By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,362)
September 26, 2025, in Orlando, Florida, at Kia Center
Simulcast live on USA Network and internationally on Netflix
[Hour One] Michael Cole narrated arrival shots of WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, and U.S. Champion Sami Zayn. Cole was joined on commentary by Booker T, who offered his condolences to Corey Graves. Cole said Corey Graves would be out for a couple of weeks after taking a pair of F5’s from Brock Lesnar…
Powell’s POV: Is it wrong to hope for a repeat performance from Brock on Booker T?
A video package recapped WWE Wrestlepalooza. They incorporated a lot of footage of WWE wrestlers appearing on ESPN shows to promote the event…
Paul Heyman stood in the ring and was booed by the fans. Heyman said there was so much to talk about, but they only had two hours. Heyman said everyone who watched WWE Unreal knows that the people at the Gorilla Position were panicking over the possibility of him speaking for two hours, but he said he wouldn’t do that.
Heyman mocked Cody Rhodes by asking the fans what they wanted to talk about. He asked the fans if they wanted to talk about Seth Rollins. An “OTC” chant broke out. Heyman said he would love to talk about Roman Reigns, but it’s disrespectful to speak of the injured.
Heyman asked if they should talk about Bron Breakker, adding that Breakker will headline WrestleMania for five to ten years. He asked if they should talk about the conspiracy theories and rumors regarding Brock Lesnar. Heyman was interrupted by entrance music.
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance. Cole welcomed Booker to the Cody Rhodes experience. Cody got a big ovation and the fans sang his name in European style. Cody said he made a mistake when he referred to Heyman as a goon. Cody said Heyman is one of the smartest men he knows.
Cody said Heyman loves to stir it up, and he has the entire locker room stirred up. Cody asked Heyman to tell him about Brock Lesnar. Cody had the production crew put a shot of Heyman introducing Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza on the big screen.
Cody asked if that looked like the face of someone taking part in a one-night thing. Cody asked if he was talking to an Oracle, a Wiseman, or an Advocate. “You’re talking to The GOAT,” Heyman replied. Heyman said Cody and everyone else know that everyone is in danger when Lesnar is present.
The crowd fired up. Cody turned and saw Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed arriving at ringside. Heyman told Cody that Lesnar wasn’t at the show. “What makes you think you’re not in danger right now?” Heyman asked before heading to the ring apron while Breakker and Reed approached Cody.
Cody said he keeps hearing that Breakker is a WrestleMania main event waiting to happen. Cody said he’d bet that Heyman tells Reed the same thing. Cody said he would have killed to be a Heyman Guy when he was Breakker’s age.
Cody said he grew up the son of a booker, and he grew up around people like Heyman. Cody said he studied Verne (Gagne), Bill Watts, and Eric (Bischoff), and he saw it all. He said you could always tell what they were doing it for and why they were doing it. Cody said no one has figured out Heyman, who smiled while standing on the apron.
Cody asked who Heyman is loyal to. “One thing I can guarantee, it ain’t you,” Cody said. Breakker tore his own shirt off. Cody responded by removing his suit jacket and unbuttoning his sleeves. Cody said it probably wasn’t a good idea, but what the hell?
Cody threw punches at Reed and then Breakker. Cody avoided Reed going for a corner splash, causing Reed to accidentally hit Breakker. Reed tried to scoop up Cody, who slipped away and set him up for CrossRhodes, but Breakker hit Cody. Breakker and Reed put the boots to Cody.
Randy Orton’s entrance music played, and he headed to ringside. Reed met Orton at ringside, but Orton got the better of him. Orton entered the ring and threw punches at Breakker. Orton went for an RKO, but Breakker shoved him toward Reed, who had entered the ring, and Orton put Reed down with an RKO. Cody clotheslined Breakker over the top rope to the floor. Orton picked up Cody’s WWE Championship belt and looked at it before handing it back to him…
Cathy Kelley spoke with “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins at the Gorilla Position. Ford said “psych” to the doubters who thought the brotherhood was over. Yes, they still want the smoke. The Profits made their entrance while being introduced by ring announcer Mark Nash for a No. 1 contenders match heading into a break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A hot opening segment. Any concern I had over Cody’s popularity waning after the live crowd’s flat reaction to his win over Drew McIntyre at Wrestlepalooza was minimized by this live crowd popping huge for him.
