Cody Rhodes stands tall before Wrestlemania! - Smackdown Recap and Results 18/04/2025

Wrestlemania weekend has finally arrived, and the party kicked off at the T-Mobile Arena with a white hot crowd excited for The Showcase of the Immortals. A new Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal winner was crowned, a pipebomb was made, and Cody Rhodes and John Cena went face-to-face for the final time.

Seth Rollins shoots on CM Punk and Roman Reigns.

Smackdown started with "The Visionary" Seth Rollins, who removed the WWE logo from a microphone and sat cross-legged in the middle of the ring. Rollins berated his Wrestlemania opponents, saying Punk never came back for the fans; he came back for a big, fat paycheck. He doesn't care about the fans, and neither does Roman Reigns, as Rollins mentioned that Reigns only thinks about himself, and neither Reigns nor Punk knows anything about sacrifice.

Rollins stated that their story began 12 years ago when Paul Heyman brought Rollins, Reigns and Dean Ambrose in to be "a Shield" for CM Punk. Rollins said that he had to keep his mouth shut as Reigns was chosen to be the next main event guy, the next cash cow, the next John Cena. He also had to listen to crowds, night after night, chant "CM Punk" every night when Rollins was the one sacrificing everything in the ring. Rollins said that the story started 12 years ago, and it ends tomorrow night in the most important triple-threat match in the history of this industry. He will make sure that the business, company and industry move in the right direction, before saying Paul Heyman's line "That is not a prediction, that's a spoiler!"

Carmelo Hayes wins the 2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

The yearly tradition of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was the first match of the night, as 26 superstars from Raw and Smackdown battled to win the trophy. Notable former winners include: Bronson Reed, Jey Uso, Bobby Lashley, Big Show, and Cesaro. Carlito was the first man to be eliminated by R-Truth, who was eliminated straight after by The Miz. Angel, Berto, Kit Wilson and Elton Prince were the next people eliminated as the match sprawled out into chaos.

Rey Fenix was a standout performer in the match, as he threw out Santos Escobar. Akira Tozawa went out next, followed by his tag team partner Otis, who accidentally eliminated himself when delivering a double clothesline to the Creed Brothers, which also eliminated them. Andrade was another standout performer, as he got rid of Grayson Waller and Austin Theory back-to-back. Chad Gable was taken out by the luchadors in the match before L.W.O.'s Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro were eliminated by Shinsuke Nakamura and Karrion Kross, respectively.

Karrion Kross hit a forearm on Dragon Lee, but Lee countered and threw Kross over the top rope to eliminate him. However, he turned around into a Kinshasa from Nakamura, who suplexed him over the ropes. Ludwig Kaiser and Pete Dunne went back and forth, with Dunne using his legs to flip Kaiser out of the match. Dunne used a finger snap on Carmelo Hayes, who lost his grip on the ropes, but he was saved by The Miz, who threw him back into the ring. But his unselfishness would cost him, as Dunne hit a dropkick, which eliminated The Miz. Hayes got revenge by dumping Pete Dunne over the top rope.

This left a final four of Shinsuke Nakamura, Rey Fenix, Andrade and Carmelo Hayes. Nakamura had the upper hand on Andrade, but he was countered, and Andrade hit a dropkick, sending "The King of Strong Style" to the floor, leaving three men in the ring. Fenix was in control, using a hurricanrana to drop Andrade and a spinning heel kick on Hayes. As he ran the top rope looking for a Goodbye Amigo Kick, he was pushed off and eliminated by El Grande Americano, who was not in the match.

The final two were Andrade and Carmelo Hayes, the pair reignited their epic rivalry from 2024 with counters before Hayes hit a facebuster to gain control. Andrade hit back with a stiff back elbow before Hayes got back on top with a Suplex Cutter. Andrade looked for a move off the second rope, but Hayes grabbed Andrade's legs and through him over the top rope to win the Battle Royal.

Bianca Belair, Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley, Jade Cargill and Naomi got into a brawl.

Rhea Ripley made her entrance as the Las Vegas crowd erupted with cheers. Ripley said that this year was her 6th Wrestlemania, and she felt this one was the most important. Women's World Champion, Iyo Sky, was out next, but before she could say anything, Bianca Belair's music played. Belair said she would win the title on Sunday when Naomi made her way to the ring.

Naomi was enraged that Bianca would return to Smackdown and wouldn't even talk to her before claiming she would finish Jade Cargill on Saturday. This brought out Cargill, and before long, a massive brawl ensued. Ripley went after Bealir and Naomi after Cargill, with the four women sprawling to the outside. Multiple officials tried to break up the fight, but everyone was met with a moonsault off the top rope by Iyo Sky, who was once again overlooked by her opponents. It was announced that Iyo Sky vs Bianca Belair vs Rhea Ripley would be the opening match on Night 2.

The Street Profits and Motor City Machine Guns' WWE Tag Team Title match ended in a no-contest.

The Street Profits and Motor City Machine Guns met for the WWE Tag Team Championships, and with the match being left off the Wrestlemania card, both teams felt like they had a point to prove. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin hit a double back elbow along with a knee drop on Montez Ford, as their tag team offence brought them control in the opening portion of the contest. Ford broke free with a clothesline on both Shelley and Sabin, he tagged in Angelo Dawkins who splashed Sabin against the turnbuckle. The Profits connected with a Blockbuster Doomsday Device for a two-count, but Shelley made the save.

