‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Oct 17th 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: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair def. Sol Ruca & Zaria
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
NXT Women’s North American Champion and WWE Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca and her partner Zaria had the opportunity of a lifetime as they challenged WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair for the title. Fellow NXT Superstar Blake Monroe sat in the front row and scouted Ruca before she faces her at NXT Halloween Havoc. Zaria used her strength to beat down Bliss, preventing her from tagging Flair. Ruca hit a huge Sol Snatcher on Flair, but Bliss interrupted the count in the nick of time. Monroe distracted Ruca, allowing Flair to capitalize by hitting a chop block on Ruca. Back in the ring, Flair cinched in the Figure-Eight Leglock and forced Ruca to tap.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: United States Championship – Ilja Dragunov def. Sami Zayn
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Carmelo Hayes attacked The Miz, Ilja Dragunov made his return to WWE by answering Sami Zayn’s United States Title Open Challenge. Zayn attempted the Helluva Kick, but Dragunov clocked him with a kick of his own for a two-count. Zayn hit a huge Michinoku Driver from the top rope, but Dragunov somehow kicked out. The Mad Dragon nailed an immense Senton from the top rope and a superplex, but Zayn got his boots up when Dragunov went for the H-Bomb. As Zayn tried to connect with a Helluva Kick, Solo Sikoa distracted him before Dragunov hit the Torpedo and an H-Bomb to win the United States Title.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #3: Motor City Machine Guns def. Los Garza
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
On the one-year anniversary of their WWE debut, The Motor City Machine Guns squared off against the team they defeated one year ago, Los Garza. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelly connected with Skull and Bones on Angel to win the match and celebrate their one-year anniversary.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Drew McIntyre def. Cody Rhodes (DQ)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Jacob Fatu was found laid out backstage, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes challenged Drew McIntyre to an impromptu match. Rhodes, who wasn’t dressed for the match, bit McIntyre in a fit of rage. Outside the ring. Rhodes blasted McIntyre in the face with the WWE Title, ending the match in a disqualification. Rhodes and McIntyre then erupted into a brawl and had to be separated by WWE officials.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
What a weird show this was… Two ok matches, a terrible “main event” between Rhodes and McIntyre (this feud is getting really REALLY, dull now) but then in the middle of all the usual WWE “wrestling” we get an instant classic between Ilja Dragunov and Sami Zayn, with a shock win for the former, who is now the US champ! If I can suggest anything, it’s watch just THAT match and you can skip the rest of this week’s show!