Track and field star Noah Lyles was shown in the crowd… The Miz and Carmelo Hayes made their entrance…
1. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. The Miz and Carmelo Hayes for a shot at the WWE Tag Team Titles. The Profits dumped Miz onto Hayes and then cleared Miz from the ring. Dawkins went to ringside and was dropkicked by Hayes, who shook hands with Miz. [C]
Hayes put Ford down with The First 48. Hayes went to the ropes for his finisher. Miz tagged himself into the match, but Hayes grabbed his partner’s hand. Miz asked what he was doing. Dawkins took advantage of the issues between the partners and worked over Miz. Dawkins hit a spinebuster on Miz, and then Ford followed up with a top rope frog splash. Ford covered Miz and got the three count while Hayes watched.
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated The Miz and Carmelo Hayes for a shot at the WWE Tag Team Titles.
After the match, Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross, and WWE Tag Team Champions Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy showed up at ringside and stared at the Profits…
Powell’s POV: There doesn’t seem to be any logic behind the Profits getting a spot in the No. 1 contenders’ match. The duo has worked one eight-man tag match since their last failed shot at the titles at WWE Clash in Paris last month. For what it’s worth, Cole said the Profits would get a show somewhere down the road, but he offered no specifics.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Jade Cargill in a backstage area. Jade said she’s sick of Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax, so it would feel so good when she becomes WWE Women’s Champion later in the show. New Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer entered the picture. Jade told Vaquer that a storm would be coming her way at Crown Jewel…
Women’s U.S. Champion Gulia and Kiana James made their entrance heading into a break… [C]
Footage aired of NBA star Tyrese Haliburton’s appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast… Michin and B-Fab made their entrance…
2. Women’s U.S. Champion Gulia and Kiana James vs. Michin and B-Fab. The crowd was quiet early on. Michin ran across the broadcast table and dropkicked Gulia on the floor heading into a break [C]
Late in the match, Michin hit James with Eat Defeat, but James stumbled into her corner, where Giulia tagged in. Giulia hit Michin with a knee strike and then finished her off with a Northern Lights Bomb…
Women’s U.S. Champion Gulia and Kiana James beat Michin and B-Fab in 10:15.
Powell’s POV: Cole spoke about how he felt bad for Michin because of the way James fell into her corner after being hit with Eat Defeat. I don’t think that’s going to protect Michin in any way, given that she was destroyed by the champion moments later.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were confronted in their dressing room by Zaria and Sol Ruca. Zaria said it was time for her and Ruca to get a shot at the titles. Flair said teams were waiting in line, and they hadn’t earned it.
Zaria said that was funny coming from Flair. Nice. Ruca was apologetic. Bliss spoke about how she and Flair tolerate each other, but they get it together when the bell rings. Bliss told them to prove themselves and get in line until then. Ruca talked Zaria down before they made their exit. Flair told Bliss she was proud of her…
Powell’s POV: For those who don’t watch NXT, Ruca and Zaria are babyfaces. Hopefully, Zaria being confrontational while Ruca tried to play peacemaker is a sign that Zaria will finally turn on Ruca. I like both wrestlers, but I’ve never been a fan of them as a tag team.
Drew McIntyre made his entrance wearing a walking boot over his right foot…
[Hour Two] [C] A video package aired on WWE Crown Jewel and the awful champion vs. champion theme…
Drew McIntyre stood in the ring and spoke about his history in the host venue. He said it was the same arena he should have entered as WWE Champion. McIntyre said he’s not the champion because of Cody Rhodes. McIntyre said he could see in Cody’s eyes that he had him beaten. McIntyre complained about how the referee took six seconds to count a pinfall. McIntyre asked if the referees work for WWE or Cody. McIntyre said he forgave the referee because he has a family to feed, but he blames Cody Rhodes.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis walked out and said he saw some things from McIntyre’s perspective, but he told him not to make excuses because he’s better than that. Aldis said he saw McIntyre kick the broadcast table at Wrestlepalooza. Aldis said McIntyre didn’t get the walking boot from WWE medical. Aldis said the referee’s decision was final, and he was done. Aldis made his exit. McIntyre continued to complain until he was interrupted by entrance music.
Jacob Fatu made his entrance and headed to the ring. Fatu took the mic from McIntyre and said, “Man, shut your ass up.” Fatu said McIntyre comes out and complains every week and blames everyone else. Fatu told him to sit his “peg leg ass down.”
McIntyre took the mic from Fatu. McIntyre said Fatu has had a great run over the last year, but he’s Drew McIntyre. He started to say what he would do if he wasn’t hurt, but Fatu took the mic. Fatu said McIntyre must have forgotten that he’s all gas and no brakes.
McIntyre hit Fatu with a Glasgow Kiss. Fatu sold it for a moment, then turned and superkicked McIntyre. Fatu took the walking boot off of McIntyre’s foot and then hit him over the head with it. Fatu’s music played while Cole said Fatu had the guts to say things to McIntyre that a lot of people have wanted to tell him…
Powell’s POV: They lost the crowd somehow. The fans seemed interested in the verbal exchange, and some were chatting Fatu’s name, but they were really quiet after things got physical for some reason. Nevertheless, I’m really looking forward to seeing them feud.
