The road to WWE Night Of Champions 2025 continues tonight in “The Bluegrass State.”
WWE Friday Night SmackDown goes down live this evening at 8/7c on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix internationally from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
On tap for tonight’s show is King of the Ring tournament action, with Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. LA Knight vs. Aleister Black, as well as Cody Rhodes vs. Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Damian Priest. In Queen of the Ring action, Charlotte Flair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Candice LeRae is scheduled. Also appearing will be John Cena, Naomi and Jacob Fatu.
Featured below are complete WWE SmackDown results from Friday, June 13, 2025. The report was written by PWMania.com reporter Matt Boone (@MattBoone0709) as the show aired from 8-11pm EST. on USA Network.
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS – JUNE 13, 2025
“WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.” kicks things off as always, and then we shoot inside Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY., where Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcome us to the show. We see Jacob Fatu, Naomi and others arriving to the building and walking backstage.
John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, LA Knight & Ron Killings Kick Things Off
As we settle back inside the arena after a video announcing matches for the King and Queen of the Ring tonight, and a recap of the WWE Money In The Bank 2025 premium live event, the unmistakable theme for John Cena hits. Out comes the Undisputed WWE Champion to kick off the show.
He settles inside the ring and tells the people in the back to cut his music. Loud chants of “Let’s go Cena, Cena sucks” rings around the arena as he points to the ring announcer Mark Nash. Nash then introduces him again the correct way.
Nash says, “The greatest of all time, the never seen 17, gracing Lexington with his presence one last time. He is the last real champion, John Cena!” Cena then begins by saying “Wrestling’s mount Rushmore is John Cena, John Cena, John Cena, John Cena.”
He says there have been great wrestlers, great talkers but no one in the past, present or future is even comparable to him. Cena says the reason he will always out maneuver is because he is smarter. Cena says “you can’t see me, you all want to be me.”
He says he is always a thousand steps ahead of everyone because they are all worried about right here and right now while he won right now a year ago. He says he started scouting his opponents last year. He entered the Rumble, he went to the Elimination Chamber.
He knew Punk and Rollins would burn down and that Cody’s focus was on someone else. He shocked the world, used Cody’s obsession of being loved by everyone to be the new champion. He used Orton’s 25 year rivalry and he even put R-Truth in the main event. Everyone cared and took the bait.
While they used their time to save R-Truth, he sided with Logan Paul and sized up his next opponent in CM Punk. Cena says Punk is backed into a corner. The fans chant “CM Punk”. Cena says if CM Punk really wants to take the title, he has to admit to himself that he is a hypocrite.
And he does not have to worry about Mr. Money in the Bank because Seth will never cash in on him holding the title. Seth wants Cena to leave with the title because when he cashed in, he will be their only Champion. Cena asks them if they get it now, he is the greatest of all time for a reason.
Cena then says while they have been busy creating fake stories to see if he sold his soul, he used math in his favor. He wins matches before they even start. In 25 years, he has cracked every code and he doesn’t need their appreciation, they will realize how good he is three years after he leaves.
He continues, claiming this is the greatest moment of their life and for Cena, the fans are just a mathematical equation and the math says there will never be anyone worthy enough to hold the right to hold his title again. Cody Rhodes’ music hits and out he comes.
“The American Nightmare” gets in the ring and fans sing his name. Rhodes tells Cena that he is smart. Cody says Cena is not just smart, he is a genius. It is unfortunate that everything Cena said has come to fruition. But here he is with this 25 year master plan but there is this variable.
Cody asks him why he didn’t include this Saturday, when he was looking at the lights and Cody pinned him. Cody says he is not part of Cena’s plan. He calls Cena “John Rushmore” and asks him where that leaves them. Randy Orton’s music hits and out he comes to the ring.
Orton says everyone saw he had Cena beaten in the ring. Orton says he has to do what it takes, no matter who he has to go through to get number 15. Orton says he loves Cody like a brother but if he has to take him down to get to Cena, he will not hesitate to do that. LA Knight’s music hits and out he comes.
He asks for his music to be cut and says “Let me talk to ya”. He says all we long, he heard the world say they want LA Knight. He knows what the fans want, he knows what the three guys in the ring don’t want and that is him walking down to the ring.
LA Knight says he is looking at the WWE establishment, he knows that. He is the sore thumb standing out there and he likes it that way. He tells Cena that Cena has this master plan of his but he knows that his plans didn’t include him.
