John Cena returns to SmackDown!

WrestleMania Weekend kicks off with SmackDown, and John Cena once again graces the WWE with his presence. What final words will he have before facing Cody Rhodes this Sunday?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Carmelo Hayes wins.
• WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Motor City Machine Guns; The Profits win, by disqualification, and retain the titles.
• Chelsea Green VS Zelina Vega; Zelina wins.
• LA Knight VS Solo Sikoa; Knight wins, by disqualification.
• LA Knight & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu; Knight & Braun win.
• Six Man Tag: Team American Made VS Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee & Rey Fenix; Rey, Dragon & Fenix win.

PLAY BY PLAY

WrestleMania SmackDown’s going commercial free for the first hour!

Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga pull into the parking lot.

Solo lets his Right Hand Man handle the bags, but LA KNIGHT ATTACKS! The Mega Star goes after Tama, SMACKS him off some other car, and then SLAMS the door shut on Tama’s hand! Knight gets away before Solo returns, is the WWE US Champion making sure Jacob Fatu can’t stack the deck here in Las Vegas?

Seth Rollins is here!

The Visionary surprises Las Vegas as he’s already here ahead of WrestleMania! Rollins struts his way out in a black ‘n’ white tuxedo with golden roses painted on it, and the fans sing along, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as he goes to the ring. Rollins revels in the cheers before grabbing a mic. The singing continues, and Rollins tells Las Vegas, “It ain’t Monday, it’s Friday, but I thin it still works. Welcome to Friday Night Rollins~!” The fans cheer and Rollins says he is our host! He is a Visionary, he is a Revolutionary, he is SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! The fans cheer, and Rollins looks to the WrestleMania sign.

The singing returns, but there are also chants of “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Rollins decides to reference said CM Punk by sitting cross-legged in the middle of the ring! Rollins even tosses the mic sleeve aside, but now the fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” Rollins says we’ll get to him in a minute. Let’s start with that guy who they were chanting for first. The fans chant “C M PUNK!” again, and Rollins says yes, that’s the reason that guy came back to wrestling, right? Because all the fans chanted his name for ten long years! That’s why Punk came back, right? Except, when CM Punk came back to the ring, it wasn’t a WWE ring.

So did Punk came back because the fans were chanting his name? Or because someone wrote him a big fat check? Rollins says when Punk burned that bridge, like he does every other bridge, Punk did finally come back to the WWE. But was it because of the fans chanting his name? No. It was because they wrote him another big fat check. Some fans actually chant, “BIG FAT CHECK! BIG FAT CHECK!” Rollins adds, “Tell me when I’m tellin’ lies. CM Punk likes to pretend he came back for all of you. CM Punk doesn’t care about you. CM Punk doesn’t care about the WWE. He’s a liar, he’s a fraud, he’s a coward…

“And say what you will about Roman Reigns, Mr. OTC…” The fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” and Rollins says Roman doesn’t even pretend to care about the fans! Roman doesn’t even pretend to care about the WWE! And you can believe that. The OTC only cares about the OTC. Roman Reigns is in the Roman Reigns business. Mr. Private Jet, Mr. Limited Schedule, Mr. Handpicked Opponents. The fans sing “Roman! Roman Reigns~!” Rollins says yes, Roman loves that. He loves when you love him. But Roman knows nothing of sacrifice. Punk knows nothing of sacrifice. Rollins knows EVERYTHING about sacrifice!

But funny enough, this story all started 12 years ago, all with Paul Heyman. That’s the truth. Heyman brought Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose into the WWE to be a shield for CM Punk. Every single night, Rollins sacrificed everything he had in this ring to be that shield. Did he get any of the credit? Absolutely not. “Everyone in the back” wanted the cameras and spotlight on Roman Reigns. It was always about Roman Reigns! Roman Reigns was the next John Cena! Roman Reigns was the next cash cow! Look at Roman, put the spotlight on him! Every single year, this went along.

And in the background, after CM Punk had gone away, taken his ball and gone home, Rollins heard little echoes of “C M Punk” chants. Meanwhile, Rollins was making every show, in the ring every night, sacrificing everything that he had! The fans do cheer that, and Rollins says it all came to a head last year, in the main event of WrestleMania, a knee hanging on by a threat, Rollins’ stepdad at home, dying of cancer… But Rollins was there at the very end to be a shield to make sure Roman Reigns LOST! The fans do cheer that, too! They even chant, “Thank You, Seth!” and sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins soaks it all in before continuing.

“This story between us started 12 years ago, when Paul Heyman brought myself and Roman Reigns into the WWE. And it ends tomorrow night, in the most important Triple Threat match in the history of this industry. And I promise you, I will do exactly what I have done for the past 12 years. I will lay it all on the line. I will sacrifice everything that I have to make sure that this business, this company, this industry, moves forward in the right direction. That’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler. HAHAHAHAHAHA~!” Rollins has issued his mission statement. Will the Architect finish the story that he’s been writing for over a decade now?

2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal!

The tradition to honor the Eighth Wonder of the World continues! Who will make it through the star-studded field to immortalize themselves on the giant trophy?

The bell rings and the brawl is on! The fans fire up for this chaos as LWO brawls with Legado del Fantasma, Pretty Deadly is after A-Town Down Under, and Carlito finds himself the odd man out so he just smiles and watches it all happen. Carlito brings out his apple, but R-Truth takes it and takes a bite out of it! The fans cheer, Carlito is confused, but then Carlito CLUBS Truth into SPITTING the apple at Miz! Carlito whips, Truth reverses and TOSSES Carlito to ELIMINATE him! The fans cheer and Carlito is stunned! Truth tosses what’s left of the apple to him! Melo storms up, Truth ROCKS Melo, then Truth TOSSES Melo, only for Melo to drag Truth out with him!

The fans fire up as Truth and Melo brawl, but Miz BOOTS Truth down to ELIMINATE him! The fans boo as Melo Don’t Miz sticks together, But then Karrion Kross finds Miz! Kross grabs Miz, unfinished business from before the Transfer Window! But Melo jumps on Kross! Melo & Miz mug Kross, and then we see Rey Fenix staring down with Santos Escobar. But then Los Garza CLOBBER Fenix! They haul him up, Andrade goes after Santos, and Fenix gets hit with TU LO SABE! Los Garza get Fenix up again, ASSISTED RAZOR’S- RANA! Fenix sends Berto up, out and ELIMINATES him! Angel runs up, but Fenix puts him on the top rope!

Angel shoves Fenix away, but he’s kinda stuck. Fenix SHORYUKENS! Angel falls out, Fenix ELIMINATES him, too! Santos says what’s wrong with these guys! Pretty Deadly mugs Tyler Bate, they stomp his hands and give him the Scott Hall fingers. Then they RAM Tyler into the corner, and Kit Wilson UPPERCUTS! Then Elton Prince UPPERCUTS! #YesBoy! DRY MARTI-KNEES! But then A-Town Down Under TOSS Pretty Deadly to DOUBLE ELIMINATE them! But then New Catch Republic goes after them! Kaiser kicks at Dunne, Dunne blocks, and Tyler says Bop up, BANG! Kaiser falls, but ATDU mugs New Catch Republic!

