WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - August 8th, 2025
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John Cena appears after Brock Lesnar's shocking attack at SummerSlam
John Cena is back on SmackDown after losing the Undisputed WWE Title to Cody Rhodes in a Street Fight at SummerSlam and following the stunning post-match beatdown he received at the hands of Brock Lesnar. What will Cena say about his loss and the aftermath of an unforgettable SummerSlam?
:smackdown:
Your announcers are Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett.
We take a look back at highlights from SummerSlam.
John Cena makes his way to the ring.
John says we have come a long way. He says WWE was afraid to come to Montreal because of the history in this building. They were afraid that the audience would hijack the show. Cena says he was never afraid of that because the audience IS the show. If you are watching at home, you have to let them go and you want to be here. He says there are people everywhere. The noise in here is deafening and he can barely hear himself talk. You can feel it through your screens. Imagine trying to plan a show around you guys? Or it can get scary when you start singing. On cue, the crowd starts to sing.
Some performers might be scared or afraid. They might ask 'what do I do?' John says he might have fears but he goes right into it and lets you enjoy and embrace every second. John says it doesn't last forever. The crowd thanks Cena and he starts to tear up.
John says he has been coming here for over two decades and he has shared many valuable moments in this ring and he tells the crowd thank you. You know that after tonight, he has 11 of these left. He says he is starting to understand that. He gets more afraid every single day. John says he thanks you for that. He says he wants to lean into this and get it off his chest. He says he wants to be honest and vulnerable. He says in this limited time, he is afraid he cannot give enough and will let you down. He says he is afraid that after he is gone and WWE moves on, you are going to forget about him. John says he is afraid of Brock Lesnar.
John wonders in what universe he would choose Brock as an opponent. There is no universe where he would back down from Brock Lesnar. Is he afraid? Yes. He is afraid that Brock Lesnar got him a John Cena problem. Everyone in the back got themselves a John Cena problem. He is not going down without a fight. Brock, when you want some, come get some. John says anyone who is brave enough to go face to face with the Last Real Champion, he will be going down gun blazing. The last time is now and if you want some . . .
Logan Paul's music plays and he makes his way onto the stage.
Logan tells John and he wants the crowd to hear him out. He says whatever this is, whatever version of you this is, Logan says it is making him sick. He says he respected John, but now he doesn't know him. Logan tells John he doesn't know who he is. The people don't knew (sic) who you are. Whether you like it or not, John said it himself. He said Logan does WWE better than any professional wrestler, including himself.
John says he said that Logan did WWE better than anyone else, but he says Logan is the biggest dumb ass he has ever seen.
Logan says John is a liar. He says what the bosses say. Logan says he is the show. He says John Cena has turned into a charity case. Logan says if John is handing out matches, he wants one.
John asks Logan if he wants a match and Logan says to John Cena he wants one. He tells John Cena that is what he wants. He wants John in a french speaking city . . . in France. Logan says Montreal does not deserve this. He says this match is box office.
Drew McIntyre attacks Cena from behind and Logan joins in the attack.
They kick Cena until . . . Cody Rhodes' music plays and Cody goes after Drew while Cena goes after Logan and they are sent to the floor.
Cena accepts the match for Clash in Paris. He says if you two want a fight and Cena says he might have a partner, why not have a tag match tonight?
Backstage:
The Motor City Machine Guns are asked about their match at SummerSlam by Cathy Kelley and their match. Alex says they are both taped up and that match was brutal, but they have made a legacy of getting knocked down and getting back up. Chris says they didn't get the job done at SummerSlam, but they know what it takes to become champions again and the road to the top begins tonight.
Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. Talla Tonga and JC Mateo
Mateo and Alex start things off and Alex avoids Talla on the apron but Mateo with punches. Alex with punches and a side head lock. Sabin makes the blind tag and they hit a drop kick and flatliner combination on Mateo. They knock Talla and Mateo to the floor. Sabin with a suicide dive to Mateo. Alex avoids Talla and then Sabin and Shelley kick him. They hit a shoulder and elbow on Mateo in the corner. Alex tags in and Loa distracts the referee and Talla pulls Alex off the apron and sends him into the ringside barrier.
