Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for June 13, 2025

John Cena heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Cena looks around at the audience shouting their divided chants of "Let's Go, Cena" and "Cena sucks!" before being introduced by Mark Nash. Cena considers "wrestling's Mount Rushmore" to be himself four times, and says that while there have been great wrestlers and great wrestlers, no one in the past, present or future is even comparable to him. He says he will outmaneuver anyone not because he does not give up, but because he is smarter than everyone else. He says he cannot be seen and that everyone wants to be him, and while the fans are mesmerized by him, he is always "1000 steps ahead." Cena talks about how he announced his retirement six month early in order to get the opportunities he got in 2025 and scout out his most potential opponents, then took advantage of what he learned to orchestrate what has happened so far in 2025. He says that CM Punk must now admit to himself that he is a hypocrite to become WWE Champion, and that Seth "Freakin'" Rollins will never cash in on him because Rollins wants him to leave as champion so that he can become the fans' only choice. Cena states that he has put the math in his favor and won matches before they have even started, and that the fans will not appreciate that until three years after he is gone. He considers the fans "a mathematical equation," and that the math says that nobody will be worthy of holding the WWE Championship again. Suddenly, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up and heads to the ring. Cody says Cena is a genius and that everything he has planned has come to fruition, yet Cena has made the mistake of having been pinned by him in the center of the ring. Cody says that Cena is part of his plan, not the other way around, and asks where that leaves them before Randy Orton appears and heads to the ring. Orton says that he had Cena beaten at Backlash and was about to remove his head from his shoulders until somebody decided to come and save the day, and now he has to do whatever it takes to win his fifteenth world title. He says that even though he loves Cody like a brother, he will go through even him to win that title. LA Knight shows up and says the whole world has been chanting for him, then says he is looking at the WWE establishment and sticking out like a sore thumb. Knight says that Cena's plans did not take him into account, and if he has to drop a Viper, a Nightmare or "a genius balding bitch," he will do it. Cena tosses his microphone aside and leaves. When he stops at the stage, he is attacked from behind by Ron Killings, and security has to pull Ron Killings off of Cena and force him to the back.

Randy Orton beats Carmelo Hayes, Aleister Black and LA Knight in a Fatal 4-Way Match to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament with an RKO to Carmelo Hayes into LA Knight after Bronson Reed pulls Knight off the top rope and into said rope arm-first before Bron Breakker hits Knight with a Spear.

Jacob Fatu heads to the ring. Jacob says that just because one is family does not mean you go behind their back and take the credit for another's hard work, and addresses Solo Sikoa's claims that he is nothing without him, saying Solo did not get in where he fit in. He says it is him against the world now and that he is all gas and no brakes, then Solo Sikoa shows up on the TitanTron with JC Mateo in the background. Solo says Jacob Fatu could have made the biggest mistake of his life, saying that a year ago, Jacob was doing nothing and was nothing until he found him. He almost loses his cool, but recollects himself before stating that he is willing to welcome him back with open words, and that all Jacob has to say is "I love you, Solo." He says he brought Jacob into WWE, and that he will take him out.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with Chelsea Green via FaceTime, who is on vacation and wants her Queen of the Ring Tournament match postponed until next week. Aldis responds by replacing her with Alba Fyre in the match, who is not happy along with Piper Niven. Zelina Vena shows up, nearly mutes Chelsea, then want a match with Giulia, saying that one sneak attack will not scare her.

Jade Cargill beats Piper Niven, "Michin" Mia Yim and Nia Jax in a Fatal 4-Way Match to advance in the Queen of the Ring Tournament after Piper Niven hits Michin with a Vader Bomb only for Jade Cargill to hit her with Jaded to advance.

Naomi heads to the ring. Naomi says everyone looks like they are shocked after she stated that she was done with scraps and is now Miss Money in the Bank. She says that the entire time she tried to beat Nia Jax for the WWE Women's Championship, Tiffany Stratton was there to stop her. She says the "too nice" Naomi let it happen, but the new her wants payback. As Naomi proclaims that she will clock Tiffany with the Money in the Bank briefcase and become the new WWE Women's Champion, Tiffany Stratton arrives. Tiffany says Naomi talks a big game, and tells her to just cash in and take her title right now. When Naomi does not react, Tiffany is still "all talk and no action" like she used to be, which is why she never beat Nia Jax. Tiffany then dares Naomi to prove everyone wrong, and Naomi asks Tiffany if she is stupid to her before stating that she will cash in when Tiffany least expects it. She then says that in the meantime, she will enjoy making her life hell. She tells Tiffany that her time is almost up and advises her to proceed with caution. As Naomi leaves, Nia Jax tries to attack Tiffany from behind. Naomi tries to take advantage as Tiffany gets the upper hand, and that allows Nia to get the better of Tiffany and hit her with the A-Nia-Lator. Naomi almost cashes in on Tiffany, but Nia Jax catches Naomi and tells her to get out.

In backstage footage from earlier today, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with the SmackDown tag team division. Aldis gives The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) the match against The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) tonight and tells them to "set the tone."

The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) beat The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley).

Backstage, John Cena runs into Jimmy Uso, asking if he has seen Ron Killings or R-Truth. Jimmy says he has not seen either of them, then Cena says he knows they are close and to tell either of them to meet him in the ring, where he is now headed.

John Cena heads to the ring, takes the microphone, tells the fans to shut up and says there is a level of disrespect that he can tolerate before telling Ron Killings that he has crossed some lines. The fans chant "We want Truth!" as Cena says there is a time to talk and a time to fight before calling Ron Killings out. Instead of Ron Killings, however, he gets CM Punk. Punk says that the people are tired of being disrespected, not just Cena, and now that he has a microphone, he and Cena are not quite at the levels of disrespect that they are capable of. Punk, however, gives Cena a chance to stop what he is doing, let the fans celebrate who and what he is, and let them put him on a pedestal on the way out and give them a happy ending. Cena asks "Why?", then asks why he would waste his time when the WWE Championship is the only thing that matters, then says he will not eat crow to the same fans chanting Punk's theme. Punk says he gave Cena an out, but now the disrespect begins and everything is about to get real. Punk says it pisses him off when Cena calls a liar, and says it offends when you tell a strong man a lie or a weak man the truth. Punk says Cena cannot beat him and never could when he was at his best, and now that Cena is trying to ruin wrestling, he is taking it upon himself to save it. Punk says it is his confidence in his ability that has brought him to the mountaintop time and time again, even when people like Cena said that he did not have it, yet he is not as confident as Cena because he will not walk out looking like a toddler who struck out at tee ball. Punk says he sounds like "PG Cena," which is ironic because Cena sounds like him and is using his best material, then says Cena could not stop him then and that Cena cannot stop him now, just like old times. Punk says that he will make Cena's retirement tour palpable and watchable, and that he is willing to follow Cena to Mars to beat him. He says that while Cena is good, he has beaten Cena before and he will beat him again. Punk says he will spit roast him and that Cena is a joke for putting himself on Mount Rushmore. He says Cena cannot just see him, but he can see through him, and that is the truth. As Punk leaves, Cena is attacked from behind by Ron Killings. Punk goes back, grabs a microphone and says "I'm sorry, but the truth hurts!" as Ron Killings puts Cena in the STF until officials and security pull him off. Cena is limping as he heads to the back.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Alexa Bliss who says that she is not rattled after losing at Money in the Bank. As she looks forward to winning Queen of the Ring, Charlotte Flair shows up and says there is room for only one queen in the women's division.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis confronts Ron Killings, who wants a match with John Cena next week. Aldis tells him he has his match and leaves, then Ron Killings says "I'm drivin' now!"

Alexa Bliss beats Candice LeRae, Charlotte Flair and Alba Fyre in a Fatal 4-Way Match to advance in Queen of the Ring after hitting Candice LeRae with Sister Abigail and getting the pinfall victory before Alba Fyre can submit to Charlotte Flair's Figure Eight. After the match, Charlotte and Alexa look at each other disrespectfully, with Alexa mocking Charlotte on her way out.

Backstage, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes runs into CM Punk. Cody asks "You know we can't run away from each other forever?" CM Punk says "I know. Good luck tonight...after Night of Champions, we'll see who's chasing who."

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Shinsuke Nakamura, Damian Priest and Andrade in a Fatal 4-Way Match to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament.

Here are the highlights for tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!