By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,366)
October 24, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona, at Mullett Arena
Aired live on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
[Hour One] Michael Cole opened the show while the Arizona State football field was shown, followed by the host venue. Cole set up a video package that recapped last week’s show…
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Jimmy Uso spoke backstage. Jimmy told Cody he appreciated what Cody did for Jacob Fatu. Jimmy said he was going to talk to Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis about what happened to Fatu. Cody asked how things were between Jimmy and his brother Jey Uso. Jimmy said Cody saw what Jey did to him during Raw, and asked Cody how he would feel. Cody said he has a brother in the game and gets it. Both men said they intended to speak with Aldis…
Cody Rhodes made his entrance while Michael Cole and Corey Graves checked in from their broadcast table. Cole thanked Graves for standing up for him when Brock Lesnar was going after him. Graves shifted the focus to Cody. Cole hyped Cody vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship for Saturday Night’s Main event.
Cody stood in the ring and asked the fans what they wanted to talk about. Cody said they could talk about Drew McIntyre. Cody recalled hitting McIntyre with the WWE Championship. Cody wondered if he needed to apologize for doing so.
Drew McIntyre appeared in the crowd and said he didn’t need Cody’s apologies. McIntyre walked to ringside and called out the fans for booing him and cheering for Cody. McIntyre stood on the broadcast table and said the fans are complicit in Cody’s crime.
McIntyre said the fans are brainwashed by Cody’s “corporate propaganda.” McIntyre said he’s been screwed so many times that it’s become about him finishing the story. McIntyre said he would do that next week at Saturday Night’s Main event.
McIntyre shifted the focus to who attacked Jacob Fatu. McIntyre said he hates that family and claimed he is innocent. McIntyre said he saw Cody talking to Jimmy, and speculated that maybe Jimmy was responsible for attacking Fatu. Cody cut off McIntyre and said he was clearly looking for a fight, and invited him to join him in the ring. McIntyre got down from the table.
Jimmy Uso hopped off the barricade and attacked McIntyre. Jimmy got the better of the fight until security and producers pulled the wrestlers apart. Cody stood by Jimmy on the floor when entrance music grabbed their attention.
Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga made their entrance for a tag team match heading into the first break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A basic opening segment that presumably set up McIntyre vs. Jimmy for later in the show.
Drew McIntyre barked at Nick Aldis backstage, telling him that he had to do something. Jimmy Uso showed up and fought with McIntyre again…
Shinsuke Nakamura and Rey Fenix made their entrance. Cole said Sami Zayn was not medically cleared to compete on this show due to Solo’s crew…
1. Tama Tonga and JC Mateo (w/Solo Sikoa, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Rey Fenix. Solo’s crew wore face paint. Nakamura and Fenix were in offensive control heading into an early picture-in-picture break. [C]
Cody hit Tama with a top rope crossbody block and had him pinned, but Mateo broke it up. The heels were cleared to ringside, and then Fenix performed a corkscrew dive onto both men. Fenix threw Tama back inside the ring. Solo distracted the ref while Fenix set up for a move on the apron. Talla Tonga pulled Fenix to the floor. Talla and Rey were not on the same page when it came to the timing of Talla chokeslamming Rey on the apron. Tama hit Fenix with a Hidden Blade, which Cole said Tama calls the Cutthroat. Tama covered Fenix and got the three count…
Tama Tonga and JC Mateo beat Shinsuke Nakamura and Rey Fenix in 12:05.
Powell’s POV: The match filled some time, and they put some heat on Solo’s crew. On a side note, USA Network is running a lot of ads tonight for the Braun Strowman’s new “Everything On The Menu” show that premieres after Smackdown.
Backstage, Jimmy told Aldis that everyone knows McIntyre attacked Jacob Fatu. Aldis booked Jimmy vs. McIntyre in a match. Jimmy said he didn’t want a match, he wanted a fight. Aldis pleased Jimmy by making it a No DQ match…
Backstage, Women’s U.S. Champion Giulia was on her phone when she was approached by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. Green spoke about being the first and best Women’s U.S. Champion. Green called for a campaign for her to become the new WWE Women’s Champion. Kiana James showed up and shot down Green and then headed off for her match. Giula rejected Green’s flier and followed James…
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton made her entrance… [C] Kiana James made her entrance with Giulia…
2. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James (w/Giulia) in a non-title match. Cole said Stratton beat James in their only NXT match against one another. Stratton avoided James’ attempt to moonsault onto her from the apron. Giulia provided a distraction that led to James running Stratton into the barricade. [C] James got a decent amount of offense. Stratton came back and hit a Swanton, and followed up with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win…
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton beat Kiana James in 9:50 in a non-title match.