The fans boo Theory & Waller as they TOSS Tyler, but he rebounds to DOUBLE COMEBACKER! The Big Strong Boi then DUMPS ATDU out at the same time! But Waller & Theory both hold onto the ropes! Kaiser DUMPS Tyler, but Tyler holds on! Tyler skins the cat, but Kaiser SHOTGUNS him down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo the Impeccable German, but Dunne KICKS him! Dunne pushes Kaiser to the ropes! Santos GAMANGIRIS Miz! American Made battles with the LWO, Miz fights Santos, and then Andrade helps out! Kaiser is dangling off the floor! Andrade kicks at Kaiser, but then Santos is on Andrade!

Andrade takes a swing, but santos shoves him into Fenix! Andrade apologizes, but Santos KNEES Andrade down! Santos uses that as a reason for Fenix to trust him, not Andrade! Fenix says okay. But then he TOSSES Santos and ELIMINATES him! Fenix knows a snake when he sees one, but Santos respects Fenix’s own trickery. Wait, Otis picks up Tozawa and AIRPLANE SPINS! Tozawa is a human weapon to clear out space! Otis then ROCKS Andrade, scoops and SLAMS him, then picks Tozawa up again to CHUCK at Julius! But Julius catches Tozawa, hands him off to Brutus, and while Julius JUMP KNEES Otis, Brutus TOSSES and ELIMINATES Tozawa!

Otis is mad now, and he CLOBBERS The Creeds! The fans fire up, then Otis runs to DOUBLE LARIAT The Creeds and himself up and out of the ring, TRIPLE ELIMINATION!! Otis realizes his mistake, but the fans still cheer him on. Miz goes after Nakamura, Kross is after Fenix, and Dragon Lee has Chad Gable! Otis RAMS Julius into the steel steps in frustration! Andrade TOSSES Waller and ELIMINATES him! But then Theory picks Andrade up! Andrade fights free, TOSSES Theory, and he ELIMINATES him, too! The fans fire up for El Idolo, and then he turns around to see Gable. Gable is surrounded by Andrade, Fenix, Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde!

Andrade BOOTS Gable first! Dragon Lee V-TRIGGER! DOUBLE SUPERKICK from Cruz & Wilde! JUMP SOBAT from Fenix! They TOSS Gable and ELIMINATE him! But then Nakamura storms in! He fights LWO, Wilde RAMS Nakamura from the apron and goes up, but Nakamura KICKS Wilde to the floor and ELIMINATES him! Cruz whips Nakamura, runs in at the corner, but Nakamura puts Cruz on the apron! Cruz ENZIGIRS, goes up, but Kross DECKS Cruz! Kross shouts, “Rey is using you!” Dragon Lee SLAPS Kross! Kross laughs and DECKS Dragon Lee! Kross scoops Dragon Lee, but Dragon Lee slips free to TOSS Kross and ELIMINATE him!

Vegas is torn that their guy is done, but Kross says Mysterio is just using Dragon Lee! Nakamura TOSSES Dragon Lee! But Dragon Lee gets up, buckle bumps and GAMANGIRIS! Dragon Lee slingshot RANAS Nakamura down! Then Dragon goes corner to corner, but into a KINSHASA!! Nakamura then IVERTED EXPLODERS Dragon up and out to ELIMINATE him! The fans are torn, but we’re quickly down to seven, with Nakamura, Fenix, Kaiser,  Dunne, Andrade, Miz & Melo. Kaiser and Dunne trade shots while Miz & Melo kick Fenix in a corner. Dunne DUMPS Kaiser to the apron, but Kaiser pulls Dunne’s hair!

The fans fire up as both men dangle off the apron! Both men stand on the apron, and Kaiser CHOPS! Dunne kicks a leg out, STOMPS Kaiser’s hands, then BOOTS him! Kaiser hooks the rope with his legs! Kaiser crawls inside, Dunne steps through ropes, but Kaiser KICKS the ropes to jam Dunne up! Kaiser runs but Dunne catches him to a HANGING TRIANGLE HOLD! Dunne drags Kaiser up and over and to the floor! Dunne ELIMINATES Kaiser! Andrade fights Melo, but Miz TOSSES Andrade! Andrade holds on, but Dunne LARIATS Melo! Then Dunne TOSSES Miz! Dunne ROCKS Miz, ROCKS Melo, then he grabs Melo’s hand!

Dunne bends Melo’s fingers, then SNAPS them! Dunne fires hands, but Miz holds onto Melo! Miz TOSSES Melo in, but Dunne SHOTGUNS Miz down to ELIMINATE him! The fans fire up as now we have just five! Melo runs up, ducks and enzigiri, and he DUMPS Dunne to ELIMINATE him! That makes four, but Andrade picks Melo up! Melo fights free, Fenix and Nakamura rise up, and now our final four square off! The fans fire up as they circle around the ring, and then they brawl! Fenix has Nakamura, Andrade has Melo! Nakamura KNEES Fenix low, fires more KNEES, then he AX KICKS! Melo ROCKS Andrade and CHOPS him in a corner!

Nakamura sends Fenix into Melo to then ROUNDHOUSE Melo! INVERTED EXPLODER for Fenix! Andrade is back to boot feint but Nakamura avoids the shadow elbow! Andrade avoids the roundhouse but not the WHEEL KICK! The fans fire up with the King of Strong Style, KINS- NO, Andrade dodges! But then Nakamura THRUST KICKS! Nakamura hops up, but Andrade triangle jump DROPKICKS Nakamura down, and ELIMINATES him!! The fans are thunderous and Andrade grins, but then Melo SUPERKICKS Fenix! Fenix is stuck in the ropes, but Melo brings him around. Melo jumps, but Andrade gets him, only for Fenix to SHOVE them both over!

Melo and Andrade both hold onto ropes! Fenix doesn’t realize this, and Melo gets back in! Melo CLOBBERS Fenix! Melo whips, Fenix uses Melo as a boost to RANA Andrade! Melo whips Fenix again but Fenix goes Spider-Man to rewind and HEEL KICK! The fans fire up as Fenix runs at Andrade, somersault FLYING FOREARM! #ANIMO, but Melo puts Fenix on the apron! Fenix RAMS Melo, ROCKS him, then goes up the corner! BUT EL GRANDE AMERICANO TRIPS HIM UP!? Grande DUMPS Fenix out to ELIMINATE him!! “UH GRACIAS~!” The fans boo but Grande runs off into the night.

Andrade and Melo are the last two, a fitting fate given their best of seven series from just last year. The fans are thunderous as these two reset. They runs up, Andrade dodges, kicks, and underhooks! But Melo slips free of the Message to run, and LA- NO, Andrade stops the Mystica to suplex, only for Melo to slip free again! Melo spins Andrade, but Andrade powers out! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, but neither man falls! They DOUBLE LARIAT again, still no one falls! Melo runs, LA MYSTICA! And then a whip, but the boot feint SHADOW ELBOW hits! Both men are down and Vegas is thunderous again!

