Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include King & Queen of the Ring fatal 4-way qualifying matches featuring Cody Rhodes clashing with Damian Priest, Andrade, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton taking on LA Knight, Aleister Black, and Carmelo Hayes, Alexa Bliss battling Charlotte Flair, Chelsea Green, and Candice LeRae, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena set to to appear, United States Champion Jacob Fatu addressing his assault on Solo Sikoa, the new “Miss Money in the Bank,” Naomi to address the WWE Universe. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena to appear
- “Miss Money in the Bank” Naomi to address the WWE Universe
- United States Champion Jacob Fatu addresses Solo Sikoa
- Queen of the Ring Tournament Fatal 4-way match: Alexa Bliss vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Candice LeRae
- King of the Ring Tournament fatal 4-way match: Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest vs. Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
- King of the Ring Tournament fatal 4-way match: Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes
WWE SmackDown Results:
A highlight package for this past weekend’s Money in the Bank PLE is shown.
The Undisputed Champ is HERE!
Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena forces the ring announcer to give him a “proper” introduction. Cena notes that wrestling’s Mount Rushmore consists of John Cena four times. The crowd boos as Cena notes that there are great talkers and workers, but none of them compare to Cena. Why? Because he’s smarter than all of us. We can’t see him, and we all want to be him. Cena says he spent six months planning this moment. Cena lays out his plan, and it all starts with entering the Royal Rumble, all the way to using Cody Rhodes‘ humanity against him and putting R-Truth in the main event. While the fans were busy saving R-Truth, Cena was buddying up to Logan Paul, making him no longer a threat, and scouted his next opponet, CM Punk.
If CM Punk wants to take the WWE Championship, he has to make himself a hypocrite. Seth Rollins won’t cash in MITB on Cena because Rollins wants Cena to leave with the championship. Why? So Rollins can cash in after the fact and be the only champion. Cena is smarter than all of us and doesn’t need the fan appreciation. This is the greatest moment of the WWE Universe’s life, and to Cena, it’s just a mathematical equation. The math adds up to no one being good enough to hold this after him. Cody Rhodes’ music hits. Rhodes joins Cena in the ring.
Rhodes notes that it’s unfortunate that everything Cena has said so far has come to fruition. Cena chuckles. Rhodes says that in Cena’s 25-year master plan, why did it end with Cena staring up at the lights at Money in the Bank? Rhodes isn’t part of Cena’s plan; Cena is part of Rhodes’ plan. Where does that leave the two of them? Before Cena can answer, Randy Orton interrupts. Orton says he had Cena beaten in the ring until someone decided to come and save the day.
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Orton knows now it doesn’t matter what it takes or who he has to go through to get to Cena. If Orton has to go through Rhodes, he will do it in a heartbeat. LA Knight is out next. Knight says he’s heard all week that the people want LA Knight. As Knight walks to the ring, he’s looking at the WWE establishment. Knight knows for damn sure he wasn’t included in Cena’s plans. Knight says he’s happy to drop everyone in the ring, including a balding b*tch John Cena, he’s happy to. Cena smiles, tosses his mic, and walks away. As Cena is walking up the ramp, Ron Killings attacks Cena from behind. Security eventually pulls Killings away.
Grade: B
This segment was long and featured one of the worst tropes on WWE TV these days (17 people interrupting a champion to beg for a title shot), but in this case, everyone who popped up lit the mic on fire, staking their claim to the championship. The inclusion of LA Knight here is fascinating, considering the recent chatter about Knight losing every time he is in a big match situation. Is this the start of the LA Knight push, or will the King of the Ring be the rise of another underdog? (Slowly turns and looks at Sami Zayn)
King of the Ring Tournament fatal 4-way match: Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes
Hayes tries a few quick pins but gets dumped over the top. Black lands a triangle moonsault out on the floor. Back in the ring, Knight tries to sneak in a BFT on Orton. Orton avoids it and attempts an RKO. Knight escapes. Black slides in and misses a Black Mass, leading to a stalemate. After the break, Hayes catches Knight with the fadeaway. Hayes crushes Black with a dive. While Hayes is celebrating, Knight surprises him with a dive. Orton sneaks in and tries to suplex Knight on the desk. Knight flips out of it.
