On the August 8, 2025 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, WWE delivered a night fans won’t soon forget—especially when it came to Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. The show’s closing moments marked a stunning, brutal turning point.
In the tag team main event, Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Champion) teamed with John Cena to face off against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. The bout ended in chaos: Logan Paul delivered a low blow to Cena, prompting a disqualification. As Cena and Paul battled backstage, all eyes turned to Rhodes—and McIntyre seized the opportunity.
What happened next was nothing short of savage. McIntyre first struck Rhodes in the head with the WWE Championship belt, then followed with a devastating Claymore Kick—shoving the champion’s head through the wooden announcer’s table. Commentators were visibly alarmed, citing a “major incident” and expressing “grave concerns” for Rhodes’s condition.
Multiple outlets captured the carnage of the moment—some simply stating the facts, others underscoring the sheer intensity. For instance, The Economic Times headlined that “SmackDown witnessed… Drew McIntyre destroys Cody Rhodes with ‘Claymore’” and noted the violent nature of the collision. Meanwhile, WrestlingAttitude emphasized the atmosphere: “Drew McIntyre delivered a vicious statement to WWE Champion Cody Rhodes… laid out in the closing moments of the show,” and suggested that this could foreshadow a blockbuster title match at WWE Clash in Paris later this month.
What does this brutal send-off mean for the landscape of WWE heading into Clash in Paris (August 31)? All signs point to an explosive showdown. With Cody Rhodes bloodied but unbowed and Drew McIntyre making his intentions crystal clear, the stage is set for a high-stakes WWE Championship collision on international soil.
In Summary:
Match: Cody Rhodes & John Cena vs. Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre (SmackDown, August 8, 2025)
Outcome: Match ends in DQ after low blow from Logan Paul; chaos ensues.
Climax: McIntyre strikes Rhodes with the championship belt and lands a Claymore Kick, sending him through the announce table.
Commentary: Described as a “major incident” with “grave concerns” for Rhodes’s health.
Implications: Strong speculation of a Cody vs. McIntyre WWE Championship match at Clash in Paris on August 31.
With Rhodes reeling and McIntyre on the prowl, WWE’s road to Clash in Paris just got a massive—and bloody—upgrade.
