Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for April 25, 2025

John Cena heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Once again, ring announcer Mark Nash is corrected by Cena. Before Cena can utter a word, however, Randy Orton heads to the ring. Orton says that in a couple of months, it will be 25 years to the day that he and Cena first shook hands, and in those 25 years, Cena was always about hustle, loyalty and respect and it was a way of life and a mantra. He then says that has gotten him thinking, and that he feels there is a void in Cena. He says that Cena was a source of motivation that children looked up to and feels that this certainly means something to him. He also mentions the Make-a-Wish kids that were left with a piece of his heart and knows that they mean something to Cena, too. Orton then says he has figured out how to fill the void, and tells Cena that he needs to "have some damn kids." Orton feels that being a father would make Cena a better human being, but Cena takes offense to Orton trying to "parent shame" him in an attempt to make him feel better. Cena then says he has no children because he spent the last 25 years raising everyone else's, and by the sound of the fans, he has done an impeccable job. He says that for the last 25 years, he has been a better parent to everyone's children than the children's own parents and has been "policing brats." Orton says the fans are still why the reason Cena is in the ring as well as in Hollywood, and that WWE is how Cena honed his skills to get to Hollywood. Orton says he has made his mistakes, but he can stand in the locker room and hold his head up high, as he is the furniture, then says Cena is "just a guest." Cena says there is a matter of perspective, and says that everything he did, he did on his own. He then mentions the predictability of the fans and how the fans mean nothing to him and are hypocrites who put their energy into anyone else when they get tired of him. He then says that if he puts his energy into anything else, he is suddenly an outcast, and because of this, the relationship between him and the fans is abusive and manipulative. Orton admits that he is suddenly stupid for believing that his word would penetrate Cena's head, then mentions that his family is another royal family, that wrestling has given him everything, and that Cena will only ruin wrestling over his dead body. Cena tells Orton that when he leaves, Orton will be "forever frozen" as a 14-time world champion. He then calls Orton "a babbling moron" before declaring that three generations of Orton's family will be erased when he leaves. Orton tells Cena to prove he is "the last real champ" and put the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line right now, but Cena declines, telling him he is doing it to save Orton's ass and that it should not happen here. He says that it should happen at Backlash in St. Louis, Missouri, where Orton is from. Cena states that he wants Orton at his best so that when he fails, he has no excuses, for he is what the last real champion looks like and it is as close as Orton will get to the title. Cena then throws the title to Orton and sucker punches him before stomping him near the ropes. Cena then goes for a championship belt shot to the head, but Orton dodges and hits the RKO.

We see a video package for Nathan Frazer and Axiom, who are now on SmackDown from NXT.

Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) beat Los Garza (Angel and Berto).

Tiffany Stratton heads to the ring. Tiffany talks about how she went toe-to-toe with Charlotte Flair and remained WWE Women's Champion in the end despite moments of doubt. She says that she is not the next Charlotte Flair, as there is only one Charlotte Flair and only one Tiffany Stratton. Suddenly, Jade Cargilll shows up. Jade admits that Tiffany's match with Charlotte was impressive, but she tells Tiffany that it put a bigger target on her back. She then says it is time to remind everyone why she came to WWE: become a champion. She also reminds Tiffany that she is not the best if she is yet to beat her. Tiffany tells Jade to put her money where her mouth is, then calls for a referee, who shows up.

Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton ends after Jade is suddenly attacked by Naomi. After the match, Naomi sends Jade shoulder-first into three ring posts before laughing maniacally. Tiffany gets back in the ring and confronts Naomi, who rolls out of the ring before Nia Jax suddenly attacks Tiffany from behind. Nia soon hits the leg drop followed by the A-Nia-Lator, then holds up the WWE Women's Championship.

Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu head to the ring. Solo says that Jacob has proven himself to be the future of WWE at WrestleMania, and mentions how nobody except him wanted Jacob in WWE, saying Jacob was trouble and too much of a risk. He says that Jacob is here and is champion because of him, then Jacob takes the microphone and says he would win the United States Championship and bring it to the family with or without Solo, and that he did what he said he would do. Jacob then says that the United States Championship makes him "America's Most Wanted" and "a menace to society," then LA Knight shows up. LA Knight says he hit Jacob Fatu with a BFT, yet Jacob managed to survive. As LA Knight demands a championship rematch, Drew McIntyre shows up. McIntyre brags about how he beat Damian Priest at WrestleMania after Priest repeatedly screwed him, then says Randy Orton jumped the line to the Undisputed WWE Championship. He says that John Cen is "a punk" now and that he wants to fight the baddest champion in the yard, which is Jacob Fatu. He also says Knight's last United States title run was a joke when Knight wants him to shut up. Knight says McIntyre's last title run could have been a joke, but he cannot remember it. Knight then dares McIntyre to fight him, then General Manager Nick Aldis shows up and makes McIntyre vs. Knight for later tonight. He declares that the winner will be #1 contender for the United States Championship.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Zelina Vega, who admits that she is speechless because she has always wanted a title match for so long. She says that she will either go big or go home and that she will not stop until she has gold around her waist.

Zelina Vega beats Chelsea Green to become the WWE Women's United States Champion!

Backstage, The Miz tells Carmelo Hayes that he will go down as the greatest Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner of all time due to his vision, then gifts him with a pendant of Andre the Giant's head. The Miz then says that he is inspired and that he will win tonight, then tells Carmelo to enjoy the moment because he will make his.

The Miz is in the ring. He says that he has been an integral part of WrestleMania for the last twenty years, but he did not have a WrestleMania match last year despite having main evented against John Cena and beaten him at WrestleMania 27. He complains about people who cannot even lace his boots getting positions over him, including Joe Hendry, then the lights go out. When they come back on, Malakai Black - now known as Aleister Black once again - shows up with his original NXT entrance and theme song. The Miz confronts Aleister only to get kicked right in the head with a Black Mass.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Bianca Belair. Bianca mentions that the fingers on her left hand are broken, and while she did not win, her match was still fantastic. She says that Iyo Sky was able to find a way to win and that Rhea Ripley was able to find a way into the match, but right now, she is focused on healing. Bianca says that when she returns, she will have some business to take care of.

Backstage, Nia Jax meets with Naomi. She says that she does not care about Naomi's revenge towards Jade Cargill and tells her to stay out of her way. Naomi says "As long as you proceed with caution," then leaves.

Drew McIntyre beats LA Knight by disqualification in a match to decide a #1 contender for the WWE United States Championship after Solo Sikoa hits LA Knight with the Samoan Spike and McIntyre being pulled out of the ring and attacked by Damian Priest. After the match, Priest takes McIntyre South of Heaven through the announce table. Knight confronts Priest afterwards, and both men get blasted with a surprise tope suicida by Jacob Fatu, who then throws both men into ring steps. Jacob then gets both men back into the ring and hits them both with the corner hip attack followed by the top rope moonsault.

Backstage, R-Truth talks to John Cena, saying he is glad that Cena won the championship and to give him a call if he needs him. When Jimmy Uso shows up and asks when Cena became "so wack," R-Truth says Cena is a real champion and that when he grows up, he wants to be just like him. After R-Truth leaves, Jimmy Uso says "You already grown up, though!"

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) retain the WWE Tag Team Championships against The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) and #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) in a TLC Match. The Street Profits celebrate in the crowd after the match.

Here are the highlights for tonight's show!