SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 18, 2025
LAS VEGAS, NEV. AT T-MOBILE ARENA
AIRED ON LIVE ON USA NETWORK AND LIVE ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reported before showtime that 16,139 tickets were distributed. They were set up for 17,311. The arena holds 20,000 for concerts.
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.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
[HOUR ONE]
-They showed aerial views of Las Vegas as Joe Tessitore gave an overview of the upcoming WrestleMania weekend. They showed Cody Rhodes sitting down to sign programs. Then they showed the Motor City Machine Guns, The Street Profits, and Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga arriving. L.A. Knight jumped Tonga from behind as he fetched his phone from the backseat before scurring away as Solo came to check on Tonga.
-They cut to the interior of the arena. “We have arrived,” Tessitore said, referring to the journey on the Road to WrestleMania.
-Seth Rollins made his ring entrance. Tessitore said his match at WrestleMania would like define the rest of his career.
(Keller’s Analysis: This talk of this match defining the future of WWE or that of the wrestlers involved feels vague as they’re not explaining how it’ll affect his future that much, but without a title on the line or a defined one-on-one grudge being settled, I’m not against this approach, but I do sense some fans pushing back skeptically at it just being bloviating hype.)
Seth went into his usual verbal routine before taking off his sunglasses and looking up at the WrestleMania sign. Then a familiar “C.M. Punk!” chant broke out. Seth sat mid-ring cross-legged. Fans booed. Then an “OTC!” chant broke out. Seth said he’d get to OTC in a minute, but he wanted to start “with that guy whose name you were chanting first.” He said Punk came back because fans chanted his name for “ten long years.” He said when Punk came back to wrestling, it wasn’t a WWE ring. He asked if he came back because fans were chanting his name of because “someone wrote him a big fat check.” He said when he burned that bridge, he did finally come back to WWE, but not because of the fans, but because they wrote him another big fat check. Fans chanted, “Big fat check!” Seth paused. “Tell me when I’m telling lies,” Seth said while mocking Punk’s delivery.
He said Punk doesn’t care about them or WWE. “He’s a liar, he’s a fraud, he’s a coward,” he said. He said the OTC doesn’t even pretend to care about them or WWE. “And you can believe that,” Seth said with a snide delivery. He said Reigns is in the Roman Reigns business. He called him Mr. Private Jet, Mr. Limited Schedule, Mr. Hand Picked Opponent. Fans then sang Roman’s name like Europeans do. “He loves that,” he said. “He loves when you love him.” He said Roman and Punk know nothing about sacrifice. “I know everything about sacrifice,” he said.
He said his story with Roman and Punk started 12 years ago with him and Heyman. He said Heyman brought him and Dean Ambrose to WWE “to be a Shield for C.M. Punk.” He said every night he sacrificed everything in the ring to be that Shield. He said he didn’t get any credit because everybody in the back wanted the camera and the spotlight on Reigns. He said everyone said Roman would be the next John Cena or next cash cow. He said in the background, after Punk “took his ball and went home,” he heard little echoes of C.M. Punk chants.
He said that meanwhile, he was making every show and sacrificing everything he had. He said it came to a head last year at WrestleMania. He said his knee was hanging by a thread as his step dad was home dying of cancer to be sure Reigns lost. A “Thank you, Seth!” chant started followed by fans singing his song. He paused and then called tomorrow night’s match the most important Triple Threat match in the history of the industry. He said he will do as he always has done, which is lay it all on the line and make sure the business and the industry and company moves forward in the right direction. “That’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler!” he said. He smiled wide and cackled. His music played and fans sang as Tessitore and Wade Barrett reacted. Barrett said Seth claims Punk and Reigns are just in it for the money and the glory whereas he sees himself as the one doing the heavy lifting to bring the industry to where it is today. “We’ll see if he can back those words up tomorrow night,” he said.
-Tessitore plugged Stephanie McMahon’s new podcast featuring Dana White as her guest. Then they plugged the WrestleMania line-up.
-They showed the Andre trophy at ringside. Rey Fenix made his ring entrance first as the ring announcers talked about the rules of the match. It’s a basic battle royal. Tessitore noted that the first hour of Smackdown is commercial-free. (By “first hour,” he means the first 55 minutes, probably.)
