The John Report: WWE SmackDown 05/23/25 Review
This is WWE SmackDown featuring The Street Profits facing Fraxiom, two huge Money in the Bank qualifying matches, and more.
The next WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event takes place tomorrow, which is Saturday, May 24th. There is also the annual Money in the Bank PLE on June 7th, which is just two weeks away.
From the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, this is SmackDown for episode #1344. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
There was some pre-show walking shown of The Street Profits, Fraxiom, Jacob Fatu with Solo Sikoa & JC Mateo.
Drew McIntyre was also shown walking backstage, and Damian Priest attacked him. They exchanged punches. A bunch of short security guys and WWE Officials were there to break it up.
The commentary team was Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett. Mark Nash was the ring announcer.
Let’s Hear from Tiffany Stratton
The WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton made her entrance for a show opening promo. A clip aired from last week when Stratton beat Nia Jax to keep her title. Stratton said that last year she was walking into Money in the Bank with all the hype in the world, yet here she is now as the WWE Women’s Champion. Stratton said she’s beaten some of the best, like Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax. Stratton said in two weeks at Money in the Bank, somebody else will have the same opportunity she had.
Alexa Bliss interrupted the promo and got in the ring with Stratton. Bliss said she’s a former Women’s Champion and Money in the Bank winner. Bliss said she almost felt bad for Charlotte Flair, but you can’t feel bad for a narcissist who calls herself a queen. Bliss said that Stratton cashed in on Jax like Stratton did. Bliss warned Stratton that Bliss could cash in Money in the Bank on her and warned Stratton about what her downfall could look like.
Charlotte Flair was next and she was in her wrestling gear because she’s in a match this week. Flair said that she might be the most humble 14-time Women’s Champion in WWE history. The fans booed her a lot. Flair said that Stratton is doing great, but it won’t last forever. Flair said she’s done everything except win Money in the Bank. Flair claimed that when she wins Money in the Bank, she’ll take that title back and she’ll take the spotlight. Stratton told Flair and Bliss that they were a little vintage for her. Stratton said that they were the standard and Stratton is the upgrade. Stratton claimed it is always going to be Tiffy Time.
Analysis: It was a decent promo exchange, with Stratton showing confidence as the champion, Bliss issuing a warning, and Flair sounding motivated about winning MITB for the first time in her career. There was nothing special about the promos, but it’s a way to tease future matchups.
Giulia made her entrance and had a staredown with Stratton on her way to the ring. There’s a tease of a future match.
A commercial aired for Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC. I believe it’s on WWE’s YouTube for those of us outside the US. That’s how I watched the last one. I also get NBC in Canada as well.
(Commercial)
Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia vs. Zelina Vega
There are no countouts and no disqualifications in triple threat matches. Vega is the Women’s US Champion, but that title is not on the line in this match.
Flair tossed Vega out of the ring. Vega got back in the ring and tried a rollup on Giulia. Vega did a headscissors on Flair and then Giulia kicked Vega down. Flair caught Vega and hit a fallaway slam across the ring. Giulia chopped Vega. Flair sent Giulia into Vega, so Giulia tackled Vega. Giulia tripped up Flair and stomped on Flair’s back into the mat. Giulia and Flair exchanged strikes, followed by a double clothesline. Vega got back into it with a double DDT on both opponents for two. Vega hit a double knee attack on Flair. Flair sent Vega to the apron and hit a forearm. Flair kicked Giulia off the apron to the floor. Giulia punched Flair on the floor, so Vega hit a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle onto both opponents on the floor. They went to a break for some fans as the action continued. Back in the ring, Flair and Giulia attacked Vega with kicks. Flair and Giulia tried pin attempts, so that pairing didn’t work. Flair clotheslined Giulia. Vega hit a jawbreaker on Flair, followed by a cross body block. Vega got a rollup on Flair for two. Vega hit a spinning kick. Giulia hit a belly-to-back suplex for two. Flair chopped Giulia and Giulia hit a running kick. Flair sent Giulia face first into the middle ropes.
