Tonight’s WWE Smackdown, airing on April 18, 2025, promises an action-packed nightlife from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the WrestleMania 41 Go-Home show, WWE Tag Team Champions The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin). Additionally, 16-time world champion John Cena returns.
The show begins with 8pm ET on the US network and is available to international fans on streaming platforms such as Netflix. Ringside News provides live-to-match updates and highlights throughout the night. Please pay attention to this page. Update the latest results when the action unfolds and join the conversation in the comments below!
WWE SmackDown Results (4/18/25): Live Match Updates and Highlights
Joe Tessitore welcomes us as the show gets a shot of Las Vegas and host venues at WrestleMania and Smackdown Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena. The uncontroversial WWE champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes signed the sign at the backstage table, followed by the arrival of motor city machine guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), followed by WWE tag team champions The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins), Solo Sikoa and Tama Tama. WWE US champion “The Mega Star” La Knight appears out of nowhere and slams Tonga’s arm against the car door.
The music from Seth “Freakin” Rollins is hit, and Rollins moves towards the ring for the first segment of the night. Rollins stands in the middle of the ring with the microphone while the crowd sings his song. Rollins then welcomes fans to “Rollins on Friday Night” and “Commercial Punk!” The chant begins. Rollins then steps into the middle of the ring and sits, “OTC!” Chants break out. Rollins then says he wanted to start by removing the Smackdown Cube from the microphone and talking about punk. Rollins says the reason Punk has returned to wrestling is because everyone has chanted his name for ten years. Later, Rollins says when Punk returned to the ring it wasn’t a WWE ring. Rollins then asks if Punk is back, or if someone else wrote a big fat check, since everyone recited their name.
Rollins then realized that Punk had burned the bridge and returned to WWE. Rollins then asks once more whether it’s because the fans recited Punk’s name. Rollins said no and Punk is back in WWE. WWE wrote him a big fat check, so the crowd chants “Big Fat Check” Rollins and then tell me when I’m lying. Rollins then calls Punk a liar, a scam, a coward. Rollins says what you do about Rome’s rule, but governing doesn’t even pretend to care about fans, but Punk claims he cares about fans. Rollins says that the ruler is just caring about governance, and the ruler is in the governing business. The crowd then performs the sung bit of “Rome, Roman rule.” Rollins then says that while the ruler knows nothing about the sacrifice, he knows everything about the sacrifice. Rollins then says that the story between him, governance and punk began 12 years ago, with Paul Heyman.
Rollins then says that Heyman brought his rulers, himself and Dean Ambrose, to WWE, to become a shield for CM Punk. After that, Rollins says every night he sacrificed everything he had in the ring to that shield. Rollins then says he didn’t praise the achievement as everyone behind wanted all the cameras during his reign. Rollins says everyone said the ruler would be the next cash cow for WWE and the next John Cena. Later, Rollins says that when Punk took the ball, went home and heard Punk’s chant, he made all the shows each night and sacrificed everything. Rollins then says that it all came to mind at WrestleMania last year when his knees were shredded and his stepfather was dying of cancer. Rollins then says he still reached WrestleMania last year to be a shield to confirm that Rome’s rule would be lost. “Thank you, Seth!” Then the chants break out and the crowd sings Rollins’ song. Rollins then says the story begins 12 years ago and ends tomorrow night with the most important triple threat match in the industry’s history. Rollins then promises everyone that they’ll put everything on the line to make sure the business moves in the right direction. Rollins ends by saying it’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler.
Teshitoa and Wade Barrett speak ringside. Teshitoa says Barrett will be taking part in the WrestleMania Call with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. Teshitoa and Barrett run through the WrestleMania lineup for both nights.
The Andre the Giant Trophy is on display at ringside, and Ray Phoenix heads to the ring at Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale. After that, you’ll get the Andre and Shinsuke nakamura video package. Then you get the remaining entrance to the first match of the night.
