WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - May 9th, 2025

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John Cena returns to SmackDown en route to WWE Backlash

One night before defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WWE Backlash, John Cena is returning to SmackDown.


:smackdown:

– We are live! Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore greet audiences at home as we see Damian Priest and LA Knight have a conversation about working as a unit in their upcoming match. The two men then make their way out to the ring, with Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa both following.

Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa vs. Damian Priest and LA Knight

Sikoa blindsides Priest from behind, and the bell sounds. Sikoa fires off right hands on Priest, but Priest fires off kicks on Sikoa and levels him. Priest lands a crossbody on Sikoa off the top rope, but Sikoa rolls out of the ring and Priest delivers a double ax handle to Sikoa off the ring steps. Fatu gets in Priest's face, but Knight surprises him with a tope suicida on the outside.

Fatu levels Priest on the outside with an elbow strike, but Sikoa tags in and clocks Knight on the outside. Priest looks to tag in Knight, but discovers that Sikoa has sent him crashing onto the floor. Fatu tags in and connects with a senton on Priest, but Sikoa tags back in and runs into a leg lariat from Priest.

Knight and Fatu tag in, and Knight sends Fatu crashing into the mat with a uranage. Priest tags himself in, and Priest hits a rebound clothesline on Fatu. He sets up for South of Heaven, but Knight tags himself in and begins arguing with Priest. Sikoa clocks Knight and Priest from behind and sets up for the Samoan Spike on Knight, but Knight moves out of the way and delivers the BFT for the win.

Winners: Damian Priest and LA Knight

– After the match, Knight and Priest exchange strikes. Fatu clocks them both from behind and sends him crashing into opposite ring posts shoulder first, then connects with a series of Hip Attacks on them. Drew McIntyre appears out of nowhere and surprises Fatu with a Claymore Kick, then stands tall over him holding up the United States Championship.

– Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, and Alba Fyre then make their way to the ring. Zelina Vega and her mystery tag team partner, Alexa Bliss, follow.

Chelsea Green and Piper Niven (w/ Alba Fyre) vs. Zelina Vega and Alexa Bliss

Vega and Niven begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Green tags in and Vega dials it up for a double 619 on Green and Niven. Niven tags in and continues wearing down Vega, but Green and Bliss tag in and Bliss connects with a hurricanrana on Green. She follows it up with a Blockbuster and Twisted Bliss, then goes for a pin but Niven kicks out. Green sets up for Unprettier on Bliss, but Bliss counters into a Sister Abigail for the win.

Winners: Zelina Vega and Alexa Bliss

– Charlotte Flair then makes her way to the ring.

Flair tells Dayton that their Queen has arrived, then says she had the greatest women's match in WrestleMania history at WrestleMania 41 against Tiffany Stratton. She puts a picture of Stratton on the Titan Tron to compare the WrestleMania moment she had in comparison to Stratton, then says she's on the path to take back the WWE Women's Championship and becomes increasingly frustrated as Dayton rains down boos on her. She threatens to never return to Dayton if they keep disrespecting her, and keeps her promise as she heads to the back.

Jade Cargill's music hits, and she makes her way out to the ring. She stares down Flair on the entrance ramp and tells her to head to the back of the line now that she's had her turn. Nia Jax then follows Cargill, and Tiffany Stratton takes a seat at ringside to watch the action.

Number One Contenders Match for the WWE Women's Championship: Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax

The bell rings and Jax runs over Cargill with a shoulder tackle. Cargill responds with a shoulder tackle of her own, but Jax stays standing on her feet and lands a second shoulder tackle on Cargill. Jax lands a Samoan Drop on Cargill and follows it up with a leg drop, then continues wearing down Cargill.

Jax delivers a Hip Attack to send Cargill's head crashing into the ring post as she's draped off the middle turnbuckle, then wears down her leg with a submission hold. Cargill hits a Samoan Drop on Jax, then fires off a shoulder on Jax's midsection and rocks her with a pair of superkicks. She follows it up with a spinebuster and goes for a pin, but Jax kicks out.

Jax delivers a powerbomb to Cargill, but Cargill pulls Jax off the middle rope and ascends to the top. She connects with a Frog Splash on Jax and goes for a pin, but Jax kicks out. Cargill then levels Jax with a pump kick, but Naomi attacks Stratton on the outside. Cargill becomes distracted, opening the door for Jax to deliver a senton and the An-Nia-Lator to Cargill for the win.

Winner and new Number One Contender: Nia Jax

– The Street Profits then make their way out to the ring.