The match continued with Flair sending Giulia to the apron and Flair kicked Giulia to the floor. Vega jumped off the top, Flair caught her and had Vega on her shoulders. Giulia hit a missile dropkick on Flair, who put Vega down with an Electric Chair Drop, so Giulia got two counts on both opponents. Giulia kicked Flair for a two count. Flair hit Giulia with a boot, Flair with a shoulder tackle to Vega and Flair went up top and connected with a cross body block. Vega countered Flair with a spinning slam into the mat and Vega went for a submission, but Giulia hit a running knee. Flair hit a big boot on Giulia for two. Flair had both opponents, Flair went up top and Flair hit a decent moonsault off the top for two. Giulia trapped Flair in the Rings of Saturn submission and Giulia turned it into a two count. Vega hit a dropkick on both opponents. Vega hit a 619 kick on Flair. Giulia was back up with headbutts. Flair hit a Spear on Giulia for two. Flair dumped Vega out of the ring. Giulia countered Flair into a cradle for two. Flair applied a Figure Four Leglock on Giulia, but Vega hit a Meteora double knee attack. Vega hit Code Red on Giulia for two because Flair broke it up. The fans were chanting, “This is awesome,” because it was pretty good. Flair avoided a Code Red by Vega, and Flair hit a big boot. Flair put Figure Eight on Vega, but Giulia jumped off the top with a double foot stomp on Flair’s left leg, which had a big knee brace on it. Flair rolled out of the ring to sell it. Giulia hit a Northern Lights Bomb on Vega for the pinfall win. It lasted about 14 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Giulia
Analysis: ***1/2 I thought it was a very good match, with Zelina Vega taking the pin as I expected. Even though Vega is a champion, I didn’t think Giulia would lose in her first SD match and Flair is always protected in a triple threat match like this. Flair winning was a possibility, but I figured Giulia would win to give her a win as a newcomer. The fans hate Flair, while Giulia is thriving as a heel even though she’s not getting huge heat at this point. The finish was set up well, with Flair going for the Figure Eight and Giulia breaking it up at the perfect time.
That win means that Giulia is in the Women’s Money in the Bank match with Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, Roxanne Perez, and two more women.
There was a backstage promo from #DIY’s Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. They trashed the other tag teams in the division like the Motor City Machine Guns and the new guys Fraxiom. Ciampa said that something needs to change and it begins tonight when he faces Chris Sabin tonight. Ciampa said that you are looking at your three-time WWE Tag Team Champions. They left.
The Motor City Machine Guns made their entrance for Chris Sabin’s singles match against Tommaso Ciampa up next.
A commercial aired for the WWE 2K25 video game with some new wrestlers available for play.
(Commercial)
Chelsea Green was with Piper Niven and Alba Fyre backstage when they approached US Women’s Champion Zelina Vega. Green said that Vega is a champion, but she’s still a loser. Vega punched Green, so Green’s buddies Niven and Fyre got involved. Michin and B-Fab showed up to fight with Niven and Fyre. The WWE Officials and SD GM Nick Aldis were there to break it up. Michin asked Nick for a tag team match, so Aldis approved it: Michin & B-Fab against Secret Hervice.
Chris Sabin (w/Alex Shelley) vs. Tommaso Ciampa (w/Johnny Gargano)
Ciampa sent Sabin into the turnbuckle and Ciampa stomped on Sabin a few times. Sabin came back with a headscissors takedown and Ciampa bailed to the floor. Ciampa threw a jacket at Sabin and Ciampa hit a Willow’s Bell DDT. Ciampa sent Sabin into the barricade. Ciampa and Gargano did their applause/pat on the back to celebrate. They went to a break for some fans as the action continued. Ciampa was in control of Sabin for the three minutes during the break.