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was looking in a mirror when Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer entered the room. Vaquer said she would be watching the Triple Threat, and maybe they will meet in the ring at Crown Jewel. Stratton said she respects Vaquer, but if they meet in the ring, it will end with Stratton becoming Crown Jewel Champion. “We’ll see,” Vaquer said before making her exit…
Backstage, Sami Zayn thanked Rey Fenix for their match last week. Fenix wondered who the open challenger would be this week. Zayn said it could be anyone from Smackdown or Raw. He also said it could be anyone while adding that they were in Orlando. It looked like Shinsuke Nakamura was walking in the background. Zayn made his entrance… [C]
A Solo Sikoa video aired. Tonga Loa was standing behind Solo, who spoke about JC Mateo, who then stood next to Loa. Solo praised Mateo and then said loyalty would be rewarded for anyone in his family tree. “I love you, Solo,” Mateo said…
Je’Von Evans made his entrance as Sami Zayn’s opponent…
Powell’s POV: Yes, I’m wearing glasses. Oops. Hey, it was dark backstage when I thought it was Nakamura, so give a guy a break!
3. Sami Zayn vs. Je’Von Evans for the U.S. Championship. Cole noted that Evans has a match on Saturday’s NXT No Mercy card. Josh Briggs, who will face Evans at No Mercy, was shown in the crowd. Some fans chanted NXT as the match started. Some fans chanted NXT as the match started. Evans dropkicked Zayn, who rolled to the floor. Evans set up for a dive, but Zayn returned to the ring and clotheslined him. [C]
Evans caught Zayn on the top rope with a huracanrana. Evans covered Zayn for a close near fall. A “this is awesome” chant followed. Zayn came back with an exploder suplex. Zayn followed up with a Helluva Kick attempt, but Evans cut him off with a flying knee. Evans went for a top rope corkscrew dive, but Zayn moved. Evans avoided a Helluva Kick. Evans performed a double rope jump into an OG Cutter for another great near fall. Evans jumped over the top rope and rolled through when Zayn avoided it. Zayn connected with a Helluva Kick and then hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for the win.
Sami Zayn defeated Je’Von Evans in 10:20 to retain the U.S. Championship.
After the match, Zayn pulled Evans up to his knees and then pointed at him. Once they stood up, Zayn raised Evans’ arm before leaving the ring. Zayn looked back at Evans from the floor and nodded…
Powell’s POV: Another fun open challenge match from Zayn, and a really good performance by Evans. This was a nice follow-up to Zayn appearing at the NXT Homecoming show and giving Evans a nice pep talk. The 21-year-old Evans is special and has the potential to be a main roster star for years to come.
Backstage, Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre approached Nia Jax with a job opening flyer. Green spoke to Jax about joining the Secret Hervice. Jax tore the flyer in half and walked away. Stephanie Vaquer approached Jax, who said she could drop Vaquer where she stood, but she’d rather do it when Vaquer is standing across the ring from her as the new WWE Women’s Champion. Cole said the match was up next…
An NXT No Mercy ad aired for Saturday’s premium live event on Peacock or Netflix internationally… [C] Cole congratulated Hardy on the release of his new album…
Damian Priest approached Kit Wilson, who was seated with his arm in a sling. Name graphics were shown for both men. Aleister Black was shown standing behind Priest. Wilson stood up and shoved Priest a few times while telling him that he was toxic. When Priest took a step forward, Wilson tripped over his wheelchair. “This is you trippin, huh?” Priest asked.
Black stood behind Priest and asked if he was looking for him. Priest wound punch while turning around, but Black caught him with a kick. Black sat down next to the fallen Priest. Black said it looked like they were getting somewhere now. He mentioned something about how only one of them was standing, then wished Priest a happy birthday…
Jade Cargill and Nia Jax made their entrances for the main event, and then the champion followed. Cole ran through several stats about how successful Stratton has been…
4. Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax in a Triple Threat for the WWE Women’s Championship. Mark Nash delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Stratton took offensive control during the opening seconds, and then the show cut to a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Stratton went for a suicide dive, but her feet hit the top rope, causing her to come up short (or at least not hit the move full force), but Jax sold it anyway. Cargill hit Stratton with a fallaway slam on the floor before rolling her back in the ring. Jax shoved Jade into the ring post. Jax entered the ring and told Stratton it was over. Jax hit a corner splash and set up for another, but Jade cut her off.
