WWE Smackdown results: John Cena accepts match against Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre sets sights on Cody Rhodes

August 8, 2025 Jack Wannan NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Image Credit: WWE

Results

  1. JC Mateo & Talla Tonga def. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (7:43)
  2. Sami Zayn def. Solo Sikoa (10:27)
  3. Charlotte Flair def. Chelsea Green (9:31)
  4. John Cena & Cody Rhodes def. Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre (DQ) (7:52)

John Cena to face Logan Paul at Clash In Paris

Tonight’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, opened with a recap of Sunday night’s Summerslam main event. If you missed the biggest headline of the week, John Cena was attacked by the returning Brock Lesnar after dropping the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes.

Kicking off the show this week was Cena, who was making his first appearance since that newsworthy night in New Jersey. He was back to his energetic, babyface self, something that many definitely missed during his heel run earlier this year. Cena was taking in the energetic crowd, not showing too much frustration over how Summerslam went.

Cena gave some shine to the Montreal fans, who he described as “deafening.”

Cena then shifted to talking about his career coming to an end: “After tonight, I’ve got 11 of these left. I just want you to know, that as far as being afraid, every single time a day goes by, I get more and more afraid … I’m afraid that no matter how much I can give to you in this limited time, that I’ll never be enough and I’m just going to end up letting y’all down.”

Cena also said that he’s worried he’ll be forgotten by the fans once everybody moves on. 

Cena admitted that he’s even a little afraid of Brock Lesnar. And even though he never expected to call out Lesnar during his retirement tour, he’s not going to back down from a fight if it’s in front of him. “So Brock Lesnar, when you want some, come and get some.”

After addressing Lesnar, Cena put out an open challenge to anyone else who wants to face him before he retires. The ex-champ looked towards the stage, waiting for someone to answer his plea.

Who responded to Cena? Logan Paul, who’s riding the high of a tag team win over Jelly Roll and Randy Orton from Summerslam.

Paul brought up past comments from Cena about him doing WWE “better than anyone else.” Cena admitted that he once said that about Paul, but also added that Paul is “the biggest dumbass I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Paul said that if Cena’s offering matches, he wants one. In an attempt to get the Quebec crowd excited, Paul teased fighting Cena in a “French-speaking country,” before specifying that he’s talking about Clash in Paris. As Paul was selling this potential matchup, Cena got jumped by Paul’s partner in crime, Drew McIntyre.

In for the save came new Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who sent the heels retreating. Cena got on the mic and accepted Paul’s challenge for a match at Clash In Paris.

“But it seems like you two want a fight… And it seems like I have a partner,” he said. Cena called for a tag match alongside Rhodes against Paul and McIntyre later tonight. Looks like we have a main event!

Backstage, The Motor City Machine Guns were asked if they had recovered well enough from the Summerslam ladder match to compete tonight. They noted that they’re banged up, but said they have to start grinding now if they want to begin their road toward the tag titles.

Talla Tonga, JC Mateo continue rough few days for MCMG

In the first bout of the night, The Motor City Machine Guns team of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley faced off against JC Mateo and Talla Tonga. This was Tonga’s second-ever in-ring WWE TV appearance, coming after winning his debut over Jimmy Uso last week.

United States Champion Solo Sikoa and Tonga Loa were ringside in support of Mateo and Tonga.

While the MCMG had a strong start with fast-paced double team moves, the MFTs took control of the bout as the show went into a commercial break. Shelley was isolated in the heel corner until the show came back, setting up for a hot tag to Sabin against Mateo.

Sabin ended a combination of moves with a Springboard DDT for a two-count. He tagged Shelley back in for double-team moves, stringing together a series of kicks before a pin attempt.

Sabin got tagged back in, but the momentum of the duo was stopped by Mateo, who dropped them with a Double Clothesline. Mateo hit a Tour of the Islands to Sabin, but a pin attempt was stopped by Shelley.

