WWE headed to Chicago, Illinois for the September 5 edition of Friday Night SmackDown in what was one of, if not the most noteworthy episode of the blue brand in the whole of 2025. The fans in the Allstate Arena were treated to a show that was jam-packed with big main event stars, surprises, wild returns, and more, and there was plenty that the fans loved to see. From John Cena’s final ever appearance in Chicago, to the first TV appearance of Brock Lesnar for over two years, to the major return of AJ Lee, this SmackDown had plenty to shout about.
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WWE SmackDown September 5 Match Results |
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Sami Zayn (c) vs. John Cena ended in a no contest |
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Aleister Black defeated Damian Priest |
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Giulia (c) defeated Michin |
One Final John Cena United States Championship Open Challenge
- John Cena opened SmackDown in Chicago one last time.
- Sami Zayn challenged him to a United States Title match.
- Zayn made his WWE debut against Cena in an open challenge.
John Cena returned to the arena in which he made his WWE debut, opening up the show in Chicago, Illinois to greet the fans, to thank them, and hype fans up for a big show. Before he could make his way to the back, brand new United States Champion Sami Zayn emerged to interrupt. In a strange turn of events, the fans directed some boos at Sami Zayn, but he managed to win them over by thanking the fans and asking if he could inherit the “US Title Open Challenge”, to which Cena said yes, much to the adulation of the audience.
It had been ten years since Sami Zayn answered John Cena’s United States Title Open Challenge to make his main roster debut, so this was a really rewarding full circle moment for both men. The pair had a back-and-forth match with near-falls, finishers, and even a GTS and Edge-like spear, from John Cena! Unfortunately, the match was cut short and ended in a no contest.
Brock Lesnar Destroys John Cena
- Lesnar interrupted John Cena vs. Sami Zayn.
- He attacked both men to make a statement.
- Lesnar vs. Cena was made official for Wrestlepalooza.
Brock Lesnar is one of the most divisive figures in the professional wrestling world, though his presence on Friday Night SmackDown did feel significant given his name, and the Chicago crowd went wild for his appearance. As John Cena and Sami Zayn were each laid out in the middle of the ring during their US Title bout, Lesnar made his return to WWE programming for the first time since SummerSlam.
He laid out both Sami Zayn and John Cena, before making his match with Cena official for the upcoming WWE Wrestlepalooza premium live event later this month.
Damian Priest & Aleister Black Deliver A Physical Match
- Black attacked Priest before their match.
- Black took a cheap way to gain victory.
- This was a good match to continue their feud.
This heated and intense rivalry between Damian Priest and Aleister Black told its next chapter on Friday Night SmackDown as the two men had a physical, stiff, and strong match. Things initially broke down before the bell as Black ambushed Priest. However, Priest sought to fight through this and made his way to the ring to start the match regardless, leading to an entertaining back-and-forth between the two.
In the end, Black grabbed the referee to cause a distraction, allowing him to nail a Black Mass on Priest to win the match in what felt like just the first win in a multi-match series for these two rivals.
AJ Lee Returns To WWE
- Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins mocked CM Punk.
- AJ Lee returned, coming to CM Punk’s aid.
- Her return was the best moment on SmackDown for quite some time.
The main event segment of Friday Night SmackDown was hugely headline-worthy. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins was in the crowd, introducing his wife Becky Lynch. The Women’s Intercontinental Champion emerged to run down Chicago and CM Punk, until she was interrupted by Chicago’s own Punk. He called out Rollins for hiding in a box in the crowd, until Lynch cut him off to try and humiliate him like she did on Monday Night RAW. Punk teased having several allies to join him, until he revealed he’d brought someone with him to SmackDown.
AJ Lee made her thunderous return to WWE programming to an enormous pop. Despite it being the worst kept secret in wrestling in 2025, the WWE audience were on their feet for her return. After skipping her way to the ring, she took it straight to Becky Lynch with a pair of Thesz presses and sent her packing. AJ Lee and CM Punk stood tall to close out the show.
