Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include King and Queen of the Ring Tournament Semi-final Matches beginning with: Randy Orton battling Sami Zayn, Alexa Bliss clashing with Asuka, and Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena taking on Ron ‘R-Truth’ Killings. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena vs. Ron ‘R-Truth’ Killings
- King of the Ring Tournament Semi-final Match: Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn
- Queen of the Ring Tournament Semi-final Match: Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka
WWE SmackDown Results:
YEAH!
LA Knight reminds everyone that Seth Rollins and his boys screwed him at Money in the Bank. Usually, Knight lets everything slide, but not this time. Knight screwed one of them out of King of the Ring, so they screwed Knight out of King of the Ring. We all know how this ends; it ends with Rollins and LA Knight, so there is no time like the present. The crowd roars as Knight asks for Rollins to meet him in the ring. Paul Heyman interrupts. As Heyman announces he is the wise man for Seth “Freakin” Rollins, the crowd boos. Heymans says they are going to do it again since the crowd messed it up.
Knight yells at Heyman to get to the point. The crowd chants for CM Punk and Roman Reigns, drowning out Heyman. Knight quips that they have a lot of enemies. Heyman tells Knight he is the biggest LA Knight fan and excitingly gives Knight a Yeah. As a favor to Heyman, Rollins has told Heyman to tell Knight to get out of the arena because if Knight doesn’t leave, something really bad is going to happen to Knight. Knight asked Heyman if he just threatened him. Knight calls Heyman a grifter and a scammer. Heyman is a leech. Knight asked for Rollins, and they gave him Paul Heyman. A Paul Heyman that is talking pretty tough.
The only thing left to do is LA Knight vs. Paul Heyman right now. The crowd gives Knight a big Yeah. Knight says he’s going to turn his back and give Heyman the first shot. Heyman slides out of the ring when Knight turns his back. Heyman says what he said to Knight wasn’t a prediction, it was a spoiler. Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker walk down to the ring. Reed and Breakker attack Knight. The fight spills out of the ring. Knight grabs a chair and fights Reed and Breakker off.
Grade: B
Good opening segment. It’s time for them to give Knight a real top-level feud, and Rollins and his crew are a great place to start.
Queen of the Ring Tournament Semi-final Match: Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka
Bliss tries a shoulder block that has no effect. Asuka lands a few strikes. Bliss manages as low dropkick that leads to a stalemate. A hip attack from Asuka knocks Bliss off the apron.
After the break, Bliss is working over Asuka. Asuka fires back with a suplex and a shining wizard for a near fall. Asuka reverses the Sister Abigail DDT into a roll up. Bliss kicks out. Bliss kicks out of a head kick.
Asuka misses a missile dropkick. DDT by Bliss. Asuka kicks out. Bliss goes up for Twisted Bliss, but realizes that Asuka is playing possum. Bliss hops off the top and gets trapped in an armbar. After a series of reversals, Bliss catches Asuka with a nasty right hand. Bliss traps Asuka in a tree of woe. Dropkick by Bliss. Bliss tries Twisted Bliss. Asuka gets her knees up. Asuka lands Empress Impact for the win.
Winner- Asuka
Grade: B
Good match that kept a great pace throughout. It’s refreshing to see this one end with a clean finish.
Aleister Black vs. Kit Wilson
Before Black gets to the ring, someone in a hoodie attacks Wilson. It’s Ron Killings! Killings puts Wilson in the STF. Killings grabs a mic and demands John Cena get in the ring right now. The crowd cheers as Killings says he’s driving. Security and officials hit the ring and pulled Killings off of Wilson. Jamie Noble manages to calm Killings down, and Killings eventually leaves.
Grade: C+
For a second there, this writer was having flashbacks of watching WWF Superstars as a kid. This looked to be a classic squash match, which is sorely missed in wrestling these days. Killings being unhinged is interesting, but this writer wanted to see this match. No, that wasn’t a joke.
Did @ArcherOfInfamy just talk some sense into @RonKillings? ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/V1inIJRQJg
— WWE (@WWE) June 21, 2025
What do you want to Talk About?
