Browsing: Ruca

Sol Ruca announced Tuesday on NXT that she will not be able to defend the Women’s North American Championship against Blake Monroe at Halloween Havoc on Saturday due to an injury.

Ruca’s tag team partner, Zaria, offered to defend the title against Monroe on her behalf, and Sol agreed to the proposal.

While no specifics were given about the nature or severity of the injury, Ruca was wearing a knee brace and using a crutch. She also said she suffered the injury during the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match she and Zaria had against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss last week on SmackDown.

Ruca added that she is unsure when she will be cleared to compete, noting that she only knew she would not be able to wrestle at Halloween Havoc on Saturday.

The originally scheduled match between Ruca and Monroe had been in the works for the past few weeks, stemming from a backstage encounter during which Monroe expressed her belief that Ruca was greedy for having both the Women’s North American Championship and Women’s Speed Championship.

Zaria stood up for Sol, leading to a singles match between Monroe and Zaria that saw Blake use unfair tactics en route to victory.

Ruca attempted to prevent Monroe from using a steel chair, but when the referee was distracted, Monroe poked Zaria in the throat with a hair pick and then hit her with a DDT to pick up the victory.

Zaria got her chance at redemption the following week when she was part of a battle royal to determine the No. 1 contender for the NXT Women’s Championship.

Ruca was present at ringside to root Zaria on, but Monroe showed up and attacked Sol, which prompted Zaria to eliminate herself in order to save her friend.

After adequately getting under the skin of both Ruca and Zaria, Monroe was granted a women’s North American title shot at Halloween Havoc, giving her a chance to secure her first taste of championship gold in WWE.

However, if Monroe is victorious, it will now come at the expense of Zaria rather than Ruca.

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Sol Ruca is out of action.

On Tuesdayâ€s NXT, the North American and Speed Champion came out on a crutch and a knee brace and announced that she wasnâ€t medically cleared to compete for this Saturdayâ€s Halloween Havoc event. She further said she didn’t know when she would be to return to action. After a back and forth between Zaria and Rucaâ€s challenger Blake Monroe, Ruca allowed Zaria to take her place this Saturday, keeping the North American title match on the show alive.

Ruca said she was injured during the WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team title match on Friday. Zaria as well as champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte helped Ruca to the back following the match. Earlier on Tuesday, Ruca said she would address “the NXT Unvierse” about her status. Ava said that “unforseen circumstances” had come up and would be accompanying Ruca to the ring.

Blake Monroe has been feuding with Ruca in recent weeks. On Friday, she made her main roster debut by distracting Ruca in the crowd. That allowed Flair to target Rucaâ€s knee, eventually allowing the champions to retain.

Here is the updated card for Halloween Havoc:

WWE NXT Halloween Havoc (October 25) —

• NXT Champion Ricky Saints defends against Trick Williams
• NXT Womenâ€s Champion Jacy Jayne defends against Tatum Paxley
• Broken rules match for the NXT Tag Team Champions The Hardys defend against DarkState
• Day of the Dead match: NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defends against El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
• NXT Women’s North American Championship: Zaria defends for Sol Ruca against Blake Monroe
• Leon Slater & Je’Von Evans vs. Mr. Iguana & La Parka

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Sol Ruca will seemingly be sidelined from in-ring competition for the time being, and that will result in a change to WWE NXT Halloween Havoc.

Friday night on SmackDown, Sol Ruca and Zaria competed against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair for the WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Titles. During the match, Ruca appeared to injure her knee and eventually tapped out to Flairâ€s Figure 8 submission move.

Tonight on WWE NXT, Sol Ruca appeared in the ring with a knee brace alongside Zaria and General Manager Ava to announce her injury and her inability to compete this weekend at Halloween Havoc against Blake Monroe.

Unlike previous injuries, Ava didnâ€t seem overly eager to strip Ruca of her titles, but the double champion believes that she canâ€t hold a division back when she doesnâ€t know when sheâ€ll be cleared.