-A video package aired on Andre the Giant with vintage footage.
(1) ANDRE THE GIANT MEMORIAL BATTLE ROYAL
Shinsuke Nakamura’s ring entrance then aired. The ring was suddenly full and the bell rang 24 minutes into the hour. Carmelo Hayes and R-Truth were battling on the ring apron when Miz kicked R-Truth to the floor to eliminate him. Karrion Kross went after Miz, but Carmelo jumped on Kross’s back. Rey eliminated Humberto and Angel seconds apart. Austin Theory and Greyson Waller eliminated Elton Prince and Kit Wilson next. Kaiser eliminated Tyler Bate next. Pete Dunne went after Kaiser next, but Kaiser held on. After Santos Escobar shook hands with Rey after a chat about working together, Fenix tossed him over the top rope. Otis gave Tozawa an airplane spin and knocked some wrestlers over. An “Otis!” chant rang out. Brutus Creed eliminated Tozawa. Otis clotheslined both Julius and Brutus Creed, but his momentum took him over the top to the floor, too. Andrade eliminated Waller and Theory seconds apart.
Chad Gable stood mid-ring and began eating kicks from Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro leading to Fenix eliminating him.
Kross eliminated Wilde and Del Toro. Kross yelled down that Santos was using them. Dragon Lee went after Kross, whom Tessitore mistakenly referred to as Fenix. Dragon Lee dumped Kross over the top rope. Nakamura then tossed Lee over the top, but Lee held on and returned to the ring. Nakamura eliminated Lee seconds later. Kaiser and Dunne battled on the ring apron next. Dunne head scissored Kaiser to the floor.
It came down to Miz, Carmelo, Andrade, Dunne, Nakamura, and Fenix. Miz saved Carmelo from falling off the ring apron, but then Dunne dropkicked Miz to the floor. “He was unselfish, but it cost him,” said Tessitore. Carmelo then eliminated Dunne. The final four circled each other: Carmelo, Andrade, Fenix, Nakamura. Andrade eliminated Nakamura next. Carmelo blind-sided Fenix with a kick. Fenix knocked both Andrade and Carmelo over the top rope, but they both held on. Fenix appeared to celebrate as if he had won. Barrett called it a lack of experience. Fenix went on a flurry of offense next and walked the top rope. El Grande American yanked him off the top rope to the floor.
As Andrade and Carmelo faced off, Tessitore referenced their Best of Seven series last year. Andrade landed a spinning back elbow. Both went down and were slow to get up. They cut to a wide shot as Tessitore touted a crowd of “17,000-plus.” Carmelo knocked Andrade over the top rope shortly thereafter for the win. Barrett said Carmelo was “beginning to fulfill the promise he always had.”
WINNER: Carmelo Hayes in 16:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A solid battle royal. They told a bunch of sub-stories and got through it swiftly. Carmelo winning will certainly play into the dynamic with Miz and Carmelo, since Miz saved Carmelo before he was eliminated. Miz will certainly hold that above his head.)
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. Tessitore plugged the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
-A video package aired on Triple H vs. Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match.
-A clip aired of Charlotte Flair attacking Tiffany Stratton last week at ringside.
-A snippet aired of Barrett’s sitdown interview with Charlotte. He asked why things have gotten so ugly between them. She said she didn’t love it but they’ve moved past it. She said she has a chip on her shoulder and she thinks Tiffany does too. She said she wants fans to tune in and see her at WrestleMania. She said people are invested and sometimes that’s what the business is about. She said you get tough skin and that’s how you make it.
-Barrett hyped a John Cena-Cody face-to-face segment. He also plugged the tag title match. Tessitore said Tama Tonga has been taken to a local hospital for X-rays after Knight’s attack in the parking lot earlier.
-They showed Rhea Ripley backstage. [c]
(Keller’s Analysis: Seriously, stop saying it’s “a commercial-free hour” and then having a commercial break in the final 15 minutes of the hour. This commercial came at the 47 minute mark! It’s such a pointless lie that undercuts their credibility for fans paying attention.)
