SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
AUGUST 1, 2025
NEWARK, N.J. AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
AIRED ON ON USA NETWORK AND ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reported as of earlier today 8,317 tickets had been distributed. The arena has a capacity of 19,500 spectators when configured for basketball.
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 Christopher Adams 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
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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
[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a scene of Met Life Stadium, home of Summerslam, and then Newark, N.J. They showed wrestlers arriving as Joe Tessitore introduced the show.
-John Cena made his entrance. He got the glorious introduction from ring announcer Mark Nash. Cody Rhodes came out in his American Nightmare jacket rather than a suit. Cena said he told Cody he was exhausted and tried to get out of their Summerslam match, but he forced his signature onto the contract. He thanked him “because that was the boot in the ass that I needed.”
He said he’s forged a career out of hard work, honesty, and respect, but he now realizes that five months ago he flushed it all down the toilet “chased false glory when I bought into somebody’s idea to make shocking TV.” He said they did shock the world and the dust settled and the people who were supposed to be on his team left, “and they left me along, trying to pretend to be something I’m not.” He said he wants to leave WWE with the title belt. He held it up. He said after his last match, he wants to take it home with him. He said it’s not because he wants to ruin wrestling. He said he loves wrestling. He said he wants to take it home with him so after he’s gone, the fans don’t forget about him. Cody soaked this all up.
Cena said he felt he was acting so stupid, and the fans tried to tell him “I didn’t listen,” he said. He said Cody tried to tell him, but he didn’t listen. He said he did what a good friend should do, which is forcing him to force him into a fight. He got intense and told Cody and everyone to mark down Aug. 1 as the date John Cena came back to WWE. Fans chanted, “Cena! Cena!” He said he doesn’t know who leaves with the belt on Sunday, but he knows the winners will be each of the fans. “I’m finally over my own b.s.” he said. He assured Cody that he would see the best version of Cena “in a main event street fight with no rules that you wanted.” He told Cody, “If want some, come get some.” He added, “On Sunday the only platinum rapper showing up to whip your ass is me.” Fans stood and cheered and then chanted, “Cena! Cena!”
Cody took off his jacket and eyed Cena. He then asked for two beers. “Welcome back, John Cena,” he said. He handed Cena one of the beers. Joe Tessitore said, “This is incredible.” Tessitore said Cody is getting the Cena he wants. Tessitore said in 15 minutes it went from a cascade of boos to cheers and a standing ovation he received for two decades of hard work. Wade Barrett said at first, he thought it was another ruse, “but apparently not.” He said the real Cena is back and the mountain for Cody just got a hell of a lot steeper.
When they went to Barrett and Tessitore at ringside, Barrett oddly shifted his stance and said he’s hesitant and wants to pump the brakes since Cena has tried every trick in the book in recent months.
(Keller’s Analysis: Is this the shower scene in “Dallas” when they erased a whole season? Or is this some silly swerve? He did seem slightly ominous when he said the street fight is what Cody wanted and everything goes. Barrett went from a believer to skeptical pretty suddenly there. That was odd. Did Cena just get bored being a heel or think it wasn’t working? Or, of course, is this a swerve? This will be a topic of debate the next 48 hours.)
-A clip aired of Logan Paul and a pal showing up at a Jelly Roll in-ring workout. Logan mocked Jelly Roll. Drew McIntyre hit Jelly Roll from behind and delivered a Claymore Kick.
-They showed P.J. Bynre at ringside who is in “The Rainmaker
(1) GIULIA (w/Kiana James) vs. ZELINA VEGA – U.S. Title match
The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 2:30 with Guilia in control at ringside. [c/db]
Giulia landed a sitout Northern Lights Bomb for a near fall. Tessitore reacted like the kickout as a huge shock. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Zelina rolled up Guilia for a two count a minute later. She went on the attack and went for a top rope moonsault. Giulia lifted her knees. Giulia then lifted Zelina and landed a Northern Lights Bomb for the win.
WINNER: Giulia in 12:00 to retain the U.S. Title.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Solo Sikoa and his crew backstage. She noted he’ll defend in the cage, and she said tonight the cage hangs above the ring. She said he requested that and asked why. He denied it was his idea. He said tonight is about sending a message in the Talla Tonga vs. Jimmy Uso match. He mocked Jacob Fatu’s “stupid saying.”
-Santos Escobar led Angel & Humbert to the ring with their AAA Tag Team Titles for an open challenge.
(Keller’s Analysis: Oh good, we is emulating one of the worst aspects of AEW, which is excessive titles in the show’s cannon.)
-Escobar said the AAA World Tag Team Titles are at stake.
(2) HUMBERTO CARILLO & ANGEL GARZA (w/Santos Escobar) vs. MR. IGUIANA & PSYCHO CLOWN – AAA Tag Team Title match
Barrett said Iguana and Clown are weirdos, but it’s a big match. Fans chanted “I-gua-na!” The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. At 5:00, Iguana introduced his iguana puppet. He held it in his mouth like a dog with a stuffy toy as he scored a two count on Angel. When he did a flip dive over the top rope, Angel and Humberto caught him, and then they used him to block Clown’s dive through the ropes. Angel and Humberto double press slammed Iguana and Humberto scored a two count. Clown tagged in and landed a crossbody. Angel and Humbert landed their finisher on Clown for the win a minute later.
