WWE Smackdown 7/25/2025

WWE Smackdown 7/25/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/wwe-smackdown-7182025.html

Next week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/wwe-smackdown-812025.html

We are in Cleveland, Ohio. Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are on commentary.

The whole roster (plus some legends including Ted Dibiase, Jimmy Hart, Jim Duggan B. Brian Blair, Sgt. Slaughter and Jerry Brisco) is on the stage in front of a Hulk Hogan graphic on the tron. Triple H says we lost one of the biggest and most recognized icons in the world. He says he grew up watching Hulk and was honored to call him a friend. He says Hulk captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe. He says we would not be standing here if it was not for Hulk. He says to help us honor Hulk as we do a ten bell salute. They then do a ten bell salute to Hulk. We then get a Hogan chant.

They show us a video on Hulk with clips of his childhood, clips of him talking and clips of his career with Triple H narrating it.

We go to break and return. Joe says Hulk is as transformational as some of the biggest names in sports. Wade says he's the most important pro wrestler in our game. He says most of us would not be here without him.

Logan Paul comes out and his Impulsive TV poster in the corner. He says he heard the crowd chant "Thank You, Logan" 5 minutes ago, when they were chanting "Thank You, Hogan". He says this city raised him but he made this city.

He says the people think he's just like them but Logan says they have nothing in common. He says he made it out but they didn't. He says he's giving the world a chance to see a live special of "Impaulsive TV" live. He brings up Jelly Roll and Jelly comes out.

Jelly questions Logan calling himself an inspiration and he said all he did was inspire @sshole kids to film themselves being @ssholes. He says he's sick of him talking about people from Cleveland like people from Cleveland like him. Logan says Jelly can't read and tells him to shut his mouth and show some respect since this is his show. He said he brought him here so he'd know he's getting in the ring with 2 of WWE's finest.

Logan says Jelly has nothing on him and asks who he thinks he is. Jelly says he's the guy whose fixing to put him in a bodybag and ship him out. He says Logan never had a struggle in his life. He says he's representing every kid who never thought they would make it and got picked on by jocks like Logan. He says he's bringing light to this ring. He says Logan only ever brought a ring light to the ring.

Jelly says he's been a WWE fan his entire life. He says WWE represented him and every single one of us. He says Logan is as soft as Charmin and a punk @ss b!tch. Drew McIntyre gets in the ring. He says they made a mistake if you think he came along. He sings Randy Orton's theme and Orton comes out. 

Orton punches Drew and Jelly hits forearms on Logan. Drew hits Jelly from behind. Drew has Jelly mounted but gets off. Drew tags Logan and Logan hits mounted shots on Jelly. Orton pulls Drew out and sends him into the rails. Jelly hits punches on Logan then back elbows him. Jelly shoulders him over. Logan boots him in the gut. Logan goes for a punch, misses and Jelly black hole slams him.

Thoughts: They all ended up fighting here as expected. I'm not sure I would have had Jelly do so much here as he will be limited and they should save it for the big match, not this.

Andrade and Rey Fenix do a promo in front of a car outside. They say they know who each other is. They say they have defended their culture and lucha and say they are money. Rey says they are on a different level in the tag division and it's only a matter of time until the gold is around their waists. Andrade says they are the standard. Rey says "we are money".

Alexa Bliss vs Roxanne Perez

RP shoves her and AB rolls her up twice. RP throws her down backwards then AB rolls her up for 2. RP slaps her. AB STO's her. AB hits shots in the corner then cannonballs her off the apron. Raquel goes up to Bliss then Flair goes up to Raquel.

We go to PiP break and return. AB dragon screws her then back elbows her. AB shoulders her over. AB knees her in the gut and basement dropkicks her. AB stands on her back and bangs her face into the mat. AB headhunters her. 

RP blocks a sister abigail then Raquel pulls AB's throat down over the middle rope. RP triple jump asai moonsaults and Flair throws Raquel over the timekeeper's rail. RP stares down Flair then is ddt'd by AB.

