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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JUNE 6, 2025
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. AT DIGNITY HEALTH 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 8.789 tickets were distributed right before showtime. The arena has a capacity of 10,225 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Rich Fann to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
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[HOUR ONE]
-Joe Tessitore introduced the show as they showed the arena for Money in the Bank and then the fans lined up outside the arena for Smackdown earlier.
-They showed the arrivals of Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Stephanie Vaquer, Naomi, Giulia, Roxanne Perez, and Paul Heyman’s crew. Naomi littered and was smug as it gets with her swagger in the parking lot.
-Seth Rollins led Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed through the backstage area and onto the entrance stage as Seth’s music played. Fans sang Seth’s song. Heyman placed the mic in Seth’s hand. Before Seth spoke, fans loudly chanted “C.M. Punk!” Seth said he is a visionary and revolutionary. “And tomorrow night, I take everything!” he said, pointing to the briefcase over his head. He said he will have absolute power and control over the industry. A loud “OTC!” chant rang out next.
Seth said Roman Reigns can’t hear them because they sent him to the Island of Irrelevancy. He said they have come to Smackdown to deliver a message. He said anyone who stands in their way will suffer the same fate as those who stood in their way in the past, such as Sami Zayn, Punk, and Reigns. He said he will drag all of the fans into the future, kicking and screaming. He said there is nobody who can stop him. He raised his arms, but then Solo Sikoa’s music played. Solo, Jacob Fatu, and J.C. Mateo walked onto the stage. Wade Barrett said, “Raw’s power trio, take a look at Smackdown’s power trio.”
Solo stood opposite of Seth and asked if he said nobody is there who can stop him. Seth said, “That’s right.” Solo said, “Well, we’re standing here right now.” Seth said, “Is that so?” Solo said by the looks of it, it seems like he’s got a Bloodline thing going on. He asked Breakker if he’s “right-hand man, Jey Uso.” He asked Reed if he’s the honorary Uce, Sami Zayn. He said there’s the Wiseman. “Longtime, no see,” Solo said, sending piercing stare at Heyman.
Seth leaned in and told Solo, “Choose your next words very carefully.” Solo sneered and said tomorrow he’s grabbing the contract. Seth said Solo must feel threatened because of Breakker being the future of the industry “and you’re not.” He asked if he’s threatened because Reed could squash him like a bug at the snap of his fingers. He said his own family would rather stab him in the back than have his back. Seth looked over at Jacob. Fans “oooh’d” and then chanted, “Fatu! Fatu!”
Seth asked if Fatu wants to talk. He told him to take the mic from Solo unless Solo doesn’t want him to talk. Solo told him to shut up. Seth said Fatu is the Samoan Werewolf, but a better name might be Solo’s Bitch. Seth said it took a lot of guts for him to walk out there and talk to him the way he did. He said he’s a little intimidated by one of them, but it’s not Solo. He looked over at Fatu. Solo stepped toward Seth. Breakker stepped in front of Seth and eyed Solo. Fatu then stepped up to Breakker. Seth then stepped in front of Breakker and got right in Fatu’s space. Seth patted Breakker on the chest and called him off. Breakker slowly turned and followed Heyman and Seth out of the ring as Mateo led him. Seth’s music played. Tessitore said tensions got about as intense as they can without boiling over.
Jimmy Uso then attacked Mateo from a behind, knocking him into Fatu. Seth smiled from the stage. Solo tried to talk Fatu and Mateo into calming down as Tessitore plugged Mateo vs. Jimmy was next.
