Results
- Ilja Dragunov def. JD McDonagh (WWE United States Championship) (15:19) (Recommended)
- Carmelo Hayes def. Bronson Reed (The Last Time is Now Tournament First Round) (Count Out) (13:31)
- Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa def. Axiom & Nathan Frazer (7:44)
- Penta def. Finn Balor (The Last Time is Now Tournament First Round) (10:02)
Suspended Drew McIntyre sends Cody Rhodes to the doctor
This week’s episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, included a recap of the recent build toward the men’s Survivor Series: WarGames match. Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar made their returns on Monday Night Raw, making it clear that they’ll be involved in the mix.
We then cut to the ring, where Brock Lesnar, Logan Paul, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker stood. Heyman talked about how he believes The Vision will slaughter “five heroes” at the upcoming Premium Live Event (PLE). The microphone was handed to Paul next, and he was preparing for a long monologue… If he didn’t get cut off by The Usos, who appeared on the ramp.
Heyman wasn’t having it, telling The Usos that they’re outnumbered four-to-two (implying Heyman will get in on the brawling).
“You actually think The Usos would show up alone?” said Jimmy. Cody Rhodes’ music hit, but the champ was nowhere to be found. Moments later, a camera caught up with Rhodes at his tour bus, where he was laid out by Drew McIntyre! The Usos sprinted backstage in hopes of coming to help Rhodes, who was left bruised and bloodied by McIntyre. The show went to its first break on a cliffhanger.
As the broadcast returned, a hurt Rhodes was seen lying down on the grass while numerous people helped him out. McIntyre, who, don’t forget, is still “suspended” from Smackdown, mocked Rhodes before fleeing the scene via SUV.
Ilja Dragunov takes down JD McDonagh in latest U.S. Open Challenge banger
Ilja Dragunov’s impressive WWE United States Championship Open Challenge run continued in the next segment. Who was the next person to take a shot at him? Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh. Commentary noted that McDonagh was in town to support Finn Balor, who will be competing later tonight in the Last Time is Now tournament.
These two have faced off many times before, meeting in two NXT United Kingdom Championship matches and facing off during a PROGRESS card back in 2019 as well. McDonagh had the champ reeling as the show went to a break, viciously sending him throat-first into the ropes. Dragunov took another nasty bump during the commercials, going chest-first into the turnbuckles.
Dragunov started to power back up as the show returned, scoring a series of chops, then a Constantine Special lariat. He scored a pretty snap German Suplex then told McDonagh “You’re not gonna go anywhere,” keeping a hold of him for another slam.
Dragunov tried to come off the top with a move, but McDonagh rolled out of the way. McDonagh reversed a second Constantine Special into a Spanish Fly, taking away the champ’s momentum.
A suplex attempt from McDonagh sent both him and Dragunov over the top rope and tumbling to the outside. The physical match carried through a second commercial break, returning with both wrestlers battling it out in a corner of the ring. Dragunov came off the top with a superplex, but McDonagh was able to answer back with a brainbuster shortly after they hit the mat. It wasn’t enough to crown him the champ.
Dragunov dodged a top-rope moonsault, then scored a big boot to the head. The champ slammed down McDonagh and tried for a Torpedo Moscow, but McDonagh countered by scoring a running knee to the head. McDonagh came off the top with a moonsault, but Dragunov kicked out again!
McDonagh avoided a powerbomb then scored a headbutt, but the momentum sent Dragunov into the ropes, then running back toward him with a Torpedo Moscow. Dragunov landed a powerbomb then sealed the deal with an H-Bomb, putting away McDonagh in 15 minutes. Two things remain the same: McDonagh still is the U.S. champ, and he’s still putting on bangers every week. Quite the hard-hitting bout, which took a huge effort from both guys.
Backstage, Charlotte Flair told Alexa Bliss that she’s only participating in the women’s Survivor Series: WarGames match as a favor for Bliss, not because she trusts anyone else on their team. Bliss wants Flair to make amends with Rhea Ripley, so she led her into a room in the Ball Arena where Ripley was located. The camera cut away before their conversation started.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis said in an interview that he has no update on the status of Cody Rhodes. Aldis saw The Vision backstage and approached them: “This isn’t WarGames, this is Smackdown,” he said. “And as far as I’m concerned, Drew McIntyre is still persona non grata on this show.”
