The road to “The Biggest Party of the Summer” winds down tonight in “Brick City.”
WWE Friday Night SmackDown takes place this evening at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, live at 8/7c on USA Network.
On tap for the WWE SummerSlam 2025 “go-home show” is Giulia vs. Zelina Vega for the WWE Women’s U.S. Title, Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black, Los Garza’s AAA Tag Title Open Challenge, as well as appearances by John Cena, Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll.
Featured below are complete WWE SmackDown results from Friday, August 1, 2025. The report was written by PWMania.com reporter Matt Boone (@MattBoone0709) as the show aired from 8-10pm EST. on USA Network.
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS – AUGUST 1, 2025
‘WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together” kicks things off as always, and then we shoot inside the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., where Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcome us to the final stop on the road to WWE SummerSlam 2025. A steel cage is shown above the ring.
John Cena Turns Babyface In Pre-SummerSlam Face-To-Face With Cody Rhodes?
As Tessitore announces that tonight’s show will feature “limited commercial interruptions” throughout the live two-hour broadcast. The familiar sounds of John Cena’s theme song hits the speakers inside the host venue, and out comes the Undisputed WWE Champion to kick off the show.
Cena settles in the ring, gets on the microphone and points to Mark Nash who introduces him as the “Greatest of all time, the never seen 17, gracing Newark with his presence one final time, he is the last real Champion, John Cena”. The fans continue their chants as he looks at the crowd.
Cena is about to speak and we hear Cody’s theme as he comes out to the ring. Both men are face to face in the ring and the fans sing “Cody, Cody Rhodes”. Cena puts his finger up and says “Cody Rhodes, I told you that I was exhausted.”
Cena begins to tell him that a match at SummerSlam would be too difficult to him but Cody did not listen, he assaulted him, forged his signature and forced him into one of the most dangerous matches in WWE, on one of its grandest stages for its biggest Championship.
He tells Cody he has one thing to say to him and that is thank you. Because that was the boot in the ass that he needed. Cena says for 25 years, day in and day out, he forged a reputation off hard work, honesty and respect. And he now realize that five months ago.
He flushed it down the toilet, chasing someone’s idea to make shocking TV. And they did but the dust settles and everyone goes back to their normal lives and the one’s who were on his team left and they left him alone trying to pretend that he is someone that he is not.
Cena then raises the title and says he wants to leave with that, after his last match, he wants to take the title home with him. But it’s not because he wants to ruin wrestling, he loves wrestling. It’s because after he is gone, he doesn’t want the fans to forget about him.
He was so hung up on how they might see him tomorrow, he forgot to realize how stupid he looks today. And everyone tried to tell him but he didn’t listen. Cody tried to tell him but he didn’t listen. He says Cody did what a good friend should do, he forced him to face it.
Cena says he was forced into a fight. Cena says the fight will be brutal, he will dig down and be who he really is. He tells Cody to mark his calendar, August 1, 2025, Newark, New Jersey, the day that John Cena came back to WWE. He says he doesn’t know who leaves with it on Sunday but he knows who wins and that is everyone.
He says he is finally over his own BS, we finally get to see Cody Rhodes against the greatest of all time at his best, with something to prove, in a main event street fight which Cody wanted. He tells Cody, “If you want some, come get some”.
He says on Sunday, the only platinum rapper showing up to whip his ass is him. Cena says “The champ is here” and he raises his title in the air with the fans going crazy. Cody grabs two beers, looks at Cena and tells him “Welcome back, John Cena”. He hands Cena a beer and Cena looks around.
Cena shakes his hand, they toast and drink. Cena raises the beer in the air as Cody leaves the ring. Cody looks at Cena and Cody heads to the back. A loud “Cena” chant from the crowd as he stands on the second rope with the title and his music hits. Cena walks to the back, shaking the hands of the fans. An odd opener wraps up there.
Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre Attack Jelly Roll
We shoot to “earlier today” footage from there, which shows Jelly Roll working out in a ring inside a gym with some athletes in preparation for his official WWE in-ring debut alongside Randy Orton against the team of Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre at WWE SummerSlam 2025.
As Jelly Roll is working out, we see Logan Paul stroll in, telling the trainers in the ring that they are doing the Lord’s work by making Jelly Roll look like he can wrestle. Jelly Roll tells him to get in the ring and he does. Jelly Roll gets him in the corner.
