wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 11.07.25
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Alright everyone, it’s time for another episode of WWE Smackdown. At Saturday Night’s Main Event we saw a new WWE women’s champion crowned when Jade Cargill basically squashed the kayfabe injured Tiffany Stratton. WWE champion Cody Rhodes retained the title against Drew McIntyre, but as always Drew was protected and will continue whining and will likely continue his feud with Cody because there’s no one else. Randy Orton is still kind of MIA, and it looks like they’re saving him and Cody for Mania anyway so he’s a bit out of the picture. Tonight we’ve got Giulia defending the women’s US title against Chelsea Green, technically Giulia already has a longer reign than Green but WWE math says Green can save her record if she gets the belt back tonight. Rey Fenix will job out to Talla “Height is my entire personality” Tonga, Solo’s group of Myopic Fluctuating Tilapia will no doubt stand tall yet again because everyone loves the NWO B-Team Bloodline leftovers. Ilja Dragunov will have another US open challenge, hopefully Tommaso Ciampa learned his lesson and gets there first this week. Miz and Carmelo Hayes are still going at it, The Wyatt Sicks still have the tag team belts hostage for some reason, Aleister Black and Damian Priest are still going at it as well. It’s about time to turn over a few of these feuds guys, seriously. But with Survivor Series coming up in a few weeks we’ll just have to wait for at least a couple of them to get settled. Also there’s not been a whole lot of indication about WarGames this year, especially with the RAW side of things getting upended recently and Smackdown being a clear afterthought in a lot of ways. But we’ll see if that turns around tonight, so let’s get to the action.
First up a recap of SNME, specifically Cody and Drew.
After that WWE champion Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Cody gets a mic and asks South Carolina what they want to talk about. They could talk about SNME and Drew McIntyre, how Drew introduced the belt into the match and it cost him. The crowd sings for Cody for a bit and Cody says this will be a fun show. I for one hope he’s right. Cody gets things back on track and says Drew doesn’t understand that Cody has lost because of hesitation and now he doesn’t have that anymore. He puts over Drew’s ability but calls him one of the most self sabotaging wrestlers in history. Cody is trying to move on now, and tonight his business is trying to be different. He’d like to sit with the fans and watch the show, then together they can decide who gets the next title shot. Cody heads out of the ring but Aleister Black’s music hits and he comes down with Zelina. Black has a mic, and says he’s moving in and he’s ready for something new ever since he set Damian Priest on fire. Cody is back in the ring. Black says he’s got a chip on his shoulder, about the size of the WWE title actually. Cody removes his tie but Zelina gets between the two men and says Cody’s nightmare begins now. She slaps Cody but now out comes Nick Aldis. Aldis says Black can fight Cody in the main event tonight. I’m down to see these two again, Cody was a good foil for Black in AEW when they worked together.
We see wrestlers arriving at the venue including the women’s tag team champions and Jade Cargill.
In the ack Ilja Dragunov walks, he finds Tama Tonga and his bad face paint then walks by him after a brief staredown. Ilja heads to the ring and after this break we’ll get the US open challenge.
Post break we find Ilja with a mic. He asks who’s stepping up to the open challenge, because tonight pain shall entertain us. Out comes Tommaso Ciampa, he’s got No One Will Survive back which is great. Ciampa has Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae in tow and talks to the ring. Ciampa puts himself over and says no one calls him a jackass, which Ilja did last week. They get in the ring and Ilja says Ciampa is right, and Ilja accepts a challenge from Johnny.
Match #1 – US Title Match: (c) Ilja Dragunov vs. Johnny Gargano w/ Tommaso Ciampa and Candice LeRae
Johnny attacks as Ciampa briefly distracts Ilja. Ciampa seems to be heading up the ramp while Candice is sticking ringside. Ilja blocks a superkick then spikes Johnny with a German suplex, he holds the grip and hits another one. Johnny blocks a third but Ilja switches to hammer and anvil elbows then just throws the smaller man overhead. That sends us picture in picture, nice of them to realize where those should be used, even if I doubt this match will benefit the way last week would have.
Candice distracts Ilja as he goes up top and Johnny kicks him down then boots him to the floor. They fight over the apron and Johnny lands a gamen giri then a slingshot Spear for a 2 count. Some corner work from Johnny then a snapmare and kick to the back of the head. Johnny avoids a German suplex but running through the ropes and then landing a kick to Ilja. Ilja with a few chops but Johnny gets him to a corner for strikes then ties up a wrist clutch Abdominal Stretch. Feels like that would remove the tension in the relevant muscles not increase it. Ilja fights free as we come back and he lands an enziguri which stuns Johnny. They trade a few strikes on the mat then trade blows on the feet, Ilja seems to be the better striker and punctuates things with a Konstantin Special to put both men down. Ilja pulls himself up and lands a corner knee then a running boot. Second rope knee drop from Ilja gets a 2 count. Ilja goes up again, but jumps into a superkick. Superkick to the ack of the head from Johnny then a Poisoned Rana for a 2 count. Corner chops from Johnny then he puts Ilja up top, Ilja fights back with chops of his own then headbutts Johnny down. Senton from Ilja connects but only a 2 count. Now Ilja lines up an H-Bomb, Johnny counters but gets kicked down then is spiked with an Ore Ga Taue. Candice trips up Ilja on a Konstantin Special then Johnny hits a diving tornado DDT on the floor. Back in the ring One Final Beat but only a near fall. Johnny tries that again but Ilja boots him out of the air then hits a deadlift superplex and follows with an H-Bomb to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Ilja Dragunov retained the title in 10:51
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Pretty good stuff here, Ilja’s ability to transition into his finishers is really good and lets them come at sudden moments. He also sells incredibly well, but for the second week in a row it’s been nice to see him fight from ahead a little more and be the bigger man. Johnny looked like he usually does in singles action here, not bad at all but not stellar.
