WWE Smackdown 7/4/2025

WWE Smackdown 7/4/2025

Last week's show is here. https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/06/wwe-smackdown-6272025.html

Next week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/wwe-smackdown-7112025.html

This is Smackdown's return to being a 2 hour show. As a reviewer, it means Friday nights get a little easier. As a fan, it sucks. I don't think SD made the most of the 3 hours they had but the matches will have less time and we will be seeing less of the midcard wrestlers at 2 hours.

We see Jacob Fatu attack Bloodline in the parking lot as they arrive.

Cody Rhodes comes out to talk. Cody has the KOTR crown. He said he lost a piece of himself against Jey and Orton to get this. He brings up past KOTR winners. Randy Orton comes out.

Orton said he told Cody he would do what it took to win KOTR. He said he wouldn't hesistate. He said he did hesitate and Cody didn't. He said Cody pulled the trigger and he respects that. He tells Cody to promise that he won't squander the opportunity and will kick Cena @ss.

Drew McIntyre comes out. Drew mocks them and says to shut up. He says they have beta male energy. Drew says Orton lost the psychological battle before the punt. He said Cody wore him down for months like a politician and stabbed him in the back.

Drew said Orton has a surgically repaired back and Cody relentlessly attacked it. Drew asks what happened to Orton. Drew says the legend of Orton is dead. He says he wants to Cody to be the next WWE champ so he can rip it from his hands. He says he won't hesitate unlike somebody. Orton then RKO's him.

Nick Aldis and Charlotte Flair talk earlier in the day. Flair said she heard about a title opportunity. Nick says Flair's team can face The Secret Hervice for the Women's Tag Titles at Evolution. Alexa Bliss then walks in and says, "you're welcome". They argue. Alexa says she doesn't want to be her friend but they should be partners. Flair says she doesn't like to share the spotlight. Bliss says she hasn't been in the spotlight for a while and she's trying to give her the opportunity to step into it. Bliss asks if she wants gold at Evolution or not. Flair then says ,"fine" and "just don't get in my way".

Thoughts: I didn't like this. Bliss and Flair haven't even teamed up and are getting a chance at #1 contendership to the tag titles.

Drew McIntyre talks to Nick Aldis in the back. He says Orton struck first and he wants Orton. Nick says he can't do that as Orton has left. He says he can face Orton next week on Saturday Night's Main Event. Drew then looks at Fatu, who pops up behind him.

Nick says Fatu can't attack Solo's crew. He says if Fatu can find a partner, he can have 2 of Solo's crew tonight. Jimmy Uso walks in and offers to be Fatu's partner. 

WWE Women's Tag Titles #1 Contenders - The Secret Hervice (Alba Fyre and Piper Niven) vs Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs B-Fab and Michin

Bliss is in then Flair tags herself in to start. Piper knocks Bliss over. Flair chops Piper then Mich chops and forearms Flair. Mich spin kicks Flair then high kicks Piper. Mich pele kicks Flair. Flair facekicks Mich from the apron then is knocked off the apron by Piper. Mich then tries to tope Bliss and Flair but doesn't make it all the way. Piper cannonballs off the apron onto Mich and Fab. Alba walks up the buckles and dives onto people outside.

We go to break and return. Piper sentons Flair for 2. Piper misses a 2nd senton. Fab gets in and hits shots on Flair. Fab superkicks Piper then does like a dropkick to Flair. Fab pump kicks Flair. Flair clips Fab then is pushed into the buckles. Bliss shoulders over Alba then dragon screws Fab. Bliss knees Alba in the head then headhunters her. Bliss is superkicked by Mich. Alba canadian destroyers ich then takes a uranage from Fab. Piper black hole slams Fab.

Flair spears Piper. Flair goes up top, taps Bliss on the head and top rope moonsaults Piper and Alba together. Chelsea Green distracts Flair and is face kicked. Bliss hits twisted Bliss off the top and pins Alba to win.

Thoughts: It wasn't that good. The crowd didn't care at all and Fab missed a bunch of offense. They just didn't get a flow going in this one.

Flair hugs Bliss after.

Aldis talks to various tag teams in the back and rips them for getting involved last week. DIY plead their case. Frazer makes fun of them and Axiom gets a Fraxiom vs Andrade and Rey Fenix match set up. Nick says one member of the other teams will face The Wyatt's in an 8-man. Nick says The Wyatt's are here to stay and will be in contention for the tag titles if they win. Gargano says to listen to him and tries to get a group cheer going but they won't go for it.

Chris Sabin, Johnny Gargano, Berto and Montez Ford vs The Wyatt Sicks (Erik Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis and Uncle Howdy)

Joe takes shots from Berto. Berto springboard twisting crossbodies him. Joe hits a big lariat then sentons him. Berto springboard back elbows him. Lumis throws Berto. Gargano tries to make friends with Lumis and takes an uppercut. Lumis swinging side slams him for 2. All 8 face off in the ring then fight.

Rowan takes 2 double superkicks then a 4 person superkick. Ford enzugiri's Rowan off the apron and PK's him from the apron. Rowan catches Ford and whips him into a Lumis superkick.

We go to break and return. Joe corner lariats Ford. Lumis slams Ford. Joe powerbombs Lumis onto Ford. Ford rolls out of a lariat. Sabin gets in. Sabin top rope dropkicks Lumis. Sabin hits lariats on Joe then flying headscissors him. Sabin back body drops Lumis.

Sabin la magistrals Joe for 2. Joe is back body dropped over the top and Ford tope con hilos him. Howdy uranage's Sabin. Rowan spinning high kicks Ford. Sabin 2nd rope tornado ddt's Rowan. Sabin goes for the tag and Gargano backs away. Rowan corner splashes Sabin then running crossbodies him. Rown iron claw slams Sabin and wins.

