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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 24, 2025
TEMPE, ARIZONA ATMULLETT ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY ERIC CORBRIDGE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Commentators: Michael Cole,Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Mark Nash

Attendance:Wrestletix reports that 4,409 were distributed headed into the show. The arena has a capacity of 5,000 when configured for NCAA hockey.

[HOUR ONE]

– Michael Cole welcomed the viewers to Tempe, Arizona and ran down the happenings from last weekâ€s Smackdown including the backstage attack on Jacob Fatu and the impromptu WWE Championship defense by Cody Rhodes against Drew McIntyre.

– The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes talked with Jimmy Uso backstage. Jimmy thanked Cody for stepping up to defend his cousin Jacob last week. Jimmy was here tonight to talk to Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis about Jey eliminating him from the #1 Contender Battle Royal on RAW last Monday. Jimmy asked Cody if he would be upset if Jey did that to him. They shook hands and Cody went to the ring. As Cody headed to the ring, Michael Cole thanked Corey Graves for defending him against Brock Lesnar several weeks ago. Cole mentioned that Cody will defend his championship against McIntyre at Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event next weekend.

Cody soaked in the adoration of the fans before asking them what they wanted to talk about this evening. They booed at the mention of Drew McIntyre. Cody said that it was uncharacteristic of him hitting McIntyre with the title belt last week and wondered if he needed to apologize for it. The fans chanted “no.â€Â  McIntyre walked out (with no music) and told Cody to stop, then berated the fans for booing him and cheering Cody. McIntyre stood on the announce table and said the fans were brainwashed by Corporate Codyâ€s propaganda, pointing out multiple times in recent memory where Cody skirted the rules against him. McIntyre said heâ€s been screwed so many times that now it is about him finishing “his story†at Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event. Lastly, McIntyre adamantly stated that he had nothing to do with the attack on Fatu.

Cody cut him off and said letâ€s just fight right now, then took off his jacket and tie. Suddenly Jimmy Uso showed up and jumped off the barricade onto McIntyre. Security separated them momentarily but Jimmy rebounded and dove through the ropes onto McIntyre. McIntyre was stunned as the officials again separated them. Cole mentioned that Jimmy was getting revenge for the attack on Fatu. Solo Sikoaâ€s music played.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: More of the same from Cody and Drew. It was interesting that Cody acknowledged that hitting Drew with the belt was uncharacteristic for him. I believe that was an attempt to tell the fans to pump the brakes on thinking he might be headed to a heel turn. Frankly, thatâ€s a good thing in my opinion. Very “over†babyfaces are difficult to develop. Relish it as long as it lasts. It also seems clearer that Drew really had nothing to do with the Fatu attack. My money is on the Gobbledy Gooker right now.)

– Solo Sikoa and his MFTs came out and made their way to the ring because they were involved in the opening match. The MFTâ€s all had their faces painted white and black (except for Solo) as theyâ€ve been doing since they returned. [c]

– McIntyre argued with Nick Aldis in the back about what just happened with Jimmy, but again Jimmy attacked him. McIntyre was screaming as officials again broke things up.

(1) REY FENIX & SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. J.C. MATEO & TAMA TONGA (w/Solo Sikoa, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga)

This match occurred due to last weekâ€s MFT beatdown of Nakamura and subsequently Fenix after he tried to help him. Solo was sitting in a chair at ringside with Tonga Loa and Talla Tonga standing next to him. Fenix and Nakamura made their entrance as Corey Graves stated that both men are considered legends in their native countries. Tama started off by pummeling Nakamura into the mat and letting out his guttural noises. Both men traded blows but Tama knocked him down again with a flying back elbow.  Fenix and Mateo tagged in.

Fenix used his speed and athleticism to gain an advantage before making a quick tag. Nakamura and Fenix showed good chemistry with some double team efforts as Mateo rolled to the floor to regain his composure. Nakamura and Fenix did Nakamuraâ€s trademark “come on†gesture as the show went to a split-screen. [c]

Tama was dominating Fenix and keeping him from making the tag. Mateo tagged in and gave him a pump-handle throw, then covered for a two-count. Fenix escaped the clutches of Mateo and hit him with a step-up enziguri, then made the lukewarm tag. The crowd wasnâ€t very hot for the match as Nakamura hit some kick to Mateoâ€s chest and the back of his head. Nakamura delivered a running knee to Mateo in the corner then covered for a nearfall. Mateo countered a Nakamura kick and dropped him with a belly-to-back suplex and then tagged in Tama. Nakamura pushed Tama into a Fenix kick from the apron. Fenix tagged and hit a pretty moonsault and covered for another two-count. Tama missed a big boot and Fenix kicked him in the back of the head, then ran the ropes with the Goodbye Amigo. Fenix went up top and hit a cross-body press for the one…two…Mateo broke up the pin attempt.

