Welcome to a brand-new, can't-miss episode of the most beloved blue show of all time, SmackDown!
After the emotional rollercoaster of Survivor Series, we're already gearing up for the next big event: the legendary return of Saturday Night’s Main Event!
We’re live from the iconic Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where a night full of fireworks is about to kick off. And as always, we’ve got our trusted commentators, Michael Cole and Corey Graves, ready to take us through all the twists, turns, and epic moments!
Are you ready?! The show’s about to start!
Things get heated right out of the gate as Apollo Crews makes his way to the ring… but his moment is quickly cut short when Solo Sikoa shoves him with no hesitation. Apollo doesn’t back down and faces off with Solo, but before things escalate, Jacob Fatu storms in with a devastating superkick that takes Crews down!
Security rushes in to break it up, but Fatu isn’t the kind of guy who listens to authority. In no time, he takes down every security guard like they were made of paper. And if you think that’s the end of it… think again!
After this chaotic start, the Undisputed WWE Championship takes center stage. With the ring still buzzing, Cody Rhodes’ music hits, and the arena explodes in cheers for the Undisputed WWE Champion. Cody steps into the ring with a mic in hand and delivers his usual line: “What do you wanna talk about?”
After a few quick jabs and a mention of his upcoming match against Kevin Owens at Saturday Night’s Main Event, a big interruption comes through.
The music of American Made hits, and out walks Chad Gable with his crew. Gable, clearly feeling at home in his Minnesota hometown, decides to kick things off with a little motivational speech… or should I say, a "let’s-offend-the-crowd" speech. He actually says, "The people of Minnesota are a bit simple." Yup, he really said that. Nice one, Chad, nothing like dissing your own crowd to win them over!
He continues by talking about how the transfer window is opening up soon, and how he might be making his way to SmackDown. Then, he steps up to Cody, leaving his American Made buddies outside the ring, and starts his spiel.
Gable says that when Cody returned to WWE, he was an inspiration, a true workhorse and a champion’s champion. But he also calls Cody a terrible friend, comparing him to Otis, who left him hanging. According to Gable, Cody did the same to Kevin Owens. And the cherry on top? Gable accuses Cody of being superficial, too focused on what people think of him.
So how does Cody respond??
Instead of getting pissed, Cody just laughs. And not only that, he pokes fun at Gable, reminding him of his past as Shorty G, which gets the crowd chanting “Shorty G” (ouch!). Cody jokes that Shorty G is probably watching Stardust right now, because he knows exactly what it’s like to be labeled and judged.
But Cody doesn’t stop there. In a serious tone, he tells Gable that he’s got a lot to lose: “What happens when you fail again?” Cody reminds him of his own failure at WrestleMania 39, when he fell short in his biggest moment.
Gable, clearly pissed, interrupts Cody and says that if it weren’t for his suit, he’d show Cody who’s boss. Cody, staying calm, grins and responds, “Oh yeah? You gonna show me what?”
Then, almost casually, Cody suggests Gable talk to GM Nick Aldis and set up a one-on-one match for that very night. With Kevin Owens on his mind, Cody makes it clear: It’s not gonna be a good night for Gable.
Cody drops the mic, his music hits, and he heads backstage, leaving a furious Gable standing in the ring.
With all of Gable’s provocations, Jacob Fatu causing chaos, and Kevin Owens on the horizon, it seems like Cody Rhodes is in everyone’s crosshairs. Will he be able to keep control? We’ll find out soon enough!
Backstage, Bianca Belair and Naomi are chatting away. Naomi reminds her that before she talks about anything else, Bianca’s got a match to handle, and then walks off with a mysterious smile. And who shows up right after? Of course, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.
Chelsea, in her usual provocative style, tells Bianca she can finally breathe easy now that War Games is over. "Now you can focus on who took down Jade Cargill!" Bianca doesn’t hold back and immediately points the finger at Piper Niven, calling her out directly.
Piper, clearly annoyed, snaps back, but Bianca doesn’t waste time and punches her right in the face. Not done yet, Piper calls for backup, and together with Chelsea, they take Bianca down with some solid teamwork. So, Bianca’s post-War Games break? Not exactly relaxing!