“The Mega Star” continues and says King of the Ring is right around the corner and he has a shot at all of them to take what is his. And he has to drop a viper, a nightmare and “if he has to drop a ‘genius,’ balding b*tch John Cena to be WWE Champion,” he will.
Cena scrunches his face up at that line and immediately storms out of the ring, doing the “ahh forget you” wave back to the ring as he heads up the ramp. As he gets to the top of the ramp, he turns around, and out of nowhere, Ron Killings runs up and attacks him from behind. Security breaks it up as we head to a break.
WWE King Of The Ring Tournament
Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes
When the show returns, we see Cena flipping out as he talks to SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis backstage. Back inside the arena, we see that Randy Orton and LA Knight are still in the ring. The theme for Carmelo Hayes hits, and out he comes. Aleister Black makes his entrance next.
The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this fatal-four-way showdown in the 2025 WWE King of the Ring tournament. Black and Hayes exchange right hands with LA Knight and Randy Orton watching them. Black throws Hayes to the outside as Orton and LA Knight begin fighting.
Hayes and Black get back in the ring and LA Knight clothesline’s Hayes to the outside. Black with a springboard moon sault off the second rope onto Hayes on the outside of the ring. In the ring, LA Knight goes for the BFT, Orton blacks it and goes for the RKO but LA Knight blocks it.
Black goes for Black Mass but Orton stops it. When the show returns, LA Knight stomps on Orton in the ring. He turns around and Hayes with a super kick. Black throws Hayes to the ropes and Hayes with a springboard crossbody and Black falls to the outside of the ring.
Hayes with a splash over the top rope and LA Knight with a baseball slide onto Hayes. LA Knight slams Hayes head first onto the announce table. Orton comes from behind, goes for a back drop on LA Knight but LA Knight lands on his feet.
Black goes for a right hand, Orton ducks and he slams Black onto the announce desk. LA Knight pushes Orton into the ring apron and he throws Hayes back into the ring. LA Knight places Hayes on the top rope and hits him with a right hand.
Both men with right hands and LA Knight on the second rope, Hayes pushes him down, in comes Orton. He hits Hayes with right hands and climbs the second rope. Hayes pushes him down. In comes Black who kicks Hayes in the face. Black throws Orton to the outside and Orton drags Black to the outside.
He grabs Black but Black reverses it, throwing Orton into the ring post. Hayes with a frog splash onto LA Knight. He goes for the cover but Black breaks it up. Back from commercial, Black with a big boot onto Orton. Hayes to the ropes but Black with punches and kicks.
He goes for the cover on Hayes but Hayes kicks out. Orton with clotheslines onto Black followed by a snap slam onto Black. In comes LA Knight and Orton with a snap slam on him and one on Hayes. Orton throws Hayes onto the ring apron. He grabs Hayes and he grabs Black.
Orton pulls them in for the DDT but LA Knight with a neck breaker from behind. He goes for the cover but Orton kicks out. LA Knight and Hayes double team Orton and LA Knight with BFT on Black. He goes for the cover but Hayes breaks it up.
LA Knight gets to his feet and slams Hayes down. LA Knight gets on the second rope but out comes Bronson Reed who pulls LA Knight down. LA Knight gets up and Bron Breakker with a spear onto LA Knight. Hayes smiles and gets on the top rope.
From there, he jumps and Orton with a mid air RKO on Hayes who falls onto LA Knight. Orton goes for the cover on LA Knight and gets the pin. With the victory, Orton advances in the King of the Ring tournament. It is announced that Orton vs. Sami Zayn in the King of the Ring semifinals will take place next week on SmackDown.
Winner and ADVANCING in King of the Ring: Randy Orton
Solo Sikoa Fives Jacob Fatu An Ultimatum For Next Week
Backstage, we see “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu. The WWE United States Champion says he’s coming live. Inside the arena, his music hits and the camera follows him as he makes his way through the curtain and down to the ring for the next segment of the show.
Fatu tells the fans to keep it one hundred. He says just because you’re family, it does not mean you can go behind their back and try to snake them. Just because they both come from the same bloodline, does not mean he can take all of the credit for his hard work.
Solo said that Fatu would be nothing without him. Fatu says this is exactly why he had to remind Solo at Money in the Bank when you don’t get in where you fit in. And now it is him against the world because he is all gas with no brakes. We see Solo clapping in the back on the big screen.
Sikoa has JC Mateo behind him. He asks Fatu if he got everything off his chest. He can forgive him at Money in the Bank. A year ago, when he went to Sacramento to see him, Fatu was doing nothing and was nothing. No one wanted him around, he brought him around.