All four men were in the ring and Nakamura sent Mateo to the floor. He also knocked Loa off the apron before Tama threw Nakamura from the ring too. Fenix tossed Tama to the floor and leaped off with a corkscrew plancha and rolled Tama back into the ring. Solo got up on the apron and distracted the referee which gave Talla Tonga time to chokeslam Fenix on the apron. Tama hit a running elbow to the face of a prone Fenix that he apparently calls the Cutthroat and covered for the three-count. Cole referred to the win as a “team-building exercise.â€

WINNERS: J.C. Mateo and Tama Tonga in 11:00.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: It was a fresh matchup that gave the MFT group a tag team win since they are likely to start a tag team title feud with the Wyatt Sicks. Apparently Nakamura is officially a babyface without any explanation, considering he was a dastardly heel prior to his hiatus. We are supposed to have short memories as wrestling fans of course.)

– In the back, Adlis told Jimmy Uso that this needed to stop. Jimmy said he was tired of dealing with Jeyâ€s, B.S. and Drewâ€s B.S. Aldis said heâ€d give Jimmy a match but Jimmy corrected him and said he wanted a fight. So Aldis made a no disqualification match between Jimmy and McIntyre for tonight.

– Giulia was talking on the phone to someone until Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre showed up. Green said she wanted to merge brands with Giulia. Fyre called Green a trailblazer. Kiana James showed up and said that Green, calling her a Discount Diva, was not on Giuliaâ€s schedule. Giulia walked off.

– WWE Womenâ€s Champion Tiffany Stratton went to the ring for the next match. [c]

(2)ÂTIFFANY STRATTON vs. KIANA JAMES (w/Giulia) Â

Kiana James came to the ring carrying a designer bag with her name on it. Cole speculated that it would be interesting to see how Stratton reacted after her first loss of 2025 at Crown Jewel. The women showed off their ability to do gymnastics in the early going. Stratton hit a couple hip tosses and settled into an arm drag. James escaped and dropped Stratton in the corner with kicks. James missed a kick and Stratton rolled her up for a one-count. Stratton was up and hit a dropkick followed by an ass splash into the ropes. Stratton didnâ€t connect with the baseball slide to the floor, but James also missed a moonsault to the floor. Giulia distracted Stratton so James could throw her into the barricade. [c]

Back from the break, James was taking it to the Womenâ€s Champion as Giulia looked on with concern. The women exchanged “yayâ€, “boo†blows. Stratton hit her handspring elbow and an Alabama slam and tried to fire up the crowd. Stratton hit a rolling senton but James avoided the Prettiest Moonsault Even. James superkicked Stratton and hit a falcon arrow and covered for a two-count. Graves speculated that James may have won the match if sheâ€d executed her cover better. James attempted a superplex but Stratton dropped her face first to the mat. Stratton hit a swanton and quickly went back to the top and hit her moonsault. Stratton covered for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Tiffany Stratton by pinfall in 10:00.

Post-match, Giulia attacked Stratton from behind and hit her with the Arrivederci kick. Jade Cargill came out to make the save Jade kicked her a couple times and Giulia fled. Jade helped Stratton to her feet, raised her hand, and gave her belt to her. Then she clotheslined her!

Jade continued to pummel Stratton from pillar to post and then to the floor. She launched Stratton into the ring steps, then into the ringpost and over the announce table. Jade kept stomping on Stratton until officials finally showed up to try and break things up. Jade got in the ring to a chorus of boos as she picked up and looked at the WWE Championship.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: There is an official heel turn for Jade Cargill, which is a more natural role for her. Security and officials were very busy tonight. They were also as ineffective as always .)

– Replays were shown of Ilja Dragunovâ€s U.S. title win last week. Dragunov talked to former champion Sami Zayn in the back. Sami congratulated him on his win. Dragunov told Zayn how much he respects him. Sami said the U.S. title Open Challenge was important and that he was passing it on to Dragunov. Sami endorsed Dragunov as being the guy to do it. [c]

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: Great development. Iâ€d been hoping the Open Challenges would continue but was afraid to get my hopes up. Because wrestling. Amirite?)

[HOUR TWO]

– Cathy Kelley caught up to Jade walking in the back and asked if she was worried about the consequences of her actions. Jade said she was going to take the Womenâ€s Championship.

