By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,370)
November 21, 2025, in Denver, Colorado, at Ball Arena
Simulcast live on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
Various stars were shown walking into the building. Finn Balor will face Penta later tonight in the Last Time is Now tournament match. Charlotte and Alexa Bliss were shown, and the final member of their WarGames team will be announced later tonight. The Vision and Logan Paul were then shown, and a video package recapped the recent additions to the WarGames teams last week and on Monday’s episode of Raw.
In the ring, The Vision stood with Logan Paul. Heyman got on the microphone and introduced himself. He said he had a vision for WarGames and he would bestow it upon the audience. He shouted that 5 victims would be locked in the cage where they would be Speared, Tsunami’d, and they would learn about a strategy so violent that there would be no question about who runs the place when they are all sent to hell.
Logan Paul got on the microphone and said he had a lot to say, but he was quickly interrupted by Jey Uso’s music. Jey and Jimmy walked out to the ring and bounced with the audience. Jey said nobody wanted to hear what Logan Paul had to say, and asked Heyman if he had his mind right because they just dropped their whole crew on Raw.
Heyman said he made a mistake by pissing off Logan Paul. He then said that when he created the Bloodline, he did it so that Roman Reign’s family could eat and they wouldn’t have to depend on him. The first thing he taught them is that the numbers game always wins, and they were outnumbered. Jimmy Uso replied that they did learn from him, and they weren’t stupid enough to show up alone. Cody Rhodes’ music then hit, and he didn’t immediately emerge.
The camera went backstage to Drew McIntyre getting out of the bus of Cody Rhodes, who was a bloody mess. The Usos ran back to check on him, as a WWE official was first on site and called for medics….[c]
My Take: I don’t think the Usos are very good at math, despite their protests.
Cody was being tended to by medics outside. Drew McIntyre drove by in an SUV and said he would see him at WarGames. Back in the arena, Ilja Dragunov made his entrance for the US Title Open Challenge Match. JD McDonagh answered the open challenge.
1. Ilja Dragunov vs. JD McDonagh for the United States Championship: McDonagh landed an elbow to the ribs early on, and Dragunov replied with a boot to the face. Dragunov attempted a suplex, but got stuffed. McDonagh replied with knife edge chop, and then threw Dragunov face first into the bottom rope…[c]
McDonagh controlled the pace during the break. Dragunov fired back with some strikes and fired up the crowd. JD landed some Kawada kicks, but Dragunov replied with a Konstantine Special, but declined to make a cover. He followed up with a snappy German Suplex, and held onto the waist lock. He delivered two more suplexes and then went to the top rope. McDonagh avoided it and Dragunov landed on his feet. He went for another Konstantine Special, but McDonagh reversed into a Spanish Fly for a close near fall.
Both men traded elbow strikes. McDonagh went for a suplex, but Dragunov held on as they both spilled violently to the floor…[c]
Dragnov met McDonagh on the top rope and delivered a superplex. McDonagh quickly replied with a brainbuster for a close near fall. He then went to the top rope, but Dragunov moved and delivered a suplex into a Uranage. He then went for Torpedo Moscow, but McDonagh met him with a flying knee. McDonagh then delivered a top rope moonsault for a very close near fall.
Dragunov replied with a headbutt, and then a shortened version of a torpedo Moscow. He then delivered a powerbomb and an H-Bomb for the win.
Ilja Dragunov defeated JD McDonagh at 16:37
After the match, the commentary team speculated about who would dethrone Dragunov as he appeared unstoppable. We then got a video package that detailed the saga around Charlotte Flair in the Women’s WarGames match. Backstage, Alexa dragged Charlotte into a room with Rhea Ripley, and told them they needed to have a chat.
Elsewhere, Nick Aldis was interviewed and said medics were checking on Cody Rhodes. He then walked up to The Vision and told them that Drew McIntyre was still banned from Smackdown, despite his inclusion in the WarGames Team. Heyman said he was outside, and he asked him to leave, because he respects the suspension Aldis levied against him. Aldis said they only reason they were allowed in the building is because Bronson Reed has a Last Time is Now tournament match. The Vision walked away, and Aldis was left seething. In the arena, Carmelo Hayes made his ring entrance…[c]
My Take: Very hard hitting match from Dragunov and McDonagh. It might be wise to give Dragunov permission to let off the gas a little bit. He’s killing himself every week.