WINNERS: Angelo & Humberto in 7:00 to retain the AAA Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: The crowd ate it up. This does give off a different vibe than WWE usually presents, leaning into the Christmas and Halloween themed silly gimmick matches or even Chikara. That’s a choice WWE can make, and the crowd reaction could be seen as validating it.)
-Drew and Logan said they’d have something to say later in the ring. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-A video package hyped the tag team TLC match at Summerslam.
(3) DAMIAN PRIEST vs. ALEISTER BLACK
Priest made his entrance first. Then Black. The bell rang 8 minutes into the hour. After some early offense by Priest, Black landed a running flip dive onto Priest at ringside as they cut to an early break. [c]
Black landed a knee to Priest’s jaw for a two count. Barrett said he couldn’t believe Priest kicked out of that. Priest came back and walked the top rope with a grip on Black’s hand. He leaped off with a bodypress. When Priest charged Black at ringside, Black caught him with a knee. Priest came back and cleared the announce desk. Black threw a chair at Priest’s head. The ref DQ’d him.
WINNER: Priest via DQ in 9:00.
-Afterward, Black bashed Priest in the back with a chair as the ref admonished him. He then jabbed Priest with the top edge of the chair. Black rammed Priest’s head into the ringside steps a few times. Black then ngave Priest a Black Mass kick. Priest tumbled over the ringside steps.
-Talla Tonga made his ring entrance with Solo. [c]
-Tessitore showed photos of Paul Levesque being present at the White House yesterday accompanying President Trump for his announcement about the new Presidential Fitness Test. Levesque’s mother-in-law Linda McMahon was also there.
(4) TALLA TONGA (w/Solo Sikoa) vs. JIMMY USO
The bell rang 27 minutes into the hour. Talla knocked Jimmy out of mid-air with a chop to the chest. He stomped on Jimmy and then landed a legdrop. Solo leaned against the ring and had a few taunting words for Jimmy. Jimmy made a comeback with a sidekick and then dove through the ropes and shoulder tackled Talla. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00 as Solo offered coaching to Talla at ringside. [c/db]
Talla took over. Jimmy tried to bodyslam Talla, but Talla resisted. Jimmy landed superkicks and then clotheslined Talla over the top rope. Solo distracted Jimmy from the ring apron, but Jimmy knocked him down. Jimmy then knocked Talla down and leaped off the top rope with a splash. Talla, though blocked it with a grip on Jimmy’s throat. He chokeslammed him and scored a three count.
WINNER: Talla in 9:00.
-J.C. Mateo and Tama Tonga charged out to attack Jimmy. Solo called for the cage to be lowered. Tessitore said this explains why the cage was hanging above the ring. As the was nearly fully lowered. Jacob Fatu ran out and slid under it. The cage then fully lowered. Tessitore said he arrived “just in time.” Solo fled out the cage door with Talla. Mateo and Tama double-team attacked Fatu, but Fatu fought back himself. He landed hip attacks and Mighty Moonsaults.
(Keller’s Analysis: Makes sense to give Talla a win if they want fans to see him as more than a tall bodyguard.)
-Tessitore and Barrett hyped the Summerslam line-up .
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss backstage. She said the chemistry between them seems to have evolved. Charlotte said they’re both so different, she didn’t expect to be teaming. She said she has been there for her and she respects that, but she’s really annoying. Bliss asked if that’s a complimet. Charlotte told her to take it or leave it. Kelley said their playful banter seems like friendship. Charlotte said, “Definitely not. Maybe?” Bliss said, “She doesn’t like using the F-word.” Charlotte said they should win the tag titles and then decide on a word.
-They showed Logan and Drew backstage. [c]
-Logan and Drew made their entrance. First Logan’s music played briefly, then Drew’s took over. Logan said Jelly Roll thought he was coming for a hot dog eating contest. He did the bit where he rants about outsiders. He said Jelly Roll will learn tomorrow that he is a country star not a super star “and you will never, ever belong here.”
Drew called Jelly Roll “Smelly Hole.” As they went on with insults, an SUV arrived. Jelly Roll got out. Drew said the match isn’t happening if he comes out there. Randy Orton then got out of the SUV. They headed to the ring to Orton’s music. They brawled. Security entered the ring and tried to separate them.
Jelly Roll chokeslammed the last remaining security guy for no reason.
(Keller’s Analysis: The attacks on security guys just doing their jobs is such a tired stupid trope in pro wrestling, especially for a babyface. They just wanted to show Jelly Roll could execute the move, but it was clearly set up with the smallest security guy you’ll ever see.)
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 Christopher Adams 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/3g2n6mntz6
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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