{"id":199418,"date":"2025-06-13T11:54:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T16:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=199418"},"modified":"2025-06-13T11:54:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T16:54:41","slug":"wwe-smackdown-feud-tracker-assessing-and-grading-mitb-fallout-worlds-collide-r-truths-return-upcoming-ppvs-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/06\/13\/wwe-smackdown-feud-tracker-assessing-and-grading-mitb-fallout-worlds-collide-r-truths-return-upcoming-ppvs-more\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE SMACKDOWN FEUD TRACKER: Assessing and grading MITB fallout, Worlds Collide, R-Truth\u2019s return, upcoming PPVs, more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-3245643363\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Some interesting developments in the wrestling world before we get into things:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022WWE announced the return of the King &amp; Queen Of The Ring tournaments, this time as a series of fatal-four way matches with the finals culminating at Night Of Champions. Like last year in the gimmick\u2019s return, the winners will be crowned King &amp; Queen, respectively, of the ring and will earn a title shot for their brand\u2019s world title at Summerslam.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022Nikki Bella announced, and subsequently made, her return to WWE on Raw after MITB. Bella, who returned to WWE as a surprise entrant in this year\u2019s Royal Rumble, has not been seen on programming since, and it is likely her inclusion on programming moving forward will be to build to a match at Evolution in July.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022Following his legitimate release, R-Truth returned to WWE during MITB and it was revealed he had signed a new short-term contract. Many theorized that Truth\u2019s release was a work, but multiple sources including the wrestler\u2019s son verified the release and return were legitimate.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022On his podcast, Logan Paul confirmed he suffered a hematoma in his leg during his match at Money In The Bank. It is currently unknown if Paul will be out of action for any notable length of time.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022The tale of two PPVs. One of them was MITB, a flagship WWE PPV aiming for a big-fight feel with two marquee matches that will set the tone for main event programming in the coming year. And, typical of the Triple H era, it featured a slim card, stately slow pacing, and big fight-feel camerawork. And, more than any others, it felt supremely boring. The matches themselves were well put-together (if a bit unambitious and overlong), but the PPV\u2019s unhurried pace and loads of ads made for an unsatisfactory experience.<\/p>\n<p>The others, Worlds Collide, felt like the red-headed stepchild of WWE programming, jamming together WWE\u2019s \u201csports entertainment style\u201d with new acquisition AAA\u2019s lucha roots. And while the build was less original, the final product zipped by thanks to engaging high-flying matches, entertainingly epic video packages about the history of lucha libre, and a much better paced card that thoroughly entertained fans even if they had no knowledge of AAA. In a sense, WWE was fighting for retention for the first time in decades, and you could feel it in the PPV\u2019s electrifying pace.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t perfect, of course, with a few missed spots, production miscues, and Konnan hilariously rambling on about nonsense at the commentary table while Corey Graves tried in vain to keep things on track. But overall, if I had to watch one of the PPVs again, I\u2019d pick Worlds Collide without question. And that\u2019s an insane statement. If this is WWE\u2019s AAA, at least it looks to provide some great entertainment value in the short-term. Whether it\u2019ll benefit the industry at large? Probably not, but that\u2019s a separate issue.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1251410713\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Additionally, it was interesting to see which AAA alums WWE is clearly cherrypicking to be the aces of the promotion, including Vikingo, Octagon Jr, El Hijo De Wagner Jr, and surprise standout Mr. Iguana (TKO probably got $$$ in their eyes with Iguana). I have little history watching AAA, but WWE sold me on those four and I\u2019m instantly hooked to see where they go next.<\/p>\n<p>With all that craziness behind us, what\u2019s on the docket for Smackdown this week, as WWE finds itself with two wild cards holding briefcases on the road to Summerslam? Let\u2019s review:<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>MR. MONEY IN THE BANK<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Over the past few weeks, Penta, Solo Sikoa, LA Knight, Seth Rollins, Andrade and El Grande Americano all earned a spot in MITB.<\/p>\n<p>On the go-home show, Seth Rollins\u2019 new group made an appearance on Smackdown to confront the new Bloodline, where the two groups faced off and Rollins laughed at the obvious discord between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. A confrontation nearly broke out, before Rollins &amp; co departed.<\/p>\n<p>Later, LA Knight cut promos running down his fellow opponents, before swearing to win his 3rd MITB in Los Angeles (his namesake city). After a quick tune-up match against Aleister Black, Knight was laid out by Rollins.