This brought out the number one contender, Blake Monroe. Who said she should be handed the title since she was set to compete for it this weekend. This led to Zaria pitching an idea to Ava that she could defend the title for Ruca. Monroe wanted nothing to do with this, but Ava approved it, and Ruca agreed.

Weâ€ve seen plenty of real injuries in WWE over the years. However, this came across way more like a storyline than an actual injury. It seems weâ€ll find out sooner rather than later is Rucaâ€s knee injury is legitimate or not.

Stay tuned to WrestleZone for more information as it becomes available.

READ MORE: WWE Creative Plans For Former Champions Return — Report

What did you make of tonightâ€s segment? Do you think Sol Ruca is really injured? Or is this a storyline to drive a wedge between Ruca and Zaria? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

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WWE NXTâ€s October 21 episode was an interesting show. Sol Ruca was there as a double champion, but she was walking on crutches. That called for a big storyline change.

Ruca and Zaria just lost to Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair on SmackDown. Blake Monroe was on hand to make sure that they lost the match. That being said, Ruca was injured.

The current NXT Womenâ€s North American Champion and WWE Womenâ€s Speed Champion had an amazing run as double champion. However, she was seen backstage with Zaria, and she looked very disheartened. Then Zaria asked Ruca if sheâ€s “sure you want to do this†before the show went to commercial.

Sol Ruca gave an emotional promo on NXT this week, and she relinquished her Womenâ€s North American Championship, and she doesnâ€t know when she will be cleared. She just knows that she wonâ€t be ready for Saturday.

Ruca said that they will talk about the future of her Speed Title in the future, but she doesnâ€t want to hold up two divisions. She promised to win the Womenâ€s North American Title back as Blake Monroe came out to address her.

Monroe said that sheâ€s the future of the title. Zaria took exception to this, as she said NXT doesnâ€t give handouts. Blake Monroe argued that there is nobody better to hold the title than herself. At that point, Zaria told Blake to shut her mouth, and she will defend the North American Title against Blake Monroe for her at Halloween Havoc.

Ava left the decision up to Sol Ruca, and she accepted the match through tears. We will have to see if Zaria wins the match in Solâ€s honor against Blake Monroe.

Sol Ruca has sadly gone through a terrible career-halting injury before. She suffered a torn ACL in April 2023 during an NXT live event, which required surgery the following month and kept her out of action for about 10 months. Now she is on the road to recovery once again.

Whatâ€s your take on Sol Rucaâ€s situation? Is she injury prone at this point? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

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Sol Ruca made an announcement Tuesday night on “WWE NXT” that she’s not medically cleared to compete or defend her Women’s North American Championship at Halloween Havoc, but her tag team partner, Zaria, will be stepping up to take her place against Blake Monroe at the premium live event on Saturday.

Ruca, Zaria, and “NXT” General Manager Ava made their way to the ring during the show, after Ruca posted on social media earlier in the day that she would address recent happenings with the WWE Universe. Ruca was wearing a brace on her left knee and walking with a cane. The Women’s Speed and North American Champion said that she was unfortunately injured during their Women’s Tag Team Championship match against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss on “WWE SmackDown” on Friday.

Ruca said she doesn’t know when she’s going to be cleared, she just knows she won’t be good for Saturday. Ava asked her about the Speed Championship, and Ruca said they could address that later and continued talking about the importance of the Women’s North American title when Monroe’s music hit. “The Glamour” said that since she was number one contender, if Ruca couldn’t defend the gold, she should be champion.

Zaria told Ruca that she would defend the championship in her honor against Monroe. Ava called it “unconventional,” but said she thought it was a great idea, and left the decision up to Ruca. The champion said that she fought hard for the title, but there is no one in the world she trusts more than Zaria, and agreed. Ava made the match official, and it will be Zaria versus Monroe at Halloween Havoc for the Women’s NA title.

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

WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 17, 2025
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA ATSAP CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY ERIC CORBRIDGE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Commentators:Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Mark Nash

Attendance:Wrestletix reports that 9,988 were distributed headed into the show. The arena was set-up for 10,850.

