SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 3, 2025
CINCINNATI, OHIO AT HERITAGE BANK CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports that 7,352 tickets were distributed as of right before showtime. The arena has a capacity of 17,556 spectators when configured for concerts. The previous visit (2/24/2025) drew 12,286. So attendance is 5,000 below eight months ago.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Eric Corbridge to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIP MEMBER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
LINK TO BE A VIP CALLER: https://streamyard.com/i4xudsytsm
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
[HOUR ONE]
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed an aerial view of Cincinnati. He talked about local sports happenings with football.
-Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance. Cole introduced Booker T as his commentator, noting Corey Graves was still out due to the Brock Lesnar attack. Cody asked what everyone wanted to talk about. Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed showed up on the ring apron. Randy Orton then suddenly showed up next to Cody. The camera work was “cute” in that it took an angle that hid Orton entering the ring until he stood next to Cody.
Heyman introduced himself. He said the came out there to talk to Orton, not Cody. He said Orton hasn’t been replying to his texts, calls, or emails. He said he knew if they cornered Cody, Orton would appear. Fans chanted, “RKO!” Heyman paused, then told the fans he didn’t care what they wanted. He told Orton and Cody that they are losing to his men later. “That’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler,” he said. He said Cody and Orton “cannot last.” He said they’ll blame each other for their loss later. Heyman concluded: “That’s not a prediction from an oracle, that is a prophesy.” He tossed down the mic as Cody and Orton side-eyed each other and soaked up Heyman’s words. Cody seemed especially distressed. Cole said they each have something to think about.
-They showed Tiffany Stratton outside the venue as Cole plugged her contract signing.
-The Miz confronted Carmelo Hayes and complained he wasn’t there for him last week. Hayes told Miz he should have kicked out. Miz said he took three finishers and it’s clear he doesn’t understand what tag team partners do for each other. Hayes said Miz is always standing in his way. “This is done,” Hayes said. Miz took exception to Hayes saying to him it’s done. Hayes said he’s being cool about this “because usually I shoot first.”
-Sami Zayn made his entrance. [c]
-They showed two Cincinnati Bengals at ringside standing and clapping.
-Carmelo Hayes made his ring entrance as the reveal of who Sami’s challenger was. Hayes said they had a match already, but this time he doesn’t have anyone holding him back or clouding his vision. He said he is the best he has ever been. He said he will show him why he is “Him.” Miz came up behind Hayes and gave him a Skull Crushing Finale onto the stage floor. Officials came out to check on him. Aleister Black walked past the crowd. Black said, “This is so unfortunate.” He said he’ll take Hayes’s place. “Oooh, I like this,” said Cole.
(1) SAMI ZAYN vs. ALEISTER BLACK – U.S. Title Open Challenge match
The bell rang 18 minutes into the hour. Black dominated the early minutes as the announcers touted his striking. Booker said Black can cash in and “shock the world” by winning the championship. (Why would Black winning “shock the world”? It’s not like he’s some rookie or loser?) [c]
Sami was in control after the break. Cole asked what being U.S. Champion means. Here’s Booker’s response: “It means everything. But like Sami, he’s carrying it a little different. Like I say, even if Sami didn’t have that championship, people would still look at him at the people’s champion because he fights every night, he gives it 100 percent; that’s what this championship is all about.”
Black made a comeback and landed a German suplex into a bridge for a near fall. Cole said Black was looking increasingly frustrated. Black blocked a Sami attempt at a Blue Thunder Bomb and landed a high knee and a two count. Sami landed a superplex. Both men were down and slow to get up. Cole called it a critical moment in the match. They cut to a break at 10:00. [c]
Back from the break, Sami fought off Black and leaped off the top rope. Black caught him mid-air with a knee to the head. Black avoided a Helluva Kick and then landed a quick Meteora off the second rope for a near fall. Black showed more frustration. They zoomed in on Black as fans went bonkers behind him. Damien Priest walked to ringside. Sami gave a distracted Black a Helluva Kick and then a Blue Thunder Bomb for the win.
WINNER: Sami in 16:00 to retain the U.S. Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Nice match. I wouldn’t have minded a shift to Black as U.S. Champ, but I’m more in favor of Sami’s Open Challenge series continuing. I wish WWE worked harder to find more opportunities for clean finishes rather than copout finishes like this when you don’t want Black to lose cleanly but you want to keep Sami as champ.)