– The new United States Champion Ilja Dragunov made his way to the ring with his belt around his waist. He grabbed a microphone but was showered with “you deserve it†chants before he could speak. He thanked the fans and said his year of recovery was full of highs and lows. He said at certain points he didnâ€t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but he knew that he would never give up because of the obsession he carried in his heart. And that is why he was the new United States Champion. He said he would defend the belt with all his obsession because it was his duty to continue the legacy of the open challenge. He finished with his new catchphrase of “pain will entertain you.â€

His opponent was revealed to be Aleister Black who had a new entrance. He traded using a coffin during his entrance to using wife Zelina Vega. Cole reminded the fans that Black said this has all been part of Blackâ€s plan.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: To be clear, he did not rise from Zelina. She just creepily escorted him.)

(3) ILJA DRAGUNOV (c) vs. ALEISTER BLACK – United States Championship Open Challenge Â

Cole mentioned that this was a tough first title defense for Dragunov and that theyâ€d never faced each other before. They exchanged stiff strikes in the opening moments before Black met Dragunov with a boot as he attempted a Constantine special. Vega took Dragunov to the floor with a hurricanrana from the apron. As Dragunov climbed back up, Black followed up with a kick to the face from the apron that knocked Dragunov back down. [c]

The match had been all Black on the offensive to this point. Dragunov fought back with an enziguri and both men collapsed in the ring. They each got back to their feet and Dragunov hit Black with a big boot and multiple German suplexes without releasing. Dragunov showed off his power with another suplex/throw where he trapped Blackâ€s arms and held him up for several seconds for throwing him. Vega distracted him and Black hit a Meteora and his own German suplex for a two-count.  Black attempted a suplex but Dragunov reversed into a small package for another two-count. Black hit another strike and covered for a nearfall. Black applied a waistlock but Dragunov standing switched, then hit the Constantine Special clothesline. [c]

Dragunov leveled Black with a dropkick that was caught at a cool camera angle. He then hit a senton splash and covered for a nearfall that made Vega nervous. Black caught a charging Dragunov with a knee to the chin and brainbuster and quick cover for a very good nearfall. Black lined him up but Dragunov ducked a Black Mass kick. Dragunov hit the Torpedo Moscow headbutt but couldnâ€t capitalize because it hurt his head. Back on his feet, Dragunov was about to go for the H-bomb but Vega tripped him up. Cole wondered whether the referee saw it. He did because he told her to go to the locker room. Damian Priestâ€s music played and he walked to ringside wearing a cut-off shirt and dark glasses. Priest stopped down the ramp and took off his glasses to show off his eye that was damaged from the fireball Black threw into it. It distracted Black long enough for Dragunov to hit another Torpedo Moscow and cover for the one…two…three.

WINNER: Ilja Dragunov by pinfall in 16:00. Dragunov retains the United States Championship.

After the match, Priest beat on Black and was about to hit him with a chair before Vega jumped on Priestâ€s back and gouged his eye. That gave Black and Vega time to run away into the crowd.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: Very good match, but in my opinion it wasnâ€t at the level of most of Sami Zaynâ€s recent title defenses. Definitely not complaining though. The announce table clearly has something call “violence magnetism.†They could fight ANYWHERE else but they always gravitate to it!)

– Cathy Kelley interviewed Carmelo Hayes in the back. Hayes said he wouldnâ€t run down the Miz because he was forever grateful for what he did for Hayes. But he said the mistake he made was putting his hands on Hayes. Hayes said that they were even now, so he could get back on track to being “him.†Kit Wilson walked up and told Hayes to wake up because he was poisoning the next generation with his hyper-masculine, hierarchical, and a crime on emotional intelligence. Hayes said heâ€d see Wilson next week.  [c]

– Dragunov was aching and holding his neck as he walked around the backstage area, when Fraxiom greeted him. Nathan Frazer asked him when he was going to get a title shot, then Axiom did the same. Dragunov said that anyone could have a shot because that was the beauty of the open challenge. DIY showed up. Tomasso Ciampa called them Pinky and the Brain. Axiom pointed out that Johnny Gargano supposedly wanted to wrestle him this week but was too scared. Finally, Tamaa Tong showed up (sans face paint) and made weird gestures that confused Fraxiom and me.

– Cathy Kelley talked to the WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair about how Bayley said they should show up on RAW to take on her and Lyra Valkyria. They said that they could show them what champions look like. Nia Jax walked up to belittle the champions and ended up challenging Bliss to a match next week.

