WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS (6/20): Keller’s report on John Cena vs. Ron Killings, Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn and Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka in King and Queen tournament matches

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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JUNE 20, 2025
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. AT VAN ANDEL ARENA
AIRED ON LIVE ON USA NETWORK AND LIVE ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY

Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

Ring Announcer: Mark Nash

Attendance: WrestleTix reported as of earlier today 10,311 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 13,184 spectators when configured for concerts.

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[HOUR ONE]

-They showed a drone shot of the arena as fans were filing into the arena as Joe Tessitore introduced the show. They showed the arrivals of Randy Orton and Sami Zayn followed by Alexa Bliss and Asuka. Then Solo Sikoa with J.C. Mateo in a skyway, followed by “R-Truth” Ron Killings and finally L.A. Knight.

-The camera followed Knight as he made his entrance. Wade Barrett exclaimed, “Yeah!” Knight entered the ring and held out the mic as fans chanted, “L.A. Knight! L.A. Knight!” Clips aired of Bronson Reed and L.A. Knight costing each other King of the Ring matches. Knight talked about interference in his King of the Ring matches. He said there’s only way this can go. He joked he’s one to let things slide. He said he knows where this ends. “It ends with me and it ends with Seth Rollins,” he said. “What better place than right here and right now.” He called Seth to the ring.

Paul Heyman’s voice blared as he walked out. “Ladies and gentlemen!” he said. Fans booed as he walked onto the stage. He introduced himself and said he serves as the Wiseman for Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins. Heyman scolded the crowd for booing Seth’s name. Knight told him to get to his point. He asked Heyman why he was there. Heyman stood on the ring apron and asked, “May I?” He entered the ring. Fans chanted, “OTC! OTC!”

Heyman said Knight is right that there has been a lot of bad blood between him and Seth Rollins. He mentioned Grand Rapid and fans cheered. Then they interrupted him with a “C.M. Punk!” chant. Knight said, “Clearly you guys have a lot of enemies.” Heyman claimed to be the biggest L.A. Knight fan in all of WWE. He said he waited a long time to say “Yeah!” Fans laughed at him.

Heyman said Seth has allowed him to say to Knight “as a favor to me” that it’s time for him to get the hell out of Grand Rapids because if he doesn’t, something really bad is going to happen to him before the end of the night. “Have a nice evening,” he said. Fans chanted, “L.A. Knight.” Knight mocked Heyman’s voice cracking and asked, “Did you just threaten me?” He said Heyman is a liar, a scammer, a grifter, a swindler, and a schemer. He said he leeches onto every talent, sucks them dry, and moves on to the next. He said Seth is the latest. He said he asked for Seth, but instead he came out.

Knight said Heyman was talking pretty damn tough. He said there was a time a man like Heyman talking to a man like him like that would have led to him punching Heyman’s wisdom teeth down his throat. Knight said there’s only one thing that makes sense, which is he fights Heyman “right here, right now.” Knight asked the fans. They cheered. Knight said he’s taking off his jacket and he’ll be ready. When he turned his back, Heyman made a move toward him, but then rolled out of the ring.

Heyman reminded Knight of his threat that he should get out of Grand Rapids or something had would happen to him. He said that wasn’t a prediction, it was a spoiler. Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker marched to the ring. Knight took them on, but was tackled to the mat. They cleared the announce desk. Knight fought back with a chair. Barrett said Heyman’s plan has backfired. Fans chanted, “L.A. Knight!” Knight’s music played as Heyman tried to calm Breakker at ringside.

(Keller’s Analysis: Fun back and forth with Knight and Heyman who both seemed psyched to interact like that.) [c]

-Tessitore and Barrett commented on a replay of the fight before the break.

-Backstage, Heyman said he had things under control and everything is always in their favor. Bryon Saxton entered the picture. Breakker lunged and barked at Saxton. Saxton said tonight Bronson will face Knight one-on-one according to what Nick Aldis just told him. Heyman thanked him. Heyman smiled and told Bronson that patience isn’t a virtue, it’s a strategy.