Solo lounges at ringside while Mateo punches Alex in the ribs after he is returned to the ring. Alex with a jaw breaker and Mateo stops Alex from making the tag. Mateo with kicks and a short arm clothesline. Mateo sends Alex into the turnbuckles. Talla tags in and he hits a clothesline into the corner. Talla with a back elbow and he hits a leaping elbow drop. Alex with punches and Talla with a forearm and head butt. Talla chokes Alex and Loa with punches while the referee talks to Talla. Talla with a cross face and a second one. Talla with a forearm to the injured ribs. Talla with an Irish whip and back breaker and then he stretches Alex over his knee.
Alex with punches and Talla lets go. Talla with a bear hug. Alex with punches to escape but Talla with a clothesline. Alex sends Talla into the turnbuckles and Mateo tags in and applies a waist lock. Alex with elbows and a boot. Sabin tags in and he hits a cross body. Sabin with punches and a clothesline but Mateo does not move. Sabin tries again with the same result. Sabin with a thrust kick and a springboard tornado DDT for a near fall. Alex tags in and they connect with a series of kicks and Alex with a rollup for a near fall. Sabin tags in and they knock Talla off the apron but Mateo with a double clothesline followed by a spinning slam on Sabin for a near fall.
Mateo punches Sabin and connects with an elbow to Alex. They hit a double super kick. Talla kicks Alex off the turnbuckles and Talla with a choke slam to Sabin for the three count.
Winners: JC Mateo and Talla Tonga
After the match:
Solo has a mic. He addresses Montreal and he says to take a look because this is what greatness looks like. He says you are looking at the soon to be WWE Tag Team champions. You are looking at the most dominant US Champion. It is a shame because he is all dressed up in his gear and he is ready to fight in Montreal. There is nobody back there to fight him. Solo says they are going to leave this crappy city because this is the last place he wants to wrestle at, so let's celebrate. Nick Aldis stops them and he says not so fast. Since you ran your mouth and since you said you were ready for a fight, he has a special guest who wants a fight. He is someone you know well and someone Montreal knows very well. Sami Zayn comes out.
Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa
They lock up and Solo backs Sami into the corner. Solo asks Sami if he is ready to come back. He holds up his finger and Sami punches Solo. Sami with a forearm and elbow. Solo misses a clothesline and Sami goes for an exploder but Solo with an elbow. Sami with a chop and he punches Solo on the turnbuckles. Solo with a clothesline. Solo with a chop and he climbs the turnbuckles to punch Sami. Sami goes under and sends Sol into the turnbuckles. Sami with punches from the turnbuckles. Sami with a chop and he springboards over Solo and clotheslines Solo to the floor. Sami with a flip dive onto Solo. Sami is surrounded and he sends Solo into the ring and he gets back into the ring.
Sami with a punch and chop. Sami with a back elbow and Talla with a clothesline when Solo goes House of Torture distraction with the referee. Solo with punches to Sami. Solo chokes Sami in the ropes and when he talks to the referee again, Loa punches Sami. Solo pie faces Sami and he has words for im. Sami blocks a punch and he punches Solo. Sami with chops and a kick. Solo with a clothesline to stop Sami. Solo with head butts. Solo with chops to Sami and he puts him on the turnbuckles. Sami with forearms to stop Solo on the turnbuckles and send him to the mat. Sami goes p top and he leaps over Solo but Solo with a pop up Samoan drop for a near fall. Solo chokes Sami in the ropes and Mateo gets his turn to punch Sami when the referee is distracted.
Solo puts Sami on the turnbuckles and he follows Sami. Sami stops Solo and he avoids a Super Samoan drop with a Sunset Flip Power Bomb for a near fall. Sami sets for a Blue Thunder Bomb but Solo blocks it with elbows. Solo misses a clothesline and Solo avoids the Blue Thunder Bomb again. Solo with a uranage for a near fall. Solo punches Sami. Solo signals for the Samoan Spike and he sets up Sami but Sami avoids it and kicks Solo in the hand twice. Sami with an exploder into the turnbuckles and he sets fr the Helluva Kick but Loa gets on the apron and Sami punches him. Sami with another exploder and it is Mateo's turn to distract and Sami brings him into the ring. Talla stands on the apron and Sami wants him. Solo with a super kick and then he misses the Samoan Spike and Sami gets a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Backstage:
Charlotte tells Alexa that since her birthday is tomorrow, she has something special for her. Alexa asks where it is and Charlotte says it has to be in front of people.