<\/p>\n<p>Chad Gable invoked the ire of Andrade and Penta by entering MITB as EL Grande Americano. To smooth things over, Aldis set a tag match between Andrade &amp; Penta and Gable\u2019s goons The Creed Brothers. Yet again, after the babyfaces won, Rollins &amp; co laid both of them out.<\/p>\n<p>At the PPV, after a brutal match, many of the participants were laid out by Rollins\u2019 squad Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Jacob Fatu arrived to ward them off and help Sikoa, but turned on him, allowing Rollins to take out the other competitors and win the match.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2866106413\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Standard booking for the go-home show, but done very well. Every participant got a chance to stand out, and each babyface especially got a visual moment standing victorious and lending them credence (even the comparative longer shots like Penta and Andrade). The post-match beatdowns could have gotten repetitive, but Rollins\u2019 ubiquitous presence across the episode really sold the power of his new faction and determination to steamroll the field.<\/p>\n<p>I appreciated the intent to integrate the men\u2019s MITB throughout the whole show without giving them all one big segment together. Not only did it make the women\u2019s segments feel more unique and give each match a different feel, it also was a refreshing change of pace in years past, where the go-home show was a largely mundane group promo that didn\u2019t amount to much new.<\/p>\n<p>However, the match underdelivered, lacking a titular favorite to win the match beyond a cooled-off LA Knight. And frankly, Knight calling attention to this being his third shot really highlights how much WWE has unintentionally cooled off his hype and turned him into another guy. He\u2019s still over and in a good place, but the crowd\u2019s roar was otherworldly in 2023 when the closing stretch of the match featured him nearly ascending the briefcase in order to get the winner maximum heat. The same spot was repeated here, but the reception was much more muted.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Rollins felt like the wrong man to win. He\u2019s a bonafide legend, a main eventer who didn\u2019t need the briefcase in kayfabe to earn a shot. If anything, Breakker or Reed winning would have been a more unique dynamic. With Rollins unlikely to try for any championship beyond the World Heavyweight Championship, the more interesting possibilities of Penta\/Andrade\/El Grande Americano cashing in for a AAA championship, or LA Knight\u2019s potential promos feel muted in favor of Rollins rehashing his original run with the case.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: C+<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>I HATE YOU SOLO!!!<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2025, Jacob Fatu began to unofficially take over as The New Bloodline\u2019s leader. Their dynamic began slowly shifting, as Fatu hinted he had lost faith in Solo Sikoa. Having made enemies with US Champion LA Knight, Fatu defeated him at Wrestlemania to become the new US Champion. Sikoa took credit for Fatu\u2019s championship gold, before an offended Fatu cut Sikoa off.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa introduced Mateo as the Bloodline\u2019s newest member, despite Fatu not trusting him. Sikoa attempted to force Fatu into being obedient, which Fatu hesitantly complied with.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, on the go home show, following The Bloodline\u2019s altercation with Seth Rollins, Big Jim Uso attacked the group in-ring, leading to an impromptu match against Mateo which Mateo won handily. Later, Sikoa continued preparing for the MITB ladder match, confidently laughing that Fatu would be by his side and putting down his intellect. Unbeknownst to him, Fatu was within earshot.<\/p>\n<p>During the match, Sikoa was saved by Fatu mid-match, who cleared a path for him to obtain the briefcase. But suddenly, Fatu grabbed Sikoa\u2019s leg, bellowed \u201cI HATE YOU SOLO!!!\u201d and viciously beat him down before leaving.<\/p>\n<p>Analysis:<\/p>\n<p>Somehow this moment didn\u2019t feel as momentous as it should have. On paper, the buildup was spectacular, smoothly transitioning Fatu from a silent killer to a reluctant lone wolf thanks to the slow degradation of Solo Sikoa as a leader. In other hands, Sikoa\u2019s performance may have felt flanderized, but the wrestlers had enough genuine chemistry to sell the relationship. Little moments like Fatu overhearing Sikoa getting more and more deluded as to his control over others were brilliantly done. A blatant rehash over Batista\u2019s turn on Triple H, but done well enough to avoid audiences losing investment.<\/p>\n<p>However, when the titular moment came, it fell a little\u2026 flat. In my opinion, the execution of the full turn and betrayal being sandwiched in the middle of the MITB match felt slightly awkward, as it felt like the flow of the match stopped for a prolonged amount of time to handle all the interference. And following the beatdown, the match just sped to an unexciting conclusion which made everything feel muted.<\/p>\n<p>The potential moving forward is exciting, with Fatu holding a midcard title that multiple former world champs have already targeted. Babyface Fatu should have no issue finding a new opponent to focus his energy on, which would be much more refreshing than several weeks of Bloodline fallout. While betrayals have historically been the best part of The Bloodline, the ensuing fallout can sometimes feel protracted especially if the newfound babyface isn\u2019t quite ready to shed their \u201ccool heel\u201d factor and slot into the protagonist role. Hopefully WWE continues presenting Fatu as a heelish wrecking ball, allowing The Bloodline to naturally move in a different direction.