Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 10.24.25

Hey there people, it’s another Friday night and that means it’s time for WWE Smackdown. Tonight we need some more pieces put in place as last week was solid but also had a fairly weak ending. WWE champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre are on a collision course again, hopefully Jacob Fatu’s health issue isn’t going to keep him out of action for too long but the reports have gone back and forth on that one. Anyway Cody and Drew have done good stuff together in the past and I imagine they’ll be a fine enough pairing. Ilja Dragunov returned from injury last week and beat Sami Zayn for the US title, then everyone got jumped by Solo Sikoa’s Magically Fungal Toes because the NWO B-Team Bloodline castoffs must take up at least 2 segments per week. Tiffany Stratton is taking on Kiana James, as an excuse to get Giulia into Tiffany’s business once again is my hunch. Carmelo Hayes and Miz are feuding now, so there’s that. Aleister Black is aligned with Zelina Vega, so let’s see what comes of that. The tag team scene is kind of messed up, the champs are looking to get into things with Solo’s goofs so DIY, Fraxiom, Los Garza, Motor City Machine Guns, and the Street Profits are all just in limbo. Shinsuke Nakamura should be back this week, he was off last week to be part of the WWE tour of Japan so we’ll see what’s on his mind at some point. Anyway that’s the preamble, let’s get to the action.

We open with a recap of last week, mostly he Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, and Jacob Fatu stuff. After that we see WWE champion Cody Rhodes walking in the back, he finds Jimmy Uso. Jimmy appreciates Cody, then he’s here to talk with Nick Aldis about what happened to Fatu last week. Cody asks about Jimmy and Jey, and they exchange fraternal related advice. Jimmy goes to talk with Aldis while Cody heads to talk to the audience.

Cody makes his way to the ring, no entrance stage with this venue just a slightly longer ramp. Michael Cole and Corey Graves will be on commentary tonight. We get confirmation of Cody and Drew for Saturday Night’s Main Event next week. Cody’s got a mic and wants to know what Tempe, Arizona wants to talk about. Maybe Drew McIntyre? He brings up going a little out of character last week, hitting Drew with the belt and all. He wonders if he should apologize for that. The crowd do not think so. Drew walks out, no music, and doesn’t want apologies or excuses as he comes through the crowd. He messes with the crowd and their cheering of Cody after all they’ve seen. Drew climbs onto the announce table and says everyone is complicit in Cody’s crimes. Corporate Cody’s propaganda is getting to the people. No matter what Cody does to Drew the people still cheer him. This is now about Drew finishing the story given how many times he’s been screwed over. He now moves on to who attacked Fatu, and Drew says he hates that family but he didn’t do that. It could have been Jimmy finally trying to get over and took a page from Naomi’s playbook attacking someone in the back. Cody cuts him off and offers a fight right now, Drew seems obliging but Jimmy Uso appears and attacks Drew from behind. Security goons show up to pull Jimmy and Drew apart, Jimmy hits a suicide dive and Drew’s sell on his back hitting the announce table is pretty great. Eventually they do get separated, then for some God forsaken reason out come Solo Sikoa and his army of Juggalos, they’ll be in tag action after this break I guess.

Post match we find Drew and Aldis in the back, Drew wants Aldis to do something about Jimmy but Jimmy shows up and attacks Drew. Eventually they get separated again.

To the ring and JC Maeto along with Tama Tonga wait for Rey Fenix and Shinsuke Nakamura. Telling they wont let Botcha Loa even team anymore.

Match #1 – Tag Team Match: JC Mateo and Tama Tonga w/ Tonga Loa, Tala Tonga, and Solo Sikoa vs. Rey Fenix and Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura and Tama start us off. Tama wants to go right to striking and he gets control. Nakamura fights back and they trade elbows until Tama comes off the ropes and hits a back elbow. Kitchen Sink from Nakamura then he lands a knee drop. Fenix and JC both tag in, Fenix lands a corner boot then a springboard arm drag and dropkick. Nakamura tags back in and they hit some tandem kicks to Fenix then a double Good Vibrations. Mateo powders and Nakamura does the “come on” bit as we go picture in picture.