(Keller’s Analysis: This was a cool interaction with two new-look factions that share Bloodline history. It mainly served to build up Solo and Seth both in the MITB, plus lead into the opening TV match. It’s notable how much Seth is the clear leader of this group, not Heyman.) [c]
(1) JIMMY USO vs. J.C. MATEO
Tessitore called Mateo the new powerhouse of Smackdown and a former Olympian. A graphic hyped Piper Niven vs. Zelina Vega, L.A. Knight vs. Aleister Black, a six-woman tag match, and final words from John Cena, Logan Paul, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes, plus Tiffy Time. Mateo took control early with methodical offense including chops. Jimmy side-stepped him and sent him to ringside. Jimmy leaped through the ropes and knocked Mateo over. He threw Mateo into the ring. Solo asked Jimmy what he was doing. Jimmy climbed to the top rope, but Mateo dropkicked him to the floor. Tessitore touted Mateo’s leaping ability for his size and body type. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Mateo controlled the action during the break. They showed him landing a leaping moonsault mid-ring. Solo got in Jimmy’s face on the ring apron. Jimmy made a comeback and landed a leaping roundkick followed by chops. Jimmy followed up with a leaping flip off the top rope for a two count at 10:00. Mateo came back and scored a two count after a suplex. He charged at Jimmy, but Jimmy lifted a boot and then landed two superkicks and a spear. He climbed to the top rope. Solo stood on the ring apron to distract the ref. Fatu then stood on the ring apron on the other side. Mateo charged at Jimmy, but Jimmy moved and Mateo knocked Fatu off the ring apron. Jimmy then rolled up Mateo for a three count. “Well, that didn’t go as planned,” said Tessitore. Fatu and Mateo yelled at each other. Mateo told Solo that Fatu is the problem, not him.
WINNER: Jimmy Uso in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Mateo has looked better since his WWE debut match with Knight.)
-Tessitore hyped Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, John Cena, and Logan Paul with final words for each other later.
-They showed Zelina Vega walking backstage when she stopped to talk to Giulia. Vega said she has worked her ass off to get the U.S. Title, so if she wants it, she’ll have to pry it from her lifeless body. Giulia liked how confident she is. Vega walked away.
-Piper Niven made her ring entrance, accompanied by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. [c]
-They showed Fatu backstage, still in a bad mood over how things went down earlier. Damien Priest walked up to him and said, “It’s tough working with family, right?” He said he’s been through it. He told Fatu that at some point he’s coming for his U.S. Title. Fatu told him to bring it and then he’ll beat him and send him to the back of the line “with the rest of these suckers.”
(2) ZELINA VEGA vs. PIPER NIVEN (w/Chelea Green, Alba Fyre) – Bakersfield Brawl for the U.S. Title
The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. They used a kendo stick as a weapon first. Fans chanted, “We want tables!” Green threw a fit and yelled that they didn’t. Niven caught Zelina mid-air at ringside and dropped her face-first onto the edge of the ring apron. Then they cut to a break. [c]
Niven had a chain and tried to choke Zelina with it from behind. She pulled it back into her mouth and then used her boot to shove her face into the bottom turnbuckle. Zelina countered Niven with a DDT into a chair set up in the ring. Niven rolled to ringside.
Niven landed a sitout slam on Zelina at ringside. Giulia leaped off the ringside barricade and clotheslined both Green and Fyre at ringside to prevent them from further interference. Niven yelled at Giulia. Zelina then tried to powerbomb Niven through a table. Niven resisted, but Giulia hit Niven with a kendo stick so Zelina was able to powerbomb Niven through the table for the win.
WINNER: Zelina in 11:00.
-Afterward, as Tessitore said “Thank goodness for Giulia,” Giulia raised Vega’s arm and then headbutted her. Tessitore asked what that was about. Barrett said Giulia is “highly protective” of who gets to beat up Zelina. She stood on her chest and raised Zelina’s belt in the air. The announcers noted she is in Money in the Bank. Barrett said she’ll be in the six-woman tag later. Giulia left with a heelish self-satisfied demeanor as fans sided with Zelina.
-Cody Rhodes checked with Jey Uso backstage. Jey said he’s a little banged up from Monday. Jimmy Uso walked in and asked if he’s straight. Jey said he is and wondered why everyone is asking him that. Jimmy said he’s had a lot on his plate and he wants to be sure he’s ready to yeet when it’s time to yeet. Jey assured him he is. He said they just have to worry about what Cena and Logan have to say tonight.