After the match, Giulia attacked Stratton from behind. Giulia blasted Stratton with a knee strike. Jade Cargill made her entrance and cleared Giulia from the ring before knocking James off the apron. Jade looked down at Stratton and offered her a hand. Stratton accepted. Jade raised Stratton’s arm. Jade teased leaving, but then turned around and clotheslined Stratton.
Jade took Stratton to ringside and tossed her over the broadcast table. Jade threw punches while Stratton was down until referees and producers ran out. Jade broke free and kicked Stratton. Jade tossed Stratton over the broadcast table to ringside. Jade stomped on Stratton’s left knee. Jade entered the ring, picked up the WWE Women’s Championship belt. Jade smiled before dropping the belt on the mat and making her exit. Stratton was still down while selling knee pain..
Powell’s POV: This crowd sucks. James isn’t over, so I wouldn’t complain if the fans were just quiet for this match, but they’ve been flat for everything during the first hour of the show. Anyway, I like the Jade turn. I still think Stratton is a better heel than a babyface, but Jade’s turn breathes new life into their rivalry.
Backstage, Sami Zayn congratulated Ilja Dragunov for beating him to win the U.S. Championship last week. Dragunov spoke about how much he respects Zayn. Dragunov admired Sami for the open challenges and indicated that he would continue to grant them. Zayn said they are no joke and then built up Dragunov, who headed out for his open challenge…
[Hour Two] [C] Cole recapped Jade turning on Stratton… Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Jade, who said the world doesn’t reward patience; it rewards power. She said she’s taking it, starting with the WWE Women’s Championship…
U.S. Champion Ilja Dragunov made his entrance for the open challenge. He delivered a promo that got a decent reaction. He said he won the title from a great man in Sami Zayn, so he feels it is his duty to continue the legacy of the open challenge. “So my dear friends and enemies, pain shall entertain you,” Dragunov said to close.
Aleister Black made his entrance with Zelina Vega to accept the open challenge. Cole said they accomplished what they wanted, and it was all part of their plan to be finally working together…
Powell’s POV: So Black spinning his wheels since returning to WWE was all part of a big plan to join forces with his wife? “Honey, wouldn’t it be great if we joined forces?” she asked. Black responded, “Yes, but I must have a lousy feud with R-Truth first.”
3. Ilja Dragunov vs. Aleister Black (w/Zelina Vega) for the U.S. Championship. Black sent Dragunov to the floor. Vega climbed on the apron and performed a huracanrana on Dragunov while Black distracted the referee. Black kicked Dragunov before a break. [C]
Dragunov went to the ropes and was distracted by Vega. Black pulled Dragunov from the ropes, causing Dragunov’s head ot hit the top turnbuckle on the way down. Black suplexed Dragunov and bridged while getting a near fall. Dragunov came back with a discus lariat, leaving both men down. [C]
The referee caught Vega interfering and ejected her from ringside. Damian Priest made his entrance wearing shades. Priest removed the shades once he got to ringside, revealing the “burns” left by the fireball that Black threw at him. Dragunov hit a distracted Black with Torpedo Moscow and then pinned him.
Ilja Dragunov beat Aleister Black in 15:40 to retain the U.S. Championship.
After the match, Priest attacked Black and placed him on the broadcast table with a chair under his head. Priest picked up another chair, but Vega jumped on his back and gouged his bad eye. Black and Vega hopped the barricade and made their exit through the crowd…
Powell’s POV: A distraction win was a weak way to follow up on Dragunov’s U.S. Title win. Priest would have been better off wearing a bandage over his eye for a few weeks because the “burns” didn’t look very impressive.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Carmelo Hayes and asked what caused the tension between him and The Miz. Hayes said he wasn’t going to berate Miz. He said he’s grateful for what Miz taught him, but things changed when Miz put his hands on him. Hayes said he was going to let it slide. He said they were even as far as he was concerned. Hayes said he felt the support from the fans and was going to focus on being Him.
