SmackDown Spoilers From France (Aug 29, 2025): Shocking Action, Chaos Builds Going into Clash in Paris
Friday Night SmackDown stopped in Lyon, France, just two nights before WWE Clash in Paris, delivering an emotional night of high stakes, shocking moments, and a new champion crowned.
Commentary was provided by Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.
🎤 John Cena vs. Logan Paul — Words Turn Personal
The show opened with Logan Paul, who delivered another scathing promo on John Cena, calling himself a “disruptor” who put WWE on Netflix and ESPN. Logan declared WWE had become “WWMe,” boasting that he is wrestling.
John Cena interrupted, cutting deep into Logan’s influencer legacy, calling him “a dime store John Cena” and reminding him the fans hold the power, not him. Cena ended the segment by apologizing to a fan he insulted earlier in the year — showing respect, while Logan mocked the moment as charity. Cena promised Logan: “If you don’t bring it on Sunday, wrestling will ruin you.”
🎯 Match 1: Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green (with Alba Fyre)
Originally scheduled as a Women’s Tag Team Title match, the action broke down early when Charlotte Flair was attacked and injured backstage, leaving Alexa Bliss to fight alone.
Bliss fought off double-teaming and showed flashes of her old aggression, countering Green’s UnprettiHER and scoring a surprise roll-up victory.
Winner: Alexa Bliss
After the match, Alba Fyre and Chelsea Green brutalized Bliss until a limping Charlotte attempted to make the save. Both champions were left laid out, with Green hitting the UnprettiHER and Alba delivering a devastating Gory Bomb to Alexa.
🎤 Backstage – Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn spoke about his confidence heading into his U.S. Title match against Solo Sikoa, saying he feels like the man who once main-evented WrestleMania and beat Gunther.
🎤 Aleister Black & Damian Priest Face-Off
Aleister Black delivered another dark warning to Damian Priest, describing his attacks as suffocating violence. Priest dismissed him, saying Black was unprepared and that he’d enjoy teaching him “about pain.”
🎯 Match 2: Michin vs. Kiana James (with Giulia)
In a quick contest, Michin rolled up Kiana James for the upset.
Winner: Michin
Post-match, Giulia viciously attacked Michin, driving her into the barricade and hitting a brutal curb stomp on the steel steps.
🎤 Drew McIntyre & Randy Orton
Drew called out Randy Orton, accusing him of being manipulated by Cody Rhodes. Orton admitted Drew made good points — but said he attacked Drew “because you’re a prick.” A brawl erupted, with Orton planting Drew with an IEDDT and RKO before security swarmed. Orton dropped multiple security members with RKOs as the Lyon crowd went wild.
🎯 Match 3: Street Profits vs. The Miz & Carmelo Hayes — #1 Contender’s Match
With a WWE Tag Team Title shot at stake, tensions boiled between Miz and Hayes. The Profits showed off their chemistry, while the looming presence of The Wyatt Sicks rattled Miz.
In the end, Dawkins and Ford hit their Sky High/neckbreaker combo on Hayes for the victory.
Winners: The Street Profits
After the bell, The Wyatts appeared at ringside, staring down the Profits ahead of Clash in Paris.
🎤 Tiffany Stratton & Jade Cargill Confrontation
Backstage, Tiffany claimed she let Jade win her recent match. Jade fired back, saying she’d snap Tiffany in two. Both women staked claims as the rightful number one contender, setting up an inevitable collision.
🎯 Main Event: Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa — United States Championship
The main event was a war. Solo Sikoa unleashed his trademark brutality, with help from The Bloodline. Sami answered with gutsy resilience, even hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb after outside chaos involving Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu.
The finish saw Solo go for the Samoan Spike, but Sami dodged, connecting with back-to-back Helluva Kicks to score the three count.
Winner and NEW United States Champion: Sami Zayn
The Lyon crowd erupted as Sami celebrated his long-awaited U.S. Title victory, just 48 hours before Clash in Paris.
H/t PWInsider
🎙 Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
This SmackDown was the perfect go-home show: emotional storytelling, high-stakes matches, and history in the making. Sami Zayn’s U.S. Title win hit differently in France, giving fans a genuine “feel-good” moment that WWE has been missing in its midcard scene.
Logan Paul and John Cena’s heated promo exchange blurred the line between influencer arrogance and wrestling tradition, while The Street Profits earned momentum heading into a spooky showdown with The Wyatt Sicks.
Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre also hit the right notes — personal, heated, and setting the stage for a major payoff down the line. If this night proved anything, it’s that WWE is leaning into unpredictable twists just before Paris.