“This is Awesome!” as both men slowly stir. They rise up, Andrade reels Melo in, and Andrade gives some Latino Heat! The fans cheer that, but Melo fights the first amigo! Melo hits the suplex CUTTER! Melo then whips, but Andrade reverses! Melo goes up, but Andrade jumps up to get him again! Only for Melo to back down and SHOVE Andrade out! MELO WINS!!

Winner: Carmelo Hayes (2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winner)

El Idolo is furious, but he got faked out as Melo hits the game winner! Melo proves he is H1M, but will he use this to soon become a champion?

SmackDown shares a snippet of Wade Barrett’s interview with Charlotte Flair.

The full interview will be part of tomorrow’s Countdown to WrestleMania 41, but Barrett says The Queen and Tiffany Stratton have clearly made things personal as of late. There have been numerous verbal attacks, as well as physical. Oh, you don’t say? Yes, Charlotte was even sent home from the arena last week, for her to ultimately show up anyway and attack Tiffany. Charlotte notes that wasn’t the first time something like that happened. Barrett wants to know: why is it this has gotten so nasty so quickly? Charlotte takes a moment, and says she doesn’t love it. They have moved past it. But she has a chip on her shoulder, and if she looks deeper at Tiffany, she can see there’s a chip on Tiff’s shoulder, too.

Charlotte doesn’t love it, but the people are invested now, so if there’s anything that matters most to Charlotte, it’s that people tune in not only to see her, but to see her VS Tiffany Stratton on the biggest stage. This is how we got there, but at the end of the day, getting people invested in something is what this is about. It can be ugly sometimes, but that’s just how you get tougher. The Queen is certainly putting Tiffy to the test, but will it still be #TiffyTime after WrestleMania?

Rhea Ripley is here!

Las Vegas fires up as Mami’s in town ahead of her Mania Moment, the Women’s World Championship Triple Threat. Rhea goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and she says, “Sunday, it marks my sixth WrestleMania. Yeah. And each time, I’ve walked into some sort of championship match. But honestly, this one… This one is probably the most important to me. Because it’s true, I let myself get distracted by Bianca Belair, and I lost my Women’s World Championship right before WrestleMania. That’s my bad. So I could, I’m not going to, but I could be coming out here right now to talk about the last few weeks, complain, moan, make excuses, but nah, I’m not gonna do that.

“Because there’s no point in talking about the past anymore. Sunday, I get back what I want, and I do what I have to do.” The fans cheer that! “Rhea Bloody Ripley is walking OUT of WrestleMania your THREE-TIME Women’s World Champion!” The fans really like that! But then wait! Here comes the current champion, Iyo Sky! The Evil Genius high-fives fans as she goes to the ring to step to Rhea. Iyo has a mic, but Bianca Belair interrupts already! The EST struts her way to the ring, struts past Rhea & Iyo, and grabs a mic of her own. The fans boo, but Bianca brushes that off to say, “Y’all two thought y’all was gonna come to SmackDown, drop my name, and I wasn’t gonna show up?”

Bianca says she was definitely showing up tonight! Because tonight might be her last night on SmackDown for awhile, because at WrestleMania, Bianca walks out the champion! The fans boo more, but Bianca says after what they put her through, she isn’t letting this go any time soon. Wait, is that Naomi!? The Glow gone dark has a mic as she makes her way out here to say, “Hey, B. So, you finally decided to show up to SmackDown. And you ain’t even gonna try and talk to me?” Bianca signs but Naomi says she’s filled up the voicemail box, called her like crazy, texted her, and Naomi knows Bianca got ’em cuz it says, “Delivered.”

Naomi approaches the ring and asks if their friendship means so little to Bianca. Naomi didn’t even wanna do this and have everyone in their business, she wanted to handle it in private. But since Bianca’s gonna go ignore her- Bianca says they’re not doing this, Naomi knows why Bianca isn’t responding because Naomi knows what she did. Bianca said what she said last time, and she meant it. So no, they’re not doing this right now. Oh, Bianca cares about Jade that much? Bianca says it’s not even about Jade! Naomi says Jade wasn’t there for Bianca like Naomi was! And tomorrow, Naomi finishes what she started with Jade! And after that-

Well, why wait? Here comes Jade Cargill now! The Storm storms her way to the ring, and she goes right for Naomi! Naomi runs away, Bianca wants Jade to calm down. Jade says Bianca is choosing Naomi over her now. Rhea says no, Jade, this isn’t about you. This is about- NAOMI SHOVES JADE INTO RHEA! Jade DECKS Naomi! Rhea and Bianca brawl just because, and Iyo stays back. Jade has Naomi on the outside, Rhea and Bianca spill out the side, and producers, refs and security rush out to stop this! Iyo decides to get in on this by going up top! OVER THE MOONSAULT onto the cluster!

The fans are thunderous for Iyo, Naomi scurries away from Jade, and a lot is going down this WrestleMania Weekend! Who will have their Mania Moment and shine in the spotlight?

Team American Made finds Rey Fenix backstage.

Chad Gable mockingly says, “Look who it is! The new luchador! What, you lasted to the final three tonight before you lost? Yeah, that was a good night, through. Not as good as El Grrrande Americano! Tell me, how’d it feel to get eliminated by the greatest-” Dragon Lee storms in and tells Gable to shut up. Gable gets no respect from real luchadores. Dragon and Fenix stand together and Dragon says Grande will lose at WrestleMania. Don’t talk to Gable about WrestleMania! And don’t talk to him about El Grande! But then Rey Mysterio steps in! Rey tells Gable that Grande is gonna learn about real lucha libre.

Gable says Rey doesn’t tell Gable what Grande’s gonna learn! And Rey sure ain’t teaching it! Rey says Gable sounds like he’s still in fight mode. There’s three of them, and three of Rey’s side. Why not a Six Man Tag here tonight? Brutus laughs, but then Gable frowns. Julius says they’re serious. Fenix tells Rey that he likes this idea. The luchadores go to talk with Nick Aldis, will the King of Lucha Libre build some momentum before he faces El Grande Americano?

WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Motor City Machine Guns!

After over four YEARS without gold, Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins finally have belts around their waists again. But will the champions go away after only a few weeks? Or can the Profits be up here in Sin City?

SmackDown returns and Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin are already in the ring as The Profits make their entrance. The introductions are made, but MCMG strike first with DROPKICKS at the ropes! The Profits tumble, MCMG take aim again, STEREO PLANCHA! The fans fire up, Sabin SMACKS Ford off barriers and then puts him in the ring. The bell rings, Sabin ROCKS Ford again and again, then stomps him. Tag to Shelley, Sabin wrenches Ford and Shelley goes up. AX HANDLES! Then MCMG double whip, DOUBLE ELBOW, and SENTON KNEE DROP COMBO! Cover, TWO! Shelley keeps Ford down, and wrenches an arm.