-A vignette aired with Aleister Black. He said can’t let it go that Knight stole his pin on Shinsuke Nakamura after he hit him with the Black Mass. He said it seemed “almost respectful” at first, but now he sees it as him stealing something from him. He said he wants to take away all of the security he had in the match by facing him one on one. He said he’ll find out what’s left of him, and if he beats him, he will look him in the eyes and shake his hand and admit defeat.
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s a good framing of the match which at first felt a bit odd with them both being babyfaces.) [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Knight made his ring entrance. He said it’s that time of year again, Money in the Bank season, and if you do a little math, this is his third year in a row being in MITB. He asked if they think “third time’s a charm.” Fans yelled “Yeah!” He said he likes Penta a little bit and knows he’ll do everything under the sun to reach up and grab the case. He said the same about Andrade. “Then we get to the goon side of things,” he said.
When he brought up “El Grande Americano Gable,” he noted the mixed crowd reaction. He asked, “Do we like him or do we not?” He said regarding Dummy #2, Solo, he can drop him on his head again. He said Dummy #3, Seth, recently “got himself crewed up.” He said tomorrow he’s going to want to “burn it down.” He said he won’t be burning a damn thing down because he’ll be the one getting burned by him.
He said he understands Aleister being upset because MITB is a big deal and he stole the pin. He said he did what he had to do in a three-way match. He said if his feelings were hurt, he’s sorry, but now he’ll get his feelings hurt again. He said Aleister will be watching MITB from his couch tomorrow either way. The lights went out and Aleister’s ring entrance took place.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good promo from Knight. It was charismatic and smooth, working in his key words and phrases but also setting the scene for the MITB match well.) [c]
(3) L.A. KNIGHT vs. ALEISTER BLACK
The bell rang 11 minutes into the hour. Barrett said Knight has nothing to apologize for regarding how he qualified for MITB by using the effects of Aleister’s move. They fought back and forth early in the match. Black rallied and kipped up after a running basement knee. He went for a springboard move, but Knight knocked him over the top rope. It didn’t seem to go as intended, but everyone seemed okay after a clunky tumble to ringside. They cut to a break at 5:00. [c]
Back from the break, Knight landed a Burning Hammer. Aleister rolled to ringside. Seth then entered and delivered a running Stomp to Knight’s head.
WINNER: No contest or DQ win for Aleister at 11:00.
-As Seth up another Stomp, Black entered and got in his path. Breakker then entered and gave Aleister a spear. Seth threw him out of the ring. Breakker landed a senton on Knight. Breakker then gave Knight a spear.
(Keller’s Analysis: Now the booking of Knight vs. Aleister makes even more sense. They wanted Seth’s heel group attacking Knight. That also teased an intriguing feud between Aleister and the Heyman and Seth faction (I’m ready for a name for them). That said, it’s another lame non-finish on WWE TV that insults viewers’ investment in anticipating the fight they watched turning into an actual meaningful outcome.)
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside who reacted.
-Backstage, Raw G.M. Adam Pearce and Smackdown G.M. Nick Aldis announced that there would be King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournaments beginning next week. There will two Fatal Four-way matches for each brand, with the winners facing off in semi-finals, followed by the winner from Smackdown facing the winner from Raw. The final takes place at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia. Aldis announced that the tournament winners get the title matches against the top champion of their respective brands at Summerslam.
(Keller’s Analysis: Big news there. That gives a ton of meaning to the KOTR and QOTR tournaments.)
-Byron Saxton interviewed Jade Cargill backstage. He asked about her being in the QOTR tournament. Jade predicted she’ll win and go on to earn gold at Summerslam. Saxton said Belair refused to forgive Naomi for what she did to her, but everyone wants to know where things stand between Jade and Belair. Charlotte walked up and said “salt and sugar look the same.” She told her to choose her friends wisely or don’t have any at all. She said there’s only one queen in WWE. Tiffany Stratton walked up and said, “Good luck with that, ladies.” She headed to the ring. [c]
-A vignette aired with Legado del Fantasma hyping Worlds Collide. Santos Escobar said after their meeting, they have a plan and will prove before their people in Mexico who owns the world of Lucha Libre. They showed brief clips of their opponents and commented on them. Humberto appeared to be fully on board with enthusiasm.