Back in the ring Nakamura with leg kicks and knee strikes then Fenix tags in. Fenix with strikes of his own including a thrust kick then Tama with a cheap shot to allow the heels to take over. Some control work from JC then Tama tags in to retain control. Tama looks like he got on that good juice during his recent time off, he hits a snap suplex then tags out. Corner stomps from JC then some chops. Tama tags back in for a corner splash. We come back to Fenix trying to tag out, Tama keeps blocking him and lands a clothesline. JC tags back in and hits a pump handle throw. Nerve hold for JC, then Fenix back flips out of a back suplex and lands an enziguri. Nakamura with the hot tag and he hits a kick to JC then cheap shots Tama. Nakamura with kicks to JC then his knee o the body in the corner. JC avoids the reverse Exploder suplex but takes knees to the body then hits the swinging back suplex and both men are down. Tama tags in and hits a corner splash then a headbutt. Boot from Nakamura then Fenix tags in for a kick and a double springboard moonsault for a 2 count. Tama blocks a rolling Flatliner and lands an elbow but Fenix lands a hook kick then the Adios Amigo kick and a top rope cross body that means JC has to save the match. Nakamura wheel kicks JC then boots Loa. Tama tosses Nakamura out of the ring, then Fenix low bridges him before hitting a double springboard corkscrew dive. Solo distracts the ref so Tala can chokeslam Fenix on the apron. That lets Tama hit his crappy Hidden Blade version, apparently called Cut Throat to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: JC Mateo and Tama Tonga won in 11:36

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: The crowd is still very with Fenix despite his hot and cold booking, which is a good thing. Nakamura needs some real direction though, the man wont be around forever. JC and Tama are the same guys they’ve been since getting here doing the same things to the same reaction.

In the back Jimmy talks with Aldis, Jimmy is ready for action but doesn’t want a match and wants a fight. Aldis says Jimmy and Drew can have a No DQ match tonight.

Elsewhere in the back Giulia ends a phone call then Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre come over. Green puts herself over as the first women’s US champion then wants Giulia to work with her getting Green to the WWE women’s title. Nikki Cross lurks in the background. Kiana James comes over to insult Green and Giulia declines their offer.

Back to the ring and here comes Tiffany Stratton and we head to break.

Post break we get confirmation of Drew and Jimmy as the main event.

Kiana James heads to the ring with Giulia by her side.

Match #2: Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James w/ Giulia

They tie up, Tiffany goes to an arm wringer then James cartwheels out of it. James with an arm wringer of her own, Tiffany escapes fairly easily. Both women do some gymnastics then Tiffany hits a few arm drags, not exactly nice looking. James with some corner kicks then Tiffany hits the ropes and lands a dropkick. Mid rope hip attack from Tiffany then she misses a baseball slide and James lands an elbow then slips on an apron moonsault so Tiffany whacks her. Giulia distracts Tiffany and James rams her into the barricade as we head to break.

We come back to James doing some corner work on Tiffany. Running boot from James gets a 2 count. Double down spot and both women take a little breather. They start trading elbows and Tiffany gets the better of things then fires up with clotheslines and a handspring back elbow in the corner. Cartwheel Alabama Slam from Tiffany then a Finlay Roll into a Prettiest Moonsault Ever attempt but James avoids that and hits a superkick then a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. They head up top, Tiffany sort of shoves James down then hits a Swanton Bomb. Prettiest Moonsault Ever connects and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Tiffany Stratton won in 9:52

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Acceptable match, nothing special to see here from either woman. That does get James a little more credibility at least but the lack of real heat or drama holds the overall match back a bit.

Post match Giulia attacks Tiffany as expected. Arrivederci knee from Giulia connects but here’s Jade Cargill. Jade and Giulia get into it with Jade landing a pump kick then knocking James off the apron. Jade offers Tiffany a hand, Tiffany accepts and Jade raises Tiffany’s hand. Then Jade clotheslines Tiffany into the shadow realm. That scar on Jade’s eyebrow is very visible from a few weeks ago. Jade abuses Tiffany for a bit, they head out of the ring and Jade rams Tiffany into the ring steps a few times then throws her over the announce table. Some mounted strikes from Jade before officials show up to try and pull Jade away from Tiffany. Jade throws Tiffany over the table again then stomps on Tiffany’s knee as her leg was draped on the ring steps. After that Jade handles the belt in the ring then drops it to the mat and leaves. Heel Jade was inevitable but this feels a little odd, like they’re just turning her to get a heel and face dynamic for Saturday next week.

