WWE Smackdown results: Drew McIntyre returns, Jacob Fatu scores pinfall win over Solo Sikoa

July 4, 2025 Jack Wannan NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Image Credit: WWE

Results

  1. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair def. B-Fab and Michin, Alba Fyre and Piper Niven (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders) (Three-Way)
  2. Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy & Uncle Howdy def. Berto, Chris Sabin, Johnny Gargano & Montez Ford
  3. Andrade & Rey Fenix def. Axiom & Nathan Frazer
  4. Jacob Fatu & Jimmy Uso def. JC Mateo & Solo Sikoa

Drew McIntyre returns, books match against Randy Orton

A special pre-taped, two-hour, 4th of July edition of Smackdown opened with United States Champion Solo Sikoa arriving at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sikoa mentioned that he’s ready to celebrate, but somebody was there to crash the party.

Jacob Fatu appeared, attacking Sikoa and others in the car. His attack only wavered once others came to separate everyone involved. Fatu is all gas, no brakes, even if he doesn’t have a title around his waist anymore.

In the arena, 2025 King of the Ring winner Cody Rhodes made his way out to start the show. As we learned last week in Riyadh, Rhodes is on his way to a Summerslam match against John Cena.

Rhodes started his promo by shouting out a child in attendance who is currently battling leukemia. After Rhodes mentioned how important it was to win King of the Ring, he was cut off by the man who beat him, Randy Orton.

Orton recalled how he hesitated to punt Rhodes during their match last weekend, a move which ended up costing him the win. Orton acknowledged that Rhodes didn’t hesitate to hit his moves: “I won’t soon forget it, but for that, I respect you.”

Orton asked for Rhodes to promise him that he’ll beat Cena at Summerslam. Before Rhodes could respond, a name we haven’t seen in a while appeared: Drew McIntyre. Commentary reminded us that we haven’t seen McIntyre since May, when he lost to Damian Priest at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

McIntyre said that Orton and Rhodes have “beta male energy,” and that the “alpha” has returned. He continued to stir the pot, mocking Orton for his loss and his back issues. He said the legend of Orton is “dead.” He made mention that Rhodes went after the injured back of Rhodes during the match, trying to cause tension between them.

McIntyre then said that he wants Rhodes to beat Cena, only so he can take the title off him later. “I won’t hesitate, unlike somebody,” he said, trying to further anger Orton.

Orton heard enough. Once McIntyre turned around, he ate an RKO from Orton, of course out of nowhere. Orton stared Rhodes down, then left the ring.

Backstage, McIntyre said he wants Orton. Smackdown GM Nick Aldis said he can’t have Orton tonight, as he had already left the building. However, he could get him at Saturday Night’s Main Event next weekend in Atlanta. McIntyre liked the idea. This was confirmed later in the night.

Jacob Fatu approached Aldis and was told that if he can find a tag partner, he can face Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo tonight. Right after this was announced, Jimmy Uso showed up and pitched himself as Fatu’s tag partner.

Charlotte Flair signs up for tag action

A backstage clip showed Charlotte Flair approaching Nick Aldis about a potential title opportunity. Aldis said that he doesn’t have a singles opportunity for her, but she could enter a #1 contenders match tonight for the women’s tag titles.

Flair would need a tag partner first, though. Enter Alexa Bliss. Flair said that she doesn’t like sharing the spotlight with others. “I hate to break it to ya, but you haven’t been in the spotlight for a long time,” Bliss replied.

With pressure from Aldis and Bliss, Flair caved on the idea of the tag bout. “Just don’t get in my way,” Flair said to Bliss.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss earn tag title opportunity

The next match helped determine the #1 contenders for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. The teams involved in this three-way were: Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, B-Fab and Michin, and The Secret Hervice (Alba Fyre and Piper Niven).

Dysfunction between Flair and Bliss was clear from the start. Bliss was expected to start the match, but Flair tagged herself in before the action kicked off.