Backstage, Ilja Dragunov ran into Tama Tonga, who told him it was coming. Ciampa then walked up and told him he was lucky, because if he didn’t have a tag match he’d have his gold. Dragunov said it wasn’t luck, and called Ciampa a jackass. Back in the arena, Carmelo Hayes awaited his opponent. Bronson Reed then made his entrance.
2. Bronson Reed vs. Carmelo Hayes: Hayes tried to use his speed early on to avoid the offense from Reed, but got put down with a big lariat. Reed continued to control the match with his power offense and beat down Hayes in the corner. Hayes landed a counter DDT and covered for a two count. He then followed up with a leaping kick that sent Reed out to the floor. He then set up for a dive, but Logan Paul and Bron Breakker came to ringside to intimidate Hayes…[c]
Hayes broke free from a chinlock and delivered a jawbreaker. Reed recovered quickly and delivered a high angle back suplex for a near fall. Breakker and Paul caused a distraction and then tripped up Hayes as he hit the ropes. Reed then delivered an elbow drop and covered for a two count. He then attempted a running senton, but Reed avoided it and rolled him up for a two count. Hayes landed a running knee and a flying clothesline. He then delivered a DDT on the apron. He then delivered a frog splash from the top rope for a close near fall.
Reed struggled to his feet and Hayes went for a First 48. Hayes got stuffed, and Reed delivered a World’s Strongest Slam. He then went for a Tsunami, but Hayes rolled out of the way. He then was able to deliver the First 48, but Reed rolled out to the floor. Hayes then dove on The Vision members on the floor and rolled Reed back into the ring. He then delivered a top rope DDT, but Reed still kicked out at two.
Hayes climbed back to the top rope, but Reed avoided the flying nothing and delivered a running lariat. Paul and Bron tried to get involved again, but were intercepted by The Usos. Reed went to the floor to collect Reed, but Cody Rhodes attacked and shoved him into the ring post. He then delivered a CrossRhodes to Reed on the floor. Rhodes tossed Hayes back into the ring, and Reed was unable to answer the ten count.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Bronson Reed at 13:49
After the match, Cody Rhodes grabbed a microphone and got fired up. He told Bronson Reed that he might be the best out of all of them, but he won’t figure it out until he’s looking up at the lights. He then told Bron that historically speaking, a Steiner is never better than a Rhodes. Cody then called out Lesnar and said he was the last one to beat him, and did it twice. He then addressed Heyman and told him he could keep building them up, and he would knock them down.
Backstage, Guilia and Kiana James pursued Chelsea Green, but she hid in a closet. James told Alba Fyre they wanted their rematch. Green left the closet when the coast was clear, and then ran into Jade Cargill, who laughed at her claims of being the greatest Women’s Champion. Rather than respond, Chelsea just bailed. In the arena, Fraxiom made their ring entrance…[c]
My Take: A fun match from Reed and Hayes. They made their different styles work for them. The finish was pure chaos but it was useful for continuing to add some gas to the WarGames fire.
Sami Zayn stood with his crew backstage and said they were tired of the MFTs. He called them an international coalition. They spoke about being brothers in arms and told the MFTs were going down on Smackdown next week in the Survivor Series Elimination Match on next week’s Smackdown. Back in the arena, DIY made their ring entrance with Candice LeRae.
3. DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa) vs. Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom): Fraxiom utilized their speed and worked a double team on Ciampa early. They then sent both Ciampa and Gargano to the floor and dove on both of them at ringside. They then delivered back to back splashes on Ciampa, but Gargano was able to break up the fall. Gargano regained control of the match with Frazer as the legal man for Fraxiom. Axiom tagged in, but Gargano quickly delivered a DDT. Ciampa shoved Frazier into the ring steps on the outside…[c]
Frazer took control of the match as the show returned. He took down both Ciampa and Gargano with some fast paced strikes, and then set up for a Phoenix Splash. Gargano moved, and then he and Ciampa landed a Shatter Machine on Frazer for a close near fall. Axiom was able to tag in, but dove directly into a knee from Ciampa. Gargano tagged in and he and Axiom ended up on the top rope together. Axiom delivered a Spanish Fly. Thanks to a distraction on the outside from Ciampa and Frazer fighting, Candice LeRae stole the mask from Axiom, who was quickly pinned by Gargano.