There was a boot to the face by Ciampa, but Sabin hit a running bulldog. Sabin hit two clotheslines and a sweep kick. Sabin hit a German Suplex, followed by a running kick to the head for two. Ciampa and Sabin exchanged chops while on the apron. Ciampa hit the Air Raid Crash/White Noise slam on the ring apron for two. Sabin blocked Ciampa and hit a dragon screw leg whip. Sabin hit an impressive springboard DDT for two. Sabin went up top, Gargano was on the apron, Shelley went after Gargano and Ciampa hit a big boot to Shelley when Sabin moved. Sabin got a rollup for two. Sabin hit a springboard cross body block onto Ciampa on the floor. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Sabin shoved Ciampa off the top rope, so the referee checked on him. That led to Candice LeRae (Gargano’s wife) going to ringside and doing a neck snap on Sabin. Ciampa hit a running knee on Sabin for the pinfall win. It went about 13 minutes. Barrett said that Ciampa said something needed to change, so the change was LeRae helping them win.
Winner by pinfall: Tommaso Ciampa
Analysis: ***1/4 A cheap win for Ciampa due to the fake knee injury and the interference from LeRae, but it’s also fitting for a heel like Ciampa. Since LeRae hasn’t been doing much of anything for a few months, it makes sense to have her work with her husband Gargano and tag team partner Ciampa. Sabin and Ciampa worked well together and got the fans into it as the match went on.
The Fraxiom duo of Nathan Frazer & Axiom were interviewed backstage by Byron Saxton. Axiom said that The Street Profits are great, but they are on their path to greatness. Frazer said if they beat the Profits again, they would leave with the Tag Team gold. Frazer said when they are at their best, they are the best team on the planet.
Shinsuke Nakamura was shown backstage since he’s in action later.
A look back at John Cena’s path since returning to WWE is up next.
(Commercial)
There was a video package, sponsored by Arby’s, about John Cena’s heel turn. The sad looking kid in Belgium was shown in the video. The heel turn led to Cena winning a record-breaking 17th WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. They also showed Cena beating Randy Orton with a belt shot at Backlash. Cena said he’ll ruin wrestling and be the last real champion in WWE, and there’s nothing you can do to stop him.
Damian Priest made his entrance to deliver a promo, but Drew McIntyre showed up to attack Priest. They went down to ringside where Priest and Drew exchanged punches repeatedly. There were security guys and WWE Officials that split them up. Priest said tomorrow he’s sending him to the hospital, but tonight he’s taking a pound of flesh. Priest and Drew got into a brawl in the aisle again. The fans were chanting, “Let them fight” for them.
Analysis: I have enjoyed the Priest-McIntyre rivalry. They work well together and their brawling segments are always intense.
Solo Sikoa was backstage with JC Mateo and the US Champion Jacob Fatu. Fatu wanted to talk to Solo. Solo said that JC is family, so you can talk to him. Fatu talked about how he didn’t know JC and didn’t want his help at Backlash. Fatu said that JC ain’t his blood and he ain’t his family. Solo tried to calm Fatu down while talking Fatu into the idea of working with JC. There’s a tag team match later in the show.
Secret Hervice made their entrance with Chelsea Green for tag team action.
(Commercial)
Charlotte Flair was shown walking backstage. Alexa Bliss said that when you don’t have friends, there is nobody there to lift you up when everything falls apart. Bliss was talking to Lily the doll, not Flair. Bliss said she’ll see her at Money in the Bank, then remembered Flair lost and said, “Oops, sorry.” Ouch.