The match continued with The Street Profits on top before The Guns managed to hit a missile dropkick and flatliner combo for a near fall. Angelo Dawkins tagged in and they sent Sabin across the ring into a suplex from Ford. The Guns gained control hitting another double team move (neckbreaker and dropkick) on Ford. Dawkins stopped them in their tracks and sent both of them out of the ring. Ford jumped over the turnbuckle onto all three men before Johnny Gargano of #DIY showed up and attacked Ford at ringside. The match ended in a DQ with Gargano and Ciampa running off with the belts. A TLC match was made offical for next week with all three teams invloved here.

Randy Orton issues an Open Challenge

After Kevin Owens was forced to pull out of his match at Wrestlemania due to a neck injury, Randy Orton came out to the ring and made his intentions clear. He told the crowd that on Sunday, he would make his way to ring in his gear and boots with just the right amount of baby oil. He would stand in the middle of the squared circle and will challenge anyone in the stadium to a match. He said whoever his opponent is, they will be met with the three most devistating words in sports entertainment: RKO!

Zelina Vega Def. Chelsea Green

After a backstage alltercation with Smackdown General Manager, Nick Aldis, Chelsea Green was forced into a one-on-one match woth Zelina Vega. With her Secret Hervice banned from ringside, Green would have to battle Vega alone. The Women's United States Champion dominated early on as she connected with multiple kicks and stomps before sending her opponent into the barricade.

Green argued woth the referee before running at Vega, but she waz sent over the barricade. Both women made it back in the ring before the ten count before Green delivered a big boot. Vega and Green were fighting on the turnbuck, when Vega countered green and delivered a super Code Red to pick up a surprise victory over the United States Champion.

LA Knight and Braun Strowman Def. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.

After taking out Tama Tonga in the parking lot at the start of the show, LA Knight went one-on-one with Solo Sikoa. However, the match quickly ended in a disqaulification when Jacob Fatu made his presence known, attacking the United States Champion once again. This brought out "The Monster Among Men" Braun Strowman who cleared the ring. Nick Aldis made a tag team match and the teams got under way.

Fatu and Sikoa worked over Knight with clotheslines and a splash in the corner from "The Samoan Werewolf". Knight dodged an incoming Fatu move and got the hot tag to Braun Strowman who dropkicked Fatu out of the ring. Strowman hit is signiture Strowman Express as he ran arounf the ring and shoulder tackled both of his opponents. Fatu gained control back for his team with a clothesline, DDT and a senton splash for a two-count.

Strowman hit a sidewalk slam before tagging in "The Megastar" who connected with a Russian Leg Sweep, Powerslam and a top rope Elbow Drop. Fatu broke up the pin and he was sent to the outside by Strowman. Fatu sent "The Monster Among Men" over the barricade, but Knight setn Fatu into the commentary table. The U.S Champion got back in the ring and delivered a BFT to Solo Sikoa for the victory.

Rey Fenix, Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio Def. American Made.

After a backstage alltercation following the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, Nick Aldis made a Six Man Tag Team Match pitting American Made against Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee and Rey Fenix. Fenix hit a shoulder tackle and hurricanrana on Brutus Creed before Dragon Lee tagged in and hit a dropkick. Lee hit a somersault over the top onto Julius before a cross body block for a two-count as Chad Gable made the save. Brutus pushed Rey Fenix down off the top rope and Gable suplexed Lee. All three members of American Made hit top rope headbutts on Lee at the same time.

Lee tried to fight back against the American Made, but The Creeds hit a Brutus Ball for a near fall. Lee tripped up both Creeds and Gable on the turnbuckle and hit a double stomp on all three guys at the same time. Fenix tagged in and delivered a spinning heel kick on Julius Creed for a two-count. Julius gave Fenix an overhead suplex across the ring, before Fenix hit a superkick followed by a springboard armdrag and a double foot stomp. Lee connected with the Operation Dragon and Fenix went up top and hit a double knee Meteora on Julius for the pinfall win.

Unfortunately, during the match, doctors had to attend to Rey Mysterio on the outside who was suffering with an injury. Mysterio had to be helped to the back after the match so there is speculation that his match with El Grande Americano at Wrestlemania might not happen.

Cody Rhodes and John Cena verbally destroy each other.

Before their main event clash on Wrestlemania Sunday, Cody Rhodes and John Cena came face-to-face one final time. Cena cut Rhodes off before he could even say a word and said this would be his 20th and final time competing at Wrestlemania. Cena told the fans that he was here to take the WWE Championship away from them and Cody Rhodes before sharing one more point he hasn't said before. Cena looked Cody in the eyes and said when he won the Elimination Chamber match, he knew he couldn't beat him. But when he turned down the offer to sell his sould to The Rock, Cena knew Rhodes didn't stand a chance against him as he cared to much about what the people thought. He told Cody that he was insecure and weak and he was just a kid in a man's world.

Rhodes spoke up saying that Cena always has to say something as he reminded Cena about how he claimed he didn’t bury talent. Cody asked Cena if he knew the people at ringside, or the people he walked past backstage, Cena did not. Cody called Cena overrated, overbearing, out of touch, his face is melting wax, he mocked his neck and said that Cena's tan was worse than Sting's at Starrcade 1997. Rhodes mocked Cena for showing his butt on stage at the Oscars for the people he caters to now, and most importantly it’s 2025 and Cena still can’t wrestle.

John Cena lifted Rhodes up and went for the Atitude Adujstment, but Rhodes fought out of it and delivered a Cross Rhodes before poseing with his WWE Championship. The show went off the air with Cody Rhodes standing tall before Wrestlemania.