WWE SmackDown Notes: Rey Fenix Makes WWE Debut, CM Punk Reveals Favor Owed is Paul Heyman to Be In His Corner at WrestleMania 41, New Mystery Vignette Airs, MCMG Wins Shot at WWE Tag Team Titles, Kevin Owens Announces Neck Injury, 4/11 Show Card

WWE
Apr 4, 2025

Rey Fenix Makes WWE In-Ring Debut on Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois featured Rey Fenix making his official in-ring debut for WWE.

Fenix competed in a singles match against NXT talent Nathan Frazer, who also made a surprise appearance on the show.

Following his victory, Fenix was interviewed by Byron Saxton to get some words about him making his official debut in WWE. After some words of happiness, Fenix stated that he has waited his whole life to say that “I am WWE animal.”

CM Punk Reveals Favor Owed By Paul Heyman is For Heyman to Be In His Corner at WrestleMania 41

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured CM Punk revealing the secret favor owned by Paul Heyman to him.

During the show, Punk came out to the ring and after some rambling on about how everyone kept telling him he didn’t belong wherever he went and him yelling about him being in the main event of WrestleMania 41, Heyman’s music played to interrupt. This led to some banter between an out of breath Heyman and Punk that ended with Heyman pleading to be told what exactly is the favor and Punk telling him he can wait once Roman Reigns shows up later.

In a follow-up segment, a desperate Heyman was seen backstage near the entrance to the parking lot and stated that he agrees to whatever is the favor owed to Punk and pleaded to just be told what it is. As Heyman was talking, a black SUV drove up and Heyman being in joy thinking it was Reigns. This led to Seth Rollins coming out instead and proceeded to mock Heyman and talked about how he has been in a happy mood his mind been cleared now that he doesn’t need to worry or care about Punk getting to main event WrestleMania.

In another follow-up segment, another black SUV drove up backstage and Reigns came out and proceeded to speed walk his way to the ring. After some words, Reigns called for Punk to come out and tell everyone what this secret is. This led to Rollins’ music playing to interrupt and Rollins coming out to the ring. This led to some banter between Rollins and Reigns that ended with both Reigns and Rollins wanting to just get the favor stuff over with and called out Punk. This led to Punk’s music playing and him coming out to the ring. Punk talked about his past history with Heyman and after some more words, revealed that his secret favor was having Heyman in his corner for his match at WrestleMania 41. This led to Reigns reacting as if this was just a big joke and demanded Heyman to reject Punk only for a tearful Heyman saying “No my Tribal Chief, I can’t do that.” This led to a brawl breaking out between Punk and Reigns that ended with Punk laying out Reigns with a GTS and Rollins not getting involved and left the ring.

New Mystery “4” Video Airs on Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured a new mystery vignette airing teasing the arrival of a new mystery person to the SmackDown brand.

This new mystery vignette is currently speculated to be for the return of Aleister Black to WWE. Black was previously known as Malakai Black during his time in AEW.

MCMG Wins Shot at WWE Tag Team Titles at Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) defeating #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) in a #1 Contender’s match for the WWE Tag Team Championship.

As a result of their victory, MCMG will be officially facing the Street Profits for the WWE Tag titles at a future show.

Kevin Owens Announces Neck Injury & WrestleMania 41 Match Pulled

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured the announcement of the scheduled Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton match at WrestleMania 41 has been pulled due to an injury issue.

During the show, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was seen in the ring and talked about this is the part of his job that is not very fun. Aldis stated that in this industry, there is a fine line between coming back next week and finding out that you may never step foot in the ring again and there is a reason why they say don’t try this at home. Aldis stated that he doesn’t want to say more and rather let everyone hear it from the man himself.

This led to Owens coming out with dejected look to the ring. Owens talked about his 25 year wrestling career and how because of this industry, he has been able to take care of his family in ways he can only dream of. Owens then stated that there is a price to pay for that amazing opportunity and that is the toll it takes on their bodies. Owens stated that every guy and girl in the back has paid that price and now it is his turn. Owens then stated that for the last four months, he has been dealing with a pretty serious neck injury and they figured out what was wrong and now he has to go get neck surgery. Owens talked about how the timing could not be worse because now his match with Orton at WrestleMania is off. Owens then thanked WWE to allow him to come out and say all of this because the truth is that he doesn’t know when he will come back.

After some more words thanking the fans, Orton shook Aldis’ hand and started to leave. This led to Orton’s music playing to interrupt and he made his way out to the ring. Orton and Owens looked at each other before Owens left the ring and Aldis proceeded to inform Orton that this means he no longer has a match at WrestleMania. This led to Orton giving an RKO to Aldis to lay him out and stared at the big WrestleMania sign in the rafters.

Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured two new matches announced for the card of next week’s show on April 11th at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

These matches were setup following promos, storyline angles, and match card graphics throughout the show.

Current card for April 11th WWE SmackDown show:

  • WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Gauntlet match – Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Lyra Valkyria & Bayley vs. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. B-Fab & Michin vs. Alba Fyre & Piper Niven vs. Natalya & Maxxine Dupri
  • Rey Fenix vs. Berto
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to appear
  • Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre to go face-to-face
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