We get a recap of Ilja Dragunov from last week. Ilja walks in the back and finds Sami coming out of the trainers room. Sami puts over Ilja, Ilja returns the favor. Sami tries to talk Ilja into doing more open challenges, he thinks Ilja is the guy to keep that going. Ilja seems to agree and heads towards the ring while we head to break.

Post break we get a recap of what Jade just did. Jade walks in the back, Cathy finds her and Jade says you only face consequences when you’re wrong. This world doesn’t reward patience, it rewards power and she’s taking the WWE women’s title.

Ilja Dragunov heads to the ring for our next match. Ilja gets a mic and enjoys a few “you deserve it” chants before he says he missed everyone. This year of recovery had a lot of highs and lows, and at a lot of points he couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. But he cannot give up, his obsession brought him back here to stand as US champion. And since he won the belt with obsession and passion he’ll defend it that way. He won it from Sami and it is his duty to continue the legacy of the open challenge. So friends and enemies, tonight pain shall entertain you. That brings out Aleister Black with Zelina Vega, oh this could be good.

Match #3 – US Title Match: (c) Ilja Dragunov vs. Aleister Black w/ Zelina Vega

They tie up and move into the ropes, Black then lands a kick but Ilja responds with chops. Leg kicks from Black, Ilja then catches one and lays in spinning chops and a knee to the head. Black kicks Ilja to block a Konstantin Special, then Vega with a hurricanrana behind the refs back. Apron kick from Black and we head to break.

We come back to Black landing a striking combination. Ilja fights back and they keep trading strikes. High knee from Black, then both men land boots and Ilja lands a leaping enziguri to put both men down. Corner splash from Ilja then a running boot. Repeated German suplexes from Ilja, he gets two then lands some hammer and anvil elbows then a high crotch slam for a 2 count. Ilja heads up top, Vega distracts him so Black yanks him down and Ilja hits his head on the ropes. Meteora from Black then a head kick and bridging German suplex for a near fall. Ilja with a Small Package for 2 then a jumping boot. Knee from Black then a kick to the back of the head gets another 2 count. They both land elbows then Ilja avoids a moonsault and hits a Konstantin Special to put both men down and send us to break again.

Ilja lands a springboard dropkick as we come back, he’s selling his own neck like death. Now Ilja heads up top, senton connects but only a near fall. Ilja lines up Torpedo Moscow but Black intercepts with a knee strike then a Brainbuster but again only a near fall. The crowd is super into this, wish we could have had some picture in picture action for this one instead of the same old same old from JC and Tama. Ilja avoids a Black Mass and hits Torpedo Moscow but his head is too damaged to capitalize. Slowly Ilja pulls himself up, he wants an H-Bomb but Vega trips him. The ref saw that and yells at Vega then ejects her after Black runs over Ilja. That gets Black to argue with the ref a little but out comes Damian Priest. Priest stalks down the aisle and shows off some burn effects around his left eye. The distraction lets Ilja hit another Torpedo Moscow and retain the title.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ilja Dragunov retained the title in 15:42

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Good match, probably great for the live audience and whoever decided this match didn’t get picture in picture treatment made a grave error because these two made use of time while the tag match was just more of the same. Ilja and Black delivered like you’d expect, frankly I’d like more of this at some point in the future. Pity about Priest getting involved, I was fine with Black winning their feud and both men moving on.

Post match Priest gets in the ring with Black and starts laying in elbows. Priest throws Black out of the ring and onto the announce table, then he gets a couple of chairs. That sets up the one man con-chair-to but Vega jumps onto Priest and rakes his eyes to save Black then the evil couple escape through the crowd.

We get a recap of Carmelo Hayes and Miz brawling last week. In the back Hayes talks with Cathy, he isn’t going to berate Miz and puts Miz over for his accomplishments and is grateful for his time and teaching. But Miz put his hands on him, and that’s a point of no return. He’s willing to let things go after last week because revenge is a double edged sword and he feels they’re event. Hayes feels the support and he’s going to try and be Him. Kit Wilson walks over to whine about language, and Hayes says they’ll wrestle next week. OK, sure, that’s a thing I guess. That sends us to break.