Tag to Sabin, MCMG double wrench, but Ford breaks free to ROCK Shelley, ELBOW Sabin, then KICK and ELBOW! MCMG DOUBLE KICK, then they run, but Ford blows past to LARIAT Shelley! Sabin kicks, runs, but Ford blows past to LARIAT him now! The fans fire up for Ford and he tags Dawkins in. Dawkins LARIATS Sabin, LARIATS again, then whips. Sabin reverses, Dawkins hurdles, and then Dawkins FLYING UPPERCUTS! The fans fire up with Dawkins, and he runs to CYCLONE SPLASH! Tag to Ford, then Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts! Ford is up top, BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! Cover, Shelley YANKS Ford away!

Dawkins whips Shelley, Shelley reverses and TOSSES him out! Shelley builds speed, DIVES into a haymaker! The fans fire up while Dawkins snarls, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Dawkins goes back to the Profits corner from the outside, and Shelley returns to the MCMG corner. Sabin tags Shelley, Ford tags Dawkins, and the two throw hands! Shelley climbs up in the corner to rain down punches! Ford runs up as Shelley reaches nine, but Shelley ELBOWS him down! Dawkins runs up but Shelley mule kicks! Shelley whips, Dawkins reverses, and Dawkins FLAPJACKS Shelley hard! Shelley sputters while Dawkins paces. Dawkins covers, TWO! Dawkins drags Shelley up, brings him over, then fires fast hands in the corner! Dawkins DECKS Shelley, drags him back up, and snapmares him for Ford’s slingshot SENTON!

Ford stares Sabin down, goes back to Shelley, and he drags Shelley up, only to get a JAWBREAKER! Shelley runs, sunset flips, but Ford rolls through to PENALTY KICK! And then SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Shelley stays in this and crawls away to ropes. Ford drags Shelley over, tags Dawkins, and they stomp Shelley. Ford YANKS Shelley’s leg, Dawkins stomps Shelley more, then Dawkins stays between Shelley and Sabin. Dawkins scoops Shelley to SLAM him! Cover, TWO! Dawkins stalks Shelley, clamps on with a chinlock, and he grinds Shelley down. Shelley endures, fights up, and throws knees! Dawkins ROCKS Shelley!

Shelley flounders, Dawkins CLUBS him, and then Dawkins RAMS Shelley in a corner! The ref counts, Dawkins lets off, and he brings Shelley over to bump off buckles in the Profits’ corner. SmackDown returns to single picture as Dawkins runs up, but Shelley dodges the cyclone! Ford tags in, slides between Shelley and Sabin, then grabs a leg. Shelley BOOTS Ford away, hot tag to Sabin! Sabin dodges Ford, DROPKICKS Dawkins, then BOOTS Ford! Sabin goes up, and he FLYING RANAS Ford! Sabin keeps moving, and he goes to the apron to PENALTY KICK Dawkins! Sabin goes up the corner again, and he MISSILE DROPKICKS Ford!

Sabin tags Shelley while the fans fire up. Sabin runs in, Ford puts him on the apron, but Shelley LARIATS! Shelley clinches, Sabin goes up, MISSILE DROPKICK FALTLINER COMBO! Cover, TWO! Ford survives, but Shelley drags him up and brings him around. Shelley bumps Ford off buckles, tags Sabin, and Shelley Electric Chair Lifts Ford! Sabin climbs but Ford fights free! Ford sends Shelley into Sabin, then ENZIGIRIS Shelley! Hot tag to Dawkins! Sabin leaps over Ford, but Dawkins is there, POUNCE SAIDO COMBO! Cover, TWO! Dawkins drags Sabin back up, tags Ford back in, and Dawkins whips Sabin, only for Sabin to grab ropes.

Dawkins runs up, Sabin BOOTS him away! Shelley sneaks a tag, Sabin runs, FLAPJACK DROPKICK! Ford leaps, Sabin dodges! Shelley is there to atomic drop! The Dream Sequence begins, and completes with the MOTOR CITY FACIAL! Ford flounders to a corner, MCMG hit him with the BOOT ENZIGIRI COMBO! Then they bring Ford out, but Dawkins DECKS Shelley! Sabin DECKS Dawkins! Ford SUPERKICKS Sabin! Sabin tumbles out to join Shelley and Dawkins, so Ford builds speed and FLIES over the corner! The fans are thunderous, but JOHNNY GRAGANO LEAPS IN FROM THE CROWD! DIY attacks, and the match is ruined!

Winners: The Street Profits, by disqualification (still WWE Tag Team Champions)

Tommaso Ciampa grabs the belts, then he POSTS Dawkins! And he KNEES Shelly down! DIY is committing grand larceny but they claim they’re still the rightful champions! The fans boo, will Nick Aldis have to serve some justice?

Nick Aldis is on the phone.

Speaking of the SmackDown General Manager, he’s clearly already addressing the issue with DIY, only to be interrupted by Chelsea Green. The WWE Women’s United States Champion has her Secret Her-vice with her as she assumes Aldis witnessed last week’s travesty. He witnessed that count out loss, if that’s what she means. That IS what she means. And she has a complaint to file. Oh, tell him something he doesn’t know. Chelsea has Alba & Piper serve Aldis with the document. Aldis looks it over, and Chelsea assumes he will rectify the injustice. Aldis tells Chelsea that yes, she is right. There was an injustice, time to take action.

In fact, the three of them are supposed to be in a Six Woman Tag tonight. Forget that, because we’re handling this “injustice.” Zelina Vega will face Chelsea Green again! Great idea! What a stand-up champion! But hey, it’s a singles match, so let’s just have it be only Chelsea at ringside. Thank you. Aldis leaves, Chelsea freaks out and wants him to get back here, but what’s done is done. Will Chelsea just have to make sure she doesn’t lose two weeks in a row to La Muneca?

DIY is running backstage.

They’re trying to get away with these belts, but Aldis and security stop them! Aldis wants them to hand the belts over, DIY says they’re not playing games, but Aldis says DIY are not the champions. DIY insist they ARE the champions, but then the Profits run up! Followed by MCMG! Aldis and security keep this from breaking down! Aldis has everyone stop. DIY can do this the easy way or the hard way. DIY hand the belts over. Aldis says he is sick of dealing with this. Next week, the belts will be on the line, and high overhead. It will be a TABLES, LADDERS & CHAIRS MATCH! All three teams like that, but who wins when it’s all about TLC?

Randy Orton is here!

The fans sing along with Voices as The Viper makes his way to the ring. Orton takes a long look at the WrestleMania sign before he poses on the corner. Orton then grabs a mic to say, “Ladies and gents, as of now, I do not have an opponent for WrestleMania 41.” The fans boo, but Orton says he and the wife have been in Vegas, doing the appearances, walked The Strip, met the WWE Universe, thousands of you have approached him. He’s seen it in your eyes, he feels it in the air, there is an excitement for this year’s WrestleMania like none other! Orton’s father was in the very first Mania. Then 20 years later, Orton debuted at Madison Square Garden.

Orton’s mother got to witness his debut. Mania means something to him. And his legacy has a lot to do with his longevity. So there is no way in hell he is just sitting out this year’s WrestleMania! If Orton competes this weekend, it will be the 20th time he has competed at WrestleMania! This WrestleMania means so much to him, so here’s what he’ll do. He is just going to throw this out there to “the universe,” and let the fans decide! Orton will show up on Sunday, boots tied up, gear on, and just the right amount of baby oil on his skin… Fans like that! Orton promises to be locked, loaded and ready to deliver.

