Smackdown Results: An Incredible TLC Tag Title Match, Aleister Black Returns

April 25, 2025 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

April 25, 2025
Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, TX

By: John Kleinchester

WWE Smackdown Results

  • Fraxion over Los Garza via Phoenix Splash in 8:23
  • WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill over Tiffany Stratton via DQ in 10:13
  • Women’s United States Championship: Zelina Vega over Chelsea Green via Code Red in 7:15
  • United States Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Drew McIntyre over LA Knight via DQ in 9:24
  • WWE Tag Team Championship TLC Match: Street Profits over DIY & MCMG in 22:52 (Recommended) 

 

Dialing It Back to 2008

The first Smackdown after Wrestlemania kicked off with an extended recap of Mania weekend, followed by John Cena coming down to the ring to a big reaction from the Ft. Worth crowd. Cena then pointed at the new ring announcer, Mark Nash, and summoned him to the ring, giving him a new intro to read as the crowd traded “Let’s Go Cena” / “Cena Sucks” chants. Nash said his announcement had been deemed disrespectful, and then introduced “the greatest of all time, the never-seen seventeen, gracing Fort Worth for the final time, the last real-world champion, John Cena.” 

Before Cena could utter a word, Randy Orton’s music hit, and he came down to the ring. Orton said that in a couple of months, it would be twenty-five years since they first shook hands. Randy noted that generations of children looked up to Cena and suggested that Cena needed to have children, and he would return to who he is. Cena responded by saying, “How dare you?” and accused Orton of parent-shaming him in front of the whole world, adding that he had spent the last twenty-five years raising the fans like his kids. Orton then claimed that there is no Hollywood without the WWE, and the fans are the most significant reason he is who he is. 

Cena said the fans don’t mean anything to him, and they’re all hypocrites who manipulate the truth to make themselves feel good, having done nothing with their lives. Orton retorted, saying Cena wouldn’t ruin wrestling over his dead body. Cena said that he was at #17 and Orton was at #14, but once he takes the title home with him, Orton will be stuck at fourteen until WWE creates another “tin-foil” title, and it won’t mean the same.

Orton then challenged Cena to a title match on the spot, but Cena declined. Cena suggested they do it at Backlash in St. Louis so that Orton’s family can be there. Cena then attacked Orton and went to hit him with the title, but Orton ducked and hit Cena with the RKO. Orton posed with the championship as the segment came to an end. 

Fraxiom Has Arrived

Joe Tessitore announced that Fraxiom had arrived on Smackdown, and a promo package was shown. After Los Garza was introduced and an ad break, Fraxiom (Axiom and Nathan Frazer) made their debut.

Fraxiom excited their crowd with their high-flying maneuvers. Los Garza took over control after knocking Axiom to the outside through the middle rope. After another commercial, Nathan Frazer got the hot tag and took it to Berto at a blistering pace, ending in a near fall. Los Garza hit a Super MTY on Frazer, followed by a Moonsault, but Axiom broke up the pinfall attempt. Fraxiom hit a Spanish Fly, followed by a Phoenix Splash to pick up the win. 

Impromptu Women’s Title Match

Next up, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton made her way to the ring and said that while she doubted herself, she prevailed, defeating Charlotte at Wrestlemania. This brought out Jade Cargill, who said her business with Naomi is finished and therefore had nothing but time. Stratton suggested they do it right then, and a referee ran down and the match was started after another ad break.

The two went back and forth with each eliciting cheers from the crowd. After yet another commercial break, Stratton slipped going for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, and Cargill moved out of the way when she tried a second time. Cargill then caught Stratton mid-cartwheel for a big, sit-out powerbomb for a nearfall. Naomi then ran out, attacking Jade and causing the Disqualification.

Naomi continued attacking Cargill until Stratton got in the ring, and Naomi backed off just as Nia Jax appeared, laying out Stratton and hitting her with the Annihilator. 

Trouble in the Family

Next, new United States Champion Jacob Fatu was out, accompanied by Solo Sikoa. The crowd chanted “Fatu” and then booed when Sikoa started speaking and taking credit for bringing Fatu in. Fatu finally grabbed the mic away from Sikoa and admonished him, saying he told him he would win with or without him.

This brought out LA Knight, who demanded a rematch for the US title. Then Drew McIntyre came out and complained about being screwed over and over, and then complained about Randy Orton jumping the line as he was planning on challenging John Cena.

McIntyre said instead, he wants to fight “the baddest dog in the yard” and challenged Fatu. Knight and McIntyre were about to come to blows when Nick Aldis appeared and suggested an official match for later that night, with the winner becoming the #1 Contender for the United States Championship. 

