WWE Smackdown results (10/17): Barnett’s live review of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles

By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)

WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,365)
October 17, 2025, in San Jose, California, at SAP Center
Simulcast live on USA Network (Netflix internationally)

A recap of the events from Crown Jewel Perth opened the show. It then transitioned to the events of Monday Night Raw and the attack on Seth Rollins by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Nick Aldis then opened the show from the ring and welcomed the crowd to the show. He addressed the match scheduled between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre. He said that match was now a number one contender match for the WWE Championship, and the winner will face this man…

Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance with his full pyro experience. Vic Joseph and Corey Graves joined the show at the commentary desk. Cody acknowledged that Seth Rollins beat him, and it split him to the bone to do so. He said after everything he’s been through with Seth Rolllins, he’s not sure they need to get in the ring together again, but that’s not how it works around here. Rhodes said Seth has his own problems to take care of, and he would take care of Smackdown problems.

He then pivoted to his new challengers, and asked the crowd if it should be Drew McIntyre (boo) or someone they are familiar with in Jacob Fatu (cheer). Rhodes then said that regardless of who wins, the road to the WWE Championship leads through San Jose tonight.

Backstage, Solo and his family attacked Rey Fenix backstage as he was in the process of doing a photo shoot. They wanted him to be done, and he refused. The family beat him up, and then walked away when officials intervened. Back in the arena, Charlotte Flair made her entrance with Alexa Bliss…[c]

My Take: It’s interesting that Fatu and McIntyre was made a number one contender’s match after all the injury rumors around Fatu? Maybe they were simply unfounded? Otherwise we could be in for some shenanigans later.

Zaria made her entrance along with Sol Ruca. Blake Monroe was shown in the crowd.

1. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Zaria and Sol Ruca for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Sol Ruca and Charlotte started the match. Ruca cartwheeled away from Charlotte’s attacks early on. Charlotte landed a kick to Zaria on the apron and then delivered some chops to Ruca in the corner. Alexa Bliss tagged in, and Zaria followed quickly after. Bliss applied a sleeper, but Zaria powered out of it. Bliss landed a sequence of strikes followed by a dropkick. Zaria was undeterred and landed a spinebuster shortly afterward…[c]

Zaria and Ruca controlled the action during the break and isolated Bliss in their corner. Blake Monroe was shown again in the crowd. Zaria created some separation from Zaria with some kicks in the corner. Zaria shut down the tag attempt at the last moment and tagged in Ruca. She tagged in and performed a spin and a suplex. Ruca and Zaria attempted a double team splash, but Bliss avoided it and made the hot tag a moment later. Charlotte took out both challengers with a cross body and then delivered chops to both women.

She then performed a front walkover clothesline and a trio of kicks. Flair then landed a vertical suplex and popped back up to her feet. She then slammed Zario into the second turnbuckle and covered for a two count. Ruca managed to tag in a moment later and managed to land a Sol Snatcher, but Bliss prevented the cover. The action then spilled outside, where Zaria slammed Bliss into the barricade. Ruca then took out Charlotte with a moonsault.

Blake Monroe caused a distraction and diverted Ruca’s attention. Flair then attacked with a chop block. She then pulled Ruca back into the ring for a Figure Eight. Ruca was forced to tap out.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss retained the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at 11:24

After the match, Cody ran into Jacob Fatu backstage. Fatu said when he was done Dog Walking Drew all over the bay area, he would find out that Jacob Fatu was all gas and no braked with it. We’ll hear from Aleister Black and Zelina Vega next…[c]

My Take: There were a couple of clunky moments in there, but mostly a strong performance from both teams. Charlotte and Alexa could use a more serious feud at this point. I think the odd couple aspect of their act could use some new wrinkles that could be driven by tougher competition.

Aleister Black said he has been setting this in motion for months, and he’s never felt more accomplished than when he reunited with his wife. Black said he’s not a fan of putting all his cards on the table, but he would say that they are necessary for the balance. Vega said that they are not the infection, but the mirror on the disease. We then got a video package of the MFTs attacking Sami Zayn during his match with Shinsuke Nakamura last week.