-Saxton interviewed Chad Gable with the Creeds about facing Vikingo tomorrow night. He said he is disappointed he didn’t qualify for MITB, but El Grande Americano is a suitable replacement and he’ll win the briefcase. He said he will win the prestigious AAA Mega Championship at Worlds Collide. Andrade walked in and looked Gable up and down. He spoke in Spanish. Penta joined Andrade for a shared laugh. Gable threw a fit and then the Creeds stepped up. Aldis said he has enough going on so he said they can settle this in the ring tonight.
-Tiffany made her ring entrance. Tessitore said she will find out who will be targeting her after the MITB match on Saturday night. Tiffany said everyone in the MITB is championship material. She said whoever wins, “their world will be revolving around me.” She said they win the match and trend for one night, “but I fear no one can outdo the doer.” She asked Bakersfield, “What time is it?” Rhea Ripley’s music then played.
Ripley walked out. She entered the ring, licked her lips, and smiled. She said she has never been in a MITB match because “because I never had to.” She said she doesn’t know what it means to win the contract, but she knows what it feels like to be a champion. She stepped toward Tiffany and said she misses that feeling. Stephanie Vaquer’s music then played and she walked out to the ring. Alexa Bliss came out next as ring announcements began for the six-woman tag match. [c]
(4) STEPHANIE VAQUER & ALEXA BLISS & RHEA RIPLEY vs. GUILIA & NOAMI & ROXANNE PEREZ
A few minutes in, Bliss landed a dive from the ring apron onto Naomi and Giulia. Perez then threw Bliss into the ringside steps as they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Ripley got a hot-tag which popped the crowd and went on the attack on Perez. Bliss gave Giulia a Sister Abigail later.
[HOUR THREE]
For the finish, Vaquer gave Perez an Eat Defeat, but Ripley then caught her with a Riptide and scored the three count.
WINNERS: Ripley & Vaquer & Bliss in 12:00.
-Tessitore hyped the main talking segment at the end of the show.
-Solo Sikoa told Mateo backstage that everything with Fatu would be okay. Mateo asked if Fatu can be trusted to be loyal and follow his directions. Solo said he worries too much because Fatu loves him. He added, “Fatu is all gas and no brains.” Solo laughed like he told a really funny dad joke. When they left the room, Fatu entered and reacted to what he heard them say.
(Keller’s Analysis: Did Solo not see the camera with a mic in front of him? Does he not know that he’s on TV live, and everyone in the arena is watching, and even if Fatu isn’t around, he can watch replays or hear from others what he said? This is rare glitch in WWE’s narrative structure consistency, but it’s inexcusable unless we’re to believe Solo wanted to get caught.) [c]
-As they were showing fans signs, it was interrupted by a Wyatt Sicks video. Bo Dallas spoke about a festering wound that is continually being ripped open by an echo of a presence that is no more. “You can’t forget,” he said. “You can only accept that which cannot be changed.” His eyes conveyed sorrow. He said he has watched the tag team division with loyalty and trust and brotherhood. He asked if that bond is unbreakable. “From our loss, we have become a family,” he said. “A ship unshaken by the storm.” He said they wanted to forget about them and ignored the sacrifice. He said they returned not for nostalgia or closure, but to rip open the wound of apathy and take what they are owed. “Your brotherhood will be tested,” he said. “The time for repentance has passed. Accept your condemnation. We will not be forgotten.”
(Keller’s Analysis: I’ve been an advocate for Bo Dallas talking without a mask in these type of segments, and I feel validates that. Good promo where most of his words landed as setting their agenda.)