Michin tried for a tope suicida onto Flair and Bliss early in the match, but nobody caught her. Really ugly landing. Niven did a cannonball off the apron onto B-Fab and Michin, which she did get caught for. Fyre finished the dive fest with a Swanton Bomb off the top rope and to the outside.

Bliss got a hot tag after the break, wiping out many others in the match. She tried for a Sister Abigail onto B-Fab, but was stopped by Michin. Fyre got into the match and hit a Canadian Destroyer onto Michin, then was taken out by B-Fab. Niven got B-Fab with a black hole slam.

Niven instructed Fyre to head to the top for a move onto B-Fab, but was stopped by Bliss. Flair hit Niven with a spear, then gave both her and Fyre a moonsault off the top rope. After scoring the move, Flair took Chelsea Green off the ring apron with a front kick.

Flair tagged in Bliss (disrespectfully patting her on the top of the head), allowing her to score a Twisted Bliss for the pinfall win. The makeshift team of Bliss and Flair are good enough to take out the established factions on Smackdown, setting them up for a future title shot.

The Smackdown tag division can’t hold down The Wyatt Sicks

Backstage, Nick Aldis grilled the Smackdown tag team roster for interfering with the title match last week between The Street Profits and The Wyatt Sicks. Some chatter between these groups set up a pair of matches.

Aldis told the teams to elect one wrestler each to take on The Wyatt Sicks in an eight-man tag match. If the Wyatts win tonight, they’re back in contention for a title shot. So, everyone had to team up to save the division from another Wyatts title match.

It was also confirmed that Fraxiom will face Andrade & Rey Fenix later on the show.

The Smackdown tag division put forward Berto, Chris Sabin, Johnny Gargano, and Montez Ford to face Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy and Uncle Howdy from The Wyatt Sicks.

Sabin got a hot tag late in this match, giving the Smackdown tag division some momentum in a bout they were struggling in up until that point. A pair of Wyatts were sent out of the ring, giving Ford a chance to do a dive over the top rope and to the outside.

Sabin’s run in the ring came to an end once he faced Uncle Howdy, who escaped a roll-up attempt then a uranage. He tagged in Rowan, who knocked down Ford with a leg lariat, then knocked Berto off the ring apron. Sabin came off the middle rope with a DDT, giving him the opening to tag in Gargano. But, after Gargano saw who he would have to go up against, Rowan, he dropped off the ring apron.

Rowan kept picking on Sabin, hitting him with an Iron Claw Slam to win the match. The Wyatts will be challenging for the world tag titles once again soon.

A video package from Giulia aired, where she said she’ll take the WWE Women’s United States Championship “where no one has dared to go.”

Tiffany Stratton brings back a legend for WWE Evolution

WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton came down to the ring for the next segment. As teased earlier in the show, she’ll pick her opponent for WWE Evolution tonight.

Stratton acknowledged that she’ll face 2025 Queen of the Ring Jade Cargill at Summerslam. But before then, she gets to choose who to face at Evolution. Before she could announce her opponent, Cargill made her way out.

Cargill came to announce that she’s ready for whoever wins at Evolution. Stratton then mentioned that she has a surprise: Out came Trish Stratus, who tagged with Stratton at Elimination Chamber earlier this year.

Stratton said she’s offering Stratus the opportunity to face her at Evolution. Stratus accepted, and said her kids have never seen her as a champion. Stratton warned her that it won’t be easy: “It’s not the Attitude Era anymore.”

Stratton said that she will beat Stratus at Evolution then Cargill at Summerslam before the segment came to an end.

Backstage, Cargill said she sees Stratus has a title match at Evolution (they were just in the ring together, by the way). “But you know, if you win, you’ll be seeing me.”

Cargill was jumped from behind by Naomi, the 2025 Women’s Money in the Bank Champion. “Should’ve proceeded with caution,” she said, laughing as she walked away from the attack.

Nick Aldis approached Cargill, who told her that she wants her hands on Naomi.

Jacob Fatu introduced Tala Tonga (formerly Hikuleo) in a video package.