Kit Wilson showed up and said Hayes is poisoning an entire generation. Hayes told Wilson he would see him next week. Wilson said Hayes would get a taste of his own toxic masculinity when he exposes him next week…
Cole hyped the No DQ match as the show’s main event…
An ad for Raw listed the following for Monday’s Raw in Anaheim: CM Punk and Jey Uso meet face to face before their match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship on Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Nikki Bella vs. Roxanne Perez… [C]
Ilja Dragunov held his neck and looked weary as he walked backstage and encountered Nathan Frazer and Axiom. Frazer asked about getting a title shot. Axiom said Frazer meant to say welcome back, then conceded they would both like title shots. Dragunov said he would face anyone and everyone, and then made his exit.
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae showed up and mocked Frazer and Axiom. After DIY and LeRae left, Tama Tonga showed up and made the throat-slashing gesture while staring down Frazer and Axiom…
Cathy Kelley interviewed WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Kelley said Bayley posted a message on social media saying that if they are really the champions they say they are, they would show up to Raw and prove it. They confirmed they saw it. Bliss spoke about Bayley seeing what a real team looks like and wondered if she and Lyra Valkyria are even friends.
Nia Jax showed up and said Flair and Bliss were pretending to be besties, but she was waiting to see one of them stab the other in the back. Flair said she used to be like Jax, but then she learned about healthy relationships. Jax said she was in a friendship with someone. She said she learned from the best, saying Bliss will hug you with one arm and stab you in the back with the other. Bliss said that if Jax is looking for the old her, she’s not hard to find. Bliss and Jax set up a match against one another for next week…
Drew McIntyre made his entrance for the main event… [C]
Cole announced Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship would take place on Saturday Night’s Main Event…
Jimmy Uso made his entrance. Uso and McIntyre fought at ringside, and the referee called for the opening bell…
4. Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso in a No DQ match. Both wrestlers continued to fight and entered the ring. Jimmy clotheslined McIntyre over the top rope. Jimmy set up for a dive, but McIntyre cut him off, and they fought at ringside again. McIntyre hopped the barricade. Jimmy followed and chopped him in the crowd. Jimmy suplexed McIntyre on the floor and then brought him back to the ringside area. Jimmy pulled a sponsored table out from underneath the ring. [C]
McIntyre took offensive control and sat Jimmy on a chair in the ring. McIntyre went for his finisher, but Jimmy shot up and performed a drop toehold that sent McIntyre face-first onto the chair. Jimmy performed an Uso in the Wind and covered McIntyre for a near fall.
Jimmy worked over McIntyre with the chair. Jimmy set up the stupid sponsored table in a corner of the ring. McIntyre kicked Uso and put him down with a Future Shock DDT before covering him for a two count. McIntyre kipped up, waited for Jimmy to stand up, and then charged him, but Jimmy put him through the table with a Samoan Drop. Jimmy went up top and attempted an Uso Splash, but McIntyre held up a chair. McIntyre followed up with a Claymore Kick and then got the three count.
Drew McIntyre defeated Jimmy Uso in 12:25 in a No DQ match.
After the match, McIntyre jabbed the chair into the throat of Jimmy. Cody Rhodes ran out and worked over McIntyre with punches before dumping him into the timekeeper’s area. Cody checked on Jimmy and tried to help him up, but McIntyre returned to the ring and put Cody down with a Claymore Kick. The executive producer credits were shown while McIntyre knelt over Cody and spoke to him to end the show…
Powell’s POV: With his title match next week, McIntyre going over was a no-brainer. With that in mind, Jimmy got more offense than anticipated. It was a good brawl, but I can’t say that tonight’s show made me more excited about the WWE Championship match that will be held on Saturday Night’s Main Event. The biggest issue is that Cody pinning McIntyre clean at Wrestlepalooza is still fresh in my mind, and they just haven’t done anything to create the impression that this time will be different.
Overall, a show that passed the time, yet was largely forgettable. I will be back shortly with my weekly same-night audio review of Smackdown, which will be available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). The website we use for our polls is having technical issues, but our post-show polls will return as soon as the problem is resolved. Have a great weekend.
Join John Moore on Saturday night for his live review of NXT Halloween Havoc.
zelina Vega is flat out cosplaying as Scarlett. is this going to eventually lead to the return of Kross?