WWE SmackDown – August 15, 2025
TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
Commentary: Wade Barrett (play-by-play), Pat McAfee (color)
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Opening Segment – Contract Signing: Bret Hart vs. Bill Goldberg (No Holds Barred, Crown Jewel Perth)
Eric Bischoff is in the ring with a table, two chairs, and an uneasy look like he knows he’s about to regret his career choices.
Wade Barrett: “The Boston crowd is buzzing… not sure if that’s excitement or confusion for what we’re about to see.”
Pat McAfee: “Brother, when Bret Hart and Goldberg are in the same room, you keep one hand on the mic and the other over your insurance card.”
Goldberg enters first, blood on his forehead from banging it on a bathroom door after using it before someone came and got him for his entrance, wearing sunglasses indoors, a leather jacket… and lugging a gaudy championship belt that says “Owen Hart Memorial Championship” in bright gold letters. Bret follows, visibly annoyed before the bell even metaphorically rings.
Goldberg grabs the mic:
> “Bret… before we sign this, I wanna make it interesting. I’m puttin’ this on the line in Perth!”
Bret: “What the hell is that?!”
Goldberg:
> “It’s the Owen Hart Memorial Championship, brother. I made it myself. Had it rushed from a guy in Vegas. Gonna honor your brother by—”
Bret cuts him off, incredulous:
> “Owen’s fine. He just texted me a picture of his lunch twenty minutes ago. He’s wrestling in ULW!”
Goldberg blinks, clearly processing this new reality.
Pat McAfee: “Oh my God… Goldberg thought Owen was—this is the most awkward belt reveal since ULW unified the extreme league and premier league titles.”
Bret, shaking his head:
> “You’ve made a fake memorial belt for a man who’s very much alive. I’m not wrestling for that.”
Goldberg:
> “Well…I am afraid you don’t have a choice! We will celebrate your brother’s life…and Bret, You’re Next…….to die….”
Bischoff signs it off quickly just to end the chaos. They shake hands reluctantly… and Goldberg accidentally flips the table while trying to lift the belt for the crowd, sending the pens flying into the third row.
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Six-Man Tag Team Match
Damian Priest, JD McDonagh, & Finn Bálor vs. Andrade, Kalisto, & Gran Metalik
Priest’s power is on display early, Bálor’s technical skills pick apart Kalisto’s legs, and JD gets sneaky tags to keep the action rolling.
Andrade has a fiery hot tag, hitting a series of running knees, but Priest cuts him off with a South of Heaven chokeslam.
The Finish: Bálor hits Coup de Grâce on Kalisto, and Priest pins him for the win.
After the match, Priest grabs a mic:
> “You all talk about The Rock at Crown Jewel Perth like I’m not standing here as a former WWE Champion. Rock, it should be me and you, one-on-one.”
The crowd cheers loudly for Priest 🔥
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Segment – Life and Legacy with Mr. Murrey (Season Finale) 😢
A “documentary-style” recap rolls. Mr. Murrey is shown teaching Pete the Ref to ride a skateboard, attempting to grill burgers 🍔 indoors (“because the weather lied to me”), and accidentally joining a book club for dark romance enthusiasts.
Pat McAfee: “I sure hope that this show gets picked up for another season.”
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Gunther vs. Brian Cage
Heavy hitting from the start. Cage’s athleticism gets him an early suplex flurry, but Gunther slows the pace with blistering chops that echo through TD Garden.
The Finish: Gunther hits a powerbomb, followed by a lariat for the pin.
Post-match, Gunther takes the mic:
> “Forget that street rat Damian Priest. The only man worthy to face The Rock in Perth… is me.”
The crowd gasps at the thought of Gunther vs The Rock
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Backstage Segment
Dominik Mysterio catches Rhea Ripley in the hallway. He leans in and kisses her on the lips.
The crowd erupts. Rhea’s eyes widen in shock… but she doesn’t push him away. Instead, she smirks faintly.
Wade Barrett: “I don’t know if Buddy Mathews is watching… but if he is, he just threw his remote at the wall.”
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In-Ring Segment – The Rock
The crowd’s reaction is deafening when The Final Boss steps out.
Rock:
> “Boston… The Rock said this is the reign that doesn’t end. So here’s the deal: This coming Monday on Raw, biggest main event of any Monday show this year, The Rock defends the WWE Championship in a Fatal Four Way—Big E, Damian Priest, Gunther… and The Rock. And The Rock doesn’t even have to be pinned to lose his title. Big E is a former WWE champ…Damian is a former WWE champ…Gunther is hungry as hell.
The crowd eats it up.
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Main Event – Tag Team Match
The Wyatt Sicks (Rowan & Dexter Lumis) vs. The Flex Squad (Flex Fuller & Lex Luger)
Creepy atmosphere meets flexing theatrics. Luger gets a surprising pop but spends much of the match feeling Rowan’s brute strength.
Lumis is stoic, locking in a sleeper on Fuller while never breaking eye contact with the hard cam. Unnerving.
The Finish: Rowan plants Fuller with an iron claw slam for the pin.
Post-match, Braun Strowman joins Rowan and Lumis in a 3-on-2 beatdown.
All of a sudden…”No Holds Barred” by Jim Johnston theme blares through the PA—out comes Zen Hogan!! The place absolutely comes unglued. Hogan rips his shirt off and Braun and Hogan are staring each other down in the center of the ring.
Braun goes to strike but Hogan counters. Zen lifts Braun, and body slams him to one of the hugest crowd pops ever! Zen does the classic Hogan poses to close the show for a very happy audience.
Pat McAfee: “This dude is capturing the hearts and imagination of people everywhere!”
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World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 