By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,372)
December 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas, at Moody Center
Simulcast live on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
A video recap of Survivor Series was shown at the top of the show. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair were shown walking into the building, along with the Kabuki Warriors. LA Knight and Gunther were then shown. Drew McIntyre got out of a pickup truck, and then got confronted immediately by Nick Aldis. McIntyre thought his win at WarGames ended his suspension, but Aldis told him to get out of the building. He got back into his truck, but was immediately assaulted by Cody Rhodes.
Security separated the men, and Drew eventually peeled out and left the building. Cody then made his way back into the building and walked out into the arena. He took off his jacket and grabbed a microphone. He told Nick Aldis to reinstate Drew McIntyre. Cody accused Drew of breaking an unwritten rule by entering his bus where his wife sleeps and children play. He called Drew WWE’s resident cockroach and demanded another fight with McIntyre in a WWE ring so he can do what everyone does with cockroaches and stomp him out.
Backstage, DIY talked amongst themselves. Ciampa said he wanted his US Title shot, and Gargano said once he’s through with Dragunov they could take back their tag team titles. Ciampa didn’t seem excited about that idea. Camelo Hayes walked up and told Ciampa to cool his jets because he has next. Dragunov made his entrance in the arena and will face Carmelo Hayes next…[c]
My Take: A busy opening segment. I guess we’re getting another Drew and Cody match. Perhaps at Saturday Night’s Main Event, or maybe as a Smackdown match.
A video package from Damien Priest aired. He called Aleister delusional for thinking he could burn his face and not suffer any consequences. Rhea Ripley appeared next to him as a counter to Zelina Vega, and said she would be by his side after all they’d been through together. They said they would face Black and Zelina next week and they would learn why no one survives the Terror Twins. In the arena, Carmelo Hayes made his entrance for the opening match.
1. Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes in a United States Championship Match: Dragunov got the advantage in the early going with some strikes and chops in the corner. Hayes attempted to return fire, but got stuffed with a big boot. Dragunov was sent to the apron with a superkick, but recovered quickly and chopped Hayes down as he attempted a springboard move. He then went to the top rope, but Hayes slammed him down. Dragunov intercepted Hayes on the top rope and kicked him out to the floor. Hayes sold his knee heading into the break…[c]
Dragunov dominated during the break and delivered a German Suplex as the show returned, followed by a second. Hayes fired back with some elbows and chops, followed by a knee. He then delivered a springboard clothesline and a tilt a whirl facebuster for a near fall. Hayes then went for a First 48, but Dragunov reversed into a powerbomb to regain his composure. He went for an H-Bomb, but Hayes got the knees up and rolled him up for a two count. Dragunov replied with a chokeslam, and both men were down.
Hayes kicked Dragunov off the top rope and sent him to the floor. As Dragunov climbed onto the apron, Hayes delivered a springboard DDT and then went to the top rope. Ciampa then sprinted from the crowd and knocked Hayes from the top rope. The referee didn’t notice this and Ciampa retreated behind the timekeeper’s table. Dragunov delivered a Torpedo Moscow and an H-Bomb and got the win.
Ilja Dragnov defeated Carmelo Hayes at 10:33 to retain the US Championship
Dragunov saw the replay on the screen and was beside himself as he headed to the back. Charlotte and Alexa were interviewed backstage. Flair said that she joined the Wargames Team because Alexa couldn’t have done it without her. Bliss sarcastically said WarGames was good for Charlotte’s social skills, and it actually did make them stronger. Bliss said they hadn’t forgotten about the Tag Team Championships and beating Kairi Sane tonight. A highlight package from the Last Time is Now tournament is up next…[c]
My Take: A very good match from Hayes and Dragunov. It was good to see Hayes getting a big babyface reaction from live crowds. It seems like people are coming around for him after he struggled to make a connection for a while.
The highlight package aired for the Last Time is Now tournament. Cathy Kelly interviewed LA Knight backstage, and he said that he didn’t care about dream opponents. He cared about cementing his legacy, and defeating John Cena would do that. Knight then spoke about Gunther’s many accomplishments, and called himself an unstoppable force that he wouldn’t be able to overcome. He said Gunther would get dropped on his head like everybody else. In the arena, Kairi Sane made her ring entrance with Asuka. She will face Alexa Bliss next…[c]
A video recap of John Cena vs. AJ Styles from Royal Rumble 2017 was shown. Alexa Bliss then made her ring entrance with Charlotte Flair.