Michin & B-Fab vs. Secret Hervice – Piper Niven & Alba Fyre (w/Chelsea Green)
Niven and Fyre wrestle in their suits. Fyre and Niven worked over B-Fab in their corner with stomps. Fyre hit B-Fab with a running knee. Niven hit a spinning sidewalk slam on B-Fab for two. B-Fab broke free with a shot to Niven’s mouth. Michin tagged in with a running dropkick on Fyre and Michin hit a running hurricanrana. Michin kicked Niven, followed by a neckbreaker. Green was on the apron to distract, so Zelina Vega pulled Green off the apron and Vega hit a running knee on Green. B-Fab clotheslined Niven on the floor. Fyre got a rollup on Michin for two. Michin came back with Eat Defeat on Fyre and B-Fab hit the Fabu-loss neckbreaker for the pinfall win on Fyre. It went about four minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Michin & B-Fab
Analysis: ** A short match to give Michin & B-Fab a win to show they can get some victories as a team. They got the win thanks to Zelina Vega neutralizing Chelsea Green, which works as a finish since Green insulted Vega backstage. It’s nice when babyfaces get payback.
The WWE Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits, were interviewed by Byron Saxton. Angelo Dawkins said this ain’t no friendly exhibition and we’ll see if the moment is too big for Fraxiom. Montez Ford said that they are going to walk out of Savannah as the WWE Tag Team Champions. The trio of Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo and Jacob Fatu walked by for their match up next.
(Commercial)
There was a video featuring Legado del Fantasma. Santos Escobar told Angel & Berto that they will come together and show everybody who they are. Santos talked about how they’ll be in action at the WWE-AAA Worlds Collide event. Berto wasn’t sure about what Escobar was saying, so he left while Escobar and Angel were excited about it.
At the WWE-AAA Worlds Collide show on June 7th, it’s Legado Del Fantasma vs. El Hijo De Dr. Wagner Jr., Psycho Clown and Pagano. Joe Tessitore mentioned the show will be on YouTube in English and Spanish.
Analysis: I don’t watch AAA, so I’m not familiar with all their guys, but there’s a lot of talent there. Plenty of WWE guys should match up well with them too, so putting Legado in a match with three AAA guys makes sense.
Jimmy Uso & Rey Fenix vs. Jacob Fatu & JC Mateo (w/Solo Sikoa)
Solo wanted to start, but JC tagged himself in to begin the match. JC knocked down Jimmy with a shoulder tackle and Fatu tagged himself in. Jimmy hit a jumping kick on Fatu, Fenix tagged in with a running kick and Fenix hit a hurricanrana to send Fatu out of the ring. Jimmy and Fenix hit double superkicks to knock JC out of the ring. Jimmy helped Fenix go to the top rope and Fenix hit a corkscrew plancha onto the heels on the floor. That was impressive. They went to a break for some fans as Fatu’s team regrouped on the floor. The heel side worked over Jimmy with strikes. I could hear Jimmy telling Jeff (Cobb) to tag in. Solo told his brother Jimmy that he should be on Solo’s side. Fatu worked over Jimmy with chops.
JC was in control of Jimmy with a bearhug. After Jimmy broke free, JC hit a clothesline and a standing moonsault. Fatu was back in with a running hip attack on Jimmy against the turnbuckle. Fatu hit a running senton splash on Jimmy. Solo told Jimmy he still loves him and said they should take over. Fatu hit a running hip attack on Jimmy against the turnbuckle. JC put Jimmy on the top rope, Jimmy fought back with elbows and Jimmy hit a twisting splash to knock JC down. Fenix tagged in against Fatu with punches, kicks and a jumping kick. Fenix did a rope walk, kicked JC and hit a hurricanrana on Fatu. Fenix hit a spinning kick and a Poison Rana on Fatu for two. That was incredible for Fenix. Fatu came back with a popup Samoan Drop. Fatu charged, Fenix moved and Fatu hit the turnbuckle hard. JC was back in with a suplex attempt, Fenix landed on his feet, Jimmy tagged in and hit a kick. Jimmy hit a cross body block off the top on JC for two because Fatu made the save. Fenix hit a missile dropkick to send Fatu out of the ring. Fenix jumped onto Fatu on the floor and Fatu tossed Fenix onto the commentary table. Jimmy superkicked JC and superkicked Fatu. Jimmy hit a Spear on JC. Jimmy went up top, Solo distracted his brother, Jimmy jumped off the top, JC avoided it and JC hit his Tour of the Islands spinning slam for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Jacob Fatu & JC Mateo
Analysis: ***1/4 The distraction finish strikes again. Jimmy Uso had the momentum, then Solo was on the apron and it was enough to allow JC Mateo to get back up to win. It was another win for JC since he won his debut match last week and this time it was a tag team victory. I thought Fatu was impressive as usual, while Fenix is so much fun to watch.