-Ripley made her ring entrance. She said this will be her sixth WrestleMania and each time she has walked into some kind of title match. She said this is most important to her. She said she doesn’t want to talk about the past anymore. She said on Sunday she’ll do what she has to do. She said she is walking out of WrestleMania “as your three-time Women’s World Champion.” Iyo Sky’s music then played.
Sky made her entrance. As she was about to speak, Bianca Belair’s theme played. Barrett said that was disrespectful and said she should’ve let her talk for at least 30 seconds. Tessitore said they are disrespecting Sky and treating her like a nuisance holding a prize they want. Belair marched past Ripley and then spoke. Fans booed. Belair observed the boos and said, “Awright.” She said they couldn’t drop her name and not expect her to show up. She said this could be her last night on Smackdown in a while because she’s walking out as champion. She said she’s walking out as champion. Naomi then walked out to her music dressed “like a crime scene,” Barrett said. (She had yellow “Do Not Cross” police strips dangling from her like peacock feathers.
Naomi said: “Hey, B. So you finally decided to show up at Smackdown and you ain’t even gonna try to talk to me?” She said she filled up her voice mail and has been texting her. “I know you got it because it said ‘delivered.'” She said their friendship apparently means so little to her. She said she wanted to handle their business in private. Belair cut her off and said she doesn’t respond to her “because you know what you did.” Naomi entered the ring and said Jade wasn’t there for her like she was. She said on Saturday, she’ll finish what she started with her. Jade’s music then played.
[HOUR TWO]
Jade marched out. Rhea told Jade this isn’t about her. Naomi shoved Jade hard into Ripley. Ripey and Belair brawled as Naomi and Jade brawled. Iyo watched. Fans chanted, “Iyo! Iyo!” Officials separated them. Sky leaped off the top rope with an Over the Top moonsault onto the crowd below.
(Keller’s Analysis: That wasn’t the least bit clarifying, other than fans are still cheering Ripley and they’re turning against Belair.)
-Gable and The Creeds exchanged heated words with Dragon Lee, Rey Mysterio, and Rey Fenix backstage. Rey challenged them to a six-man tag match. Rey said he was going to go talk to Nick Aldis.
-The Motor City Machine Guns made their entrance. [c]
-They showed WWE World including showing fans signing a giant “Thank you, John Cena” wall. (Huh? WTF? Does WWE not want fans to take anything seriously in the midst of their storylines? Or were fans encouraged to disparage him and write stories of how he’s crushed their kids with his turn against them?)
(2) THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) – WWE Tag Team Titles
The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
At 7:00, the Guns rallied with signature double-team moves. A minute later, Ford landed a running flip dive over the ringpost onto the Guns at ringside. At that moment, Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa attacked the Profits. The Gun tried to wrest the tag title belts away from DIY, but DIY kicked him and left with the belts.
WINNERS: No contest in 8:00 so the Profits retained the WWE Tag Team Titles.
-Chelsea Green, with Piper Niven and Alba Fyre, confronted Aldis backstage. They served him with a complaint. Aldis said Chelsea is right that there was an injustice last week. He said Zelina Vega gets another match against Green tonight. He banned Niven and Fyre. Green screeched in protest.
-Tessitore said his appreciation for Aldis grows by the week. Then he plugged the Cody-Cena face-to-face.
-They showed Randy Orton walking backstage. [c]
-Cardi B plugged that she’s hosting Summerslam.
-They showed MetLife Stadium.
-DIY were trying to leave with the belts when Aldis and security cut them off. He ordered them to hand the belts over. The Profits then showed up. DIY shoved the belts into the arms of Aldis. Aldis said next week the belts are getting hung above the ring in a TLC match. He then stormed off as DIY, the Profits, and the MCMGs yelled at each other.
-Orton walked out to his music. He said as of now he doesn’t have an opponent for WrestleMania. He said he and his wife have been all over Vegas at WWE events and met fans. He said there is an excitement over WrestleMania this year. He said his father was part of the first WrestleMania and 20 years ago he made his debut. He said there is no way he is sitting out this year’s WrestleMania. He said if he competes this weekend, it’ll be his 20th. He said he’ll show up on Sunday with his gear on “and just the right amount of baby oil on my skin.” He said he’s not just doing it for himself, he’s doing it for his family, the fans, “and the boys in the back.” He dared anyone to step up to face him. He vowed they will fall to “the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment, – R-K-O.” Tessitore said all we’ll hear is speculation as to who will step up.