Elsewhere, Sami Zayn approached Nick Aldis and questioned why he didn’t have a US Title match tonight. Aldis said Nakamura deserved a rematch, and he was concerned about what the MFTs did to both of them last week. Zayn said the title open challenge meant something to him, the locker room, and the fans, and he was going out there to defend his title. Aldis then turned to The Miz and asked him if he needed anything, and Miz smirked and said he was good…[c]

My Take: I guess we’ll see if Vega and Black can turn their partnership into something cohesive. They are going for dark and mysterious, which can work if they actually communicate an ethos. If it’s more vague psuedoprofundity I’ll be bummed out.

Sami Zayn made his entrance for the US Title Open Challenge. The Miz then appeared to challenge him. He got on the microphone and said he was sick of the open challenges. He was then quickly attacked by Carmelo Hayes, who ran the Miz off the stage. Ilja Dragunov then appeared and made his way to the ring for the open challenge. He wore a heavy knee brace.

2. Ilja Dragunov vs. Sami Zayn for the US Championship: Sami offered a handshake, which Ijla accepted. They then traded forearms and back elbows, and both men were left holding their jaws. Both men then traded reversals until Dragunov fired up and landed a heavy knee strike and a running thrust kick…[c]

Zayn controlled the pace during the break and delivered a lariat for a two count as the show returned. Both men traded blows on their feet and Dragunov got the better of it. Zayn fired back with DDT out of the corner. He then set up for a Heluva Kick, but Dragunov cut him down with a jumping kick for a near fall. He then followed up with two German suplexes. Sami countered a third attempt with a roll up for a near fall. He followed that up with two German suplexes of his own.

Dragunov landed some elbow strikes and a back suplex. He covered, but failed to hook the leg and Sami kicked out at two. Dragunov then went to the top rope, but Sami moved when he jumped. Zayn grabbed Ilja for a Michinoku Driver and got a close near fall. Dragunov rolled to the apron and picked up Sami in a Fireman’s carry. Zayn battled out and delivered a DDT, which turned into driving Dragunov’s shoulder into the middle rope…[c]

Zayn and Dragunov battled on the turnbuckle in the corner. Dragunov knocked down Zayn and then landed a senton and covered for a close near fall. A recap video was shown of Zayn and Dragunov beating the crap out of each other during the break. They battled onto a turnbuckle again, and Dragnov landed a superplex. Dragunov went for an H-Bomb, but Sami got a boot up. He then went for a Heluva Kick, but Dragunov avoided it and landed a back suplex for a near fall.

Dragunov landed a big knee and covered for a close near fall. After some back and forth, he landed a discus lariat for another near fall. Dragunov went for Torpedo Moscow, but got intercepted by a kick. Zayn then landed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a big near fall. Zayn backed into the corner for a Heluva Kick, but Solo Sikoa appeared on the stage. Sami asked him what the hell he was doing. Dragunov charged, but Sami caught him with a suplex. He lined up with a Heluva Kick, but Ilja intercepted him with a Torpedo Moscow. He then landed an H-Bomb and got the win.

Ilja Dragunov defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship at 18:55

After the match, Ilja Dragunov celebrated briefly. Sami offered a handshake, but before Ilja could accept, both men were attacked by the MFTs. Rey Fenix ran down to get his revenge from earlier, but got his ass whooped for his trouble. Solo then got in the microphone and asked if everyone forgot. He said MFTs run Smackdown and they are going to get back everything that his family has lost, and he will make his family tree champions again.

The light in the building then went out, and the Wyatt Six appeared on the screen. They said seek and you shall find, but you may not be ready for what’s waiting on the other side. They then appeared on the apron, and got in the ring to confront the MFTs. Solo decided to bail and they left the ring…[c]

My Take: That was an excellent match from Ilja and Sami. Hopefully they keep the Open Challenge going, because it has been one of the segments you can look forward to week to week on Smackdown. The jury is out on whether the MFTs vs. Wyatt Six will be good. It’s two relatively boring factions colliding, so I’m a skeptic.

