On August 8, 2025, the WWE SmackDown event broadcast live on the USA Network from Montreal’s Bell Centre delivered a night filled with intense matches and significant storyline developments, leading to a major <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE Championship confrontation. The evening saw Cody Rhodes and John Cena endure a turbulent tag team bout against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre, while Drew McIntyre positioned himself as the challenger for the upcoming WWE Championship Clash in Paris, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. Throughout the night, the crowd of nearly 13,000 fans witnessed a mixture of surprise victories, backstage confrontations, and evolving rivalries.
John Cena’s Electrifying Return and Alliance with Cody Rhodes
The event opened by revisiting Cody Rhodes’s recent triumph at Summerslam, where he reclaimed the WWE Championship from John Cena, followed by the unexpected return of Brock Lesnar to the WWE. Cena then made a grand entrance, greeted by a passionate Montreal crowd chanting his name and responding with an enthusiastic ovation. Cena addressed the audience, reflecting on his career and expressing gratitude for the fans’ unwavering support while acknowledging his forthcoming retirement, with only eleven appearances left. Despite his fears about leaving a lasting legacy, he declared his determination to confront opponents, including Lesnar, as “the Last Real Champion.”
“
it’s getting close, but damn this is fun.
” —John Cena
“
Damn, we have come a long way.
” —John Cena
“
The last time is now, so if you want some…come get some.
” —John Cena
“
Logan Paul is the biggest dumbass I’ve ever seen.
” —John Cena
The tension escalated when Logan Paul interrupted Cena’s moment, receiving extensive boos from the crowd. Logan challenged Cena’s character, igniting a heated exchange that culminated in Drew McIntyre ambushing Cena from behind. Cody Rhodes rushed to Cena’s aid, clearing the ring alongside him. This led Cena to accept Paul’s demand for a match at Clash in Paris and to issue a challenge for a tag team match on this night’s show, pairing himself with Cody against Logan and Drew.
Tag Team Gauntlet: Motor City Machine Guns vs. The MFTs
The first match featured the Motor City Machine Guns—Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley—against Talla Tonga and J.C. Mateo of the MFTs, with Solo Sikoa and Tonga Loa supporting from ringside. Despite efforts from the well-established Machine Guns, the MFTs controlled the majority of the bout with aggressive offense culminating in a hard-hitting chokeslam by Talla Tonga on Sabin, securing a pinfall victory after eight minutes.
After the match, Solo Sikoa asserted the dominance of the MFT faction and declared their ambition to capture the Tag Team Championships, also hinting at the lack of credible challengers in the locker room. However, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis interrupted, disrupting their plans by introducing a surprise opponent for Solo for later in the evening: hometown hero Sami Zayn.
Surprise Victory: Sami Zayn Defeats United States Champion Solo Sikoa
The impromptu non-title match began amid loud crowd support for Sami Zayn, who energized the audience with a barrage of punches and moves against the formidable Solo Sikoa. Despite repeated interference attempts by the MFTs from ringside, Zayn maintained control and utilized his resilience and agility to dodge a finishing move and deliver a quick roll-up for a shocking pinfall victory over the United States Champion after eleven minutes. Sami escaped the ring swiftly to avoid retaliation, leaving Solo visibly stunned.
Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair Face Chelsea Green
Backstage, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, the newly crowned WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, shared a lighthearted moment discussing Bliss’s birthday and the surprises Flair had prepared. Their celebratory mood was interrupted by Chelsea Green, who returned to the ring accompanied by her Secret Hervice to confront the champions. Nick Aldis promptly booked an impromptu singles match between Flair and Chelsea.
The bout was competitive, with Flair showcasing her power and technical skill while countering Green’s underhanded tactics. A comedic moment involved a birthday cake sliding into the ring, foreshadowing the match’s climax. Bliss neutralized interference by the Secret Hervice with a dive from the apron. Eventually, Flair locked in the Figure Eight leglock, forcing Green to submit in a nine-minute match. Afterward, Flair and Bliss celebrated with cake, though their moment was interrupted, signaling more conflict to come.
Building Tension Behind the Scenes: Tag Team and Title Feuds Intensify
Several backstage segments unfolded, deepening ongoing storylines. The Street Profits and B-Fab were confronted by Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and Candice LeRae, highlighting recent conflicts involving the Wyatt Sicks faction, especially following Summerslam’s brutal ladder match where Candice suffered significant injuries. GM Nick Aldis responded by scheduling a renewed tag team feud for the following SmackDown.
Carmelo Hayes confronted The Miz about feeling sidelined despite contributing to the tag team scene. Miz acknowledged delaying a United States Championship opportunity for Hayes due to other ongoing stories. Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, and Kiana James all engaged in verbal exchanges, suggesting future confrontations across multiple divisions, including the Women’s and United States titles.
Wyatt Sicks’ Ominous Message and Continued Character Development
A haunting vignette aired depicting Wyatt Sicks and the associated dark faction members, including Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross, and Erik Rowan. They spoke cryptically about exposing illusions and awakening others to harsh realities, emphasizing their larger purpose beyond fear. This theme resonated alongside a video of their previous ladder match, hinting at future ominous story threads.
A separate segment spotlighted Aleister Black’s introspective commentary, contrasting his convictions with those of Damian Priest, while detailing Priest’s recent jaw injury sustained in their rivalry. This added layers to the ongoing conflict between the two, as Black asserted his unique approach to violence in the WWE landscape.
Climactic Main Event: Chaotic Tag Match Ends in Disqualification
The night’s main event pitted Cody Rhodes and John Cena against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. Cody and Logan began the match amid energetic chants for Rhodes, with Cody executing strong early offense, including a hesitation suplex and a powerslam. Drew McIntyre dominated much of the match, throwing Cody onto the floor and connecting with decisive strikes. The crowd awaited a tag to Cena, who finally entered with explosive offense, unleashing a sequence of signature moves and an Attitude Adjustment.
Before Cena could secure a victory, Logan Paul delivered a low blow, leading to an immediate disqualification and allowing the tandem of Rhodes and Cena to claim an official win after eight minutes. Following the match, tensions boiled over as Cena and Logan brawled backstage, and Drew McIntyre attacked Rhodes viciously. After clearing the announce table, Drew used the WWE Championship belt to strike Rhodes and then drove him through the front of the announce table with a Claymore kick, leaving the champion battered and setting the scene for their title confrontation in Paris.
“
The Champ is Here!
” —John Cena
The Road Ahead: Anticipation Builds for WWE Championship Clash in Paris
This event has firmly laid the groundwork for the upcoming WWE Championship rematch scheduled for Clash in Paris, starring Cody Rhodes defending his title against Drew McIntyre. The chaotic conclusion of the tag match and the intense attack on Rhodes underscore the personal and professional stakes involved. John Cena’s perseverance alongside Rhodes indicates a united front against their formidable adversaries, Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. The spirited crowd and the unresolved confrontations throughout the night create anticipation for how these rivalries will evolve on the road to Paris.
The various storylines touching the tag team division, women’s championship landscape, and emerging rivalries further contribute to a vibrant and dynamic WWE environment heading into the next pay-per-view event. Fans will be closely watching to see if Sami Zayn‘s recent upset hints at a shift in momentum, how Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair will manage potential betrayals, and whether the Wyatt Sicks faction will increase their influence on SmackDown programs.