Mateo came running off the ropes for a move, but instead ate stereo superkicks, giving MCMG an opening to regain control in the fight. Shelley went to the top rope but was kicked to the floor by the towering Tonga. The huge Tonga tagged into the bout and gave Sabin a chokeslam to win the match clean in just under eight minutes.

Solo Sikoa got on the mic after the match, stating that nobody in the locker room is ready to fight him. As he was about to leave, Sikoa was stopped by Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis.

Aldis said that he had a special guest tonight who was ready for a fight: Montreal’s own Sami Zayn.

Sami Zayn pins U.S. Champ Solo Sikoa in front of home crowd

The impromptu fight between Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn was the second bout of the night.

Zayn had a strong start to the bout, sending Sikoa out of the ring with a clothesline before diving over the top and to the outside. Zayn got somewhat distracted by Sikoa’s MFTs at ringside, but it didn’t do enough to let take control of the match.

However, a more hands-on moment just seconds later gave Sikoa a breather: As the referee wasn’t looking, Talla Tonga got on the ring apron and took Zayn out with a clothesline. Sikoa got his first decent amount of control in the match as the show went to a break.

Wade Barrett described the match as “four-on-one,” and anyone who was able to watch the commercial break wrestling on the international feed could see why. The other MFTs were able to sneak in some cheap shots throughout the break.

Zayn started to mount a comeback as the show returned, reversing a move from Sikoa into a Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the middle turnbuckle for a two-count. Zayn tried for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Sikoa reversed it into a Spinning Solo for a near fall of his own.

Sikoa set up for a Samoan Spike, but Zayn stopped the move by kicking away Sikoa’s arm. The Canadian hit an exploder in the corner, then started to set up for a Helluva Kick. Tonga Loa got on the ring apron, causing Zayn to take him out and ditch the kick attempt. After hitting another exploder, Zayn took out JC Mateo and then stared down Talla Tonga, who had also gotten onto the ring apron.

After getting in the face of Tonga, Zayn turned around and ate a superkick from Sikoa. Zayn narrowly avoided a Samoan Spike, then rolled up Sikoa for a quick pinfall win. Despite the heavy amount of interference, Zayn snuck away with a win in his hometown and likely has a title shot in his future.

Backstage, Charlotte Flair teased that she’s going to surprise Alexa Bliss with a birthday gift later tonight.

Charlotte Flair gives Alexa Bliss some birthday gifts

In a pre-taped promo, The Wyatt Sicks said their story “has only just begun” after retaining their tag team championships at Summerslam. Backstage, The Street Profits and #DIY talked about their ladder match last weekend, with the Street Profits getting blamed for Candice LeRae taking a massive ladder spot. They kept arguing until GM Nick Aldis said that #DIY and The Street Profits will face off on next week’s Smackdown.

Charlotte Flair brought Alexa Bliss to the ring for a birthday celebration in the next segment. Flair brought a massive cake, which said: “CONGRADULATIONS CHARLOTTE FLAIR! P.S. Happy Birthday Alexa!”

Bliss seemed a little hesitant to open the wrapped gift that Flair had on the table. “Charlotte, I’m scared.”

Flair opened the gift for Bliss: It was her doll, Lily, but wearing the new “We’re not friends” t-shirt. Flair also revealed that she has a tag partner for Lily, Charlie.

Flair wanted something in return: A hug. Interrupting this awkward segment was Canada’s own Chelsea Green, of course accompanied by Piper Niven and Alba Fyre. Green said that they should be celebrating her homecoming, not Bliss’ birthday.

Flair said that she has one more gift for Bliss, beating up Green tonight. Green tried leaving to avoid the fight, but GM Aldis appeared on stage “with a brand new referee,” who is assigned to oversee a match between Green and Flair next.

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes was seen knocking on Nick Aldis’ door. Instead of Aldis answering, The Miz came through the door. Hayes asked where Miz has been: “You left me hanging high and dry for like two months. You said you was gonna take me to the top, and you dipped out. What’s up with that?”

