WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - May 30th, 2025
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Cody Rhodes and John Cena will be on SmackDown
After Cody Rhodes attacked Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena while making his shocking return at Saturday Night's Main Event, The American Nightmare and Cena will be on the same SmackDown for the first time since before WrestleMania. With a tag team match pitting Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso against Cena and Logan Paul set for WWE Money in the Bank, Friday night may prove to be extremely combustible.
:smackdown:
– We begin the show with a recap of the events that unfolded at Saturday Night's Main Event.
– Cody Rhodes with his dog is shown walking backstage.
– Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore greet audiences at home as Bianca Belair makes her way to the ring.
Belair leads the live crowd in signing Rocky Top, then says Knoxville is special to her because it's her safe space. She says she has the love and support from her parents, then says with everything she's been going through between losing at WrestleMania 41 and the drama between Naomi and Jade Cargill, she had to come back to her safe space to heal. She says while she isn't quite 100%, she's doing everything she can to show people why she's the EST of Tennessee and the EST of WWE. She welcomes fans to "SmackDown".
Naomi's music hits, and she makes her way out. She tells Belair that she's glad she's on "SmackDown", but Belair tells Naomi that this isn't the right time for this. Naomi says it's been way too long, and not a day goes by where she doesn't think about what's happened to their friendship. She says she wants to talk, and Belair asks what there is to talk about as well as what Naomi wants from her.
Naomi says she wants forgiveness from Belair, then says she knows that their friendship has been off the rails lately but she still wants to fix it. She says months have gone by, and she's tried to tell Belair that the past should stay the past so that they can move forward. She reveals she went to Belair's parents house to try to talk to Belair, but no one was there and she let herself into the house. She says she went through the photo album on the coffee table, and in those photos, Belair looked happy and it reminded her of their time as tag team partners.
A stunned Belair tells Naomi that they were best friends, but she betrayed her trust when she took Jade Cargill, threw her on the windshield of a car, and lied to her for months. She warns Naomi against coming for her family again, but Naomi tells Belair it would be good for both her and her mom to be in a wheelchair since she would hate for something bad to happen to Belair now.
Cargill's music hits, and she storms down to the ring. She fires off right hands on Naomi and levels her with a boot, then stares down Belair. Naomi looks to attack Cargill, but Cargill dumps her out of the ring and continues staring Belair down.
Nia Jax's music then hits, and she makes her way out.
Women's Money in the Bank Triple Threat Qualifying Match: Naomi vs. Nia Jax vs. Jade Cargill
The bell rings and Naomi slides out of the ring. Cargill and Jax then lock up, but Jax sends Cargill crashing into one of the corners face first and levels her with a clothesline as Naomi cheers from outside of the ring. Naomi rocks Cargill with an open palm strike from the outside, and Jax jams her boot into Cargill's face.
Jax whips Cargill into the corner, but Cargill takes down Jax and connects with a thrust kick on her. Naomi sends Jax crashing into the ring post shoulder first and rains down right hands on Cargill in the center of the ring, then connects with a dropkick on her in the corner and rocks her with a right hand. Naomi connects with a split legged leg drop on Cargill in the corner off the middle rope and fires off stomps on her, and Jax then delivers a Hip Attack to Cargill.
Naomi sends Jax's head bouncing off the mat from the apron and through the middle rope, but Cargill delivers a Fallaway Slam to Naomi and levels her with a pair of back elbows. She follows it up with a swinging sidewalk slam and goes for a pin, but Jax breaks the fall. Jax then levels Naomi with a headbutt and sends Cargill crashing into the mat with a Samoan Drop before delivering a leg drop to both Naomi and Cargill. She dumps Cargill out of the ring and ascends to the middle rope, then lands a leg drop on Naomi and goes for a pin. Naomi kicks out.
Jax whips Naomi into the ropes, but Naomi counters into a Crucifix Bomb on Jax and goes for a pin. Jax kicks out, but Naomi sends Cargill crashing off the apron. She then rocks Jax with a kick to her head, but Jax sends Naomi crashing into the mat and dumps her back out of the ring.
