WWE SmackDown Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before WrestleMania
Just 48 hours before taking to the WrestleMania stage for the last time in his celebrated career, John Cena returned to SmackDown for the last bit of hype ahead of his match with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
His appearance headlined a jam-packed episode of SmackDown on USA Network, which also featured the 2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, The Street Profits defending the WWE Tag Team Championship, and all of the final hype for the biggest show of the year.
Match Card
1 of 10
Announced in advance of Friday's show were:
* John Cena and Cody Rhodes under the same roof
* Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal featuring stars from Raw and SmackDown
* WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns
Seth Rollins Promo
2 of 10
Seth Rollins is willing to sacrifice everything to defeat Roman Reigns and CM Punk and ensure the future of the business heads in the right direction, he told fans in the opening segment of the show.
The Visionary spoke to the WWE Universe, telling of the sacrifices he has made for the company, including being at WrestleMania 40 last year to save Cody Rhodes from Reigns while his stepdad was at home dying of cancer.
An intensely personal promo that earned him the respect of the fans in Las Vegas, it was the perfect cap to a story that has lacked stakes, one that conveyed to the live and viewing audiences how important the contest is to Rollins.
This was a fantastic way to kick off the show.
Grade
A+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* LA Knight attacked Tama Tonga in the parking lot, slamming his arm in a car door.
* "Roman Reigns knows nothing about sacrifice. CM Punk knows nothing about sacrifice. I know everything about sacrifice!" Rollins exclaimed.
* "This story began 12 years ago when Paul Heyman brought Roman Reigns and I into WWE and it ends tomorrow night in the most important Triple Threat Match of all time."
Andre the Giant Battle Royal
3 of 10
Featuring: Rey Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamura, Chad Gable, Ludwig Kaiser, The Miz, Andrade, Carmelo Hayes, Carlito, Pretty Deadly, Creed Brothers, R-Truth, LWO, Dragon Lee, Tyler Bate, Pete Dunne, Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, Otis, Akira Tozawa, Karrion Kross, Humberto, Angel, and Santos Escobar
Late in the 2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, pre-match favorite Fenix looked to be on his way to winning the biggest match of his young WWE career when El Grande Americano emerged from out of nowhere to trip him up and eliminate him from the contest.
With the battle down to familiar foes Hayes and Andrade, fans inside the T-Mobile Arena came alive for the resumption of their rivalry. Counters and reversals defined their brief back and forth before Hayes dumped El Idolo and scored what was arguably the most important win of his main roster career.
This was a fun battle royal down the stretch, featuring a ton of talent that could fill out a card of their own. Hayes winning was a great boost for a guy who struggled to catch on with a sustained story throughout his first year on the main roster and, like Bronson Reed last year, will hopefully have the opportunity to go on a great run throughout the rest of the year.
Result
Hayes won, last eliminating Andrade
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Gable's commitment to proving he is not El Grande Americano by competing in this match so he can have his WrestleMania moment is excellent.
* Luchadors surrounded Gable, teed off on him, and eliminated him to continue that story thread.
* The boos rained down from the stands as hometown favorite Kross was eliminated by Lee.
* Hayes and Andre in the final four was a nice ode to their months-long feud, resulting in a Best-of-Seven Series.
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Women's Division Chaos Ahead of WrestleMania
4 of 10
How does one wrap up the build to two of the four women's division matches? By including them in one segment, of course.
While some will argue that Triple H's approach to the final hype for the Women's World Championship Triple Threat Match between Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Iyo Sky, and Jade Cargill vs. Naomi was somewhat lazy, the segment actually meshed both programs together in a way that made sense.
Naomi interrupting Belair and questioning her loyalty since The EST has ignored her texts and calls made sense due the disconnect that has existed between them since the former admitted she attacked Cargill.
That Cargill interrupted and chaos ensued between the five women, ending with Sky reminding the the world of who she is and what she can do come Sunday night, only put an exclamation point on things.
While the creative leading to the three-way title match has been lacking, this was a fine way to shine a light on the women's division and two matches that should have fans paying close attention when the bell rings.
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "This one is probably the most important one to me," Ripley said of this, her sixth championship match in a row at WrestleMania.
* Sky was once again disrespected, not even able to speak before Belair made her entrance to complete the Triple Threat picture.
* The look on Ripley's face when Naomi's music played was all of us.
* Ripley stepped between Cargill and Belair, teasing a match-up the wrestling world would likely pay copious amounts of money to see.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns
5 of 10
The Street Profits and Motor City Machine Guns battled for the WWE Tag Team Championship Friday night on SmackDown but it was the third team in their long-running rivalry, that left with the titles.
Late in the match, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano jumped the guardrail and attacked the combatants, drawing a no contest finish before absconding with the gold.
The booking here would seem to suggest a Triple Threat Match for the gold is incoming. In fact, after the commercial break, SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis announced a TLC Match for next week's show between the three teams.
Still, this was a pretty bait-and-switch tactic and the crowd let them know it during Aldis' announcement, booing the "next week" part.
Result
No contest
Grade
B-
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Shelley and Sabin have earned better than the reaction the WWE fans have given them. They have also earned better creative.
* This feud really should be highlighted on the WrestleMania card.
* Nick Aldis informed Chelsea Green that the scheduled six-woman tag team match is off and in its place is a one-on-one match between the Women's United States champion and Zelina Vega.
Randy Orton's Open Challenge and Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green
6 of 10
One day before the start of WrestleMania 41, Randy Orton does not have an opponent for the Showcase of the Immortals and took to the squared circle to issue an open challenge to "anyone who gets wind of Randy Orton needing a WrestleMania opponent."