Andre major memorial battle royal
The match begins with Carlito and R-Truth having a bit of fun. The truth eliminates Karito and throws an apple at him. Miz excludes the truth as a way to help Carmelo. Karion Cross then splits it by attacking Miz and Carmelo’s stomp. Ross Garza then goes to work on Phoenix, which leads to Phoenix eliminating both the Belt and Angel. Santos Escobar then appears to be angry about the whole thing. Grayson Waller and Austin Theory eliminate both rather fatal members.
Kaiser then eliminates Tyler Bait with a shotgun dropkick in the middle of the bait. Pete Dunn then tackles Kaiser. Santos Escobar then proposes to work with Phoenix to eliminate Andrade, but instead Phoenix eliminates Escobar. The Creed Brothers eliminate the warehouse, and Otis washes the Creed Brothers over the top and disposes them. Otis is then eliminated. Otis then attacks the outside of the ring. Andrede then sends Waller to the floor. Andrede does the same for theory. Andrade and Chad Gable then eliminate him by Match Attack Gable and all the other Luchadores in Fenix. Phoenix and Cross trade chops, while Dragon Lee eliminates Cross. Lee then hits Nakamura’s knee, and Nakamura eliminates him.
Kaiser and Dan then fight in the apron and return safely to the ring before Dan eliminates Kaiser. Mizu and Carmelo are on the apron, and Dan snaps Carmelo’s fingers. Miz then saves Carmelo, but Dan eliminates Miz. The final five are Fenix, Dunne, Carmelo, Nakamura and Andrade. Melo eliminates Dan, and the Final Four stares at each other. They then brawl. Nakamura is fired but misses his knee. Andredo then dropkicks Nakamura from the top rope and gets out of the match. Carmelo and Andredo then fight on the ropes in the middle, and Phoenix tries to eliminate both ropes. Carmelo then attacks Phoenix. Phoenix then runs with Carmelo, but Carmelo places Phoenix on his apron. Phoenix then walks the ropes, but El Grande American appears out of nowhere and eliminates Phoenix. The last two are Andrade and Carmelo. Carmelo and Andredo counter each other’s movements and smash each other’s several clothesline loans. Andredo then hits the spinning elbow on the back with Carmelo, with both guys down. Andredo then sets up for three Amigos, but Carmelo blocks it and slams Andredo with a cutter. The two men fight on the second rope, and Carmelo sends Andrade over the top and sends victory.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale winner Carmelo Hayes!
After the match, Miz returns to ringside to celebrate with Carmelo.
Then you’ll get a triple H video promoting him as the headliner of the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony, which will be held late tonight. The ceremony will be streamed on Peacock and YouTube.
We then see Wade Barrett interview Charlotte Flair and ask why he thinks things have become ugly between her and Tiffany Stratton. Charlotte responds over her time and says she doesn’t love it and that both she and Tiffany have a tip on her shoulder. Charlotte says people are now invested in their games and what’s most important to her is that people want to see Tiffany and her go to it now. At the end of the day, Charlotte says that’s the purpose of the business.
They then realize that Tama Tonga has been taken to a local medical facility after the Knight attack in the parking lot early tonight.
Rhea Ripley is then shown walking behind the scenes.
Rhea Ripley’s music hits and she moves towards the ring. Ripley gets lots of cheers from the fans as she enters the ring. Ripley starts by saying this will become her sixth WrestleMania, and each time she enters it in some kind of championship match. Ripley says this year is probably the most important thing for her. Ripley realizes how she lost the women’s title before WrestleMania and that she has made the most of her Bianca Belair. Ripley then says he can make excuses and complain, but there’s no point in talking about the past. Ripley says she will do what she has to do to get back what she wants. That’s the Women’s World Championships. Ripley then says he’ll leave three-time champion WrestleMania. Iyo Sky’s music has been a hit and Sky is heading into the ring.