LA Knight was interviewed by Byron Saxton in the locker room. Knight mentioned Solo Sikoa being in Money in the Bank, so he has a front row seat to watching Knight pull down the briefcase. Knight said that he’s going to walk through the darkness for his match tonight. Knight said it’s championship season, so he’s going to beat both men and he’ll hit BFT and quit it. Knight said he’s living, breathing Money in the bank with everybody saying…yeah. That was it.
R-Truth was shown walking backstage for a promo up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from R-Truth
R-Truth said that people have been asking him how he’s going to handle fighting his childhood hero, John Cena. Truth said that the man he sees now – he doesn’t recognize him. Truth said he’s been thinking about Cena. Truth claimed that it was about power. Truth talked about how Cena called him his friend and his brother, but the more power and fame Cena got, the more disconnected he felt. Truth said that there were fewer texts, and the phone calls stopped. Truth claimed he blamed himself. Truth said that others felt the same way that he did. Truth said that Cena isolated himself with power. Truth talked about how Cena was like the guy with the goblin power on Lord of the Rings. Truth kept on talking about how Cena had a big ego.
Truth said that Cena stopped having fu,n and now he gets mad when others want to have a good time. Truth claimed that Cena wasn’t happy. Truth called Cena the greatest of all time. Truth said he’ll try to bring Cena back. Truth told Cena, he won’t let him take the joy away from Truth. Truth said, if he wants to save wrestling, then he has to save Cena. Truth said, if he has to do it, then he’ll beat the hustle, loyalty, and respect in your ass. Truth said that he missed his hero, and he can’t deny it. Truth said that on Saturday, we say it again, if Cena wins, then we riot.
Analysis: This was okay. It was more of a serious Truth instead of Truth being the comedic guy we know him as. I don’t remember the last time Truth had a chance to do a promo like that.
There was a replay from Raw when Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker got into a brawl with CM Punk & Sami Zayn. At Saturday Night’s Main Event, it’s Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker vs. CM Punk & Sami Zayn.
Analysis: I feel like that tag team match will main event the show. I think it should.
Aleister Black made his entrance for the Men’s MITB qualifying match.
(Commercial)
There was a video package about Naomi, Jade Cargill and Nia Jax. Naomi talked about being overlooked. Jade Cargill spoke about Naomi costing her a shot at the WWE Women’s Title. Nia Jax said she doesn’t trust Naomi and she’s trusting herself to win. Jade warned Naomi and Jax to watch their back because a storm is coming. The three women said they are taking that contract at Money in the Bank.
Analysis: That’s a big MIITB qualifying match. My pick is Jade Cargill, but maybe Naomi and Jade take eachother out, so Jax capitalizes to win.
Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Aleister Black
I missed a few minutes early on. Knight hit a jumping neckbreaker on Black. Nakamura tripped up Knight during a running attack. Black and Nakamura showed off their striking ability. Blach hit a jumping knee to knock Nakamura. Black teased a move onto Nakamura on the floor, but Knight caught him and hit a superplex. Nakamura hit a jumping knee on Knight. They went to a break for some fans and I’ll take a break too.
