John Cena and Cody Rhodes come face-to-face on WWE SmackDown.
WWE SmackDown advertised a loaded show with Bianca Belair’s return in her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn., Cody Rhodes’ return to SmackDown to confront John Cena after his surprise appearance at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
WWE also advertised two Money in the Bank qualifiers as Jacob Fatu took on Andrade and Carmelo Hayes and Jade Cargill faced Naomi and Nia Jax.
Last week’s broadcast of SmackDown garnered 1.38 million viewers.
WWE SmackDown Ratings And Viewership
- May 23, 2025 | 1.38 million
- May 16, 2025 | 1.29 million
- May 9, 2025 | 1.455 million
- May 2, 2025 | 1.406 million
- April 25, 2025 | 1.599 million
WWE SmackDown Results On May 30, 2025
- Naomi def. Nia Jax and Jade Cargill | Women’s MITB Qualifier
- JC Mateo def. R-Truth
- Los Garza def. Je’Von Evans and Rey Fenix
- Zelina Vega def. Alba Fyre
- Andrade def. Carmelo Hayes and Jacob Fatu | Men’s MITB Qualifier
WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales
- WWE Raw Venue: Food City Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 14,556
- WWE Raw Tickets Available: 863
WWE SmackDown Highlights, Winners And Grades
Bianca Belair Returns And Confronts Naomi
Bianca received a unanimously babyface reaction. She led her hometown fans in singing “Rocky Top.”
Belair, who was still sporting a splint on her hand, was interrupted by Naomi.
Naomi was booed heavily. She said she wanted to reunite with Bianca, and even went by her house. Since Bianca’s parents weren’t there, Naomi let herself in and went through Bianca Belair’s photo album.
Belair was not interested in a reunion, and said if Naomi ever comes near her family, what Naomi did to Jade Cargill will be nothing compared to what Belair will do to Naomi.
Naomi threatened to put both Belair in a wheelchair just like her mother. Cargill crashed the segment and attacked Naomi before a tense moment with Belair.
Bianca Belair Return Grade: A
Naomi Def. Jade Cargill and Nia Jax
SmackDown returned from break with this match underway and Naomi in control.
Fans chanted “Let’s go Jade!” after Nia Jax hit her with a hip attack, but Cargill eventually sprung an impressive comeback that was broken up by Nia Jax.
Naomi hit brutal leg drop from the second rope on Naomi for a nearfall.
Cargill hit Naomi with Jaded, but Nia Jax broke it up. Nia regained control over the majority of the match from here, where she hit a Super Samoan Drop on Naomi, only to take a splash from a flying Jade Cargill. “This is Awesome!”
Jax hit the Annihilator on Cargill, but Naomi rolled up Jax for the win.
Naomi vs. Jade Cargill and Nia Jax Grade: B
JC Mateo Def. R-Truth
Backstage R-Truth mocked JC Mateo, whom he accused of being Solo Sikoa’s son. The artist formerly known as Jeff Cobb wore his full gear for this match.
Mateo’s new theme music isn’t great (what is from Def Rebel, but it’s better than half the roster.
Mateo hit an impressive standing moonsault on R-Truth, but Truth came back with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Mateo sold quite a bit for Truth, but throughout the match Truth had truble lifting him up.
Truth collapsed after going for the AA and Mateo finished him off with a Tour of the Islands.
Jimmy Uso saved R-Truth, but Mateo attacked Jimmy.
JC Mateo vs. R-Truth Grade: C+
The Wyatt Sicks Destroy Tag Team Division
The Street Profits, DIY, Fraxiom and MCMG all appeared one-after-another in a very tame speaking segment.
Tommaso Ciampa asked for a moment of silence for the tag team division. The crowd booed. TheWyatt Sicks interrupted and all of them took out every member of the tag team division that was in the ring.
Wade Barrett questioned what the Wyatt Sicks wanted, but clearly it was tag team gold.
Wyatt Sicks Segment Grade: B-
Los Garza Def. Je’Von Evans and Rey Fenix
Je’Von looked like a seasoned OG on the main roster, and as dazzled as the crowd was, nobody enjoyed his work more than Joe Tessitore.
This was Rey Fenix’s best showing since coming to the main roster in a match promoting next weekend’s Worlds Collide show.
New North American champion Ethan Page appeared on commentary, and cost Evans the match. Tessitore was beside himself and put over Evans for his great showcase.
Before Tessitore and Barrett could finish arguing, the screen cut out to a cryptic promo from Uncle Howdy, who teased coming after the Tag Team Titles.
Los Garza vs. Je’Von Evans and Rey Fenix Grade: B+
Zelina Vega Def. Alba Fyre
Backstage, Chelsea Green—sporting a bedazzled mask after breaking her nose at SNME, thrust Alba fyre into a match against Zelina Vega.
Piper Niven tripped Vega while Green was distracting the referee before Raw went to break.
Fans barely reacted to this match until the finish, where Green unmasked and accidentally struck Niven with her mask. Vega won with the Code Red.
Zelina Vega vs. Alba Fyre Grade: C
Damian Priest Calls Out Jacob Fatu
Damian Priest was received faint “what” chants, but showed respect to Drew McIntyre. Priest needs to turn heel just as much as McIntyre needs to turn babyface.
Priest, sporting a black eye, called out Jacob Fatu. If WWE is trying to rehabilitate Priest as a babyface, this is not the way.
Priest remained respectful about Fatu, but said the family he follows around “can catch a fresh one, too.”
Damian Preist Promo Grade: B-
Andrade Def. Carmelo Hayes And Jacob Fatu
Jacob Fatu shared a showdown with Damian Priest before going about his business.
Miz and Carmelo teased tensions backstage after Carmelo Hayes told Miz he doesn’t need him to get to the next level.
Miz tripped Fatu as Fatu built a head of steam and hit the ropes. Fatu answered with a running hip attack against the barricade.
Fatu set up Carmelo Hayes for a second running hip attack, but Andrade pulled Hayes out of the way, and Fatu went crashing through the barricade.
Fatu came back from the dead and tossed both Andrade and Hayes from the top rope in something of an assisted Spanish Fly.
Fatu essentially dominated the match every time he was on two feet, and the announce team marveled at his offense.
Solo and JC hit the ring to give Fatu unsolicited advice. Both of them forcefully ordered him to do a moonsault off the top rope after he had already done one. Jimmy Uso attacked Mateo, Andrade capitalized by bumping a distracted Fatu out of the ring and hit The Message on Melo.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade and Fatu Grade: B
John Cena And Cody Rhodes Face Off
Cody Rhodes received a warm ovation, and vowed to never hesitate again since hesitation cost him the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
Cody Rhodes surprised the crowd with a Jey Uso appearance. After an encore, Jey was interrupted by John Cena. Cena called Uso and Cody Rhodes wannabes.
John Cena brought out Logan Paul, who Cena said was better than all the “professional wrestlers” in the business. Cena said Logan Paul doesn’t have to pay his dues because he pais their mortgages.
80% of this segment was entrances.
Fans chanted STFU, which threw Logan Paul off. Cena was giving Paul time cues as the 8 pm PST hour approached.
After a long Logan Paul promo, Jey Uso said they don’t have to wait until Money in the Bank. Cena and Paul argued about whether or not they were gonna brawl. Rhodes taunted Cena and Paul, telling Paul “What are you gonna go polish his Peacemaker?” A brawl ensued, and the babyfaces stood taul.