In the back Sami Zayn finds Aldis, he brings up Solo’s goons being a problem and Sami just wants to be ringside for Rey Fenix tonight. Aldis reminds him he’s not medically cleared for anything, so just focus on getting healthy. Sami says he wont just stand by much longer with all this, then he leaves. R-Truth comes in next, and Truth wants his name in the tumbler to figure out John Cena’s last opponent. Some comedy spots follow and Aldis says his name is already in there, so Truth takes his balls and goes home. OK then.
Next a recap of Jade Cargill taking the women’s title. Jade will talk after this break.
Post break here comes Jade. Jade poses with the title before getting a mic. She says she can do to anyone what she did to Tiffany, she’s that bitch. Then tosses the mic down and heads out. I genuinely don’t know who’s up first for her if not a Tiffany rematch given the state of the women’s roster on Smackdown. Jade gets interrupted on the stage by Charlotte Flair, Charlotte is coming out for her match and the two stare down while Alexa Bliss hangs out beside Charlotte. Well Charlotte could work to legitimize Jade, and her pairing with Bliss has done wonders to rehab Charlotte’s relationship with the fans.
After this break Nia Jax will head to the ring.
Post break we find Chelsea Green in the back talking with Alba Fyre. Michin and B-Fab come over and everyone trades some barbs, Jade shows up behind Green tells her to keep talking. Jade threatens Green who then scurries off. Next Jade gets into it with B-Fab and Michin and says she’ll step on B-Fab next week. B-Fab accepts that.
Back to the ring and here comes Nia Jax.
Match #2: Charlotte Flair w/ Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
Just over 20 minutes between matches, that’s pushing it. Jax and Charlotte circle then tie up but neither woman gets much of a power edge that time. Charlotte grabs a side headlock then tries a shoulder block but Jax isn’t bumping for that. Jax with some pie faces, Charlotte slaps her then hits the ropes for a Thesz Press and mounted strikes. Headbutt from Jax but she misses a corner avalanche then Charlotte with some boots then a hurricanrana and a less than pretty dropkick. Jax with some corner work but Charlotte fights back with chops but then gets caught upside down in the corner and she’s down as we head to break.
Charlotte fights back with a boot and chops as we come back from break. Thrust kick from Charlotte then a chop block. Walk over clothesline from Charlotte then she thinks about a moonsault which connects, tough landing there as she just dropped onto Jax, but only a near fall. Jax fights off a Figure 4 then runs into a sit out powerbomb. Now Jax tries an Annihilator but Charlotte avoids it and grabs a crucifix for 2 then Jax rolls through and puts Charlotte on the apron. Kick from Charlotte hangs up Jax for a slingshot knee drop for another 2 count. Jax kicks Charlotte off but Charlotte then hits a tornado DDT for another 2 count. Lash Legend shows up through the crowd to attack Alexa Bliss and distract Charlotte. That lets Jax hit an Annihilator to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Nia Jax won in 10:24
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Jax losing two weeks in a row was just too much to hope for. Jax and Legend is not a terribly compelling pairing, Smackdown is already heel heavy and this wont help that. But that might add a tag team into the mix at least. This also did not need 10 minutes.
We get a hype video for John Cena’s final match and how we’ll determine his final opponent. That cuts to Nick Aldis with the tumbler, he’s going to announce the next match for the tournament. First will be Miz vs. Jey Uso and second LA Knight vs. a surprise name.
Back to the ring and here comes Giulia for her title defense after this break.
Post break Cathy talks with Jax and Legend in the back. Nothing of value is said, Jax claims she and Legend are friends. Legend the introduces herself.
Back to the ring, Giulia looks bored as Chelsea Green heads to the ring. Oh hey, Ethan Page is sitting in the crowd to support his mixed tag team champion partner.
Match #3 – Women’s US Title Match: (c) Giulia w/ Kiana James vs. Chelsea Green w/ Alba Fyre
Giulia with a slap then headlock takeover and some punches. Green eats a headbutt, then Giulia with a suplex. Arrivederci knee from Giulia gets a 2 count. Fyre gets on the apron to distract Giulia, it doesn’t matter as Giulia then ties up Green in the ropes for an elbow strike. Cheap shot from James, Fyre comes around to superkick her. Giulia kicks Fyre, then Green rolls her up with the feet on the ropes and the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Chelsea Green won the title in 1:35 or so
Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: I am tempted to rate that a DUD, this feels bizarre. We’re trying Green face or at least tweener? Giulia really should be doing high quality work but for whatever reason her time with that belt was a dud, frankly I don’t know the Smackdown women’s roster can really support that belt at this point.
