SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JULY 25, 2025
CLEVELAND, OHIO AT ROCKET ARENA
AIRED ON ON USA NETWORK AND ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 9,202 tickets were distributed with a set-up for 9,542. The arena has a capacity of 19,000 spectators when configured for concerts. (Note: This is down over 3,000 people since the last TV in Cleveland. Raw on Feb. 3, 2025 had 12,648 in attendance.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Eric Corbridge 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.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with an image of the area with a graphic that said “In Memory of Hulk Hogan: 1953-2025.” A “Hogan!” chant was heard. Then they cut to the stage where Paul “Triple H” Levesque stood surrounded by current and former WWE wrestlers and managers, including Hogan’s long-time friends Jimmy Hart, B. Brian Blair. Ted DiBiase, Sgt. Slaughter, Bruce Prichard, Gerald Briscoe, and Hacksaw Duggan were front row next to Levesque. Levesque spoke about Hogan’s influence on pro wrestling and then called for a ten-bell salute. They showed Jimmy Hart crying. They cut to fans holding up signs and action figures. Then fans stood and cheered. Another “Hogan!” chant started.
-A six minute video tribute aired on Hogan, including various images of him from the 1980s through recently. It shifted into a biographical segment including images of him as a kid and then early wrestling photos including a couple AWA clips leading into his Madison Square Garden win over Iron Sheik to win the WWF Title. It continue through his run in the NWO and beyond. It noted that he died surrounded by friends and family in his home in Florida yesterday.
SOME OF OUR STORIES ON HOGAN THIS WEEK:
FREE PODCAST ON HULKAMANIA’S CREATION IN THE AWA AND HIS JUMP TO THE WWF:
-They showed scenes outside the arena. They then cut to Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett at ringside. Tessitore said he considered Hogan “as transformational as any star that has been in the modern era of American sports.” He compared him to Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods. He focused on his drawing power and promotional force. Barrett said many of them wouldn’t be there without him.
(Keller’s Analysis: I always believe that it is massively overstated that without Hogan, pro wrestling wouldn’t have been big enough to attract fans and lead to a profitable national pro wrestling company for decades to come. Someone was going to take advantage of cable TV and syndication, the advent of closed-circuit and pay-per-view revenue methods, and eventually streaming. Pro wrestling was massively popular for decades before Hogan, and other top stars were drawing big crowds regularly before Hogan during the early 1980s when Hogan was taking off, including the Von Erichs, Verne Gagne, Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, and Dusty Rhodes, among others. Other pro wrestling stars would have risen and kept the athletic art form of pro wrestling entertainment thriving, although the peaks and valleys would have come at a different rhythm with different highs and lows over time. More wrestlers were making full time livings in pro wrestling in the five and ten year period before Hulkamania than in the five and ten year period afterward. That’s not to diminish the facts of the crowds and ratings Hogan drew; it’s just to clarify that there’s no reason to believe that without him, Paul Levesque and Wade Barrett wouldn’t have become pro wrestlers. It’s notable that they touted Hogan’s marketing and drawing power, but didn’t vouch for him as a person.)
-Logan Paul made his way to the ring and said he escaped Cleveland to become rich and famous. Jelly Roll interrupted and fired back at Logan. Logan warned that he gets to tag in Drew McIntyre. He said Jelly Roll merely got in a couple of cheap shots at him. Jelly Roll got in the ring and said Logan has been pampered his whole life and he was soft as Charmin and “a Prime-peddling punk-ass bitch.” Drew entered the ring and stood next to Logan. Fans chanted “Randy!” Jelly Roll said he didn’t come alone and then sang lyrics to Orton’s theme song. Orton then walked out.
Orton raised a mic, but then popped Drew with it. Drew raked Orton’s eyes and knocked him to the floor. Drew and Logan then beat up Jelly Roll. Logan took a big swing at Jelly Roll, Jelly Roll ducked and then gave Logan a Black Hole Slam. Orton returned to the ring to celebrate with Jelly Roll as the heel duo retreated to the aisle.
-A vignette aired with Andrade and Rey Fenix speaking about their attributes as a team. Andrade said, “We are the standard.”
