‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Sep 12th 2025)
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: United States Title Open Challenge – Sami Zayn def. Rey Fenix
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Sami Zayn hit the Helluva Kick to reign supreme over Rey Fenix in a hard-fought United States Title Open Challenge Match.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Giulia vs. B-Fab (No-contest)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Wielding a Kendo stick, Michin emerged to stop Women’s United States Champion Giulia and Kiana James after they assaulted B-Fab before B-Fab’s match with Giulia.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #3: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill (Double Count-out)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Moments after Jade Cargill drove Tiffany Stratton through the ringside barricade, causing their WWE Women’s Championship showdown to end in a double count-out, Nia Jax emerged to unleash a chaotic post-match attack on both Superstars.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Drew McIntyre def. Randy Orton
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Drew McIntyre avoided Randy Orton’s punt and used the official as a distraction to hit a decisive Claymore Kick. Following McIntyre’s win, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes reemerged to attack The Scottish Psychopath and challenge him to a title match at Wrestlepalooza.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This week’s Smackdown delivered some highlights but ultimately fell short of being a standout show. The night opened strong with Sami Zayn defending the United States Championship against Rey Fenix in a lively open-challenge match. Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill’s rematch carried plenty of intrigue, but the double count-out finish left me frustrated, as it felt like another delay rather than real progression. While Brock Lesnar’s appearance added spectacle AND laughs thanks to Ron Killings, though it didn’t move any storylines forward in a meaningful way. Overall, this episode had sparks of excitement but too often felt like filler, giving the impression of a holding pattern while building toward Wrestlepalooza.