-They threw to a clip from the WrestlerMania Kickoff show where Damien Priest attacked Drew McIntyre on the stage.
-Saxton interviewed Priest. Priest cut him off and said he’s so done answering questions about WrestleMania. He said he’s tired of Drew McIntyre claiming he’s a victim. He said he’s not a victim yet. He said the world isn’t ready for the violence he’ll unleash on Drew. “I’m going to beat you so bad, you’ll wish you were future endeavored again,” he said.
-Zelina Vega made her ring entrance. [c]
(3) ZELINA VEGA vs. CHELSEA GREEN
The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. Barrett complained that Tessitore was distracting Green before the bell by recounting Green’s lack of focus last week that led to her being counted out. Barrett called Green “an entertainment goddess.” Tessitore said she constantly complained. Barrett said she wouldn’t have to complain if she was treated with respect (says every NBA player after every fowl call. Vega landed a Super Code Red for the win.
WINNER: Vega in 4:00.
-After another Cena-Cody plug, they showed L.A. Knight backstage. [c]
-Knight cut a promo in the ring about taking out Tama earlier and Solo next so he can face Fatu one-on-one this weekend. When Solo made his entrance, Knight jumped him in the aisle. They cut to a break after they were separated. [c]
[HOUR THREE]
(4) L.A. KNIGHT vs. SOLO SIKOA
Solo smashed Knight back-first into the ringpost after the break, with the match in progress. Solo continued to beat on Knight in the ring for a few minutes. When Knight rallied, Fatu interfered
WINNER: Knight via DQ in 4:00.
-Fatu beat up Knight afterward. Braun Strowman made the save, running to the ring and landing a double crossbody block onto Solo and Fatu. Aldis stepped out and said it seems Fatu doesn’t want to wait until WrestleMania. He asked Vegas if they’re thinking what he’s thinking. He booked a tag match. [c/db]
(5) L.A. KNIGHT & BRAUN STROWMAN vs. SOLO SIKOA & JACOB FATU
The bell rang during the break 4 minutes into the hour. Knight took an extended beating before hot-tagging in Strowman at 5:00. He ran around the ring at ringside and knocked both Solo and Fatu down. Fatu made a comeback and scored a two count on Strowman. Eventually, Knight ducked a Samoan Spike attempt and caught Solo with a BFT for the clean win.
WINNERS: Knight in 6:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Solo’s stock continues to drop to a second-tier wrestler that even Levesque is willing to book to close clean to other second-tier wrestlers like Knight.)
-Barrett’s sitdown interview with Tiffany aired. He said she’s learning on the job. He talked about all the buzz generated from their in-ring interview two weeks ago. Tiffany said she felt bullied and “taken advantage of.” She said she had a moment during their split-screen interview, “I had a moment of insane discouragement.” She said it was a moment of panic that she wasn’t made for this. She said she then went home and did her research and came prepared the next week. “I felt my moment and I came at her with a killshot,” she said. “I gave her a taste of her own medicine. She doesn’t have to like me or love me. She sure as hell has to respect me now.” Barrett asked what happens if Tiffy Time ends. She said it won’t happen, but it’ll be one of the hardest matches she ever has to go through. She said she’s motivated to stand up to a bully.
-Rey Mysterio’s team made their ring entrance. [c]
(6) AMERICAN MADE (Chad Gable & Julius Creed & Brutus Creed) vs. REY MYSTERIO & DRAGON LEE & REY FENIX
Tessitore hyped the Hall of Fame and encouraged people in Las Vegas to attend and said there was still time to get down there. The bell rang 22 minute into the hour. They cut to a double-box break with the heels in control. [c/db]
Dragon leaped off the top rope and stomped on the chests of all three opponents after he countered a top rope throw by Gable. Fenix tagged in. Tessitore said he is a star in the making. Fenix went on a flurry of offense and eventually pinned Julius after a Meteora.