-Tag teams were gathered backstage. Johnny Gargano said, in a distressed tone, “Well, I don’t like that.” Montez Ford they are all afraid. He did a call to arms. He said they have a bigger problem than the tag titles on their hands. Angelo Dawkins said they’re the real boogeymen around there. The Profits left. Fraxiom said they’d like to teach the Wyatts a lesson. DIY liked that idea. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin told DIY they’re the veterans around there and they should bring the fight to the Wyatts. Gargano said they should do that. Aldis said, “Thank you all for your input.”
-Tessitore and Barrett hyped the Worlds Collide line-up.
-Penta made his entrance. [c]
(5) THE CREED BROTHERS (w/Chad Gable) vs. PENTA & ANDRADE
The bell rang 23 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Brutus broke up a Penta cover on Julius. Penta continued on the attack, but Gable stood on the ring apron and tried to rip off his mask. Vikingo jumped the barricade and attacked Gable over that. They brawled into the crowd. Julius scored a two count with a roll-up after that chaos. Penta delivered a Mexican Destroyer on Julius seconds later for the win.
WINNERS: Penta & Andrade in 8:00.
-Afterward, Seth led his crew to the ring as Penta and Andrade were celebrating. They surrounded the ring and charged in. A fight broke out three-on-two. Breakker speared Andrade. Metao slammed Penta and landed a leaping senton. Seth then Stomped both Andrade and Penta. Fans booed. Seth threw Andrade out of the ring. Seth and Breakker held Penta in place and Reed landed a Tsunami. [c]
-Heyman stood in the ring, mic in hand after the break. He ripped on Bakersfield, then said they are “the vanguard of the destiny of WWE.” He said they can boo all they want, but tomorrow night, Seth becomes Mr. MITB once again. He said Seth will cash in at his leisure and then solidify the power that comes with the title. He said Seth will then propel the entire industry “into a future that is a vision all his own.” He said it would be the biggest honor of his professional and personal life to stand in the ring and introduce him as the “reigning, defending…” at which point Cody Rhodes’s music played.
Cody came out to a roar of cheers. As Cody entered the ring alone, Barrett said Cody is facing “this trio of invaders from Raw.” Heyman looked at Seth’s face to get a read on how he was feeling about this interruption. Jey’s music then played and he made his entrance. They cut to a break as it was in progress. [c]
Cody and Jey were alone in the ring. Cody asked Bakersfield what they wanted to talk about. He said they could talk about Money in the Bank, the Intuit Dome, “Main Event” Jey Uso, and their opponents John Cena and Logan Paul. (Logan got more boos.) A “Let’s Go Cena / Cena sucks!” chant broke out. (It appeared most fans caught on camera were saying one of the two parts of that chant, but not both.) COdy said watching Cena stand next to Logan Paul in 2025 is like watching Michael Hayes stand next to the Hardy Boys. (There’s a fun dig from the past. He could’ve updated it to Billy Gunn and The Acclaimed.)
Cody said their tag match on Saturday is a showdown. Jey called it a “Yeet down.” Cena then made his ring entrance and insisted the ring announcer introduced him with proper fanfare and wording. Logan then attacked them. Cena gave Jey an Attitude Adjustment. Then Logan gave Cody a Pulverizer. Barrett said Cody and Jey walked right into a trap. Logan landed a top rope frog splash on Cody. Then he landed on Jey.
Cena called Logan the Moment Maker and “the inevitable future face of WWE.” He told fans to humble themselves in front of the future World Heavyweight Champion, Logan Paul. Fans booed. Fans chanted “Logan sucks!” Cena and Logan threw Cody and Jey back into the ring. Logan punched them. Cena yelled, “You can’t handle the truth. You want R-Truth? Our Truth is staring you right in the face.” He said there’s nothing they can do about it. He called the fans hypocrites for chanting for Truth. “You are all pathetic liars.” A louder “We Want Truth!” chant broke out. Cena said, “This is why you’re losers.” He said winners write the history books. They each held up the belts (Logan had Jey’s) as Tessitore gave a final plug for the Saturday night MITB tag match.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Rich Fann to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
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