Skye goes to talk, but Bianca Bella’s music interrupts her and Bel Air follows her path towards the ring. Bel Air enters the ring, the stars speak, but the crowd booes her. Bella then asks Sky and Ripley if they thought she would not really show up. The booing gets bigger. After that, Bel Air says that tonight may be her last for a while. Because she’s leaving as a champion. Naomi’s music is a hit, and Naomi tries to escape for her. Naomi confronts Bella about not talking to her. Naomi says she’s calling Bella and texting her, but she hasn’t heard anything in return. Naomi asks if their friendship doesn’t mean much to Belle. Naomi then says she wanted to handle things privately. Bella and Naomi then talk to each other. Naomi then enters the ring and Bella says he is not going to do this now. Naomi says she’ll finish what she started with Jade Cargill tomorrow. Jade Cargill’s music is hit and Cargill goes her way towards the ring. Cargill then screams at the Bel Air Off microphone. Naomi then rolls out of the ring. Ripley then intervenes and says that it’s not about Cargill, but Naomi returns to everyone except the Ring and Sky Brawl. The sky just stands there, as the crowd chants her name. Sky then goes to the top and bumps into Moonsaw on everyone on the floor, ending the segment.
Ray Phoenix is then shown behind the scenes, and Chad Gable approaches him and teases him for losing Battle Royale. After that, Dragon Lee appears and tells Gabe to shut up. Later, Rey Mysterio appears and tells Gable that Americano will learn the real Lucha Libre at WrestleMania. Mysterio then challenges Gable and Creed, challenging a six-man tag team match later in the show.
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) head to the ring for the WWE Tag Team Championship Match. Then you’ll get the sponsor’s video package where Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) beat #Diy (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) to win the WWE Tag Team title.
Wade Barrett says Mysterio, Lee, Phoenix vs. America-made matches are official later in the show.
WWE Tag Team Champions The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) will reach the ring for the WWE Tag Team Championship Match.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) (C) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
The match begins with a Motor City Machine Gun attacking the street’s profits from behind. Chris Sabin then sends Montes Ford into the ring. The Motor City Machine Gun then doubled the team at Ford, but Ford attacks Sabin with a shoulder tackle. Angelo Dawkins nails Sabin into the corner with a few clotheslines and splashes, and tags Ford. Dawkins places Sabin in the electric chair position for Ford to climb to the top and land on Sabin. Shelley then sends Dawkins out of the ring and appears to be on a plane, but Dawkins catches him on a strike.
Shelley and Dawkins then tag in, and Shelley delivers her right hand to Dawkins on the corner. Ford then returns the tag and hits a standing frog splash with Shelley, then returns to Dawkins to tag. Dawkins then wears Shelley with a submission hold, but Sabin tags in and hits Hurricane Lana at Ford. Sabin then follows it with a dropkick off the rope and tag it back to Shelley.
Shelley then crashes Ford into the corner and tag Sabin. Shelley then places Ford in the position of an electric chair when Sabin climbs the rope, but Ford escapes and crashes Shelley onto Sabin. Dawkins is then tagged and profits earn Sabin’s double team. Ford then hits Sabin with a super kick, but #diy appears out of nowhere, attacking both teams, causing disqualification.
Winner of the match through DQ and still WWE tag team champions The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins)!
After the match, #diy continues to beat both teams before stealing the WWE Tag Team Championship and heading backwards.
Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis meets WWE women’s champion Chelsea Green and her secret Hervice. Green’s Secret Hervice serves Aldis in a paper that addresses count-out losses last week. Aldis will then play the Chelsea Green vs. Zelina Vega match later tonight.
“The Viper” Randy Orton is shown walking behind the scenes.
Ciampa and Gargano are then shown by the tag title to leave the arena, but Aldis intervenes and stops. Then profits appear and everyone screams at each other. Aldis will then leave the title from Ciampa, Gargano and Aldis and will compete for the TLC title next week at Smackdown.
Randy Orton’s music from “The Viper” is a hit, and he moves towards the ring, with fans singing the theme of the entrance. Orton starts by seeing WrestleMania autographs and reminding fans that he doesn’t have a WrestleMania 41 opponent. Orton says he’s been around town for a week and is excited about WrestleMania everywhere. Orton then mentions his father is at first WrestleMania, saying there is no way he can sit at WrestleMania this year. Orton then points out how this will be how he will be his 20th time at WrestleMania. Orton then appears on Sunday and says he is ready to deliver to the WWE Universe. Orton says he will do it for the fans, himself and the boys behind him. Orton says if anyone wants to test their interference, he encourages them and steps up. Orton says if someone on the strip owns a pair of wrestling boots, he will challenge him to step up. Orton says it would be a victim of the three most dangerous letters in wrestling. RKO Orton music hits and ends the segment.