[HOUR ONE]

– Vic Joseph welcomed everyone for the 14th time to Smackdown in San Jose, California. Highlights were shown of Seth Rollinsâ€s watch-assisted victory over Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel last Saturday. They also showed C.M. Punk winning a triple threat match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship and The Vision turning on Rollins from Monday Night Raw.

Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis was standing in the ring and welcomed the audience to Smackdown. He announced that the matchup tonight between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu would be a number one contenderâ€s match for the WWE Championship held by “this manâ€. The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring wearing a suit, an overcoat, and some silly looking glasses that he probably thought looked cool.

The announcers were shown and Vic Joseph welcomed back Corey Graves to the table since the last time he was seen on television he was being F-5â€d by Brock Lesnar. Back in the ring, Cody Rhodes soaked in some fan chants as has become customary. He acknowledged that Seth Rollins defeated him for the Crown Jewel “Championship†and said that they donâ€t need to be in the ring together again. Cody mentioned that Rollins has his own issues to handle with The Vision now, while Cody handles Smackdown business, which tonight will include a number one contenderâ€s match. Cody asked if it would Drew McIntyre winning and the crowd booed, but before he even announced Jacob Fatuâ€s name they started chanting for him since heâ€s from near San Jose. Cody said that the road to Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event in two weeks. runs through San Jose.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: Although he only indirectly said it, it appears that Cody will defend the WWE Championship against the winner of tonightâ€s number one contenderâ€s match at the next SNME.)

– Solo Sikoa and the MFTs walked up to Rey Fenix in the back who was in the middle of a photo shoot. Solo told the cameraman it was time to take his pictures instead, which Fenix took offense too. The MFTâ€s attacked Fenix and threw him into a crate before officials came to break it up.

– The WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss entered for their title defense. For the record, Bliss received more vocal cheers than Flair. [c]

The challengers Sol Ruca and Zaria came out after the break to little reaction. NXTâ€s Blake Monroe was shown standing in the front row. Monroe will challenge Sol Ruca for the NXT North American Championship at Halloween Havoc next Saturday.

(1) CHARLOTTE FLAIR & ALEXA BLISS (c) vs. SOL RUCA & ZARIA – WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship MatchÂ

Flair started things off against Ruca. Joseph noted that Ruca has held the North American Championship for 180 days. A big boot dropped Zaria on the apron. Flair rammed Ruca into the turnbuckle and tagged in Bliss, who immediately came in and hit a spinning headscissors. Ruca tagged out and Zaria fared no better as Bliss dominated with strikes and a dropkick. They countered each other a few times including Zaria escaping a Sister Abigail attempt. Zaria planted Bliss with a chokeslam as they went to a split-screen. [c]

Ruca and Zaria dominated with double-team maneuvers during the break. Monroe was shown sitting in the front row again. Zaria momentarily lost her footing climbing to the top rope with Bliss. Bliss kicked her off and tried to make the tag but Zaria pulled her back to their corner and tagged Ruca back in. Ruca gave Bliss an around-the-world faceplant. The challengers attempted a double-team maneuver but Bliss moved and managed to make the hot tag this time. Flair jumped off the top rope with a cross-body on both opponents, then took them to the Flair chophouse by repeatedly striking them with knife-edges. Flair kipped up and gave Ruca a crotch-chop. Flair covered Zaria for the first two-count of the match ten minutes into it. Ruca springboarded in and surprised Flair with a flying clothesline. Ruca hit a German Suplex but then got caught coming off the top rope.

Flair sinched in a Walls of Jericho (that Joseph mistakenly called a Boston Crab). Ruca recovered and hit the Soul Snatcher and covered for a one…two…Bliss saved her partner. Zaria threw Bliss to the outside. Zaria flung Bliss into the barricade. Flair came out to help her but it distracted her long enough Ruca to hit a moonsault off the top turnbuckle to the floor onto Flair. It mostly missed though. Monroe mockingly cheered on Ruca from ringside. Flair took advantage and chop blocked Ruca. Flair threw Ruca into the ring and locked in the Figure Eight with a bridge. Ruca tapped out.