He made him a superstar, he made him Champion. Solo gets angry and says it was all because of him. Next week, he will be in the middle of the ring with open arms, willing to take Fatu back. But he needs to hear four words from him. “I love you Solo”.
He tells Fatu that he brought him into this world and he will take him out. “Yadda know what I mean?” he says to wrap up his promo, mocking Jacob’s line. Fatu is shown live in the ring looking angry at what he just heard. He storms out of the ring and to the back.
Nick Aldis Backstage With Secret Hervice & Zelina Vega
We shoot backstage from there, where we see SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis standing by in his office with The Secret Hervice duo of Alba Fyre and Piper Niven. Niven opens a Face Time with Chelsea Green who is in a pool and she tells Aldis she won’t be there.
Green tells Aldis he’ll have to postpone the scheduled Queen of the Ring match she is advertised for tonight. Aldis disagees. He says Alba Fyre will take her spot. Chelsea says she doesn’t authorize that and Aldis says he doesn’t care, because he does. He tells Fyre to go get ready.
The Secret Hervice storm off angrily and in just as worked up comes WWE United States Champion Zelina Vega. She tells Aldis she wants Giulia. Aldis tells her that Giulia is not there. Vega says she is the United States Champion and next week, she will confront her face to face.
WWE Queen Of The Ring Tournament
Piper Niven vs. Alba Fyre vs. Michin vs. Nia Jax
Inside the arena, Jade Cargill’s theme hits and out she comes for the next match of the evening. The Secret Hervice duo make their way to the ring next, where Piper Niven will be in action in this one. We head to a pre-match commercial break.
When the show returns, after Triple H’s Allegiant Stadium rooftop announcement for WrestleMania 42 next year in Las Vegas airs, we return inside Rupp Arena, where we see Michin finishing up her ring entrance, in progress. Nia Jax’s theme hits and out she comes.
The bell sounds and this four-way WWE Queen of the Ring tournament tilt is officially off-and-running. After some early back-and-forth action, things spill out to the floor. Michin gets on the ring apron outside of the ring ropes and hits a springboard moonsault onto the bodies on the floor.
On that note, the show shifts gears and settles into a mid-match commercial break as the action in this high stakes Queen of the Ring bout continues. When the show returns, Nia and Piper double team Jade in the corner. Nia with a hip attack and Niven with a cannonball.
Niven goes for the cover but Nia pulls her away. Niven gets up and apologizes. Nia pushes her but Michin with a hurricanrana off the top rope onto Nia. She also lands a tornado DDT onto Niven. Michin goes for the cover but Niven kicks out.
Jade throws Michin to the ropes and Jade with a powerbomb. She goes for the cover but Michin kicks out. Niven with a basement crossbody onto Jade. Michin slams Niven onto the mat. Nia with a senton onto Michin and she goes for the cover but Michin kicks out.
Nia and Niven to the outside and they double team Jade. They throw her over the announce table and onto Wade, taking both of them out. Niven gets in the ring and Michin with a tornado DDT. She goes for the cover but Nia breaks it up.
Nia and Niven grab Michin and land a double chokeslam. Nia with a forearm to the face onto Niven and she throws her to the outside. Nia drags Michin to the corner and she climbs the second rope. Nia with the Annihilator. She goes for the cover but Niven breaks it up and she throws Nia to the outside.
Niven grabs Nia and throws her face first into the ring post. Nia walks towards the barricade and Niven spears her through the barricade. Niven gets back into the ring. She climbs the second rope and lands the Piper Bomb. In comes Jade and she lands Jaded onto Niven for the win to advance.
Winner and ADVANCING in the Queen of the Ring: Jade Cargill
Naomi Confronted By Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax Attacks
The show heads to another commercial break after the Queen of the Ring tourney tilt wraps up. When the show returns, we hear the familiar sounds of Naomi’s music. Out to the ring comes the 2025 Ms. Money In The Bank winner for the next segment of the show.
She starts off by saying she sees a lot of people looking shocked, surprised and stupid. She says she doesn’t know why because she told them. She took what she deserved and to look at her now, Ms. Money in the Bank. She says something is funny, though.
What is it, you ask? It’s that the entire time when she was trying to beat Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s title, Tiffany Stratton was there the entire time to distract her and hit her. She says too nice Naomi let it happen but the Naomi now won’t let it slide.
She says when she hits Tiffany in the head with the briefcase, it will feel good. On that note, Tiffany’s music hits and out she comes to the ring. Tiffany tells her she talks a big game and for her to do it. To cash in and take her title, now.