– Drew McIntyre made his entrance for the main event. [c]

(4) JIMMY USO vs. DREW MCINTYRE – No Disqualification Match

Jimmy Uso made his entrance as they once again showed replays of the attack last week on Jacob Fatu. McIntyre met Jimmy halfway up the ramp and they traded blows until they were back in the ring. Jimmy clotheslined McIntyre to the floor but ate a forearm to the face when he tried to dive through the ropes. On the floor, Jimmy slammed McIntyreâ€s head into the steps. They both leaped the barricade (followed by the referee) and fought in the crowd area. Jimmy reversed a suplex, planting McIntyre on the floor. Jimmy threw him back over the barricade to the ringside area. Jimmy grabbed a table from under the ring and wasted a lot of time showing it off as they went to a picture-in-picture break. [c]

When they returned to full-screen, McIntyre had Jimmy rattled but was favoring his own ribs. Jimmy was knocked outside the ring from an enziguri. Jimmy used a fans hand to steady him as he ran the barricade, but McIntyre caught him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Back in the ring, McIntyre (legally)b used the ropes for leverage in a pinfall attempt but still only got a two-count. He retreated to the floor to bring a chair back in the ring and hit Jimmy in the ribs and across the back with it. McIntyre slammed Jimmyâ€s face into the chair, then sat Jimmy on it. McIntyre attempted a Claymore but Jimmy moved and Jimmy used a drop toe hold on McIntyre into the chair.

Jimmy hit an Uso in the wind and covered, but only for a two-count. Jimmy set up the table and put McIntyre through it with a Samoan drop. Jimmy went for an Uso Splash but McIntyre threw a chair into his face. McIntyre hit the Claymore kick and covered for the three count.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre by pinfall in 12:00.

After the match, McIntyre was pushing the chair into Jimmyâ€s throat. Cody Rhodes came out to make the save. Cody launched McIntyre over the barricade and then went back to the ring to check on Jimmy. Cody ended up being distracted long enough for McIntyre to get back in the ring and knock Cody down with a Claymore kick as they went off the air.

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Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Despite AEW WrestleDream impressing from an in-ring standpoint this past weekend, the show received criticism from fans regarding its runtime, with the event ending at 12:30 AM EST and being over five and a half hours long. On the other hand, the promotion also received praise for delivering a solid product despite the amount of injuries on the roster as of late, with top stars like Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay currently being out of action. Following WrestleDream, AEW President Tony Khan defended the show’s runtime on “Z100 New York” due to the event taking place from St. Louis Missouri, and stated that AEW Full Gear will not conclude after midnight on the east coast.

“In the local time, I thought it made sense and here in the local time, we’ll definitely be out well before midnight and be out in Eastern time here. So, it’s different time zones, but I absolutely loved the WrestleDream show start to finish … especially with some injuries and some top stars away, I thought this was the absolute best show we were capable of putting on.”Â

Khan stated that WrestleDream is the AEW pay-per-view that he’s the most proud of since the pandemic and explained that the lengthy injury list allowed him to be more creative with the card for the show.

“Some of the top wrestling stars were away and I said, I’m going to make this the best possible show and everyone’s going to say WrestleDream was the greatest event AEW could put on and it’s going to be about the people who are here and they’re going to love this event. And that’s how I felt at times in the lockdown in the pandemic. If anybody wasn’t available, we would be creative. We would come up with the very best shows we could possibly put on.”

Tony Khan claims that AEW is ushering in a ‘new era’ with Tailgate Brawl

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

In addition to being satisfied with WrestleDream this past weekend, Khan also commented on the new format of the promotion’s pre-shows, which have now become episode of “AEW Collision” that feature the highly anticipated Tailgate Brawl.Â

“I don’t consider it a typical pre-show anymore because now it’s ‘AEW Collision,’ the Tailgate Brawl on TNT,” Khan explained. “There’s a huge emphasis now on the Tailgate Brawl internally in AEW because that’s an episode of ‘Collision’ and it’s a super important piece of real estate. Not only a chance to sell the upcoming pay-per-view, but ‘Collision’ and ‘Dynamite’ are massively important to AEW … So, I wanted to do something very different and unique and tell people you have to watch these Tailgate Brawls leading in. They are a huge part of the event. This isn’t a ‘pre-show.’ This is a new era.”