However, as he does, in comes Drew McIntyre, who breaks it up. McIntyre then pushes Logan into Jelly Roll on purpose and then they grab Jelly Roll. McIntyre hits Jelly Roll with a Claymore Kick. Logan gets in Jelly’s face as he’s out and yells “I told you you’re not a wrestler!”
WWE Women’s United States Championship
Giulia (c) vs. Zelina Vega
Championship action will kick things off inside the squared circle tonight, as Zelina Vega and then Giulia make their respective ring entrances for their WWE Women’s United States Championship showdown. This serves as the opening contest for the show this evening.
The bell rings and we are under way. Both women exchange reversals and Giulia trips Vega down. She goes for the cover but Vega kicks out. Giulia with chops to the chest and she lands a suplex. She goes for the cover but Vega kicks out. Giulia to the ropes but Vega slams her down and Giulia to the outside of the ring.
Vega on the ring apron and she lands the double knees to the face. We head to a mid-match break. When we return, we see Giulia slam Vega face-first onto the mat. She goes for the cover but Vega kicks out. She lifts Vega up for a suplex but Vega rolls her into a cover but Giulia kicks out. Vega with a kick followed by a clothesline.
Vega with a back suplex and Giulia down in the corner. Vega with a running double knees to the face. Vega climbs the second rope and jumps, Giulia moves out of the way, Vega lands on her feet and Giulia with a boot to the face. Giulia places Vega on the top rope and Giulia climbs the second rope.
Vega slides under and she lands a German suplex. Vega goes for the cover but Giulia kicks out. The fans chant “This is awesome”. Vega climbs the top rope but Giulia slows her down with a right hand. Giulia with a butterfly suplex off the top rope followed by a knee to the face.
Giulia lifts Vega up and she lands the Northern Lights Bomb. Giulia goes for the cover but Vega kicks out! Giulia goes for another Northern Lights Bomb but Vega reverses it into a cover but Giulia kicks out. Giulia goes for a clothesline, Vega ducks and lands a back cracker.
Vega climbs the top rope and goes for a moon sault but Giulia gets her knees up. Giulia with a Northern Lights Bomb. From there, she immediately follows up with the cover for the pinfall victory to successfully retain her WWE Women’s U.S. Championship. She poses with Kiana James in celebration afterwards.
Winner and STILL WWE Women’s U.S. Champion: Giulia
Backstage With Solo Sikoa & The MFT’s
The show shoots backstage, where we see Cathy Kelley standing by with Solo Sikoa and The MFT’s. He tells her that he is worried about his title and his MFT’s. He says tonight, Jimmy is going to get a big boot into his big mouth from Tala Tonga.
He says tonight is about sending a message. He says get in where you fit in, yadda mean and they walk away. Cathy says she doesn’t know what he means. From there, we shift gears and head back to the ring for the second match of the evening.
AAA World Tag-Team Championships (Open Challenge)
Los Garza (c) vs. Mr. Iguana & Psycho Clown
We see reigning AAA World Tag-Team Champions Los Garza in the ring already. The duo of Angel and Berto then do what they advertised, and issue their open challenge for any opponents from any brand or promotion to come out and challenge them on the spot for the gold.
Ask and you shall receive, as the AAA duo of Mr. Iguana and Psycho Clown emerge, making their way out to the stage together to an enormous reaction from the Newark crowd. The bell rings and we are under way. Angel and Psycho Clown start the match.
Psycho Clown with a hurricanrana followed by a right hand. Psycho Clown with a spring board cross body. He knocks Berto off the ring apron and lands a back breaker onto Angel. A super kick by Psycho Clown and in comes Berto but he is hit with a right hand.
A forearm onto Angel followed by a splash. He goes for the cover but Angel kicks out. The fans chant “Iguana” and Berto is tagged in. Berto trips Psycho Clown down onto the mat and hits him with right hands. A kick to the side of the head by Berto and Angel is tagged in.
They double team Psycho Clown. Angel goes for the cover but Psycho Clown kicks out. A snap mare by Angel followed by a drop kick. He goes for the cover but Psycho Clown kicks out. Psycho Clown to the ropes but Psycho Clown with a kick to the face.