Aldis hasn’t really put his foot down after the suspended McIntyre just showed up and injured his champ. There is more leniency displayed by MMA referees after a blatant foul. Paul Heyman responded by noting that McIntyre wasn’t specifically in the venue.
Tomasso Ciampa told Ilja Dragunov backstage that the champ should be lucky that he’s busy with something else tonight. “Luck? You really are a jackass.”
This show had some odd plugs. We kept getting told that the University of Colorado’s 3-7 football team will be playing tomorrow, and we informed about Wrestlemania’s theme (Wrestlemania is like 5 months away!).
Cody Rhodes returns, calls out The Vision after helping Carmelo Hayes score upset win
The Last Time is Now tournament, a bracket to determine who will face John Cena in his retirement match, continued in the next segment, as The Vision’s Bronson Reed faced off against Carmelo Hayes.
Reed had the advantage early on, beating down on Smackdown representative Hayes. Hayes reversed a move from Reed into a DDT, then dropkicked Reed off the ring apron and to the outside. Logan Paul and Bron Breakker appeared at ringside to root for Reed just before the show went to a break.
Hayes found an opening later on in the match, but his comeback was short-lived due to Paul tripping him up from ringside. Hayes started to make another comeback near the 10-minute mark, including a DDT onto the ring apron.
Hayes climbed to the top and scored a big frogsplash, but Reed tossed Hayes off him to kick out at two. He tried to follow up with a First 48, but Reed caught him for a World’s Strongest Slam. Reed scored a senton then tried to hit his match-ending Tsunami, but Hayes avoided the move!
Hayes connected with the First 48 upon the second attempt, sending Reed tumbling out of the ring. Hayes kept the pressure on Reed with a dive, taking out Paul and Breakker at the same time. Hayes came off the top with a DDT, but Reed still remained in the match.
Hayes tried for another top rope move, but Reed got out of the way, then turned him inside out with a nasty lariat. Hayes rolled out of the ring, causing Breakker to plan out a spear through the barricade. However, just as he was about to attempt the blatant interference, Jimmy and Jey Uso appeared for the save. Everyone at ringside apart from Paul Heyman brawled into the crowd, taking them out of the equation… Or so we thought.
With the referee still distracted, Cody Rhodes appeared from the crowd and hit Reed with a Cross Rhodes. The champ rolled Hayes into the ring, then referee Ryan Tran started his countout (one of the fastest counts we have seen in ages). Reed started to get up but simply couldn’t get into the ring before 10, giving Hayes the massive upset win. Really fun match between Reed and Hayes with a crafty way to tie it to the WarGames storyline.
.@CodyRhodes' is COOKING! 😮💨
The Vision isn't ready for WarGames!! pic.twitter.com/UByv6zZyKc
— WWE (@WWE) November 22, 2025
Rhodes got on the mic after, dishing out a one-liner for each wrestler he’ll be facing in the WarGames match. He stared down Heyman and noted that he has issues with all of his clients: “You build ’em, and I’ll beat them.”
Backstage, Giulia and Kiana James were seen looking for Chelsea Green, who was hiding from them. Green, who said she isn’t feeling good about tonight, mentioned that she wants to reschedule her title celebration.
Cheap tactics allow #DIY to get by Fraxiom
Sami Zayn, Rey Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamura, and the Motor City Machine Guns declared that their “international coalition” wants to send a message to the MFTs when they face off in a Survivor Series match on next week’s Smackdown. Everybody got to get a word in during this promo.
The tag division was showcased next, as Fraxiom faced off against #DIY. Fraxiom got the jump on #DIY, sending them out of the ring, then delivering a long series of tope suicidas. They brought Tommaso Ciampa into the ring, then hit a pair of frogsplashes onto him. Johnny Gargano broke up a pin attempt.
#DIY took control as the show went to a break: Gargano dropped Axiom with a superkick in the ring, then moments later, Gargano sent Frazer into steel stairs at ringside. Frazer got a hot tag as the show returned, coming running off the ropes with a huge crossbody to take down Gargano. Frazer got a near fall after a standing 450 splash onto Gargano.
