We were promised R-Truth delivering his final words to John Cena on Friday Night SmackDown this week in Savannah ahead of their WWE championship match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. I still can’t believe this is actually going to happen in the year of our lord 2025, but especially for the WWE championship, and even more especially during Cena’s retirement tour.

What a wild ride professional wrestling is always taking us on.

Truth did indeed get some promo time and he mentioned everyone asking him about fighting his childhood hero. The thing is, though, he’s not fighting his childhood hero — because the man who attacked him is not that person. He doesn’t recognize that man.

He said he couldn’t figure out where things went wrong with Cena or how he could have helped to prevent it. But then he realized the problem — power. It’s always power!

“He used to call me his friend, his brother. But the more power and fame he got, the more disconnected he felt.”

Truth said he blamed himself for Cena pulling a disappearing act on him but after talking to others who felt the same, he realized the truth that Cena isolated himself with power.

You know, like that “goblin fella on Lord of the Rings.”

You gotta love, R-Truth.

“Staring at the championship calling it your precious. It’s not the championship — it’s your ego.”

Truth took an interesting angle by saying he doesn’t believe Cena is happy but he’s the greatest of all time and while he doesn’t know if he can bring him back he’s damn sure going to try.

“You’re not going to take my joy away from me, John Cena!”

He closed it with the money — he doesn’t want to put his hands on Cena but if he has to he will beat the ever living hustle, loyalty, and respect right back in his ass. He misses his hero, he can’t deny it, so at Saturday Night’s Main Event we say it again.

“If Cena wins, we riot.”

That’s what’s up.

They somehow managed to ensure Truth remained true to himself and his character while giving some depth to this match. This was fantastic.

Jacob Fatu came right out and said it on this show. He don’t trust JC Mateo, he don’t like JC Mateo, he ain’t his blood, and he damn sure ain’t family. What’s more, he doesn’t trust what Solo Sikoa has going on.

Sikoa tried to turn it around and say that’s the killer instinct they need from Fatu when he teams with Mateo in a tag match later in the evening. They all need to come together to become the force they are destined to be and all that.

Fatu wasn’t having it.

Later, they came together to take on the unlikely pairing of Jimmy Uso & Rey Fenix. They attempted to recruit Jimmy but barely got into it because he clearly wasn’t having it. We simply aren’t going down that road again.

The match itself was actually a fun little thriller that saw a fun near fall or two with Fenix nearly putting away Fatu. Mateo and Fatu didn’t trust each other and had problems with communication, of course, and that, too, led to a fun near fall or two.

But when they needed to be, they were there for each other, just as Solo hoped they would be. And then, of course, when he was needed, Sikoa, too, was there with an assist. The combined efforts of the three added up to a victory. Fatu begrudgingly celebrated with the others and the truce between them is just strong enough for this week.

But this won’t last, and we’ll all be better off when it all blows up.

That could be sooner rather than later, as it turns out, as Fatu was booked in a Money in the Bank qualifier. Solo acted happy for Fatu but was clearly worried about this update.

“I love you, Solo.”

This should be good.

Let it also be said that Sikoa has loosened up quite a bit and has become an absolute ham out there, and it’s pretty great.

The main event of this show saw Fraxiom and The Street Profits have an awesome match, worthy of the chants the live crowd showered it with. DIY ran in to try to interfere but the Motor City Machine Guns rushed them to prevent it. Back in the ring, the Profits seemed poised to end it with Montez Ford going up top when the lights went out.

They came back up to The Wyatt Sicks in the ring. They’re finally back, with a healthy Uncle Howdy leading the charge once more.

They forced a no contest, as they attacked literally everyone, in the ring and outside of it. Johnny Gargano ate a Sister Abigail and the show went off the air with the returning faction celebrating in the ring.

They did so with a cake with a single candle. May 23 was Bray Wyatt’s birthday.

Howdy could be heard saying “my life, for you” before blowing the candle out as the show came to a close.

This was super well received by the crowd, and these guys aren’t going to have any trouble slotting right back into storylines after missing all of 2025.

All the rest

• I really haven’t been the biggest fan of the Drew McIntyre/Damian Priest feud, but I have loved the way they just throw hands anytime they’re anywhere near each other. Triple H loves himself a pull apart brawl, and I love it too.
• Tiffany Stratton cut a promo warning off anyone thinking of cashing in the Money in the Bank contract on her for the women’s championship. She was answered by Alexa Bliss, who said it will be business and not personal when she wins the briefcase. “If you think your rise to the top was quick, just wait for that drop off.” Charlotte Flair made her presence felt to call herself humble while getting booed out of the building. She, too, promised to win and cash in on Tiffy Time. Stratton called them “vintage” and got a big pop from Savannah. She’s somehow still the babyface despite playing the barbie doll character. She’s got enough charisma to make it work.
• They immediately followed that segment with Giulia winning her debut on the blue brand and advancing to the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match by pinning United States Champion Zelina Vega. It says a lot about Flair that she would lose the match but still not have to take the pin when the other wrestler in the triple threat is a current champion (who would later be booked to defend that title on the television special scheduled for the very next evening). Pretty wild stuff here.
• DIY and the Motor City Machine Guns were having a perfectly fine match when Tommaso Ciampa faked an injury to give Candice LeRae the chance to jump the apron and realign herself with her husband, Johnny Gargano, and his best friend. The Way is back, kind of. I’m sure many are thrilled.
• Michin & B-Fab defeated the Secret Hervice in a fairly standard tag match. Not much to this outside of giving the babyfaces some shine while promoting Vega vs. Chelsea Green.
• Santos Escobar had Los Garza for a drink in an attempt to convince them to put aside their differences and be the dominant team they can be against some AAA stars in a couple weeks. Escobar asked for Berto’s trust, and eventually they drank to it. It was left open ended if he’s on board with it, however. “Soon, he will understand,” Santos closed with. They’ll be taking on El Hilo De Dr. Wagner Jr, Psycho Clown, and Pagano at Worlds Collide.
• Shinsuke Nakamura promised to go after Aleister Black and he got to doing just that on this show, opening the door for Knight to run in and steal a pinfall victory when Black laid Nakamura out with the Black Mass. I can’t imagine Knight will have any chance in the ladder match but at least he’s in it.

A good show.

Grade: B+

Your turn.