Then we’ll get video footage from the Drew McIntyre/Damien priest brawl at the WrestleMania kickoff show earlier today. He then sees Byron Saxton interviewing the priest and priest, and Saxton says he wants to send a message to McIntyre. The priest says McIntyre is not yet a victim, and is not yet. The priest says McIntyre is not ready for this weekend’s fight. The priest defeats McIntyre so badly that he hopes he will be present in the future again. The priest says he will fill McIntyre on Sunday.
Zelina Vega then heads to the ring for the next night’s match.
Next, you get a video vignette that looks like Aleister Black and end with a graphic listing the dates for “4.25.25”.
Chelsea Green then heads into the ring for the next game in the evening.
Non-title match: WWE Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green vs. Jellina Vega
The match begins with Midori delivering her right hand to Vega. The action then spills out of the ring and Vega crashes Green into the timekeeper’s area. Both women go back inside the ring and exchange their right hands, but Vega nails some of the elbows on her back to the green. Green places Vega on the top rope and joins her there, but Vega counters the Sunset Flip Powerbomb and becomes Pin Green for the victory.
Zelina Vega is the winner of a match other than the title!
WWE US champion La Knight has been shown walking behind the scenes.
The music of WWE US champion La Knight hits and he moves towards the ring. The night begins by saying, “Let me talk to YA!” Knight says what happened last week was inspiration. Knight says this is why he attacked Tonga before. Knight then says he plans to pull out a solo sicor this weekend as he will not be able to interfere with WrestleMania in a match against Jacob Fatu. Knight says he stepped into WWE and turned the world over. Knight says Fat doesn’t see anything like him, and says his US title is the title of the title. Knight says that someday Fatu will become the WWE champion somewhere, but in Wrestlemania Fatu will eat BFT courtesy of La Knight.
Solo Sikoa’s music hits and he moves towards the ring for the next match of the night. Lanite meets him at ringside and they brawl. Solo then sends the Knight to the Ring Step.
Non-title match: WWE US Champion “Megastar” Lanite vs. Solosicore
The match begins with Sikor hitting several headbutts in the night. Knight then responds with a DDT with a cicore, but Jacob Fatu blinds Knight from behind, attacking Knight, causing disqualification.
DQ, winner of a non-title match by WWE US champion La Knight!
After the match, Fat continues to beat the Knight. Brown Strowman then becomes even towards the ring. Nick Aldis will play a tag team match between Fatu and Sicor vs Strowman and Knight.
Tag Team Match: WWE US champion “Megastar” Lanite and “All Monsters of Monsters” Brown Strowman vs. Solosikoa and “Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu
The match begins with a sicor and a night. Fatu then pounds the night with the clothesline on his apron, and the judge is distracted. Fat then tags and sends the knight to the horns, polishing him to the horns, but Strowman tags and smashes Fat with some clotheslines. Strowman then dropkicks Fatu from the ring, but Fatu nails him with his own clothesline when he returns into the ring. Fatu then tracks it with Strowman’s DDT and Senton and tags it with Sikoa. Sikore and Knight then tagged, and Knight hit a BFT with Sikore for the victory.
Tag Team Match winners, WWE US champion “The Mega Star” La Knight, and “The Monster of All Monsters” Braun Strowman!
A sit-in interview will then be displayed earlier today between WWE women’s champions Tiffany Stratton and Wade Barrett. Barrett asks how and why her interview with Charlotte came off the rail, and why. Stratton felt she was bullied and in an interview with SplitScreen earlier this year, she wondered if she was on the challenge. Stratton then gives Charlotte a taste of her medicine and says that while Charlotte doesn’t like her, she has to respect her. Barrett then asks Stratton what will happen if Tiffy’s time ends at WrestleMania. Stratton says it won’t happen, she knows it’s going to be a fight, and she’s going to stand up to Charlotte. Stratton then says he’ll leave WrestleMania as a champion.
