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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MAY 30, 2025
KNOXVILLE, TENN. AT THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA AT FOOT CITY CENTER
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 14,556 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 21,678 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by Jake Barnett from ProWrestling.net to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-After “Then, Now, Forever, Together” narrated by Paul Levesque, they went right to a three minute video package on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Then they showed the arrivals of Cody Rhodes with his dog Farro and next Bianca Belair. Tessitore noted this is her home town and home arena.
-Belair made her ring entrance. She twirled her pony tail and danced her way to the ring, then hugged family who were there. “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” she said. “I love ya’ all so much.” She asked for the theme song to the local university and it played as fans clapped along. She said the city is special to her because it’s her hometown and safe space. She said hello to her mom and dad. Naomi’s music played and she came out and said she’s so happy Belair is on Smackdown.
Belair said this is her hometown and this isn’t the time for this. Naomi said not a day has gone by that she hasn’t thought about what happened to them. “What is there to talk about?” Belair asked. Fans chanted, “You suck! You suck!” Naomi hung her head and looked sad. Naomi said, “B, I just want your forgiveness. I’m begging for your forgiveness,” she said. “I’m trying to fix it and I can’t fix it.” She said months have gone by and she’s sent her text messages and voice mails. She said she even swung by her parents’ house trying to get ahold of her, but nobody was there. Belair wasn’t pleased. “You did what?” she gasped.
Naomi said no one was around, but she went inside. She said she went through the family photo album and talked about how happy they looked as tag team champions. Belair cut her off and calmly said they were best friends, but she betrayed her trust. Belair said she said she is done with her and she meant it. She warned her not to go near her family again. Naomi cried tears as fans chanted, “EST! EST!” Naomi turned sinister and said it wouldn’t be good for her and her mother to be in a wheelchair. Belair looked to ringside as Naomi cackled in self-satisfaction. “I would hate for something bad to happen to you right here and right now,” she said. Jade Cargill then marched out.
Jade entered the ring and Naomi took a swing at her. Jade blocked her and kicked her in the chest. Jade eyed Belair. Naomi got up and charged, but Jade tossed her aside. Jade and Belair continued staring. Jade then began to leave the ring when Nia Jax’s music played and she walked out.
(Keller’s Analysis: Naomi gave it a shot to try to befriend Belair again, but once Belair closed the door on that, Naomi turned quickly to threatening to Belair and her mother.) [c]
(1) JADE CARGILL vs. NIA JAX vs. NAOMI – Money in the Bank Qualifier
The match was joined in progress after the break 17 minutes into the hour. Naomi was punching away at Jade on the mat with Jax at ringside watching them fight. A clip aired from during the break of Naomi interrupting Jade’s attempt to bodyslam Jax, knocking them both down. Naomi landed a splits-splash on Jade in the corner. Jax snuck into the ring and charged. Naomi moved and the hip attack hit Jade. Jax gave Naomi and Jade each Samoan Drops. She landed a leaping legdrop off the second rope onto Naomi for a near fall at around 6:00. Naomi leveraged Jax’s shoulders down for a two count and then they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Naomi and Jax teamed up against Jade during the break. Back from the break, Naomi made the cover with a splits-splash, but Jax broke it up. Naomi asked, “What the hell?” (What did she expect since it’s a MITB qualifier?) Jade splashed Jax and Naomi in opposite corners. Jax fought back and went for a splash on Jade, but Jade moved so Jax splashed Naomi instead. Jade landed two superkicks on Jax and then a spinebuster. Naomi landed flying double knees on Jax for a two count. Jade then gave Naomi her Jaded for a near fall, broken up by Jax.
Jax leaped off second rope with a crossbody onto both Jade and Naomi as they were exchanging wild swings. Jax scored a two count on Jade and then shifted over to cover Naomi for another two count. Jax lifted Naomi onto her back and climbed to the second rope and landed a Samoan Drop. Jade splashed Jax during the cover and got a two count at about 13:00. Jade powerbombed Jax as she was superplexing Naomi. She went for an Annihilator onto both, but Naomi moved. Naomi then rolled up Jax for the three count.