WINNERS: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss via pinfall in 13:00. Flair and Bliss retained the Tag Team titles.

After the match, Monroe was laughing at ringside. The champions shook the challengers†hands in the ring.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: The dreaded distraction caused Ruca to lose focus and ultimately she paid for it. This was a sales pitch to get people to watch the Halloween Havoc match. I really appreciated that neither team went for a cover until 10 minutes into the match. That should happen more often because it make a wrestler look weak when they kick out at 2 when theyâ€ve barely endured any damage. And yes, I know the argument can be made that they could kick out at 1 if they wanted to, but they may want to have an extra second to breathe or something. I think that is silly.)

– Cody Rhodes bumped into Jacob Fatu walking in the back. Fatu welcomed him to the Shark Tank and said that when he was done dog-walking Drew McIntyre all across the Bay area then Cody will get to learn that heâ€s all gas and no brakes. Cody said he hoped he was right.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: Check, check, check, check. Fatu got all his catchphrases in as usual.)

– Aleister Black was up next. [c]

– In a pre-tape, Aleister Black said he was proud that heâ€d been calculated in setting up Damian Priest and aligning with his wife Zelina Vega. Vega was with him and also said it was always the plan. Black said they are a necessary evil.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: They are an intriguing act that feels very fresh. Hopefully they capitalize on it.)

– The MFTâ€s beatdown of Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura from last weekâ€s Smackdown was replayed.

– The Miz was in the back with Aldis, asking him to think big about something. Sami Zayn walked up and questioned why he isnâ€t having an Open Challenge match tonight. Aldis said it was for two reasons. The first was that he wanted Nakamura to get a rematch but heâ€s in Japan this week. The second was the concern about the MFTs. Zayn protested that, saying that he canâ€t just hide in the back and be intimidated by them. Zayn said the United States Championship means something to him, to the other wrestlers, and to the fans. Zayn said he was going to the ring now to defend the title. Miz heard it all and smiled. [c]

– The United States Champion Sami Zayn made his energetic entrance for his latest Open Challenge. As made obvious by the previous segment, The Miz came out to be the challenger. But Carmelo Hayes attacked him from behind, just like Miz did to him before. Ilja Dragunov made his surprise return as the actual challenger!

(2) SAMI ZAYN [c] vs. ILJA DRAGUNOV – Open Challenge for the United States Championship

Graves explained that Dragunov was back after being out for a year recovering from a right knee injury. Joseph pointed out that Zaynâ€s eyes indicated this was a shock to him.  Dragunov was pumped up and called for the fans†approval. The opponents shook hands and then immediately traded blows. Dragunov leveled him with a shoulder block. Zayn attempted a suplex, but Dragunov escaped. They countered a few moves until Dragunov hit Zayn with a big enziguri and a running big boot in the corner. [c]

Zayn clotheslined and covered Dragunov for a two-count. They traded chops and strikes again, resulting with Zayn playing possum in the corner. Zayn capitalized by hitting a DDT and charging in for a Helluva Kick. But Dragunov caught him with a jumping kick to to the head and covered for a nearfall. Dragunov hit a German Suplex and held on. Zayn tried to escape with elbows but ate another one. Zayn escaped a third attempt with a  roll-up for another good nearfall. Zayn hit a German Suplex of his own and held on, hitting a second. Graves pointed out that Zayn kept his head out of the reach of Dragunovâ€s elbows, which prevented him from being able to break his grip. Dragunov escaped a third attempt and powered Zayn up with a modified back suplex/driver.

