‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Dec 5th 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. Carmelo Hayes
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
United States Champion Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes reignited their epic NXT rivalry, this time battling for The Mad Dragon’s U.S. Title. Hayes hit a huge tilt-a-whirl facebuster as he started to roll, igniting the WWE Universe in Austin, Texas. Dragunov turned it around, attempting a H-Bomb but Hayes got his knees up. Just as Hayes was about to go for the First 48, Tommaso Ciampa interfered, providing Dragunov to chance to hit Torpedo Moscow to win the match and retain his title.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Alexa Bliss def. Kairi Sane
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Alexa Bliss took on WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane, as Bliss and Charlotte Flair looked to get back into the title picture. Sane mocked Bliss, which angered the former five-time world champion. After attempting to interfere one too many times, Flair blasted Asuka in the face with a big boot on the outside. Back in the ring, Bliss intercepted an Insane Elbow attempt to nail Sister Abigail, scoring the big win. After the match, Nia Jax and Lash Legend stormed the scene to attack Bliss and Flair from behind, before attacking The Kabuki Warriors as well.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Jade Cargill def. Alba Fyre
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Jade Cargill ruined new Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green’s fireworks celebration last week, the WWE Women’s Champion battled Green’s Secret Hervice agent Alba Fyre. Just as the match started, former champion Giulia and Kiana James laid waste to Green, distracting Fyre in the ring. Cargill dispatched Fyre with Jaded to win the match.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: The Last Time is Now Tournament Final – Gunther def. LA Knight
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
LA Knight and Gunther met in The Last Time is Now Tournament Final, with the winner getting the opportunity to face John Cena in his last match ever. Knight tried to put Gunther away with the Burning Hammer but The Ring General kicked out. Gunther nailed a dropkick before an attempted powerbomb, The Megastar countered however, leading to an epic elbow drop from the top-rope, but Gunther kept fighting. The Ring General dropped Knight with a gruesome German Suplex, which seemed to have injured The Megastar’s neck. Knight fought on, kicking out of two top-rope splashes and another gnarly powerbomb. Knight connected with The BFT, but Gunther somehow put his foot on the bottom rope. The Ring General wouldn’t let up on The Megastar, cinching in the Sleeper Hold. Gunther locked in a modified STF, getting the win to become Cena’s final opponent.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Not even the good opener and the even better main event could save this show from mediocrity. That’s the story of this week’s Smackdown: flashes of quality buried inside a very uneven two hours. The opener set a strong pace, with sharp work, clear stakes, and enough crowd energy to suggest we were in for something memorable. Instead, the middle of the show slid straight into a swamp of filler. Backstage segments meandered, midcard matches lacked urgency, and too many stories felt like they were simply marking time until the Rumble season kicks in. Thankfully, the main event dragged things back into respectability. The action was crisp, the drama felt earned, and it actually advanced something meaningful. But one great match can only carry so much weight.