-Tessitore said The Wyatt Sicks defending against Fenix & Andrade is the main event.
-Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss made their ring entrance. [c]
(1) ROXANNE PEREZ (w/Raquel Rodriguez) vs. ALEXA BLISS (w/Charlotte Flair)
As Perez made her way to the ring with Rodriguez, the announcers plugged the Women’s Tag Team Title match at Summerslam with these four. The bell rang 35 minutes into the hour. Bliss took control early and leaped off the ring apron with a running flip dive. When Rodriguez walked over to her, Charlotte stepped up to Rodriguez. They cut to a double-box break early. [c/db]
Perez took over during the break. Bliss made a comeback after they returned from the break. When Bliss set up Sister Abigail, Perez raked her eyes. As the ref scolded Perez, Raquel snapped Bliss’s neck over the top rope. Perez landed a springboard moonsault for a two count. Charlotte threw Raquel into the time keeper’s area as Bliss kicked out. Perez turned to yell at Charlotte. Bliss then took over against Perez. As Bliss climbed to the top rope for a Twisted Bliss, Raquel hit Charlotte with a big boot at ringside. She set up a powerbomb, distracting Bliss. Bliss shifted to leaping off the top rope at Raquel with a Twisted Bliss on her. When Bliss returned to the ring, Perez surprised her with a roll-up for a three count.
Charlotte consoled Bliss afterward. Bliss was bleeding from her mouth.
WINNER: Perez in 7:00.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Jade Cargill backstage. Jade said next week at Summerslam she’ll show everyone why she is a natural born champion. She walked away. Chelsea Green and her Secret Hervice walked up to Kelley. Green said she was screwed out of the Queen of the Ring tournament and should be wrestling at Summerslam. Jade heard her call her stupid. Chelsea sensed Jade was behind her and looked scared. Jade punched her. Chelsea ran away. Jade dragged her into the mirrors set up backstage and then into the Gorilla position. She carried Chelsea onto the entrance stage and then threw her into the ring.
(2) JADE CARGILL vs. CHELSEA GREEN
The ref called for the bell 54 minutes into the hour. They cut to an immediate break when Jade delivered a Pump Kick to send Chelsea to the floor. [c]
Jade rallied against Green right after the break. Barrett said Green had been taking it to Jade in the previous few minutes. Alba Fyre distracted Jade from the ring apron, giving Green an opening to take over again. Jade came right back with a Jaded for the win.
WINNER: Jade in 5:00.
-When Piper Niven and Fyre attacked Jade afterward, Tiffany Stratton charged out for the save. Jade and Tiffany landed a double dropkick to clear the ring.
-Backstage, they showed Bliss’s bloodied face. Charlotte checked in on her. Bliss thanked her for being cool about it. Charlotte said, “Why wouldn’t I be? I mean, we’re partners, aren’t we?” Bliss asked if she was about to say “friends.” Charlotte said, “Maybe after we become tag team champions at Summerslam, I’ll think about it.” She patted Bliss on the head and left.
-They showed Cody Rhodes backstage. [c]
-A clip aired of Hulk Hogan beating Iron Sheik to win the WWF Title.
[HOUR TWO]
-As Cody made his ring entrance, they showed an inset clip of John Cena last week saying he wasn’t in any shape to wrestle at Summerslam as scheduled, but Cody signing Cena’s name to the contract anyway. Cody said: “Yesterday, WWE and pro wrestling lost one of its giants in Hulk Hogan, and I know emotions and feelings about it are complicated, but what’s not complicated are his accomplishments and contributions to WWE, to sports entertainment, to pro wrestling, to entertainment as a whole. They are staggering and they are indisputable.” He said he was the original WWE Superstar and he said he wanted to say “Thank you, Hulk Hogan.”
Cody shifted to saying he doesn’t want to wrestle this version of John Cena who is counting the days until he’s out the door. He said he wants to fight “the real John Cena” at Summerslam. He said if it’s his last Summerslam, he wants him to “come as if its your first.” He said he wants him wearing the title the right way and run to the ring and bring all of his hustle and loyalty and respect. “We can beat it out of each other!” he said. Fans cheered.