Berto is tagged in and he grabs Psycho Clown by the leg but Psycho Clown makes the tag and Mr. Iguana is tagged in! Mr. Iguana with a head scissor take down followed by a helicopter kick. He gets the Iguana in his hand, in comes Angel who goes for a right hand but the Iguana grabs stops him.
He tries to bounce off the top rope, loses his footing but lands on his feet. He throws Angel and Berto to the outside. Mr. Iguana goes for a splash but Los Garza catch him, Psycho Clown goes for a splash but they throw Mr. Iguana into him. Berto slams Psycho Clown down and Angel is tagged in.
They grab Mr. Iguana and place him on the top rope. Los Garza are on the second rope and they land the MTY. Berto goes for the cover but Mr. Iguana kicks out. Psycho Clown is tagged in. He goes for a cross body but Log Garza catch him. They land the MTY for the win to retain.
Winners and STILL AAA World Tag-Team Champions: Los Garza
Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul Dodge Cathy Kelley
Backstage, we see Cathy Kelley catching up with the duo of Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul. She asks them about the “earlier today” footage we saw of their attack on Jelly Roll in a gym he was training in for his WWE in-ring debut at WWE SummerSlam this weekend.
The two make it clear they won’t be commenting on that particular topic right here and now. McIntyre, who is wearing his popular “Bored at Work” t-shirt, joins Paul in informing Kelly that “anything they have to say to him or about him, they’ll do so in the ring — tonight.”
Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest
We see an extended video package looking at the WWE World Tag-Team Championship TLC match at the WWE SummerSlam 2025 premium live event this weekend. Back inside the arena, we head back to the ring for our next match of the evening.
The theme for Damian Priest hits, and out he comes to a good crowd reaction. He settles inside the squared circle and his music dies down. The entrance tune for his opponent hits next, and out comes Aleister Black for this advertised one-on-one bout.
The bell rings and we are under way. Priest with a hip toss but Black gets back to his feet and lands a kick. Black goes for another kick but Priest blocks it and Priest lands kicks. He goes for another kick but Black rolls to the outside of the ring.
Priest to the outside and he jumps off the steel steps, landing a double axe. He throws Black back into the ring. Priest on the ring apron and Black with a kick. Black with a running splash over the top rope onto Priest on the outside.
On that note, we shift gears and head into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues. When the show returns, we see Black with a running knee to the face. He goes for the cover but Priest kicks out. Black goes for another kick but Priest blocks it. Priest with a right hand followed by a flap jack.
Priest grabs Black by the arm and he walks the top rope, landing a cross body. Priest to the ropes and he lands a clothesline. He goes for the cover but Black kicks out. Priest goes for the Razor’s Edge but Black with a kick. Priest with a kick and Black falls to the outside of the ring.
Priest to the outside and Black with a knee to the face. Black gets on the top rope, goes for a moon sault, Priest moves out of the way, Black lands on his feet and Priest pushes Black onto the announce table. Priest clears the announce table with Black down. Black throws a steel chair onto Priest as the referee calls for the bell.
After the match, we see Black with right hands but the referee breaks it up. Black grabs the steel chair and hits Priest with it across the back. The referee takes the chair from Black but Black grabs Priest and he slams him head first into the steel steps. He stands Priest up and Black lands the Black Mass.
Winner via Disqualification: Damian Priest
Jade Cargill Approaches Tiffany Stratton Backstage
We shoot backstage after the brutal post-match attack from Black to Priest, and we see WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, when in comes Jade Cargill.
Cargill tells Stratton that she did not need her help last week. Tiffany tells her she didn’t want any excuses for SummerSlam. Jade tells her she does not have to worry about anyone or any cash ins when they meet this time.
Jimmy Uso vs. Talla Tonga
After the Stratton-Cargill backstage segment wraps up, the show heads to another commercial break. When the show returns, Talla Tonga, one of Solo Sikoa’s MFT’s, makes his way to the ring accompanied by Sikoa. His opponent, Jimmy Uso, makes his entrance as well.
From there, the bell sounds to get this one officially off-and-running. Straight out of the gate, we see Jimmy with chops to the chest followed by a right hand. He gets Talla in the corner and Jimmy with right hands. Talla out the corner, Jimmy on the second rope and he jumps but Talla with a right hand.