United States Women’s Championship

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviewed Zelina Vega, who said she was speechless and wanted to bring some Latino Heat into her match tonight. This led to Vega challenging Chelsea Green for the United States Championship after defeating Green twice in the prior two weeks. Vega was in control early but was quickly distracted by the Secret Hervice and was promptly attacked on the outside behind the referee’s back, giving Green the advantage. After the commercial, Vega had regained control, and again the Secret Hervice distracted Vega. Piper Niven then tripped Vega, and the referee ejected Niven and Fyre. This again distracted Vega, who hit a Code Red on Green to win the United States Championship. 

Melo Means Andre

Highlights were shown from last week’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, with Carmelo Hayes taking the trophy. Backstage, The Miz told Hayes that he has a vision for him, and that’s why he sacrificed himself for him in the Battle Royal. Miz then gifted Hayes a giant Andre the Giant head as a necklace. Hayes said that with this necklace, he is the “tenth wonder of the world.” The Miz was amped up and said he had something to get off his chest and went to the ring. 

 

No Man is Ever Truly Good

The Miz was in the ring, complaining that he didn’t have a match on WrestleMania, when he had main-evented in the past. He complained about not getting a fill-in spot for Rey Mysterio or Kevin Owens and then ran down Joe Hendry, saying he was sick of people showing up in WWE when he is an A-list star. The lights then went out, and when they came back on, Aleister Black’s music hit, and he rose from the stage just like he used to do. Thankfully, his old theme music was preserved as he made his way to the ring.

Miz immediately ate a Black Mass, and Black sat cross-legged as the segment ended. Later in the evening, it was announced that next week, Black would take on Miz in his first official match back in WWE.

Bianca Injured, Naomi/Jax

Byron Saxton interviewed Bianca Belair, and she revealed that she had broken a few fingers in her match at Wrestlemania. Belair said she was focused on healing, and when she returns, she has some unfinished business to handle. Next, Naomi was shown backstage when Nia Jax approached her, telling her to stay out of her way as she was vying for Tiffany’s title. 

 

#1 Contenders Match

Next up, despite Joe Tessitore saying that the final hour of the show would air commercial-free, the show went to commercial as the McIntyre and Knight came down to the ring. The action went back and forth with McIntyre hitting clubbing blows on Knight and controlling an early portion of the match.

 

Solo Sikoa then appeared and attacked LA Knight behind the referee’s back. McIntyre looked miffed at first, but then went to hit the Claymore when Damien Priest appeared. Priest hit South of Heaven through the “new reinforced” announce desk. LA Knight got into Damien Priest’s face for ruining his match when Jacob Fatu came flying in and took them all out, finishing off by hitting Jump-Up Moonsaults on both Knight and Priest.  

Cena and R-Truth

Backstage, R-Truth approached John Cena, saying he was his hero and if he ever needed anything, to call him. Cena just gave him a look of disgust and walked off. Jimmy Uso approached, and R-Truth said that there were two sides to every story and Cena was a real world Champion. 

Tag Team Championship TLC Match

The main event of the night was the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship between The Street Profits, Motor City Machine Guns, and DIY. As expected, this match started in a frenzy, taking no time in big spots. Gargano hit a twisting Flatliner off the ladder on Montez Ford, and Ciampa almost grabbed the titles before Dawkins made the stop. Dawkins returned the favor shortly thereafter, hitting the Silencer off the ladder on Gargano. DIY then went on an assault with chairs on all of their opponents, including a few brutal-looking spots.

Street Profits finally got tables into the match, much to the crowd’s chagrin. The Profits then hit a Blockbuster over the top rope and to the floor on all four other men.

Montez Ford then grabbed a prosthetic leg from a fan in the crowd and used it against his opponent to a big pop and followed that up with a senton dive out of the ring onto Ciampa through a table.

After Ciampa recovered, he put Montez Ford through a ladder set up at ringside with Sheamus’ White Noise maneuver. MCMG then hit Skull & Bones on Gargano through a table on the outside. Ciampa then got caught going for the titles as MCMG pulled the ladder away. They then recreated the old Edge spot where Angelo Dawkins speared Ciampa off the title hook and through a table set up by MCMG. 

All three teams had legitimate shots at grabbing the titles, with the finish coming when Montez Ford climbed the side of the ladder and took out Gargano and Chris Sabin simultaneously, leaving him alone to grab the Championships for the win. 

 

 

Final Thoughts

If there was ever a match that deserved to be on Mania, it was the Tag title TLC match. Good on all six guys for proving they could have been one of the best matches of the weekend. 

 
 
About John Kleinchester 226 Articles
John Kleinchester is a wrestling reporter from New Jersey, covering the sport since 2022. He is a graduate of Ithaca College and can be reached at [email protected].
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