Jade hit Stratton with a pump-handle slam and covered her, but Jax broke up the pin. Stratton came back and had both women down. Jade rolled out of the way, but Stratton hit Jax with a Swanton. When Stratton stood up, Jade superkicked her back on top of Jax, then watched as Stratton got a two count. All three wrestlers were doing before another PIP break. [C]
Stratton and Jade performed a double superplex on Jax coming out of the break. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Stratton went for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on both opponents, but she only hit Jax after Jade rolled out of the way. Stratton had Jax pinned, but Jade broke it up.
Stratton went for her handspring elbow, but Jade caught her. Jade hit Jaded and went for the pin, but Jax pulled the referee out of the ring to stop the count. Cole pointed out that there are no disqualifications in a Triple Threat. Jade cleared the broadcast table. Jade tried to hoist Jax up on her shoulders, but she couldn’t get her up. Jax shoved Jade into the ring steps.
Jax stood on the bottom half of the ring steps and tried to suplex Jade, who stuffed it. Jade got Nax on her back and performed a Samoan Drop on the bottom half of the ring steps. Jade had a bloody eye and yelled into the camera that it’s her time. The referee tended to Jade’s cut.
Jade and Jax returned to the ring. Jade hit the Eye of the Storm on Jax, who kicked out. Stratton took out Jade with a dropkick and covered Jax, and should have had the three count, but the referee oddly stopped her count for some reason. Jax spoke to the referee. Stratton hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and then pinned Jax.
Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax and Jade Cargill in 14:00 in a Triple Threat to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
After the match, Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance and went face-to-face with Stratton after Cole said their match is official for Crown Jewel. The executive producer credits were shown as both women held up their title belts while jawing at one another. Cole thanked Booker for joining him. Booker thanked Cole, who said maybe he’d see Booker next week. Booker laughed hard for reasons only Booker would understand…
Powell’s POV: Jade suffered the cut when Jax ran her into the ring steps. It was a nasty cut, and she deserves credit for finishing the match and showing great fire when she yelled into the camera right after being cut. I’m not sure why the referee stopped her count, but she seemed apologetic. I’m sure nobody feels worse if it was her mistake. Obviously, there were a couple of rough moments, but all three wrestlers worked hard. It’s a pleasant surprise that we’re getting Stratton vs. Vaquer at Crown Jewel. I thought they were having this Triple Threat match to have Jax win the title to avoid giving away the first Stratton vs. Vaquer match.
Overall, this was a good episode. I will be back shortly with my weekly same-night audio review of Smackdown for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Join John Moore for his live review of NXT No Mercy on Saturday night.
NXT and Dynamite ratings both got adjusted WAY down. Not sure where they were coming from, but the Nielsen numbers weren’t showing up on the real sources (like Programming Insider) until much later than usual.
Dynamite appears to have hit a new low in the demo.
Relax. I can only do one thing at a time.
I’ll keep an eye on things, but here’s what Brandon Thurston wrote on Wrestlenomics: The data here is unchanged from what we initially reported. I’m aware Programming Insider has reported lower numbers for both this episode of Dynamite and this past Tuesday’s NXT. PWTorch independently reported data for Dynamite that is consistent with the data for Dynamite that we’ve sourced separately here. I also have data for other cable programs on Wednesday that are broadly different from what Programming Insider reported for Wednesday. I’ve brought this to the attention of Douglas Pucci, who reports ratings for Programming Insider. He suggested it’s possible his sourcing at the moment is based on panel-only data (which refers to the changes Nielsen announced earlier this month) and that he would get weekly numbers later that might be updated.
If this is any help, as of Friday evening, Wrestlenomics is still sticking with 707,000 viewers for NXT & 638,000 for Dynamite. They heard about the lower numbers but they checked with their sources & are sticking with the original ratings.
Some days I use my phone to count my steps. Other days I forget Either way I know at the end of the day if I feel like I exercised enough
I don’t think with the new Neilson ratings plus the streaming numbers (not to even mention online views) we can really say we know how many people are watching
But we know what our eyes tell us. AEW has a small but mighty fan base, but they haven’t grown in years. WWE has a bazillion dollars and is more interested in making another bazillion dollars than they are doing anything even slightly interesting.
Outside of the advancements in women’s wrestling (and by that I am referring to in ring improvements over the past decade) this is NOT a golden era in wrestling
You said it. I’ve been watching since the 60s and I’m more bored with it than I have ever been. It’s predictable to a fault, and part of that in my opinion is they think if they do something that isn’t predictable the IWC will take a dump on it.
Jason, you weren’t wrong about Nakamura. It was him in the background during Sami’s promo. He did the same thing in Paris a few weeks ago.