Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for September 12, 2025

Brock Lesnar heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Before he can say a word, R-Truth shows up. Lesnar wants R-Truth to shut up, and R-Truth takes the high road by welcoming Lesnar back. He then says he used to be scared of Lesnar, but not anymore, but Lesnar says he does not even know who R-Truth is. He also says that R-Truth had better have a good excuse for interrupting him. R-Truth says Lesnar has disrespected his childhood hero John Cena for over 25 years, then says he is done with the disrespect. Lesnar wants to know where Cena is, and when R-Truth does not know who he is, Lesnar wants to know why R-Truth is here. R-Truth says he is here to defend "his older brother and childhood hero" John Cena. After R-Truth calls himself "Ron Cena," R-Truth says that John Cena is built different now and that he made a little kid cry, and that "Super Cena" is coming for Lesnar and is fueled by honor, loyalty, respect and that kid's tears. Lesnar tricks R-Truth into believing he is missing a tooth, then hits R-Truth with the F-5. It is then revealed that the back of Lesnar's jeans has a tear in it, and Lesnar pretends to moon the front row.

Backstage, Sami Zayn meets with his first challenger for his open challenge, and mentions that their paths have never crossed until tonight. Sami's opponent tonight is revealed to be Rey Fenix, and both men shake hands.

We hear from Solo Sikoa, who says that he had to sacrifice a lot just to become United States Champion only for it to be taken out of his hands by Sami Zayn. Solo becomes enraged and says he has lost everything, then says that change will happen sooner rather than later, lead his family and make it time for others to live in the shadow of him and his family tree.

Sami Zayn retains the WWE United States Championship against Rey Fenix.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Kiana James and Giulia show up as B-Fab is on the phone and state they have made an example out of "Michin" Mia Yim. B-Fab says she is not busy at the moment, and this leads to Giulia challenging B-Fab to a match.

We hear from The Wyatt Sicks (Bo Dallas and Erick Rowan). Bo Dallas asks where The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) go from here after The Wyatt Sicks tested them and they failed. Erick Rowan says it pains him to see them coming apart at the seams, and that nobody knows what they have until it is gone. He says that they have a tough choice ahead of them, then Bo Dallas says they are not the ones to blame, for they have sown the seeds and they are now sprouting horns. He then asks where The Street Profits go from here.

Kiana James and Giulia attack B-Fab before the next match can begin. "Michin" Mia Yim makes the save with a shinai, and Giulia gets away after Kiana gets smacked.

It is announced that WrestleMania 43 will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

We hear from Aleister Black, who says that he has poisoned Damian Priest last week and that the venom will soon take its course. He says he is both the sickness and the cure, and while Priest can keep fighting by his code and he can continue to be the sickness and die by the code, or violence can beget violence and he will be the prophet.

Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship ends in a double count-out after Jade Cargill puts Tiffany Stratton through the barricade. Tiffany Stratton retains the WWE Women's Championship. After the match, Cargill is attacked by Nia Jax. Nia then beats Tiffany up and hits her with the A-Nia-Lator.

Backstage, Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre meet with General Manager Nick Aldis looking for an opportunity at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. Aldis gives them a match against the winners of the Women's Tag Team Championship match at NXT Homecoming. Aldis then meets with The Miz, and Aldis says that he has spoken to Carmelo Hayes and that if he wants to grab that opportunity, it is all his.

We see part one a career retrospective of the rivalry between John Cena and Brock Lesnar, which chronicles both men's careers from their debuts in 2002 to 2004.

Vero Rodriguez interviews Rey Mysterio in Las Vegas. Rey looks forward to Worlds Collide in Las Vegas when "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio shows up and says he will be the first Mysterio to be Mega Champion and double champion, then demands that Rey shake his hand and put the title around his waist when he wins. Rey says he will do it if he wins and leaves, then Finn Balor shows up and tells Dominik to win the championship on his own in order to show how good he his.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Sami Zayn when Carmelo Hayes suddenly shows up and challenges Sami Zayn for the United States Championship. Sami accepts, then leaves. Carmelo runs into The Miz, who is disappointed with Carmelo at first until Carmelo tells The Miz to picture him as a simultaneous singles and tag champion, stating that Miz himself did it despite Miz asking him how hard he knows it could be.

Drew McIntyre bats Randy Orton. During the match, Orton goes for the punt on McIntyre, but after the referee tries to keep Orton from hitting it, McIntyre avoids the punt and hits the Claymore for the win. After the match, McIntyre is about to kick Orton through the commentary table like he did to "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes when Cody shows up and brawls with McIntyre. McIntyre rolls out of the ring after Cody hits him with the Cody Cutter, then Cody ends the show by telling him that the champ is back and that he will see him at Wrestlepalooza.

Here are the highlights for tonight's show!

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