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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MARCH 28, 2025
LONDON, ENGLAND AT THE O2 ARENA
AIRED ON TAPE DELAY ON USA NETWORK AND LIVE ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of showtime, 15,746 tickets were distributed with a set-up of 16,211. The arena has a capacity of 20,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Joe Tessitore introduced the show as they went to an aerial view of London. Then they shifted to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. as he mentioned WrestleMania. Then they cut to the interior of the O2 Arena with a huge crowd cheering. They showed Seth Rollins arriving and then being joined by a group of security. Then they showed Charlotte arriving, followed by Michin with B-Fab, L.A. Knight, Braun Strowman, and Cody Rhodes. The camera followed Cody right onto the entrance stage as his music played.
-Cody came out to a cheering crowd who shifted to signing his song. Around 8 minutes into the show, he asked the crowd what they wanted to talk about. A variety of different chants started and Cody waited to hear them out. There was a “Cena sucks!” chant that was overtaken by singing Cody’s name Europe-style. Cody said at WrestleMania 41 he’ll be facing John Cena as he tries to break the record for the number of world title reigns. He said in a few nights, in this same arena, he’ll be standing opposite of Cena. Randy Orton’s music played and he walked out. Interesting.
Orton strolled out as Wade Barrett talked about their history dating back to being in the Legacy faction in 2008. He said he believes things are incredibly cordial with them. Tessitore noted that Orton says he is hearing voices in his head again after Kevin Owens stomped him. Fans kept singing Orton’s entrance theme, after after the music itself stopped. They then gave themselves (and Orton) a round of applause. A “Randy!” chant broke out. (We’re not 13 minutes into the hour.)
Orton said he’s not normally the sentimental type, but “screw it.” Orton paused and then said to Cody: “Look at you. Look at who you are now, the man you are now.” He told fans to “look at where he came from.” Fans broke in and sang Cody’s name again. Orton paused. He said he remembered Cody breaking into the business in his early 20s and “busting your ass just as hard, usually harder, than everybody else.” He said he wasn’t exactly happy. He said he grew frustrated, but he was man enough and smart enough to know he had to grow outside of a WWE locker room. “You weren’t exactly treated fairly in a WWE locker room,” he said. He said it took “some big-ass balls to leave the company do what you did.” He said the wrestlers in the back appreciate him for it.
Orton said they all knew he’d come back “and the industry has changed forever” the day he stepped foot back in WWE. He said he didn’t know what to expect at first, but he was the same guy plus he grew. Fans began singing Cody’s name again. Orton said he’d join them, but then they might leave. He said when Cody faced Seth Rollins in Hell in a Cell, he started the match with a partially torn pec and left with a fully torn pec and his body turned shades of colors he’s never seen on a human body. He said he won that match and then went on to WrestleMania and beat Roman Reigns and finished his story.
He said he’s in the midst of another story. He said it’s a privilege to see him take control of his legacy. He said ticket sales are up and intrigue with WWE is up around the world. He said it is 99.9 percent because of Cody. Cody appeared to get emotional. Fans sang Cody’s name again. (Is this the new “What?” chant?) Orton said he loves him and respects him and is proud of him.
Orton said now it’s time for WrestleMania. Fans chanted “RKO!” Orton said he’s going to kick Owens so hard in the head, he can just feel it already. He said he cannot wait to remove Kevin Owens’s head from his shoulders and he’ll enter WrestleMania and leave WrestleMania as champ, but not until he beats Cena up and down the Las Vegas strip.
Orton said the day will come that he wants to go after number 15, but he won’t kick him in the balls like a coward. He said he’ll look him in the eyes and tell him he’s coming for it. Drew McIntyre’s music then played.
McIntyre stood on the stage and stared at Cody and Orton. Fans booed and then sang Cody’s name again. As he walked to the ring, he said it makes him sick watching a couple of nepo-babies having a love fest. He asked what Orton has done to justify a title match against Cody. He said all he can remember is Orton being on the shelf for months. He told him to get to the back of the line. He told Cody he should have listened to him. A loud “C.M. Punk” chant started, but Drew ignored it and talked through it. Drew said Cena “kicked you right in the twig and berries and proved me right, as usual.” He said the main event of WrestleMania should be Cody vs. “the U.K.’s only ever World Champion, Drew McIntyre.” Some fans cheered. He said it’s not because of Damien Priest.
When he stood on the ring apron, fans sang “Drew McIntyre.” He told Orton he’s going to be the one who takes the title away from Cody. Orton told Drew to cut the b.s. because they were just having a moment. Drew entered the ring and said the voices in Orton’s head are familiar with him. He said he looks jacked on the outside, but he knows his back is hanging by a thread. He said if Orton provokes him, he’ll break it.
Drew turned to Cody. Cody kicked him between the legs and punched him. Orton went for an RKO, but Drew blocked it and dropped to ringside. Cody’s music played to close the segment.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was quite the lovefest, as Drew called it, for Cody courtesy of Orton. I wonder if John Cena and The Rock and TKO executives were watching and taking notes on the truth Orton was speaking about Cody and how he’s at the helm of a boom period for WWE that Cena never attained and Rock walked into in progress back in his day. This ultimately, though, did feel like part of stalling to fill extra time heading to WrestleMania. It’s still so strange how it seems Cody is guarded about taking aim at Cena verbally when opportunities exist including tonight.)
-They showed The Street Profits backstage. [c]
-Barrett said Orton vs. Drew was just booked for the show later. Fans popped when they saw that graphic.
(1) THE STREET PROFITS vs. PRETTY DEADLY (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) – WWE Tag Team Title match
They showed Mark Nash, the new Smackdown ring announcer, introducing the Profits. Tessitore talked about him as the new Smackdown ring announcer. The bell rang 32 minutes into the hour. Tessitore talked about Pretty Deadly “earning every inch of this opportunity” after “navigating choppy waters.” Barrett said it has been a messy division, and they have to make this opportunity count in their hometown. With Pretty Deadly in control, they cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
The crowd cheered as Pretty Deadly landed their Spilled Milk finisher for a near fall at 7:00. Fans chanted “This is awesome!” The Profits came right back with a Doomsday Blockbuster for the clean win.
WINNERS: The Street Profits in 8:00.
-They went to Barrett and Tessitore at ringside for some reaction.
-A clip aired from earlier of Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, and Alba Fyre confronting Zelina Vega with Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. She said she’s small, but she’s a big threat. They challenged them to a six-woman tag later.
-Carter and Chance made their entrance. [c]
-Tessitore said the WWE Hall of Fame will now be inducting “Immortal Moments” into the including Steve Austin and Bret Hart attending for the induction of their classic match.
-They showed Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns arriving in the parking garage, and then being accompanied by security.
(2) ALBA FYRE & PIPER NIVEN (w/Chelsea Green) vs. KATANA CHANCE & KAYDEN CARTER
The entrance for Fyre and Niven then took place. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Niven flipped off the ring apron onto Chance and Carter a minute into the match and then they cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Carter was was rallying against Fyre. Niven mistakenly landed a senton on Fyre. Chance and Carter then went on the attack on Niven. Chelsea showed up on the ring apron to distract the ref as Fyre knocked Chance off balance. Chance yelled at Chelsea to leave. Niven then attacked a distracted Carter with a Piper Driver for the win.
WINNERS: Niven & Fyre in 9:00.
-Piper and Fyre attacked Carter afterward. Zelina charged out for the save. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Tessitore plugged Stephanie McMahon’s interview series on ESPN+. Barrett plugged the Seth-Reigns-Punk contract signing later. Then they showed Lewis Capaldi, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. Then the camera panned to Oban Elliott from UFC.
(3) L.A. KNIGHT vs. BRAUN STROWMAN – U.S. Title match
Strowman made his entrance first. When Knight came out, Barrett cracked up Tessitore when he said “everyone likes having their loins tingled.” The bell rang 7 minutes into the hour. Strowman splashed Knight in the corner. Knight ducked a charging Strowman, who tumbled to the floor. Knight then played to the crowd, giving Strowman a chance to recover and kick him in the face at ringside. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Knight landed a top rope bulldog after the break. Both were down and slow to get up. Knight landed an elbowdrop, but Strowman kicked out at one. Strowman blocked a BFT and tore off his t-shirt. He then ran around the ring and aimed for Knight, but Jacob Fatu had shown up at ringside and he blind-sided Strowman.
WINNER: Strowman via DQ or a no contest in 7:00 so Knight retained the U.S. Title.
-Fatu went on the attack on Strowman afterward and landed a jump-up moonsault. Fans chanted “One more time!” Fatu hit another. Fatu’s music played as he left the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: I know it’s how WWE does things in this era, but playing the theme song for a wrestler who just interrupted and prematurely ended a title match and then went on an illegal post-match attack feels like the company is validating those actions. That is part of feeding fans feeling disengaged from feeling protective of wanting to see match finishes, which in a way can benefit WWE given how they prefer to book these days, but it seems like something is broken in the system when that type of match-ending and post-match attack is portrayed in the narrative of WWE as “just part of the show.” Fatu also landing a second jump-up moonsault when fans asked for it encourages fans to cheer him, so hopefully WWE’s goal is for him to be a babyface soon.)
-A clip aired of Jimmy Uso’s stiff slap on Gunther last week.
-Jackie Redmond said the world is still buzzing about that slap. She asked Jimmy about it. He said he’ll keep slapping Gunther if he has to. He said Jey is doubting himself, but just because he is 0-3 against him doesn’t mean he can’t win. He said Jey is going to WrestleMania to win. Jimmy then noticed Miz and Carmelo Hayes mocking him. Miz said it’s funny Jimmy is now supposedly a tough guy even though his entire career he was just “the other Uso.” He said he and his brother are “career sidekicks” and “blips on the trailer that was Roman’s Bloodline.” Miz said he’ll never know what it means to carry the industry like he does as a former WrestleMania headliner. He warned him that if he ever slapped him like he did Gunther, he’d still be on the ground. Jimmy wound up. Miz cowered. Jimmy suggested he ask Nick Aldis for a match against Miz tonight.
-Tessitore said that could be fun. They showed a scene of London. [c]
-They replayed the Fatu-Strowman-Knight. Barrett explained Fatu acted out because he was enraged over Solo Sikoa’s involvement last week inadvertently cost him his chance at the U.S. Title last week.
-The camera was following Fatu in a back hall when Solo with Tama Tonga confronted him. Solo asked why he was out there alone. Fatu yelled that they cost him last week. S0lo told Fatu to lower his tone. Fatu said, “Okay.” He spoke at a normal level and said he’ll be the last man standing when it comes to the U.S. Title. He said he’s bringing the U.S. Title home to the family with or without them.
-They went to Barrett and Tessitore at ringside who reacted to the tension with Solo and Fatu.
-A video feature aired with Naomi saying she’s always been “a woman to do the right thing.” She asked why her attack on Jade Cargill should be seen as anything other than the right thing. She says it really breaks her heart that she’s seen as the bad one. She said she didn’t get how Jade came out of nowhere and took her place with her. She asked Belair who inspired her and other women over the last decade. She said she’s always had Belair’s back. She said what she’s learned through all of this is you teach people how to treat you. She said she’s done being too nice and pushed to the side and undervalued and underappreciated. She said moving forward, if Jade continues to be in her way, “I strongly advise you to proceed with caution.”
(Keller’s Analysis: That was persuasive.)
-Aldis told Jade that he knows things have been difficult lately. She asked where Naomi was. He said no one has seen her all day around there. Jade said, “When I catch her, it’s on sight.” She turned and Michin and B-Fab were there. B-Fab said she knows that Jade will take care of Naomi when she finally gets her hands on her. “Jade, do what you gotta do,” she said. [c]
-A vignette aired featuring smoke and a whispering voice.
-Michin made her ring entrance with B-Fab for her scheduled match. Naomi attacked them from behind. Barrett said Naomi was taking them out as a proxy for Jade. Jade charged out for the save. Naomi retreated into the crowd. Jade checked on B-Fab at ringside who was struggling to stand.
-As Charlotte made her entrance, Jade walked past her. Tessitore said, “Oh, those little size-up moments!” Barrett said their plates are already full, so they’ll have to come back for that one.
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s a cool technique to tease a future match-up. They do that in the Royal Rumble sometimes, too.)
(4) MICHIN vs. CHARLOTTE FLAIR
The bell rang 39 minutes into the hour. Michin pulled herself to her feet and signaled to the ref to start the match. Charlotte gave her a big boot. They cut to a very early break.
(Keller’s Analysis: I don’t like that cutaway as this match had a sense it could end at any second early, and this took away that drama and felt like a bad choice by WWE to choose then to cut away that early.) [c]
Back from the break, Charlotte was in control. Michin attempted a comeback, but Charlotte moved as she went for a cannonball in the corner. A graphic hyped Jimmy vs. Miz later. Michin landed a sitout powerbomb a minute later for a two count. She landed a cannonball and then went for Eat Defeat, but Charlotte blocked it. Michin went for it again and landed it. Charlotte put her boot on the bottom rope to stop the ref’s count at two. Charlotte rolled to the floor. Michin sat in distress in the ring and then went after Charlotte with a running kick. Charlotte avoided her and then took over. Charlotte then quickly applied the Figure-Eight back in the ring for the win.
WINNER: Charlotte in 8:00.
-Redmond interviewed Tiffany Stratton backstage. She asked about Charlotte coming at her strong. She said Charlotte is so insecure, she can’t “let a rookie get her word out.” She said she learned that walking into WrestleMania, she’s not the one who has anything to lose. She said if she loses to Charlotte, she lost to legend. She said if Charlotte loses, she’s losing to a person Charlotte calls “an undeserving, delusional, unoriginal, backflip doing, blonde hair-having little girl.” She said she can’t wait for Charlotte to hear the ring announcer declare her (Tiffany) the winner. She said she’s walking out of WM as the WWE Women’s Champion and Charlotte’s ego will be stuck in Vegas.
-Tessitore plugged the official WrestleMania afterparty. Barrett hyped Miz vs. Jimmy.
-Orton’s ring entrance took place. [c]
-A vignette aired celebrating Triple H’s ring entrances over the years. Stephanie McMahon glowed as she spoke about it.
-Tessitore plugged the WrestleMania weekend events.
[HOUR THREE]
(5) RANDY ORTON vs. DREW MCINTYRE
Orton’s music was still playing as they returned to the arena. Drew’s entrance then took place. Barrett said both men are taking a massive risk battling so close to WrestleMania. (This does feel like a novel, big match to give away with so little build.) Tessitore talked about Orton bringing up going for no. 15. (That feels like planting the seed for a Cena vs. Orton PLE match after WrestleMania.)
The bell rang a minute into the hour. Drew threw Orton into the ropes early to escape a headlock and then checked him hard to the mat. (Drew gave Orton that extra hard shove to make the rebound off the ropes feel more believable and less performative.) Orton came back and punched away at Drew in the corner. Then he threw Drew shoulder-first into the ringpost. Orton pursued Drew at ringside. Drew took over and cleared the announce desk. Orton countered and slammed Drew on the announce desk. They cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Barrett said it was a slugfest. Orton landed a snap powerslam and then played to the crowd who cheered. Orton landed a draping DDT next. Orton signaled for a RKO, but then noticed Kevin Owens show up in the aisle. Orton briefly eyed him as Drew recovered and landed a Claymore for the win.
WINNER: McIntyre in 8:00.
-Owens attacked Orton at ringside afterward. He threw him onto the announce desk and then set up a piledriver. Orton escaped and swept Owens’s legs. Orton set up a running punt kick. Owens retreated into the crowd as Orton charged at him. Barrett said Orton was as frustrated as can be. His music played as he looked at Owens scurrying away.
-They showed Jimmy backstage. [c]
-A vignette aired for Rey Fenix.
-Tessitore excitedly said Fenix is heading to WWE and noted he is the brother of Penta and part of the famed Lucha Brothers tag team. Barrett hyped B-Fab vs. Naomi on Smackdown next week.
(6) JIMMY USO vs. THE MIZ
Jimmy made his entrance first. Then Miz. The bell rang. They cut to a break at 2:00 with Jimmy in control at ringside. [c]
Miz made a comeback, but Jimmy avoided a Miz slingshot springboard with a superkick and quickly landed a top rope splash for the win.
WINNER: Jimmy in 8:00.
-Afterward, Jimmy said he’s going to Raw to take out Gunther. Barrett said he can’t for that.
-Backstage, Lewis Capaldi chatted with Drew. They hugged. Drew said he’s headed to the pub. He then called over Redmond to ask him a question. She asked about what happened with Orton. He said he doesn’t care about other people’s business when people don’t screw him over. He said he beat Orton this week and last week he called out Damien Priest and he was too cowardly to show up. He then opened the door to the parking garage and Priest was standing there. Priest rammed Drew into a car. A guy yelled that it was his BMW convertible. Priest slammed him through a table. Drew fought back and then stood on the hood, but Priest slammed him through the windshield. WWE officials ran to the scene. Priest said he was done and then told Drew, “Rest in peace, jackass.” Jamie Noble called for a medic as Drew said he got glass in his eye.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside who reacted to that Priest attack. Barrett said it had been a great night until then for Drew.
-They showed Punk backstage walking past Drew. Punk smiled at his misfortune and paused, then kept walking. [c]
-A recap aired of the Cody-Cena segment on Raw earlier in the week.
-Nick Aldis stood mid-ring and introduced the contract signing segment. He called it the biggest triple threat match in the history of WrestleMania. He introduced Roman first. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, Reigns’s music was still playing as he stood in the ring and looked around at the crowd. Heyman stood next to him, looking at him the entire time. An “OTC!” chant broke out. Heyman handed Reigns the mic. Fans sang Roman’s name.
Reigns said he loved the fans acknowledging him by singing his name. Heyman kneeled next to Reigns and sang along as Reigns leaned back in a chair and smiled. He said he came there to do two things – be acknowledged and sign the contract. Seth’s music then kicked in as Reigns was mid-sentence. Seth slapped hands on his way to the ring. Heyman was still kneeling as Seth entered and had a few words for Heyman. Fans sang Seth’s song.
Seth talked about their days in The Shield. He said they arrived in a helicopter and were ready to remake the company in their image. He said a lot has happened since then – “a lot of love and a whole lot of hype.” He said, “I dare say we accomplished our mission.”
Reigns said: “You keep saying ‘we’ and ‘our mission.’ ‘We’ died a long time ago. It’s only been me. You’ve been here, but I’ve done all the work. I took us to the level we’re at today.” He said he made it better than when he arrived, made them desirable to to Netflix, and took them into billion dollar deals. He asked Seth what he has done.
Seth yelled that it’s that mindset that makes him have to keep screwing him. He said his biggest mistake is not understanding the danger that is right in front of him. He said he let “the biggest snake them all” into the Garden. He said he could’ve let him finish him at War Games, but he shook his hand instead. He said he could’ve let him finish him inside the cage at the Garden, but he didn’t. He said now he has to clean up his mess again. He dropped the mic and signed the contract. A “C.M. Punk!” chant rang out.
Punk walked out to big cheers. Fans sang his song. Punk sat at the table and said he came to chew bubblegum and sign a contract. “And I’m all out of bubblegum,” he said. He began reading the contract as fans chanted for him. Reigns asked, “Do you need a highlighter? What are you doing?” He told him to go to page 4, clause 5. He rushed Punk condescendingly. Punk flipped to that page. Reigns told Heyman to “smarten him up already.”
Heyman sat next to Punk. He said he knew what he was looking for, and it’s in there. “You’re closing the show at WrestleMania,” he said. “You get to live your dream of all dreams. C.M. Punk, you are a WrestleMania main eventer.” He kissed Punk’s head. Fans cheered. Fans chanted Punk’s name. Reigns smiled and said one man’s dream is another man’s favor. Seth told Punk to wipe the tears out of his eyes because he doesn’t deserve it. He threw down the chair and threw a fit. He said main eventing WrestleMania is sacred and the most important thing in the world to him. He said it means more to him than anything. He blamed Heyman and Reigns.
Punk stood as fans chanted his name. He thanked London, Louisville, and the fans for chanting his name for ten years. Reigns interrupted as the executive producer credit showed on the screen. Reigns told Punk to close the show the right way by thanking him.
Punk dropped to one knee and said: “Thank you, my Tribal Chief, the holder of the Ula Fala, the Head of the Table, the Big Dawg. Thank you for allowing a kid from Chicago to be graced by your presence.” Punk signed the contract as fans chanted “You deserve it.” Punk then said, “But that’s not the favor that I’m owed.”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Jason Goodspeed to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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