Raquel facekicks Flair on the floor. AB then hits a twist bliss onto Raquel outside. AB gets her nose busted open. RP then backrolls AB and holds the bottom rope. RP pins her.

Thoughts: It was short and full of shenanigans. They did what they could with it but there was only so much they could do. 

Jade Cargill is interviewed. She says she will show everyone why she's a natural born champion next week. Chelsea Green then comes in after with her crew. Green says she was screwed out of QOTR. She says she should be wrestling Tiff at Summerslam and not Jade. She says Jade's so stupid. Jade shows up behind Green. Jade forearms Green and bangs her head off a wall.

They fight in the gorilla position area and Green is carried to the entrance area. Green is then rolled down the aisle. They get into the ring and this becomes a match.

Jade Cargill vs Chelsea Green

Jade pump kicks her and sends her out. We go to break and return. Green is posing. Jade hits running shots. Jade fallaway slams her. Jade flying back elbows her then chokeslams her. Jade chokeslams her. Green zig zags her for 2. Jade hits a jade end and gets the pin.

Thoughts: It was what it should be with Jade easily winning and beating up Green.

Alba superkicks Jade after. Jade is double clubbed on. Tiffany Stratton comes down. Tiff takes down Alba and pounds on her. Tiff and Jade forearm Piper then they knock her out of the ring together. Jade and Tiff tug of war over the title. 

Alexa Bliss is with Flair in the back. Bliss has blood all over her face. Flair says they are partners, right? Flair says maybe they will become champs at Summerslam.

We get clips of Hulk Hogan beating The Iron Shiek for the title and they talk about his career accolades.

Cody Rhodes comes out to talk. He says wrestling lost one of its giants in Hulk Hogan. He says his accomplishments in wrestling are staggering and indisputable. He says he's a WWE superstar but Hulk is the original. He says thank you to Hulk.

Cody says there are streetfights then what is going to happen at Summerslam. He says we are talking about violence. He says sometimes doing the right thing doesn't look like the right thing.

Cody says he doesn't want to wrestle this John Cena. He says he wants to fight the real John Cena. He says if this is Cena's last Summerslam, come like it's his first. He says they can beat the respect out of each other. 

He says he needs to know that this meant something and was real. He says he will see Cena next week.

Jacob Fatu does a promo. He said he loved Solo but he made it like this. He said Solo tried to send him to jail and he's never going back. Fatu says he doesn't mind being locked in the cage with him as he will dogwalk his @ss.

The Miz pops up next to him and interrupts. Miz says Fatu took him out 6 weeks ago. Miz says he's not the victim, he's the main character. Miz says he got a match with him right now and said Fatu got the wrong man. Fatu turns around and Miz slaps him. Fatu says that's what it's coming to and says come on with it.

Aleister Black does a video. He says Damian Priest thought it was necessary to stick his nose in his business. He says the debt he wanted to collect is now inherited by DP. Damian Priest says he doesn't think he owes him a debt. He said he gave one guy his best shot and that guy never collected debt again. DP says he's nothing like him and he says Black sees everything he wants to be. Black says he will break him and he says DP will see himself and won't like it. DP says he's the bad guy next week and he's bringing his hands and will punish him.

The Miz vs Jacob Fatu

Miz hits punches. Fatu throws him in the corner. Miz facekick him out of the corner then Fat flying back elbows him. Fatu corner splashes him. Fatu misses a corner hip attack then lariats him. Solo Sikoa and his MFT's come out.

Miz clips Fatu off the distraction. Fatu is sent into the post shoulder first. Fatu goes out and we go to break then return.

Fatu hits punches. Fatu hits a lariat and senton. Fatu hits a corner lariat. Fatu hits mounted corner headbutts.  Fatu corner hip attacks him. The MFT's pull Miz out. Fatu then topes all of them. Fatu thwarts the heels and pop-up samon drops Miz to win.

Thoughts: It wasn't much and Fatu won as expected here in mostly short fashion.

Fatu gets beaten up on by The MFT's after. Jimmy Uso comes out to help. He throws a chair at JC's face then pulls Solo over the top. Uso chairs Talla in the gut then the back. Talla totally misses a facekick on Uso. Fatu tries to fight the four heels off. Talla lariats Fatu and saves Solo from a corner hip attack with a chair around his neck. Talla chokeslams Fatu. Solo and his crew then pose and talk trash over Fatu. 

The Street Profits and B-Fab are interviewed. Fab says the Wyatt's are a different type of enemy and need to be dealt with a different way. Dawkins says they don't care who wins tonight, thye got next. DIY comes in. Gargano says they had the titles and blew it. Ciampa says step aside and let them fix the mess they made. Dawkins makes fun of Ciampa. LeRae says atleast they have a plan and they tell The Profits to stay out of the way.

We get another Hulk Hogan video with him vs Andre at Wrestlemania III.

Giulia and Zelina Vega run into each other in the back. Kiana James (!!!) returns after like a year out. She says she's Giulia's official representation. She say if you wanna speak to Giulia, you gotta speak to her. Vega says she wants to talk about the rematch. Kiana says she will get her chance next week and she will be nothing but a footnote in her portfoilo. Giulia says she likes some fire. Vega says she will see her next week.

Thoughts: Kiana James is finally back and uh she definitely got some enhancements. I thought she had so much potential and hopefully she can stay healthy and wrestle.

WWE Tag Titles - The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) vs Andrade and Rey Fenix

WWE kind of sold me on Rey/Andrade having a chance here for some reason even though they won't win.

Rey hits shots on Joe. Joe takes kicks then Dex does as well. Both Wyatt's take a basement dropkick and an enzugiri. Andrade hits three amigos on Joe. Rey goes up top and Dex pushes him down. Joe handspring lariats Andrade.

We go to PiP break and return.Rey kips up and superkicks Dex. Andrade dragon screws Joe then flying forearms Dex. Andrade corner meteora's Joe for 2. Andrade takes an atomic drop + lariat combo. Dex sentons Andrade. Rey tries to tiger feint and Joe kicks him. Dex slams Andrade. Joe tries to powerbomb Dex onto Andrade but Andrade gets the knees up.

Rey tope con hilos outside and Andrade hits the message on Joe. Nikki Cross pulls the ref out and causes the DQ.

Thoughts: There was a PiP break that ate up most of this.  We didn't get a ton of this one but it was enough. It was better than I expected. The finish was lame.

Eric Rowan beats up Andrade and Rey after. Axiom comes out, jumps off the top then is thrown into Nathan Frazer. The Motor City Machine Guns come out and Rowan crossbodies both.

Rowan gets a triple teamed. The Street Profits come out and beat up on Rowan. Ford enzugiri's Rowan then Dawkins shoulders Rowan out of the ring. Nick Aldis and DIY come down. Dawkins tope con hilos out then Ford tope con hilos over the post. 

Nick Aldis says he has had enough of this. He says they want to destroy each other over the tag titles. He says they didn't get it out of their system the first time and he says we will get TLC for the WWE Tag Titles at Summerslam. Everyone is excited about it and a big brawl breaks out as security tries to stop it. Ciampa does a big dive onto security.

Thoughts: I kind of thought The Wyatt's turned heel with the finish and the stuff after the match. I'm excited for TLC though. The last TLC was legit one of the best matches of the year and at a big PLE like Summerslam, it could be even crazier.

Overall thoughts: Hulk's passing caused the show to change a bit and a lot of the matches ended up being shorter. We are also only 2 shows away from Summerslam, so a lot of the top stars were not going to be wrestling. Bliss/Perez, Green/Jade, Miz/Fatu and the main were all shorter bouts and none of them were particularly memorable. Kiana James also made her long awaited return here. I'm glad we got a video and a ten bell salute for Hulk but I honestly do not think it would have been out of the question just to have the show be about him. However, with Summerslam coming soon, that wasn't possible. I will not be rating this show as it was partially a tribute show and it just wouldn't be fair. But we do miss you Hulk and it's not going to be the same without you.