder with a spear through a table. “Oh, it’s too good!” exclaimed Tessitore. The MCMGs watched from the corners of the ring, then brought a ladder to center ring and then Shelley climbed without any sense of urgency. Sabin stood guard. Gargano jabbed Shelley and then threw the chair at the head of Shelley, knocking him to the mat.
Gargano then climbed the ladder. Sabin met him at the top. They exchanged wild swings. After Sabin knocked Gargano down, Ford quickly climbed the ladder. Gargano yanked him down and kicked him in the head. Gargano then climbed past Ford. Sabin met him at the top again. Ford met them on the side of the ladder with a springboard leap and knocked their heads into the top of the ladder and to the mat. Ford then unfastened the belts to win.
Tessitore said it was the first TLC match for the tag titles in five years and it might take 50 years to recovery from what they just watched. They replayed highlights and then closed with the Profits celebrating in the crowd.
WINNERS: The Street Profits in 23:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: An excellent TLC match. Tessitore did a great job calling it. Barrett, too.)
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