Former undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes stands in the ring. Before Rhodes can speak, former World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso’s music hits. Jey says Rhodes doesn’t have to say anything. Jey recounts their shared history and puts Rhodes over. With all that, Jey tells Rhodes this Monday on Raw, there is only room for one of them. It’s not personal; it’s strictly business. After the face-off, there are going to be four letters, and one word will be YEET. Sami Zayn is out next. Zayn puts Jey and Rhodes over but notes he’s the only one in the ring who hasn’t won a world championship.
Zayn says he hopes both of them understand it’s time for Zayn to finish his story. “Voices” blares through the arena’s PA system as Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. Orton says there is no line he won’t cross to get to John Cena so he can win his 15th world championship. Orton puts over Jey but says if they face off, it’s not going to be three letters, one word; it’s going to be three letters, one move. The crowd cheers as Orton tells Zayn that one day Zayn will be a world champion, but not at SummerSlam.
Grade: B-
Solid work from everyone here. At a point, it gets a bit old when everyone comes to the ring and says essentially the same thing, but Rhodes not getting to speak was different. Not sure if that is going to be a trend, but Rhodes can be a bit much on the mic at times, so this was an interesting change.
King of the Ring Tournament Semi-final Match: Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn
.@RandyOrton is heading to the King of the Ring Finals ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/xw6YFeU7Wd
— WWE (@WWE) June 21, 2025
Zayn lights Orton up with chops. Orton bails out of the ring. Orton pokes Zayn in the eye. The fight spills out of the ring. Orton suplexes Zayn on the desk. Orton breaks the count and suplexes Zayn on the desk again. After the break, Zayn leaps over Orton and lands a lariat. Orton lands the Orton DDT. Zayn suplexes Orton and sets up the Helluva Kick. Orton counters with a powerslam. Zayn misses a surprise Helluva Kick. Orton tries the RKO. Zayn reverses it into the blue thunder bomb. Zayn avoids another RKO. Orton counters a Helluva Kick with an RKO. Orton pins Zayn.
Winner- Randy Orton
Grade: B
This was a classic Orton match. Orton didn’t go full heel here but gave Zayn enough for him to fight from underneath like the classic babyface he is. Orton getting the win here wasn’t surprising, but it was slightly frustrating. At some point, Zayn has to have his Daniel Bryan run. It’s sitting right there, and the longer they wait, the less the people will care.
She’s not Like Most Girls
Jax reminds everyone that Tiffany Stratton came to her to be under Jax’s wing. Stratton is walking around with Jax’s title. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton walks down to the ring and tells Jax to get over it. If Jax wants a match, good. Stratton got them booked for a match next, a last women’s standing match. Jax attacks Stratton.
After a leg drop, Jax parades around with the WWE Women’s Championship. Jax comes back to the ring and leg drops Stratton again. Naomi’s music hits, and she runs down to the ring with a referee. Before Naomi can cash in, Jax drags Naomi out of the ring. Jax and Naomi argue. Stratton dropkicks Naomi off the apron and escapes with her championship.
Grade: C+
We are going to have weeks of these failed cash-ins, so let’s buckle up for the ride. Hopefully, they will be more creative moving forward.
Naomi tried to cash-in but Nia Jax said: not today ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/5c7BcpATIo
— WWE (@WWE) June 21, 2025
Charlotte Flair vs. Chelsea Green w/ Alba Fyre and Piper Niven
Flair is in control early. Green takes over after a distraction from Niven and Fyre. Flair lands a crossbody off the top. After the break, Flair locks Green in the Figure Eight. Green taps out.
Winner- Charlotte Flair
Niven breaks it up the Figure Eight with a senton. Green and Co. beat down Flair. Alexa Bliss makes the save. Bliss offers Flair a handshake. Flair walks past Bliss like she isn’t even there.
Grade: C+
Standard SmackDown TV match with tons of interference. Seems we are building towards a Bliss and Flair tag team, which could be fun. Flair is a former tag champion, but it wasn’t much of a reign. Hiding Flair in the tag division gives her something new to do and allows the newer stars currently at the top of the card to develop.
I Love You… Jacob?
Sikoa says he feels terrible about what happened between him and Jacob Fatu. He’s all alone and wants to clear the air with Fatu. The United States Champion’s music hits, and he slowly walks to the ring. Sikoa tells Fatu that he loves Fatu. All Sikoa is trying to do is take care of the family. Families fight all the time, but they forgive and move forward. Sikoa wants them to move forward together as one. The only person who saw the potential in Fatu, other than Sikoa. Sikoa brought Fatu here and gave him the opportunity to change his life and put food on the table for his family. Sikoa did that for Fatu because he loves him.
