WWE started the action from France with the August 29th episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The show aired from the LDLC Arena in Lyon. John Cena appeared on the show hours before facing Logan Paul at Clash in Paris. Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa battled for the United States Championship. The tag team division flourished on the blue brand. Let’s take a look at everything that happened on the show and find out the WWE SmackDown August 29 Results.
John Cena and Logan Paul Face-Off
Logan Paul made his way into the arena and stepped inside the ring. He picked up the mic and instantly addressed the fans. He said John Cena has been calling him a parasite, but he doesn’t agree. Instead, he called himself a disruptor, someone who brings change. Logan bragged about being the reason WWE is now on Netflix and ESPN. He even claimed he brings billions of dollars into the company and reminded everyone he also introduced PRIME to WWE. The crowd booed at that, and he snapped back, asking if they were seriously mad about a hydration drink.
Logan then shifted his focus fully on Cena. He said Cena represents the old, comfortable style of wrestling that’s holding everyone back. He told Cena to bring his A-game, because he considers himself a superior athlete. Speaking partly in French to win over the local crowd, Logan promised that when he beats Cena, he’ll prove he’s the future of WWE—and those who refuse to change will get left behind.
That’s when John Cena’s music hit. The crowd erupted as he walked out to confront Logan face-to-face. Cena started by calling Logan stupid. He said you can’t have a show without the fans, and Logan clearly doesn’t understand that. He compared Logan to a “dollar store John Cena,” saying Logan copies his style, talks like him, and even cheats with brass knuckles just like Cena used to twenty years ago.
Cena then went after Logan’s claims about being an influencer. He pointed out that Logan brags about Netflix and ESPN, but in reality his influence has faded. Cena said he looked at the list of the world’s top influencers yesterday, and Logan’s name wasn’t even on it. He reminded Logan that he started making videos as a kid, made diss tracks as a teenager, but today the only time he makes headlines is for the wrong reasons. According to Cena, Logan isn’t here to save wrestling—he’s just here to save himself.
The fans cheered loudly as Cena continued, saying they don’t fear change, they just see through fakes. Cena even spoke a little French to connect with the crowd, while Logan tried to fire back in French as well. But Cena cut him down again, saying Logan is nothing but a gimmick, while he himself is real.
Then Cena shifted gears. He talked about respect in their wrestling family. To show his point, he stepped out of the ring, hugged a kid in the crowd, and explained that real respect is giving someone a pass when they’re having a bad day—and thanking them the next time you see them. The crowd loved it.
Logan, annoyed, said the whole thing was just a charity act and called Cena a pretender. Cena didn’t hold back—he called Logan a “dickhead.” Then he gave Logan a final warning: Logan asked for this match, so he has 24 hours to get ready and bring the best version of himself the world has ever seen. Because if he’s not ready, he won’t save wrestling, he won’t even ruin wrestling—wrestling itself will ruin him.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a fun way to open WWE SmackDown in Lyon. Last week, they also had a crack on WWE SmackDown. The crowd was electric throughout the segment for the 17-time World Champion. Both stars did great crowd work. Cena is back as a beloved babyface while Logan plays a natural heel.
Backstage on WWE SmackDown August 29
Backstage, the Street Profits were being interviewed with B-Fab by their side. Angelo Dawkins said the only thing they need right now is focus, and with that, they’ll get the tag titles back. Montez Ford added some fire, saying Carmelo Hayes isn’t on his level and The Miz is nothing but talk. He closed it off with their signature line—they want the smoke.
But then, Bo Dallas showed up. This time, not dressed as Uncle Howdy. He walked up and asked them if they were truly a family. He warned them that if they go after him and fail, they’ll quickly learn whether they’re really brothers or not.
Later, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair came out for their tag team title match. But before they could even reach the ring, Chelsea Green and her Secret Service attacked. They blindsided Alexa and Charlotte in the aisle, focusing especially on Flair’s injured knee, leaving the challengers hurt before the match even started.
Alexa Bliss vs Chelsea Green
Charlotte Flair was announced as unable to compete after the earlier attack, so Alexa Bliss stepped in to face Chelsea Green one-on-one.
The match started with some back-and-forth action. Alba Fyre tried to interfere early, but Alexa chased her away and kept control for a short while. That didn’t last long though—Green rocked Bliss with a superkick as we headed into commercial.
After the break, Chelsea was firmly in charge, slamming Alexa into the announce desk. But Bliss fought back, sending Green into the barricade before taking the fight back inside. She strung some offense together and even hit a Natural Selection for a near-fall. Alexa climbed up for Twisted Bliss, but Chelsea got her knees up at the last second!