In the back Ilja walks and finds Fraxiom, Nathan Frazer and Axiom both say they’d like title shots. Ilja says the beauty of the open challenge is that it’s for everyone and anyone, including tag teams. Frazer and Axiom talk, then DIY wander over to take up more time. They bicker for a bit then just separate. Tama Tonga comes over and makes hand gestures then gremlins his way away. OK, what a waste of time all that was.

Elsewhere Cathy talks with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair about Bayley’s challenge. They saw it and accept. Nia Jax moves into frame to make everything worse. Jax says she’s waiting for Bliss or Charlotte to stab each other. Charlotte says that’s just projection. Jax then brings up how Bliss turned on her in the past, Bliss says if Jax wants to find the old her she can find her. They wind up agreeing to a match next week. Well at least Jax isn’t in the world title picture I guess.

To the ring, here comes Drew McIntyre for our main event and we head to break.

Post break we get confirmation of Tiffany and Jade again at SNME. OK then.

Drew waits in the ring and here comes Jimmy Uso.

Match #4 – No Disqualification Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso

They start brawling on the floor right away and Jimmy gets the better early but Drew bounces him off the apron then they head into the ring. Some corner work from Drew but Jimmy fights back with chops until Drew kicks him in the body trying an up and over out of the corner. Corner work from Drew, the crowd want tables already. Jimmy lands a kick then clotheslines him out of the ring to set up a suicide dive but Drew intercepts him with an elbow. Cross chop from Drew and he heads through the crowd but Jimmy follows him. Some brawling through the fans, Jimmy hits a suplex on the floor then throws Drew into the ringside area. Jimmy goes under the ring for a table, he slides it into the ring as we go picture in picture.

Drew attacks Jimmy then rams him into the barricade. They head into the ring and Drew stomps on Jimmy as Jimmy’s laying on the table, said table is not set up yet it’s just laying on the mat. Both men lay in chops then Drew lands a back elbow just before we come back to broadcast. Yeah, that PIP should have gone to Ilja and Black too. Jimmy lands an enziguri that sends Drew out of the ring, Jimmy then runs along the barricade but runs into an overhead belly to belly throw. Back in the ring Drew with some rope assisted leverage on the pin but only a 2 count. Drew wanders the ringside area and gets a chair then heads into the ring and whacks Jimmy with the chair a few times. Drew sets up the chair and drops Jimmy’s head into it. Jimmy sits in the chair now and Drew lands punches then tries a Claymore but Jimmy hits the drop toe hold into the chair for the old Raven spot. Both men pull themselves up, Jimmy with strikes but Drew avoids a Samoan Drop, Jimmy then hits a Whisper in the Wind for a 2 count. Jimmy’s got the chair now and hits Drew a few times. Now Jimmy sets up the Slim Jim table near the corner. Drew fights back with a Future Shock DDT and a 2 count. Kip up from Drew, he tries to line up a Claymore but Jimmy with a Samoan Drop through the table. Jimmy goes up top but as he jumps Drew throws the chair into his face. Drew with a Claymore and the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Drew McIntyre won in 12:20

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Decent little plunder fight, a bit too much generic brawling to get beyond Good level but the big spots delivered.

Post match Drew gets the chair and chokes Jimmy with it in a visibly safe manner. Officials run down to pull them apart but here comes Cody. Cody attacks Drew and throws him over the barricade. After that Cody goes to check on Jimmy, Drew comes back into the ring and blasts Cody with a Claymore. Drew has some words for Cody on the mat before the episode ends.

7.9

The final score: review Good

The 411

Per usual these days the US title was the highlight of the show, but the Drew and Jimmy match was pretty good too. Ilja and Black was the highlight, literally the only thing keeping this out of Very Good territory was the production decision to not use picture in picture for that match because it was totally wasted on the tag match and not much better for Drew and Jimmy. The tag match was generic, as is everything Solo and company do these days, while Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James was mostly about setting up the Jade return and character turn. Smackdown is still leaning a little bit too hard into chaotic segments for my personal taste but that's entirely a personal critique and overall this set up SNME pretty well along with a couple of good matches.