SmackDown Results Sept 05 2025
WWE SmackDown Results
September 05, 2025
Allstate Arena (Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois)
Results by: wrestly.com
Friday, September 5, 2025’s edition of WWE SmackDown from the Allstate Arena in Chicago delivered a night bursting with nostalgia, surprise returns, and explosive interruptions. As part of John Cena’s retirement tour, this episode was — in many ways — a passing of the torch, but not before a few curveballs from WWE stars both past and present.
Here’s your match-by-match breakdown, now tidier and easier for readers to scan ahead — plus a little extra storytelling flair to help with SEO and engagement.
| Match / Segment | Result | Highlight / Moment |
|---|---|---|
| Sami Zayn (c) vs. John Cena (U.S. Title Open Challenge) | No Contest | Denmark champion Zayn honored Cena with an open challenge. Both superstars kicked out of legendary finishers (Attitude Adjustment, Helluva Kick, GTS). Brock Lesnar returned and F-5’d both, abruptly ending the bout |
| Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest | Black defeated Priest | Black sneak-attacked Priest during entrance, then executed a Black Mass using the referee as an unintentional weapon |
| Giulia (w/ Kiana James) (c) vs. Michin (Women’s U.S. Title) | Giulia retained | Kiana James distracted Michin, allowing Giulia to land her finishing move, the Arrivederci |
| AJ Lee segment with CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins | Segment, not match | AJ Lee made a dramatic surprise return after 10 years, helped CM Punk fend off Lynch and Rollins, setting up a future mixed tag match |
Why This Episode Mattered
- John Cena’s Final SmackDown: As part of his retirement journey, Cena’s heartfelt return to SmackDown in Chicago felt deeply emotional. The open challenge from Sami Zayn served as a beautiful callback to both their shared history—and it led to an unexpectedly brutal interruption from Lesnar
- Brock Lesnar’s Return: Lesnar’s second showing in over two years was a ratings driver — SmackDown drew a staggering 1.585 million viewers, an increase of 38% overall and 82% in the key 18–49 demo
- AJ Lee’s Comeback: The former Diva’s Champion returned to thunderous applause, joining forces with CM Punk to deliver a jaw-dropping statement to Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins — a pop culture moment and storyline game-changer
- Chicago’s Power: The Windy City crowd elevated every angle — their energy fueled a storyline-rich evening (open challenge, returns, title drama) and the ratings spike proves how invested fans were
Final Take
SmackDown on September 5, 2025, gave fans a high-octane infusion of closure, comeback, and conflict. Cena’s farewell took an unexpected twist—Lesnar’s F-5 set the stage for Wrestlepalooza. Meanwhile, AJ Lee’s return reignited fandom, while Giulia held strong and Aleister Black scored a delightfully brutal win.
If you’re covering upcoming Wrestlepalooza, plug in the setup from this SmackDown — literally the freshest link between retirement tour and next big showdown.