Black charges in and eats a suplex from Orton. Knight and Hayes fight up top. After the break, Black lands a flurry of kicks. Orton sets up a double-draping DDT on Black and Hayes. Knight flies in and drops Orton with a neckbreaker, taking all three men out. Orton kicks out. Knight sets up his elbow, but Bronson Reed appears and stuns Knight on the top rope. Bron Breakker appears, and Spears Knight. Hayes goes up top and eats an RKO, landing on Knight. Orton pins Knight.
Winner- Randy Orton
Grade: B
Heck of a four-way match, with a hell of a creative finish.
WHAT THE?!@RealLAKnight just paid the price for costing @bronbreakkerwwe his spot in the King of the Ring Tournament ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wlIBpXaASA
— WWE (@WWE) June 14, 2025
FATU!
The United States Champion Jacob Fatu notes that just because you are family doesn’t mean you are family; it doesn’t mean you can snake someone. It doesn’t mean someone can take credit for someone else’s hard work. Solo Sikoa says Fatu wouldn’t be anything without him. At Money in the Bank, Fatu had to remind Sikoa that he needed to get where he fit in. Fatu guesses it’s just him against the world, but he’s all gas, and no brakes wit it.
Sikoa appears on the ‘Tron, and he claps for Fatu. Sikoa says Fatu was nothing until he brought Fatu here. He made Fatu a superstar. It was all because of Sikoa. Next week, Sikoa will be in the middle of the ring with open arms, willing to take Fatu back. All Sikoa needs is to hear four words from Fatu: “I love you, Solo.” Sikoa tells Fatu that he brought him into this world and that he will take him out. Yaddaamean?
Grade: C+
Fatu stumbled a bit at first but got it together quickly. We all know this will end with Fatu telling Sikoa he hates him… and we are all here for it.
Queen of the Ring Tournament Fatal 4-way match: Jade Cargill vs. Michin vs. Nia Jax vs. Piper Niven
Cargill and Jax fight out on the floor. Cargill tosses Jax into the ring steps. Cargill and Michin face off. Michin hits the ropes and eats a backbreaker from Cargill. Dropkick by Michin. Cargill kicks out. Niven pulls Michin out of the ring. Niven bodyslams Michin and crushes her with a senton. Back in the ring, Jax flattens Cargill with an elbow drop. Jade dumps Jax and Niven over the top. Michin clears everyone with an Asai moonsault. After the break, Michin catches Jax with a diving rana. Slingshot Bulldog by Michin to Niven.
Michin tries a rana on Cargill, but Cargill counters with a powerbomb. Michin kicks out. Niven lands a basement crossbody on Cargill. Niven and Jax toss Cargill over the commentary desk into Wade Barrett, who was minding his business covering the match. Jax clubs Niven and throws her out of the ring. Jax crushes Michin with the Annihilator. Niven breaks up the pin. Jax rolls out. Niven spears Jax through the barricade. Niven crushes Michin with a Vader Bomb. Cargill rolls in and surprises Niven with Jaded for the win.
Winner- Jade Cargill
Miss Money in the Bank
Naomi gloats over her MITB win. She’s tired of accepting scraps. Every time Naomi challenged Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship, you know who was there to stop it every time? The current champion, Tiffany Stratton. Naomi can’t wait to clock Stratton in the head and take her championship. Stratton interrupts. Stratton tries to goad Naomi into cashing in right now. Naomi asks Stratton if she looks like Boo Boo the fool? The crowd says, “What’s Naomi. Naomi hilariously turns and says, “You heard me, b*tch.” Naomi is going to cash in when she least expects it. As Naomi is leaving, Nia Jax appears and attacks Stratton. Jax crushes Stratton with the Annihilator. Naomi tries to slide back in the ring, but Jax tells Naomi that Stratton is all hers.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Wyatt Sicks
The Wyatts get a quick win after hitting their finish on Sabin.