(1) ALEXA BLISS vs. ASUKA

Bliss made her ring entrance first. As Asuka came out, a clip aired of Rhea Ripley’s interference in last week’s four-way match leading to Asuka getting the pin on Raquel Rodriguez to advance to the semi-finals. Barrett said they are two of the best of their generation with nine world titles between them. The bell rang 24 minutes into the hour. A graphic advertised R-Truth rather than Ron Killings as Cena’s opponent later. Asuka knocked Bliss out of the ring with a hip attack. They cut to a double-box break at 1:00. [c/db]

Asuka controlled the action during the break. Bliss made a comeback as they returned and landed a somersault senton for a two count at 5:00. Alexa set up Sister Abigail, but Asuka countered into a roll-up for a two count. Asuka climbed to the top rope and went for a dropkick, but Bliss shoved her out of the way and then landed a DDT for a two count.

Bliss climbed to the top rope and pointed at Asuka, but then Bliss leaped to the mat which was a bit odd. Barrett said she felt Asuka was playing possum. Asuka showed she was as she lunged at Bliss and applied a an Asuka lock. Bliss leveraged Asuka’s shoulders down, so Asuka broke the hold. Asuka landed a neckbreaker for a two count at 8:00. They went to a wide shot of the crowd as Tessitore noted a sold out crowd of 11,134.

Bliss hung Asuka upside down in the corner and landed a dropkick. Bliss then went for Twisted Bliss, but Asuka lifted her knees and then landed a hip attack for the win. Ref Charles Robinson seemed upset with Asuka over something. Asuka then dropped to ringside and yelled in celebration in Tessitore’s face.

WINNER: Asuka in 9:00 to advance to the King of the Ring final next Saturday.

(Keller’s Analysis: Good match, but hardly epic in length with one minute before the break and just five minutes afterward. I like the hard push of Asuka after her time off.)

-Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin were hanging out backstage and reacted to Asuia’s win. Michin told B-Fab she wanted to talk to Aldis about the tag titles. They left. Saxton then asked Jade about her semi-final match on Monday against Roxanne Perez and, if she wins, facing Asuka in the final. Jade said Roxanne is scrappy but still trying to prove herself, but she was built for royalty. She said Asuka is a storm on the horizon, but she’s the storm. She said the division was built for a woman who could walk through fire, shatter glass ceilings, and fix her crown on the way to the top. She said she’s walking to the ring to win.

(Keller’s Analysis: For an obviously very scripted and memorized series of sentences, Jade’s deliver was pretty good there.) [c]

-A graphic said John Cena would face C.M. Punk for the first time since 2013 at Night of Champions next Saturday.

-Chelsea Green and her Secret Hervice approached Bliss. Green said she should have been Queen of the Ring if not for her. Bliss said they should wrestle again. Charlotte Flair said she should have won the tournament if not for Green’s replacement tapping out three seconds sooner. Charlotte said she’d make Green tap out tonight. Green said said she wants to declare a bank holiday. Bliss told Charlotte she didn’t want her help. Charlotte said that was funny because she wasn’t there to help her.

-Kit Wilson was in the ring without an entrance ready to face Aleister Black. Tessitore and Barrett wished Elton Prince well on his road to recovery from his injury. Aleister’s entrance took place. R-Truth attacked Wilson in the ring. “What did Kit Wilson ever do wrong?” asked Barrett. He put Wilson in a terrible-looking Attitude Adjustment. Killings yelled, “Get John Cena out here now!” He said he’s driving on his terms. He put Wilson back in an AA. Three agents ran to the ring and pried Killings off of Wilson. Agent Jamie Noble had some calming words for Killings.

-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. They threw to a video recap of the Gunther-Goldberg segment on Raw and then plugged Saturday Night’s Main Event. [c]

-Tessitoere plugged the Summerslam Kickoff event at Fanatics Fest in New York City, N.Y. tomorrow.

-Noble told Killings he needed to calm down. Killing said he needed Cena now. Noble said he has him later. Killings said when he sees him, he’s going to kill him. (Ugh.) Aleister confronted Killings. “Why are you getting involved in my matches?” he said. Killings said it wasn’t personal and had nothing to do with him. Damien Priest stepped up to them and asked Aleister to let him talk to Killings since he’s going through a lot. Aleister walked away. “There’s no need for any of that,” said Priest. He said Killings used to make the world smile and that anger and negativity should be focused on his match tonight against Cena. He said they’ll go celebrate afterward. Killings said that sounded good.

-Barrett and Tessitore hyped Knight vs. Reed and Charlotte vs. Green.

-Cody Rhodes made his full ring entrance. As soon as he entered the ring, fans chanted “Cody! Cody!” As Cody was about to speak, Jey Uso’s music played and he made his way out through the crowd.

[HOUR TWO]

Jey told Cody they’ve been in the trenches, battling his family, winning tag team gold, and finishing their stories at WrestleMania. “We’ve both been to the mountain top,” he said. He said on Monday, there’s only room for one of them to advance. Cody mouthed, “I know.” He said he knows Cody will bring it, and he has to get his. He said after Monday night, it’ll be four letters, one word. Fans yelled, “Yeet!” They shook hands. Cody had a few words for Jey off-mic. Sami Zayn’s music then played.

Sami made his high-energy entrance. He said he was sharing the ring with two great friends and two of the very best the business has to offer. He said there’s only one of them who has never won a world title. He told Jey that he was at WrestleMania only to be sure he was there to congratulate him when he won the World Title. “I love you and I’m proud of you,” he said. He turned to Cody and said they watched with baited breath as he finished his story. He said he was the first to congratulate him when he did. He said he hopes they both understand that it’s time for him to finish his story. Randy Orton’s music interrupted.

Orton walked out. Barrett said Orton has finished thousands of stories over the past 20 years, most of which didn’t end well for his opponents. He entered the ring and eyed the other three. Orton told Cody there is no line he won’t cross to get to Cena and beat him at Summerslam for his 15th World Championship. He told Jey that he respects the hell out of him. He said their families go way way way back, and nothing but love, but if they’re standing opposite of each other, it won’t be four letters and one word, it’ll be three letters and one move. Orton told Sami that one day soon, he will be World Champion, “but Summerslam is not that day.” He said tonight, he’ll be on the receiving end of an RKO. [c]

(2) RANDY ORTON vs. SAMI ZAYN – King of the Ring semi-final

The bell rang right after the break, 13 minutes into the second hour. So fans live got under ten minutes of wrestling through the first 73 minutes of the show. Sami chopped away at Orton a minute into the match. Orton jumped to ringside and sold the chops. Sami went for a dive, but saw Orton move, so he stopped short. Orton yanked Sami by his boot off the ring apron and then back suplexed him onto the announce desk. Fans chanted “One more time!” Orton dropped Sami on the desk again. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]

Orton beat up Sami with clotheslines and a snap powerslam followed by a draping DDT. He pounded the mat with his forearms. Sami rolled to ringside. Orton went after Sami at ringside. Sami flipped out of Orton’s arms and dropped Orton onto the desk. Tessitore asked, “Where did he find the strength!” Sami’s back was a mess from the earlier suplexes onto the desk.

Back in the ring, Orton charged at Sami, but Sami moved and shoved Orton shoulder-first into the ringpost. Sami went for a Helluba kick, but Orton turned it into a snap powerslam for a near fall at 9:00. Sami charged at Orton with a Helluva, but Orton moved. Orton then went for an RKO, but Sami countered with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.

Sami climbed to the top rope. Orton got up and went for an RKO. Sami blocked it and went for a Helluva, but Orton RKO’d him for a three count.

WINNER: Orton in 11:00 to advance to the King of the Ring final.

(Keller’s Analysis: Fun, rapid-fire back and forth 11 minutes.)

-They showed Nia Jax backstage. [c]

-Jax made her entrance as snippets aired of last week’s interactions with her, Tiffany Stratton, and Naomi. Jax said it’s crazy that Tiffany approached her to be under her wing because she knew what she could do for her. She said she is thriving, and instead of thanking her, Tiffany betrayed her. “She has my title,” she said. Tiffany made her entrance. She said Jax is “just like that toxic ex I just can’t get away from.” Tiffany said she makes a lot of excuses, but maybe she’s just better than her. Jax said she should give her a rematch and beat her without kicking a chair in her face. Tiffany said she just arranged to face her next week on Smackdown in a last Woman Standing match. Jax took a swing at her. Tiffany ducked. Jax slammed her and legdropped her. Barrett asked what Tiffany was thinkiing entering a Last Woman Standing match against Jax. Jax landed a second legdrop, then went to ringside and told Barrett and Tessitore she’s taking back her title. Naoi ran out with the MITB briefcase. Jax pulled her out of the ring so she couldn’t capitalize on her work. Tiffany then got up and dropkicked Naomi off the ring apron onto Jax at ringside.

(Keller’s Analysis: Tiffany recovered too quickly from those two legdrops. The whole point of Naomi running out was the idea that she was obviously vulnerable to get pinned.)

-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside who threw to a video package on C.M. Punk and John Cena with a Yin/Yang theme.

(Keller’s Analysis: A good video that in a macro sense made their match feel like a big part of a big history between them, and it also played into their changing dynamics.)

-Chelsea Green’s ring entrance took place. [c]

(3) CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. CHELSEA GREEN (w/Alba Fyre, Piper Niven)

The bell rang 46 minutes into the hour. Charlotte took early control and leaped off the top rope with a crossbody onto Green for a two count. Chelsea caught a charging Charlotte with a back elbow. Fyre interfered from the ring apron, which led to Green taking over as they cut to a break about 90 seconds into the match. [c]

Charlotte took over after the break and landed an overhead suplex. She mocked Green’s salute and then clotheslined her for a two count. As Charlotte set up a figure-four, Fyre stood on the ring apron and distracted Charlotte. Green hit Charlotte with a leg lariat for a two count at 7:00. Green took off her bejeweled nose mask and went for an Unprettier, but Charlotte blocked it and speared Green for a two count. Charlotte then went for a figure-four, but Green countered with a small package for a near fall.

Charlotte went back to the figure-four and then shifted into a Figure-Eight. Green immediately tapped and the ref called for the bell. Niven then ran in and then landed a senton to a vulnerable Charlotte. Charlotte immediately clutched her knee. The ref checked on her and waved off an attack by Niven and Fyre afterward. Bliss ran out and gave Green a Sister Abigail. Charlotte was thankfully fine and cleared the ring of the heels. Bliss and Charlotte then turned and faced each other. Bliss offered a handshake. Charlotte walked right past her, showing no appreciation for Bliss coming to her aid. Barrett said Charlotte has no interest in friendship.

WINNER: Charlotte in 9:00.

-They went backstage to J.C. Mateo wrapping his wrists. Solo Sikoa walked up and asked what he was doing. Mateo smiled and said he’d going to take out Jacob Fatu. Solo said he shouldn’t because he is the only one who could talk to Jacob when he was Tribal Chief. He said Jacob needs him, so he’s going to smooth things over. Solo told him, “Just be ready.” Mateo smiled. [c]

[HOUR THREE]

-Solo Sikoa made his ring entrance after the break. He said he feels terrible and wants to talk to Jacob face-to-face in the ring. Jacob made his entrance with his U.S. Title belt over his shoulder. Solo said he wasn’t there to fight him. He said he wanted to make it clear he loves him and has always loved him. He said he knows how to love and take care of his family. He said families fight all the time and argue and then they forgive and then they move forward. “So let’s move forward together Jacob,” he said. “Let’s move forward as one.” He said no one saw potential in him or wanted him there but him. He said he gave him an opportunity to change his life and put food on his family’s table. He said he did that because he loves him. “And to be honest, I don’t have anybody else,” he said. “You’re all I have, Jacob. Man, you’re all I need. So come back to the family.” He said he loved him again. Fans chanted, “Bullshit!”

Fatu absorbed his words. “So you love me, huh?” he asked, skeptically. He said the way he sees things, he’s been using him to gain power and fight his battles so he could stay Tribal Chief. He said he brought him in because he thought he would bring him gold. He told Solo to look at him when he’s speaking to him. He said ever since he won the U.S. Title, Solo is the one who was acting different. He said maybe the problem is he is jealous of him being champion.

Fatu laid the belt in front of him on the mat and told him to fight him for it. He said he’d only warn him one time that he doesn’t want a problem with him. He said he’s all gas, no brakes. Solo went for a Solo Spike, but Fatu blocked it and headbutted Solo. Solo rolled away. Mateo jumped into the ring. Fatu went after him, but Solo clipped Fatu’s leg from behind. Jimmy Uso’s music played and he made his way to the ring. He was soon overwhelmed by Solo and Mateo. Fatu recovered, though, and took out Solo and Mateo with kicks. Fatu and Jimmy eyed each other as Fatu’s kusic played. Fatu walked over and picked up his U.S. Title belt. [c]

(4) L.A. KNIGHT vs. BRONSON REED (w/Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker)

Reed came out first with Breakker and Heyman. When Knight’s music played, Knight attacked Breakker from behind at ringside and shoved him into the ringpost. The fought back and forth early and cut to a break with Knight in control. [c]

After the break, Reed took over. Barrett called Reed a “freak of nature.” Knight countered Reed and drove him into the mat with a DDT. Breakker stood on the ring apron. Knight knocked him down, then yelled at him. Knight pulled the top rope down as Reed charged. Knight went for a dive, but Breakker entered the ring and speared Reed. Barrett said “the match is obviously thrown out now, but that’s the least of our worries.”

WINNER: Knight via DQ (or “match thrown out,” as Barrett characterized it).

-Reed held Knight and then Breakker speared him. Breakker then held Knight’s legs as. Ree landed a Tsunami top rope splash. Reed landed a second Tsunami. Tessitore said it has gone a step too far. Breakker called for a third. Reed climbed to the top rope. more referees ran out. Breakker scared them away. Reed then landed a third Tsunami. [c]

-They replayed the Tsunami’s from Reed and then showed Knight being helped to the back.

-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. Tessitore said Knight is being evaluated backstage and he presumed he would be headed to a local medical facility. They pivoted to Smackdown next Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia featuring Zelina Vega vs. Giulia, The Street Profits vs. The Wyatts, Tiffany vs. Nia in a Last Woman Standing match.

-Backstage, Fatu revealed excitedly that he’ll defend his U.S. Title against Solo next Saturday at Night of Champions.

-R-Truth made his ring entrance. He was introduced as R-Truth and referred to by Tessitore as R-Truth. He looked serious, but slapped hands of fans at ringside. [c]

(5) JOHN CENA vs. R-TRUTH

Cena’s entrance aired. He had ring announcer Mark Nash tout his achievements, as usual, during introductions. The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. When the bell rang, a “Let’s Go Cena / Cena sucks!” chant broke out. Truth took Cena down and battered him at ringside in the opening seconds. Barrett said Cena beat the naive version of Truth at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and this is a different version. They cut to a double-box break about 90 seconds into the match with Truth in control. [c/db]

Cena rolled to ringside during the break, then caught a charging Truth with a back elbow. He took over from there. Back from the break, Cena was in the midst of his finishing routine. Truth escaped an Attitude Adjustment, though, and tackled Cena with Thesz Press. Barrett said Truth was channeling Steve Austin, so perhaps he had a new hero. Truth splashed Cena in the corner. Cena grabbed his title belt and threatened to leave with it. Truth chased down Cena in the aisle. Cena hit Truth with the belt for the DQ.