Tiffany says Naomi is still the same Naomi. All talk and no action. And that is why she never beat Nia Jax. She tells Naomi to prove everyone wrong. Naomi asks her if she looks stupid to her. She says she won’t cash in on her now, she will cash in when she least expects it.
But in the mean time, she is going to enjoy making her life hell. Naomi tells her tick tock, her time is almost up and she advises her to proceed with caution. Naomi leaves the ring but in comes Nia Jax from behind Tiffany. She tries to attack Stratton but Stratton takes her down.
Naomi gets on the ring apron but Tiffany knocks her down. Nia attacks Tiffany from behind and hits the Annihilator on her. Naomi is about to get in the ring but Nia tells her to get out. The women’s segment wraps up there, and the show moves on.
The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) vs. The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
In an “earlier today” clip, we see SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis with several of the top teams in the current blue brand tag team division. The boss man of SmackDown tells them he wants to talk to them about The Wyatt Sicks.
He tells them that Motor City Machine Guns will get the Wyatt’s tonight. With that in mind, we head back inside the Rupp Arena, where Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin make their way out to the squared circle. The lights go out and the ominous theme for The Wyatt Sicks plays.
Out comes the group. In the ring enters Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis, who will be representing the group in this tag-team tilt. The Wyatt Sicks attacks and then the bell sounds to get this one officially off-and-running. Gacy and Sabin kick things off for their respective teams.
Joe with right hands and he tags Dexter into the match. A back drop by him and Joe is tagged back in. Joe with a back breaker followed by a springboard moon sault. He goes for the cover but Sabin kicks out. Joe knocks Alex off the ring apron.
Lumis is tagged back in. An arm bar by him and Joe is tagged back in. Sabin dodges both and they are both thrown to the outside of the ring. Sabin tags Shelley into the match and they land a double baseball slide. On that note, the show shifts gears and heads into a mid-match break.
When the show returns, we see Sabin with a dropkick off the top rope onto Gacy and Gacy falls into the corner. Lumis is tagged in and Sabin takes him down. A kick to the side of the head and he goes for the cover but Lumis kicks out.
Shelley is tagged is tagged back in and they hit Lumis with a double super kick. Alex with a clothesline and Sabin is tagged back in. They go for Skull and Bones but Lumis gets out of it and trips them both down. Joe is tagged in and he takes the Motor City Machine Guns down.
Lumis is tagged back in. He goes for the cover on Sabin but Sabin kicks out. Lumis with throws Sabin into the corner but Sabin with a baseball slide onto Gacy followed by a big boot onto Lumis. A DDT by Sabin and Alex is tagged back in.
They double team Lumis and Sabin is tagged back in. They got for Skull and Bones but Gacy knocks them both down. Lumis goes for the cover but gets up and looks at Uncle Howdy. Lumis climbs the top rope. He lands a high leg drop. Lumis goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: The Wyatt Sicks
John Cena Calls Out R-Truth, Gets CM Punk Pipe Bomb Instead
We shoot backstage, where we see Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena approach Jimmy Uso. He asks him, in awkward fashion, if he has seen R-Truth. Uso says no. Cena then asks if he’s seen Ron Killings. Uso says he hasn’t seen either one of them.
Cena tells Uso if he does, tell him he’s heading to the ring, and to meet him there. On that note, the show shift gears and heads into another quick commercial break. When the show returns, Cena makes his way out to the ring and wastes no time yelling at “Cena Sucks!” chants to shut up.
He says there is a level of disrespect that he can tolerate. He tells R-Truth that he crossed some lines. The fans chant “We want Truth” and Cena says for once, he agrees with them. He says there is a time to talk and a time to fight.
He then tells Truth to come out and fight. CM Punk’s music hits and Cena is surprised. Out comes Punk smiling. Punk grabs a microphone and sits on the top rope. The fans chant “CM Punk”. He says “is it great to be alive on a Friday night in Lexington, Kentucky or what?”
He steps down and asks Cena if he heard him say something about disrespect. He says the people are tired of being disrespected. But now, Punk has a microphone and they have yet to begin to reach the levels of disrespect that they are capable of.
But for old time’s sake, he is giving Cena a chance. The benefit of the doubt. Maybe his empathy is too much, maybe he is too much Obi-Wan Kinobi talking to Darth Vader looking for Anakin. He says he is going to give him a chance in front of this legendary wrestling town.