<\/p>\n<p>I have less high hopes for this iteration of The Bloodline to exist as little more than a midcard heel faction. Mateo\u2019s match against Jim Uso this week was plodding, even by WWE standards. There was no urgency, no chemistry, and the crowd fell flat as a result. The Bloodline\u2019s biggest strength has been their physical presence, and this version blends into the background a little too much. Hopefully, with new players like Hikuleo waiting in the wings, they can find their own niche.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: B-<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Smackdown: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/wwe-smackdown-post-show-6-6-keller-fann-talk-final-money-in-the-bank-hype-has-cody-been-damaged-or-derailed-heyman-seth-faction--66432638\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WWE SMACKDOWN POST-SHOW (6\/6) - Keller &amp; Fann talk final Money in the Bank hype, has Cody been damaged or derailed, Heyman\/Seth faction\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=66432638&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>L.A. KNIGHT\u2019S UNLIKELY NEW FRIEND<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Several weeks ago, L.A. Knight punched his ticket to MITB by winning a three-way match also involving Aleister Black.<\/p>\n<p>En route to MITB, L.A. Knight faced Black in a tune-up match. Black cut a promo before the match, vowing to reclaim what he had lost to Knight, but also planning to admit defeat gracefully if necessary. As predicted, Knight managed to seal the win, but only due to DQ when Seth Rollins intervened.<\/p>\n<p>Post-match, Rollins tried laying out Knight to increase his chances at MITB. Black tried to defend Knight before eating a Bron Breakker spear for his troubles.<\/p>\n<p>At the PPV, neither Rollins nor Knight were able to win the MITB briefcase.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Functioning as MITB fallout, it definitely feels like Knight vs. Rollins is the going feud in the near future. Which sounds like gangbusters on paper. Both wrestlers are aces on the mic, but have markedly different styles of promos. Kight\u2019s effortless swagger could mesh perfectly against Rollins\u2019 unhinged determination. If the two don\u2019t undercut each other, they could make some magic together.<\/p>\n<p>The wild card here was Black. Although WWE continues to book him in a somewhat pathetic way, taking losses and powerhouse moves like candy, he nevertheless has one of the most interesting character archetypes, so much so that seeing him step out of the brooding melancholy and come to Knight\u2019s aid felt like a big character shift. Seeing Black ally with somebody isn\u2019t something we\u2019ve seen him do on an equal playing field in WWE, and the two mesh like oil and water, which at the very least should make for some entertaining television if WWE keeps them together for another few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: A-<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>MS. MONEY IN THE BANK.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Over the past few weeks, Naomi. Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, Roxanne Perez, Giulia, and Stephanie Vaquer all earned a spot in MITB.<\/p>\n<p>On the go-home show, the three babyfaces faced off against the three heels in a classic road-to Money In The Bank-style match, where the babyfaces won thanks to Ripley.<\/p>\n<p>At the PPV, the field of relative newcomers began the match feeling hesitant and unfamiliar in the new territory of a ladder match, allowing ol\u2019 veteran Naomi to bulldoze through the field and score the victory to become Ms. Money In The Bank for the very first time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In comparison to the men\u2019s match getting lengthy promos and an underlying story, the women were relegated to a six-woman tag. While I normally love road-to multi-man tag booking, the difference felt more notable than usual, and the booking suffered as a result. The match itself was fine, but nothing special, offering little in the way of fun interactions or hints as to the flow of the match. It was just a way to blatantly remind the audience who should be cheered and who should be booed.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the participants this year felt heavily skewed towards rookies and new callups, which both added a new dimension to the match and also took away from it. On one hand, it was interesting seeing the wrestlers\u2019 relative inexperience worked into the match. There were less high-spots, more viciousness and clunkiness, but in a way that played into the wrestlers all being out of their depth in kayfabe. It was a very different flavor to the men\u2019s match, which was good. However, there were a few weird booking choices in the lead up. WWE conspicuously placed participants like Giulia into secondary feuds during the build, which was an obvious tell that she wasn\u2019t the planned victor. Additionally, having Ripley\u2019s final promo focus so heavily on being a newbie to MITB, didn\u2019t jive with her powerhouse style running through the competition for much of the match.