WINNER: Naomi in about 15:00 to earn a Money in the Bank spot.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match that played into the styles of each of the wrestlers in the match.)
-Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and J.C. Mateo happened upon R-Truth as Truth was chatting with an invisible figure. Solo said his childhood hero beat him and now he’s talking to little ghosts. Truth said he has never seen Mateo before and asked if he was Solo’s son. He said they’re both husky. Truth offered to teach him a lesson in the ring. He said they’re both big boned. Fatu said they can go have their fun, but he’s got his own business to take care of.
-Tessitore plugged John Cena and Cody Rhodes appearing later. [c]
-Chelsea Green walked up to G.M. Nick Aldis with a cardboard image of her face on a stick in front of her own face, complaining to him. Aldis said he couldn’t understand and moved the face-on-a-stick, revealing Green’s rainbow face guard for her nose. Green demanded that Aldis strip Zelina Vega of the title and suspend her. Aldis said no one is getting stripped or suspended, but she can earn a rematch down the road. She said she isn’t cleared so she’ll have to wait. Alba Fyre and Piper Niven complained. Green volunteered Fyre for the match. Aldis said he liked the idea.
-Byron Saxton interviewed Tiffany Stratton backstage. He asked for her thoughts on being targeted by the eventual winner of the Money in the Bank. She said whoever cashes in on her will be making a big mistake. Naomi walked up and said if she thought Jax was a problem, she hasn’t seen anything yet. She predicted a MITB victory. She said she should ask Jade what happens when you mess with her. Naomi left and then Alexa Bliss was standing on the other side of Tiffany. She said she should be worried about her winning MITB.
-They went to Tessitore and Wade Barrett at ringside. They plugged Worlds Collide including Ethan Page vs. Rey Fenix vs. Laredo Kid vs. Je’Von Evans. Tessitore threw to a video package of the NXT and AAA worlds colliding in that match. [c]
(2) J.C. MATEO (w/Solo Sikoa) vs. R-TRUTH
Mateo’s entrance aired after the break. The bell rang 47 minutes into the hour. Mateo overpowered Truth at the start and rammed his shoulder into his mid-section in the corner over and over in the opening seconds. Truth made a comeback after avoiding a corner splash. He followed with shoulder tackles. Mateo countered Truth mid-air and landed on his chest. Mateo went for a running senton, but Truth moved. Truth did You Can’t See Me and dropped his fist. He lifted Mateo for an Attitude Adjustment, but Mateo fell on top of him instead and then finished Truth with his Tour of the Islands turning powerslam.
WINNER: Mateo in 3:00.
-Mateo attacked Truth afterward. Solo joined in. Jimmy Uso’s music played and he made the save, chair in hand. Mateo bailed out. Solo and Jimmy eyed each other. Solo tried to indicate he wasn’t a threat and was about to leave the ring when Mateo attacked Jimmy from behind. Solo stopped Mateo, though, from hitting him. Mateo left the ring without further incident, at Solo’s request. Solo told Jimmy it was time to come home.
-They showed The Street Profits backstage. [c]
-A clip aired of Cody Rhodes interviewing his wife Brandi on his podcast. They talked about Cody’s nervousness thta the fans would boo him when he debuted for WWE.
-Tessitore again plugged Cody and Cena would be face-to-face later.
-The Profits made their ring entrance. Montez Ford said they are part of the best tag team division of any brand and any promotion. “It’s on fire right now,” he said. “But let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now.” Angelo Dawkins talked about all the teams aiming for them, including now The Wyatts. Ford said it doesn’t matter who it is, they’d happily defend against anyone. Fraxiom’s music played and they headed to the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: I can’t express how refreshing it was to have Ford talk in a normal voice the whole promo and not go into his over-the-top inflections there. He’s so much more compelling when he’s not falling into that lane.)
[HOUR TWO]
When Fraxiom entered the ring, Nathan Frazer said they didn’t get a fair shake last week. Ford said they had the match in hand before The Wyatt Sicks interfered. Frazer said they should run it back. Fans cheered. The Motor City Machine Guns them came out to their music. Alex Shelley asked if the entire basis of Fraxiom asking for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. He said the Profits never beat them, either. He said if they’re going to hand out title matches, they’ll take one.