Hayes said he wants to handle his business on his own, but it sounds like Miz has other plans for them. Miz said that Melo Don’t Miz isn’t done yet, as he has booked a tag match for them next week. They shook hands and Melo left the scene.

Aldis approached afterward: “What was that about?” Miz asked him to chat in the office – it looks like that part about the tag match being already booked was a stretching of the truth.

Charlotte Flair hands loss to Chelsea Green in impromptu match

The singles bout between Charlotte Flair and Chelsea Green came next on tonight’s card. Flair earned a near fall a couple of minutes into the match with a crossbody out of the corner. Green sent Flair into face-first into a turnbuckle after kicking out of a roll-up, putting the former women’s U.S. champ in control as the show went to a break.

Flair was on a roll as the shot returned: Chops, a clothesline, then a German Suplex turned the momentum back in her favor. The women traded kicks, then Flair scored a Natural Selection for a two-count.

The wrestlers went to the top rope, where Green was able to reverse a move from Flair into a superplex, which gave her a near fall. Green ordered the Secret Hervice to bring Alexa Bliss’ birthday cake into the ring.

Bliss took out the Secret Hervice with a dive off the apron. Back in the ring, Green tried for an Unprettyher onto the cake. Flair reversed the sequence, instead putting Green face-first onto the cake with an Unprettyher. Flair then locked in a Figure Eight for the submission victory in nine and a half minutes. Bliss fed a piece of the cake to Flair as the segment came to a close – the women’s tag champs, who insist they aren’t friends, seem to only come closer.

Backstage, Tiffany Stratton was asked what’s next for her. As she mentioned that she wants to keep defending her women’s championship, Jade Cargill, who lost to Stratton last weekend, told her, “Next time, the story’s going to be different.”

Kiana James, who represents Women’s U.S. champ Giulia, gave Cargill her business card and said she could help her become a champ. “If I’m going to take that title, I’m going to do it on my time, my way,” Cargill told James.

“Why don’t you just hang onto that?” James replied before leaving the shot.

Green gave the business card to Michin, said she might try to get herself a U.S. title shot.

Backstage, John Cena ran into R-Truth. “You back!!! If you really back, then I’m back,” Truth said. They hugged, then Cena started to confuse R-Truth by putting his recent errors on him: “Remember when you made that kid in Brussels cry?” Cena said. R-Truth looked perplexed as Cena walked away.

Drew McIntyre sends a message to Cody Rhodes following main event

The final match of the night, an all-star booking, saw Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and ex-champ John Cena against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul.

Cena’s eventual tag into this match was teased for some time, as Rhodes faced off against both Paul and McIntyre for a large portion of the bout. It was only after a commercial break, at the six-minute mark, that Rhodes tagged Cena into the match after dodging a move from McIntyre, sending him into a ringpost.

In a tease for his upcoming Clash In Paris match, Cena got into the bout against Paul. He put together his usual routine in the lead-up to the Five-Knuckle Shuffle, then came off the ropes and connected with the move.

Cena scored the Attitude Adjustment, but McIntyre broke up a pin attempt immediately after. Rhodes stopped a Claymore Kick attempt from McIntyre, throwing him to the ringside then meeting him on the floor with a tope suicida.

The match had a sudden end back in the ring, as Paul scored a blatant low blow on Cena to cause a disqualification. Cena and Paul brawled to the back as Rhodes and McIntyre kept fighting at ringside. Rhodes eyed a potential spot on the commentary table, but then was blasted in the head with the Undisputed WWE Championship.

McIntyre stared at Rhodes’ title before putting it down. He then put his focus back on Rhodes, delivering a devastating Claymore Kick which put Rhodes through the side of the commentary table. McIntyre went to the ground and spoke to a knocked-out Rhodes as the show came to a close.

About Jack Wannan 1549 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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