WINNERS: Mysterio & Lee & Fenix in 9:00.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. Tessitore asked Barrett if he’s ready to call WrestleMania with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. Barrett said it’s a dream come true.
-A video package aired hyping the Seth Rollins-Roman Reigns-C.M. Punk-Paul Heyman saga. [c]
-Cody made his full ring entrance. As he was about to speak 43 minutes into the hour, Cena’s music interrupted. Cena walked out and unfolded a towel that said “The Last Time Is Now.” A “Let’s Go Cena / Cena sucks!” chant broke out. Cena circled Cody and stared at him. As Cody was about to speak, Cena said, “Shut your mouth, kid.” He said this will be his 20th WrestleMania and 12th title match. He said it easy to get lost in all the noise and voices. He told Cody to listen to his voice. He said Sunday will be the last time he competes in a WrestleMania ring. He said no one has ever had the courage to end his career the way he has. He said there is nothing Cody can do to prepare to face a match “who knows he is going to die.”
Cena said fans don’t believe he’s really retiring because there is always “one more match.” He said every other wrestler is a “scared, insecure a loser.” He said every other wrestler needs the fans to care about them and post about them. He said the second they are away from the spotlight, they are left alone in their pathetic lives. He said he is full of love, joy, and worth in his life. “I don’t need a single damn one of you,” he said. He said the only reason he’s there is to take the belt away from Cody and the fans forever. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, because I did,” he said. He said last year everyone congratulated Cody on his win. He said he told Cody the truth that every day he holds that belt, it gets heavier. He said he will lose because he cares about the fans.
Cena said fans don’t write history, winners do. He said he wanted to share one more thing with Cody. He said after he won the Elimination Chamber, he knew it would be impossible to beat him at WrestleMania. He said he changed all that in one moment with what he said to The Rock. He said The Rock gave him a choice. “Do you want to do what they think is right, or do you want to win,” he said. Cena said when Cody made that choice, he realized Cody didn’t stand a chance against him. He said all that was left is to prove “they (the fans) don’t matter.” He said they will always make up their version of the truth and when he stops caring about the fans, he can start accomplishing anything he wants in life. “But you are too weak to understand that,” he said.
Cena said Cody will have to do what the fans think is right or will he win. He said Cody is “strong, touch, and driven, but also scared, insecure, and naive.” He said he didn’t need the tattoo or the suit to be somebody. He said he’ll make him somebody at WrestleMania because he’ll realize in order to be a winner, he has to severe ties with the fans. He said when he loses, he will realize he isn’t the captain or a quarterback. He said he’s a kid in a man’s world “who doesn’t have the balls of the last real champion.”
Cody said: “Okay John, the noise. You always have to say something, right?” Some boos rang out. They got louder. Cena said, “This is who you fight for. This is what matters to you.” More boos as Cody began to speak again. Cody said Cena claims he doesn’t bury talent. “I know a graveyard of talent that would disagree with that,” he said. Boos continued.
Cody asked if he knows the name of the guy who handed him the mic. He said he probably wouldn’t know anyone’s name backstage. He said it’s a different WWE than when he was on top. He said he hasn’t shown up since Elimination Chamber. He said Cena calls him underwhelming. “Guess what, you’re overrated, you’re overbearing, and more importantly you’re out of touch and out of time. Your face is melting wax, you’ve got a stack of dimes for a neck, your as white as Sting at Starrcade ’97.” He then mocked him showing up at the Oscar stage naked “for the people you run errands for now.” He said it’s 2025 and he still can’t wrestle. Fans cheered and began singing “Cody Rhodes” Europe style. Cena called fans “idiots.”
Cena said to beat him on Sunday, “I don’t have to wrestle.” He poked Cena in the eyes and tried to give him an Attitude Adjustment. Cody slipped out and gave Cena a CrossRhodes. Cody stood over Cena and held up his belt as his music played.
Tessitore and Barrett ran down the WM line-up as Cody played to the crowd.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was a weird journey with the crowd. Cody seemed surprised by those boos. I’ll have a lot to say on the post-show which you can watch live or on-demand on YouTube to listen to in podcast format. Just search “wade keller” in your podcast app.)
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.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE