Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for June 27, 2025

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. We are also introduced to the Arabic announce team of Faisal bin Mughaisib and Jude Aldajani. Before Cody can speak, Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. Orton says that Cody and "Main Event" Jey Uso had a match of the year contender on last week's Raw, and as much as he would like to see the King of the Ring crown on Cody's head, he says that he must be King of the Ring. Orton says that he wants to redeem himself after losing last year's tournament to Gunther and that he wants retribution against John Cena after Cena embarrassed him in front of friends and family. He says he cannot let how he feels about Cody get in the way of his goal and that there is nothing he will not do to leave Saudi Arabia with the crown on top of his head. He then says that goal will come true when he reintroduces Cody to the RKO. Cody says that "embarrassment" is not a word he would attach to Orton and Cena, and while he is grateful and thankful for Orton, he needs to be King of the Ring just that little bit more. Cody says that while RKO will still be the three most dangerous letters after all is said and done, Orton will not be King of the Ring, because he will. (During this portion of the broadcast, the show undergoes technical difficulties due to a power loss lasting approximately 30 minutes; this affected the international Netflix feed as the show aired live. Cody and Orton would interact with the fans afterwards to kill time.)

Backstage, Solo Sikoa gives Jimmy Uso one more opportunity to join them, and tells JC Mateo to make Jacob how it feels not to have anyone before he takes care of Jacob on Saturday and proves that they are just getting started.

JC Mateo beats Jimmy Uso following the distraction by Solo Sikoa. After the match, Solo helps Jimmy up, but Jimmy slaps Solo when Solo tries to get him to join the family. JC Mateo attacks Jimmy from behind, but Jacob Fatu shows up before Solo can hit the Samoan Spike. Jacob makes quick work of JC Mateo, and Solo rolls out of the ring. Jacob then hits JC Mateo with a moonsault from the top rope before, then he and Jimmy have a staredown before Jimmy shoves Jacob to the site to hit Solo with a superkick.

Backstage, #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) are seen talking to the rest of the SmackDown tag team division, saying that if The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) win the WWE Tag Team titles, they will hold the titles for a long time. General Manager Nick Aldis, who cannot help but overhear, brings out Andrade, then tells him to find a partner so he can face #DIY in a tag team match tonight.

We hear from Giulia, who says that she and Zelina Vega have been calling each other out since Zelina became champion. She says that her hard work is evident and that Zelina's title is just a stepping stone, and she will prove the title does not belong to her. We then hear from Zelina Vega, who says that the streets were not made for everyone and that sidewalks were made for people like Giulia. Zelina says she has worked hard and sacrificed to become Women's United States Champion, and that she will prove why she is the champion tonight.

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

Backstage, Charlotte Flair runs into Alexa Bliss and refuses to talk about last week, then says she does not need help. Alexa says they should at least be on the same page as "allies of convenience," and tells Charlotte to think about it.

Wade Barrett interviews Jade Cargill and Asuka in the ring. Jade Cargill arrives first, followed by Asuka. Cargill says that people get nervous when they see Asuka, but people like Asuka are why she came to WWE, and she sees Asuka as purpose and not pressure and plans to beat her to become Queen of the Ring. Asuka says Cargill is strong, but power is not everything, as she has skill and experience. Before Cargill can reply back, Naomi shows up and says that Asuka and Cargill may fight over a crown, but she has all the power with the Money in the Bank contract. She entertains the scenarios in which she can cash in, and says that she can take a title away from Cargill like she did everything else and that it gives her pure pleasure to think about how she can ruin the biggest night of Cargill's career. Cargill fights past Asuka to swing at Naomi, but Asuka gets the last word on Cargill and lays her out.

Backstage, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis meets with Raw General Manger Adam Pearce regarding the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships when Aleister Black shows up. Aleister is soon interrupted by Ron Killings, who wants John Cena. After Ron Killings leaves when he does not get Cena, Aleister soon follows Killings.

We see footage of Los Garza (Angel and Berto) winning the AAA World Tag Team Championships from two weeks ago.

Andrade's tag team partner is revealed to be Rey Fenix.

Andrade and Rey Fenix beat #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa).

Ron Killings suddenly heads to the ring and calls out John Cena. All of a sudden, Aleister Black shows up behind him, and when Killings turns around, Aleister hits him with Black Mass and tells him they are even.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford). Montez says it has been four years since they last held tag team gold, and that no other team will be able to take it from them anytime soon. Dawkins says The Wyatt Sicks are the only threat they have and that they must eliminate that threat. B-Fab shows up and tells The Street Profits that she has their backs.

Backstage, Aleister Black is met by Damian Priest. Priest tells Aleister Black that he knows what Ron Killings is capable of, and should consider paying back his debt in a one-on-one match, telling him that things could end up differently. Aleister leaves after he says he is sure they will, then Carmelo Hayes shows up and says Priest should let Killings handle his own business. Priest tells Carmelo to walk away now. Carmelo walks away.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) retain the WWE Tag Team Championships against The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) by disqualification when Los Garzas (Angel and Berto), starting a brawl involving the entire SmackDown tag team division, which is at ringside to watch the match more closely. After the match, Erick Rowan gets involved in the brawl, as does Uncle Howdy. The Street Profits take The Wyatt Sicks and the rest of the tag team division out after Axiom is hit with Sister Abigail by Howdy and it takes three people to take down Rowan.

It is announced that SmackDown goes back to two hours next week.

Backstage, Jacob Fatu runs into Jimmy Uso. Both men state they did not each others' help last week, but Jimmy does admit he has respect for Jacob for standing up to Solo Sikoa, which he wishes he did a long time ago. Both men come to a mutual understanding.

Tiffany Stratton retains the WWE Women's Championship against Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing Match. During the match, Naomi tries to cash in on Tiffany Stratton, but Tiffany lays her out and even uses the Money in the Bank briefcase as a weapon, which helps her put Nia Jax through two tables to win the match and retain the title.

John Cena heads to the ring. Cena tells the Saudi Arabian that he is what a winner looks like and that CM Punk is a loser, then says Night of Champions is a formality and that Punk can do nothing about it. All of a sudden, CM Punk shows up in a parody of Cena's "Doctor of Thuganomics" gimmick called "Basic Punkanomics," saying he is ripping it off after Cena stole his pipebomb. He says that Cena has buried more talent than The Undertaker, can't act in movies like Batista, is more problematic than Hulk Hogan, can't wrestle, and is a washed up bum. Punk says that Cena is a leech for stealing his pipebomb, then says that at Night of Champions, Cena will "lose to Kendrick, 'cause bitch, you're my Drake." Cena is left speechless as the show ends.

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

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!