2. Alexa Bliss (w/Charlotte Flair) vs. Kairi Sane (w/Asuka): Kairi landed some strikes early on and mocked Bliss with some taunts. Bliss got angry enough to slap her a couple of times, but Kairi quickly regained control after some distraction and interference from Asuka. The action spilled outside where Sane tossed Bliss into the barricade…[c]
Kairi delivered a double stomp from the corner as Bliss hung from the ropes for a near fall. Bliss fired back with a series of kicks and a Natural Selection borrowed from Charlotte. She lined up for Sister Abigail, but Sane rolled up Bliss for a near fall. Charlotte and Asuka fought on the outside, and Sane caught Bliss with a backfist. She attempted an Insane Elbow, but Alexa avoided it and landed Sister Abigail for the win.
Alexa Bliss defeated Kairi Sane at 8:23
After the match, Nia Jax and Lash Legend attacked Charlotte and Alexa from behind. Lash leveled Bliss with a big clothesline and then Jax delivered a big Samoan Drop to Charlotte. They turned their attention to Sane, but Asuka entered the ring and put up a fight. Sane and Asuka were quickly overpowered, and Asuka had to save Sane from an Annihilator in desperation. Jax and Legend held up the Women’s Tag Championships to end the segment.
Cody and Nick Aldis met backstage with Oba Femi and Ricky Saints. Femi and Saints didn’t know why they were there, and Cody revealed to them that the winner of their match at NXT Deadline will face him at Saturday Night’s Main Event. In the arena, Jade Cargill made her entrance for the next match. She will face Alba Fyre next…[c]
My Take: That’s a nice hook for NXT Deadline that the winner of the main event faces Cody at SNME. Sane and Bliss was a decent match. I assume the segment sets up a triple threat for the Women’s Tag Titles coming up soon.
Backstage, Nia Jax and Lash Legend said they were coming after the Tag Team Titles, and there was nothing anybody in the division could do about it. Alba Fyre was in the ring with Chelsea Green, as a recap of Jade Cargill destroying Chelsea and Alba last week.
3. Alba Fyre (w/Chelsea Green) vs. Jade Cargill: Fyre got an early advantage due to a Chelsea Green cheap shot. Guilia and Kiana James approached from behind Chelsea and assaulted her. Jade used the commotion to land a spinebuster, followed by a pump kick. She then finished off Fyre with a Jaded.
Jade Cargill defeated Alba Fyre at 1:29
After the match, Jade celebrated while Fyre recovered. Backstage, Fraxiom asked for a chance to get their hands on DIY. Ilja Dragunov walked up frustrated. He said he wanted to get his hands on Ciampa next week, and Aldis made the match. Dragunov said Fraxiom could have whatever was left of him. Tama Tonga then confronted Dragunov as he turned around, but Solo prevented a fight from breaking out. The MFTs are up next…[c]
My Take: Dragunov vs. Ciampa should be a hoot. I’m curious if we’re getting more MFTs vs. the Wyatt Sicks as their next feud.
Jade Cargill ran into B-Fab backstage, but Michin interrupted their conversation. This quickly devolved into Jade asking Nick Aldis for a match between them. Jade said she would get stepped on. In the arena, the MFTs made their entrance. In the ring, Solo said they told everyone they would take care of the Sami Zayn problem and that’s exactly what they did.
Since Sami was done, his family can finally move forward. He then addressed the Wyatt Sicks, and said he had seen Uncle Howdy watching them, but he’s been watching him too. Solo introduced himself to Howdy, and said this was his ring, his show, and his family tree. He then said the tag team titles belong to his family, and since he wanted to attack from behind, he’d have to learn that the difference between them is that when he attacks people they don’t come back.
Solo demanded Howdy listen closely, and told him that everything that was “his” that was now “yours” will belong to Solo. He said they would take everything from him, and all that he had to do was Bo-lieve. The lights then went out in the arena as the Wyatt’s appeared in the ring. Solo and Howdy had a staredown. A brawl broke out between all of them. Erick Rowan and Talla Tonga traded blows, and Tonga was driven to the floor by a big boot. The Wyatt Sicks stood tall to end the segment.