Montez Ford says himself and Angelo Dawkins have been the talk of the town since retaining the WWE Tag Team Championship in their Triple Threat TLC Match against #DIY and The Motor City Machine Guns.

Nathan Frazer and Axiom's music hits, and they make their way out. Frazer says The Street Profits may possibly be the best tag team in the game now, but recalls Shawn Michaels telling him and Axiom to seize any opportunity they can. Axiom says the WWE Tag Team Championship would look great around him and Frazer's waists, and Nick Aldis makes a non-title match between the two teams official.

The Street Profits vs. Nathan Frazer and Axiom

Ford and Axiom begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Ford wears down Axiom with a side headlock, but Dawkins and Frazer tag in and lock up. Frazer and Axiom then deliver the Dive Train to The Street Profits on the outside before Axiom gets Dawkins back in the ring and wears him down with a submission hold.

Ford tags in and lands a back suplex on Axiom, then follows it up with an enzuigiri. Ford and Frazer teeter on the ropes, but Dawkins tags in and gets Frazer in an Electric Chair position. Ford connects with a Blockbuster and Dawkins pins Frazer, but Axiom breaks the fall. Ford then flies off the middle rope, but Axiom catches him with an enzuigiri. Dawkins levels Axiom and ascends up the ropes, but Frazer tags in. Axiom delivers a Spanish Fly to Dawkins, and Frazer follows it up with a Phoenix Splash to Dawkins. Frazer goes for a pin, but Ford breaks the fall. Axiom then delivers a missile dropkick to Ford as Frazer connects with a Russian Leg Sweep for the win.

Winners: Nathan Frazer and Axiom

– Carmelo Hayes and The Miz then make their way out to the ring. Aleister Black follows.

Carmelo Hayes (w/ The Miz) vs. Aleister Black

The bell rings and the two go back and forth. Hayes fires off kicks on Black, but Black delivers a knee to Hayes' midsection and connects with a kick on his chest. He hits a moonsault on Hayes on the outside off the middle rope, then looks to land a kick on Hayes. Hayes moves out of the way and dropkicks Black into the timekeeper's area. Hayes delivers a chop to Black's chest, then sends him crashing into the ring apron and dumps him back inside the ring.

Black fires off right hands and left hands on Hayes, but Hayes ascends to the top rope. Black lands Hayes with a boot and fires off strikes with him, then hits a moonsault and goes for a pin. Hayes kicks out, then rocks Black with a superkick and sends him crashing into the mat face first. Black responds with a Brainbuster to Hayes, but Hayes look to land a kick on Black. Black moves out of the way and Hayes accidentally hits The Miz on the apron. This opens the door for Black to roll up Hayes for the win.

Winner: Aleister Black

– After the match, Black hits The Miz with a Black Mass out of nowhere.

– Legado Del Fantasma then make their way down to the ring. Rey Fenix and Andrade follow.

Rey Fenix and Andrade vs. Los Garza (w/ Santos Escobar)

Fenix and Angel begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Berto tags in and fires off stomps on Rey in the corner with Angel, but Andrade tags in on his side. Berto sends Andrade and Rey crashing out of the ring, then flies off the top rope to deliver a moonsault on Andrade as Angel does the same to Fenix.

Angel sends Andrade's leg bouncing off the ring post, but Fenix and Angel tag in. Fenix gets Angel up on his shoulders, but Angel escapes. Andrade takes down Angel, but Berto levels Andrade with a springboard enzuigiri. Berto rolls up Fenix, but the referee misses the fall after being distracted by Escobar. Fenix hits the Adios Amigo on Berto, and Andrade follows it up with The Message for the win.

Winners: Rey Fenix and Andrade

– After the match, Escobar berates Berto and Angel for losing. Berto slaps Escobar and storms to the back.

– John Cena then makes his way out to the ring.

Cena makes Mark Nash redo his ring announcement in grand fashion, then says the childhood of the fans will die tomorrow. He says they will do everything they can just like Randy Orton, then says he first wrestled Orton 25 years ago and say they're the two men who define what "Ruthless Aggression" means. He calls Orton a liar, and says the person he's been lying to is himself for all of these years. He says Orton is the greatest of all time at wasting his potential while he is hustle and loyalty. He says Orton is the greatest of all time at doing the bare minimum, but he is the greatest of all time because he embodies respect. Cena then takes shots at Bob Orton Jr., then says Orton will kill the legend of himself tomorrow.

A hooded figure resembling looks to land an RKO on Cena, but Cena sees them coming and lands an Attitude Adjustment on them. The real Orton then blindsides Cena from behind and delivers an RKO to him, then stands tall holding up the Undisputed WWE Championship as the show goes off the air.