-Priest dragged Black out of the ring and gave him a Razor’s Edge onto the announce table. Priest stood over him and raised his arms.
-Earlier, as G.M. Nick Aldis was talking to Sol Ruca and Zaria, Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre interrupted. Green offered themselves a chance to join her Secret Hervice, but they’d have to prove themselves. They said they weren’t interested. Green stomped her feet. Ruca and Zaria asked for a tag match against them. Aldis said he liked that idea. Green threw another fit.
-As Green and Fyre made their entrance, Cole said it was a big match for both teams as they jockey for a tag team title opportunity down the road. [c]
(2) CHELSEA GREEN & ALBA FYRE vs. SOL RUCA & ZARIA
The bell rang 44 minutes into the hour. Booker T said Ruca is “out there doing it at another level” and Zaria “is always pumping Ruca up to another level.” He said they are “in it to win it,” and “that’s what makes them different.” Fyre and Green took control at 3:00. Ruca countered Green’s Unprettier and then hit her Soul Snatcher finisher out of nowhere for the pin.
WINNER: Ruca & Zaria in 5:00.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair backstage. She asked for their reaction to the previous match. Charlotte said they looked impressive. Bliss was passive-aggressive about it being impressive for a team to win when someone is full of themselves. Charlotte got Bliss to yell “Wooo!” to break the tension.
-They showed Stephanie Vaquer backstage. [c]
-After some plugs, they showed highlights of Raw’s main event tag match with Reed & Breakker vs. The Usos and a run-in by Reigns afterward. Cole said Reigns would appear on Raw on Monday.
-Cody approached Orton backstage and wanted to discuss what Heyman said. Orton said he didn’t care what Heyman said. Cody said he has Orton’s back. Orton said, “Right back at ya’.”
-Cole hyped Orton & Cody vs. Breakker & Reed.
-Aldis stood center-ring and introduced Tiffany Stratton for the contract signing segment. Cole noted Tiffany is undefeated in 2025. Vaquer then came out.
[HOUR TWO]
Vaquer told Stratton she will show her who she is. She said she “won’t be losing any much.” (A bit rough there.) Stratton said she cannot wait to get in the ring with her. She said they are some of the best and proved it when they won their titles. She said she’ll win, though, at Crown Jewel. She said no matter where they wrestle, it will always be Tiffy Time. Vaquer signed the contract.
As Stratton was leaving, Giulia and Kiana James attacked her. James told Aldis not to notarize the contract yet. James said Vaquer is a star, but she’s not a superstar. She said she can help her get there if she hires her. She said her services are expensive, but she’s worth it. She said Giulia already outshines Tiffany as the best women’s champion on Smackdown. She said she can make Vaquer the Women’s Crown Jewel Champion. Stratton recovered and yanked James out of the ring by her boot. Vaquer then went after Giulia, but Giulia escaped to ringside. Tiffany and Vaquer then stared at each other.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was rough. Stratton’s speaking style is not ready for prime time. Vaquer has a presence, but her English just can’t convey anything with clarity and conviction.)
-The went to Cole and Booker at ringside. Cole said Graves will be back in a couple of weeks.
-A clip aired from earlier of Aldis chatting with Je’Von Evans. Aldis said he has a bright future. Rey Fenix walked up to Evans and said he impressed him last week. He said he wanted to face him one-on-one. Humberto Carillo and Angel Garza walked up to them and bragged. Evans suggested they have a rematch. Aldis said he liked the sound of that and booked it for tonight.
-Evans made his entrance first. Then Fenix. [c]
-A vignette aired with Jacob Fatu. He said he’s tired of people lying, crying, and wasting time on b.s. stories. He said people like to talk a lot until the situation gets feisty. He said when someone disrespects him, he applies pressure and will wake their ass up for sleeping on him. He said he’s going straight to the top. He closed with saying he is all gas, no breaks.
