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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
AUGUST 8, 2025
MONTREAL, QUEBEC AT BELL CENTRE
AIRED ON ON USA NETWORK AND ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 12,964 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 22,114 spectators when configured for basketball.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Highlights aired of Cody Rhodes beating John Cena followed by Brock Lesnar’s return.
-John Cena made his ring entrance. He was wildly cheered. He looked at the camera on the stage and talked to the TV audience, saying he was glad they could hear it. He entered the ring and said WWE used to be scared to go to Montreal with a live TV show because of the history there (the “Bret Hart Montreal Screwjob”). He said they feared they’d hijack the show. Cena then talked about the crowd being the show. He said it doesn’t last forever. Fans chanted, “Let’s go Cena!” The camera zoomed in on Cena getting emotional.
(Keller’s Analysis: This so encompasses Cena, where he doesn’t sell the WWE Title loss, but goes all META about how the show is all about getting crowd reactions. He can’t be part of the actual story, but instead makes crowd reactions the story. It’s like going to a rock concert and the lead singer just talks about the crowd reaction, or you go to a magic show and instead of doing tricks, the magician just starts talking about how much he appreciates how much they love his magic. I get this is a special time for him and the crowd was into this, but it felt more like something that belonged off camera before they went live. Anyway…)
He said he only has 11 dates left. Fans booed. He said he’s starting to understand that as far as being afraid, every single time a day goes by, he gets more and more afraid. “And I thank you for that,” he said. Fans applauded. He said fans have put up with him for a while, so he wanted to lead with honesty and vulnerability. He said he’s afraid that no matter what he gives them to them in this limited time, it won’t be enough and he’ll end up letting them down. He said he is very afraid that after he’s gone and WWE moves on, they will forget about him. He said he’s even afraid of Brock Lesnar. He said he doesn’t know in what universe he would choose Lesnar as an opponent. He said there’s also no universe in which he backs down from Lesnar. “Am I afraid?” he bellowed. “Yes, I’m afraid Brock Lesnar just got themselves a big ol’ John Cena problem!” He said time is winding down, and he’s not going down without a fight. “Do Brock Lesnar, when you want some, come and gets some.” He said he plans on going down guns blazing.
(Keller’s Analysis: As with the WrestleMania build, Cena ignored Cody Rhodes as if he didn’t even exist. Is it some passive-aggressive thing or is he so self-centered as to not realize he ought to put Cody over for beating him and show some remorse that he lost the title belt he spent the last few months saying he wanted to retire from? Instead, he made this all about him and all about another wrestler who is at the end of contributing.)
Logan Paul came out to boos and said at least he never “switched up.” Fans chanted “F— you, Logan!” Cena said he might’ve just make the biggest mistake of his life. Logan said Cena doesn’t know who eh is, whereas he’s been real since Day One. He said Cena admitted that Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler including Cena. Cena admitted he said that he said “Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler” (what does that even mean within the narrative of the TV show?), but he also believes Logan is the biggest dumbass he’s ever seen.Logan said the bosses tell Cena what to say. He said Montreal isn’t the show, he is. He said Cena is out there giving away matches. He said he wants one. Cena asked if he’d like a match with him. Logan said he would. Cena told Logan to be careful what he wishes for. Logan said he’d like it to happen at Clash in Paris.
As Logan droned on, Drew McIntyre attacked him from behind. Logan and McIntyre stomped away at him. Cody Rhodes then charged out for the save. Cena said he accepts the singles match against Logan, but he also suggested a tag match later. He looked at Cody and said, “It seems like I might have a partner.” He challenged Drew and Logan to a tag match tonight. Fans cheered. Drew smiled and Logan snarled. Cena pointed at Cody and said, “The Champ is here!”
(Keller’s Analysis: At least it ended with a kind gesture by Cena of Cody. That should have been the lead. The championship should be the top story, not a crowd reaction. Of course the crowd is going to eat up Cena praising them, but in order for Cena to leave WWE better off at the end of this retirement run, making title changes and titles themselves and the wrestler who beat him feel ultimately what this is all about is key.)
