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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 17, 2025
SAN JOSE, CALIF. AT SAP CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of earlier today 9,988 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 19,190 spectators when configured for concerts.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
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 Javier Machado 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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Vic Joseph introduced the show as they showed a scene of San Jose, Calif.
-A lengthy video recap aired culminating in Bron Breakker spearing Seth Rollins on Raw.
-They went live to the ring where G.M. Nick Aldis announced that the scheduled match between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu is now a no. 1 contendership match and the winner will face Cody Rhodes.
As Cody made his ring entrance, they cut to Joseph and Corey Graves at ringside. Graves said reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. Joseph didn’t say he was filling in for anyone specific. Cody smiled and signed a poster and then stood mid-ring long enough for fans to sing “Cody… Cody Rhodes!”
Cody said at Crown Jewel, Seth beat him for the Crown Jewel Championship. He said he doesn’t feel he and Seth need to be in the ring with each other ever again, “but you folks know that isn’t how it works around here.” He said you don’t need 20/20 vision to see Seth has some business of his own to deal with.
He shifted to talking about potentially facing either Drew or Jacob. He said, regarding Jacob, that he “is someone you are familiar with from right around here.” He said he doesn’t know how it’ll shake out, but the road to Saturday Night’s Main Event runs through San Jose.
-They cut backstage to Solo Sikoa and his crew of four. They happened upon Rey Fenix in the midst of a photo shoot. Solo interrupted and said it was his turn. Fenix said he wasn’t done. They attacked Fenix until referees and agents intervened.
-Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss made their ring entrance. [c]
(1) CHARLOTTE FLAIR & ALEXA BLISS vs. SOL RUKA & ZARIA – WWE Tag Team Championship match
They showed Blake Monroe in the front row and plugged her match at Halloween Havoc next Saturday. The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. After some back and forth action with all four getting ring time, they cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
After the break, Ruka had control of Bliss. Bliss eventually hot-tagged in Charlotte. She landed a crossbody off the top rope on both Ruka and Zaria. She then rallied with a series of moves including chops and then a handspring clothesline on Zaria. Charlotte kipped up and flexed and taunted Ruka. Ruka caught Charlotte with a springboard clothesline and rallied. Charlotte avoided a dropkick and turned it into a Boston Crab and then leveraged Ruka’s shoulders down for a two count. Ruka blocked a figure-four set-up and then landed her Sol Snatcher for a two count, broken up by Bliss at two.
Zaria and Bliss fought at ringside. Zaria caught Bliss and swung her into the ringside barricade. Charlotte then helped Bliss at ringside, but Sol caught Charlotte with a leaping moonsault off the ring apron. Ruka didn’t like that Blake Monroe was cheering at ringside. Charlotte clipped her legs from behind.
Back in the ring, Charlotte put Ruka in the Figure-Eight mid-ring for the tapout win.
WINNERS: Charlotte & Bliss in 12:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: Lots of action, but some of the set-ups were clunky and choreographed looking.)
-Fatu confronted Cody backstage. He cut a promo with a bunch of references to the Bay Area and he closed with a friendly handshake after saying he is “all gas, no brakes.”
-A clip aired of Aleister Black throwing lit flash paper at Damien Priest last week. [c]
-A vignette aired with Black and Zelina Vega. Black talked about planning this for months and feeling complete with his wife now with him. Zelina said they aren’t the infection, but rather they are a mirror to the disease.
-A clip aired of last week’s Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura match ending when Solo’s crew attacked Nakamura and Sami.
-The Miz was backstage telling Aldis “I want it to be big, big, think big.” He said would take it into consideration. Sami interrupted and said he wanted another U.S. Title Open Challenge, but he’s not even booked on the show. Aldis said he wanted Nakamura to get a proper rematch, but he is in Japan this week. Sami said he doesn’t want to be intimidated and hide out in the back. Sami said the U.S. Title Open Challenge means a lot to him and the wrestlers in the back. He said he’s heading to the ring and anyone who wants a shot, he’ll be there. Aldis asked if Miz wanted anything else. Miz said he was good. Joseph said the Open Challenge is next. [c]
-Sami’s ring entrance aired. Graves gave Joseph a hard time for not seeming to know Miz was going to answer the challenge. Miz said he was sick of the open challenges and treating the U.S. Title like a charity. Carmelo Hayes attacked Miz from behind. Officials separated them.
(2) SAMI ZAYN vs. ILJA DRAGUNOV – U.S. Title Open Challenge
Fans chanted, “Welcome back!” Sami and Dragunov shook hands. The bell rang 53 minutes into the hour. Dragunov rallied and they cut to an early break at 1:00. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
Back from the break, Sami landed a tornado DDT out of the corner. Joseph asked if Sami should be careful what he says about Solo and his crew. As Sami set up a Helluva Kick, Dragunov caught him with a kick and a near fall. Sami avoided a top rope move and landed a Michinoku Driver for a two count at 8:00. Graves and Joseph questioned if Dragunov was in ring shape after his extended injury hiatus.