Khan also touched on one of the only other occasions where a major cable network show led into a wrestling pay-per-view, as he reflected on “WCW Main Event” airing ahead of many high profile programs. He also believes that the Tailgate Brawl is a better way to lead-in to AEW’s biggest shows with the match being an effective strategy to build fan intrigue for the pay-per-view that follows it.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Z100 New York” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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Ilja Dragunov

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

Smackdown delivered Friday night in nearly every way possible. A new champion, a new no. 1 Contender, and storybeats that will pay off for months to come. There were rumors of new writers behind the scenes, and the quality of this episode suggests that things werenâ€t business as usual, and that is a great thing for viewers!

Some caution remains regarding WWEâ€s ability to creatively stick the landings of their decisions tonight, but the fact remains that we were shaken up tonight – and shaken up in a good way.

As always, Iâ€m Chris Adams, and you can reach me at cadamsowj@gmail.com if you think Iâ€ve missed.

CODYâ€S OPENING PROMO: HIT

What makes Cody Rhodes so successful on the microphone is his ability to overcome a speech impediment while using an expansive and effusive vocabulary. Some might criticize him for word choices that may seem archaic or out of touch, but I see his vocabulary as an invitation to engage with the substance of his promos. That’s what makes a successful public speaker: You may not necessarily understand everything they say, but you’re drawn in and want to hear more nevertheless. An expert. A master. For my money, on the mic, heâ€s the real best in the world!

ALEXA BLISS & CHARLOTTE FLAIR VS. ZARIA & SOL RUCA: HIT

The worst match of the night, but that isnâ€t nearly as bad as it sounds. On a night with very few creative hiccups and fumbles, something has to be the “worst.” And here it is, but itâ€s not a death knell.

Zaria and Sol Ruca just donâ€t seem ready yet for the main roster. The evidence? The match felt like it never got into fifth gear, and the blame cannot be laid at the feet of Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, the reigning and defending WWE Tag Team Champions. It was a fun showing with highspots of daring energy, but it was also a rather one-sided victory.

Charlotte Flair did most of the work, and I can’t help but wonder if Alexa Bliss got knocked around enough that she needed to hang outside the ring out of a sense of safety. When the time is right, Zaria and Sol Ruca will find their footing on the main roster and should not get lost among those at the top. They have distinct looks, setting them apart from anyone else. They both need to work on their finishers, especially Sol Ruca. For her career to have longevity, she will need a move that does not require such precise placement and visible staging.

I was not surprised by the results, but I had a great time getting there. All in all, a hit.

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Smackdown: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “wade Keller†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)

HAYES BLINDSIDES THE MIZ: HIT

The dissolution of Melo Don’t Miz has been a gift, for it means we will see an unshackled Carmelo Hayes, free from the dungeon of tag team mid-card stardom. However, there’s no guarantee he won’t just be relegated to another mid-card dungeon, which would be a pitiful shame.

I’m not sure why Hayes hasn’t been given more opportunities to shine, but I am glad they’re giving him something more to sink his teeth into. It was also deeply satisfying to watch him punch The Miz in the back of the head with the full force of a hurricane.

ILJA DRAGUNOV VS. SAMI ZAYN: HIT

The Dragon has awoken! With a roar, Ilja Dragunov answered the call. Dragunov: pure power. Dragunov: pure viciousness. He burst through the entrance to the stage with a hunger in his face. Ilja Dragunov answering the call for the U.S. Title is, for me, like Christmas morning. A gift that fills me with bliss! It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for since his injury, as he is one of my favorites.

There’s something about his performance that is pure and absolute, even compared to Gunther or Bron Breakker. Pure wrestling- thatâ€s Dragunov. The match was a back-and-forth, just like Sami Zaynâ€s Open Challenges have been.

Lest it go unsaid, which would be criminal, Samiâ€s Open Challenge has radically elevated the title. It had languished during the strangely booked title reigns of L.A. Knight and Shinsuke Nakamura. Its shine was dulled when it hung around the waist of Logan Paul. But when Sami got it, he made it feel like an actual prize again. It feels like something people would fight for, would sweat and bleed for. It feels like this because Sami has already made that true. He poured himself into these last two months, and his performance art has taken something just fine and made it something spectacular!

And now, with the belt being passed to Dragunov, it has been re-legitimized as a true wrestling championship. Not just a piece of jewelry, but evidence that one can go toe-to-toe with the best and come out on top. Also, we canâ€t forget to acknowledge that Dragunov leveled up his physique. He has come to kill, to destroy. And he has conquered, receiving the gilded title he deserves. Let the reign of the Mad Dragon be long and just!