We go to commercial.
Video Package:
We are back with a look at the WWE/ESPN announcement.
We are interrupted by the Wyatts. Howdy says they will never lead you astray. When they speak, it will always bear truth. That is what they have always sought out to do. Gacy says they have shown them all that their power is nothing more than a harmless illusion. Lumis says they woke them up from their dreams and realize the true realities they have hidden. Nikki says they made it clear this is not about fame. Rowan says it is about something so much bigger. There are more lessons to learn. The Wyatt story has only just begun. They all laugh.
Backstage:
The Street Profits and B-Fab are watching and she wonders what that is. DIY show up and want to know what did they do and that Candice almost got killed. Fab says it was Ciampa and Gargano who did it. Candice blames the Street Profits. Dawkins says no one asked her to climb the ladder. Everyone argues and Nick Aldis enters. He says he figured they would have calmed down after SummerSlam. He says he is going to take control of the division. Next week, DIY will face the Street Profits.
In Ring:
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss make their way to the ring.
Ther is a cake and a present in the ring.
Charlotte says Lexi's birthday falls at the same time as their championship celebration. She says she could have made this all about her, but she wanted to get her involved. Since she is in such a giving move, she has a cake.
The cake reads Congratulations Charlotte Flair (& Alexa . . . p.s. happy birthday).
Charlotte has a gift and Alexa tells her she didn't have to do it and Charlotte says she did.
Alexa says she is scared so Charlotte says she will open the present. Charlotte asks Alexa if she remembers what she gave her four years ago. Charlotte gives her a Lilly doll. Charlotte says since they are tag team partners, Lilly needs one too. She reveals a Charley doll. Charlotte says it is ugly but it the thought that counts.
Charlotte says they're partners and so are the dolls. They aren't friends and neither are friends. Charlotte says she needs something. She says that Alexa may hug her.
Alexa says it is not necessary and Charlotte tells her to bring it in.
Before the hug can be consummated . . .
Chelsea Green interrupts with Alba and Piper.
Chelsea says she wants to turn in her passport having to hear them cheer for Alexa and Charlotte. Chelsea points out they are in Montreal and they root for the Habs, they don't see championships too often. She wants to know what they are celebrating, they are in her country. We should be celebrating her homecoming.
Charlotte tells Lexi she has another gift for her and that is kicking Chelsea's ass tonight.
Chelsea says she is busy.
Nick Aldis comes out after putting out fires in the back. He says such a special situation will allow him to make matches on the fly. He has a gift for Lexi and it is a new referee and he will referee the match between Charlotte Flair and Chelsea Green.
Backstage:
Carmelo Hayes knocks 0on Nick's door and Miz comes out. Hayes wants to know where Miz has been for the last two months. Miz says Hayes deserves better. Hayes says he is going to ask for a US Title match. Miz says he has been doing this for 20 years and Cena gets a title match. He brought Logan Paul into the company. Hayes says he is going to get a title match for himself. Miz says he got a tag match for them for next week. Miz asks if they are good and Hayes says they are. Nick shows up and wants to know what Miz wants and Miz wants to talk to him.
Charlotte Flair vs. Chelsea Green
They lock up and Green with a wrist lock. Flair with a reversal and a shoulder tackle. Flair walks over Green's back and hits a thrust kick. Green goes to the floor and she drops Flair's throat on the top rope. Flair with chops but Green sends Flair into the turnbuckles. Flair returns the favor. Flair with a chop and kick in the corner. Green with an Irish whip and Flair with a Flair flip and she kicks Piper and Green. Flair avoids Alba and Flair with a cross body for a near fall. Green with an elbow and Piper and Alba try to trip Flair but they fail. Flair floats over and gets a near fall with a rollup. Flair is sent into the turnbuckles on the rollup. Green sends Flair into the turnbuckles with a curb stomp.
Green sends Flair face first into the mat. Green sends Flair to the floor. Flair gets back into t he ring and Green kicks Flair. Green with a sliding flatliner for a near fall. Green with a kick and she goes for a suplex but Flair blocks it and gets an inside cradle for a near fall. Green gets a near fall. Green blows a kiss to Alexa before pie facing Flair. Flair with chops and Green pulls Flair to the mat by the hair. Green with a rear chin lock. Flair with a jaw breaker and a back elbow and a kick. Flair with a belly-to-back suplex.
