WWE SmackDown: Highlights & Verdicts: John Cena’s Challenger Confirmed, Cody Rhodes Taken Out, Tag Team Break Up?

Written by Debottam Saha • Published Aug 09, 2025 07:06 EDT
WWE SmackDown Highlights and verdict

WWE SmackDown, dated August 9, after SummerSlam emanated from Montreal and was a packed show. Here’s a look at the highlights and verdicts.

WWE SmackDown opened with John Cena, who lost his Undisputed Title to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. He poured his heart out to the fans and stated that he was afraid of being forgotten. The capacity crowd then vociferously started chanting “Thank you Cena” as the Last Real Champion was almost moved to tears.

Things took a turn from there as SmackDown got interesting:

John Cena Was Confronted By A Former Friend

John Cena then stated that he would deal with Brock Lesnar when the Beast wanted some. However, he challenged the entire roster to show up and get a piece of the Last Real Champion.

Logan Paul then showed up, and as the promo battle got going, Cena was attacked from behind by Drew McIntyre. Cody Rhodes then showed up to even the odds as the heels quickly retreated. Cena then stated that he would face Logan Paul at Clash in Paris, but later on in the show, the heels would be in tag team action against Cena and Cody Rhodes.

This was a great segment that established Cena further as a babyface while Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre are in the right place at the top of the roster.

Verdict: A

Sami Zayn Made A Sudden Appearance On WWE SmackDown

Sami Zayn, who is from Montreal, made a surprise appearance on WWE SmackDown and battled Solo Sikoa. The RAW star emerged as the surprise opponent for the United States Champion and was introduced by Nick Aldis. Zayn came home to a mammoth reception as the crowd sang his theme song and chanted his name.

It was a spectacular moment and one that truly made the night. The match, however, was a little below average, mostly because fans have very high expectations from Zayn’s bouts. Overall, though, the entire segment made the show better.

Also, Zayn getting the babyface win for the pop over an established champion with a streak did not make much sense.

Verdict: B

Alexa Bliss And Charlotte Flair Are Still On The ‘We’re Not Friends’ Path

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair were teammates of convenience when they won the Women’s Tag Team Title at SummerSlam. Both veterans have excelled in their character work, and now it seems Flair is more into the tag team than Bliss.

However, Flair’s sort of self-inclination and ‘me and myself’ syndrome suggests that The Queen has yet to quit her old self. The star could revert to her old ways or cement the friendship as they tried to do on WWE SmackDown.

Flair even introduced a friendly doll, a counterpart for Bliss’ Lilly – Charly. This got a huge pop from the fans as they are really behind the entire saga between Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.

Verdict: A

Carmelo Hayes And The Miz Tease A Break-Up

If you didn’t remember The Miz and Carmelo Hayes were still a team, you’re not alone. They forged a partnership when Hayes first broke into SmackDown, and since then have been together, despite Miz being absent over the past few weeks.

Hayes wanted to get a US Title match and intended to talk to Nick Aldis about the same, but was stopped by The Miz, who pretended he got them a tag team match next week, even though Aldis was not even in his office.

Hayes reluctantly agreed to the match but was more concerned about what his future held in the brand. More importantly, fans’ chants and wishes for Carmelo Hayes getting a better spot seem to be working, but this was one tag team that could have been silently disbanded.

Verdict: D

Cody Rhodes Gets Brutally Assaulted By Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre made a unique use of the announcer’s desk as he Claymore Kicked Rhodes through it instead of on it.

The Scottish Warrior teamed up with Logan Paul against John Cena and Cody Rhodes, but the match ended abruptly with Paul delivering a low blow.

The show then went off the air with Cena and Paul fighting backstage while McIntyre took out Rhodes with a Claymore. It seems that Cody Rhodes’ new feud is also set, albeit under some lackluster circumstances, as both the heel and the face did not have a face-to-face confrontation.

Except for fireworks to go off next week, but this week on SmackDown, fans were left a bit disappointed.