Nakamura worked over Black with kicks while Knight was on the floor. Black and Nakamura exchanged strikes. Nakamura hit a rolling kick on Black. Knight was back with a kick and he sent Nakamura out of the ring. Black kicked Knight to knock him out of the ring. Knight sent Black back in the ring, so Black ran the ropes and hit a somersault dive onto Knight on the floor. Back in the ring, Black went for a moonsault, Knight avoided it and hit a DDT. Knight hit a running elbow drop for two. Nakamura hit a running knee to Knight’s head for two because Knight grabbed the rope. Nakamura sent Black into the ring post. Nakamura flipped Black over with a suplex. Nakamura charged right into Black Mass by Black. Knight dumped Black out of the ring and Knight covered Nakamura for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: LA Knight
Analysis: *** It was an entertaining match, but I thought the women’s triple threat was better. I thought Black was going to win since he just returned to WWE recently, but obviously, management wanted to get Knight on the show that is taking place in Los Angeles. This was the classic steal the pin finish that happens once in a while in triple threat matches.
That win means LA Knight is the second man in the Money in the Bank ladder match, joining Solo Sikoa.
The Miz and Carmelo Hayes were watching on a TV backstage. Miz wondered how many times Miz had to take the Black Mass kick for him. Miz said that Nick Aldis said one of them could be in the Money in the Bank qualifier, so Miz picked Melo to be in the match. Miz hyped up Melo talking about how important Money in the Bank is. Melo was fired up.
A Jey Uso-Logan Paul video was up next.
(Commercial)
There was a video package about the Jey Uso-Logan Paul match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
The Saturday Night’s Main Event card looks like this:
* World Heavyweight Championship: Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul
* Women’s United States Championship: Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green
* Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker vs. CM Punk & Sami Zayn
* Steel Cage Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest
* John Cena vs. R-Truth
Analysis: The Vega-Green match was just added as the lone women’s match on the show.
The SmackDown GM Nick Aldis spoke to Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo. Aldis informed them that there’s a Money in the Bank qualifying match next week and Jacob is in. Aldis left. Solo said that they were both going to be in it. Fatu quickly said that he loved Solo and left. Solo was happy because, as he told JC, Jacob hadn’t said that in six months.
The Tag Team Title match was up next.
(Commercial)
Bianca Belair was featured in a video package. Belair said hat these past six months have been the most difficult and challenging time of her career. Belair talked about losing titles, losing friends, losing at WrestleMania and getting injured with her finger injury. Belair talked about not wanting to give up. Belair said she’s going to get through it. Belair said that she’s healing her hand, healing her heart and healing stronger and riser. Belair said that the best is yet to come for her.
Analysis: Belair might be my favorite women’s wrestler in WWE because she’s so good. She has come a long way in the last five years. Physically, she’s so gifted, and she knows how to work a crowd. I’m excited to see her getting another singles run.
Next week on SmackDown:
* Bianca Belair returns
* Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Andrade vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Jey Uso
* Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax vs. Naomi
* The Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena returns to SmackDown.
Fraxiom made their entrance. They got a new theme song that mentioned their Fraxiom name. I liked their “never slow down” song better than this song. The Street Profits made their entrance as the WWE Tag Team Champions. The ring announcer Mark Nash did the championship introductions.
WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits – Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins vs. Fraxiom – Axiom & Nathan Frazer
There was some power usage by Dawkins early on with a shoulder tackle to knock Frazer down. Ford was back in with a dropkick. Dawkins was back in to tackle Frazer into the turnbuckle. Frazer hit a kick to the head and Axiom tagged in. Frazer hit a DDT on Dawkins and Axiom kicked Ford out of the ring. Frazer and Dawkins each hit suicide dives. Frazer jumped over the top with a somersault dive. Axiom went to the turnbuckle and hit a moonsault onto the two guys. The Profits were in control of Axiom for a couple of minutes during a break. Ford hit a knee and splash for a two count. Dawkins hit a flapjack on Axiom for a two count.
Dawkins was in control of Axiom with a chinlock until Axiom hit a jawbreaker. Dawkins tackled Axiom into the turnbuckle, and Ford tagged in with a shoulder tackle. Dawkins was back in with a splash for two. They went to another break for some fans, with the champions continuing to isolate Axiom. I missed some action due to taking a bathroom break, but the Profits were still in control.