From there, it was a flurry of counters—Killswitch, Sister Abigail, reversals back and forth—until Alexa surprised Chelsea with a quick schoolboy pin and stole the victory.
But the celebration didn’t last. Green and her crew pounced right after the bell, laying into Bliss. Suddenly, Charlotte Flair limped out to try and help, but the numbers game was too much. Alba snapped Charlotte’s neck across the ropes, Chelsea planted her with the Killswitch, and Fyre finished things with a crushing KLR Bomb on Alexa Bliss. The heels stood tall, leaving both challengers battered on the mat.
Winner: Alexa Bliss
Grades: C
Analysis: These women give entertaining segments every week. Chelsea Green is a fun to watch on TV. Bliss and Flair can be the saviours of the women’s tag team division. Their chemistry is unmatchable on TV.
Backstage
Sami Zayn was interviewed backstage, and he looked confident. He admitted that during his last month on Raw, he had been stuck in his own head, second-guessing himself. But tonight felt different. He said he felt refreshed—like the same Sami who once main-evented WrestleMania, and the same Sami who dethroned GUNTHER to win the Intercontinental Championship. Speaking directly to the crowd in French, Sami fired them up and promised that he would win the title again.
Coming back from commercial, Aleister Black appeared in a dark, moody promo. He spoke about Damian Priest, calling him misguided and hollow. Black made it clear he sees through Priest’s image and plans to expose him.
Right after, Priest was interviewed backstage. He responded with calm confidence. Priest said Black may sound smart, dress sharp, and even be skilled in martial arts, but that doesn’t make him Damian Priest. He said Black’s threats of violence only show how unprepared he really is. Priest promised to teach Black a painful lesson about what it truly means to be him.
Kiana James vs “Michin” Mia Yim
Mia Yim went one-on-one with Kiana James. Late in the match, James tried to use her handbag as a weapon, but Mia was one step ahead. She countered quickly and rolled her up for the schoolboy pin, scoring the win.
But there was no time to celebrate. Right after the bell, James and her client Giulia jumped Mia. Kiana held her up, and Giulia blasted her with a vicious Knee Trembler. They dragged Yim to the floor, throwing her hard into the barricade again and again. Then came the most brutal part—Giulia locked Mia in a surfboard stretch across the steel steps. James shouted that this is what Mia wanted. Finally, Giulia drove Mia face-first into the steps with a nasty surfboard stomp, leaving her laid out and broken on the floor.
Winner: “Michin” Mia Yim
Grades: C-
Analysis: It was very short match and gave Michin a victory and a future women’s US title opportunity. Giulia has been irrelevant since becoming the champion. Her pairing with Kiana James can be iconic but needs to be booked well.
Backstage
After the break, Drew McIntyre made his entrance to the ring. Once again, he demanded Michael Cole give him a medical update, but Cole had nothing for him.
Frustrated, Drew turned his attention to Randy Orton. He called Randy out, saying he didn’t want a fight—he just wanted to talk. Drew told Orton to come out, give the fans in France what they want, and let everyone sing Randy’s theme song together.
Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre Segment
Randy Orton makes his entrance and France sings. Drew says if Randy listens he thinks he’s gonna like what he has to say and says that if he attacked McIntyre for his own sake, that’s fine, or if he attacked him because he lost at SummerSlam that’s fine too, although he did pick Jelly Roll as his partner. But if he attacked him because Cody Rhodes was his friend, that’s not fine, because Cody doesn’t have friends.
Cody probably checked in on him regularly during those two years he was out, but not out of friendship, he was gathering intel! Rhodes attacked Randy’s back at King of the Ring because he gave him the answers! Drew says he can see Randy thinking and if at this point he believes Cody Rhodes is his friend, he’s a naive idiot.
Orton says he makes a compelling argument but he didn’t drop his ass last week for Cody. He dropped him because he thinks he’s a prick. DREW DROPS RANDY WITH A HEADBUTT! Laying in wait, but Orton ducks the Claymore! France behind him, he turns and hits the hanging DDT! He goes to that special place but security and road agent Hurricane Helms and referee Dan Engler arrive to calm things down.
RKO TO BOTH SECURITY GUARDS! Helms cover his head but Randy pats him on the back and makes him drop his guard… AN RKO FOR HURRICANE HELMS TOO! Drew getting to his hands and knees, Orton backs up for the punt but McIntyre has the sense to roll out of the ring!
Grades: B
Analysis: This story is interesting in many aspects. It gives us a compelling work between McIntyre and Orton and still has a room for a future story with one of these men going against Cody.