Winners- The Wyatt Sicks
The Champ is here… again.
Cena storms to the ring and says he is tired of being disrespected, so he wants to fight R-Truth right now. Ron Killings’ music doesn’t hit, but CM Punk’s music does. Punk says, for old-time sake, he’s going to give Cena a chance in front of this crowd to give the crowd a chance to celebrate Cena for the sacrifices he has made and give them a happy ending. Punk winks at Cena. Cena asks why he would waste his time. These people don’t matter. Nothing matters. The only thing that matters is the championship. Punk says to let the record show that he gave Cena an out. Now, it’s time for the disrespect. It’s about to get real.
Here’s the truth: Cena can’t beat Punk. When Punk is at his best, Cena never could. If Cena is going to ruin wrestling, Punk is going to take it upon himself to save it. Punk says Cena is trying to follow in his footsteps in attempting to leave with the championship. Cena chuckles. Punk says he will follow Cena to Mars to beat his @SS. Cena is a goat, but so is Punk. Cena is the goat that Punk is going to spit-roast. Punk mocks Cena’s “You can’t see me” taunt and says he sees through Cena, and that’s the truth. As Punk leaves, Ron Killings attacks Cena from behind again. Killings traps Cena in the STF. Punk runs back down to the ring and mockingly yells that he’s sorry, and the truth hurts.
Grade: B+
This was a great promo. Punk is here to save us from an otherwise lame Cena retirement run. Spit-roasted goat at Night of Champions sounds delicious.
Queen of the Ring Tournament Fatal 4-way match: Alexa Bliss vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Alba Fyre vs. Candice LeRae
LeRae and Fyre take turns working over Bliss and Flair. After the break, Flair fires up and locks Bliss in the Figure Eight. LeRae breaks it up with a springboard lionsault. Bliss lands a DDT, followed by Twisted Bliss on Fryee. Flair breaks up the pin. Flair traps Fyre in the Figure Eight. Bliss drops LeRae with the Sister Abigail DDT. Bliss pins LeRae. Fyre taps out after the bell rings.
Winner- Alexa Bliss
Grade: C
At this point, this writer is over four-way matches. The first two were different enough that they didn’t overstay their welcome. This one was more paint by the numbers in it’s approach, with it following the same multi-person troupes we all hate (I get punched in the head then I’m out on the floor for minutes at a time) Thankfully this one didn’t overstay its welcome, seemingly the shortest of all the fatal-four way matches so far tonight.
King of the Ring Tournament fatal 4-way match: Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest vs. Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
After the break, Rhodes and Priest set up a double suplex. Nakamura breaks it up and sends Andrade flying with a Regal plex. Nakamura dropkicks Rhodes off the apron, sending him through the Slim Jim table at ringside. After the break, Rhodes fires up and lands a flurry of his signature moves. Nakamura avoids Crossroads and responds with a Kinshasa. Andrade breaks up the pin. Rhodes lands a double Cody Cutter on Nakamura and Andrade. Priest puts Rhodes in the Razor’s Edge. Rhodes escapes and hits a super Cody Cutter. Nakamura tries to hit Rhodes with Crossroads. Rhodes reverses it into Crossroads and pins Nakamura.
Winner- Cody Rhodes
Grade: C+
Another fatal four-way, but this time with the most predictable winner ever. It’s hard to care about a match when it’s the same match you’ve seen three times already tonight.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight’s show featured four fatal four-way matches. Why? It’s bad enough WWE feels like they have to triple-threat match us to death to qualify for things, now they have added another person and stacked a three-hour show with them. This is just too much of the same thing. Despite fire promos from CM Punk and John Cena, the night overall was a miss. It’s similar to when TNA used to have that Lockdown PPV, where every match is a cage match. Unless every single match is totally different, you are going to lose your audience, no matter what’s potentially on the line for the victor. If everyone is super, no one is. This episode of SmackDown was far from super.
Rating: C+
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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