[HOUR TWO]

Dragunov jumped off the top but rolled through when Zayn moved. Zayn caught him in a Michinoku driver and covered for yet another two-count. The announcers pointed out that as the match keeps going Zayn has the advantage because heâ€s in ring shape, while Dragunov just came back from injury. Both men were on the apron. Zayn held Dragunov up for a suplex but ended up dropping him shoulder-first on the bottom rope as Zayn continued to the floor. It looked brutal on Dragunov. [c]

Both grapplers were perched on the top rope. Dragunov push Zayn off and jumped off with a senton and cover for another nearfall. Joseph questioned how on earth Zayn could kick out of that. Dragunov lifted Zayn up to the top again, but Zayn put his hand out to prevent Dragunov from meeting him up there. Dragunov was relentless though and got back up, superplexing Zayn to the mat. Dragunov called for his H-bomb finisher but Zayn got a boot up. Zayn missed a Helluva kick attempt and Dragunov hit a suplex and covered for a two-count. Dragunov hit a knee to the face and literally fell on Zayn for a two-count cover.

With both men on their feet, Dragunov escaped a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt, then recoiled off the ropes with a 619 and Constantine special clothesline that turned Zayn inside out. Dragunov was fired up and went for another H-bomb but Zayn caught him with a boot again and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn covered but again Dragunov kicked out at two! Dragunov struggled to get to his feet as the fans chanted “holy sh*t†in disbelief. Zayn called for the Helluva kick but Solo Sikoa showed up on stage. Solo shook his finger at Zayn and walked back behind the stage. Back in the ring, Zayn caught Dragunov with an exploder suplex in the corner but once again Dragunov interrupted the Helluva kick attempt with a Torpedo Moscow flying headbutt and an H-bomb. Dragunov covered for the one…two…three!

WINNER: Ilja Dragunov by pinfall in 19:00. Dragunov is the new United States Champion.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: That was an incredible match. The pacing was great, the action was non-stop, their moves were crisp and well-executed. Dragunov fired up many times and Zayn was resourceful in the ways he avoided some of his opponentâ€s attempts. The Blue Thunder Bomb nearfall worked very well since over the last two months Zayn established that he could win a match with it. More of that please. Zayn is the perfect babyface who ultimately lost because he chose to be a fighting champion. I still suspect that there will be bigger plans for him moving forward as we approach Wrestlemania season. Congratulations to Dragunov for his stellar return after being out for a year.)

Dragunov celebrated his win as the announces said it must feel great for him after being out for so long. Zayn looked to be about to congratulate him, but the MFTâ€s stormed the ring and beat them both down. Solo called the shots of his MFT group, who were all wearing face paint again. Rey Fenix came out to help but Talla Tonga caught him jumping off the top rope and choke-slammed him to the mat. Solo had a microphone and asked the fans if they forgot that the MFTs run Smackdown and he will make them all champions again.

The creepy music of the Wyatts played and the lights went dim. Bo Dallas appeared on the big screen and asked the MFTs if they were prepared for what awaits on the other side of the door. The rest of the Wyatt Sicks appeared on the apron behind the MFTs. The MFTs turned around and they had a staredown as the fans chanted “holy sh*t†again. The Wyatts got in the ring and the MFTs backed out the other side.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: Itâ€s frustrating that in todayâ€s WWE there are so many shades of grey. Just when you think the Wyatts are babyfaces they act like heels, then they do the exact opposite, then they flip it and reverse it. You confused? Yeah me too.)

– Highlights of the Crown Jewel match between Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer were shown. Vaquer won that match with a corkscrew splash and the Crown Jewel “Championship.â€

WWE Womenâ€s Champion Tiffany Stratton was asked by Cathy Kelley whether her loss would be setback. Stratton said that she is still the Champion and one loss wonâ€t define her. Kiana James interrupted and said she represents Giulia because sheâ€s a better investment than Stratton. Stratton said that James latched onto Giulia because of the old saying “those who can, do, and those who canâ€t…represent.†James said she was perfectly capable of getting it done in the ring, so Stratton challenged her to a match next week. James accepted. A graphic showed that Stratton has the highest win percentage of any WWE Superstar in 2025 (.944, 17-1 record).

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: Cool statistic to highlight. They could do so much more with stats.)

– Footage aired from an “earlier today†pre-tape where the Motor City Machine Guns were celebrating their 1-year anniversary in WWE. Los Garza walked up and mocked them. The Machine Guns recalled that they defeated Lost Garza in their first match a year ago, so they should do it again tonight.