Cody looked to the crowd as a sloppy “Cody!” chant started. A “Let’s Go Cena / Cena Sucks!” dueling chant petered out before it really got started. Fans then sang “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” Cody said he needs to know that this that they’ve all been part of is not just fantasy or legacy. “I need to know that it meant something and was real,” he said. He said Cena is the only person who knows the answer to that question. “I’ll see you next week,” he said. He dropped the mic.
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s Cody cutting an unapologetically earnest, effective babyface promo. His carefully chosen words on Hogan were effective and took into account the range of mixed feelings fans have for Hogan, while stating facts about Hogan’s drawing power.)
-Tessitore and Barrett threw to a brief video recapping the car crash angle last week. Barrett said Solo Sikoa spent the night in jail due to trying to frame Jacob Fatu.
-Backstage, Fatu cut a spirited promo about facing Solo in a cage match at Summerslam. Miz walked up to Fatu and said Fatu is just a pawn whereas he’s a main character. He said he just got a match in his hometown against Fatu. Fatu turned to Miz. Miz slapped Fatu. Fatu laughed and said, “That’s what it’s coming to, huh?” He told him he’d see him in the ring.
-The Miz’s ring entrance took place. He was announced as “now residing in Hollywood.” [c]
-A promo vignette aired with Aleister Black and Damien Priest talking about their feud.
(3) THE MIZ vs. JACOB FATU
Fatu’s ring entrance aired. The bell rang 18 minutes into the hour. Fatu dominated early. Solo and his crew walked to ringside as they cut to an early break. [c]
Fatu was in control against Miz after the break. Fatu leaped through the ropes onto Solo and his crew after they dragged Miz to ringside. Fatu gave Miz a pop-up Samoan Drop for the win.
WINNER: Fatu in 7:00.
-Jimmy Uso ran out to stop a post-match attack by the heels. Fatu set up a hip attack in the corner on Solo with a chair over his neck, but Talla broke it up and then chokeslammed Fatu. Solo yelled that this is what happens when you betray him and he’ll beat him in the cage at Summerslam. Fans chanted, “F— you, Solo!”
-Kelley interviewed The Street Profits and B-Fab backstage. They said the Wyatts need to be dealt with a different way. Angelo Dawkins said they got next. DIY walked in and said the Profits blew it and they can fix the mess they made. The Profits laughed. They told the Profits to stay out of the way and mind their own business.
-A commercial aired on WWE Unreal about how John Cena was physically unable to continue his WWE career. He said he wants to leave the business better than he found it, entertain people, and get out with his health. [c]
-A clip aired of Hulk Hogan vs. Andre at WrestleMania III.
-Zelina Vega approached Giulia backstage and challenged her to a rematch. Kiana James said they were a step ahead and talked to Nick Aldis about a match next week. Kiana said that Zelina will just be a footnote after next week.
-The announcers hyped the Summerslam line-up including the “day assignments” for each match.
-The ring entrance took place for Andrade and Rey Fenix. [c]
(4) THE WYATT SICKS (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy w/Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross) vs. REY FENIX & ANDRADE – WWE Tag Team Title match
The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Gacy powerbomed Lumis at Andrade, but Andrade lifted his knees. Andrade scored a two count on Gacy, then landed a spinning neck elbow. Andrade landed The Message, but Nikki yanked the ref out of the ring. The ref DQ’d Nikki. Nikki laughed.
WINNERS: Fenix & Andrade via DQ so the Wyatts retained the tag titles.
-Fraxiom ran out afterward followed by The Motor City Machine Guns. Rowan took them all down. The Profits ran out and cleared the ring. DIY then walked to the ring, yelling at Aldis who followed behind. The Profits did dives to ringside onto crowds below. Aldis said he has had enough of this. He said they are all hell bent on destroying each other, so at Summerslam, those tag titles will be high above the ring and it’ll be Tables, Ladders, and Chairs for the tag titles. A brawl resumed after that brief pause to end the show with chaos at ringside as fans chanted “This is awesome!”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Eric Corbridge 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.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIP MEMBER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
LINK TO BE A VIP CALLER: https://streamyard.com/aru5mdf2tg
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
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