SmackDown in Lyon: John Cena confronts Logan Paul, Sami Zayn wins US Title

This week’s SmackDown dropped live from the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France, setting the stage for Clash in Paris this Sunday while also serving up a binge-worthy session, which was streamed on Netflix in select international regions. The show was packed with action, featuring key title bouts, high-stakes matches, and storyline fireworks that had the crowd buzzing throughout the night.

The opening segment spotlighted Logan Paul, who returned to the ring to insist that he’s not a “parasite” but a “disruptor,” despite being booed by the crowd. His promo took a turn when John Cena stormed in, delivering a sharp verbal rebuke. Cena reminded Logan who made the WWE Universe a household name, stressed that the audience is the reason WWE thrives, and even offered a unique apology to a young fan to underline the importance of respect.

The evening’s marquee matchup was for the United States Championship. Sami Zayn stormed the ring and dethroned Solo Sikoa after hitting two Helluva Kicks in a hard-fought 12-minute and 26-second battle, claiming the US Championship just days before the PPV.

The Women’s Tag Team Championship match brought plenty of drama. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defended their titles against Piper Niven and Alba Fyre, also known as The Secret HERvice. However, Piper was declared unavailable, and Chelsea Green stepped in alongside Fyre. The match took a sharp turn when Fyre blindsided Flair during her entrance, injuring her and forcing her to be guided out of the ring. This led to a singles contest between Bliss and Chelsea Green, where Bliss emerged victorious in what was nearly a one-on-two scenario, keeping the tag titles intact and intensifying the storyline heading into Clash in Paris.

Next, a Number One Contender’s Tag Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships saw The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) face Melo Don’t Miz (The Miz and Carmelo Hayes). After a competitive and unpredictable match, The Street Profits pulled off a clean win in just under nine minutes, despite unwarranted interference from The Wyatt Sicks, earning a future title shot.

Michin then defeated Kiana James in a blink-and-you-miss-it matchup, pinning her in just about seven seconds to earn a future shot at the Women’s US Championship. Backstage, a vignette hinted at a potential future rematch between Aleister Black and Damian Priest.

The show also teased a budding rivalry between Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton. McIntyre attempted to warn Orton about Cody Rhodes’ true intentions, but Orton responded with a brutal attack, sparking a brawl. Security rushed in to intervene, only for Orton to hit an RKO on three of them in quick succession.