Here we are, folks, for another epic episode of SmackDown!! Tonight’s a big one—it’s the first time SmackDown is airing live on USA Network! We’re coming at you straight from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Wish we could all be there, right?
SmackDown kicks off with a slick new video intro and a fresh logo. But hold up, that’s not all—we’ve got the one and only Paul “Triple H” Levesque heading to the ring! With a nostalgic grin, Triple H takes us back to the very first episode of SmackDown, where he went toe-to-toe with The Rock. “And 25 years later,” he says, “there’s no better place to be than right here, right now, in a sold-out Seattle!” The crowd’s already losing it, and when Triple H asks, “Are you ready?” everyone’s on their feet. Then, the cage starts to lower… and you know things are about to get wild!
We’re not just kicking things off strong, we’re starting with a bang—an Undisputed WWE Championship Steel Cage Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa.
The bell rings, and we’re off! Cody throws some quick punches, but Solo’s giving it right back. Solo slams Cody into the corner and smashes him with a brutal elbow. He goes for another, but Cody dodges and hits a bulldog, slinging Solo into every wall of the steel cage.
Cody charges in, but Solo picks him up and slams him into the cage, leaving him stuck between the ropes and the steel. The action is fierce—Solo hits a flying headbutt while Cody’s trapped in a “tree of woe,” and Cody’s already busted open.
Cody tries to hit the Disaster Kick, but Solo catches him and hurls him into the cage again. Cody counters with an insane Cody Cutter off the top of the cage, but Solo’s still kicking out! Then, Solo pulls off a suplex from the top rope, leaving both guys laid out.
The cage door opens, but Cody isn’t trying to escape. He nails Solo with a Cross Rhodes, but Solo, ever the warrior, fights back with a Samoan Spike. The battle just keeps heating up—Solo slams the cage door on Cody’s head, but Cody won’t stay down. Another Cross Rhodes, and this time it’s over.
Winner and still Undisputed WWE Champion: Cody Rhodes!!
But don’t blink, because Roman Reigns is coming!
Just as Cody raises the belt in victory, The Bloodline invades the ring. Solo hits Cody with a Samoan Spike, and Jacob Fatu flies off the top rope with a picture-perfect moonsault. And then… BOOM! Roman Reigns’ music hits, and the place goes nuts. The Tribal Chief enters like the boss he is, immediately taking control. He sends Loa flying into the corner, bashes Tama Tonga into the cage, and lines up Solo for a Superman Punch. But Jacob Fatu pulls Solo out of harm’s way at the last second.
Roman dares Fatu to step in the ring, but Solo drags him out. Meanwhile, Cody crushes Tama Tonga with a Cross Rhodes, and Roman finishes Loa with a devastating Spear.
And the final moment? Pure chills: Cody and Roman, face-to-face in the middle of the ring. The crowd’s chanting “OTC!” like crazy, while Roman throws a glance at Solo outside the ring and then locks eyes with Cody. The tension is unreal... and we cannot wait to see what happens next!
What a match, and the OTC’s arrival was phenomenal! Though, honestly, this match could’ve headlined the whole night!
Here we go again! Backstage—y’all know I love these backstage moments—Cathy Kelley catches up with Nick Aldis. With a sly grin, Aldis hints that the night is just getting started. He spills the tea that Solo Sikoa has thrown down a challenge to Jacob Fatu for a match, and from the way he says it, this is one offer no one’s turning down. But the night’s far from over, and Aldis walks away, leaving us all on the edge of our seats.
Michin vs. Piper Niven (with Chelsea Green)
The bell rings, and we’re off to a fast start! Niven charges at Michin, but she’s too quick, dodging Niven and sending her flying out of the ring. Michin wastes no time, hitting Niven with a suicide dive! Chelsea steps up to get in Michin’s face, but Michin isn’t having it—she drops Chelsea with a nasty head kick. And it doesn’t stop there! Michin grabs a kendo stick from under the ring and gives Chelsea a solid whack for good measure. Niven isn’t staying down though—she hits a cannonball off the apron, wiping out Michin! Back in the ring, Michin catches Niven with a suplex off the top rope and seals the deal with her "Eat the Feet." Pinfall, and it’s all over.
Winner: Michin
But Chelsea’s not done. She attacks Michin after the match, pulling out a trash can! She hits the Unprettier right onto the can, making sure Michin remembers this beatdown.
And guess who’s sitting ringside tonight? None other than Rob Van Dam and Vickie Guerrero! And that’s not all—Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser are in the building too. The tension is real...
Kevin Owens & Mystery Partner vs. A-Town Down Under
When it’s time for Kevin Owens, everyone’s wondering who his partner will be. And—surprise! It’s someone we’ve never seen before. Kevin grabs the mic and with a smirk, admits, “Yeah, this wasn’t my first pick.” Turns out, his real partner couldn’t make it due to travel issues, so we’re stuck with Ricky. But just as we’re processing that twist, someone runs in and tells Owens his real partner is here. Without missing a beat, Kevin hits Ricky with a Stunner! And BOOM—Randy Orton’s music hits. The crowd goes wild as Randy makes his way to the ring with that deadly calm only he can pull off.
