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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 24 2025
TEMPE, ARIZ. AT MULLETT ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 5,136 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of around 5,000 spectators when configured for NCAA hockey.
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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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with scenes of Tempe, Ariz. and the exterior of the arena with fans mingling outside the entrance earlier. Michael Cole threw to a highlight package on last week’s Drew McIntyre-Cody Rhodes match that replaced Drew vs. Jacob Fatu.
-The cameras caught up with Jimmy Uso telling Cody Rhodes he appreciated what he did for his cousin Jacob Fatu last week. Cody asked what he was doing there. Jimmy said he was looking to talk to Nick Aldis because he wanted to talk about Jacob. Cody said his office is right around the corner. He asked if things are okay between him and Jey. Jimmy said Cody saw what happened and asked Cody how would he feel. Cody said he has a brother in the game, so he knows how it goes. He said Jey is going to do what’s right for him, so he told Jimmy to do what is right for him. Jimmy thanked him and said he appreciated it. They shook hands.
(Keller’s Analysis: I think it’s smart to portray Cody as someone people go to for advice or supportive words. It fits his persona as a level-headed leader who cares about others.)
-Cody made his full entrance to his music. They cut to Cole who was back with Corey Graves at ringside. Cole thanked Graves for standing up to him against Brock Lesnar several weeks ago. Graves said, “You almost got me killed; you’re welcome,” he said. He shifted to saying he’s glad to see Cody seems more composed tonight than he did last week. He said Drew McIntyre is coming for him, though. Cole plugged Saturday Night’s Main Event in eight days on Peacock.
Cody asked what fans wanted to talk about. He smiled and then said they could talk about his SNME opponent, Drew. Fans booed. He said he did something uncharacteristic last week when he smacked Drew across the head with his title belt. He asked if he has to apologize for it. Fans yelled “no,” of course. Drew interrupted and walked through the crowd. He told Cody to stop because he didn’t want any apology from him. He asked if the fans were really going to cheer Cody and boo him. “With all the evidence you’ve seen, you’re going to cheer Cody Rhodes and you’re going to boo Drew McIntyre?” Drew asked. He stood on the announce desk and told the fans they are now all complicit in his crimes. He said he thinks the fans are brainwashed by Cody’s “corporate propaganda.”
He said no matter what Cody does, they keep cheering him. He said he cheated at WrestlePalooza and hit him with the belt last week, yet they still cheer him. Fans chanted, “Cody!” Drew said he’s been screwed so many times, this has now “become about Drew McIntyre finishing the story.” He said he’ll finish it at SNME next week.
Drew said people want to know who attacked Jacob Fatu. He said he’s always the scapegoat. He said while he hates everyone in that family, he didn’t do it. He said maybe it was Jimmy, “always the bride’s maid, never the bride.” Cody interrupted and yelled, “Enough!” He emphatically said they should just fight right now. He yanked off his jacket. Drew hopped off the announce desk. Jimmy sprung off the ringside barricade and attacked Drew, sending him into the announce desk.
Security separated them. Jimmy leaped through the ropes onto Drew again. Cody tried to get Jimmy to back off, as did a bunch of security and officials.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good segment with hype for Cody vs. Drew with Drew doing his usual incessant complaining. Jimmy, if he is assuming Drew attacked Jacob, is seeking revenge. I do like the mystery of who attacked Jacob.)
-Drew yelled at Aldis and said he would never have put him in a WWE Title match if he thought he was guilty, so he needs to do something about it. Jimmy then attacked Drew again and they were separated again by security and officials. Cole said he’s never seen Jimmy so enraged.
(1) REY FENIX & SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. TAMA TONGA & J.C. MATEO (w/Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga)
As Fenix and Nakamura made their entrance, Cole noted that Sami Zayn wasn’t cleared to wrestle tonight because of the MFT’s attack last week. The MFTs, Tonga and Mateo, were wearing white face paint like last week. Cole said in an interview last week with Tokyo Sports, he said he has a lot more goals for his career. Graves said Nakamura wants to become World Heavyweight Champion. The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 2:00 after a double-team series with Nakamura and Fenix against Mateo. [c/db]
Back from the break, Tama was in control against Fenix. He tagged in Mateo. Cole said Solo should be looking over his shoulders for the Wyatt Sicks. Nakamura tagged in at 7:00. Later, Fenix ran the top rope and kicked Tonga and then quickly leaped off the top rope with a crossbody. (Tonga leaped way too high in the air before Fenix connected, making it feel super fake. Then Mateo made the save late and didn’t really break up the cover as much as graze the back of Fenix. It’s like wrestlers think breaking up a pin is like a game of tag and you shouldn’t aim to actually, you know, physically break up the cover.)