Frazer climbed to the top for a Phoenix Splash, but Gargano dodged the move then tagged in Ciampa. #DIY scored a Shatter Machine, but Frazer kicked out at two. Frazer and Ciampa had a fun striking exchange before Axiom tagged back in.
Axiom came off the top for a move but instead ate a mid-air knee-strike from Gargano. Frazer went flying off the ropes to break up a pin attempt from #DIY. Axiom came out of the corner with a Splash Fly to Gargano, gaining some momentum again.
Frazer took out Ciampa with a dive to the outside (he wasn’t caught and took a hard landing). The referee got distracted by the action at ringside, allowing Candice LeRae to peel off the mask of Axiom. A distraught Axiom, covering his unmasked face, was pinned by Gargano to end the match in just under eight minutes. I thought the finish was a little groan-inducing, but otherwise these four were cooking with a really enjoyable match.
We returned to the sit-down meeting between Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair. Ripley said that, despite what has happened between them in the past, she respects Flair and wouldn’t want to go to war alongside anybody else more. They stood up and shook hands, and it seemed as though Ripley had potentially gained Flair’s trust.
Penta moves on in The Last Time is Now tourney
The final match of the night saw Penta and Finn Balor face off in a The Last Time is Now Tournament First Round bout. Balor tried to get the jump on Penta before the bell, but the Lucha star responded immediately with some punches of his own.
Penta sent Balor out of the ring and scored a dive to the outside just before the show went to a break. Balor got control of the match during the break, but Penta started to gain some steam as the show came back. He caught a pair of kicks from Balor and instead responded with chest chops, then scored a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Penta hit a Muscle Buster, but Balor kicked out at two to remain in the match. Penta landed The Scarifice on an arm of Balor. Balor reversed a move from Penta into a roll-up, then connected with a Slingblade. Balor came off the top to attempt a Coup de Grace, but Penta dodged the finisher. Instead, moments later, a Penta Driver was scored for a near fall.
Penta connected with a Mexican Destroyer, putting away Balor clean in 10 minutes to advance in the tournament.
Here’s an updated look at The Last Time is Now Tournament, which has now hit the quarter-finals:
- Jey Uso vs. Rusev
- Penta vs. Solo Sikoa
- Gunther vs. Carmelo Hayes
- LA Knight vs. TBA
Worth noting: Sheamus was originally scheduled to face LA Knight in the upcoming round, but has been taken out of the bracket due to injury. Who will fill his spot? We’ll likely find out just before the match, like how the cameos of Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler played out over the past week.
AJ Lee, Becky Lynch join the mix for WarGames
The final segment of the night was focused on next week’s women’s Survivor Series: WarGames match. The big thing teased about this segment was that we would find out the final representatives for the match. Heading into the segment, we knew that the heel side included Asuka, Kairi Sane, Lash Legend and Nia Jax. For the babyfaces, we saw Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, IYO SKY, and Rhea Ripley.
The babyface squad came to the ring to start the segment. Ripley bragged that their team is much more united than the heels expected, and that’s a problem for them. It was time to reveal who the fifth member of the team is… AJ Lee!
Lee’s music got a huge pop, but the celebration from the crowd was short-lived, as the heel squad hit the ring and attacked Ripley, SKY, Bliss and Flair from behind. Lee appeared on stage but, after noticing the commotion in the ring, started to run towards the ring for the save.
Lee’s attempt to join the mix was cut off by Becky Lynch, who shoulder-tackled her to the ground. The brawl continued in the ring until Legend, Jax, and The Kabuki Warriors left everyone down and wounded. Lynch then got into the ring and shook hands with Asuka, all but solidifying that she will be the last entrant on the heel side of the upcoming ten-woman cage bout.
Lee is a solid addition to the match, and Lynch’s run-in with her on Monday gives her a plausible reason to be in the match as well. This was a good way to further build the PLE, but admittedly a very short segment, all taking place in roughly five minutes.
Overall, this was a great episode of Smackdown. The in-ring was good at worst, but for the most part stellar. The men’s and women’s WarGames matches were built in thoughtful ways (excluding the lazy writing around Drew McIntyre’s faux suspension). Overall, an enjoyable two-hour program.