THE WYATT SICKS FACE OFF WITH THE MFTS: MISS

There is absolutely nothing that excites me about a feud between the MFTs and the Wyatt 6. We can talk about all of the fumbles of the Triple H era, but one of the most disappointing has been the decline of the Wyatt 6. They have been creatively mishandled, neglected, and forgotten. While they were emerging on Raw, they had substance, life, character, and meaning. They had personality and pain. Now, they just come off as caricatures. They seem to be mere spectral heavies brought out for quick, nostalgic pops. Both the MFTs and the Wyatt 6 are not spectacular wrestling powerhouses, so a tag team match between them will be lackluster and uninspiring. I’ll call this a miss.

MCMG VS. LOS GARZA: HIT

It’s the one-year anniversary of the Motor City Machine Guns’ debut in WWE. And here they are in a sit-down interview, a retrospective on their time. But even this feels strangely false because they’ve been absent for the past several weeks. This episode seems to be reinvigorating the tag division and bringing it back to life after it had been put on hold. I appreciate the attention being paid to all the teams, with the appearances of Fraxiom and the showdown between the MFTs and the Wyatt Sicks.

Returning to the contest at hand, the match was better than fine, but not exceptional, which is a tragedy because we know they could give us so much more. They could move in and out of the ring with a fluidity that would be levels above other tag teams on the roster. Even Fraxiom, with their fluidity, still doesn’t have the synchronicity of the Guns or Los Garza. They could make the ringâ€s canvas a tapesty upon which to pain beautiful violence with aplomb!

Even still, both teams gave it their all tonight, and we saw another rousing performance as the Guns shot their silver bullets into the heart of Los Garza. They slayed the beast. Now let them go hunting like this every week!

CODY RHODES VS. DREW MCINTYRE: HIT

This main event bristled with a chaotic energy that I both love and fear. First, let’s talk about why I loved it.

It felt unpredictable, with Cody coming out and offering a match to Drew McIntyre right then and there, offering him a title match while he was wearing a three-piece suit! Offering him a title match while he was wearing Italian leather loafers. Cody will fight anytime and anywhere. But why was he fighting? He was fighting because he believed that Drew was responsible for Jacob Fatu’s unfortunate dental injury. The teeth on the ground and the pool of blood were a nice touch, a detail that showed this was much more serious than just a piece of metal scaffolding that got tipped over onto someone.

Jacob is gone, and Cody came full of fire to get revenge on Drew. The match was gripping to watch. I was engaged at every twist, every hit, every punch. For a moment, I thought we were going to see Cody lose his championship before he even took off his loafers. But no. Cody went for the belt, itself smashing Drew in the face, losing by disqualification. Did John Cena’s heel run affect Cody like a virus? Or was Cody just caught up in the moment, full of piss and vinegar that made him do something stupid?

All I know is, as fun as the match was, there are two things I’m worried about. First, what happens to Cody Rhodes? His booking has been strange. It’s as if the company wants to support him as the quarterback but also not let him make the winning pass. I don’t want a heel turn driven by reckless creativity because they haven’t clearly focused on how he can succeed as a fighting champion in the vein of the territory champions he loves so much.

I’m also concerned about Drew . Whatever his next match with Cody is, he needs to win it. Otherwise, he will perpetually be the challenger who can never succeed. The issue with that is, once you’ve exhausted that option too many times, Drew will no longer be seen as a threat. So if you face him, you know you’re going to win. More importantly, and more consequentially, we know he will lose. By repeatedly placing him in this position, it takes away our ability to feel suspense, to be captivated by the tension, to worry about the possibility that our beloved Cody might lose his championship in a moment of anger. They need to make bold, creative decisions at the right times; otherwise, the story will become stale and predictable.

We are approaching a crossroads, it feels like, with all of the injuries affecting major storylines. My hope is that Codyâ€s reign is not overlooked in the attempt to manage the deviations elsewhere, but Iâ€m not convinced my hope will be satisfied.

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AEW’s new “Tailgate Brawl” pre-show, which was introduced before the All Out pay-per-view last month, is reportedly a strategic move by the company to fulfill its contractual broadcast hour requirements with its media partner, Warner Bros. Discovery. The one-hour show, which is also being utilized for tonight’s WrestleDream event, provides fans with several bonus matches before the main card begins and helps AEW meet its annual programming obligations as part of its lucrative media rights deal.

A new report from Fightful Select has confirmed the business reason behind the new show format, noting that the addition of the “Tailgate Brawl” was not a random decision. The report states that the show was specifically created to help AEW meet its annual broadcast hour commitments as part of its media rights agreement.

