WWE SmackDown rolled into Bologna, Italy, on March 21, 2025, and a red-hot crowd witnessed major storyline twists heading toward WrestleMania (April 19–20). Surprisingly, the standout moments, including those involving John Cena, didn’t come from wrestling matches but from explosive promo segments.
Over at AEW, Dynamite delivered a jaw-dropping moment with Jon Moxley ahead of AEW Dynasty (April 5). Here’s everything you need to know, including insights on John Cena and Ringside Report’s Wrestling Uncensored Episode 725 insights.
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Randy Orton Rejects Kevin Owens’ Apology
SmackDown opened hot with Randy Orton receiving a huge ovation from the Bologna crowd. When Kevin Owens proposed they reunite as a tag team for WrestleMania, Orton rejected him bluntly, saying, “You can shove your apology up your ass. I’m going to kick your head off at WrestleMania!” Dave Simon praised the simplicity of this promo, noting, “Crowd goes nuts in Bologna, Italy.” Johnny North agreed, emphasizing Owens and Orton’s strong performances, adding, “Kevin’s delivery was great. Randy was good, too. That’s all you really need.” A fan commented, “Orton was amazing tonight; I can’t wait for Mania!”
Liv Morgan, Naomi, and Jade Cargill Fuel Their Feud
The women’s division heated up when Naomi interfered, causing Liv Morgan to pin Jade Cargill for Jade’s first WWE loss. Naomi attacked Jade afterward, escalating their rivalry. Dave Simon observed, “Naomi and Jade’s feud keeps going,” predicting a WrestleMania clash. Johnny North criticized the booking decision humorously, “She hasn’t been pinned at all, so let’s pin her on a random SmackDown.” Fan reactions were mixed, with Leore noting humorously, “The brawl was funny—not as hilarious as Naomi’s punches.” However, Naomi’s flashy Owen Hart tribute gear was widely praised.
Charlotte Flair Schools Tiffany Stratton on the Mic
In a memorable promo segment, veteran Charlotte Flair verbally dominated newcomer Tiffany Stratton. Johnny North remarked, “Tiffany got kind of schooled by Charlotte tonight.” Ben Simon speculated this was deliberate to build Stratton’s underdog status for WrestleMania. Dave Simon agreed, “Charlotte seemed to be in control; Tiffy had a couple of good lines but was clearly second-best.” Fans echoed this sentiment, one commenting, “Charlotte destroyed Tiffany tonight, pure promo class.”
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk Set Up WrestleMania Showdown
The night ended dramatically as Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk confronted each other. Punk attacked Reigns, triggering a three-way brawl. Each superstar pointed dramatically at the WrestleMania sign, officially setting their match. Johnny North was skeptical, calling this match “just another match on the card.” Dave Simon felt similarly, “Makes more sense to just do Roman-Seth one-on-one, but they’re throwing Punk in.” Audience reactions varied, with one viewer writing, “This triple threat feels rushed, but I’m excited!”
Hosts Weigh In: SmackDown’s Three-Hour Format Hurting Quality?
Since WWE SmackDown expanded to a three-hour format, the hosts of Wrestling Uncensored expressed concerns about declining show quality. Dave Simon criticized the additional hour, stating, “Three hours is too long; it’s watered down the product.” Johnny North added, “Matches feel repetitive, and there’s more filler segments.” Ben Simon agreed, mentioning, “The promos have stayed strong, but the matches suffer; they’re stretching thin stories too far.” Specific examples included the extended and seemingly meaningless filler matches that appeared regularly, overshadowing the impactful segments fans preferred.
John Cena’s Heel Turn Rocks WWE Raw
On Raw, John Cena stunned fans by turning heel against Cody Rhodes, blaming fans for his actions. Cena’s bitter promo—“You’ve been awful to me!”—generated buzz. Dave Simon critiqued the logic behind this shift, saying, “It didn’t ring true. Cena’s heel turn felt outdated.” Johnny North found it surreal, remarking, “Seeing Cena angry and bitter was a huge shift; it felt bizarre.” Fans debated vigorously online, one noting, “Heel Cena? About time!”
Jon Moxley’s Hardcore Moment Headlines AEW Dynamite
AEW’s Jon Moxley provided Dynamite’s shocking highlight, slammed onto a nail-covered board by Adam Copeland. Johnny North expressed amazement, “Nothing but respect for him doing that; wasn’t expecting it whatsoever.” Dave Simon approved, explaining, “This hardcore style is just Moxley being himself.” Fans responded intensely; one said, “Insane stunt; respect to Mox for always pushing limits!” However, another viewer, Harold Schneider, bluntly stated, “Never liked Moxley.”
WWE’s International Strategy: Fewer House Shows, Bigger Events
The Bologna crowd’s excitement underscored WWE’s strategy to run fewer domestic house shows and more profitable international TV tapings. Dave Simon noted, “WWE is never coming to your town—they’re coming only to do TV.” Johnny North observed the fans’ enthusiasm for even minor moments, adding, “Entrances got better reactions than the wrestling.” Audience comments supported this, with one fan mentioning, “We never get WWE here; we loved every minute!”
Join us LIVE after both nights of WrestleMania 41 (April 19–20) for immediate reactions and your chance to share thoughts with our Ringside Report Network community!