We see the cake that will likely come into play shortly.
Green with punches and Flair with a forearm. Flair with more forearms and chops. Flair with a walk over clothesline and a German suplex. Green with a thrust kick and Flair with one of her own. Flair with Natural Selection for a near fall. Green with a boot tot he head and Green sends her to the apron. Flair with a shoulder and she goes up top but Green with a slap. Green goes for a superplex and hits it. Green gets a near fall. Green gestures to Piper and Alba to get the cake.
They bring it into the ring and Bliss hits a cannonball off the apron. Green sets for UnPrettiHer into the cake and Charlotte with a reversal and Green lands in the cake. Flair with a figure four leg lock and bridge. Green taps out.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match:
Charlotte and Alexa share some of the Green Free cake.
Backstage:
Cathy is with Tiffany Stratton. Tiffany says she is going to keep doing what she has been doing for the last 216 days, keep her title and defend it. Jade Cargill shows up. She tells Tiffany to be thankful her foot found the rope or she would be champion. The story will be different next time. Tiffany says the story may be different but the result will be the same. Kiana tells Cathy she can leave. She says if Jade is looking to get that title around her waist, she can give her a call. She offers her card. Michin asks Jade if she is going to do something about that card. She asks for it so she can get a title match.
We go to commercial.
Video Package:
Aleister Black says that he is allowed to use violence to stop a greater violence. Does that make him good or evil? The only difference is your convictions. The crowd cheered when Priest tried to throw him through a table. It is not an eye for an eye but an eye for a limb or an eye for a life. He says he told Priest that violence begets violence. He is at home nursing a hairline fracture in his jaw. When someone pushes you, you push back. When someone pushes Black, he pushes them off the cliff and watches to hear the splat. Does that make him a scapegoat? So be it.
Backstage:
R Truth stops to stare at Cena. They look up and down and they do the mirror deal and Truth says that John is really back. He says they are both back. Cena says he was worried that Truth looked weird for five months. Did you think that you wanted to ruin wrestling was a good idea. It is good to see you back.
John Cena and Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McINtyre and Logan Paul
Cody and Logan start things off. Cody has his head on a swivel to avoid being attacked from behind by Drew. They lock up and Cody with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Cody with a cartwheel and a wrist lock. Logan with a knee and side head lock. Cody with a forearm to the back and Cody with a kick and drop down jab. Cody with a delayed gourdbuster. Cody asks the crowd if he should tag in Cena but Logan with a rollup for a near fall. Drew tags in and he punches Cody. Drew with chops in the corner. Drew with an Irish whip and Cody floats over and hits a power slam. Cody with a back elbow and he avoids a clothesline from Logan. Cody knocks Logan off the apron and Drew with a head butt. Drew sends Cody to the floor in front of Logan. Logan apparently clotheslines Cody but we did not see it while Cody and Drew talk.
We see a replay so it did happen. Cody with punches to Drew on the floor and Drew sends Cody into the ring steps. They return to the ring and Drew stomps on the hand. Logan tags in and they hit a double suplex. Logan gets a near fall. Logan with a reverse chin lock and Cody with elbows but Logan with a punch. Logan with a gutwrench suplex for a near fall. Logan sends Cody into his corner and he punches Cody. Drew tags in and he sets for a delayed vertical suplex and he hits it. Drew gets a near fall. Drew keeps Cody from making the tag and Cody with punches. Drew with an Irish whip and Cody tries to leap into his corner but Drew stops him. Drew charges into the corner and Drew misses and hits the ring post shoulder first. Cena and Logan make the tag.
Cena with two flying shoulder tackles and a Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena sets for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and hits it. Cena gets Logan up and hits the Attitude Adjustment but Drew breaks up the cover. Drew sets for a Claymore but Cody with a super kick and he clotheslines Drew over the top rope and then hits a suicide dive on Drew. Logan with a low blow to Cena and the referee calls for the bell.
Winners: John Cena and Cody Rhodes (by disqualification)
After the match:
Logan and Cena fight to the back while Cody sends Drew into the ringside barrier and the ring steps. Cody adjusts the announce table. Drew hits Cody with the title belt. Drew holds the title belt and he is transfixed. Drew refuses to surrender the title belt and then he puts it down on the steps for a second. Drew hits a Claymore on Cody against the announce table.
End of show.