The bell rings, and we’re off! Owens starts by throwing hands with Waller in the corner and floors him. He goes for a cannonball, but Theory drags Waller out of the ring just in time. Orton steps outside and levels Theory with a clothesline. Waller tries to counter, but Owens slams him into the announce table. Back in the ring, Owens keeps control, but then Waller and Theory gang up on him, turning the tide.
Waller goes for a suplex from the top rope, but Owens fights back with a flurry of punches and a headbutt. Theory tags in, but Owens drops him with an elbow and a swanton. Owens tries to tag Orton, but Waller yanks Orton off the apron at the last second. Owens fights back, taking out both Waller and Theory, and finally tags in Randy! Orton storms the ring, hitting powerslams and DDTs on both Waller and Theory. Owens and Orton team up for a double DDT, and then Orton finishes Waller with an RKO while Owens drops Theory with a Stunner. Pinfall, and that’s a wrap!
Winners: Kevin Owens and Randy Orton
Okay, as much as I like Austin Theory, there’s no contest when it comes to Randy Orton and Kevin Owens as a team! Awesome match, but Theory—please, find a new tag team partner!
Backstage again with Cathy Kelley and Nick Aldis. Aldis drops a bombshell: Solo Sikoa has thrown down a challenge for Bad Blood—Solo and Jacob Fatu vs. Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Solo and Jacob have already signed the contract; now it’s up to Cody and Roman. But when Cody walks in, he makes it crystal clear—he’s not signing. “The Bloodline is Roman’s problem, not mine,” Cody says, leaving the room as fans boo. Aldis, looking a bit stressed, says he’s gotta talk to Roman Reigns.
And the saga continues...
The Queen of the Ring and Chaos Incoming: Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Bayley, and Naomi
Nia Jax struts to the ring, bragging about how easy it was to win the Queen of the Ring and snatch the WWE Women’s Championship. With that classic smug attitude, she lets everyone know that Nick Aldis told her she’ll defend the title at Bad Blood. But, in true Nia fashion, she couldn’t care less who her opponent is: “I’ll crush them all."
Bayley comes out next, greeted by a loud chant from the crowd. She tells Nia that, sure, she’s had the best year of her career… but let’s be real, the bar wasn’t set that high. Still, Bayley wants her rematch. Nia? Unbothered. She smirks and reminds Bayley that she’s running SmackDown now, no need for a crew like Damage CTRL.
Bayley doesn’t back down, though, and she’s quick to throw shade at Nia, suggesting she’s using Tiffany to keep her title safe. Boom! Enter Tiffany Stratton. She calls Bayley pathetic and tells Nia not to listen to her. Oh, sweet Tiffany with her Money in the Bank briefcase… But Bayley’s not sweating it and reminds her that she beat her last week. Tiffany brushes it off, blaming Nia’s interference.
Just when it’s about to blow up, Naomi’s music hits! She struts down and says if they want a fight, they can bring it. She’s not about to let them double-team Bayley, not today. Plus, she’s overdue for some gold herself.
Nia, in true boss mode, proposes a tag match next week: Bayley and Naomi versus her and Tiffany. The winners will face Nia at Bad Blood. But here’s the kicker—whoever loses gets booted from SmackDown for good! Tiffany charges at them, but Naomi quickly shuts her down with a Rear View.
Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes: A Fire Match
Andrade’s making his entrance, but before the bell even rings, Carmelo Hayes jumps him. They trade blows, and Andrade takes control with a killer moonsault outside the ring. Hayes isn’t backing down, and the match becomes a wild back-and-forth filled with crazy high spots and near-falls.
Hayes goes for his “Nothing but Net,” but Andrade dodges it, hitting him with the devastating "The Message" from the second rope for the win. But hold up—there’s no time to celebrate! LA Knight’s music hits, and he struts out, telling Andrade he’ll face him for the United States Championship. Knight makes it clear who’s running the show: “LA Knight, Yeah!”
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes: The Tribal Chief's Answer
Roman Reigns comes to the ring, as the crowd chants "OTC," and Nick Aldis hands him a contract. But Roman, in true head-of-the-table style, refuses. He doesn’t need a contract—this is family business, Bloodline business. He’s the one and only Tribal Chief, period.
But wait—Cody Rhodes’ music hits! He walks down to the ring as the crowd erupts. Cody looks Roman dead in the eyes and says, “Your ring? Your WWE? It was… but not since WrestleMania.” Things are about to go down, but before they can, Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu hit the scene, followed by Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, who attack both Roman and Cody. After a brief brawl, Roman finally signs the contract, and in a surprising turn, Cody extends his hand. Roman hesitates, but eventually hands him the contract. Cody signs it, and Solo’s on the outside, throwing shade, telling Roman that Cody doesn’t even like him.
Wow, I did not see that coming!! Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns as Tag Team Partners for Bad Blood?!
This episode was short and sweet—thankfully, no filler matches! Of course, the best moments were Roman’s segments, but come on, that was a given! Shoutout to Randy Orton and Kevin Owens for their moments, too! Catch you all for the Raw recap on Tuesday!
The countdown to Bad Blood is on, and it’s gonna be 🔥!
Xoxo, Selena!
P.S Due to WI-FI connections issues, no photos or videos!
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