Thoughts: It was alright. They set up something here with Gargano not taking Sabin's tag and likely sparking something with them next week.

Giulia does a promo. She says she knows what her title means and says one by one, the opponents will come and fall. She says blue flames don't flicker and burn everything down. She says she will take the belt where no one else dares to go. She says no mercy, doubt or fear. She says whoever is next should step closer. She says we will feel the heat of beautiful madness.

Tiffany Stratton talks in the ring. She says she wasn't going to let Nia stop her. She says now she has her eyes set on beating Jade Cargill at Summerslam. She says she also wants to defend her title at Evolution. She says she gets to choose who she wants to face.

Jade Cargill interrupts and comes out. She says respect to her for being Nia. Jade says it doesn't matter who she faces at Summerslam, whether it be Tiff or someone else, she's coming out with the title. Tiff says she has a surprise and brings out Trish Stratus.

Tiff says what would Evolution be without stratusfaction? She offers her the chance to face her for the title at Evolution. Jade says that's fine and says it doesn't matter if it's her or a legend at Summerslam. Trish says Evolution will have an entire card of talented women. Trish says Tiff allowed her to wrestle in front of her kids. She says her kids never saw her as a champ. Trish says being champ has a nice ring to it.

Tiff says it won't be easy and it's not the Attitude Era anymore. Trish says she wants that fight. She says both Trish and Jade will realize the WWE Universe runs on Tiffy Time.

The Bloodline do a taped video. Solo says happy birthday America from your new US champ. He says to help welcome the newest member of the family - Tala Tonga (Hikuleo of NJPW). He says this group is more stronger and dangerous than Bloodline. He says if Jacob wants to get involved, Solo and JC will take care. He says his family is now complete.

Trish and Jade talk in the back. Jade says if Trish wins the title, she will see her. Naomi hits Jade from behind with the MITB briefcase. She says she should have proceeded with caution and laughs. Nick then checks on Jade. Jade tells Nick to give her Naomi.

Andrade and Rey Fenix vs Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom)

Andrade wristlocks NF. NF rolls out and la magistrals him. Andrade takes shots from both opponents. Rey springboard lariats NF. Ax tornado ddt's Rey but Rey no sells it. The four trade shots. NF and Ax hit topes outside. 

We go to break and return. NF front facelocks Rey. NF is rolled and Rey takes a head kick + suplex combo. Rey high kicks Ax. Rey facekicks NF off the apron. Andrade and NF go at it. Andrade dragon screws him then flying forearms Ax. 

Andrade suplexes NF three times. Rey top rope splashes NF for 2. Rey goes up top and takes a flying kick from NF. NF top rope suplexes Rey then holds on and hits a brainbuster with a headkick from Ax.

We go to break again and return. Rey top rope dropkicks Ax. NF misses a phoenix splash. Rey baseball slides Ax out. Rey top rope moonsaults into a german on NF. Andrade corner meteora's NF for 2. Andrade hits his top rope moonsault into a standing moonsault on NF. NF spinning enzugiri's Andrade. Andrade chops him. Ax top rope spanish flies Andrade. NF phoenix splashes Andrade for 2.

Andrade spinning back elbows NF. Rey rope walk kicks Ax then tope con hilos him. Andrade hits the message on NF and pins him.

Thoughts: I wasn't a fan of this one. The crowd was quiet all throughout. It wasn't much but cool moves and high flying that didn't mean a lot. There wasn't much selling at all here.

Damian Priest talks to Malakai Black in the back. DP says Black and Truth have a match next week. They argue some but I have no clue what it was about.

Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso vs The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo)

Fatu goes after JC and bangs his head off the rails and apron outside. Fatu hits a running shot on him. Uso gets in and JC works on him. Solo forearms Uso and does Fatu's taunt at Fatu. Uso boots Solo off the ropes. Solo uranages Uso. Solo and Fatu stare down.

We go to break and return. Solo corner hip attacks Fatu. JC reverse bearhugs Uso. JC standing moonsaults Uso for 2. JC misses a corner attack on Uso then Uso samoan drops him. Fatu and Solo trade punches. Fatu no sells a kick and lariats him. Fatu sentons him. 

Fatu corner splashes Solo then hits mounted corner headbutts. Fatu flying back elbows Solo then handspring moonsaults him for 2. Fatu superkicks Solo then hits corner hip attacks on both opponents.

Fatu top rope swantons Solo for 2. Uso superkicks Fatu. Uso suicide dives JC. Fatu topes Solo. Fatu misses a corner splash. Solo superkicks Fatu. Fatu imapler ddt's Solo. Fatu double jump moonsaults Solo and wins.

Thoughts: It wasn't anyone's best work here. It was a shorter match. It was fine and all but not much more. I'm not sure I like Solo losing again. I have no idea why they didn't have the other Bloodline people come out and cause a DQ or something.

Fatu puts Solo on the commentary table after. Fatu goes up top and Tala chokeslams him down to the mat. Uso hits punches on Tala. Loa then hits Uso from behind and sends him into a Tala facekick. JC drops Uso. Solo samoan spikes Fatu. Fatu takes a triple powerbomb through the commentary table.

Overall thoughts: The crowd was quiet all night as they had just sat through Raw and that brought everything down. Oddly, it felt like they got more in on this two hour show than they did at 3 hours. We only had 4 matches here and none of them were that great. The main was probably the best thing on here but I didn't think it was that special or anyone's best work. Bliss and Flair being gifted a #1 contender's match after never teaming before was the low part of the night. I'd give the show a 5 out of 10 as it was really average and not WWE's best work.