Cargill rolls up Jax, but Jax kicks out and Cargill sends her crashing out of the ring through the middle rope. Jax sends Cargill's head crashing into the ring post with a Hip Attack, then double teams on her with Naomi.
Cargill fires off forearms on Jax, then lands splashes on her and Naomi in opposite corners. Jax looks to surprise Cargill with a splash, but Cargill moves out of the way and Jax accidentally hits Naomi. Naomi then delivers a meteora to Cargill and a split legged moonsault to Jax out of the corner, but Cargill lands Jaded on Naomi and goes for a pin. Jax breaks the fall.
Jax delivers a double crossbody to both Cargill and Naomi. She pins them both, but both women kick out. Jax then gets Naomi up on her shoulders and delivers a Samoan Drop to her. She goes for a pin, but Cargill breaks the fall with a splash. She pins Jax, but Jax kicks out. Jax then stacks Naomi and Cargill on top of one another before setting up for the An-Nia-Lator. Naomi moves out of the way at the last second and rolls up Jax for the win.
Winner: Naomi
– Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo walk backstage and they walk by R-Truth. Truth is talking to his ghost friend Jimmy. and tells Mateo he's never seen him before and asks Sikoa if Mateo is his kid. Truth says he wants a match against Mateo tonight. Fatu tells them they can do their thing as he has stuff to do and leaves.
– Nick Aldis walks backstage and is approached by Chelsea Green and her Green Regime. Green has a printed mask of her face in front of her face. She reveals a face mask for her broken nose. Green asks for Zelina Vega to be reprimanded. Piper Niven and Alba Fyre say if Aldis doesn't do something about this they will. Alba Fyre will take on Zelina Vega tonight.
– Byron Saxton talks to Tiffany Stratton about her thoughts on Money in the Bank., Stratton says whoever cashes in on her will be making a mistake. Naomi comes by and tells Stratton she will win Money in the Bank and will cash in when she wants. She tells Stratton to ask Jade Cargill about what happens to people who play with her. Naomi leaves and Alexa Bliss approaches Stratton and tells her not to worry about Naomi, but rather, that Stratton should be worried about Bliss winning.
– R-Truth then makes his way to the ring. JC Mateo follows.
JC Mateo (w/ Solo Sikoa) vs. R-Truth
The bell rings and Mateo sends Truth crashing into the corner. He fires off shoulders on his midsection, then whips him into opposite corners of the ring. Truth lands a series of shoulder tackles on Mateo, but Mateo stays on his feet. Mateo responds with a moonsault to Truth and sets up for a running senton, but Truth moves out of the way and connects with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. He looks to follow it up with an Attitude Adjustment, but Mateo counters into a splash and follows it up with Tour of the Islands for the win.
Winner: JC Mateo
– After the match, Mateo fires off headbutts on Truth and holds him in place for Sikoa to land the Samoan Spike on him. Jimmy Uso's music hits, and he runs down to the ring with a chair in hand. Mateo and Sikoa both back down, but Mateo blindsides Jimmy from behind. Sikoa stops Mateo from continuing to beat down Jimmy, and the pair slide out of the ring.
– The Street Profits then make their way to the ring.
Montez Ford says he loves everything about Knoxville, but the "SmackDown" tag team division is on fire right now. He says that himself and Angelo Dawkins are leading the charge, and Dawkins says that himself and Ford have all sorts of teams coming after them. Ford says it doesn't matter who it is because they will happily defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against anyone and everyone.
Nathan Frazer and Axiom's music hits, and they make their way out. Frazer says himself and Axiom didn't get a fair title shot last week, but Ford says himself and Dawkins had them beat until The Wyatt Sicks got involved. Axiom says they'll never know thanks to The Wyatt Sicks, and Frazer says The Profits, himself, and Axiom should run things back.
The Motor City Machine Guns' music hits, and Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley make their way out. Shelley disagrees with Frazer and Axiom's plea for another title shot, and Shelley says The Profits never beat himself and Sabin.