Next, DIY marched out to their music including Candice LeRae. Chris Sabin told LeRae to be quiet. Gargano called Sabin an idiot. He said they had to bring his beautiful wife into the mix to even the odds against them. Tomasso Ciampa didn’t like Gargano bringing up the Wyatt Sicks. They entered the ring. Ciampa said they have killed the tag team division they built. Ciampa asked everyone to stand up and bow their heads for a moment of silence. The lights then went out.
The Wyatt Sicks were surrounding them when the lights came back on. The Wyatts attacked everyone. Nikki Cross showed up on the ringside table and leaped onto Candice. Uncle Howdy gave Frazer a Sister Abigail. [c]
-They went to a camera in the concourse with fans surrounding the camera as it flew past them and into the arena bowl. Great angle of the big crowd.
-Clips aired of the Wyatts in the previous segment. Barrett said, “So many questions; we need answers.”
(3) REY FENIX & JE’VON EVANS vs. HUMBERTO & ANGEL GARZA (w/Santos Escobar)
Legado del Fantasma made their way to the ring first. Humberto hesitated before joining in a group handshake. Ethan Page had joined the announcers at ringside on commentary. The bell rang 14 minutes into the hour. Evans landed a nice dropkick against Humberto and then gave a leaping facebuster to Angel. When Humberto leaped off the top rope, Fenix and Evans dropkicked him out of the air. Fenix scored a two count. Then they cut to a double-box break a minute in. [c/db]
Barrett asked Ethan how threatened he feels defending his North American Title at Worlds Collide. Ethan said he doesn’t care where his challengers come from, he’s keeping his title. Humberto had Evans grounded in a chinlock. Evans made a comeback and hot-tagged in Fenix just as Angel also tagged in. Fenix went on a flurry of rapid-fire moves. Fenix landed a double-spring moonsault onto Angel. Humberto broke up the cover. Fenix landed a spinning kick to Humberto. Evans had blind-tagged in and he took it to Angel, but then Humberto kicked him. Everyone was down and slow to get up. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Ethan asked if that chant was for him.
Evans leaped off the top rope as Fenix held Angel and Humberto in place for a dive. Ethan stood and yelled at Evans and Fenix. Ethan shoved Fenix into Evans at ringside, then into the announce desk. Evans superkicked Ethan and then rolled into the ring. Humberto rolled up Evans for a near fall. Evans came back with a flying kick that didn’t connect well. Then he climbed to the top rope. As Santos distracted the ref, Ethan shoved him off the top rope. Angel and Humberto gave Evans their finisher and Angel scored a three count. Barrett said had Evans minded his own business and not gone after Ethan, none of that would have happened.
WINNERS: Angel & Humberto in 11:00.
-A vignette aired with Uncle Howdy saying they’re going to get what’s owed. [c]
(4) ZELINA VEGA vs. ALBA FYRE (w/Chelsea Green, Piper Niven)
Vega stood in the ring and watched Fyre, Green, and Niven make their entrance. The bell rang 32 minutes into the hour. At 2:00, Fyre rolled to ringside to regroup. Then she yanked Vega by her feet and landed a pendulum bullhammer, according to Barrett. Vega set up Fyre for a 619, but Green stood on the ring apron to distract her. The ref yelled at her, so Piper tripped Vega running the ropes. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Tessitore touted Zelina for being diminutive but with so much heart. She made a spirited comeback and landed running knees in the corner. She pounded the top turnbuckle and then leaped off the second rope with flying knees for a two count at 9:00. She followed with a top rope moonsault, but Alba Fyre moved. Fyre then landed a swanton bomb for a near fall. (Those late head tucks always scare me.) Green took off her nose guard and swung at Vega, but Vega ducked so she hit Niven by mistake instead. Vega then gave a Code Red to Fyre after Fyre nearly bumped into Green on the ring apron leading to the three count. Tessitore said Vega “always finds a way lately.”
WINNER: Vega in 11:00.