The Motor City Machine Guns and Los Garza entered for the next match.

(3) THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. LOS GARZA (Angel & Berto)Â

Los Garza immediately distracted Shelley as Angel took control. Sabin made a blind tag and hit Angel with a dropkick from the top rope. Sabin wiped out both of Los Garza with a dive through the ropes to the floor. But when Sabin tried to get back in the ring Berto grabbed his feet allowing Berto to kick Sabin in the face. Joseph speculated that the success Los Garza recently had in AAA has helped their confidence. Shelley tagged back in and missed a splash in the corner when Berto pulled Angel to safety. Los Garza double-teamed Shelley and celebrated themselves in the ring. [c]

Berto was still in control of Shelley after the break. Shelley managed to hit a desperation neckbreaker but and tagged in Sabin. Sabin hit a cross-body off the top on both opponents. The action was fast and furious. Sabin earned a nearfall with a crucifix pin on Berto. The Guns hit a double hip toss on Berto followed by dueling spin kicks. Berto took advantage of Angelâ€s help and leveled Sabin with as sit-out powerbomb and cover for a nearfall.  Angel tagged in and went for a modified Gory special. Berto tagged in and flipped over the top rope with a double team move and cover for a two-count. Berto leaped over the top rope and leveled both Guns on the outside. Berto rolled Sabin back in and Lost Garza went for a double-press slam but Shelley pulled Sabin down. The Guns connected with their Skull and Bones finisher and Shelley covered Angel for the pin and the win.

WINNER: The Motor City Machine Guns by pinfall in 10:00.

– Fraxiom were show in the locker room having watched the previous match. Nathan Frazer said they need to do something to make an impact. But Axiom said they should be patient.  DIY, with Candice LeRae walked in and made fun of them. Tomasso Ciampa said they had been away so that The Street Profits couldnâ€t blame them when they lost. They segued into talking about what they were going to wear for Halloween. Johnny Gargano tried to grab Axiomâ€s mask. Axiom stopped him and said they could meet him in the ring anytime he wanted.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: Who let Candice in the menâ€s locker room!? Standards people! .)

– Jacob Fatuâ€s music played. But before he could enter they cut to commotion in the back. Fatu was laying under a big piece of scaffolding with a lot of blood coming out of his mouth. Nick Aldis ran up to help him and asked someone to call for medical. [c]

Fatu was trying to recover as Aldis asked him what happened. Drew McIntyreâ€s music played. Aldis heard it and walked away from the scene of the crime. The announcers pointed out that McIntyre was grinning from ear to ear as he approached the ring. Joseph said they were at a loss for words.

McIntyre grabbed a microphone and said “San Jose, it appears that your boy Fatu is all gas no brakes.†He told the referee to raise his hand as the new number one contender. The referee hesitated. Nick Aldis came out on stage and told McIntyre not to say another word. Aldis said that if he finds out that McIntyre had anything to do with that… but McIntyre cut him off. McIntyre said he had nothing to do with it and that he better make him the number one contender. Cody Rhodes came out yelling “Enough!†Cody said that they needed to give the fans something right now. Cody said they should just have a championship match right now.

Cody and McIntyre began brawling at ringside, while Cody was still wearing his dress clothes. They inexplicably went to a split-screen right as it started. No bell had rung to indicate an actual match. [c]

They were still brawling as the announcers said they had no idea what was happening. Both men got in the ring and Cody called for the bell to ring. It was now an official match with seven minutes remaining in the program.

(4) CODY RHODES [c] vs. DREW MCINTYRE  – WWE Championship Match?

Cody missed a corner splash and McIntyre tossed him with a belly to back suplex completely across the ring. McIntyre pummeled the prone champion. Cody got to his feet and tackled McIntyre but was quickly overpowered. McIntyre suplexed Cody. McIntyre took too long to follow up, giving Cody time to recover. Cody sent McIntyre into the corner and hit him with corner punches. Corey Graves wondered again whether this was a championship match or not, since Cody mentioned it. McIntyre dropped Cody with a Future Shock DDT and cover for a two-count.

Graves pointed out that McIntyre could smell blood and Joseph wondered whether Cody was trying to get the stench of losing at Crown Jewel off him. McIntyre beat Cody down in the corner until the referee threatened a disqualification. Cody tried to gain a spark and traded a few chops before being overpowered again. Cody had another flurry and hit a Cody Cutter. Cody fired up and went for a dive through the ropes, but McIntyre caught him with a forearm and then sent Cody over the barricade. Cody grabbed the WWE Championship belt and waffled McIntyre with it. The referee called for the bell.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre via disqualification in 5:00. Cody Rhodes is still the Undisputed WWE Champion.

After the match, Cody cleared off the announce table. McIntyre raked Codyâ€s eyes and wanted to put Cody through the table. Cody escaped and was about to put McIntyre through the table with a Cross Rhodes, but officials, including Aldis, broke it up. During the ensuing fracas, Cody dove off the top rope onto McIntyre and a bunch of officials. The officials held McIntyre back as an enraged WWE Champion stood in the ring.

(Corbridgeâ€s Analysis: That was a very chaotic final 15 minutes. We can assume McIntyre is lying about having nothing to do with the Fatu attack, but there is also a chance that someone else did attack him. Solo and the MFTs are always a possibility. Or it could be someone else. It is still unclear whether that was a Championship match or not, but in this case itâ€s actually okay because the confusion was part of the story. Even the on-screen authority figure Nick Aldis was trying to make sense of what was going on.

Most of what ended up happening was because the Champion Cody Rhodes demanded it. That could be very interesting because Cody doesnâ€t exactly have an alibi for the Fatu attack either. We can assume he also had nothing to do with it since heâ€s a top babyface. HOWEVER, he ultimately did get to get his hands on McIntyre because of what happened to Fatu. AND Cody used a heel tactic by hitting McIntyre with the championship belt leading to the disqualification. All in all, it was a compelling segment.

Lastly, I thought the announcers were tremendous tonight. Joseph and Graves did a great job explaining the motivations of the wrestlers, particularly in the Zayn/Dragunov and Rhodes/McIntyre matches. It made sense that Cody might want to quickly bounce back from his tainted loss to Rollins, while McIntyreâ€s face did make him look guilty of the attack. Great job all around.)

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WWE

While AEW is hosting “AEW Dynamite: Title Tuesday” tonight, it is a battle of the brands over on Showdown, with talents from “WWE NXT” and TNA colliding in the ring. One of the Showdown matches pitted four women of “NXT” against four TNA representatives in the style of Survivor Series, meaning the only way to win was to eliminate all of the other team’s members.

With former TNA Knockouts Champion and current “NXT” star Jordynne Grace officiating this cross-promotional match, TNA’s Mara Sade (fka Jakara Jackson) secured the first elimination, courtesy of a roll-up on Jaida Parker. Moments later, NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca evened the score for team “NXT” by driving Sade into the mat with a Sol Snatcher. Lola Vice followed suit shortly after when she struck TNA’s Cassie Lee with a spinning backfist, then pinned her for “NXT’s” second elimination.

In an attempt to avenge the pinfall on Lee, Jessica McKay surprised Vice with a roll-up of her own. Vice, however, escaped it and locked in a submission, forcing McKay to tap out and leaving TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan as the lone member of her respective team.

Despite being down in numbers, Jordan remained resilient and used the personal fractures of team “NXT” to her advantage. Following a push to Vice that knocked NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne off the apron, Jordan nailed Vice with an Angle Slam for an elimination of her own. Jordan continued to build momentum with a facebuster and a Spanish Fly to Ruca, though Ruca eventually shifted the tide by blocking her 450 Splash. When Ruca then planted Jordan with a Sol Snatcher, Jayne quickly tagged herself in to capture the final pinfall on Jordan for a team “NXT” win. Ruca and Jayne stood tall in celebration as the sole survivors afterward.Â

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