Ray Mysterio, Dragon Lee and Ray Phoenix headed towards the ring for the next night’s match, America made it.
6 Man Tag Team Match: LWO (WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) and Rey Fenix vs. American Made (Chad Gable, Julius Creed, Brutus Creed)
The match begins with Blue Task Lead and Ray Phoenix. Phoenix then slams the shoulder tackle with a Brutus outside the corner. Phoenix then rolls him up, but Brutus kicks him out. Lee then tags, but Brutus slams him into the corner and tags Julius Creed. Lee then attacks Hari Canrana with Julius, then flies down the top rope and lands on Julius on the outside. Phoenix then brings Julius back into the ring, climbs to the top and slaps him with a crossbody. Phoenix then asks for pins, but Chad Gable breaks the fall.
Julius then tagged, and the American-made maid hit a triple headbutt with Lee. Brutus then tags the middle of Lee on the corner to deliver the shoulders before Julius returns and continues to wear Lee. Gable then returns the tag and delivers some chops to Lee on the corner, then wears him in a submission hold and sends him to the corner. Julius then tagged him and immediately tag Brutus. Phoenix then tag Brutus and Gable to nail him, and then superkicked Julius. Julius then responds with a belly-to-belly suppression in Phoenix, sending him to the corner and slams his double knee several times from the middle rope to Julius for victory.
The winners of six tag team matches, LWO (WWE Hall of Fame Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) and Ray Phoenix!
After the match, Phoenix and Lee check out Mysterio. Mysterio has been out of the match for a while and it appears the trainer is checking him out.
Then you’ll get a video package about Paul Heyman’s involvement and the feud between Rome’s rule vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins.
Joe Teshitoa hypes up the upcoming Cody Rhodes and John Cena segment.
Cody Rhodes’ music hits and he moves towards the ring. Rhodes then plays with the crowd and grabs the microphone. As Rhodes is about to speak, John Cena’s music hits and Cena moves towards the ring. Cena starts by telling Rhodes to be quiet before speaking, saying that Sunday will be the last time they will compete in the WrestleMania ring. Cena says there’s nothing he can do to prepare himself to face a man who knows that no one has the courage to do and that he can face death. Cena says fans think there’s nothing like a wrestling retirement and another match, but unlike him, all other wrestlers need to care for and talk to the fans as the second one they leave is alone. Cena says that his life is love, joy, value and doesn’t need fans.
Cena says fans aren’t writing history because the winners do so, and when he won Rhodes the 2025 men’s elimination chamber, he knew it would be impossible to beat him in a WrestleMania match. Then Cena says that he changed it by how Rhodes answered Locke’s offer, and that’s when he realises that he can actually defeat Rhodes and prove to the fans that they don’t matter. Cena says Rhodes is tough and driven, but scary and naive. Cena then says that Rhodes is wearing a suit and has a tattoo on her neck on someone, but he makes him someone and realizes that he is still a child at WrestleMania on Sunday.
Rhodes then asks Cena if he knows the names of the crew and says that it’s now a different WWE. Rhodes worshiped China like a fan, but says times have changed. Rhodes then sets out for Cena, who may have called him overwhelmingly, but says he is overrated and cannot wrestletter in 2025 yet.
Cena doesn’t have to wrest Rhodes on Sunday and appears to give him an adjustment to his attitude, but Rhodes escapes and crossroads the counter. Rhodes then lifts the indisputable WWE Championship and heads back as the show approaches its end.
Matches and key moments scheduled for WWE SmackDown on April 18, 2025
- WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) (C) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
- 16-time world champion John Cena is back
- Andre major memorial battle royal
- 6 Women Tag Team Match: WWE Women’s US champion Chelsea Green and Secret Hervice (Piper Niven and Albafir) vs. Zelina Vega, Katana Chance, Caden Carter
- Wade Barrett and sit-in interview with WWE women’s champion Tiffany Stratton
- Sit-in interview with Wade Barrett and “Queen” Charlotte Flair