Andrade and Rey Fenix beat Fraxiom

The next match saw Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) take on Andrade and Rey Fenix. This match had a hectic pace to start, much quicker than the usual beginning to a match. Both members of Fraxiom did tope suicidas to the outside as they went to commercials.

Fenix started to build some momentum after the show returned, getting Frazer off the ring apron with a kick then taking out Axiom with a huge DDT. This set up Andrade to get into the match, taking on both Frazer and Axiom at the same time.

After getting Axiom out of the mix with a flying forearm, Andrade scored a Three Amigos suplex combination on Frazer. He tagged Fenix back in, who scored a frogsplash for a near fall.

Fenix went back to the top, but was stopped by Frazer, who scored a head kick. Frazer also climbed to the top, where he connected with a superplex bridged into a Golden Ratio with Axiom. Andrade broke up a pin attempt as the match went through a second commercial break.

Once the show returned, Fenix avoided a Phoenix Splash from Frazer. Fenix got down Frazer with a huge German Suplex, then tagged in Andrade, who did his running double knees in the corner for a two-count.

Frazer tried to roll away from a moonsault, but Andrade landed on his feet, allowing him to score with a standing moonsault once coming off the top. Axiom broke up a pin attempt.

Frazer put Andrade on the top rope, where Axiom hit a Super Spanish Fly. Frazer then came off the top with a huge Phonix Splash, but Fenix came into the ring with a Codebreaker onto Axiom, landing on the pin attempt to break it.

Andrade took out Frazer with a spinning back elbow. Fenix walked the ropes for a kick to the head of Axiom, then did a dive over Andrade to take out Axiom. Andrade then hit The Answer onto Frazer for the pinfall victory. This was an all-action match with an exciting finishing sequence.

Damian Priest approached Aleister Black and told him that he’ll be facing R-Truth on Smackdown next week.

Here’s what we know about next Friday’s episode so far

  • The Street Profits vs. The Wyatt Sicks (WWE Tag Team Championships)
  • R-Truth vs. Aleister Black

Jacob Fatu earns revenge, but suffers attack after

The main event of the night saw Jacob Fatu team with Jimmy Uso against new WWE United States Champion Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo.

Sikoa tagged out of the match right after it started, causing Fatu to pick on Mateo. The match went into the control of the heel team before the break, giving Sikoa a chance to hit a Spinning Solo onto Uso.

They started building toward a comeback for Uso after the match returned. He eventually hit Mateo with a Samoan Drop, providing the opening for a hot tag onto Fatu against Sikoa.

Fatu wiped Sikoa out with a huge clothesline, then landed a senton. After a splash in the corner, Fatu landed a series of headbutts. Fatu knocked Mateo off the ring apron, then scored a standing moonsault for a near fall.

Mateo got back into the ring, causing him to get taken out with a thrust kick. Fatu hit a corner hip attack onto both Mateo and then Sikoa. He came off the top with a Swanton Bomb, but the pin attempt was stopped by Mateo. Uso got back into the match, knocking Mateo out of the ring with a Superkick then taking him out with a dive to the outside.

Fatu hit Sikoa with a tope suicida before bringing him back into the ring. Sikoa avoided a splash in the corner, then scored with a superkick. He tried for a Samoan Spike, but Fatu countered it into a DDT. Fatu then came off the top with a moonsault for the pinfall win.

Fatu got a win over Sikoa, but that wasn’t enough. After the match, he put Sikoa onto the commentary desk, then climbed to the top rope for a big move. However, Tala Tonga came in for the save, throwing Fatu to the mat. Tonga Loa got into the ring to help take out Uso as well. Fatu was held up for Sikoa to land a Samoan Spike. They then brought Fatu over to ringside for a powerbomb through the announce desk as the show came to an end.

Sikoa took a loss, but certainly got the last laugh on this week’s Smackdown.

About Jack Wannan 844 Articles
Jack Wannan is a journalist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He writes and reports on professional wrestling, along with other topics like MMA, boxing, music, local news, and more. He graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He can be reached at [email protected]
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