‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Nov 7th 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 Championship – Ilja Dragunov def. Johnny Gargano
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
United States Champion Ilja Dragunov refused to face Tommaso Ciampa, opting instead to face Ciampa’s tag team partner Johnny Gargano. This irritated Ciampa, who stormed to the back. Candice LeRae interfered to help Gargano on multiple occasions. Dragunov nevertheless hit a superplex and the H-Bomb to retain the United States Title.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Nia Jax def. Charlotte Flair
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair went toe-to-toe with Nia Jax, whom Alexa Bliss had beaten the week prior. The Queen hit a scintillating moonsault, but Jax kicked out at two. Just as Flair was looking to clinch the win, Lash Legend emerged from out of nowhere to attack Alexa Bliss. The distraction allowed Jax to nail the Annihilator and win the match.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Women’s United States Championship – Chelsea Green def. Giulia
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Giulia faced former Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green in a thrilling title fight. Kiana James and Alba Fyre brawled on the outside, allowing Green to pin Giulia by using the ropes to become the first two-time Women’s United States Champion.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Talla Tonga def. Rey Fenix
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Before the match, Shinsuke Nakamura and The Motor City Machine Guns took out the other MFTs, who were going to be in Talla Tonga’s corner. Tonga dropped Rey Fenix from up high with a powerbomb and a chokeslam to win the match. After the bout, Sami Zayn, despite not being medically cleared, came down with a steel chair to help Fenix chase Solo Sikoa and Tonga from the ring.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #5: Cody Rhodes vs. Aleister Black (No-contest)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes went one-one-one with Aleister Black for the first time. As Rhodes and Black leveled each other with kicks, Drew McIntyre emerged to Claymore referee Dan Engler. McIntyre and Black executed a 2-on-1 assault on Rhodes until Damian Priest charged the ring to help The American Nightmare brawl with McIntyre and Black. With the match ending in turmoil, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis announced that McIntyre was suspended.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This week’s Smackdown never quite found its footing. Cody Rhodes versus Aleister Black should have been the anchor of the show, but Drew McIntyre’s interference and the resulting suspension angle felt more like a shortcut than meaningful storytelling. Chelsea Green rolling up Giulia for the Women’s U.S. Title was surprising, but it landed with a thud and it undercut what could’ve been a real showcase for Giulia. Ilja Dragunov and Johnny Gargano delivered the match of the night, yet even that couldn’t shake the sense that the episode was drifting from segment to segment without much energy. The women’s division scuffle involving Nia Jax, Lash Legend, and Charlotte Flair hinted at future plans but didn’t add much excitement in the moment. Overall, this was a flat, stop-start episode that felt more like filler than forward momentum.
