WWE’s build to a big weekend which features both Saturday Night’s Main Event and the Evolution premium live event continued last night, as Friday Night SmackDown was held in the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In this rare instance, the blue brand was not live, instead being taped immediately after Monday Night RAW earlier this week.
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This was still a notable episode despite it being aired on tape delay, featuring a big return, continuations of various storylines, and setting up matches for WWE’s upcoming big shows. We will take a look at all the best moments from the July 4 Independent Day edition of SmackDown, assessing all the things we loved.
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Match Results From SmackDown 07/05/2025 |
Notes |
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Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair defeated B-Fab & Michin and Piper Niven & Alba Fyre |
Tag Team Match |
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The Wyatt Sicks defeated Montez Ford, Chris Sabin, Berto & Johnny Gargano |
Eight Man Tag Team Match |
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Andrade & Rey Fenix defeated Fraxiom |
Tag Team Match |
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Jacob Fatu & Jimmy Uso defeated JC Mateo & Solo Sikoa |
Tag Team Match |
Drew McIntyre Returned To WWE Programming
McIntyre Has Been Sorely Missed
- Drew McIntyre has been out of action since the last Saturday Night’s Main Event.
- He returned on SmackDown and ate an RKO from Randy Orton.
- WWE programming benefits from Drew McIntyre.
WWE television has sorely missed Drew McIntyre since his absence, which began after his Steel Cage loss to Damian Priest, but on SmackDown last night he returned to the fold. Randy Orton confronted Cody Rhodes after their King of the Ring finals matchup, offering support and his confidence that Rhodes will dethrone John Cena at SummerSlam. Out came a returning Drew McIntyre, ridiculing both Orton and Rhodes for their mutual respect and emotional exchange.
McIntyre received an RKO for his troubles, setting up a match with Orton for the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12. Although McIntyre didn’t look especially strong in this segment, it is great to see him back, as he always increases the quality of every show he’s on. Orton and McIntyre are no strangers to one another, and they are very likely to have a strong match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair Continue To Develop
One Of WWE’s Most Underrated Stories Continued On SmackDown
- This story has been gently simmering on SmackDown.
- Bliss and Flair teamed for the first time ever.
- They earned a shot at the tag titles at Evolution.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss have shared a love/hate relationship over the last couple of months, with their storyline developing week on week in what is very much an underrated narrative, expanding their respective characters. Their chemistry has continued to grow, and it served them well on SmackDown this week.
Bliss and Flair defeated both B-Fab and Michin and The Secret Hervice (Piper Niven and Alba Fyre) to earn their spot in the upcoming fatal four-way WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match at Evolution. Flair and Bliss were two of the most important figures in the women’s revolution in the 2010s, so it is a good thing to see them featured on the Evolution card – especially for Bliss, who missed the inaugural event due to injury.
Trish Stratus Vs. Tiffany Stratton Is Official
WWE Set Up This Long-Awaited Dream Match
- Fans have wanted this match since Elimination Chamber.
- Stratton and Stratus faced off on SmackDown.
- Their promo segment included Queen of the Ring winner Jade Cargill.
At Elimination Chamber 2025, Trish Stratus and Tiffany Stratton teamed up to defeat the team of Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. In the aftermath, the thing on everyone’s minds was a potential matchup between the two teammates in a clash of generations. Last night on Friday Night SmackDown, Stratton was out in the ring and shared some tense words with Queen of the Ring winner Jade Cargill, but noted that she wanted to put her title on the line at Evolution.
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The Bloodline Look Dominant On SmackDown
Solo Sikoa Continues To Build Momentum
- Solo Sikoa built from his United States Championship win.
- Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso defeated Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo.
- Sikoa’s new Bloodline rallied to stand tall.
There will be some who groan and roll their eyes at another instance of Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline standing tall to close out Friday Night SmackDown. However, with the recent introductions of JC Mateo and Tala Tonga, not to mention the resurgence in Sikoa as a much more entertaining character, it was nice to see the group looking strong and dominant once again.
Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso picked up a win over new United States Champion Sikoa and JC Mateo, but the recently debuted Tala Tonga made his presence known after the match, signaling his importance in this latest iteration of The Bloodline.