In the back Solo Sikoa rallies his troops by saying all the titles belong to them. Talla Tonga makes noise then we see the Wyatts convene behind them as they leave. Erick Rowan restrains them and just says “not yet”. I’m not sure anyone will care when they do lock up at this rate.
To the ring and here comes Rey Fenix as we head to break.
Post break here comes Talla Tonga, no music for him though as they’re still using Solo’s. The Motor City Machine Guns and Shinsuke Nakamura attack JC and the Guerillas. Fenix dives onto Talla then some ringside brawling but the bell hasn’t rung yet.
Match #4: Rey Fenix vs. Talla Tonga w/ Solo Sikoa
Eventually they get into the ring and Fenix with a flurry of kicks. Low dropkick from Fenix then he misses a double springboard moonsault before landing some leg kicks. Talla with a pancake spot to take over. Fenix gets booted off the apron. After a bit Talla goes after Fenix and drops him over the barricade. That sends us to break.
We come back to Fenix trying a springboard but Talla headbutts him out of the air. Fenix tries some punches but Talla hits a clothesline. Bless Fenix bumping his ass off here. Some corner work from Talla, the man has 0 connective tissue for anything he does and it’s becoming annoying. Fenix avoids a corner rush then lands a kick but Talla avoids a thrust kick then Fenix with a Tiger Feint wheel kick then the springboard back kick out of the corner. Talla avoids a Sunset Flip and punches Fenix down. Fenix avoids a boot and lands a kick then snaps Talla over the top rope. Gamen giri from Fenix then then Adios Amigo kick. Fenix up top and hits a crossbody for a 2 count. Superkick from Fenix, then he heads up top again but this time jumps into the chokeslam, he counters towards a hurricanrana but Talla with a powerbomb. Chokeslam from Talla and we’re done.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Talla Tonga won in 9:12
Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: When Rey Fenix can’t make you interesting there’s something deeply wrong. Talla has no connective tissue, no real psychology, and kills crowds when he’s on offense.
Solo wants more violence but Sami Zayn runs down with a chair and scares them away from Fenix.
Commentary runs down next week, Jade vs. B-Fab plus LA Knight vs. a mystery opponent as well as Miz vs. Jey Uso.
In the back Cathy talks with Miz, Miz says he gave Carmelo Hayes perspective last week. He puts himself over then again reminds us of all the stats he’s compiled because no one else remembers them. Miz also whines about how he should be Cena’s final opponent, he then says he’ll end Cena’s career. OK then.
Aleister Black heads to the ring for our main event and we head to break.
Post break here comes Cody Rhodes.
Match #5: Cody Rhodes vs. Aleister Black w/ Zelina
They tie up, Cody with a headlock takeover but Black escapes then they trade the spot. Next they trade go behinds before trading arm drags and then Black lands a knee in the corner. Cody blocks a suplex then hits a delayed gordbuster. Black avoids an arm drag then counters a drop down right hand with an armbar but Cody stacks him up for 2 to break the hold, then Black counters a Disaster Kick with a knee to the face and we go picture in picture.
They do some ringside brawling before heading back into the ring. Back elbow from Black and he’s in control now. Cody with some corner punches to fight back but Black kicks him in the head then lands an uppercut. Cheap shot from Zelina and Black continues his control segment. Black grabs a chin lock for a bit then fires a knee as we come back to break, then Cody lands a snap powerslam to get back into things. Double leg from Black then Cody avoids a kick and rolls up Black for 2, then Black lands a boot for 2. Some corner work from Black then an elbow but Cody lands a running elbow. Another snap powerslam from Cody connects and he follows with a Disaster kick for 2. Black avoids a Cross Rhodes then lands a flurry of strikes and Penalty Kick for another 2 count. Cody flips out of a back suplex and hits a Cody Cutter for his own 2 count. Jabs from Cody but Black lands a head kick then knee to the head and a bridging German suplex but only a near fall for Black. Cody avoids Black Mass but Black counters a Cross Rhodes again then boots Cody but Cody returns it. Double head kicks and both men are down. Drew runs in to Claymore the ref.
OFFICIAL RESULT: No Contest in about 8:50
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: These two still work pretty well together, you knew what the ending was likely to be going into this match but it still drops it from 3 stars. Still a good match and I’d be fine with these two working a program in WWE.
Cody starts brawling with Drew and Black attacks him. That draws Damian Priest, Priest runs down and punches out Black then lays into Drew. Flatliner to Drew then a pancake to Black. Cody recovers and attacks Drew while Priest goes after Black by the announce table. Zelina comes over to jump at Priest but he tosses her into the time keepers area. Black attacks the eye of Priest and escapes. Back in the Cody with a Cody Cutter to Drew and Drew runs out of the ring. Aldis comes out to say he’s done with this and suspends Drew to close the episode.