(3) JE’VON EVANS & REY FENIX vs. LOS GARZA (Humberto & Angel)
The end of Los Garza’s ring entrance aired. The bell rang 15 minutes into the hour. Cole hyped the NXT Survivor Series style matches on Tuesday. They cut to a break at 2:00 after dives left all four on the floor. [c]
Late in the match, Evans landed a running knee to Humberto. Angel “broke up the pin” by actually landing on top of Evans who still had Humberto covered and Evans shoulders were still down, but the ref stopped counting to reward the interference despite the pin still taking place. Fenix tagged in and went after Humberto. He landed his Mexican Muscle Buster for the win as Evans cut off Angel’s attempt to interfere.
WINNERS: Evans & Fenix in 9:00.
-Kelley interviewed Priest backstage. She asked how far he’s willing to go to “end this chapter once and for all” with Black. Priest said he’s not the first person to sneak attack him, but there are consequences. “I am those consequences,” he said. Kit Wilson rolled up in a wheel chair and said he’ll end the Toxic Aggression Era of Priest and show him what true masculinity is. Wilson then stood. Priest said, “Look Cathy, it’s a miracle.” He said he really is positively masculine. He then shoved him into the wheel chair and shoved it. Wilson acted like he had no way out of the chair and then happened to roll and crash into something loud out of camera view. Priest challenged Black to a one-on-one match with Last Man Standing rules.
-A vignette aired with Solo Sikoa talking up Talla Tonga. He said his loyalty will be rewarded as long as he is part of the family. They said they loved each other. Solo said something is missing for the family to be complete, but once it’s found, everyone is on notice.
-Cody Rhodes’s ring entrance took place. [c]
-Kelley interviewed B-Fab and the Street Profits. They acknowledged having issues and drama lately, but they’ve realized they have something worth fighting for. Ford closed with, “We want the smoke!” Then the TV screen kicked in behind them with The Wyatt Sicks speaking to them ominously with sound effects and music. The video interspersed tensions between Dawkins and Ford.
-Cole hyped next week’s Smackdown: The Wyatt Sicks vs. The Profits, Sami’s latest U.S. Title Open Challenge, Guilia & James vs. Stratton & Vaquer, and Priest vs. Black.
(4) CODY RHODES & RANDY ORTON vs. BRONSON REED & BRON BREAKER (w/Paul Heyman)
Cole said Cody and Orton teaming is like the Mega-Powers. Booker said they are both legends. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Cole said this is the 20th time Cody and Orton have teamed. They cut to a very early double-box break as Orton was in control. [c/db]
During the break, Reed slammed Orton onto the announce desk as Heyman distracted the ref. Reed had Orton in a chinlock mid-ring as they returned from the break. Reed and Breakker took over for an extended beatdown of Cody. [c/db]
Orton got the hot-tag at 13:00 and landed a snap powerslam on Breakker. When Reed tagged in, Orton gave him a snap powerslam. Reed cut off Orton’s rally with a Jagged Edge. Reed then climbed to the top rope. Orton got up, though, and punched Reed over and over in the corner. Fans chanted “RKO!” Orton gave Reed a superplex off the second rope and made the cover. Breakker “broke up the cover” by leaping toward Orton and patting him on the shoulders before falling to the side, leaving Orton still on top of Reed with Reed’s shoulders still down, but the ref stopped his count for no good reason.
Cody went after Breakker at ringside, but Breakker reversed Cody into the ringpost. He followed with a leap off the ring apron, sending Cody into and through the barricade in the time keeper’s area.
In the ring, Orton eyed Reed and then delivered a draping DDT. Orton played to the crowd and got fired up. He pounded the mat. Heyman distracted the ref as Seth Rollins charged into the ring and stomped Orton’s head into the mat. Reed then landed the Tsunami for a three count. Cole said it might be the biggest victory of their careers.
WINNERS: Reed & Breakker in 16:00.
-Booker said Heyman pulled off a master plan. Heyman laughed at ringside. Seth insisted, “He’s mine!” He pointed Breakker and Reed to walk to the back. Seth then looked at Heyman. Heyman said, “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it. He’s in your head. Don’t do this.” Seth pushed past Heyman and went for a Stomp on Cody. Cody avoided it and gave Seth a Crossroads. Cole said Heyman was right in saying Cody is in Rollins’s head.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Eric Corbridge to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIP MEMBER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
LINK TO BE A VIP CALLER: https://streamyard.com/i4xudsytsm
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.