‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Nov 21st 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. JD McDonagh
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Ilja Dragunov retained the United States Championship against The Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh in a thrilling matchup. The Mad Dragon instituted his signature, hard-hitting offense by dumping McDonagh with a plethora of suplexes and strikes. McDonagh nearly captured gold after countering Torpedo Moscow and hitting a Moonsault, but it wasn’t his night. Dragunov weathered that storm from McDonagh and hit a huge Powerbomb before nailing a match-ending H-Bomb.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: The Last Time is Now Tournament – Carmelo Hayes def. Bronson Reed
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Carmelo Hayes punched his ticket to the next round of the Last Time is Now Tournament thanks to an assist from Cody Rhodes. Hayes and Bronson Reed battled it out inside the ring when chaos broke out as The Usos attacked Bron Breakker and Logan Paul at ringside. With the official distracted, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes emerged and hit Reed with a Cross Rhodes, allowing Hayes to win by countout.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: #DIY def. Fraxiom
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa picked up a big win thanks to some help from Candice LeRae. Nathan Frazer and Axiom were their usual speedy, high-flying selves, using their athleticism to keep the veterans off balance. Ciampa managed to distract the official and it allowed LeRae to hop on the apron and unmask Axiom, which Gargano capitalized on by rolling him up for the win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: The Last Time is Now Tournament – Penta def. Finn Bálor
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Penta advanced to the next round of The Last Time is Now Tournament by defeating Finn Bálor. The arrogant Bálor mocked Penta at every turn, even doing his signature stomp before stomping the luchador in the corner. In the end, it was all Penta as he nailed a Mexican Destroyer out of nowhere to win the bout.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This week’s Smackdown reminded me why I always champion tournaments on weekly wrestling TV: tournaments instantly give wresting shows purpose and we get to see good wrestling without the baggage of storyline. With the bracket matches taking centre stage this episode, everything felt sharper and more focused. The opener set the tone, with Ilja Dragunov dragging JD McDonagh to one of the best singles matches McDonagh has had in ages. JD is not the go-to guy for one-on-one matches IMHO, but Dragunov practically willed him into a four-star, match-of-the-night performance. It was hard-hitting, urgent, and far better than it had any right to be. The tournament bouts kept that momentum going. Carmelo Hayes vs Bronson Reed and Penta vs Finn Bálor both benefited from having actual stakes, even when the execution wasn’t perfect. Penta vs Bálor never quite clicked, and Hayes/Reed leaned too heavily on interference for something meant to feel consequential, but the structure still worked. The women’s WarGames build remained the weakest link — the teams are set, yet the spark just isn’t there. Overall, this was a solid, tournament-driven episode that proves brackets still make everything better. A few fizzles, but plenty to enjoy.