DIY defeated Fraxiom at 8:14
After the match, Gargano celebrated holding the mask. A pre-taped interview then aired between Rhea and Charlotte. Ripley said she’s always respected Charlotte, and what they did was about wanting to be the best. She said if someone asked her who she wanted to go to war with, she’d say Charlotte Flair. Charlotte then got to her feet and said yes. Rhea told Charlotte she could trust her, and they shook hands. In the arena, Finn Balor made his ring entrance…[c]
My Take: Ah, the old “taking my mask off is like exposing a Vampire to the sun” finish. Never gets old. (Yes it does)
Penta made his ring entrance after the show returned.
4. Penta vs. Finn Balor is a Last Time is Now Tournament Match: Balor tried to jump Penta before the bell, but it didn’t work out for him. Balor managed to scramble back to his feet and land some strikes to get back into things. Penta fired back with some strikes of his own and a headstand into a kick in the corner. They battled back and forth until Balor was sent to the floor. Penta then landed a flip dive over the top rope onto Balor on the floor…[c]
Both men fought on the top turnbuckle. Penta knocked Balor down and then delivered a flying cross body. Both men struggled to their feet, and Balor got there first. He delivered some kicks, but Penta fired back with some kicks. Penta then kicked Balor in the back of the head and covered for a near fall. Balor avoided a Penta Driver and delivered an elbow to the chest for a near fall. Penta delivered a series of chops and a tilt a whirl backbreaker.
He then delivered a modified Fisherman’s Buster for a two count. He then wrenched the arm of Balor, but couldn’t execute the Penta Driver. Balor rolled through for a near fall. He then went for a Coup De Grace, but Penta avoided it and landed a pump handle driver for a near fall. After a moment, Penta delivered a Destroyer and covered for the win.
Penta defeated Finn Balor at 10:11
After the match, Penta celebrated his victory. The commentary team then acknowledged the injury to Sheamus, and said that Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were meeting to determine his challenger. It was implied that LA Knight wouldn’t find out until the match. We then got a pretape where Solo and the MFT’s said they would crush Sami and his team next week. Solo then promised that he would put Sami away for good himself. Up next we find out who joins Rhea Ripley’s WarGames team as the final member.
My Take: A good win for Penta. I’m curious who ends up facing LA Knight. Maybe we get a “last chance” Battle Royal on Raw or something. But it would be pretty tough to keep the cat in the bag with Smackdown for next week being taped later tonight.
Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Iyo Sky, and Rhea Ripley made their ring entrances. Rhea grabbed a microphone and the crowd got loud for the women in the ring. She said Nia, Lash, and the Kabuki Warriors found out they were more unified than they thought on Monday, and that was a real problem for them. She then addressed going to war with the right people, and reaffirmed her trust for Iyo, Charlotte and Alexa. Rhea then addressed the missing fifth person, and introduced their fifth member, AJ Lee.
AJ Lee made her entrance, but Nia, Lash, and the Kabuki Warriors jumped everyone else from behind. AJ noticed and made her way to the ring, but got blindsided by Becky Lynch as she got close. The heel team took control and beat down the babyfaces. Becky held Rhea’s feet near the ropes to allow Nia to land the annihilator. Lynch then entered the ring and shook hands with Asuka to become the fifth member of their team officially.
My Take: I do like wrestling TV that closes on a good heat segment. Becky and AJ joining their respective teams was telegraphed on Monday, but it’s the right call and adds considerable star power to the match. Despite neither of the WarGames matches feeling they have enough storyline juice to truly belong in a double cage match, the teams ended up being loaded and the matches should have some surprises in store from a story development standpoint.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to watch tonight as I have Fubo and as of 5 pm Fubo is not carrying NBCUniversal channels. Some sort of contract dispute. I’ll just follow along on here.
Nothing wrong with following along with prowrestling.net, it’s the best site, especially when you’re not near a TV.
Not gonna lie — that was a helluva babyface promo from Cody. It had the fire, he was spitting facts, and it was short and sweet.
I’m sorry but the babyface women all constantly hugging each other and talking about being friends and everything really takes a steam that might have been for War Games. It just ruins the moment. As where the heel women have probably been the most vicious of any War Games team (men or women) in the build to Survivor Series. Good show closing segment with Becky and AJ, and I like the stuff with Cody.
Meant to say takes the steam out of it