WWE Smackdown 4/18/2025

WWE Smackdown 4/18/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/04/wwe-smackdown-4112025.html

Next week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/04/wwe-smackdown-4252025.html

We are in Las Vegas, NV. Wrestlemania is tomorrow.

We see various wrestlers arrive. Tama Tonga gets nailed by LA Knight as he arrives in a car. LA slams a car door into Tama's hand and runs. 

Seth Rollins comes out. He says, "Welcome to Friday Night Rollins". Seth sits down in the ring like CM Punk  indian style. He says Punk said he came back because the fans chanted his name. He says Punk came back but not to a WWE ring. He asks if he came back because the fans chanted his name or because someone wrote him a big check. He says Punk doesn't care about the fans or WWE. He says he's a fraud and a coward.

He says Roman doesn't even pretend to care about the fans or WWE. He says Roman is in the Roman Reigns business with a private jet, limited schedule and handpicked opponents.

Seth says Roman and Punk know nothing about sacrifice but he knows all. Seth says this started with Paul Heyman 12 years ago. He brings up The Shield and mentions Dean Ambrose. He says he sacrificed for Punk and got none of the credit. He says it was always about Roman in The Shield.

He says everything came to a head last year when his knee was giving out but he was there to be a shield to make sure Roman lost. He says the story started 12 years ago and ends tomorrow night. He says it's the most important triple threat in the history of wrestling. He says he will lay it all on the line and sacrifice everything to make sure this industry moves forward in the right direction. He says it's not a prediction, it's a spoiler.

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale

We got intros for a few guys here as everyone was already in. Truth steals CArlito's apple then throws him out. He then throws the apple at Carlito. Miz then boots Truth out. Karrion Kross grabs Miz by the throat in a nice callback. Angel stupidly pushes Melo away when he tries to send Kross out. They mention last night's Bloodsport show. Fenix headscissors Berto out. Angel is crotched on the top rope and Rey rolls into an uppercut on him to send him out.

Pretty Deadly double team Tyler Bate. Kit is lifted into a codebreaker on Bate. A-Town Down Under then throw Pretty Deadly out together. A-Town tries to throw Bate out but he rebounds off the ropes and double lariats them. Kaiser then dropkicks Bate out.

Kaiser hnga from the apron. Santos tries to work with Rey Fenix. Fenix then throws him out from behind. Otis powerslams Andrade then throws Tozawa at The Creed's. The Creed's throw Tozawa out. Otis lariats The Creeds out together but goes with them.

Andrade throws Waller out then Theory out after. Chad takes kicks then Fenix springboard spin kicks him. Fenix throws Chad Gable out. Joquin Wilde is kicked off the buckles and goes out. Kross forearms Cruz Del Toro out when he goes for a springboard.

Dragon Lee throws out Karrion Kross. Lee slingshot headscissors Nakamura. Nakamura huts a big high kick then reverse slams Dragon Lee out. Kaiser pulls Pete Dunne on the apron by the hair. Dunne stomps on Kaiser's hands.

Dunne triangles Kaiser over the top to the floor. Kaiser is out. Pete Dunne works on Melo's fingers. Dunne dropkicks Miz off the apron to eliminate him. Melo throws Dunne over the top and eliminates him.

The final four are Fenix, Nakamura, Andrade and Melo. They all fight. Nakamura reverse slams Fenix. Nakamura spin kicks Andrade. Nakamura superkicks Andrade. Andrade springboard dropkicks Nakamura out.

Melo goes to springboard, Andrade joins him on the 2nd rope and both nearly get thrown out by Fenix. Melo hits Fenix from behind. Fenix is thrown into a headscissors on Andrade. Fenix spin kicks Melo. Fenix rope walks but El Grande Americano trips him and pulls him out.

Melo and Andrade are the last two. They lariat each other. Melo la mistica drops Andrade. Andrade spinning back elbows him. Melo suplex cutters Andrade. Both are on the 2nd rope and Melo eliminates Andrade to win.

Thoughts: It was a bit of a surprise with how Melo has been booked this year. It was nice to see him win though and hopefully leads to more. It was your usual battle royal. I liked Grande coming out to eliminate Fenix. I was surprised Kaiser wasn't more of a threat in this.

We see clips of a Wade Barrett interview with Charlotte Flair. She says she doesn't love how things have gotten dirty with Tiffany Stratton. She says both have a chip on their shoulder but now people are invested in the match. She says people are invested and that's what this is about. She says that's how you make it. 

Rhea Ripley comes out. She says Sunday is her 6th Mania. She says this is the most important to her. She said she let herself get distracted by Bianca and lost her title before Mania. She says she gets back what she wants on Sunday and does what she has to do. She says she will walk out the 3x champ.

Iyo Sky comes out. Bianca Belair comes out before she says anything. Bianca says she was definitely showing up tonight. She says it could be her last night on SD for a while as she will walk out champ. She says she doesn't plan on letting the title go anytime soon.

Naomi comes out. She says Bianca showed up on SD but didn't try to talk to her. She said she's been texting her and filling up her voicemails. Naomi said she wanted to handle this in private. Bianca says Naomi knows what she did.

Naomi says Jade wasn't there for Bianca like she was. She says she will finish what she started with Jade tomorrow. Jade Cargill comes out. Naomi then gets out of the ring. Naomi comes in and pushes Jade into Rhea. Jade pounds on Naomi and Bianca pounds on Rhea. Security comes out and Iyo top rope moonsaults onto a bunch of people.

Rey Fenix is in pain in the back. American Made comes up to him and asks how it felt to get eliminated by El Grande Americano. Dragon Lee comes in and tells him to stop. Rey Mysterio then comes in and says Grande will learn real lucha at Mania. Chad says not to tell him what he will learn. Rey says they should do a 6-man tag tonight and says he will talk to Nick Aldis about it.

WWE Tag Titles - The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) (c) vs The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)

This being on SD is disappointing as it seemed certain we were getting a 4-way tag at Mania.

The SP's get knocked off the apron as they enter. Sabin sends Ford into the rails. Ford takes a double team for 2. Ford takes a double boot. Ford lariats Sabin. AD leapfrogs Sabin and does a flying back elbow. He then corkscrew splashes him in the corner. Sabin takes an electric chair blockbuster.

Alex throws AD out then AD hits him as he tries to dive. We go to PiP break and return. Sabin is tagged in and he diving headscissors Ford off the 2nd rope. Sabin PK's AD from the apron then dropkicks AD off the buckles. Ford takes a top rope dropkick + flatliner combo.

Ford enzugiri's Alex. Sabin is popped up into a backdrop for 2. Sabin does a dropkick off a pop-up on AD. Ford takes an atomic drop and is held for a basement dropkick. Ford superkicks Sabin. Ford tope con hilos over the post. DIY then attack Ford and steal the titles for the DQ.

Thoughts: What we got was fine but sadly we didn't get a ton of this. I hope a tag match is made for Mania off of this. Sabin was botching some in this.

Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice talk to Nick Aldis. Nick is given a formal complaint. Nick agrees there was injustice last week. She says Zelina Vega gets a singles match with Green and Green's crew is banned from ringside.

DIY are in the back and Nick Aldis tells them to hand the belts over. The Street Profits and The Machine Guns come out. Nick says there will be a TLC match for the title next week.

Randy Orton comes out. He says he doesn't have an opponent for Mania tomorrow. He says his dad was at the first Mania and there's no way he is sitting out of this one. He says it will be the 20th time he has compete at Mania. He says he will show up with his gear on and will be ready to deliver.

He says he dares anyone to step up but says you will fall victim to the RKO.

We see clips from the Wrestlemania Kickoff Show with Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre fighting.

Damian Priest is interviewed in the back. He says he's done answering questions about Mania. He says Drew didn't show up tonight and isn't a victim yet. He says Drew and the world isn't ready for this violence. He says he will beat him so bad he will wish he was future endeavored again.

We get a spooky video for 4.25.25 that is likely for Aleister Black

Chelsea Green vs Zelina Vega

Vega has a fire themed outfit that I'm sure was planned for Mania.

Vega avoids Green's kick then Green forward flips her for 2. Green bangs Vega's head off the mat. Vega armdrags her off the casadora. Green superkicks her. Green hits mounted forearms. Vega is thrown into the rails.

Vega is thrown over the timekeeper's rail. They both get back in. Vega hits forearms on Green then lariats her. Green pump kicks her. Vega hits a 2nd rope code red and wins.

Thoughts: This was surprisingly short, but I guess that to put over that Green needs help to win. This was short and not that great.

LA Knight comes out to talk. He says it's just him and Fatu tomorrow. He says Fatu grabbing his title is the closest he will ever get to holding it. He says Fatu will be a champ someday though. He guarantees Solo Sikoa is about to come out and eat a BFT and says he guarantees Fatu eats one tomorrow.

LA Knight vs Solo Sikoa

They fight in the aisle. LA hits punches. LA is thrown into the steps. We go to break and return. LA and Solo fight outside. LA's back is rammed into the post. LA is backdropped on the apron. LA neckbreakers him off a suplex attempt.

Solo knees him in the gut. Solo hits headbutt drops. Solo butt drops him. LA gets the knees up when Solo tries it again. LA hits punches. LA flying lariats him. LA hits a ddt. LA is then tripped up on the ropes by Jacob Fatu for the DQ.

Thoughts: Yay, another match with a DQ finish here. Just great. Again, this wasn't much before the bell.

Fatu attacks LA after. Braun Strowman comes out and double crossbodies the heels. Nick Aldis comes out and makes a tag match.

LA Knight and Braun Strowman vs The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa)

This starts during the PiP break. Fatu is pulled over the top. BS gets in and hits lariats on Fatu. BS dropkicks Fatu out. BS shoulders over both opponents outside.

Fatu superkicks BS then flying lariats him. Fatu ddt's him and sentons him for 2. Solo stomps on BS. Solo uppercuts BS. BS side slams Fatu. LA comes in and russian legsweeps Solo. He knocks Fatu off the apron into the commentary table. LA pop-up slams Solo.

LA double jump elbow drops Solo for 2. BS runs at Fatu and is sent over the commentary table. LA dropkicks Fatu through the ropes. LA hits a BFT on Solo and wins.

Thoughts: It was a short one. I liked Braun's dropkick here and LA's pop-up slam on Solo. That one looked fierce. What we got was alright but it was far from anyone's best.

We see a Wade Barrett interview with Tiffany Stratton. Tiff says she felt bullied by Flair and was discouraged during their split-screen interview. She said she did her research and was going to come prepared. She said she came at her with a killshot. She says Flair has to respect her now. Tiff says Tiffy Time won't end at Mania. She says it will be a fight and the hardest match she ever has to go through. She says she will stand up to her and is standing up to a bully.

American Made (Chad Gable, Julius Creed and Brutus Creed) vs LWO (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) and Rey Fenix

Fenix and BC trade. BC hits forearms and clubs. Fenix springboard headbutts him and hurricanrana's him for 2. Fenix hits a corner forearm. Lee is beaten up in the corner. Lee hits superkicks on JC and flying headscissors him. Lee tope con hios JC.

Lee top rope crossbodies JC. Rey chases Chad around the ring and is pulled down. Chad germans Lee. Chad'a team does triple flying headbutts off the top. We go to PiP break and return. Lee is flipped into a brutus ball + powerbomb combo for 2. All of American Made is stuck in tree of woe and Lee double stomps them all down. Fenix comes in and cleans house. Fenix spin kicks JC for 2.

JC hits Fenix in the gut then belly to belly suplexes him. Fenix superkicks JC. Fenix double springboard armdrags JC. Fenix headbutts BC then jumps off of his back to flying headscissor Gable.

Fenix rope walk kicks Gable. Lee hits destino on JC. Fenix top rope meteora's JC and pins him.

Thoughts: It was a good tag as expected. The flip into the powerbomb + brutus call combo was cool and the triple tree of woe stomp was a new one. I enjoyed this. 

Cody Rhodes comes out. John Cena comes out before Cody says anything. Cena tells him to shut up before he says anything. He says this will be his 20th Mania and his 12th Mania title match. He says Sunday is the last time he will compete in a Mania ring and said no one tried to end their career the way he has. He says there's nothing Cody can do to prepare to face a man who knows he will die.

Cena says the fans think he will come back and says there is no wrestling retirement. He says every other wrestler is a scared, insecure loser. He says the wrestlers are left by themselves when they leave and they come back a shell of themselves. Cena says he doesn't need any of the fans.

Cena said everyone put Cody on their shoulders when he won last year. Cena said he didn't say that and said the title gets heavier by the day. He says the title will be too heavy on Sunday and Cody will lose. Cena says Cody cares about them and says the people don't write history, winners do. 

Cena said he knew it would be impossible to beat him at Mania but said Cody said all that with what he said to The Rock. Cena said The Rock gave him a choice. Cena said he then realized Cody doesn't stand a chance. He says to prove to the fans that they don't matter. Cena says when you stop caring about the fans, you can accomplish anything.

Cena says Cody will have to choose and either do what is right or win. He says Cody is scared, insecure and naive. Cena said Cody doesn't need his tattoo or suit as he will make him somebody. He says Cody will realize he's not the captain and just a kid in a man's world who doesn't have the balls of the last champion.

Cody says Cena says he is talent but he knows a graveyard of talent who would disagree. Cody said he worshipped Cena's WWE and him. Cody says Cena is overrated, overbearing and out of touch and time. Cody says he's paler than Sting at Starcade '97 and says Cena was butt naked for people at The Oscars for people he runs errands for. Cody says it's 2025 and Cena still can't wrestle. 

Cena says the fans don't know what they want like Cody. He says he doesn't have to wrestle beat him. He then hits him. He goes for the AA. Cody then hits him with cross rhodes.

Thoughts: It was a good segment and the two got some nice digs on each other. Will it change anyone's mind about the feud so far? I doubt it. They did what they could here but the feud was botched when they cut The Rock out of it and when they turned into a feud with Cena vs the fans. 

Overall thoughts: It was a better effort than what we got on Raw and felt more consequential. I thought not having Punk and Roman on here was a mistake, just as I thought not having Cody/Cena on the last Raw was a mistake. The matches were mostly short here and we had multiple non-finishes which sucked. There were lots of recaps and video packages here that could be skipped through and there wasn't a lot of must see stuff in this. They did try to hype up Mania though and did what were they supposed to here. I'd give it a 6 out of 10 but wouldn't recommend it as there wasn't anything you really needed to see here.