Because he’s not just doing this for himself! Orton is doing this for the fans, for his family, for the guys in the back! But as far as “the boys in the back” are concerned, if anybody wants to test themselves, he dares them to step up! Anybody on The Strip, if you’ve got wrestling boots, or even just catch wind that The Legend Killer needs an opponent, he is challenging you to step up! He will be there on Sunday, Allegiant Stadium, in the ring, ready to go! But know this: You will be met with, you will fall victim to the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment, R K O! Who will then step up to this RKOpen Challenge?

Backstage interview with Damian Priest.

Byron Saxton is with The Archer of Infamy and notes that this situation with Drew McIntyre has reached a boiling point. Earlier today on the WrestleMania Kickoff Show, they got into it, and- Priest stops Byron there. He knows Byron is doing his job, but Priest is done answering questions. This is now a direct message to Drew McIntyre, “the same guy who didn’t bother to show up to SmackDown tonight. The same guy who has been trying to convince the world that he’s some kind of victim. Drew, you are not a victim, man. Not yet. You’re mistaken if you think this is about me beating you in a match. You’re not ready for this fight. The world isn’t ready for this violence.

“You’ve tried really hard to paint me as some type of bad guy. Good. I’m gonna beat you so bad, you’re gonna wish you were future endeavored, again. At WrestleMania, I’m bringing the punishment, and I’m gonna bury you.” Priest has put the Scottish Warrior on notice, is he about to terminate the terminator?

The shadowy force approaches…

More smoke and flashes of images. “Accept damnation… Reject forgiveness…” Then the numbers appear, 4.25.25. We have one week left to wait, will SmackDown fade to black?

Chelsea Green VS Zelina Vega!

The Women’s US Champion is very upset that she lost by count out, but maybe she should’ve just left the issue alone. Now she has to face La Muneca again, and could end up losing even worse. Will Chelsea end up complaining even more after tonight? Or will she find a way to even the score?

SmackDown returns as Chelsea makes her entrance. The bell rings and Chelsea tries the skirt trick from last week! Zelina dodges it, then runs up, but Chelsea catches her for a back suplex! Zelina lands out, but Chelsea SLAPS her! Chelsea talks smack, but Zelina runs up again! Chelsea catches her for a LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Cover, TWO! Chelsea rains down fists, dribbles Zelina, and she has Vegas on her side. Chelsea stand Zelina up, whips, but Zelina KICKS Chelsea! Zelina wheelbarrows, arm-drags, and then runs at the corner, but into a KICK! Chelsea STOMPS Zelina, then rains down forearms! Chelsea then salutes while the fans cheer.

Chelsea drags Zelina up, whips, but Zelina reverses to TOSS Chelsea! Chelsea drags Zelina out and THROWS her into barriers! Chelsea refreshes the ring count this time, argues with the ref about it, then goes out to fetch Zelina. But Zelina DUMPS Chelsea into the timekeeper’s area! The fans rally, Zelina crawls away, and Chelsea drags herself back to ringside. We’re at 7 of 10, then 8! Both women spring in at 9! The fans cheer as the two stare down. Chelsea and Zelina warn the other, and then the forearms fly! Vegas is on Chelsea’s side for whatever reason but Zelina fires a flurry! Then she dodges and comes back to CLOBBER Chelsea!

Zelina LARIATS! Then she blocks a kick, ELBOWS Chelsea, and stalks her to the ropes. Zelina dials it up, but Chelsea BOOTS her first! Chelsea covers, TWO! Now Chelsea argues that count wasn’t fast enough! Chelsea puts Zelina up top, climbs up after her, but Zelina fights the suplex! Zelina smacks Chelsea off buckles, climbs up, and hits a SUPER CODE RED!! Cover, ZELINA WINS AGAIN!

Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall

And now that’s a definitive victory on the Women’s US Champion! Will Zelina look to make this 3-0 when she goes for the title?

LA Knight VS Solo Sikoa!

The Mega Star got the drop on Tama Tonga, and now he looks to remove one more variable before facing the dangerous Samoan Werewolf. Knight has the mic to say, “LEMME TALK TO YA! I dunno if you just saw what was on the screen, but what happened last week, I call that inspiration. Because week after week, Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, they like to use numbers, they like to use sneak attacks. If you wanna sneak, then I got the sneak! And sneaking’s what I did. So outta the equation is Tama Tonga, and next on the list, Solo. Which means tomorrow at WrestleMania, it’s just me and it’s Jacob Fatu

“Now I understand Jacob Fatu’s a force, the man’s a monster, and he’s destroyed everything in front of him. Ain’t ever seen anything like him, right? But Jacob, you don’t understand! Because with that same energy, I walked into this place, turned the world upside-down, and stand here, TWO-TIME, most matches, most wins. And what that means is this is the title of titles. We never seen anything like you? NAH NAH! You ain’t ever seen anything like me!” The fans cheer, and Knight says when Jacob grabbed the belt last week, Knight could be cliche and say that’s the closest Jacob will get to being champ.

But Knight ain’t a dummy. Knight can look at Jacob and see that some day, some where, chances are, Jacob will be a champion. If that’s US Champ or something else, who knows. But the chances are, that while Knight’s here in the city of chance, he ain’t talking chance, he’s talking guarantees. The guarantee tonight is that Solo’s gonna walk out here and eat one. Then tomorrow night, Knight guarantees Jacob eats a BFT, courtesy of the man they call The Mega Star, with everybody saying, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!!” With that, Solo makes his entrance, truly solo without Tama or Jacob. Knight then rushes out to start the fight!

The fans fire up as Solo and Knight trade hands back and forth, the Knight gets the edge! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight RAMS Solo into the apron, stalks him to the steel steps, but Solo YANKS Knight into the steel! The ref reprimands but this isn’t a match yet! Solo THROWS Knight into the steel steps, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and they’re back on the outside as Solo stands Knight up. Solo takes a swing but Knight fires counter punches! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Solo UPPERCUTS, then scoops Knight, to RAM him into the POST! Knight writhes on the floor, Solo refreshes the ring count, and Solo hauls Knight up for an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Knight flounders into the ring, Solo stalks after him, and Solo pushes Knight to a cover. TWO, and the fans rally behind Knight. Solo stays focused and he stands Knight up again. Solo suplexes, Knight lands on his feet, and Knight hits a NECKBREAKER! Both men are down and the fans rally up.

Knight stands to kick and punch away! Knight whips, Solo reverses, and Solo kitchen sink knees! Solo taunts the fans, then he FALLING HEADBUTTS Knight! And FALLING HEADBUTTS again! Solo taunts Knight, then has Knight at the ropes for a HIP DROP! Solo is going after those ribs, and he mockingly spells it out, before he HIP DROPS onto knees! The fans fire up while Solo sputters. Knight crawls his way to a corner, drags himself up, and the fans rally. Knight fires more punches, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight ROCKS Solo, runs, but then has to dodge a lariat to LEAPING LARIAT in return!

Knight kicks and DDTS Solo, then rolls back! The fans fire up for the athleticism, and Knight goes up a corner, only for JACOB FATU to shove him down!

Winner: LA Knight, by disqualification

The fans are torn as the Samoan Werewolf is now attacking Knight! Jacob stomps away, then storms around, but BRAUN is here!! The Monster of All Monsters is back, and he runs through Jacob & Solo to then DOUBLE CROSSBODY them! Knight LARIATS Jacob up and out of the ring! Aldis is here, and he can see Jacob doesn’t wanna wait. Since no one can keep their hands to themselves, is Vegas thinking what he’s thinking? Let’s make a tag team match, and it starts right now! The fans fire up as Aldis pulls a Teddy Long, but will Jacob & Solo be able to soften Knight up with #OneBigSOB in the way?

LA Knight & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu!

SmackDown is picture in picture as this sorts out. Knight and Solo start to continue where it left off. Knight kicks, JABS, JABS, JABS, and then whips. Solo reverses, but Knight grabs ropes. Knight BOOTS Solo, but Jacob CLOBBERS Knight! Braun protests, the ref keeps him back, and Solo soaks up the heat. Solo tags Jacob, Jacob stomps Knight, then glares at Braun. Jacob stomps Knight more, drags him up and whips him hard into a corner! Knight sputters but Jacob HEADBUTTS him down. Knight flounders against the ropes, but Jacob CHOKES him! The ref counts, Jacob lets off at 4, and then Jacob brings Knight up.

Knight fires body shots, but Jacob HEADBUTTS him back down! Jacob says, “I LOVE YOU, SOLO!” Solo says see? The team’s just fine. Jacob whips Knight hard into the corner, then he tags Solo. Solo RAMS into Knight, ROCKS him, and Knight falls back into the corner. Solo fires body shots, brings Knight out, but then whips Knight back into the corner! Knight drops to his knees, but Solo brings him up to whip into the corner again! Solo tags Jacob, Jacob glares at Braun, then runs and SPLASHES Knight! Jacob CHOKES Knight, the ref counts, and Jacob stops at 4. But then Solo CHOKES Knight behind the ref’s back!

SmackDown returns to single picture, the fans boo and Braun protests, but Solo gets away with it all. Jacob stares Braun down, but Knight kicks low! Knight ELBOWS Solo, kicks Jacob, repeat! Jacob runs up but Knight DUMPS him out! The fans fire up, Knight crawls, hot tag to Braun! Braun CLOBBERS Jacob! And CLOBBERS him again! Braun BLASTS Solo, then runs to SHOTGUN Jacob outta the ring! The fans fire up with Braun, and he gets on the tracks! STROWMAN EXPRESS for Solo! And then Jacob! Jacob hits steel steps as he falls! The fans fire up with Braun and he puts Jacob in the ring.

Braun storms in, keeps moving, but Jacob LEBOWS him away! Jacob then dodges to SUPERKICK! Jacob runs, and he LARIATS Braun down! Jacob hauls Braun up to then DDT back down! And SENTON! Cover, TWO! Jacob snarls, but he tags Solo in. Solo runs up to stomp Braun down. Solo paces around Braun, stomps him more, then clamps on with a chinlock. Braun endures, fights up, and the fans rally. Braun throws body shots, but Solo DECKS him! Tag to Jacob, he stomps Braun, then clamps on with a chinlock. Braun endures the neck wrench, fights up, and the fans fire up as Braun picks Jacob up! SIDEWALK SLAM!

Braun and Jacob are both down but the fans rally back up! Braun and Jacob crawl, hot tags to Solo and Knight! Knight CLOBBERS Solo, then slips around to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Knight BLASTS Jacob for good measure before he scoops Solo and POWERSLAMS! Knight goes up, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” BOX JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, JACOB BREAKS IT! That senton squashes Knight, but Braun POUNCES Jacob out of the ring! The fans fire up as Braun gets back on the tracks! STROWMAN EXPRESS is sent over the desk!! Jacob goes to the ring, but Knight WRECKS him with a dropkick!

Knight returns, but Solo mule kicks him! SAMOAN- NO, Knight dodge the spike to B F T!! Cover, Knight & Braun win!

Winners: LA Knight & Braun Strowman, by pinfall

Knight survives the night thanks to some help from Braun, but Jacob is back on his feet! Will nothing stop the Samoan Werewolf from taking the Mega Star’s gold?

SmackDown shares a snippet of Wade Barrett’s interview with Tiffany Stratton.

Like with The Queen, Charlotte Flair, Barrett sat down with the WWE Women’s Champion. She is someone who has risen to superstardom in record time, learning on the job, and we had quite the “learning experience” during that interview segment in Chicago. Barrett was there with Tiff and Charlotte, and it created a ton of buzz around this match, but perhaps for the wrong reasons. To put it mildly, that interview went off the rails. What happened there? Tiff says she feels over the last couple of weeks, she has been bullied and taken advantage of. That split screen interview before, there was a moment of discouragement, like Tiff isn’t made for this.

It was a moment of panic, but Tiff turned that feeling into motivation. She went back to the drawing board, did some research, and she made sure that she and Charlotte being face to face, Tiff would be prepared. She felt her moment, and came at Charlotte with a killshot. Tiff beat Charlotte at her own game and gave her a taste of her own medicine. Charlotte doesn’t have to like Tiff, but she will respect her now. Barrett says given this level of animosity, as well as the title on the line, this feels like a must-win for both sides. But what happens if Tiffy Time ends at WrestleMania? Tiff will say first, that won’t happen.

When the bell rings, she is fully aware this will be a fight. This will be one of the hardest matches she’s had to go through. She will channel that discouragement and make it motivation. She will stand up to Charlotte, she will stand up to a bully, and at WrestleMania, she will walk both in and out as champion. Barrett says this is certainly one of the most hotly anticipated matches this weekend, and wishes her luck. Luck aside, will Tiff have the skills to surpass one of the greatest to ever do it?

Six Man Tag: Team American Made VS Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee & Rey Fenix!

Chad Gable & The Creeds may not have won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, but their apparent amigo, El Grande Americano, made sure Rey Fenix didn’t win it, either. Will this WrestleMania SmackDown still be American Made in the end? Or will this incredible trio of lucha libre power show El Grande what he’s in for?

SmackDown returns as American Made make their way to the ring. The teams sort out, and Brutus starts against Fenix. The two circle, and Fenix JABS Brutus! Brutus ROCKS Fenix, Fenix comes back to CHOP! The fans “WOO~” but Brutus fires a flurry of forearms! Brutus CLUBS Fenix down, taunts him, then whips Fenix to a corner. Fenix goes up and FLYING HEADBUTTS! The fans fire up as Fenix somersaults and RANAS Brutus to a cover, TWO! Brutus is up but Fenix SOBATS! Fenix whips Brutus to the corner, then runs up to FOREARM! Tag to Dragon Lee, he sits Brutus down for the slingshot DROPKICK! Dragon drags Brutus to a cover, TWO!

