WWE SmackDown advertised John Cena’s final appearance in Dayton, OH as he threatens to retire with the WWE Championship as its last real champion.
SmackDown also advertised LA Knight and Damian Priest vs. Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, Carmelo Hayes vs. Aleister Black and Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax to become No. 1 Contender for the WWE Women’s Championship.
Last week’s SmackDown garnered 1.406 million viewers, down 12% from the week before.
WWE SmackDown Ratings And Viewership
- May 2, 2025 | 1.406 million
- April 25, 2025 | 1.599 million
- April 18, 2025 | 1.741 million
- April 11, 2025 | 1.551 million
- April 4, 2025 | 1.578 million
WWE SmackDown Results On May 9, 2025
- LA Knight and Damian Priest def. Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa
- Alexa Bliss and Zelina Vega def. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
- Nia Jax def. Jade Cargill | No. 1 Contender’s Match for WWE Women’s Title
- Fraxiom def. The Street Profits
- Aleister Black def. Carmelo Hayes
- Andrade and Rey Fenix def. Los Garza
WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales
- WWE SmackDown Venue: Nutter Center (Dayton, OH)
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 9,878
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Available: 241
WWE SmackDown Highlights, Winners And Grades
LA Knight And Damian Priest Def. Jacob Fatu And Solo Sikoa
LA Knight and Damian Priest participated in a good ole fashioned “can they co-exist” storyline. They couldn’t as they bickered throughout the match.
LA Knight won the match, pinning Solo Sikoa, but Knight and Priest came to blows immediately after.
Jacob Fatu laid out both LA Knight and Damian Priest, prompting “Fatu” chants. Drew McIntyre polished off the Fatal 4-Way storytelling by laying out Fatu with a Claymore Kick.
Backstage, R-Truth served as a one-man welcoming committee to welcome Heel John Cena to SmackDown. This poor man is destined to get destroyed by his childhood hero.
Knight and Priest vs. Fatu and Sikoa Grade: B
Zelina Vega And Alexa Bliss Def. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
There was not much of a reaction at all for Zelina Vega, but a giant pop for Vega’s surprise partner: Dayton Ohio’s own Alexa Bliss.
Fans chanted “we want Bliss!” as WWE milked the hot tag to the returning star for everything it was worth. Bliss got a roaring pop and blew a huge comeback.
Vega hit an impressive Code Red on Piper Niven, followed by a Sister Abigail by Bliss on Green for the win.
Charlotte Flair emerged from an SUV before SmackDown went to break.
Vega and Bliss vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven Grade: B-
Charlotte Flair Storms Out Of Dayton
Charlotte Flair leaned into her heel reaction. She claimed she had the greatest women’s match in WrestleMania history despite being out of action for two years.
Charlotte Flair said she intends to continue her journey toward another WWE Women’s World Title reign. Charlotte Flair chastised Dayton, OH as they booed her out of the building. She threatened to leave if they kept it up.
Charlotte made good on her promise, slammed the microphone down and stormed out of the ring.
Charlotte Flair Promo Grade: B
Nia Jax Def. Jade Cargill
Nia Jax, dressed in a Cowboy Carter-inspired outfit, interrupted Charlotte Flair. Jade told Charlotte that she had her turn, and now it’s time to go to the back of the line.
When Charlotte attempted to get into her car ride home, the door slammed in her face. The door-slammer was revealed to be Alexa Bliss.
Tiffany Stratton made a surprise ringside appearance to a huge pop.
Jade Cargill hit an impressive press slam on Nia Jax from the top rope. Cargill followed up with a Frog Splash for a nearfall.
Fans reacted as Naomi attacked Tiffany Stratton ringside. Cargill took her eyes off Jax and went after Naomi, who defeated Jade with a Senton Splash followed by an Annihilator.
Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax Grade: B-
Fraxiom Def. The Street Profits
Fans were into the Street Profits, especially after they kissed up to Ohio. Dayton was not as receptive to newcomers Fraxiom.
Fraxiom challenged the (banged up) Street Profits to a WWE Tag Team Title mach after three weeks on the roster. Nick Aldis intervened and gave Fraxiom an opportunity against the Street Profits in a non-title match.
The Street Profits and Fraxiom got a lot of time. In fact, one of the sole purposes of this match seemed like it was to eat time. But these two teams are so good, it ended up being one of the best tag team matches of they year.
The Street Profits, who were originally supposed to be heels during this run, wrestled the match of their lives after being banged up from April 25th’s TLC. After barely losing, they shook hands with Fraxiom.
Backstage, DIY attacked both Fraxiom and the Motor City Machine Guns.
Fraxiom vs. Street Profits Grade: A-
Aleister Black Def. Carmelo Hayes
There was a very good vignette with Aleister Black who addressed his time away. He said he wasn’t the same man from before who “spoke in riddles.”
The Miz accompanied Carmelo Hayes to the ring. Hayes was wearing a gold “Andre the Giant” chain in honor of his Andre Memorial Battle Royal win.
This was another competitive match for Aleister Black, who won with a rollup on Hayes after Hayes accidentally ran into The Miz. Black laid out Miz with a Black Mass once again. This AwesHIM tandem doesn’t look too promising.
Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes Grade: B
Rey Fenix And Andrade Def. Los Garza
Rey Fenix received a standing ovation after a flurry of unique offense against Los Garza. Not to be outdone, Andrade tagged in like a house afire, eliciting “this is awesome” chants.
Humberto had a visual pinfall on Fenix, but referee Daphanie LaShaunn was distracted by Santos Escobar. Tensions between Humberto and Santos Escobar will only continue to escalate.
After Fenix went flying to the outside, Andrade finished off Humberto with The Message. A great Lucha match.
After the match, Humberto slapped a frustrated Santos Escobar and stormed off.
Fenix and Andrade vs. Los Garza Grade: A
John Cena Buries Randy Orton, Takes Another RKO
John Cena sternly pointed at Mark Nash to make his ring announcement. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the greatest of all time! The never-seen 17! Gracing Dayton with his presence one last time!” Cena cut Nash off before he could say that he’s the last real champion. Cena then ordered Nash to finish his introduction.
Cena vowed that tonight your childhood dies. He told Dayton that Randy Orton was not here tonight. Instead, he’s in his hometown of St. Louis preparing for tomorrow’s Backlash main event.
Cena agreed that Randy Orton was a piece of furniture: A lazy boy. Cena called Orton the greatest of all time at doing the bare minimum.
Cena finished off a highly personal promo by vowing to make Orton like his 2006 drug test: A failure.
Cena thwarted an RKO attempt by a fake Randy Orton, laying him out with an AA. The real Orton showed up and stuck Cena with an RKO.