-They went to Wade Barrett & Joe Tessitore at ringside to react.
-They went backstage to the Motor City Machine Guns stretching. Cathy Kelley approached them and asked how they feel about their match later. Alex Shelley they have made a legacy of getting knocked down and getting back up. Chris Sabin say they know what it takes to become tag champions and their road back to the top begins tonight.
-The Guns made their ring entrance. [c]
-A clip aired of the previous segment with Cena setting up the tag match main event.
(1) THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. J.C. MATEO & TALLA TONGA (w/Solo Sikoa)
Tessitore noted this is the first time the Guns have wrestled as a team in Canada on a WWE event. The Guns got in some early offense including a dive. Talla and Mateo took over as they cut to an early double-box break 90 seconds in. [c]
Matteo worked over Shelley during the break. When the Guns rallied, Talla kicked Shelley out of the ring and then he finished Sabin with a chokeslam to win.
WINNERS: Mateo & Talla in 8:00.
-Afterward, Solo said they will soon be WWE Tag Team Champions and he is already the most dominant U.S. Champion. He said he’s in his gear and he’s ready to fight. He said they’re going to “leave this crappy city because this is the last place I’d want to wrestle at.” Smackdown G.M. Nick Aldis interrupted from the stage. He said he just happened to have a special guest in the house who is ready to fight. He said Montreal knows him well. Out came Sami Zayn to his music and a big pop. [c]
(2) SOLO SIKOA (w/Talla Tonga, Tonga Loa, J.C. Mateo) vs. SAMI ZAYN
The bell rang 45 minutes into the hour. Sami ate up the cheers and the singing from the fans early. A “Let’s Go Sami!” chant broke out as he countered an attack by Solo. Sami landed a running flip dive onto Solo at ringside. Talla clotheslined Sami when Solo had the ref distracted. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Sami sunset bombed Solo out of the corner off the second rope for a near fall right out of the break. Sami made a comeback with kicks and delivered an Xploder suplex into the corner. He knocked Loa off the ring apron and then gave a charging Solo another Xploder. He signaled for an Helluva Kick. Mateo jumped onto the ring apron. Sami went after him. Talla then stood on the ring apron. Solo kicked Sami from the side. Sami rolled up Solo and scored a three count. Tessitore said the sellout crowd was elated with the win of their hometown hero.
WINNER: Sami in 11:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A fun, feel-good win for Sami that presumably will lead to a title match for him.)
-Charlotte Flair approached Alexa Bliss and said she knows it’s her birthday tomorrow. Bliss smiled and asked for it. Charlotte said she’ll give it to her on the stage. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-A video aired on WWE teaming with ESPN for PLEs starting next year with comments to the media by Roman Reigns, Cody, and Roman Reigns.
-The Wyatt Sicks took over the screen and said they will never leave them astray and they will always speak the truth. Joe Gacy said they will show everyone that their power is nothing but a harmless illusion. Dexter Lumis said they woke them up from their dreams and made them realize the true reality they’ve all kept hidden. Nikki Cross and Erick Rowan also spoke about lessons to be learned. Rowan said the Wyatts story has only just begun.
(Keller’s Analysis: I like that we heard from all of them.)
-B-Fab asked The Street Profits what that even meant. In walked DIY. As their argument got louder, Aldis walked in and said he thought they would have calmed down after getting it out of their system last week in the ladder match. He booked DIY vs. Profits next week on Smackdown. Johnny Gargano was icing his throat. Tomasso Ciampa said they’d think about.
-Charlotte made her entrance. Alexa joined her. They showed a clip of their Summerslam tag title win. Charlotte said she could have made this all about her, but she decided to be gracious “and share the spotlight.” Bliss told Charlotte she didn’t need to get her a gift. Bliss said she was scared.
Charlotte opened it for her and presented her with a Lilly Doll with a “We’re Not Friends” t-shirt. She said Lilly needs a tag partner as well. She revealed Charlie from the box, an “ugly” Charlotte doll. Fans chanted, “Charlie! Charlie!” She handed it to Bliss.