“AEW Tailgate is added as a part of AEWâ€s deal with WBD to reach their committed hours as a part of their deal.â€

The “Tailgate Brawl” concept is in full effect for tonight’s WrestleDream pay-per-view, which will air live on TNT and HBO Max starting at 7 p.m. EST. The bonus one-hour show features a lineup of FTR taking on the high-flying duo of JetSpeed (“Speedball” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight), and Willow Nightingale teams with Harley Cameron to face Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. Eddie Kingston and HOOK are also scheduled for a tag team match. There is a eight-man tag team encounter, as The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Tomohiro Ishii, Kyle Oâ€Reilly, and Roderick Strong) battles four members of The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, Wheeler Yuta, and Daniel Garcia).

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WWE released footage of the much-anticipated clash between Omos and Oba Femi that took place at an NXT live event in Cleveland.

The two behemoths had come face-to-face at a previous live event in Detroit when the former NXT Champion was attacked by Darkstate after his match against Je’Von Evans, where The Nigerian Giant helped Femi ward off the ambush. The Ruler of NXT shook hands with Omos, and while initially it seemed that they both were on the same page, the 7’3″ specimen clotheslined the champ, taking him out in the middle of the ring.

Femi then issued the challenge to The Nigerian Giant, who recently made his return to World Wrestling Entertainment, stating that there could be only one African giant in the company, and that was The Ruler.

Omos And Oba Femi Have A Massive Brawl At WWE NXT Live Event

As was expected, the bout broke down quickly with the two behemoths getting into a massive brawl, with the match being declared a no-contest as the NXT locker room poured out to separate the two.

Not one to be held back, Femi broke free and charged and got his payback when he clotheslined Omos out of the ring. Footage of the events was released by NXT on their X/Twitter account:

This isn’t finished… 😳

Things between @Obaofwwe and @TheGiantOmos got a little chaotic last night at #NXTCleveland! pic.twitter.com/IqNvvv56Pl

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 12, 2025

The 27-year-old recently lost the NXT Championship to Ricky Saints at No Mercy. However, it seems he already has his next bout lined up. Given the hype generated around their encounter, there could be a possibility that this feud moves from live events to NXT TV.

Femi seemingly also has another major bout lined up on the main roster as well, if he is moved up there. Last month, he came face-to-face with Rusev during a Six-Man Tag Team match at a live event.

While this bout never made it to TV, there could also be a possibility of this feud happening when The Bulgarian Brute is done with his rivalry with Dominik Mysterio, though there is no official word on the same.

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Two WrestleDream matches and two Tailgate Brawl matches are now set for next Saturday.

During AEW Collision, it was announced that The Demand will face The Hurt Syndicate in a trios match next weekend in St. Louis. The six have been feuding with one another for weeks, and are also set for a Dynamite match this Wednesday when the GOA face Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin.

Thekla will also meet Jamie Hayter. When Thekla made her debut back in May, she attacked Hayter, who was injured and out of action for a time. When Hayter returned from injury, the two continued their feud, this time with Thekla enjoying a numbers game thanks to the formation of the Triangle of Madness consisting of herself, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue. Hayter will be in action this Wednesday to take on Blue.

Two matches were also added to AEWâ€s new pre-show event that will air on TNT called Tailgate Brawl. Both are based off of the main event of Collision: FTR will take on Jetspeed while Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron will take on Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. FTR and Bayne scored a win over Jetspeed and Nightingale but the heels continued the beatdown after the match. Cameron came out for the save as FTR and Jetspeed argued to end the show.

AEW WrestleDream, Saturday, October 18 —

• AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against Samoa Joe
• AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander defends against Toni Storm
• I Quit match: Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin
• AEW Tag Team Champions Brodido (Brody King and Bandido) defend against Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita
• $500,000 match: Jurassic Express (Jack Perry and Luchasaurus) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson)
• TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Mark Briscoe
• The Demand (Ricochet & The GOA) vs. The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP)
• Thekla vs. Jamie Hayter
• Tailgate Brawl: FTR vs. Jetspeed
• Tailgate Brawl: Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron vs. Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford

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The feud between Jon Moxley and Darby Allin rages on.

During a New York Comic-Con discussion panel on Friday, Darby Allin interrupted a panel and asked Moxley if he really thought heâ€d quit at WrestleDream. The two quickly got into a brawl with Allin smashing a water bottle over Moxleyâ€s back.

The two are to meet in an I Quit match at WrestleDream on October 18. The two have continued to feud after they took part in a coffin match at All Out. Although Darby Allin had the upper hand towards the end of the match, a returning PAC interfered, allowing Moxley to get Allin into the coffin for the win. However, Allin retaliated by escaping from the coffin and lighting Moxley on fire.