#DIY's music hits, and they make they make way out along with Candice LeRae. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa make their case as to why they should get their title shot, bt The Wyatt Sicks then appear and take out everyone currently inside the ring.
– Legado Del Fantasma then makes their way to the ring. Je'Von Evans and Rey Fenix follow, and Ethan Page joins the announce desk.
Je'Von Evans and Rey Fenix vs. Los Garza (w/ Santos Escobar)
Fenix and Angel begin the action. The bell rings and the pair exchange right hands. Fenix connects with a hurricanrana on Angel, but Evans and Berto tag in. Evans rolls up Berto, but Berto kicks out and levels Evans with a right hand. Rey tags back in and levels Angel with a double enzuigiri along with Evans before the pair level Berto with a superkick.
Evans tags in, but Berto rocks him with a forearm and tags in Angelo. Angel levels Evans with a kick as Berto holds him on place outside of the ring, then gets Evans on his spine and tags in Berto. Berto flies over the top rope from the apron to send Evans crashing into the mat, but Evans levels Berto with a superkick and tags in Fenix.
Fenix levels Angel with a springboard crossbody and takes down an interfering Berto, then uses Berto as a launch pad to deliver a hurricanrana to Angel and follows it up with a moonsault on him. He goes for a pin, but Berto breaks the fall. Angel levels Fenix with an uppercut, but Evans tags in and levels Angel. Berto takes down Evans with a springboard kick.
Evans lands a right hand on Angel, but Angel delivers a sit-out powerbomb to Evans using the top rope. He goes for a pin, but Evans kicks out. Fenix walks the ropes to land a kick on Berto, and Evans flies off the top rope to level Fenix and Los Garza on the outside with a Swanton Bomb. Evans and Fenix stare down Page at the announce desk, then dump Los Garza back in the ring. Page attacks Fenix and Evans from behind while the referee is distracted by Los Garza, but Evans levels Page with a superkick.
Back in the ring, Berto looks to take advantage and rolls up Evans. Evans kicks out and delivers a springboard kick to Berto, then ascends up the top rope. Santos Escobar distracts the referee as Page pushes Evans off the top rope. Angel then tags in, and Los Garza delivers MTY to Evans for the win.
Winners: Los Garza
– After the match, a message from Uncle Howdy appears on the screen. He says The Wyatt Sicks won't stop until they get what they're owed.
– Zelina Vega then makes her way to the ring. The Secret Hervice follows.
Zelina Vega vs. Alba Fyre (w/ Chelsea Green and Piper Niven)
The bell rings and Fyre goes straight after Vega. She sends her crashing into multiple of the top turnbuckles, but Vega gets in a couple of strikes on Fyre. She sends her crashing into the mat with a hurricanrana, but Fyre levels Vega with a back elbow.
Vega rains down right hands on Fyre in the corner, but Fyre sends Vega crashing into the corner spine first. Vega responds with a hurricanrana to Fyre on the outside, but Fyre spins her around on the ring apron and rocks her with a headbutt. Vega sends Fyre crashing into the middle rope face first, but Green hops onto the apron. Vega runs the ropes, but Niven trips her from the outside.
Back from the break, Fyre sends Vega crashing into the mat face first and goes for a pin. Vega kicks out, but Fyre wears her down with a submission hold. Vega fights her way out, but Fyre rocks Vega with a thrust kick. Vega sends Fyre crashing into the top turnbuckle face first, but Vega fires off right hands on Fyre and levels her with a pair of Sling Blades. She delivers a meteora to her in the corner and a second one on her off the middle rope, then goes for a pin but Fyre kicks out.
Vega sends Fyre crashing into the mat with a Stun-Dog Millionaire and sets up for a moonsault off the ropes. Fyre moves out of the way and delivers a Swanton Bomb, then goes for a pin of her own but Vega kicks out. Green hops up on the apron, but Vega almost sends Fyre crashing into Green. Fyre stops her own momentum, but Vega then delivers a Code Red to her for the win.