Backstage
Backstage, Carmelo Hayes confronted The Miz. He accused Miz of stealing his wins, but Miz brushed it off. Miz said it wasn’t about one of them—it was about both of them as a team. He promised that if they win tonight, Hayes would earn a title shot. Miz called it lightning in a bottle and told Melo they just needed to harness it.
Miz then did his usual catchphrase routine, but Hayes didn’t play along. Instead, he turned and noticed Bo Dallas standing beside him. Bo told Hayes that reality isn’t the same as perception, and asked if he could handle that. Melo shot back that what he needed was a reality check, then turned back to Miz and reassured him they’ve got this.
Melo Don’t Miz vs. Street Profits for WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Match
The Street Profits faced The Miz and Carmelo Hayes in a number one contender’s match. Right from the start, the Profits were in control, using crisp double-team moves to dominate Miz. A jawbreaker gave Miz some breathing room, and Hayes tagged in, but Angelo Dawkins bulldozed through both of them. Melo hit Nothin’ But Net to turn things back around as we went into commercial.
After the break, Hayes and Dawkins were trading heavy shots. Dawkins countered into a Big Ending, leaving both men down. Tags were made, and Montez Ford exploded into the ring with a big crossbody, a falling lariat, and a standing moonsault that nearly won it. Miz tried to help with a full nelson, but Ford shook him off and hit an Olympic Slam.
Tez went up top for his frog splash, but Hayes countered with one of his own. Ford somehow kicked out, shocking the crowd. Moments later, both men collided mid-air and crashed to the mat. As Miz looked for a tag, the Wyatt 6 suddenly appeared around the announce desk, creating a tense distraction.
In the chaos, Dawkins took Miz out with a big elbow. The Profits hit their double-team finisher, the Revelation, on Hayes to seal the victory. The Street Profits are now the number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Winners: The Street Profits
Grades: B-
Analysis: It was a good tag team action match. Miz and Hayes looked good as a team but didn’t get a win here. It further clarifies that their team is on a verge of a breakup in future. Street Profits earned a tag team titles’ opportunity for tomorrow night’s Clash in Paris.
Sami Zayn vs Solo Sikoa for WWE United States Championship
Sami Zayn challenged Solo Sikoa for the United States Championship. The match started with a collar-and-elbow tie-up, both men battling into the corner. Solo rocked Sami with headbutts and heavy right hands, knocking him to the floor. Sami fired back with a slick Arabian Press fakeout, drawing cheers before the show went to commercial.
Back from the break, Solo was in control, crushing Zayn with the Ode to Rikishi for a near-fall. But Sami countered the momentum, flipping over the ropes and blasting Sikoa with a lariat that sent him outside. Sami then launched himself with a tope con giro, wiping Solo out!
Inside the ring, things looked good for Zayn—until referee Ryan Tran got distracted. That gave JC Mateo and Tonga Loa the chance to land cheap shots, leaving Sami vulnerable. Solo hit the Spinning Solo, but somehow Sami kicked out!
The chaos escalated when “Big” Jim Uso tried to help, only to get beaten down by the MFTs. Suddenly, the roof came off—Jacob Fatu made his debut! The “Samoan Werewolf” dove off the barricade, crashing into Talla Tonga. He threw hands with the MFTs, shrugging off being rammed into the post, then returned the favor. A superkick party from Fatu and Uso helped even the odds, while Sami nearly stole the win with a Blue Thunder Driver.
The fight spilled into the crowd. Jim Uso launched himself off the barricade, while Sami chased Solo around ringside. But Sikoa caught him with a Spinning Solo right into the announce desk as we cut to another break.
Back from commercial, both men fought up on the turnbuckles. Sami tried a sunset flip powerbomb, but Solo blocked it and hit a Samoan Drop. He followed with a diving splash, but Zayn kicked out again! Solo tried to end it with the Samoan Spike, but Sami dodged and rolled him up for two. Zayn hit a corner exploder, fired up for the Helluva Kick, but Solo countered with a superkick.
Still fighting, Sami ducked another Samoan Spike, charged short distance, and finally landed the Helluva Kick! He pulled Solo back into the corner, lined up once more, and smashed him with the decisive Helluva Kick for the three-count. Sami Zayn wins the match and becomes the new WWE United States Champion.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was an incredible main event to cap off an incredible night in Lyon, France. Sami Zayn has a title around his waist once again and this time it’s the United States Championship. Solo’s run was not well managed by the creative team. Hope so, they don’t make same mistakes with Zayn.
What are your thoughts on WWE SmackDown 29 August Results?
