The final WWE SmackDown before WWE WrestleMania 41 came live in the city. The “Showcase of the Immortals” will be held tomorrow and Sunday night in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sin City was rocking even before the weekend started, and it will surely become unglued once the WWE WrestleMania 41 weekend officially starts. That said, this week’s SmackDown provided a spicy appetizer for the WWE Universe. If you don’t want to miss any of the action, we have full WWE SmackDown results for April 18th, 2025, the night before WrestleMania 41.
Without further ado, let’s run it down.
Live Venue:
WWE SmackDown on April 18, 2025, aired live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Broadcast Details:
- Time: 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) / 5 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
- Channel: USA Network
- Streaming: Available exclusively on Netflix worldwide
WWE Friday Night SmackDown – Key Segments and Matches (4/18/25):
- John Cena Returns to WWE SmackDown Goes Face-To-Face w/ Cody Rhodes
- André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
- WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns
- Seth Rollins Speaks to the WWE Universe
- LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa
- Rhea Ripley Stops By SmackDown
- Randy Orton Talks to the WWE Universe
- 6-Man Tag Team Match: Dragon Lee, Rey Fenix & Rey Mysterio vs. American Made
- Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green
- LA Knight & Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu & Solo Sikoa
Rollins Burns It Down In Vegas
These WWE SmackDown results kick off with Seth “Freakin’ Rollins” as the “Monday Night Messiah” visits Friday’s show ahead of his Triple Threat Main Event Match against CM Punk and Roman Reigns. Rollins would immediately go for it, questioning CM Punk’s motivation for coming back, saying that he’s a fraud, a coward, and he doesn’t care about the WWE Universe or the WWE itself.
Okay, @wwerollins.. we see you channeling your inner @CMPunk 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fNPWYkKR3L
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2025
He also hurled insults Roman Reigns’ way, “crediting” him for “not even pretending to care” for the WWE Universe. Seth Rollins would go on to say that none of his opponents know about sacrifice, but he does.
When Roman Reigns was gone, and CM Punk wasn’t even in the company, Rollins was there every step of the way. Tomorrow night, Seth Rollins made it clear that he intends to end the 12-year animosity to ensure that WWE survives and goes in the right direction by eliminating CM Punk and Roman Reigns from the equation.
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
The first match of the night is the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. First up, the Lucha sensation Rey Fenix made his way to the ring. It was quite the multi-man melee, resulting in fast-paced eliminations and high-octane offense. Near the end of the match, there would be only four standing: Shinsuke Nakamura, Carmelo Hayes, Rey Fenix, and Andrade.
Andrade quickly threw out Nakamura, catching him on the top rope and pulling him down to the floor. Rey Fenix was on fire during the top-three battle. Unfortunately, his night would be ruined by El Grande Americano. As he was walking the ropes to deliver his patented Soccer Kick to Hayes and Andrade, Americano would pull him out and toss him over.
The final two involved Andrade and Carmelo Hayes, bringing fans back to 2024, where they had their seven-match epic. When the dust settled, Carmelo Hayes would throw out Andrade and become the 2025 winner of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
We Hear From Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley walked out to the ring and did not mess around. The former Women’s World Champion stated that she’s done complaining and she’s only saying one thing: she’ll win the WWE Women’s Championship back. Before she could continue, the current champion, IYO SKY, would enter the fold.
NO EXCUSES! @RheaRipley_WWE plans on taking back the Women’s World Championship this Sunday at #WrestleMania! 😤#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/iPmGBlSuap
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2025
But before she could speak, Bianca Belair would enter the T-Mobile Arena, continuing this trend of disrespect for the Women’s World Champion. Belair showed up because her name was mentioned. Much like she did to SKY, Belair would get interrupted by Naomi, wanting an answer to why Bianca hadn’t responded to her messages.
Bianca did not want to talk about it, prompting Naomi to keep on asking. Out comes Jade Cargill, and the melee ensued. Cargill and Naomi spilled on the outside, as did Ripley and Belair. IYO SKY was watching the mayhem unfold. Of course, she did not want to be outdone.
The WWE Women’s World Champion would ascend the ropes and deliver Over The Moonsault to WWE security, and Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair would stand tall ahead of WrestleMania 41.
The Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns
The next feature match on these WWE SmackDown results pits champions The Street Profits and Motor City Machine Guns battling it out for the WWE Tag Team Championship. This championship match was amazing. Unfortunately, as MCMG was closing on regaining the championship, #DIY would interfere, leading to a disqualification.
The Viper Slithers Into Vegas
Randy Orton got straight to the point; he doesn’t have an opponent for WWE WrestleMania 41. Orton stated that he would be damned if he missed this year’s “Showcase of the Immortals.” This led us to this challenge; he’ll be in Las Vegas, and if anyone wants to step up to “The Viper” and fall to the “RKO,” show up in wrestling boots and be ready for a fight.
Time’s a ticking… ⏰
Who will @RandyOrton face at #WrestleMania?! 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ojzreXLYFG
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2025
Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green
After picking up a huge count for our victory over Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green, Zelina Vega proved to everyone that the win was not a fluke. After an Avalanche Code Red, Vega picked up a pinfall victory over Green, potentially earning herself a future shot at the WWE Women’s United States Championship.
LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa
Ahead of his United States Championship showdown against Jacob Fatu at WWE WrestleMania 41, LA Knight takes on Fatu’s family, Solo Sikoa. Knight issued a warning before the match, guaranteeing he’ll take Jacob Fatu to the limit tomorrow night at WWE WrestleMania 41 Saturday.
On to the match in the WWE SmackDown results, Solo Sikoa definitely gave LA Knight more than he bargained for. As Knight was closing in on the win, Jacob Fatu would interfere, pulling Knight off the top rope, leading to the disqualification. Knight gets the beating off a lifetime from Fatu until Braun Strowman enters the fray to make the save.
As the chaos unfolded, Nick Aldis put a stop to it immediately. The singles affair is now a tag team match between Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, who are taking on LA Knight and Braun Strowman.
LA Knight & Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa
The WWE Universe had no time to breathe in this one as all four men went at it. The match ended when LA Knight caught Solo Sikoa with the BFT, giving himself the momentum heading into his U.S. Title defense against Jacob Fatu.
6-Man Tag Team Match: Dragon Lee, Rey Fenix & Rey Mysterio vs. American Made
Earlier in the night, Chad Gable & The Creed Brothers would taunt Rey Fenix after he failed to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee did not find all this talk amusing, coming to the aid of Fenix. Nick Aldis would take notice and sanctioned a 6-man Tag Team Match between the two teams.
American Made took control for most of the match, focusing specifically on Rey Fenix. In an impressive showcase of resilience, Fenix rose from the ashes and single-handedly took on Chad Gable Brutus and Julius Creed. After an Operation Dragon from Dragon Lee, Fenix would hit a Top Rope Meteora on one of the Creeds to secure the victory for his team.
Cena & Rhodes Give Their Final Word
Cody Rhodes would enter to an insane ovation from the Las Vegas crowd. The Undisputed WWE Champion would not get a word in as the music of John Cena would hit. The challenger just went for it, calling the WWE Universe “losers” and claiming that Cody Rhodes did not stand a chance at WWE WrestleMania 41.
Why is that? John Cena made it known that when Cody turned down The Rock’s offer and decided to fight for the WWE Universe, he had already lost the war before he even started. John Cena made it clear that being on the side of the people makes Cody Rhodes vulnerable, and that’s why he’s going to come out of WrestleMania 41 on Sunday night as the last true Undisputed WWE Champion.
Rhodes would fire back, saying that John Cena denouncing the WWE Universe is rich, considering that he is now “Hollywood’s lapdog.” Rhodes did not end with that, essentially saying that he was overrated, and after almost 25 years, he still couldn’t wrestle.
John Cena stated that he did not need to wrestle to win, hitting Rhodes with a thumb in the eye and propping him up for the Attitude Adjustment. Rhodes would slide off and, once again, hit John Cena with the Cross Rhodes.
The champion stood victorious over John Cena ahead of the biggest match of his career to conclude the final edition of this WWE SmackDown results before WrestleMania 41.
That ends the WWE SmackDown results for April 18th, 2025. We see you all tomorrow at WWE WrestleMania 41!
That’s all for the WWE SmackDown results for April 18th, 2025! What did you think of this WWE WrestleMania 41 “go-home” show?
.@CodyRhodes said NOT TODAY! 😤#WrestleMania is about to be a movie 🍿#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/1GoOGhHw1r
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2025
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