Dragon throws his shirt to the fans, but Brutus RAMS Fenix into the American Made corner! Julius tags in, the Creeds mug Fenix, and then Julius whips Dragon hard into the corner! Julius runs up but Fenix ELBOWS him, mule kicks, KICKS and V-TRIGGERS! Dragon runs to RANA and Julius tumbles out! The fans fire up, Dragon builds speed, and Dragon FLIES! Down goes Julius and the fans fire up! Dragon puts Julius in, climbs the corner, and he FLYING CROSSBODIES! Cover, Gable breaks it! Gable POSTS Dragon, the fans boo, but Dragon says, “A THANK YEW~!” Rey Mysterio storms in, but Gable runs for it!

The fans cheer Rey, but the Creeds YANK Rey down! The fans boo more, and then Brutus BLASTS Fenix off the corner! Gable GERMAN SUPLEXES Dragon! The Creeds climb the corners, Gable joins in, and they TRIPLE DIVING HEADBUTT!! “A THANK YEW~!” while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

American Made soaks up the heat, and the ref gets them to sort out. Julius CLUBS away on Dragon, then drags him up. Julius RAMS Dragon into the corner, tags Brutus, and Brutus runs up to ELBOW Dragon down! The ref reprimands but Brutus drags Dragon up to ROCK him. Dragon goes to a corner, Brutus RAMS into him again and again, then Brutus pushes Dragon around. Brutus CLUBS Dragon down, talks trash, then drags him up. Brutus ROCKS Dragon again, then tags Julius. Julius storms up on Dragon in a corner, whips him corner to corner hard, and Dragon falls to the mat.

Julius looms over Dragon, clamps onto him, and has a chinlock stretch! Julius is pulling on the mask! The ref reprimands, Julius shoves Dragon down, then drags him over to tag in Gable. Gable snapmares and clamps on with a top wristlock. Dragon endures again, reaches out for the ropes, then fights up to his feet. Gable grinds the arm to keep Dragon down, then reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Gable soaks up more heat, then sucker punches Fenix! Gable stands Dragon up, but Dragon fires hands! Gable CHOPS Dragon off his feet! Gable CHOPS Dragon int he corner again and again, then stomps away!

The ref counts, Gable stops, and he snapmares Dragon. Gable clamps on with an armlock but Dragon still endures. Dragon fights up, fights around, and he reaches out. SmackDown returns to single picture, Gable knees Dragon low then whips him to a corner. Tag to Julius and Julius tags Brutus. Gable runs up, but Dragon BOOTS him! Dragon runs at Gable, but Gable OVERHEAD SUPLEXES Dragon into Julius’ arms! Brutus goes up top and Julius lifts Dragon, BRUTUS BALL BOMB!! Cover, Fenix breaks it! Julius DECKS Fenix, then he tags back in. Brutus drags Dragon up, Julius helps out, and they hoist Dragon to the top rope.

The Creeds climb up but Dragon resists the suplex! Dragon fires body shots, trips both Creeds up, but Gabe ROCKS Dragon! Gable climbs up over the Creeds, throws hands, but he ends up in the Tree of Woe, too! Dragon aims for a TIRPLE WOE STOMP!! The fans are thunderous as Dragon crawls for his corner! Julius grabs a foot, Dragon ELBOWS him away! Hot tag to Fenix! Fenix ROCKS Julius, DECKS Gable, repeat! Fenix rallies on Julius more, and the fans fire up! Fenix whips, Julius reverses, but Fenix Tiger Feint HEEL KICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix clamps onto Julius with a chinlock, then ghost pins, TWO!

Julius and Fenix get up, Julius KNEES low! Julius snarls, drags Fenix back up, and he reels Fenix in for an OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Fenix flounders but Julius stands him up. Julius whips corner to corner hard and Fenix flops to the mat. Julius drags Fenix up, whips him back the other way, then runs up, Fenix SUPERKICKS! Fenix goes up, up, and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Brutus runs up, Fenix blocks his shot to mule kick the legs out! BUZZSAW! Gable is in, but Fenix uses Brutus as a step for a RANA! The fans fire up as Brutus and Gable bail out. Fenix goes up, up, Dragon FLYING RANAS Brutus while Fenix says GOODBYE, AMIGO to Gable’s face!

Julius isn’t sure where to turn, Dragon SUPERKICKS him! Then he hits OPERACION DRAGON!! Fenix goes up, up, and Dragon sets Julius in place for the METEORA!! Cover, the luchadores win!

Winners: Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee & Rey Fenix, by pinfall

The Boy Wonder & Immortal Firebird finish this off for their team, but the King of Lucha seems to be in rough shape. Will Rey Mysterio even be able to battle El Grande Americano at this rate? Or will he be easy pickings for the would-be greatest luchador of all time?

Cody Rhodes is here!

Las Vegas sings along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” and the pyro goes off. The Undisputed WWE Champion takes in the huge crowd here in the T-Mobile Center before going down the ramp and high-fiving the front row. Cody goes to the ring, gets another “WHOA~ OH~” and pyro, then grabs the mic. The fans are a bit torn now, which takes Cody by surprise. But he still smiles and holds up the belt one more time before… being interrupted by John Cena! Cody smirks and the fans sing, “John Cena SUCKS~!” Cena sports the Las Vegas edition of his farewell tour merchandise, and he goes to the ring with “The Last Time is Now” towel draped behind him.

Cena steps into the ring, grabs himself a mic, and again the fans are torn, just the flipside of how they were for Cody. “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” Cena paces, Cody lifts his mic, but Cena tells him, “Shut your mouth, kid. This is gonna be my 20th WrestleMania, my 12th title match at WrestleMania. I know just as well as anybody that right about now, you can get lost in all the noise, all these voices. There is one voice you should listen to, and that’s the one coming from the man looking you in the eye. Sunday is the last time I will ever compete in a WrestleMania ring. No one has ever had the courage to end their career the way I have.

“And there is nothing you can possibly do to prepare to face a man who knows he’s going to die. What I’m doing is so unprecedented, they don’t think it’s real. They don’t believe it. They think I’m going to come back, because everyone always comes crawling back. ‘There’s no such thing as a wrestling retirement! There’s always one more match!’ The reason there isn’t a wrestling retirement is because every other wrestler is a scared, insecure loser. Every other wrestler needs these people! Needs these people to care about them, to post about them, to talk about them, because the second they get away from this, they’re left alone, by themselves, with their pathetic lives, so they come crawling back as a shell of themselves.

“I have love, joy and mirth in my life, I don’t need a single damn one of you.” The fans boo but Cena says the only reason he is here is to take that title away from Cody and all of the fans forever! Don’t say he didn’t warn you, because he did. When Cody Rhodes won the title last year, everyone raised him on their shoulders, giving him watches and saying, “Good job, champ!” When Cena had his moment alone with Cody, like a man to his face, Cena didn’t say, “Good job, champ.” He said, “Every day you hold that, it gets heavier.” And on Sunday, it finally becomes too heavy for Cody to hold, Cody will LOSE.

