WWE SmackDown Recap (9/5/2025): The 3 Highlights You’ll Love and 3 Moments You’ll Want to Forget!

Last night on “SmackDown,” John Cena kicked things off to a cheering Chicago crowd. It was a nostalgic moment as he reflected on his debut there back in 2002. Cena shared a heartfelt goodbye, hinting that he has only about seven dates left on his retirement tour. This includes appearances primarily on “WWE Raw” and special live events.

Then came Sami Zayn. He mentioned that tonight was special because he made his main roster debut against Cena. Zayn, now the United States Champion after defeating Solo Sikoa, asked if he could honor Cena by starting his own U.S. Open Challenge. This challenge is significant since Cena popularized it back in 2015 after winning the title at WrestleMania 31. It felt right for Zayn to be a fighting champion, continuing a legacy that Cena helped establish.

Cena gave his blessing, but Zayn challenged him to be the first competitor in his Open Challenge. This set the stage for an exciting match. Watching Cena pull off various finishing moves was a highlight—he even used a pop-up powerbomb and an Angle Slam, paying tribute to other wrestlers during his farewell tour. Social media lit up with reactions, especially from Kevin Owens, who praised Cena’s tribute moves.

Unfortunately, the match ended in chaos when Brock Lesnar interfered, leading to a disqualification. While this left fans wishing for a clean finish to solidify Zayn’s championship reign, it’s clear that Cena’s upcoming match at Wrestlepalooza was a factor. Still, Zayn’s honor towards Cena made the segment feel special, merging past and present beautifully.

This moment highlights the bond between past legends and current champions. It also gives a nod to the ongoing tradition of the U.S. Open Challenge, reminding fans of wrestling’s rich history and evolving storyline dynamics.

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