From there, Fenix ducked a charging Tonga and then leaped off the top rope onto both Tonga and Mateo at ringside. Solo distracted the ref as Talla yanked Rey off the ring apron and chokeslammed him on the ring apron. (Their timing on this was off a bit.) Tonga then hit Fenix with his Cut Throat running elbow for the win.
Solo told his MFTs afterward that they’re taking over everything and no one will stop them.
WINNERS: Tonga & Mateo in 10:00.
-Aldis told Jimmy he didn’t want any more chaos. He said everyone know Drew hurt Jacob. Aldis said he’d give him a match against Drew tonight. Jimmy said he didn’t want a match, he wanted a fight. Aldis said he make it no DQ.
-Backstage, Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre approached Giulia who was on her phone. Green said she was the longest-reigning and best U.S. Women’s Champion. She suggested they run a campaign together. Kiana James interrupted and said she doesn’t see Discount Diva on Giulia’s schedule. Green was flattered by the term “diva.” James said Giulia’s schedule is busy for the foreseeable future. She knocked the proposal out of Green’s hands. Green said, “I think she just said yes in Italian.” Fyre humored her.
-Tiffany Stratton made her entrance. [c]
-Graves hyped Jimmy vs. Drew later.
(2) TIFFANY STRATTON vs. KIANA JAMES
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Graves said James is educated, athletically gifted, and intellectually advanced, so she has all the tools to be a megastar in the industry. Stratton fended off James’s early attack and settled into an armbar. James came back with a corner attack. Tiffany went for a slidekick, but James moved. Giulia distracted Tiffany and then James threw her into the security barricade. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Tiffany drove James head into the mat. Both were down and slow to get up. Tiffany landed an Alabama slam and rolling senton followed by her Prettiest Moonsault Ever. James avoided it and kicked at Tiffany and then landed a Falcon Arrow for a near fall at 9:00. Graves wondered if Tiffany overlooked and underestimated James. Tiffany blocked a top rope move by James and then landed a top rope swanton. (James had to oversell being dropped from the top rope and then obviously properly position herself, and then Tiffany barely grazed her with the Swanton.) Tiffany then landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the clean win.
WINNER: Stratton in 10:00.
-As Stratton held up her belt to celebrate, Giulia attacked her from behind. Jade Cargill charged out to even the odds. She kicked Giulia in the chest twice. Giulia retreated. Jade then knocked James off the ring apron. Jade raised Tiffany’s arm afterward and Tiffany’s music played. Jade then presented Tiffany with the belt. It felt a little like the scene right before Samoa Joe attacked Hangman Page, and sure enough, she clotheslined Tiffany as soon as Tiffany lowered her guard. Fans were shocked.
Jade threw Tiffany into the corner and kicked away at her. “Where did this come from?” Cole asked. Jade threw her over the announce desk and punched away at her. Officials pulled her away, but she shoved past them and stomped Tiffany some more. Jade stomped Tiffany’s leg at ringside, then entered the ring and eyed the Women’s Title belt. Fans booed. She threw it down and left the ring looking arrogant and pleased with herself. Tiffany was shown clutching her knee.
-A clip aired of Ilja Dragunov pinning Sami Zayn last week followed by the MTFs attacking both of them.
-Backstage, Dragunov bumped into Sami Zayn. He said he hadn’t had a chance to talk to him since last week. He congratulated him on his win. Dragunov said he respects him so much. Sami said the Open Challenges are no joke. He said John Cena started it and passed it on to him, but he is passing it on to Dragunov. He said you have to be able to have a target on your back every week and he said he’s the guy to do it. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Cole and Graves commented on the replay of Jade attacking Tiffany. Cole said Jade has been frustrated lately.
(Keller’s Analysis: These replays with added commentary emphasize what happened and signal to the audience that what happened earlier is significant.)
-Cathy Kelley ran up to Jade and asked if he’s worried about the consequences of attacking Tiffany. Jade said you should only be worried about consequences if you made a mistake, and she said the only mistake she made is thinking that the world rewards patience. She said he’s not waiting, she’s taking, starting with the WWE Women’s Championship.