The Miz had a conversation with Nick Aldis backstage. Miz complained about Saturday Night’s Main Event, and how he wasn’t booked. Aldis told him not just anyone can get booked on SNME. Bayley walked in and asked about her match at SNME, and Miz left in a huff. Aldis introduced her opponent, who turned out to be Sol Ruca. Bayley said the main roster is a different level, and Ruca said she was ready. Bayley promised to watch her match at NXT Deadline tomorrow.
Elsewhere, Gunther was interviewed and told John Cena to pay attention closely. Not to the fact that he will defeat LA Knight, but for how he will defeat LA Knight…[c]
My Take: Crowds love the Wyatts and they responded well to the brawl with the MFTs. I think the window of opportunity is short with this feud, and they should capitalize on it and move on as quickly as they can. Showcasing promising young talent on John Cena’s final appearance is smart. I guess Cena gets his wish after all, even if he’s not facing a young upstart.
A response to Damien Priest from Aleister Black aired. He said Priest stood by people who claimed to be his friend that lied to him. Black said he was an enemy, but he was honest about it. Zelina walked in and called Rhea a succubus who tempted him to return to his old life. They claimed that they would guide them to the fire next week. Alexa Bliss vs. Lash Legend and Dragunov vs. Ciampa were advertised for next week. We then got an interview snippet from John Cena.
LA Knight made his ring entrance for the Main Event. He was followed by Gunther. Full ring introductions were made.
4. LA Knight vs. Gunther in a Last Time is Now Final: Gunther shoved Knight to start the match, and Knight returned fire with a combo of strikes and chops. They went for their finishing moves early on, and both men escaped. The action spilled to the floor where Knight sent Gunther into the announce table repeatedly. He then threw him over the announce table and fired up the crowd. Gunther regained control once the match returned to the ring with a big lariat.
They went back and forth with some strikes. Gunther applied a sleeper momentarily, but Knight fought free and sent the action back to the floor. Gunther suplexed Knight onto the apron and then delivered some knee strikes. The pace slowed down as Gunther remained in control. He threw Knight into the turnbuckles and he crumpled to the mat after bouncing off…[c]
Knight landed some chops and delivered a running knee in the corner as the show returned from commercial. Gunther attempted a sleeper, but Gunther came back with a shotgun dropkick. He then went for a powerbomb, but Knight countered into a DDT. Knight followed up with an elbow drop from the top rope for a close near fall. He then went for BFT again, but Gunther replied with a German Suplex.
The ref checked on Knight’s neck, and Gunther quickly attacked with a neck twist. He then stomped on Knight’s Neck and went to the top rope. Knight met Gunther in the corner and traded strikes. Gunther blocked the suplex and shoved Knight to the mat. He then delivered two top rope splashes in a row for a close near fall. He then delivered a powerbomb for another near fall. Gunther landed a lariat, and then stalked Knight from the corner.
Gunther attempted a sleeper, but Knight countered into a BFT. He made a cover, but Gunther got his foot on the rope to break the count. Gunther managed to apply a Sleeper for a moment and then took a break to land some elbows to Knight’s neck. He then reapplied the Sleeper, but Knight still fought to his feet. He picked up Gunther, but elbows to the neck took down Knight to end the rally. Gunther then applied a cravate and forced Knight to tap out.
Gunther defeated LA Knight at 17:54
After the match, Gunther spoke into the camera and told John Cena that he would finally give up and tap out.
My Take: A good match to end the tournament. This was always the most logical outcome once Gunther was revealed to be participating, and it sets up some interesting possibilities for the Rumble and WrestleMania. The question is whether we get Super Cena one last time, or if they let Gunther retire both Goldberg and Cena in a single year. I could understand arguments for both.
LA Knight needed that win. Hopefully he lands a world title shot.
Awfully rich, if rumors of Knight rubbing backstage people the wrong way, and that’s why they’re not putting the championship on him, considering Triple H was a Kliq member and HBK’s familiar.
If the Wyatt Sicks with MFT, doesn’t MFT need to add a female member so she could fight Nikki Cross? Only one that makes sense would Nia Jax since she is related to Solo.
Makes sense,but Nia’s with Lash unless Lash joins too.They apparently don’t have to be all related because JC Mateo is certainly not.And then they could have Tatum Paxley in with the Wyatts perhaps.