<\/p>\n<p>However, the match\u2019s closing stretch was absolutely dynamite, with Naomi securing the win. The culmination of some incredible heel work, Naomi\u2019s unhinged persona was on full display, sneakily looking for a gap to ascend the ladder and win the match. I don\u2019t normally focus on WWE\u2019s camerawork, but the spinning drone shot when Naomi unhooked the briefcase was truly amazing, making her feel like a warrior ascending a mountain. With history between Naomi and both world champs on the roster, the cash-in possibilities are endless, and with one of the only gimmicks that elicit a genuinely concerned reaction, Naomi\u2019s promos are sure to be a delight this week.<\/p>\n<p>In short, an undercooked match with the right winner and a launchpad for multiple stories in the division moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: B-<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>ZELINA VEGA\u2019S NEW CHALLENGER<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Giulia was recently called up to Smackdown after a monster run in NXT. Soon after, Giulia punched a ticket to MITB.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Giulia cut a promo talking about her goal to have main roster gold around her waist. Backstage, Giulia ran into Women\u2019s US Champ Zelina Vega and the two jaw-jacked.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, following a legitimate broken nose in her title match against Vega, an irate Chelsea Green demanded Vega be punished. After winning a match against Fyre, Vega faced off in a Street Fight against Niven. The Secret Hervice tried intervening, but Giula fought them off for Vega to get the win.<\/p>\n<p>Post-match, Giulia turned heel on Vega, laying her out and holding the Women\u2019s US Championship up for the win.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Heel Giulia is in the building, everyone! The timing of the betrayal was a bit off. Turning Giulia directly before she competed in a marquee match of an unrelated feud made her role in the match a bit unclear. As such, the crowd didn\u2019t pop for her more brutal spots. I\u2019m curious as to why WWE began to build this feud on the road to Money In The Bank, rather than afterward. Not only did it pull Giulia away from a competitor she had some genuinely great chemistry with in Zelina Vega, but it also made Vega look bush-league by being unable to go toe-to-toe against Giulia while still being her second priority.<\/p>\n<p>However, I\u2019m excited by the promise of new challengers for the US title, as Vega\u2019s reign has felt weighed down with endless rematches against The Secret Hervice. I\u2019ve said it multiple times, but WWE hasn\u2019t allowed Vega the mic time to get herself over as the snarky underdog she excels at. And as a result, she\u2019s been stuck as a perpetually-wounded underdog Cody Rhodes-type that she hasn\u2019t quite been able to stick the landing for.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: B-<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>LEGADO DEL FANTASMA FINDS TEMPORARY PEACE<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the past few months, Santos Escobar has repeatedly berated Los Garzas (Angel &amp; Berto) for not amassing a winning record, despite his own lackluster in-ring showings. In recent months, Andrade began reminding Los Garzas that they had accomplished plenty, and Escobar\u2019s brutal leadership was holding them both back, much to Escobar\u2019s fury.<\/p>\n<p>After repeated losses, Berto grew tired of Escobar\u2019s verbal abuse post-match, swatting him away and leaving. Angel tried to mollify Escobar, who threatened that it would be all Berto\u2019s fault if they all split up.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Los Garzas prepared for their six-man match at Worlds Collide, and for once seemed to be bonding rather than arguing. At the PPV, the three used their teamwork and lucha experience to beat El Hijo De Dr. Wagner Jr, Pagano, and Psycho Clown.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This was a weird one for me. I\u2019m unsure how to grade this segment, as it is highly dependent on how much we\u2019re supposed to treat Worlds Collide\u2019s storylines as canon to WWE. I know they now exist in one universe, but it was so jarring to see LDF seemingly getting along perfectly fine after weeks of hammering home that Escobar\u2019s abuse had driven them apart.<\/p>\n<p>To be charitable, I could buy this being worked into the narrative: that all the trio needed was to get back to their own lucha roots and they rediscovered how well they worked together.<\/p>\n<p>But the other side of the coin is that WWE just wanted their luchadors on Worlds Collide, irrespective of their storylines on the main roster. I suppose the true test will be if LDF returns to being split up this week, or if they build their momentary cease fire into their main story. Either way, it was a nothingburger of a segment on the go-home show with some classic lucha athletics on the PPV. Escobar\u2019s still got it, playing heel wonderfully to AAA\u2019s most loved babyfaces.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: C+<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>THE WYATT SICKS CONQUER THE TAG DIVISION<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a lengthy hiatus, the long-dormant Wyatt Sicks made their return and laid out all the major teams in the Smackdown tag division.<\/p>\n<p>The following week, The Street Profits cut a promo claiming to run the division. One by one, the other teams (Fraxiom, MCMG, DIY) appeared to cause trouble, before The Wyatt Sicks appeared and laid out all the teams, standing tall as the segment closed.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, The Profits suggested an alliance to team up against the Wyatts. Fraxiom and MCMG agreed, but DIY was more focused on who provoked the Wyatts in the first place and hesitantly trailed behind.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So it looks like we\u2019re actually committing to a team-up story against the Wyatt Sicks. That\u2019s a dynamic we haven\u2019t really seen before in the tag division, and it\u2019s got me excited. After months of interconnected feuding between these teams, seeing them all conglomerate into a huge alliance should provide some extremely entertaining interactions.<\/p>\n<p>Major credit to Fraxiom for fitting in like a glove, but maintaining their own unique relationship that separates them from the pack. I also loved that DIY was more hesitant from the start. It gives them a different angle into the team-up storyline from the get-go, which adds more nuance beyond a supersized \u201ccan they get along\u201d story which we\u2019ve seen multiple times.<\/p>\n<p>The Wyatt Sicks continues to cut the same bland promo week after week, but as of this moment I don\u2019t particularly mind as it keeps the attention on the other teams without muddying up the waters by asking audiences to also focus on the heel team. Eventually I\u2019d love to see more, but for now just allowing the Sicks to cement their new vicious heel style and be the antagonists for the good guys to overcome will suffice.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: B+<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Latest Developments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In February, John Cena won a title shot for Cody Rhodes\u2019 WWE Championship at Wrestlemania by winning the Elimination Chamber. Following the match, Cena shockingly turned heel. At Wrestlemania 41, Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to win his record-breaking 17th WWE Championship. Rhodes took an absence from WWE while Cena racked up defenses against Randy Orton &amp; R-Truth.<\/p>\n<p>Following this, R-Truth was legitimately released from WWE to negative reception.<\/p>\n<p>Cena also came into conflict with Jey Uso, degrading his work as World Champion. Following Uso\u2019s successful defense of the World Heavyweight Championship against Logan Paul at SNME, Cena joined Paul in beating up Uso post-match. Rhodes made his triumphant return, saving Uso and challenging the heels to a tag match at MITB.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Rhodes and Uso entered the ring to raucous cheers, denouncing Cena and Paul. Suddenly, the heels appeared and beat down Rhodes and Uso. Standing tall, Cena mocked the fans for wanting R-Truth back, lauded Paul\u2019s achievements as superior to wrestlers, and vowed to leave with the WWE Championship to show his disrespect for wrestling.<\/p>\n<p>At the PPV, after a fierce battle, Rhodes and Uso managed to secure the win when R-Truth returned and cost Cena the win.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>First off, addressing the elephant in the room: While R-Truth\u2019s release and subsequent return played into the story quite well, it feels quite apparent that it was unplanned to bring him back until fan outcry allowed them to reconsider. That being said, it garnered Cena the first genuine heel heat he\u2019s had in quite some time, as fans (accidentally) bought into Cena ruining wrestling by squeezing profits. Fan favorites like Truth were left out in the cold.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s still a heel turn powered by vague motivations, but Cena leaning into a more overt sellout shill style definitely has been the path closest to success. From lauding mainstream celebrity Logan Paul to insisting Punk to go to Saudi Arabia if he wants his match (I don\u2019t cover Raw, but that was a phenomenal touch of heel work), Cena may have cracked the code to genuine hatred.<\/p>\n<p>The MITB blowoff match itself was nothing special, coasting on smoke &amp; mirrors by putting the two most over babyfaces against Cena and pairing him with one of the most loathed heels on the roster. Light on action, but heavy on grandstanding, it made for a serviceable main event with plenty of pop-worthy aura moments that still kept the ol\u2019 serotonin flowing.<\/p>\n<p>Grade: B<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (6\/6) - WWE Smackdown w\/cohost Rich Fann\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XSNLMrsK-bw?start=1566&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2838127743\"><div id=\"pwtor-269044674\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Some interesting developments in the wrestling world before we get into things: \u2022WWE announced the return of the King &amp; Queen Of The Ring tournaments, this time as a series of fatal-four way matches with <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/06\/13\/wwe-smackdown-feud-tracker-assessing-and-grading-mitb-fallout-worlds-collide-r-truths-return-upcoming-ppvs-more\/\" title=\"WWE SMACKDOWN FEUD TRACKER: Assessing and grading MITB fallout, Worlds Collide, R-Truth\u2019s return, upcoming PPVs, more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":199419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,6447,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-199418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-feud-tracker","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-13-at-11.53.04\u202fAM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199418"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":199420,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199418\/revisions\/199420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/199419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}