And finally, we kick off the first match of the night: a Triple Threat for the Women’s United States Championship Tournament – Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Elektra Lopez.
The match begins, and Elektra Lopez wastes no time, landing solid punches on both her opponents and hitting Naomi with a big boot. She then turns her attention to Tiffany, hitting her with a dropkick and going for the pin—but Tiffany kicks out.
Elektra doesn’t give up, landing a knee to Naomi, sending her rolling out of the ring. Tiffany takes control with a shoulder block and a perfect dropkick. She goes for the pin on Elektra, but Lopez kicks out. Meanwhile, Naomi gets back up on the apron and hits Tiffany with a wicked kick to the head. She then launches off the ropes with a jaw-dropping crossbody!
But it’s not over yet: Naomi hits both women with a double stunner, sending them out of the ring. She goes for a suicide dive, but Tiffany stops her with a clean right hook. On the ring apron, Tiffany takes Naomi down with a double stomp and gets back in the ring to take on Elektra: snap suplex, pin… but nothing doing.
Tiffany tries another move, but Elektra surprises her with a roll-up. Naomi breaks up the count and takes control of the ring with a Rear View on Tiffany and a slam on Elektra, face-first to the mat. Just then, Candice LeRae appears on the apron, but Naomi swats her off with a solid slap.
Naomi seems to have the win locked in: she climbs the ropes and nails a Split-Legged Moonsault on Elektra. She goes for the pin, but Tiffany hits Naomi with a Swanton Bomb, knocks her out of the ring, climbs the top rope, and hits her Prettiest Moonsault Ever. She pins Elektra for the win.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton.
Backstage, Byron Saxton is with Nick Aldis, but the vibe is tense: The Street Profits are down, looking beat up. Aldis calls for medical help and runs into the Motor City Machine Guns. With a worried look, he tells the champs that The Profits can’t compete.
At that moment, Johnny Gargano pops in with the perfect solution: “DIY is ready to go tonight.” Without hesitation, the Motor City Machine Guns accept. Looks like there’s going to be a last-minute change of plans... and DIY is about to grab a huge opportunity!
We head back to the ring, where Bianca Belair is ready for her match against Piper Niven (with Chelsea Green in tow).
Back to the ring, where Bianca Belair is ready for her match against Piper Niven (with Chelsea Green in tow).
Bianca Belair vs. Piper Niven (with Chelsea Green)The bell rings, and we’re off! Bianca comes out strong with a spear into the corner, but then immediately grabs her ribs—the War Games pains are definitely still there. She tries to lift Piper for a slam, but Niven doesn’t budge an inch. Piper grabs Bianca’s hair and starts playing tug-of-war! Bianca tries to break free by running to the ropes, but Piper wipes her out with a crossbody. She goes for the pin, but Bianca kicks out.
Piper starts hammering Bianca with some solid punches, but Bianca responds with a vicious kick to the face. Enter Chelsea Green: she distracts the referee, and when Bianca tries to use the ropes for momentum, Chelsea grabs her leg. Piper takes advantage and hits a side wall slam, but Bianca kicks out at two.
Back from the break, Piper’s got Bianca trapped in a bear hug in the center of the ring, but Bianca uses her iconic braid to break free. She finds herself on the apron and cleverly slams Piper’s head into the turnbuckle. Bianca climbs the ropes and hits a spectacular crossbody, but Piper’s not done yet.
Bianca drives Piper into the corner and starts unloading with a flurry of punches, but Piper lifts her for a powerbomb. Bianca lands on her feet with gymnast-like agility and responds with a spear that nearly breaks the ring! She goes for the pin, but no dice.
Bianca tries to lift Piper again (because she never gives up), but Piper lands on her feet and hits a back suplex. Piper charges, but Bianca counters with a spinebuster!
Piper’s not finished though—she picks Bianca up and nails her with a devastating powerbomb. Pin? Not happening—Bianca kicks out again. Piper decides to raise the stakes and climbs to the second rope, but Bianca catches her with a perfectly timed right hook.
