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Friday night’s episode of WWE SmackDown came live from the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, bringing with it some big surprises and high-stakes matches. The card promised plenty of action, with Cody Rhodes scheduled to appear, Tiffany Stratton defending her title, and more rivalries heating up. The show technically opened with Paul Heyman rather than Cody Rhodes, but that did not last long. Heyman mocked “The American Nightmare” until Rhodes himself came out to shut him down. From there, the night quickly escalated into chaos and drama, setting the tone for an eventful evening. Rhodes Confronts Heyman, Orton Returns Paul Heyman tried to belittle Cody Rhodes during the opening segment, but Rhodes wasn’t having it. Things got heated when Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed entered the scene, looking to overpower Rhodes. Just when it seemed Cody was outnumbered, the crowd erupted as Randy Orton made his return. The Viper quickly dismantled Breakker, while Rhodes rallied to take down Reed. The fiery start left fans buzzing for what might come next. Street Profits Earn Title Shot The first match of the night featured The Miz teaming with Carmelo Hayes against The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) in a No. 1 Contender’s Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles. The action was fast and competitive, but tension grew between Miz and Hayes. In the end, Hayes hesitated to break up a pin, allowing Ford to nail a frog splash on Miz for the victory. With that, the Street Profits secured their shot at the gold. Winners: Street Profits via pinfall Giulia and Kiana James Get the Win In women’s tag team action, B-Fab and “Michin” Mia Yim teamed up against Giulia and Kiana James. The match showcased all four competitors, but Giulia’s power shifted the momentum in her team’s favour. A devastating Northern Lights Bomb from Giulia on Michin sealed the deal, giving her and James the win. Winners: Giulia & Kiana James via pinfall McIntyre Loses His Cool Backstage, Drew McIntyre addressed his loss to Cody Rhodes at Wrestlepalooza. He blamed referee Ryan Tran for the outcome, sparking a confrontation when GM Nick Aldis and Jacob Fatu arrived. Words quickly turned into physical blows, adding more fuel to McIntyre’s ongoing frustrations. Meanwhile, other backstage segments included Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer crossing paths, Dragon Lee and Sami Zayn trading words, and Solo Sikoa aligning with JC Mateo. Sami Zayn Defends His Championship NXT Champion Je’Von Evans accepted Sami Zayn’s United States Championship open challenge. The two put on a hard-fought match, with Evans showing plenty of fight against the veteran. However, Sami’s experience gave him the edge. After a series of near falls, Zayn landed the Blue Thunder Driver for the win, successfully retaining his championship. Winner: Sami Zayn via pinfall Stratton Keeps Women’s Title The main event was a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Women’s Championship, as Tiffany Stratton defended against Jade Cargill and Nia Jax. Each competitor had dominant stretches, with power and agility on display. The match turned chaotic toward the end, but Stratton capitalised at the right moment. She hit her signature Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax to score the pin and keep her championship. Winner: Tiffany Stratton via pinfall A Staredown to Close the Show As the night drew to a close, Stratton celebrated her victory. Stephanie Vaquer then appeared, holding up her title belt to remind Stratton of their upcoming clash at Crown Jewel. The tense face-off between the two champions closed out SmackDown, giving fans plenty to look forward to.