The crowd boos as Sikoa admits he doesn’t have anybody else. Fatu is all Sikoa has and is all he needs. Even if Fatu doesn’t say those four words, Sikoa will say them to Fatu loudly and proudly. Sikoa says, “I love you, Jacob!” The crowd chants B.S. The way Fatu sees it, Sikoa has been using him. Fatu notes that Sikoa only brought him in because he wanted fame and gold. Sikoa looks down. Fatu tells Sikoa to look at him when he’s speaking to him. The crowd explodes.
Ever since Fatu won the U.S. title, Sikoa has been acting differently. The problem is the championship. Fatu lays the championship on the mat in front of Sikoa. If it is what Fatu thinks it is, Sikoa should fight him for the title. Sikoa tries a cheap shot. Fatu decks Sikoa. JC Mateo attacks Fatu from behind. Jimmy Uso tries to make the save, but gets taken out. Fatu gets to his feet and clears the ring. Fatu glares at Jimmy before setting up a BME on Sikoa. Sikoa rolls out of the ring.
Grade: C+
Fatu stumbled a bit but once again recovered. The crowd is with him no matter what he says, so it doesn’t even matter. Adding Jimmy into the mix makes sense, but it would be nice for Jimmy to be in a storyline that has nothing to do with his family.
LA Knight vs. Bronson Reed w/Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman
Knight hops the barricade and attacks Breakker from behind. As the match starts, Knight is in control early. After the break, Reed sets up a superplex. Knight knocks Reed off the top and lands a double jump elbow drop. Reed avoids the BFT and hits a DVD. Knight calls for the BFT. Breakker rolls in, and Spear Knight causes a DQ.
Winner- LA Knight
After the match, Reed holds Knight in place while Breakker hits a super Spear. Tsunami by Reed. Breakker holds back the referees while Reed lands two more Tsunamis.
Grade: C+
Good match with a predictable beatdown after. If they really wanted to sell this, Reed should have given Knight the Rollins treatment. 7-8 Tsunamis at least.
Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena vs. Ron Killings
Killings tackles Cena and lays in a flurry of punches. Cena rolls out. Truth beats Cena down outside the ring. After the break, Killings avoids the five knuckle shuffle and lands a splash in the corner. Cena rolls out, grabs his championship, and walks up the ramp. Killings follows. Cena clocks Killings with the championship. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner- Ron Killings
As Cena sets up to hit Killings with the championship again, CM Punk’s music hits. Punk chases Cena back to the ring. Cena low blows Punk and hits Punk in the head with the championship. Cena sets up the Slim Jim table. Punk gets to his feet. Cena hits Punk in the head with the championship again. Cena hits Punk with an AA through the table. Cena grabs a mic and sits on the top rope, and does his version of Punk’s pipebomb promo. Before Cena leaves, he has a few things to get off his chest. He doesn’t hate Punk. He likes Punk. Cena likes Punk more than anyone else who has shared a locker room with Punk.
Cena is the greatest of all time. Cena breaks the ‘fourth wall’ and makes sure Stu shoots it. The crowd boos as Cena says the only thing Punk is better than Cena at is being the best bullshitter. While Cena continues to dump on Punk, Cena turns to the camera and says hello to Claudio Castagnoli, Nick Nemeth, and Matt Cardona. Cena says no one is going to save Punk tonight because Cena is Punk’s only friend. Punk isn’t the voice of the voiceless; he’s a millionaire despite himself.
Cena is going to prove day in and day out that he’s the greatest of all time. Cena says Punk has been is promo potato salad. Punk was the best in the world for 7 minutes 14 years ago. If, after Night of Champions, Punk is delusional enough to still think he’s the best in the world, then it must be a small world after all. Cena says the champ is here and notes he doesn’t need the other two minutes and gets bleeped.
Grade: A
Cena’s reverse pipebomb promo was a masterclass in reading someone upside down.
We're speechless…@CMPunk @JohnCena #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Xs1wZExhDC
— WWE (@WWE) June 21, 2025
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