Winner: Zelina Vega
– Backstage, The Miz talks to Carmelo Hayes and tells Hayes he has to win because The Miz has given up his spot for Hayes. Hayes tells The Miz that he got himself in this position and he appreciates what The Miz has done for him but no one asked The Miz to do that. He tells The Miz to let him do his thing.
– Damian Priest walks backstage.
– We get a promo for Giulia and she discusses her inclusion in the Money in the Bank match and she talks about how she's going to make her mark on SmackDown.
– Zelina Vega walks backstage and is approached by Giulia. She tells Vega she sees her but she has her eyes set on Vega's United States Championship.
– Damian Priest then makes his way to the ring.
Priest says since he beat Drew McIntyre at Saturday Night's Main Event in their Steel Cage match, he's been feeling good. He says unlike the norm, himself and McIntyre feuded for well over a year which isn't normal. He says himself and McIntyre went to war, and he put him into the past when he gave him a Con-Chair-To and walked out the door. He says he knows McIntyre is watching and says while he still can't stand him, the McIntyre that stepped into the cage was the old version of himself that doesn't hide behind a phone which he appreciates.
Priest says championships are next for him, staring with Jacob Fatu and the United States Championship. He says he respects Fatu and he knows what he's had to live through, then says he's proud of Fatu. He says he doesn't respect the crew that Fatu hangs around, and if they want to get involved, then so be it. He says he is and forever will be "El Campeón".
Fatu's music hits, and he stares down Priest on the entrance ramp before he makes his way to the ring. Andrade, Carmelo Hayes, and The Miz follow.
Men's Money in the Bank Triple Threat Qualifying Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes w/The Miz
The bell rings and Hayes fires off right hands and left hands on Fatu. Fatu levels Hayes with a clothesline, but Andrade rocks Fatu with a forearm and connects with a crossbody off the middle rope. Hayes dumps Andrade out of the ring and fires off right hands and left hands on Fatu's spine. Fatu levels Hayes with a right hand as he looks to fly off the ropes and runs the ropes, but Miz grabs onto Fatu's ankle. Hayes looks to blindside Fatu from behind, but Fatu sees him coming. Hayes then sends Fatu crashing out of the ring, but Andrade levels Hayes.
Fatu stares down The Miz on the outside, and Andrade looks to fly to level him. Fatu sees Andrade coming and clocks him, then levels The Miz with a superkick and follows it up with a Hip Attack to him near the timekeeper's area. Fatu then whips Andrade into one of the barricades spine first and sends Hayes crashing into the announce desk spine first, then looks to clear it. Hayes blindsides Fatu from behind, then whips Andrade into one of the corners back inside the ring and looks to land a suplex on him. Andrade sends Hayes crashing into the top rope midsection first, but Fatu levels Andrade with a back elbow and rocks him with a headbutt.
Fatu fires off a chop on Andrade and follows it up with an open palm strike, but Andrade fires off chops on Fatu. Fatu levels Andrade with an open palm strike, but Andrade delivers a meteora to Fatu. Hayes sends Andrade crashing into the mat face first, then fires off stomps on Fatu in the corner. Andrade levels Fatu with a superkick, then delivers a Spanish Fly to Hayes off the ropes. Fatu then delivers a running senton to both Andrade and Hayes, and Andrade delivers his signature moonsault to Fatu.
Hayes lands a Codebreaker on Fatu, and Andrade lands a hurricanrana on him that sends him crashing out of the ring. Andrade and Hayes then fire off right hands on one another, but Fatu levels Hayes with a kick and charges at him and Andrade on the outside. Hayes and Andrade side step Fatu, and Fatu goes crashing through the barricade near the timekeeper's area.
Hayes grabs a table from under the ring, but doesn't set it up. Andrade then grabs a chair and looks to use it, but Hayes lands a dropkick on his knee before he can and grabs the chair himself. Andrade then ascends up the ropes, but Hayes trips him and sends him crashing into the mat. Andrade rolls up Hayes, but Hayes kicks out and levels Andrade with a clothesline.