Tiffany Stratton appeared backstage and said one loss wouldn’t derail her career. Kiana James walked up and said Tiffany’s loss is why she advertised her services to Stephanie Vaquer and not to her. Tiffany said she represents people because she doesn’t have “it”. Kiana said she can get the job done in the ring, and Stratton said she should prove it in the ring next week. James accepted the match.

Elsewhere, the Motor City Machine Guns were shown backstage filming something for their one year anniversary in WWE. Los Garza walked up and talked trash, and this set up some bad jokes and a match between the two teams. The Guns made their entrance in the arena for the next match, followed by Los Garza.

3. Angel and Humberto “Los Garza” vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin “The Motor City Machine Guns”: Los Garza dominated the early going and isolated Alex Shelley…[c]

Shelly landed a neckbreaker on Angel to try and create some space. He broke free from Berto and made the hot tag to Sabin. He landed a double clothesline and then pulled Berto into a crucifix pin for a two count. Shelley and Sabin made sequential tags and landed superkicks on Berto. Berto fired back with a powerbomb on Sabin for a two count.

Angel tagged in and Los Garza landed a double team Gory Special into a cutter. Shelley had to run in to break up the fall. Both Machine Guns got sent to the floor, and Berto landed a dive onto both of them. Things picked up speed as Shelley sent Berto to the floor. After a quick tag sequence, the Guns landed Skull and Bones and got the win when Shelley pinned Angel.

Motor City Machine Guns defeated Los Garza at 9:23

Backstage, Nathan Frazier and Axiom argued about when to make their run for the tag team titles. DIY walked up and said they had spent the last few months biding their time while The Street Profits proved that they are who they thought they were, and the Wyatt’s treat every week like it’s Halloween. DIY made fun of Axiom’s mask, and he told them they could meet in the ring.

Jacob Fatu’s music hit, but the scene cut to backstage where he was found with some teeth and blood on the floor next to him and some equipment tipped over on him…[c]

My Take: Well, there it is. No match for Fatu, so the injury rumors appear to be true. The Guns and Los Garza had a decent match but the outcome was never in question.

Fatu was asked if he saw anything that happened backstage. Drew McIntyre made his entrance in the arena with a big grin on his face. Drew then grabbed a microphone and addressed the crowd. He said it appears your boy “Bleeding Gums” Fatu is all gas and no brakes. He demanded the referee raise his hand as the new number one contender. Nick Aldis walked out and said if he found out he had anything to do with it, but McIntyre interrupted him and said it wasn’t him. McIntyre begged Aldis to say that he wasn’t working for Corporate Cody.

Rhodes then appeared and said they weren’t doing this. He said these fans don’t want to hear him talk, they want a number one contender match, and demanded he fight him on the spot. Rhodes and McIntyre then started to brawl…[c]

Cody and Drew ended up back in the ring, and the official called for the bell.

4. Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre: Drew tossed Cody across the ring and tried to catch his breath. Rhodes then grabbed a double leg and threw some punches. McIntyre replied with a hard right hand of his own and then delivered a release vertical suplex. The commentary team attempted to determine if this was a title match, but agreed they didn’t know.

McIntyre landed a Future Shock DDT and covered for a two count. He dominated the next few minutes with heavy strikes. Rhodes started a comeback with a drop down punch and then delivered a Cody Cutter. McIntyre rolled to the apron. Rhodes attempted a dive, but got cut off with a forearm. McIntyre threw Rhodes into the timekeeper’s area, but as McIntyre approached, Cody decked him with the World Title. The bell rang for a DQ.

Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes by DQ at 5:56

Cody cleared off the announce table and prepared to perform a CrossRhodes, but officials arrived to break up the fight. Rhodes climbed to the top rope and dove onto McIntyre and the gathered officials. Cody then stood tall to close the show.

My Take: That was a wild close to the show. McIntyre getting another title shot makes sense, but I think he really should win this one. He’s consistently one of the best characters on the show, and Cody could use a bit of time as a challenger to reinvigorate himself.