-Dragunov made his entrance. Fans chanted, “You deserve it!” He said his year of recovery had some highs and some “extremely devastating lows.” He said there were times he didn’t see light at the end of the tunnel. He said what they know about him and he knows about himself is that he doesn’t give up. He said because of the obsession of his heart, he stands before them the U.S. Champion. Where I come from, we like to say how you do one thing, you do all things. He said he will defend his title with “all my obsession.” He said he beat a great man Sami Zayn, so it’s his duty to continue the legacy of the Open Challenge. He said, “Tonight pain shall entertain you.”
(3) ILJA DRAGUNOV vs. ALEISTER BLACK (w/Zelina Vega) – U.S. Title Open Challenge
Black then made his ring entrance. The bell rang ten minutes into the hour. Graves said people will be talking about this match for a long time. “Consider this your official banger warning,” Graves said. They cut to a break at 1:00. [c]
They told a story that Dragunov reinjured his neck. They cut to another break at 8:00. [c]
Black countered a Torpedo Moscow with a knee to the head. Then he landed a brainbuster suplex for a near fall at 13:00. Cole wondered what more Draguov could do after hitting Black with so many of his signature moves. He ducked a spin wheel kick and landed a flying back elbow. He clutched his head and cried in pain. Cole said he thinks he might’ve hurt his neck again. As he set up an H-Bomb, Vega yanked Dragunov off balance from ringside. Black then hit Dragunov from behind. The ref ordered her to the back. She threw a huge fit. Damien Priest came out to his music as Zelina was about to head to the back. He took off his sunglasses and showed a burn mark on his face. Cole said that was from the fireball. Dragunov landed Torpedo Moscow for the win. Cole called it a classic.
WINNER: Dragunov in 16:00 to retain the U.S. Title.
-Priest stood over Black afterward, the pounded away at him. Black tried to escape into the crowd, but Priest yanked him back onto the announce table. He put a chair under his head and then wound up another chair. Vega jumped on Priest’s back and raked his burned eye area. She and Black then fled through the crowd.
-Backstage, Kelley interviewed Carmelo Hayes. He said he’s not going to rip into Miz because he is a future Hall of Famer and he’ll be forever grateful for what he did for him. But then he put his hands on him, so he crossed a line and had to get even. He said he’s going to let it slide now. He said he considers themselves even. He said he wants to get back on track now to fulfill his destiny. He said he feels the support of the people. He said he owes it to himself and the people to be Him. Kit Wilson walked up to him and said what he is saying is poisoning a generation. He said he’s a crime on emotional intelligence. Hayes said he will see him next week. Wilson said he’ll get a taste of his own toxic medicine and he’ll expose him next week. [c]
-Backstage, Nathan Fraser and Axiom approached Dragunov. Fraser asked when he’ll get his U.S. Title match. Axiom said he wants a shot, too. Dragunov said they can have it. Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa then mocked Axiom and Fraser. Axiom asked what happened last week since he thought Gargano wanted to wrestle him. He said Gargano must be scared. In walked Tama Tonga who gave Fraser and Axiom a cut-throat gesture.
-Kelley interviewed Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair backstage. She told them that on social media, Bayley challenged them to a match on Raw if they’re really the champions they say they are. Bliss said they accept. Charlotte asked if Bayley and Lyra Valkyria are even friends. Nia Jax walked up and said it’s so cute they’re pretending to be besties. She said they’re each waiting for the other to turn on them. Charlotte said Jax has been part of those situations so much, she projects it onto others. Bliss said people change, but if she’s looking for the old her, she isn’t hard to find. Jax called those big words for a little girl. Jax challenged her. Bliss said, “You’re on.” Jax said she’d see her next week. Charlotte said Jax is clearly going through something.
-Drew made his ring entrance. [c]
(4) DREW MCINTYRE vs. JIMMY USO – No DQ match
The bell rang 45 minutes into the hour as they brawled at ringside. They fought into the crowd as they cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
They brawled at ringside. Jimmy landed a twisting dive at Drew for a near fall at 9:00. Jimmy the picked up a chair that Drew earlier introduced. He whacked Drew on the back and chest over and over with it. Jimmy then set up a table in the ring. Drew recovered and gave Jimmy a Future Shock DDT for a near fall. Jimmy gave Drew a Samoan Drop through a table a minute later and then leaped off the top rope, but Drew threw a chair at Jimmy’s face mid-air followed by a Claymore for the three count.
WINNER: McIntyre in 12:00.
-As Drew set up Jimmy for more punishment on a chair, Cody ran out for the save. He went after Drew and threw him to the floor. He continued to punch away at him and then threw him into the time keeper’s area. Cody checked on Jimmy in the ring. Drew entered and gave Cody a Claymore. Cole then plugged SNME as Drew had some words for Cody.
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
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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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