Hayes and Andrade exchange chops with one another, but Andrade sits Hayes on the top rope. Andrade then rocks Hayes with an enzuigiri and drags him up to the top, but Fatu pulls both men off the ropes and ascends to the top. He connects with a Swanton Bomb on Hayes and goes for a pin, but Andrade breaks the fall.
Fatu lands a splash on Andrade in the corner, but runs into a boot from Hayes. Fatu gets Hayes up on his shoulders, but Andrade catches both men with a back elbow. Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo emerge to cheer Fatu on, and Hayes flies off the ropes to level Andrade. He goes for a pin, but Fatu breaks the fall. Fatu then gets both Hayes and Andrade up on his shoulders, but Hayes escapes. Fatu then sends Andrade crashing into the mat and looks to land a moonsault on him, but Andrade moves out of the way. Hayes then delivers Nothing But Net to Fatu and goes for a pin, but Andrade breaks the fall.
Hayes delivers a Codebreaker to Andrade, but Fatu sends Hayes crashing into the corner and connects with a Hip Attack on him. He lands an elevated flatliner on Andrade and follows it up with a moonsault off the top, but Solo Sikoa hops up onto the apron and tells Fatu to land another one. Jimmy Uso appears out of nowhere and goes after both Sikoa and Mateo, opening the door for Andrade to deliver The Message to Hayes for the win.
Winner: Andrade
– After the match, Sikoa, Fatu and Mateo all argue.
– Byron Saxton talks to LA Knight backstage. Knight says he understands MitB matches as he's done it for three years now. Aleister Black interrupts Knight and says that his win was partially his and leaves.
– Cody Rhodes walks backstage headed to his face to face confrontation with Cena.
– Jacob Fatu loses his mind backstage and is trashing everything. Sikoa walks up to him and tells him he was just trying to help. Fatu says for the last time, he does not need Sikoa's help.
– Cody Rhodes then makes his way to the ring.
Rhodes asks Knoxville what they want to talk about, then says they could talk about the record live crowd in attendance. He recalls doubting himself and talking to a friend about whether or not he was a good champion, then recalls his friend saying he was with everything he's faced in the ring and behind the scenes. He says that was the silver lining for him as he reminisced about the year that he's had thus far, and did a lot of thinking including about John Cena.
Rhodes says he thought about Cena doing what he said he was going to do, then says he hesitated when Cena gave him a choice. He says if Cena actually ruins professional wrestling, then he's partially to blame. He says if Cena is listening, he will never hesitate with him again. He says no matter how much Cena talks about how many days he has left, that isn't Cena's expiration. He says he has a surprise, then introduces Jey Uso and he makes his way out. Cena follows behind Jey.
Cena calls Rhodes and Jey "professional wrestling's biggest wannabes" and "John Cena wannabes", then says Rhodes wants his fame and Jey wants his money. He says neither of them will get what they want for being too desperate and lazy, then says one other human being in WWE embodies hustle, loyalty, and respect. He introduces Logan Paul, and he makes his way out.
Cena continues to hype up Paul and says Paul doesn't need to pay his dues because he's paying their mortgage. Paul says Cena speaks his language, then says fans get to witness the moment that Cena stood side-by-side with him. He says he should be standing next to the Undisputed WWE Champion as the World Heavyweight Champion, then says 5 years ago, no one would've believed that he would be a WWE Superstar or teaming up with Cena. Paul calls himself "The Superstar in WWE", then says Cena is the last real champion and he is the inevitable face of this company.
Jey says they don't have to wait until Money In The Bank, and Cena looks to leave the ring. Paul suggests that Cena stay, then begins brawling with Jey as Cena brawls with Rhodes. Jey lands a superkick on Cena, and Rhodes follows it up with a Disaster Kick. Jey then delivers a superkick to Paul, and follows it up with a Cody Cutter-3D combination to him with Rhodes as the show goes off the air.