To stop what he is doing, to let the fans celebrate who and what they are, to put him on a pedestal, to celebrate the sacrifices he has made, to give the fans a happy ending. The fans chant “CM Punk”. Cena asks him why would he waste his time.
He says these people don’t matter, this place doesn’t matter, basketball doesn’t matter, horse racing doesn’t matter. He says the WWE title is the only thing that matters. Punk says to let the record state that CM Punk and Lexington gave him an out.
But to let the disrespect begin. Ironically enough, Cena’s way is Punk’s way. When Punk’s music, everyone knows it’s about to get real. And ladies and gentleman, it is about to get real. The truth is that there is an old saying.
You tell a strong man a lie to offend him. That’s why it hurts him when Cena calls him a hypocrite. You tell a weak man the truth and that offends him. The fans chant “We want Truth”. Punk says the truth is that Cena can’t beat him, when he was at his best, he never could.
Now he says he is going to ruin wrestling but he will save it. Punk says it is his confidence that brought him to the mountain top, when people like Cena said he didn’t have it. But he won’t walk out into a sold out arena dressed like a toddler who struck out at t-ball.
The fans laugh and Punk says he would like that one erased because he sounds like a PG John Cena. Which is ironic because Cena sounds like CM Punk. And that is ironic. Cena is stealing his material. He won the title, he left with the title.
Cena is trying to follow in his foot steps. Punk says he did it and Cena couldn’t stop him. Challenging him at Night of Champions won’t stop him. Just like old times, here is Punk to make Cena’s title run interesting, to make Cena’s run interesting.
He says he will follow Cena to Mars to beat his ass. He will follow him to hell to prove that he is better than him. He calls Cena a GOAT but so is he. Punk says Cena is the GOAT that he will spit roast him. He beat him in both of their home towns and he will beat him at Night of Champions.
Terry Funk, Harley Race, Bret Hart, Eddie Guerrero, they belong on Mount Rushmore. The audacity to put himself on that list and four times. Punk says he sees through him, he always have and that is the truth. Punk shoulder shrugs Cena.
From there, he walks right past him and leaves the ring with his music playing. R-Truth comes from behind and attacks John Cena. He gets him in the STF and Punk tells Cena that the truth hurts. Out come WWE officials and security who break it up.
WWE Queen Of The Ring Tournament
Charlotte Flair vs. Alba Fyre vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Candice LeRae
From there, we shift gears and shoot backstage, where we see Byron Saxton with Alexa Bliss. She tells him she will remind everyone who Alexa Bliss is. In comes Charlotte Flair who tells her there is only room for one queen in this division.
Flair’s music hits and out she comes for the match. As Flair is coming out, Alexa’s music hits and she comes out, interrupting Flair. On that note, we head into a quick pre-match commercial break. When the show returns, Candice LeRae and The Secret Hervice make their way out.
Alba Fyre settles in the ring as the replacement for the originally scheduled Chelsea Green. Backstage, we see Nick Aldis confront R-Truth about his multiple attacks of Cena tonight. He says he can’t have it. He asks Truth what it’s gonna take to stop this. Truth wants Cena next week in a match. Aldis says it’s on.
Back inside the arena, all four ladies are in the ring and the bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running in our second Queen of the Ring tournament tilt of the evening. Candice attacks Alexa and Fyre attacks Flair. All four women begin fighting and Flair throws Alexa shoulder first into the ring post.
She throws Candice into Fyre. Flair goes for the cover on Fyre but Fyre kicks out. She goes for the cover on Candice but Candice kicks out. Flair with chops onto Fyre and Candice. They begin double teaming Flair in the ring. Flair is sent to the ropes but she fights back against both women.
Alexa with a cross body off the top rope. She goes for the cover but Flair kicks out. Alexa goes for Sister Abigail but Fyre and Candice break it up. Flair with a clothesline onto Candice and Fyre. She goes for the cover on Fyre but Fyre kicks out.
On that note, the show shifts gears and heads into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues. When the show returns, we see Fyre and Candice have Flair on the top rope and they go for a suplex but in comes Alexa who powerbombs them all down.
Alexa goes for the cover but Candice kicks out. Alexa with shoulder tackles and right hands. Alexa slams Flair onto the mat. Candice with a code breaker onto Alexa. Fyre slams Candice onto the mat. Alexa slams Fyre onto the mat and Flair with the Natural Selection onto Alexa.
Flair with the Figure Eight onto Alexa. Candice with a springboard lionsault onto Flair. Alba with a kick to the face onto Candice. Flair takes Candice down and Alba slams Flair face first. She goes for the cover but Alexa breaks it up.