Talla with a clothesline followed by a leg drop. Talla runs towards Jimmy but Jimmy moves out of the way. Talla lands on the ring apron and Jimmy lands a kick to the side of the head. Jimmy with a suicide dive but Talla stays on his feet. We head to a mid-match break as the match continues.
When the show returns, we see Uso landing chops to the chest but Talla answers back with one of his own that floors him. Talla with a forearm to the face, he goes for a splash in the corner but Jimmy moves out of the way. Jimmy with a kick followed by a right hand.
He tries to lift Talla up but Talla with a right hand followed by a kick to the face. Jimmy on the ring apron and he lands a kick to the side of the head. Jimmy climbs the top rope and he jumps but Talla catches him. He goes for a chokeslam but Jimmy lands on his feet.
Jimmy with a super kick and he clotheslines Talla to the outside. Solo gets on the ring apron but Jimmy knocks him down. Talla gets in the ring and Jimmy hits him with a spear. Jimmy climbs the top rope and goes for a splash but Talla gets his arm up. Talla lifts him up and lands a chokeslam. Talla goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Once the match wraps up, we see JC Mateo and Tama Tonga run down to the ring. They begin stomping on Jimmy as Solo asks for the steel cage to be lowered down. Solo is about to go for the Solo Spike but out comes Jacob Fatu. He gets in the ring as the cage lowers.
Solo opens the door as he and Tala Tonga leave the cage. Fatu with super kicks onto JC and Tama Tonga. Fatu with a Samoan drop onto Tama Tonga. He lands a running him attack onto JC Mateo and Tama Tonga. Fatu with a moon sault onto both men.
Winner: Talla Tonga
Backstage With Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair
We shoot backstage, where we see Cathy Kelley standing by with newfound women’s duo Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Flair says she did not have her and Bliss as a tag team on her bingo card for 2025 but there they are.
Bliss takes it as a compliment and she says that Flair does not like to use the F-word. Flair tells her that they should win the Tag Team titles first. Things wrap up on that note, and the show heads to another break.
Jelly Roll & Randy Orton Give Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre A SummerSlam Preview
It’s main event (segment) time!
The show returns to a camera shot of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett at ringside. From the commentary desk, the SmackDown announce team run down the advertised lineup for nights one and two of WWE SummerSlam 2025 this Saturday and Sunday night.
From there, Logan Paul’s music hits and out he comes. He stands on stage as Drew’s music hits. Both men get in the ring and Logan tells the fans they have the two best wrestlers in the industry, trying to defend the company from outsiders.
Logan says no one understands what it means to compete at SummerSlam, which Jelly Roll thought was a hot dog eating contest. He says he and Drew have dedicated their entire lives for this and they are sick of these outsiders making a name for themselves elsewhere and want to use WWE as a stepping stone.
He says that is impossible to do, unless you are Logan Paul. He tells Jelly Roll that Jelly Roll is an outsider, not a wrestler. He is a country star, not a superstar and he will never, ever belong in the WWE. Drew tells Randy that whatever happens to Smelly Hole tomorrow is on him.
Just because Jelly Roll asked for a match, does not mean he should have given him one. Drew says you only talk to God when you need a favor, he says Orton is selfish having God on speed dial because he is facing Drew. We see a car pull in to the arena and out steps Jelly Roll. Drew tells him the match is not happening if he comes out.
Jelly Roll taps on the hood of the car and out steps Randy Orton. Both men begin walking to the ring as Orton’s music hits. Nick Aldis comes out, trying to stop it but Orton and Jelly Roll keep walking down to the ring. They get in the ring as all four men begin to fight.
WWE security run down to break it up, but they fail to do so. Logan Paul rolls to the outside of the ring and Orton kicks Drew to the outside. Security breaks it up as the fans chant “Randy”. The fans cheer and Orton hits the RKO on two of the three security guards in the ring.
After that, we see him stop at the third security guard. He then looks at Jelly Roll, who flashes a big smile. Jelly Roll then proceeds to chokeslam the security guard. Orton’s music hits as “The Viper” and Jelly Roll stare down Logan and McIntyre from the ring. That’s how this week’s show wraps up. Thanks for joining us!