-Miz told Carmelo Hayes backstage that if he follows their plan, they will win. He said he’s tired of taking Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for him. He told him he sacrificed his chance to be in the match for him. He said he will make sure they are Mr. Money in the Bank. Hayes said, “What do you mean ‘we’?” Miz asked who got him in that position. Hayes called him Mike and said he appreciates what he did, but no one told him to do it. He said he is talented and put himself in a position to succeed. He said he is “him” and Miz will never be “him.” Hayes wanted to say “Melo don’t Miz” together. Miz refrained and gritted his teeth.
-They showed Damien Priest backstage. [c]
-A vignette aired with Giulia. She talked about her goal wasn’t just to be the best because everyone says that. She said she wants to be indisputable. She said admiration or disgust means nothing to her. “I am impossible to deny,” she said. She said she views every opponent as a chance to build her legacy. They ran captions on the screen to help in case her broken English wasn’t clear. She asked who is going to stop her.
-Backstage, Giulia saw Vega in the hallway. “Zelina, I see you, but I see that title more,” she said.
-Priest made his ring entrance. Clips aired of his win over Drew McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Priest said he and McIntyre fought for over a year, which is not normal. He said they took their beef into the cage and it was a war. He pointed at his black eye. He said he can’t stand McIntyre. He said he got to face the old Drew who is a warrior, not the guy who hides behind insults typed into his phone. He said he wants to win a title. He noted he respects Jacob Fatu, but not the crew that follows him around. He said they’d handle business at some point. As Priest left, he crossed paths with Fatu. They went face-to-face.
[HOUR THREE]
[c]
(5) JACOB FATU vs. ANDRADE vs. CARMELO HAYES (w/The Miz) – Money in the Bank Qualifier
The bell rang 5 minutes into the hour. Miz grabbed Fatu’s foot early in the match. That gave Hayes an opening to go for a schoolboy, but Fatu resisted. Hayes kicked him out of the ring. Andrade then surprised Hayes with a clothesline as Hayes ran the ropes. Fatu growled at Miz, then turned and knocked down Andrade as he dove through the ropes. Miz hit Fatu. Fatu threw Miz into the ringside barricade and then landed a hip attack. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
A few minutes later, Fatu went for a running hip attack against both Hayes and Andrade at ringside, but they moved and he crashed through the ringside barricade. They cut to another double-box break. [c/db]
Fatu landed a Swanton on Andrade. Hayes broke up the cover. Fatu had Andrade and Hayes in opposite corners. He lifted Hayes, but Andrade landed a spinning back elbow. The ref counted to two with Fatu’s shoulders down and both Hayes and Andrade making the cover. Solo and Mateo walked to ringside. Fatu broke up a cover by Hayes on Andrade. Fatu put Hayes on the top turnbuckle. He gave Andrade a Samoan Drop, but then turned to express he was upset with Solo and Mateo even being there. That pause opened up Andrade to avoid his top rope Swanton. Hayes then landed a top rope Nothing But Net legdrop to the back of his neck for for a near fall. Hayes then countered Andrade into a leverage two count. Andrade countered for a near fall. They hit each other with moves and both were down and slow to get up.
Fatu landed a hip attack on Hayes and then an implant DDT on Andrade. Fatu landed a moonsault. Solo was standing on the ring apron and told him to do a moonsault again. Mateo stood on the ring apron too and said, “One more.” Jimmy Uso yanked Mateo off the ring apron and attacked him. Andrade then caught Hayes with The Message for the win.
WINNER: Andrade in 20:00 to advance to the Money in the Bank match.
-Byron Saxton interviewed L.A. Knight backstage about his Money in the Bank slot. He said the World Title and U.S. Title are all in his future. Aleister Black interrupted and said Knight’s win was partially due to him. “You’re welcome, man,” he said. [c]
-Fatu was throwing a fit backstage, tossing everything in sight around. Solo approached him and said he was just trying to help. “For the last time, I do not need your help,” he said. He stormed off.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside who plugged Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank next Saturday.