Alexa with a DDT onto Fyre. Alexa climbs the top rope and she lands Twisted Bliss. She goes for the cover but Flair breaks it up. Flair throws Alexa onto the ring apron and she hits her with a big boot. Candice rolls Flair up but Flair kicks out.
Candice to the ropes but Flair hits her with a spear. She goes for the cover but Candice kicks out. Candice goes for the Figure Four but Fyre with a super kick. Fyre to the ropes but Flair with a big boot. Flair with the Figure Four and into the Figure Eight.
Alexa with the Sister Abigail onto Candice. Fyre has not kicked out, Alexa goes for the cover and gets the pin. As soon as Bliss got the three-count, Fyre is shown ferociously tapping out to Flair’s Figure-Eight. Bliss’ pin came first, so she wins and advances.
Winner and ADVANCING in the Queen of the Ring: Alexa Bliss
CM Punk Confronts Cody Rhodes Backstage
After the second Queen of the Ring tourney tilt of the evening wraps up, the show shifts gears and we head backstage. We see Cody Rhodes in his ring entrance gear getting ready to head out to the ring, when he stopped by a familiar face.
“The Best in the World” CM Punk is shown looking at his watch as he and Cody cross paths. Rhodes tells Punk they can’t run away from each other forever. Punk says he knows that. Punk wishes him luck, and says after WWE Night of Champions, we’ll see who is chasing who.
WWE King Of The Ring Tournament
Cody Rhodes vs. Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Damian Priest
It’s main event time!
inside the arena, the theme for Cody Rhodes hits and out comes “The American Nightmare” for our second and final King of the Ring tournament match of the evening, which serves as the main event for this week’s show. As he settles in the ring, the show heads to a pre-match break.
When the show returns, Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett run down the lineup for next week’s show, and then we return live inside the arena where we see the ring entrance for Shinsuke Nakamura in progress. Out next comes Andrade and Damian Priest. The bell sounds and off we go.
Straight out of the gate, we see Nakamura rolls out of the ring and Cody with a suicide dive. Andrade dropkicks Cody as he is getting back into the ring. Priest grabs Andrade but Andrade knocks him down. He goes for a running hip attack but in comes Cody who hits him with a right hand.
Broken Arrow by Priest onto Andrade. Cody clotheslines Priest to the outside of the ring and both men fight on the outside. Nakamura attacks them both. All three men fight on the outside of the ring and Andrade with a moon sault off the top rope onto the rest of the guys.
On that note, the show shifts gears and heads into a mid-match commercial break as this high stakes four-way tourney tilt continues. When the show returns, we see Nakamura with a release German suplex onto Priest. Cody gets to his feet but Nakamura with a kick to the side of the head.
He goes for a knee to the head but Cody moves out of the way. Cody with a figure four on Nakamura but Andrade with a splash off the top rope onto Cody. Priest with a kick to the face of Andrade. Priest to the outside of the ring and he jumps off the steel steps, landing a double axe handle onto Nakamura.
He throws Nakamura back into the ring and grabs him by the arm. Priest stands on the top rope, Cody runs onto the top rope but Nakamura kicks the rope, tripping them both down. Nakamura with an arm bar on Andrade but Cody breaks it up.
Cody throws Nakamura to the outside of the ring and he goes for the cover on Andrade but Andrade kicks out. Cody to the outside and he grabs a table with two Slim Jim logos on it. He places it on the outside of the ring and Cody stands on the ring apron in front of the table.
He grabs Andrade and goes for a suplex but Andrade blocks it. Both men fight but Priest gets on the ring apron. He hits Andrade as he and Cody look at the table behind them. Priest and Cody lift Cody up but Nakamura pulls Andrade down. Nakamura knocks Priest down and Nakamura with a kick onto Cody and Cody falls through the table.
We head into yet another mid-match commercial break on that note. When the show returns, Cody continues to recover after being put through the table. He fights his way back into competitive form, and just as he does, Nakamura cuts his momentum short. Nakamura goes to end things, but Cody counters with Cross-Rhodes for the win.
With the victory, “The American Nightmare” advances in the 2025 WWE King of the Ring tournament. He is on the other side of the bracket, as Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn takes place in semifinal tourney action on next week’s SmackDown. Rhodes will face the winner of the other first-round four-way. Rhodes’ celebration ends the show.
Winner and ADVANCING in King of the Ring: Cody Rhodes
