WWE Friday Night SmackDown on the USA Network | August 8th, 2025 — The Episode Recap:

Drew McIntyre is sitting beside the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes after his malicious attack on him after the Main Event Tag Team Match, as he is now targeting the WWE Championship. (Photo by WWE)

The August 8th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — Match Results:

The Opening Match: MFT (JC Mateo & Talla Tonga) (with Solo Sikoa & Tonga Loa) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) in a Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall — (07:43)

2nd Match: Sami Zayn defeated Solo Sikoa (with JC Mateo, Talla Tonga & Tonga Loa) in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (10:27)

3rd Match: Charlotte Flair (with Alexa Bliss) defeated Chelsea Green (with Alba Fyre & Piper Niven) in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall | (09:31)

The Main Event Match: Cody Rhodes & John Cena defeated Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul in a Tag Team Match | via DQ — (07:52)

My Thoughts on the August 8th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

My Thoughts: I pretend to believe that they aren't purposely making the show horrible because my goodness, what the hell is even SmackDown as of the recent two months? It has been super unwatchable and disgusting television, as they don't even highlight the young talent. I have nothing much to say, but this show needs a major reset. The WWE Draft in September needs to save this show by bringing heavy-hitters and workhorses, and that can revitalize this show. It's so lifeless and not fun to watch whatsoever anymore, and I don't remember the last time a SmackDown Episode was so enjoyable. There were probably two episodes that were this year. John Cena is wasting his time with Logan Paul, Motor City Machine Guns lost to The MFTs, Carmelo Hayes is relegated to Backstage Segments with The Miz, and where are Giulia and Tiffany Stratton? Just horrendous television with no major story and no major interest to watch SmackDown every week.

The August 8th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: MFT (JC Mateo & Talla Tonga) (with Solo Sikoa & Tonga Loa) vs. The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: N/A — End the Talla Tonga experiment. I'm tired, and no one wants to see this. MFT's being the Motor City Machine Guns is insane and shouldn't have happened. The MFTs are the reason why the quality of SmackDown dipped to a horrendous group that no one cares about. Talla Tonga is one of the worst wrestlers I've ever seen. He can't do anything properly, and they are trying so hard to make him a monster, and it's not believable. Send him back to the Performance Center to allow him to fix his wrestling. JC Mateo, aka Jeff Cobb, needs to separate himself. He could be such a badass heel in the mid-card, but he's stuck in one of the most lifeless stories currently in WWE. Horrible stuff all-around, and I hope Motor City Machine Guns are moved to Monday Night RAW, as they can bring life to that lifeless Tag Division.

2nd Match: Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa (with JC Mateo, Talla Tonga & Tonga Loa) in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: **.25 — This was the best match on the show. I thought it was for the WWE United States Title, but I didn't hear beforehand that it was just a plain singles match. They were in Sami Zayn's hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, so the crowd went nuts to hear he was on SmackDown to take on Solo Sikoa. Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa had a very decent match, and that's very rare to have on SmackDown nowadays because of how poor the show has been in 2025. But I thought with JC Mateo, Tonga Loa, and Talla Tonga being at ringside, we were seated for a screwy finish, so Solo Sikoa could win, but we didn't, as we saw Sami Zayn get the roll-up win. Now I don't think they will ever follow up on this, but it was nice to see Sami Zayn wrestle.

3rd Match: Charlotte Flair (with Alexa Bliss) vs. Chelsea Green (with Alba Fyre & Piper Niven) in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: *.75 — Chelsea Green getting some action was a good choice she has been someone who has been a workhorse in WWE so seeing her being in a match with Charlotte I thought it would be passable and it was I thought this match filled up the slot on SmackDown. But I want long matches on SmackDown for the women, it's like the duration always is in the 6-8 minute range. But Charlotte Flair wins, and Chelsea Green took a cake to the face. The Secret Hervice should win the WWE Women's Tag Titles from Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair shortly, build a solid feud, and it can deliver.

The Main Event Match: Cody Rhodes & John Cena vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: N/A — We are wasting John Cena's final matches in wrestling on DQ Finishes. At least let the match have a solid conclusion, then start the aftermath of chaos. The match itself wasn't all that good, as I knew some type of chaotic moment was brewing, and it happened as Drew McIntyre dismantled and destroyed the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes as he gave him one of the most brutal Claymores I have ever seen. Drew McIntyre being back in the World Title picture was probably the best moment from this awful show because it had been longly awaited as he re-entered the Main Event Title scene, and I'm super glad he's back inserted into it.

The August 8th WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Match of the Night: Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa (with JC Mateo, Talla Tonga & Tonga Loa) in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: **.25

The August 8th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Episode Grade: 2.25/10 (D-) — An all-around awful episode of Friday Night SmackDown. I don’t have much to say because at this point, are we surprised? The show looks like the person writing it is not enjoying his job because the matches are boring, and the content we get for SmackDown is so lifeless that they need the WWE Draft, as I repeat this every week because SmackDown is so damn awful.

Next Week WWE Friday Night SmackDown August 15th Episode — The Announced Matches & Segments:

1. D.I.Y. (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) in a Tag Team Match.

2. Melo Don’t Miz (Carmelo Hayes & The Miz) vs. ??? & ??? in a Tag Team Match.