On this weekâ€s Dynamite Title Tuesday, the program ended with Allin costing PAC a match against Orange Cassidy. As Allin taunted him in the crowd, PAC chased Allin but Allin threw something in his eyes. The rest of the Death Riders came out but Allin produced a taser to keep them away. Despite this, Moxley continued to go after Allin until he produced a molotov cocktail, apparently threatening to throw it at Moxley. Security finally came in and ended the chaos as the show went off the air.

The panel on Friday was on the upcoming Justice League comic book crossover special between AEW and DC Comics.

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The wild pull-apart brawl between Adam Page and Samoa Joe on the October 1 episode of AEW Dynamite had fans talking—but one of the security guards trying to break it up has now been identified, and heâ€s no stranger to the ring.

Independent wrestler Leeroy Shogun took to social media to confirm that he was one of the guards who stepped in when Page and Joe started throwing hands after their tag team win over the Death Riders.

Shogun, based in Florida, has built a strong reputation on the indie scene, especially in promotions like Tampa Bay Pro Wrestling and POW, where heâ€s held the POW Florida Championship.

The AEW appearance placed him directly in the middle of Dynamiteâ€s segment, as Page and Joeâ€s partnership imploded post-match. The chaos escalated to the point where Page issued a challenge for the AEW World Championship at WrestleDream, and Joe accepted—making the title match official for the upcoming October 18 pay-per-view in St. Louis.

While Shogunâ€s role was brief, being part of one of AEWâ€s hottest angles is a major spotlight for an indie talent. His presence in a segment involving two of AEWâ€s top stars could open doors for more appearances down the line.

Should AEW give more indie wrestlers like Leeroy Shogun the spotlight? Could we see him in a match next time? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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This was a huge way to close out NXT.

The September 23 episode of WWE NXT brought a lot to the CW. The main event was a historic confrontation, where Trick Williams and Oba Femi battled title for title.

Oba Femi walked into the NXT Arena as NXT Champion, but he put everything on the line against Trick Williams, who was also putting his TNA World Title up in this match. This match also received a big fight feel thanks to Mike Romeâ€s ring introductions.

During this match, several TNA wrestlers were spotted around the ring. Then Mike Santana jumped the barricade and put a headset on. He explained on commentary that the TNA roster showed up because NXT felt the need to book this match without giving the company any notice.

Matt Cardona, Cassie Lee, Zachary Wentz, Frankie Kazarian, Steve Maclin, and more were in the crowd as Trick Williams and Oba Femi went at each other in stiff fashion. This was a hard-hitting match with several near falls. Fans in the NXT Arena also appreciated everything they were seeing, and they loved being surrounded by TNA stars in the crowd with them.

After the two rocked each other with one power move after another, and they each kicked out of each otherâ€s finishers, Trick got in Santanaâ€s face on the outside of the ring. Then Santana hit Trick Williams and the referee called for the bell.

After that, the NXT locker room flooded the ring as the TNA Wrestling stars invaded the ring. This was a crazy ending to the night, but through it all, Ricky Saints walked down to put his hands on the NXT Title, one that he will battle Oba Femi for at No Mercy.

The TNA locker room was paying attention to this match in a big way, and itâ€s easy to see why. Only time will tell what is next, but this match was certainly interesting.

Whatâ€s your take on how this title for title match ended? Did you predict the outcome going into NXT this week? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

September 23, 2025 10:03 pm

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SHOW SUMMARY:In our latest episode of Alan4L’s ProWres Paradise, PWTorch columnist Alan4L is joined by European wrestling expert Ian Hamilton for the September edition of “What’s on the Telly?” In this monthly series, Alan and his guest will each pick an episode of wrestling TV from that month in the past and break it down. This month we check in on a transition period for the WWF in 1996 and a transition period for the whole of society in 2020! With one foot still in the “New Generation,” Raw was beginning to move to “the Attitude Era” on a show deemed “Championship Friday” with a WWF title defense for Shawn Michaels against Goldust and multiple bouts in an Intercontinental title tournament. Plus, Jim Ross and Brian Pillman have scoops, Sid faces a unique challenge, Ahmed Johnson on the shelf, and more. From there, we tentatively open up the archives to 2020 (shudder) and look back at a tough time for us all and a challenging time for people trying to produce wrestling television. We look at how wXw approached their episodic Shotgun program, focusing on Season 2 Episode 4 with wacky skits aplenty and some interesting matches. Sit back, relax, and check out whatâ€s on the telly with us this month!

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