Me thinks someone will answer.
After the break, Zelina Vega looked to go 2-0 against Chelsea Green in consecutive weeks.
She did just that, using Green's mounting frustrations against her and delivering a middle-rope Code Red to score the pinfall victory.
One would assume this would set her up for a championship opportunity in the near future but considering how haphazardly that particular title has been booked since December, it would not be particularly surprising if it did not.
Result
Vega defeated Green
Grade
C
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Orton said he will be in Allegiant Stadium with "just enough baby oil" on him and that is the type of self-aware humor that makes him such a compelling talker.
* The Women's United States Championship picture feels like it couldn't it be colder, through little fault of the competitors themselves. Triple H and Co. must take a good, long, hard look at what the goal with the title and division as a whole is.
* The Aleister Black teases airing before, during, or after wife Vega's matches never gets old.
LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa Turns Into A Tag Team Match; Tiffany Stratton Talks
7 of 10
Jacob Fatu looked to send a message to LA Knight ahead of their United States Championship Match Saturday night at WrestleMania, attacking The Megastar and drawing a disqualification finish to the babyface's match with Solo Sikoa.
Braun Strowman made the save and Aldis, in true SmackDown GM fashion, booked a tag team match.
A high-energy tag bout highlighted all four Superstars and ended with Knight sending Fatu into the commentary team, then pinned Sikoa to score the victory for his team.
This was a nice showcase for these competitors and the upcoming US title match, but one cannot help but be distracted by how rapidly and far Sikoa has fallen from his run at the top of the company. Not six months ago, he was a centerpiece of the blue brand.
Now, he misses WrestleMania, a side character in Fatu's big weekend.
After the match, a confident WWE women's champion Tiffany Stratton sat down with Wade Barrett and discussed her match with Charlotte Flair. She came across better than she has recently but here was little new or noteworthy to come from it, outside of her feeling bullied in her earlier confrontations with The Queen.
Result
Knight and Strowman defeated Fatu and Sikoa
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Could Aldis not add "playa" at the end and really pay homage to the great Teddy Long and his penchant for booking tag bouts?
* No one DDTs himself quite like Strowman.
* Fatu bumps around the ring like no one else for Strowman. Whether it his own bumping or his pure athleticism, The Samoan Werewolf might be the most visually impressive pro wrestler in the company.
* Knight was the last man standing here so, yep, Fatu is definitely taking the title Saturday night.
LWO vs. American Made
8 of 10
Born of the events that unfolded in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal earlier in the night, Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Rey Fenix battled Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers in six-man tag team action.
A fast-paced, high-energy, high-flying match ensued, especially down the stretch. Lee and Fenix showed out down the stretch, with the latter scoring the victory with a Meteora.
Unfortunately, the attention in the arena turned to Hall of Famer Mysterio, who was attended to by WWE's medical staff and needed to be carried out of the arena.
If he is seriously injured and forced to miss his match with El Grande Americano after months of feuding with Chad Gable and Co. on the Raw brand, it will be a massive disappointment for the performer himself and all he built with Gable.
Result
LWO defeated American Made
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "We've had some great newcomers from that world of lucha libre, but do not forget about Dragon Lee," Wade Barrett said on commentary. You hear him, Triple H?
* Fenix and Lee are seriously excellent, as are the Creed Brothers. Here's to Triple H and Co. figuring out something significant for them to do post-WrestleMania.
Cody Rhodes and John Cena Face to Face
9 of 10
Does Cody Rhodes have the guts to do what is necessary to win or will he stay loyal to the fans?
It was the question John Cena asked the WWE champion in the last verbal exchange before their WrestleMania 41 main event.
Rhodes responded to his opponent's condescending words with a few verbal knockouts of his own, winning over a crowd in Las Vegas that was only 60-40 in favor of him to that point.
The crowd dynamic revealed what may be a very interesting reaction to Sunday's main event, with more in favor of Cena than WWE may have expected. How will that affect any potential appearance by The Rock and the impact of that moment on the outcome?
For now, this was another entertaining verbal exchange if nothing else, with Cena making his point and laying out the narrative, while Rhodes fought back with a few bombs of his own before countering an Attitude Adjustment and delivering Cross Rhodes to put an end to the segment.
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "The reason there isn't a wrestling retirement is because every other wrestler is a scared insecure loser," Cena said.
* "I have love, joy, and worth in my life. I don't need a single damn one of you," Cena told the fans.
* "You will lose because you care about them. Losers don't write history. Winners do," Cena said.
* "These people will always make up a version of the truth they want to believe," Cena said, not necessarily lying.
* "You didn't need the tattoo or the suit because Sunday, I'm gonna make you somebody," Cena said. "Somebody who has to sever ties with the losers in your life."
* "You called me 'underwhelming,' well you're overrated," Rhodes said.
* "You're paler than Sting at Starrcade 1997!" Rhodes said with a killer line, born in pro wrestling podcasts. 'sup, Conrad Thompson.
* "The whole world saw you saunter around butt-ass naked at the Oscars for the people you run errands for now." The hits kept coming for the champion.
Overall Grade
10 of 10
This was a much better hard sell for WrestleMania than Monday's Raw was, especially with the appearance from Cena.
Still, with most major angles and booking decisions already in place before Friday's show it the USA Network, this still felt like a relatively safe show that did little to convince fans that were not already invested in WrestleMania or watching the show to decide to.
The Hayes win was a nice surprise and the Rollins promo at the top of the show was arguably the best of his entire career, but this was another bloated three-hour show that would have made a greater impact had it been two.
Grade: C+
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