WINNER: Truth in 6:00.

-Punk ran out to his kusic and went after Cena, but Cena stomped him as he slid into the ring. When Punk fought back, Cena kicked him between his legs. Barett called him desperate and soulless. He hit Punk in the head with the belt next. Cena pulled a table (with sponsorship decal) from under the ring. He set it up in the ring. When Punk stood, Cena hit him with the belt again. He then gave Punk an Attitude Adjustment through the table.

Cena sat on the top turnbuckle and smiled. “Somebody’s afraid of what I’m going to say,” he said. He said he hopes Punk can hear him even if he can’t sit up. He said when he leaves in six months with the WWE Championship, he has to get a whole lot of stuff off his chest. He said he doesn’t hate Punk or even dislike him. “I like you,” he said. “I like him more than anyone you’ve shared a locker room with you; that’s for sure.” Cena said he is the greatest of all-time, so Punk isn’t the “best in the world.” He said he’s better than him at one thing. He said he’s “the best bullshitter in the world.” He said all rules are off if Cena is swearing. He looked at the camera and said, “I’m breaking the fourth wall.” He said the truth is, he’s jealous of Punk because he has conned the people into believing the myth that he’s the best in the world. He said they chant for him. Fans chanted, “C.M. Punk!” He said they might sing for him, “but they don’t believe a god damned word you say.” He said he changes his values “as much as I change my t-shirts.” He said he’s a loud-mouthed opportunist who will step on the necks of those who work hard to get ahead. He waved and said “Hey, Claudi Castagnoli, hello Nick Nemeth, hello Matt Cardona!” He waved at the camera and tapped the mic. “Yeah, we’re still on, baby! Ha ha!”

Cena said there is nobody back there who is going to cut his mic because he’s his only friend. He told him to remember who gave him the stage for his Pipe Bomb. He said since then, he’s become “promo potato salad.” He said he’s no longer the voice of the voiceless, but rather he’s a millionsaire. “You’re not a Punk, you’re a capitalist,” he said. “You’re not against TKO, dude. You are Mr. TKO, because they knocked your balls technically off your body.” He said he will prove in Saudi Arabia that he has been the greatest of all time for 25 years with no days off. Punk remained motionless on the broken table.

A “Cena! Cena!” chant broke out. “See, they know,” Cena said, smiling. He said they know he was the best in the world “for seven minutes, 14 years ago.” He said if after Night of Champions he’s still delusional enough to believe he’s the best in the world, “well, I guess it’s a small world afterall.” He closed with, “You’re welcome, Grand Rapids.” He held up the mic as fans chanted, “Cena.” He told Punk to bring his A-game, because as Grand Rapids is showing, “the mood is starting to change.” A ref checked on Punk. Cena said he’s not going to do any more damage, because Punk has to rest up. Cena said he knows fans will sing and chant, “but I know even you idiots are smart enough to see the truth – the champ is here.” He told USA he can keep their last two-and-a-half minutes because he doesn’t need a bomg. He was bleeped and said “mother fudging building.” He threw the mic down, but then picked up Punk and said, “Thanks for letting me rip off your promo to make you look even more foolish.” he threw the mic down again and then left to his music.

(Keller’s Analysis: That’s as non-cartoonish as Cena has looked since his return. I’m not sure what to make of that. It seemed like a shoot burial of Punk which doesn’t seem best for business. Punk had to lay there for an extended period and just sell the AA, of all things, and listen to Cena “get real” on him with an emasculating promo. Will Punk get to fire back next week, or is that the end of their verbal sparring. Was that a settling of a score and Punk just had to take it? If Punk doesn’t win at NOC, how does he recover?)