-Cody made his entrance. Fans sang, “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” He brought up the record crowd. Cody talked about going away after losing his title at WrestleMania and maybe having some whiskey. He said he asked a friend if he was a good champion, and the friend said yes. He said he started thinking about his year including A.J. Styles feigning retirement, a friend sucker-punching him against his bus, and his boss who sees something in him he doesn’t even see in himself. He said also thinks about The Final Boss asking him for his soul. He said the entire world theorized what he meant. He said as preposterous as it sounded, the scary part is that he was 100 percent serious. He said the offer still apparently stands no matter how much he says no.
He said he also thought about John Cena. A “Let’s Go Cena / Cena sucks!” dueling chant broke out. He said he doesn’t know if Cena is going to ruin professional wrestling, but if he does, then he is partially to blame. He said he’d love to say it to his face, but if Cena is listening, he needs him to know that he will never hesitate with him again. He said no matter how much he talks about how many dates he has left before he leaves them forever, that is not his expiration date. He said his expiration sits on the other side of his corneas and it’s going to “burn your ass up!” he said, as he shook with intensity.
He said he wants the fans to “give it up” for their World Heavyweight Champion, Jey Uso. Jey made his entrance. They cut to a break. [c]
Jey stood mid-ring after the break and then his music started up again. John Cena’s music interrupted and he came out to his music. Cena wore the belt backwards as he entered the ring. Cena said, “If it’s not professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes.” He told Cody he is nothing more than a John Cena Wanna Be and Jey is nothing more than a John Cena Wannabe. He said it makes him sick. “You want my fame,” he told Cody. He looked at Jey and said, “You want my money.” He said Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy. He said there is one other human being in WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty, and respect. He said he has the fortune, fame, and followers to back that up. He said his partner at Money in the Bank is there as well. Out came Logan Paul to his music.
Cena said fans are mad because “Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler.” He said he “doesn’t have to pay his dues because Logan Paul is paying your mortgage.” He said the fans didn’t pay to see Cody or Jey, they came to see him and Logan. Logan asked what Knoxville was crying about. He said he could walk on water and they’d find a way to tell him it’s because he can’t swim.
Logan called the fans “stupid stupid Tennessee people.” He said it’s a moment in history that they all get to witness: “The moment John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.” He said all of them will live long, pathetic, miserable lives, but at least they can say they saw that. “Shut the f— up!” chanted the fans. He said the problem is he should be standing next to the WWE Champion as a World Champion. He pointed at Jey’s belt. He said he should have been the one to leave SNME with that belt. He told Jey he got lucky. He said they all know it. He said Jey needed Cody to save him. He said they can’t do a single thing in the business without it being handed to them. He said the nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple. He pointed at himself and Cena and yelled, “Self-made man!”
Logan said five years ago, nobody would have believed he would be a WWE Superstar or teaming with the greatest of all-time. “But look at me now,” he said. He said his time is now. He said Cena is the last real champion and he is the inevitable face of the company. He told Cody and Jey to come get some at Money in the Bank. Jey said they didn’t need to wait.
Cena was ready to leave, but Logan slapped Cena’s shoulder to stop him. Cena got in Logan’s face briefly over that physicality.
Cody asked if Logan was going to “polish Cena’s Peacemaker backstage.” Cena and Logan charged at the babyfaces. Jey paired off with Logan at ringside. Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment on Cody, but Cody escaped. Jey superkicked Cena. Cody hit a Disaster Kick. Jey dove onto Cena when he bailed out to ringside.
Logan went for a leaping lariat, but Cody ducked. Jey superkicked Logan. Cody gave Logan a Cutter. Cody looked down at the WWE Title belt and picked it up. The show ended with Jey holding his belt and Cody holding up his former title as Cena regained his senses at ringside.
(Keller’s Analysis: It was good to hear from Cody. With his new podcast, it would be weird to promote that but not hear from his character, so to speak, in the narrative of WWE TV also with everything that has happened, plus having to promote his return match at Money in the Bank. Cody bringing up The Final Boss’s offer and saying it never expires is certainly noteworthy. Logan took more control of the situation than Cena’s character seemed comfortable with, so that seed is planted. I could imagine Logan being the impetus for Cena turning back babyface before this is all said and done.)
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by Jake Barnett from ProWrestling.net to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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