Meanwhile, Chelsea Green jumps up on the apron to interfere, but Bianca isn’t having it: she pulls Chelsea into the ring like a sack of potatoes. Then it’s back to Piper, as Bianca hits a superhuman effort to connect with the KOD, slamming Niven straight into Chelsea. Quick pin, three-count, and Bianca picks up the win.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Final note? Bianca’s back, rib pain or not. And Chelsea Green? Yeah, she’s probably still trying to figure out what just happened. Tension backstage and chaos in the ring: a night full of drama and surprises!
As Bianca walks confidently backstage, a curious scene catches attention: Dominik Mysterio chatting with Nick Aldis in the background. Before anyone can speculate on this strange duo, Naomi approaches Bianca, happy to see Piper Niven finally put in her place. Bianca agrees, but her tone shifts as she shows some empathy for Naomi’s recent loss. Just as they share a rare sincere moment, Byron Saxton pops up like a detective with breaking news: two weeks ago, Piper Niven was at the gorilla position but didn’t attack Jade.
Bianca, unimpressed, responds with a promise: "I don’t know who it was, but when I find out? It’s over."
The new U.S. Champion steps onto the scene, and chaos eruptsThe hypnotic music of Shinsuke Nakamura hits as the new United States Champion makes his way to the ring, the title shining under the lights. Before Nakamura can bask in the moment, here comes LA Knight, microphone in hand, and his usual swagger."Let me talk to ya!" proclaims LA Knight, greeted by a massive pop from the crowd. "The Mega Star is here, and I’m looking at the worst U.S. champ I’ve ever seen!" Knight isn’t wasting any time: he wants his rematch, right now.
But wait! Before Nakamura can respond, Andrade’s music hits. The suave superstar heads to the ring, ready to claim his shot. However, Knight isn’t about to let him steal the spotlight. "Relax, buddy," he interrupts. "This isn’t your moment!"As Andrade steps onto the apron, Tama Tonga makes a surprise appearance, knocking him down with a bully-like move. But the real bombshell hits as Jacob Fatu storms the ring and attacks LA Knight from behind. Nakamura stays put, but when Solo Sikoa steps onto the apron, things take an unexpected turn: Shinsuke sprays a cloud of black mist to keep The Bloodline at bay.
The Bloodline sends a messageWith the crowd chanting “OTC” (One True Chief), Solo Sikoa takes charge. He brutalizes Andrade and LA Knight with his Samoan Spikes, while Jacob Fatu wraps the Ula Fala around their necks like a king reclaiming his throne. Solo grabs the microphone, his voice dripping with disdain."You think The Bloodline is done? Weak? Come at us, and we’ll take you down every single time!" He declares himself still the Tribal Chief, still the Chief of the Table, demanding recognition from the booing crowd.
Solo drops the mic with authority as The Bloodline raises their hands in unity. The message is clear: The Bloodline isn’t falling apart, it’s recalibrating. The crowd might not like it, but Solo Sikoa’s era has just begun.
DIY Backstage: Tension and Triumph
Backstage, DIY prepares for their big match. Ciampa locks eyes with Gargano and reminds him, "I haven’t forgotten what you said last week. And you know what? You still haven’t given me an answer." The tension is palpable, but teamwork must prevail... for now.
Meanwhile, a pre-recorded video plays. Kevin Owens, comfortably seated in his car, expresses his frustration: "It’s awful when Michael Cole wants to interview me. But you know what? If he wants to do it, fine, but I’m not going there. He has to come here, out in the parking lot. I’m not moving from this car."
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Motor City Machine Guns vs. DIY
The bell rings, and the match begins. Ciampa attacks Sabin from behind, driving him into the corner with a series of stomps. Sabin fights back with punches and an arm drag that sends Ciampa to the mat. Alex Shelley tags in, and the Motor City Machine Guns work together to put Ciampa in trouble. Alex goes for the pin, but Ciampa kicks out.
Alex tries to maintain control, but Ciampa responds with a chop and tags Gargano. Gargano applies an armbar, but Ciampa immediately tags in again, sparking a dispute between the two. Sabin takes advantage and tags Alex, who tosses Ciampa out of the ring. The Motor City Machine Guns hit Ciampa with a double superkick.
Ciampa attempts a big boot on Alex, but Alex dodges, and Ciampa accidentally hits Gargano! Ciampa goes for the Fairy Tale Ending, but Alex counters with a backdrop, leaving both men down. Sabin enters, hitting a clothesline, atomic drop, and a kick to Gargano’s face on the apron. Sabin launches himself with a crossbody on Ciampa and goes for the pin, but Ciampa kicks out.