Bliss thanked her. Charlotte said she wants something from her. “You may hug me,” Charlotte said. She held out her arms. Bliss said she wasn’t sure that was necessary. “You may hug the Queen, Lexi,” Charlotte said. “Come on, bring it in.” As they were about to hug, Chelsea Green interrupted.
Green walked out onto the stage with Piper Niven and Alba Fyre. Green said she doesn’t know what they’re celebrating as they parade around those ugly dolls, but they should be celebrating her homecoming. Aldis walked out and said his gift is a brand new referee and his first assignment is referring the match between Green and Charlotte right now. [c]
-Backstage, Carmelo Hayes knocked on Aldis’s door. Miz answered and stepped out. Carmelo asked where he’s been and said he deserves better. He said he wants to get a U.S. Title match. Miz said he’s right. Carmelo said he wants to handle his business on his own and ask for a U.S. Title match. Miz said he already took care of things because he got them a tag match next week. Carmelo left. Aldis entered the picture. Miz said he wanted to talk to him.
(3) CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. CHELSEA GREEN (w/Piper Niven, Alba Fyre)
The bell rang 20 minutes into the hour. Green took over after a weird distraction sequence by Fyre and Niven at 2:00. They cut to a break. [c]
Charlotte scored a two count after a Natural Selection at 7:00. Green came back with a superplex for a two count. Green asked Niven and Fyre to slide the Alexa birthday cake into the ring. Bliss flip dove off the ring apron onto them at ringside. Green set u an Unprettier, but Charlotte reversed it and drove Green into the cake. She followed up with a figure-four into an Figure-Eight for the win.
Bliss fed Charlotte a piece of cake afterward. Tessitore said that’s friendship.
WINNER: Charlotte in 9:00.
-Tessitore plugged the main event tag match.
-Backstage, Kelley interviewed Tiffany Stratton backstage. Tiffany said she wants to keep defending her title. Jade Gargill interrupted. She said she should be thankful her leg landed on the rope. She said next time the story will be different. Tiffany said the outcome will be the same. Tiffany left. Kiana James with Giulia approached and offered her services to Jade. Jade said she’ll do things her way. James told Jade to hold onto the business card just in case. Michin walked in and asked is she could have the card. Jade handed it to her. Michin said she can use to ask for a U.S. Title match for herself. [c]
-Tessitore plugged a People Magazine cover story on John Cena.
-A vignette aired with Aleister Black talking about good vs. evil. He said he threw a chair at Damien Priest because he was aout to slam him through a table. He said he exacerbates violence. He said Priest is now at home nursing a hairline fracture of his jaw.
-R-Truth celebrated with Cena. He said he’s really back and he was really excited. Cena said Truth said all the things that he, Cena, actually said. he said it’s good to have him back. Truth looked confused.
-Logan made his entrance. Then Drew. [c]
(4) LOGAN PAUL & DREW MCINTYRE vs. CODY RHODES & JOHN CENA
Cena’s entrance took place after the break. Then Cody. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Logan and Cody battled first. Fans chanted, “F— you, Logan!” Drew tagged in and Cody landed a snap powerslam. A loud “Cena!” chant broke out as Cena reached for a tag. Logan and Drew took over and they cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Cena got the hot at 7:00 and he rallied against Logan. He played to the roaring crowd and went into his finishing sequence including a Five Knuckle Shuffle and Attitude Adjustment. Drew broke up the cover. Cody knocked Drew out of the ring and dove at him at ringside. Logan then gave a Cena a low-blow. The ref saw it and DQ’d Logan.
WINNERS: Cena & Cody in 8:00.
-Cena and Logan brawled afterward. Meanwhile, Cody rammed Drew into the ringpost and cleared the announce desk. Drew hit Cody with the title belt. Drew stared at the belt. Barrett said that title has consumed Drew for years now. rew then delivered a basement dropkick to Cody, sending him crashing through the front of the desk. The show ended with Drew having some words for an ailing Cody under the table.
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