They battled on the ring apron. Sami looked like he was going for a DDT on the ring apron, but Dragunov’s shoulders landed on the middle rope instead. Joseph called it gnarly and nasty. They cut to another break. [c]
Back from the break, Dragunov landed a top rope senton for a two count at 14:00. They showed clips of the intense action during the break. More back and forth action and near falls followed for several minutes. Sami eventually landed a Helluva Kick and a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Fans chanted, “Holy shit!”
Sami set up another Helluva Kick, but was distracted by Solo on the stage. Dragunov charged a him. Sami delivered an exploder into the corner. When Sami charged, though, Dragunov landed Torpedo Moscow and an H-Bomb for the win. Graves said Sami took his eye off the ball when Solo came out.
WINNER: Dragunov in 19:00 to win the U.S. Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Tremendous match and what a surprise title change! I’m kinda sad that the Sami U.S. Title Open Challenger is over, but what a cool moment for Dragunov.)
-Afterward, Sami and Dragunov looked at each other. The MFTs attacked both of them. Rey Fenix ran out to try to help, but he was chokeslammed by Talla. Solo said he will make his family tree champions again. Bo Dallas, looking a lot like Bray Wyatt, appeared on the big screen and said they can knock, but are they prepared for what’s on the other wise. The rest of the Wyatt Sicks stood on the ring apron behind them. After a standoff, they entered the ring and then the MFTs retreated. Fans booed. [c]
-A clip aired of Stephanie Vaquer beating Tiffany Stratton at Crown Jewel.
-Backstage, Tiffany said she’s not happy about the outcome, but one loss doesn’t define her. Kiana James walked in and said the loss is precisely the reason she offered her professional expertise to Stephanie and not her. She said she only represents premium talent like Giulia. Tiffany said maybe Kiana just realizes she doesn’t have “it.” She said those can “do” and those who can’t represent. Tiffany challenged her to a match next week. Kiana agreed to it.
-Joseph touted Tiffany being 17-1 with a 0.944 win percentage in 2025. A graphic showed that info.
-A clip aired of The Motor City Machine Guns talking about their one year anniversary in WWE. Chris Sabin said they should try to win the tag titles again. Humberto and Angel Garza interrupted and insulted them. The MCMGs said they beat them in their debut match. Sabin suggested a rematch tonight. They agreed.
(3) THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNNS vs. HUMBERTO & ANGEL GARZA
They cut to an early break. [c]
The MCMGs won with a Skull and Bones.
WINNERS: MCMGs in 10:00.
-Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa with Candice LeRae barged in as Nathan Frazier and Axiom were discussing their next move in the division. They said they’ve been laying low and watching everyone else in the division prove they are chokers.
-Jacob Fatu’s music played. He didn’t come out, though. Instead, they cut backstage to officials frantically running to a scene where he was a down and bloodied under a heavy shelf. Teeth were everywhere on the ground. [c]
-Fatu sat up backstage. Aldis was on the scene.
-Drew McIntyre made his entrance. He was all smiles. Graves wondered if Drew is now by default the no. 1 contender. He laughed and called him “Bleeding Gums Fatu.” He asked the ref to raise his arm. The ref wouldn’t. Aldis walked out and said he doesn’t know what happened, “but it’s bad, really bad.” When he suggested Drew might be responsible, Drew said it wasn’t him. He said he doesn’t want Aldis to be one another one working for Corporate Cody. He demanded the match right now.
Cody came out and yelled that he knows what he did. He said the fans don’t want to see him talk, they want a no. 1 contendership match.
(4) CODY RHODES vs. DREW MCINTYRE – Drew can earn no. 1 contendership with a win
They brawled at ringside and into the crowd. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, they continued to battle. Cody was still in his dress pants and shirt throughout all of this. Cody eventually hit a Cody Cutter and played to the crowd. He then went for a dive through the ropes, but Drew nailed him mid-air from ringside, quieting the crowd. He threw Cody into the ringside time keeper’s area. Cody hit Drew in the head with the belt. The ref DQ’d him.
WINNER: McIntyre in 6:00 via DQ.
-Joseph said Cody is pissed off. He asked Graves if he saw the look in his eyes. Cody cleared the announce desk. Drew poked him in the eyes. He set up a move on the desk. Cody threw Drew into the table and then set up a Crossroads, but officials intervened. Aldis yelled at him. Cody leaped off the top rope onto Drew and a gathering of security around him at ringside. Cody stood in the ring and called for Drew. Security held him back. “This score is far from settled!” said Graves. Cody’s music played to end the show.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
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 Javier Machado 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/vtw4i63hp9
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
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