The fans are torn, but Cena continues by saying Cody will lose because he cares about the fans! “You people do not write history! Winners do.” Cena is here tonight because he wanted to share one more thing with Cody before Sunday. When Cena won at Elimination Chamber, he knew it’d be impossible to beat Cody in a match at WrestleMania. And in one moment, Cody changed all that. Cody changed all that with what he said to The Rock. See, kid, The Rock just gave Cody a choice: Do you wanna do what the fans think is right? Or do you wanna win? And in the moment Cody made his choice, not only did Cena realize he could win, he also realized that this Sunday, Cody doesn’t stand a chance.

The fans are torn again, but Cena says on that night, Cena also realized that the one thing left for him to do was do what Cody couldn’t: Prove to the fans that they don’t matter. See, all of this? All this noise? These people will always make up their own version of the truth that they want to believe, and when you stop caring about that and stop caring about them, you can start accomplishing anything you want in life! But Cody is too weak to understand that. The fans boo, but Cena says that in order to beat Cena, Cody must choose. Does he do what the fans think is right? Or does he win? Cody, you are strong, you are tough, and you are driven, but you are also scared, insecure and naive.

Cody says he wears the suit because he wants to be somebody. He has the tattoo because he wants to be somebody. Cody didn’t need the suit or the tattoo, because on Sunday, Cena will make Cody into somebody. Somebody who finally realizes that to become a winner, you gotta sever all ties with the losers in your life. Or… Somebody who had a chance to be a winner, and blew it. And in that very moment, Cody will realize he is to the captain, not the quarterback, but just a kid in a man’s world, who doesn’t have the balls of the Last Real Champion. Cody says okay, okay, “the noise,” huh? Cena’s always gotta say something.

The fans duel, and Cody says how this crowd feels about Cena… Cena says wow, this is who Cody fights for. This matters to him? Cody says that Cena claims he doesn’t bury talent, because he IS talent. Well, Cody knows a graveyard of talent that would disagree, but this isn’t about them. This is about WrestleMania. Cody wants to ask a question: Does Cena know the guy who handed him the mic? No, of course not. Nor this person, or anyone backstage. This is a different WWE. When this was Cena’s WWE, Cody worshipped him! The fans worshipped him! But since The GOAT hasn’t shown up since Elimination Chamber, Cody will offer some perspective.

Cena called Cody underwhelming? Well guess what? Cena is overrated! And overbearing! And more importantly, out of touch and out of time. Cena’s face is melting wax, he has a stack of dimes for a neck, has spindly ass legs, is paler than Sting at Starrcade ’97, and is sanctimonious! Cena has comments about Cody being an errand boy when the whole world has watched Cena saunter out on the Oscar stage buck ass naked for the people he runs errands for now! And BAH GAWD, Cena, it is 2025, and Cena still can’t wrestle!! The fans are going nuts, and there are plenty of chants for both sides. Cena frowns and says, “Idiots.”

The fans sing for “Cody! Cody Rhodes~!” and that just annoys Cena more. Cena says they’re just like Cody. They don’t know what they want. And on Sunday, in order to beat Cody, Cena doesn’t have to wrestle. Cena pokes Cody in the eyes! Then he fireman’s carries, and hits an ATTITUDE- NO, Cody slips free! CROSS RHODES!! Cena’s punchline backfires, and Cody stands over him, title in hand! Will the American Nightmare keep the dream alive by keeping the title away from Cena? Or will Cena still hit the jackpot on reign number 17?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown, especially as the go-home to WrestleMania. Great stuff with LA Knight going after Tama to reduce the odds of interference, but obviously Jacob Fatu was still a factor. Good match from Knight VS Solo before the interference, and then very good tag match with Braun Strowman joining in. Knight getting the win would likely indicate that Jacob wins at WrestleMania, assuming Solo Sikoa doesn’t screw things up for him. Honestly, when are we getting Hikuleo’s debut? I’m sure Tonga Loa going down with injury didn’t help plans, but at some point, this rogue Bloodline needs to get back to looking like a threat.

It has been a long time since a WWE battle royal, let alone an Andre the Giant Battle Royal, has been awesome, and tonight’s was definitely awesome. I also like how Miz was being a team player for once, which is in part why Melo won tonight. That and the tie-in with the El Grande Americano story. But Melo getting the win is great for H1M, and this really should translate into him getting something. And speaking of Grande Americano, good promo from “his amigos,” American Made with Mysterio, Dragon & Fenix. Great Six Man Tag from them, but I really hope Rey Mysterio is okay, the ringside doctor was checking him.

Great tag title match, but I should’ve known DIY would get involved. DIY trying to literally steal the titles is funny, though, and I do like that we are getting that Triple Threat I was expecting. A shame it’s just on a SmackDown, but a TLC Triple Threat for the first time in a long time, I wonder if Bubba Ray gave someone that idea. That match will definitely keep us guessing, so I wouldn’t be surprised with any of the outcomes. Good promo with Chelsea Green and Aldis getting Chelsea into a rematch with Zelina, and Zelina getting another win is good stuff. I kinda hope their title match is also part of the SmackDown After Mania, why drag this out to Backlash?

Randy Orton had a great promo to establish his Open Challenge, but then they kinda undercut it letting us know Aleister Black is returning next Friday. And duh, c’mon, those vignettes of the smoke and the shadows have been for Aleister this whole time. But Orton can face just about anybody, whether it’s a return or a call-up or even a new signing that goes straight to main roster, and that’ll be a lot of fun. Good promo from Damian Priest to call out Drew McIntyre, and they also had that brawl earlier today. I believe I said last week, that match will be wild, and both guys kinda need this because they both could use something to get back to a title story.

Very good snippets from the interviews we’ll be seeing as part of tomorrow’s Countdown special, hard to say how Charlotte VS Tiff goes but it’ll be great stuff. Great promo from Rhea that also brought out Iyo and Bianca, which then also brought out Naomi and Jade. Two builds with one segment, that was good stuff, as was the resulting brawl. But Iyo standing tall over Rhea and Bianca, the math would indicate she is not winning. Given how everything is going, I stick by Bianca needing to not just win, but to go Heel in the win so she can feed off the heat fans are giving her. Jade VS Naomi could go either way, but I wonder if Naomi will get herself disqualified by going too far, so it’s more a moral victory than the actual.

Great promo from Seth Rollins to add some last stuff to his Triple Threat with Punk and Roman, and there was also a great video package that they likely will show during WrestleMania, too. Rollins helped Cody #FinishTheStory last year, now he wants to finish his story with Punk and Roman this year, but I don’t know if he does it. He stood tall on Monday, neither Roman nor Punk were here to retort, hard to say what’s going to happen. As for Cody and Cena, they had another great promo segment together, and I like how Cena’s point of “will you do the ‘right thing’ or do what it takes?” feels very much like Bray Wyatt from his first feud with Cena.

And I do appreciate Cena’s attempt of punking Cody backfired. It proves Cody’s point of the whole “you can’t wrestle,” aka Cody was easily able to escape the fireman’s carry cuz of his wrestling skills, but then it adds to the go-home math that Cena is winning. If you don’t think that, just remember that The Rock is backing Cena. They didn’t wanna repeat last year’s string of The Rock beating the snot out of Cody, but that doesn’t mean The Rock won’t be there to influence things.

My Score: 8.9/10