WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso turn back John Cena, Logan Paul before tag match

Momentum is firmly with Rhodes and Uso heading into Money in the Bank

John Cena and Logan Paul need to get on the same page. The undisputed WWE champion and influencer team together against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso at Money in the Bank. On Friday's WWE SmackDown, Cena and Paul were put in their place by the former tag team champions.

Cena and Paul have a lot going against them right now. Not only were they outmaneuvered in a brawl with their opponents, but Cena and Paul also struggled to get on the same page. It wasn't a promising sight ahead of their tag match at Money in the Bank.

SmackDown also filled two more spots in the Money in the Bank ladder matches, one in each division. The Wyatt Sicks also appeared after last week's surprise return.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee

Early issues bubble for Cena and Paul

Rhodes and Cena brought reinforcements to Friday's face-offs. The WrestleMania rivals introduced their respective tag team partners ahead of Money in the Bank. Cena immediately soured the crowd, cutting into an encore performance of Uso's entrance. Cena accused Uso and Rhodes of being Cena's wannabes before defending the opportunities Paul gets in WWE. 

"Logan Paul doesn't need to pay dues because he's paying your mortgage," Cena told his opponents. 

Uso had heard enough of Cena and Paul's posturing. The world heavyweight champ invited his rivals to scrap, claiming there was no need to wait for Money in the Bank. Paul was ready to square up, but Cena was uninterested. This sparked a quiet argument between Paul and the undisputed WWE champion.

"What are you going to do, go back there and polish his 'Peacemaker'?" Rhodes asked, acknowledging the disagreement between his foes. 

Cena and Paul lunged into action, but were outgunned by the former undisputed WWE tag team champions. Uso dove onto Cena before hitting a combination flapjack-Cody Cutter onto Paul. Uso raised his world heavyweight title and Rhodes hoisted Cena's undisputed WWE title as their rivals watched from the ramp.

Something about this didn't quite click. Maybe it's the suddenness with which the tag team match was put together, or the aftershock of Cena and Rhodes' poorly received WrestleMania match. Perhaps it's because the verbal sparring between the two parties lacked the fire that Cena and Rhodes brought to their face-off before WrestleMania. It's cool having the undisputed WWE and world heavyweight champions against each other, but Friday's closing segment didn't move the needle for me. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Money in the Bank Qualifying Match -- Naomi def. Jade Cargill and Nia Jax via pinfall after pinning Jax with a crucifix. Pre-match, Naomi begged for Bianca Belair's forgiveness and revealed she broke into Belair's family home. Belair didn't take the news well.
• JC Mateo def. R-Truth via pinfall with Tour of the Islands. Post-match, Jimmy Uso rescued Truth from a beatdown by Mateo and Solo Sikoa.
• Wyatt Sicks laid out the entire tag team division.
• Los Garza (Angel and Berto) def. Je'Von Evans and Rey Fenix via pinfall with an MTY on Evans. North American NXT champion Ethan Page and Santos Escobar ran interfered in the match.
• Zelina Vega def. Alba Fyre via pinfall with a Code Red.
• Damian Priest called out United States champion Jacob Fatu. Fatu gave Priest an approving nod as he made his entrance for a match.
• Money in the Bank Qualifying Match -- Andrade def. Carmelo Hayes and Jacob Fatu via pinfall after hitting The Message on Hayes. Fatu had the match won before Sikoa and Mateo inadvertently distracted him, made worse by Jimmy Uso attacking Fatu's teammates.