WWE SmackDown Live Results: Ilja Dragunov returns, wins US title

October 17, 2025 John Kleinchester NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

October 17, 2025
SAP Center – San Jose, CA

By: John Kleinchester

WWE SmackDown Live Results

  • Women’s Tag Team Championship: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss over Sol Ruca & Zaria via Figure 8 in 12:07
  • United States Championship: Ilja Dragunov over Sami Zayn via H-Bomb in 19:20 (Recommended)
  • Motor City Machine Guns over Los Garza via Skull & Bones in 9:36
  • WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre over Cody Rhodes via DQ in 4:50

 

Raising the Stakes

SmackDown from San Jose kicked off with Nick Aldis in the ring to announce that the match between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre was now a #1 Contenders Match for the WWE Championship. With that, the champion himself, Cody Rhodes, came down to the ring. Notably, the commentary team for SmackDown consisted of Vic Joseph and the returning Corey Graves. Rhodes said that Seth Rollins beat him at Crown Jewel, but Seth clearly has issues of his own. Cody said he was excited for the #1 Contenders Match and all roads lead to Saturday Night’s Main Event.

The MFTs were backstage and interrupted Rey Fenix as he was having his photo taken. The MFts attacked Fenix until officials broke it up. 

 

Women’s Tag Team Championship

The first match of the evening saw Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defending their titles against Sol Ruca and Zaria. Of note, Blake Monroe was shown at ringside before the match began. Zaria and Sol Ruca got the heat on Alexa Bliss early in the match as the show went to break. After returning, Bliss recovered and made the hot tag to Charlotte Flair. Flair took it to both Ruca and Zaria until getting caught by the Sol Snatcher, but Bliss broke up the cover attempt. Ruca then got distracted by Blake Monroe at ringside, allowing Charlotte to capitalize. Flair then got Ruca in the Figure 8, and Ruca tapped out. 

Backstage, Cody Rhodes ran into Jacob Fatu, who said he was coming for Cody when he finished with Drew. In the background, Drew McIntyre could be seen lurking. 

An Aleister Black promo aired, in which he stated that everything he’s done has been a calculated move, including his alliance with his wife, Zelina Vega. They called themselves a “necessary evil”. 

The Miz was speaking with Nick Aldis backstage when Sami Zayn entered. Aldis said that Shinsuke Nakamura deserved a rematch, but he was still in Japan. Aldis wanted Zayn to skip the Open Challenge this week because of the MFTs, but Zayn said no. The Miz then got excited and followed Zayn out of the room. 

 

United States Championship Open Challenge

Next was Sami Zayn’s United States Championship Open Challenge. The Miz walked out, and before he could make it to the ring, he was jumped by Carmelo Hayes, and the two fought to the back.

 

Ilja Dragunov then officially accepted, returning after a one-year hiatus due to a knee injury. Dragunov dominated Zayn early on as the show went to commercial break. After returning, Zayn set up for the Helluva Kick but was caught with a kick from Dragunov for a near fall. Dragunov and Zayn traded off German Suplexes, and Zayn executed a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Zayn then dropped Dragunov on his shoulder directly onto the second rope in a nasty-looking spot. Things picked up during the match’s second ad break, with both men exchanging blows heatedly. 

The nearfalls continued with the crowd going wild, as Dragunov went for the H-Bomb but got absolutely nailed in the face with a kick from Zayn. Dragunov got a boot to the face yet again and then kicked out of the Blue Thunder Bomb. Solo Sikoa then appeared on the stage, distracting Zayn and allowing Dragunov to hit the H-Bomb and win the United States Championship. A stellar match that’s absolutely worth watching.

After the match, the MFTs attacked both Zayn and Dragunov, and Rey Fenix ran down to help the cause but was quickly laid out himself. Sikoa got on the mic and said he will make his family tree champions again. The lights then went out, and Bo Dallas appeared on the screen with The Wyatt Sicks appearing on the ring apron (sans Bo). The MFTs backed down and left.

 

Tiffany Stratton was interviewed backstage and said she wasn’t happy that she lost to Stephanie Vaquer, but it was one loss, and it wouldn’t define her. Kiana James interrupted, saying that Giulia was a premium talent unlike her. Stratton challenged James to a match next week. 

Video from earlier in the day was shown, with The Motor City Machine Guns celebrating one year since their WWE debut, and they were interrupted by Los Garza, making fun of MCMG. The Machine Guns noted that they beat Los Garza in their debut match and challenged them to another match for tonight.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. Los Garza

Next, MCMG took on Los Garza, who were still billed as representing Legado del Fantasma. Unfortunately, the crowd was dead for this one, coming off the high of the US title match. Los Garza were in control through the commercial break and after, Chris Sabin got the “hot” tag and took it to Los Garza. MCMG then hit Skull & Bones for the win in just under ten minutes. 

Backstage, Fraxiom was debating whether or not to do something to get back into the tag championship mix. DIY interrupted and explained that they had been staying out of the way so The Street Profits wouldn’t blame them for everything. Fraxiom challenged DIY to a match any time, any place. 

 

#1 Contender’s Match

The main event of the evening was scheduled to be Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu squaring off, with the winner getting a shot at Cody Rhodes. Fatu’s music played, but suddenly, cameras rushed backstage, and he was found underneath a large metal structure with blood and what appeared to be teeth on the ground around him. 

After a commercial break, Drew McIntyre entered, smiling ear-to-ear. McIntyre asked the referee to raise his hand as the new #1 Contender. Nick Aldis appeared, and Drew said he had nothing to do with the attack on Fatu. Cody Rhodes then appeared, screaming at McIntyre and challenging him to a title match right then and there.

The two started brawling, and the show went to yet another commercial. The show returned, and the brawl was still going, and finally the bell rang, as apparently this was a WWE Championship match despite Rhodes wearing dress clothes instead of gear. The announce team then started wondering aloud whether or not this was a championship match. McIntyre was beating down Rhodes, throwing him into the timekeeper’s area. Rhodes then hit McIntyre with the Championship, ending the match via DQ. Rhodes then attempted to hit the Cross Rhodes on Drew on the announce table, but officials stopped him. The brawl then continued with Rhodes diving onto Drew and a pile of officials on the outside. 

About John Kleinchester 279 Articles
John Kleinchester is a wrestling reporter from New Jersey, covering the sport since 2022. He is a graduate of Ithaca College and can be reached at jkleinchester@gmail.com.
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