Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 8, 2025

John Cena heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Cena says that he and the fans have come a long way and that WWE was afraid to come back to Montreal, Quebec, Canada because they thought the fans would hijack the show, but he was never afraid of that, as the audience is the show. Cena says that he can understand why, as he can definitely feel the energy of the fans in Montreal. He admits that the fans in Montreal can be unpredictable, he can still lean into the fans and enjoy every single second. He then states that nothing lasts forever, and the fans chant "Thank you, Cena!" before Cena says he has shared many valuable moments in the ring and thanks the fans. Cena says that he has eleven more shows after tonight, and every night he gets more and more afraid that whatever he does will never be enough and that he will let the fans down. Cena also fears that the fans will forget about him when he is gone and the WWE moves on. He then addresses Brock Lesnar, saying he would never choose Lesnar as an opponent in any universe, but he has also never backed down from Lesnar in any universe. Cena says Brock Lesnar just gave himself "a John Cena problem," as does anyone else who wants to challenge him, and he is down and ready for a fight. If Lesnar wants some, he can come get some, and if anyone else wants to face him, he plans to go down guns blazing. He says that the last time is now, and "If you want some, come get some!" Suddenly, Logan Paul shows up and says that Cena is making him sick now that he is face again and that he does not even know Cena anymore. Cena tells Logan that he just made the biggest mistake of his like, but Logan says they will see about that. He says that nobody knows who Cena is while he has been real since day one, and that Cena has stated that he can do WWE better than any professional wrestler. Logan says that even includes Cena, to which Cena admits to before calling Logan "the biggest dumbass [he has] ever seen in [his] life." Logan calls Cena a liar and just says whatever he is told to say, then says he is the show, not the fans. He states that Cena is now a charity case and is giving out matches, then entertains wrestling Cena. Cena loves the idea, but Logan wants to do this at Clash in Paris, saying Montreal does not deserve this. As Logan continues to speak, Cena is attacked from behind by Drew McIntyre. McIntyre and Logan perform a sarcastic "Thank you, Cena" before they go back on the attack and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up to even the numbers and help Cena clean house. Cena then accepts Logan's challenge for Clash in Paris, then notes that Logan and McIntyre want to fight and that it seems like he might have a partner in Cody. He then challenges the both of them to a tag team match tonight.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley). Alex Shelley says SummerSlam may have been brutal, but they have a legacy of getting knocked down and getting backed up. Chris Sabin says they may not be champion, but they have what it takes, and they will climb their way back to the top again.

JC Mateo and Talla Tonga beat The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley). After the match, Solo Sikoa says that his group is what greatness looks like and that they are soon to be the WWE Tag Team Champions while he is the most dominant WWE United States Champion. He says it is a shame that he is ready for a fight, yet there is nobody in the back to fight, and that he and his group are leaving to go celebrate. General Manager Nick Aldis suddenly shows up and says he has a special guest in the house tonight who is also ready for a fight and ready to go right now: Sami Zayn.

Sami Zayn beats Solo Sikoa after fending off Tanga Loa, JC Mateo and Talla Tonga before ducking the Samoan Spike and winning with a schoolkid pin.

Backstage, Charlotte Flair meets with Alexa Bliss, saying that she has something for her ahead of her birthday tomorrow and that she will see what it is in the ring.

It is announced that WWE and ESPN have agreed to a deal which will bring WWE's premium live events to ESPN's direct-to-consumer streaming service at the beginning of 2026.

We hear from The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross). Uncle Howdy says they will never lead one astray and that when they speak, they will always speak truth. He says this is what they always sought out to do. Joe Gacy says they have shown that power is nothing more than a harmless illusion. Dexter Lumis says they woke the tag team division up to the reality they have hidden, and Nikki Cross says this is not about fear. Erick Rowan says it is about something bigger, and that there are more lessons to be learned, and that the story has just begun.

Backstage, #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) and Candice LeRae confronts The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) and B-Fab for losing the WWE Tag Team Champions and putting them in the mess they are in. Candice LeRae is not happy about the bruise on her leg. General Manager Nick Aldis walks in on the argument and says he will get control of the tag team division if it is the last thing he does, starting with DIY and The Street Profits in a match next week.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss make their way to the ring. Charlotte tells Alexa that she is sharing the spotlight with her in commemoration of two celebrations. The birthday cake with Charlotte Flair's name over Alexa's is noted, then Charlotte tells Alexa she has a gift for her. Alexa has her misgivings about the pink gift box, and Charlotte opens the box to reveal a brand new Lilly doll with a "We're Not Friends" T-shirt on. She also reveals that "Charlie" - the Charlotte doll that Alexa gave her four years ago - is in the box. Alexa is amazed, but Charlotte says that is not enough and allows Alexa to hug her, which Alexa is about to do after some hesitation before Chelsea Green and her Secret Hervice arrive. Chelsea Green makes fun of Montreal, Quebec, Canada for not seeing champions often before mocking the Lily and Charlie dolls and stating that she and her homecoming should be celebrated. Charlotte then says she has one more gift for Alexa: kicking Chelsea Green's ass tonight. Chelsea tries to get out of it, but General Manager Nick Aldis shows up with a brand new referee, whose first assignment will be Chelsea Green vs. Charlotte Flair right now.

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes runs into The Miz as he tries to meet with General Manager Nick Aldis. Carmelo is not happy that The Miz left him high and dry and that he is going for a United States title shot. The Miz says that he has gotten with Nick Aldis and that they will have a tag team match next week to remind everyone of who they are, which Carmelo approves of. Aldis shows up after Carmelo leaves, revealing that he never made the tag team match official and that he is about to talk to Aldis about it.

Charlotte Flair beats Chelsea Green by submission with the Figure Eight after Chelsea calls for the birthday cake and goes for an Un-Pretty-Her into the cake only for Charlotte to reverse the move with one of her own, send Chelsea into the cake, and make her submit with the Figure Eight. After the match, Alexa and Charlotte celebrate with the birthday cake.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Tiffany Stratton. Tiffany says she wants to keep defending the WWE Women's Championship like she always was. Jade Cargill shows up and says that next time, the story will be different, but Tiffany says she will stay WWE Women's Champion. Giulia and Kiana James show up after Cathy Kelley and Tiffany leave, and Kiana hands Cargill a business card in case she wants to face Giulia for the Women's United States Championship. Michin shows up, and Jade Cargill hands her the business card.

We hear from Aleister Black, who says that he is allowed to use violence to stop a greater violence from happening, and that conviction is the true difference between good and evil. He says that he is more of "an eye for any other limb" kind of guy and that Damian Priest is now at home nursing a hairline fracture in his jaw. He says that when someone pushes Priest, he pushed back, but when he gets pushed, he pushes the other person off the cliff and watches the other person fall to their death, and if that makes him evil, so be it.

Backstage, Ron Killings runs into John Cena. They both do the "mirror man" thing and says the real Cena is back, and if the real Cena is back, then so is R-Truth. Cena explains himself while turning the tables on R-Truth at the same time, then says it is good to have R-Truth back.

John Cena and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beat Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre by disqualification after Logan hits Cena with a low blow in full view of the referee. After the match, Cena and Logan brawl their way to the back, while Cody continues to fight McIntyre on the outside. McIntyre blasts Cody with the Undisputed WWE Championship to the face, then looks at the title before Claymore Kicking Cody through the bottom of the announce desk.

Here are the highlights for tonight's show!

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