Alex returns to the ring, and together with Sabin, they dominate Ciampa with tag team precision. Ciampa fights back, sending Alex to the outside and, frustrated, Gargano tags himself in. This causes more tension between Ciampa and Gargano, with Ciampa shouting, "DIY is dead!" Gargano responds, unshaken, "Then I’ll do it alone."
Sabin re-enters, and Ciampa grabs a steel chair, distracting the referee. Gargano takes advantage of the distraction, hitting a low blow on Sabin, followed by a superkick to Alex. Gargano laughs smugly as Ciampa, still reluctant, tags back in. DIY hits the Meet in the Middle, and Ciampa pins Alex for the three-count.
Winners and new WWE Tag Team Champions: DIY
Celebration and Struggles Backstage
After the break, we’re back in the backstage area where DIY celebrates with Candice LeRae. The smiles are abundant, but the tension is still there beneath the surface. They seem to have patched things up, but for how long? I’m not so sure.
Michael Cole's Comfortable Interview with Kevin Owens: A Chat in the Car!
Outside the arena, Michael Cole approaches Kevin Owens, who invites him into his car. Owens wastes no time, accusing Cole: "You can’t be impartial when you’re the number one fan of Cody." Owens goes on, recalling that Cody left in 2016, but Owens has stayed. Cole isn’t intimidated and fires back, saying it’s not just about Cody. "Even The Usos and Sami Zayn thought it was right to help Cody. But you know what the real problem is, Kevin? It’s you."
These words set Owens off, and he orders Cole out of the car. Without another word, Owens peels out, leaving Cole visibly shaken.
Nick Aldis, Gunther, and Carmelo Hayes: The Meeting of Opportunities
Backstage, we see Nick Aldis shaking hands with Gunther when Carmelo Hayes walks in. With his usual confidence, Hayes demands answers from Aldis: "I need to figure out where I fit in here, or I’ll be going to Raw... on Netflix."
Aldis responds sarcastically, "If you go to Raw and become Adam Pearce’s problem, that’ll be something to celebrate." With a smirk, Aldis walks off, leaving Hayes looking puzzled.
Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Chad Gable (with American Made)
The bell rings, and the match begins. The two wrestlers start with a series of holds and counterattacks. Gable attempts a leg lock, but Cody escapes. Cody responds with punches and a vertical suplex, but Ivy Nile’s interference from the apron distracts Cody, allowing Gable to hit a dragon screw, slamming Cody’s ankle against the ring post.
After the break, Gable traps Cody in an ankle lock in the center of the ring. Cody fights to break free but Gable continues to work on the injured leg with dropkicks and chops to the chest. From the top rope, Gable hits a headbutt and goes for the pin, but Cody kicks out.
Cody manages to turn the tide with an inverted superplex from the second rope and a series of quick moves, including the Disaster Kick. Gable tries to fight back but is hit with the Cody Cutter. However, Julius Creed drags Gable out of the ring, causing American Made to be ejected from ringside.
With the ring clear, Gable regains control, removes Cody’s boot, and locks in another ankle lock. Cody, though, escapes by throwing Gable into the turnbuckle. After some thrilling action, including a failed moonsault by Gable and another Cody Cutter, Cody seals the win with a pinfall.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Post-Match Chaos: Cody and Owens Collide
Immediately after the match, Kevin Owens appears on the ring and, without hesitation, stomps on Cody’s injured foot. WWE officials rush to separate the two, but Cody can’t hold back. He leaps over the officials and attacks Owens, sparking a furious brawl. The two fight their way out of the ring, with Cody landing a suicide dive on Owens.
As the two continue to brawl, referees and WWE staff desperately try to break them apart. The show ends with pure chaos, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats. SmackDown goes off the air, but the rivalry is just beginning!
And with that, we wrap up tonight's episode. It was a solid show, but maybe not as thrilling as some of the recent episodes. This one felt like a decent episode, but nothing extraordinary in comparison to what we've seen lately!
I’ll see you for my Raw review on Monday and my thoughts on Tuesday!
Xoxo,Selena
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