It was comeback time as Axiom hit a dropkick and jumped on Ford’s back with a sleeper attempt. Frazer applied a guillotine headlock on Dawkins, who hit a back body drop to break up the in attempt. Frazer was legal for his team as he set up Ford for a superplex, but Ford shoved Frazer down. Frazer jumped off the top with a superplex and Axiom tagged in with a superkick/brainbuster combo on Ford for two. Dawkins decked Frazer with a punch and Dawkins sent Frazer into the steel post. Ford got a rollup on Axiom for two. Dawkins was back in for an Electric Chair/Blockbuster combo for two because Frazer made the save for a two count. Axiom came back to send Dawkins to the top rope and Axiom hit a Spanish Fly off the top rope. Frazer hit a Pheonix Splash for a two count because Ford went into the ring to break up the pin attempt. After Ford delivered that kick, Axiom hit a Golden Ratio kick on Ford. The #DIY guys went to ringside and Motor City Machine Guns went to ringside. Those teams brawled all around. Axiom was sent over the top to the floor. Ford jumped over the turnbuckle and Ford hit a somersault dive onto the guys on the floor. Frazer went for a top rope splash, Dawkins avoided it and Dawkins hit a spinebuster. Ford went up top, he got the tag and he was about to do something, but the lights went out in the building. When the lights came back on, The Wyatt Sicks were in the ring. Lumis went after Ford with a superplex, so it was a DQ ending. It went about 18 minutes.
Winners by disqualification: The Street Profits
Analysis: ***1/4 They were on their way to a pretty good match, but it wasn’t at the level of their last match, which I rated at four stars. I think that was on purpose because of the screwy ending. It just never felt like they got to that next gear in this match, but it was still entertaining. I didn’t expect a title change here. There were reports earlier in the day about The Wyatt Sicks being back, so here they are after about five months off.
Erick Rowan ran over a few guys on the floor. Nikki Cross jumped onto LeRae at ringside. Gacy gave Lumis a Powerbomb onto Dawkins. Uncle Howdy applied the Mandible Claw to Frazer. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for the Wyatt Sicks. Uncle Howdy hit a Sister Abigail neckbreaker on Gargano. The Wyatt Sicks posed together in the ring while the lights went off in the building and the “fireflies” fans lit up the building with light. Howdy blew out a birthday cake candle since it was his brother Bray Wyatt’s birthday. Howdy shouted: “My life for you!” Nice tribute at the end there.
Analysis: It was an effective way of bringing back The Wyatt Sicks after a long layoff and showing that they can be a factor in the tag team division. They kicked ass, and the fans loved them. It was booked well. Nice touch by Uncle Howdy with the cake and candle for Bray Wyatt. Well done.
THEY'RE BACK!!! 👀#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/OqRYMw2KRL
— WWE (@WWE) May 24, 2025
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Three Stars of the Show
- Wyatt Sicks – Welcome back.
- Giulia
- The Street Profits and Fraxiom
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The Scoreboard
7 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2025 Average: 7.34
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Final Thoughts on WWE SmackDown
It was a solid show overall, but nothing felt that special. I’m ready for SmackDown to go down to two hours because it felt like there was a lot of filler. I didn’t think much of the in-ring promos since the Tiffany Stratton exchange with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss wasn’t that interesting. The R-Truth promo was okay, but it’s weird seeing him not be funny.
The matches were good most of the night. I thought some of the finishes were predictable, while others surprised me a bit. Bring on Saturday Night’s Main Event. I enjoyed the women’s triple threat match with Giulia-Flair-Vega the most. I’m glad Giulia won. The Street Profits-Fraxiom match wasn’t as good as their last match, but I still like both teams a lot.
Welcome back to The Wyatt Sicks. I loved the tribute to Bray Wyatt at the show’s end since it was Bray’s birthday. His brother Bo Dallas/Uncle Howdy had a birthday cake and shouted, “My life for you.” Beautiful.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport