WWE SmackDown Results – July 18, 2025

Written by John Canton • Published Jul 19, 2025 00:03 EDT

WWE SmackDown featured John Cena and Cody Rhodes engaging in a contract signing.

It was SmackDown at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The SmackDown commentary team was Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett. Mark Nash was the ring announcer.

There was a car crash outside the arena with members of Solo Sikoa’s MFT group talking to some fake police officers who are likely indy wrestlers. One car was T-Boned into the side of the other car. Cathy Kelley asked Raw GM Adam Pearce about the chaos. Raw GM Adam Pearce was there because SmackDown GM Nick Aldis has the week off. Cody Rhodes showed up, Pearce handed him the contract that needed to be signed, and Cody left. Pearce said he’d talk to him later. Pearce talked to the cops.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss spoke backstage earlier in the day. Flair was wearing a “We’re Not Friends” shirt. Flair said they didn’t win, but they also didn’t lose. Flair said that she got them a Women’s Tag Team Title match at SummerSlam. Bliss wondered how she got that. Giulia was in the background talking to Kiana James, who is back from injury. Bliss agreed to be her cheerleader and Flair said okay, but they are still not friends.

The graphic was shown to make it official at SummerSlam: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships – Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss.

Match #1:Charlotte Flair (w/Alexa Bliss) defeated Raquel Rodriguez (w/Roxanne Perez) by pinfall. Raquel went for a lift, Flair got out of that and Flair hit a boot to the face. Perez went on the apron, Flair went after her and Flair kicked Perez. Bliss hit Raquel with a dreaded pompom, then Bliss did a necksnap on Raquel on the top rope and the referee never saw it. Flair superkicked Raquel and Flair got a rollup pin on Raquel for the win. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss put their hands together in a heart formation to show they are on the same page.

The police officers asked Adam Pearce where Jacob Fatu was because he’s a person of interest regarding the car crash. They found Fatu standing around. Fatu didn’t have anything to say to them. The cops left to talk with Fatu about it. Pearce looked frustrated.

The WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill were featured in a video package talking about their SummerSlam match. Jade said she’s coming after what’s hers – the WWE Women’s Championship. Stratton said people have underestimated her, thinking she’s a dumb blonde or inexperienced. Stratton mentioned beating Trish Stratus, Charlotte Flair, and Nia Jax, and she’s standing tall. Jade said that Tiffany thinks she is another name. Jade said that she will end the list and she will end her because a storm is coming.

Damian Priest was shown walking backstage earlier today. Priest asked Carmelo Hayes if he had seen Aleister Black. Hayes said even if he did, he wouldn’t say anything to Priest. Melo said he warned Priest that this would happen. Priest said that when he catches Black, he’ll pray for forgiveness. They argued a bit and agreed to a match.

Match #2: Damian Priest defeated Carmelo Hayes by disqualification. Melo jumped off the turnbuckle, Priest punched him and Priest sent Melo into the commentary table. Priest grabbed Melo’s hand and tried a move off the top, but Aleister Black was there on the apron. Black tripped up Priest on the apron, so Priest was crotched along the top rope. It was a DQ finish. It went about 9 minutes. Black was wearing a black suit. The fans chanted, “You suck” at Black. Black said that he believes that Priest was looking for him, so Black hit a Black Mass kick on Priest. Melo bailed from the ring.

The Wyatt Sicks were featured in a video package with the WWE Tag Team Titles. Uncle Howdy said that they were where they belonged. Dexter Lumis said that they were built for this. Erick Rowan talked about the family that they are and the blood that they share. Nikki Cross mentioned the blood that they share. Joe Gacy said that they will strip these teams of their wicked desires. Howdy said you can let the Wyatt Sicks be your guide. All you have to do is follow.

The United States Champion Solo Sikoa entered for a promo with the MFT’s JC Mateo, Tonga Loa and Tala Tonga. Solo said that tonight is the perfect example of who Jacob Fatu really is. Solo said without his guidance, Jacob is reckless because he doesn’t listen to anybody and all he cares about is his damn self. Solo claimed he brought Jacob to WWE, made him successful, food on his family’s table, he made Jacob a champion and Jacob deserves none of it. Solo said that Fatu was so damn selfish since he betrayed the only family that he had. Solo said once a criminal, always a criminal about Jacob.

The police car was shown driving up to the building, and the fake cop told Jacob that they had seen the footage and determined that Jacob was not the person of interest. Jimmy Uso was back there shaking hands with Jacob. Solo could be heard saying, “We paid him off,” referring to the cop.

Jacob Fatu made his entrance while Jimmy Uso was on the other side of the ring. Fatu and Jimmy got into a fight with the MFT’s. Jimmy hit superkicks while Fatu hit a running elbow. Tala pulled Jimmy out of the ring and hit a boot to the head. There was a loud leg slap while the foot didn’t touch Jimmy. Tala cleared off the commentary table and wanted to slam Jimmy, but Fatu hit a suicide dive to knock Tala over the commentary table. Tala got up quickly and went after both guys, but Fatu and Jimmy hit four superkicks to stagger Tala. Jimmy gave Tala a cross body block over the barricade. Fatu went into the ring and punched Solo a few times. Jimmy brought a chair into the ring, Solo tried to live, but Jimmy threw Solo back in. Fatu hit a superkick and a running hip attack on Solo. JC went back into the ring with punches on Fatu. Jimmy superkicked Loa, and Fatu kicked JC down. Jimmy went up top and hit an Uso Splash on Tama. Fatu hit a Mighty Moonsault onto JC. Solo and Tala were watching from the aisle. Fatu hit JC with a chair to the back and Fatu hit Loa with a chair to the back. Fatu hit two more chair shots to the back.

Adam Pearce said that Solo Sikoa tried to frame an innocent man and get him locked up. Adam informed Solo that he’ll defend the US Title against Jacob Fatu at SummerSlam in a Steel Cage Match. The fans cheered that. The three indy wrestlers dressed as police officers “arrested” Solo and took him away. Fatu posed with the US Title in the ring.

A recap was shown of Jelly Roll interviewing Randy Orton on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. Drew McIntyre interrupted and fought with Orton. Logan Paul showed up to trash Jelly, so that ended with Jelly giving a Chokeslam through the table. The fans loved it.

It’s official for SummerSlam: Solo Sikoa defends the US Title against Jacob Fatu in a Steel Cage Match.

Match #3: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Alba Fyre (w/Piper Niven) by pinfall in under two minutes. Vaquer hit SVB for the win. After the match, Niven went into the ring and ran over Vaquer. Niven pulled Vaquer to the turnbuckle, so Vaquer got up and shoved Piper to knock her down. Vaquer kicked Niven down to the floor.

The Street Profits were backstage with B-Fab hanging out with them. Cathy Kelley asked how they are feeling after losing the WWE Tag Team Titles. Montez Ford said that The Wyatt Sicks used underhanded tactics to take the titles. Angelo Dawkins said they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and they are getting the titles back. Kelley asked if they are upset about not being in the number one contender’s match. #DIY interrupted to say that they love the tag team division. Tommaso Ciampa said they knew The Street Profits wouldn’t hold the titles. Candice LeRae told B-Fab to pay attention because you might learn something. B-Fab threatened her, but Ford stopped that.

A commercial aired for Netflix’s WWE Unreal show, showing behind-the-scenes WWE footage. It debuts on July 29th.

Match #4: Number 1 Contender’s match for a shot at the WWE Tag Team Champions – Andrade & Rey Fenix defeated Motor City Machine Guns – Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin,. #DIY – Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano (w/Candice LeRae) and Fraxiom – Axiom & Nathan Frazer by pinfall. Fenix hit a spin kick on Ciampa. Fenix hit a springboard twisting cross body block on the guys on the floor. LeRae went on the apron to distract, so Ciampa rolled up Andrade for two. Gargano went for a superkick, and Andrade avoided it, and Gargano kicked Ciampa. Andrade hit a spinning elbow on Gargano. Fenix jumped over the top with a somersault dive onto Gargano. Andrade hit The Message on Ciampa for the pinfall win.

The Raw GM, Adam Pearce, was in the ring to moderate the WWE Championship contract signing. Cody brought the contract with him as he wore a suit and the fans sang his song. There was a table in the ring along with two office chairs. They had the black carpet in the ring. Cody shook hands with Pearce. Cody signed the contract.

Cody Rhodes asked San Antonio, what do you wanna talk about? Cody said that his father and brother are Texans. Cody talked about how he became the Undisputed WWE Champion. Cody spoke about how he posted a message on social media while it was being dissected. Cody said that his message said do not flinch and thank you for riding with him. Cody talked about how he did not flinch when he came back home at WrestleMania. Cody talked about how he did not flinch against Seth Rollins, against Brock Lesnar, when he won two Royal Rumbles, he did not flinch against Jey Uso, he did not flinch against his mentor Randy Orton, and he did not flinch when The Rock came for his spot. Cody said he flinched at WrestleMania 41 against one of the most beloved wrestlers in the history of our sport, against John Cena. Cody said that it is an unenviable task that he has to try to take it away from somebody like Cena. Cody said it’s one match for the rest of his life. Cody said he has signed, but it takes two for this dance to work, and he told Pearce to do the introduction, so Pearce did.

John Cena made his entrance as the Undisputed WWE Champion and got a huge reaction full of boos and cheers. Fans sang “John Cena sucks” at him. Cena sat down and told Cody to sit down across from him. Cena said that he had some bad news tonight. Cena told Cody he is not going to be at SummerSlam. Cena said that it’s a tough decision and he had to take it to the top for a change of command. Cena said he’s filming a movie for Netflix in New York City. Cena said he is emotionally exhausted. They showed Cody staring at Cena on a split screen. Cena said that he is exhausted. Cena said that they can do the rematch in Paris or Perth, but there is no way in good faith that he can sign this contract. The fans booed. Cena claimed there was nothing we could do. Cena said that if his name goes on the contract, then he has to be at SummerSlam. Cena claimed emotionally he’s out of it, but this is what’s best for business right now. The fans booed. Cena discussed how difficult it was to be there tonight. Cena claimed he wanted to give the fans fireworks and a night to remember. Cena said right now physically and emotionally, this is all he can give you guys. Cena thanked the fans and appreciated their understanding of this matter. Cena didn’t sign the contract. Cena said that Cody is going to get that rematch, but not at SummerSlam. Cena left.

After Cena left the ring, Cody attacked Cena in the aisle. Cody punched Cena and Cena fought back. Cena sent Cody hard into the steel steps. Cena grabbed the WWE Title and went back into the ring. Cody ducked a belt shot, kicked Cena, and got the WWE Championship. Wade told Cody to do it, so Cody hit Cena with the WWE Title. Cody put Cena on the table and Cody climbed to the top rope with contract in hand Cody hit a Superfly Splash off the top onto Cena through the table. Cody the pen in Cena’s right hand and Cody signed the contract with Cena’s hand. Cody: “John Cena, check the fine print. It’s not just a match for the title at SummerSlam. It’s a Street Fight!” The fans loved that. Cody looked very serious while Cena was down on mat. Cody held up the WWE Championship while the announcers signed off. Cena remained out on the mat. Cody posed again. End of show.