Smackdown Review – 10.03.25

The week in WWE: Raw | NXT | Evolve | Impact

Smackdown comes to us LIVE and in LIVING COLOR on the USA Network in America and Netflix around the world from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, OH. The announce team that will call the action is Michael Cole and Booker T on match calls and analysis, Mark Nash handling ring announcements, and Cathy Kelley on backstage interviews and breaking news segments.

Here’s WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes heading to the ring for a chat. After Rhodes asks Cincinnati what they want to talk about, Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed decide to interrupt things. As soon as they get to the ring Randy Orton pops up into the ring seemingly…outta nowhere…to stand by Cody’s side. Heyman mentions that they didn’t actually want to talk to Cody, they actually wanted to talk to Orton. Heyman says that Orton’s a tough guy to get a hold of, but he’s been trying to warn Orton that he and Cody are going to lose to Reed and Breakker in the main event tonight. Heyman tells Orton that when they lose tonight he’s going to start questioning Cody as champion and their current partnership cannot last, and that’s his “prophecy”. Heyman and his crew leave.

WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton is shown entering the building.

Carmelo Hayes is confronted by The Miz. Miz is pissed that Hayes didn’t break up the pin in their tag match with the Street Profits on last week‘s show, so Hayes tells him “You should have kicked out” and says their tag team is over. Hayes tells Miz that he’s lucky because normally he’d shoot first, but he’s leaving this be and moving on.

WWE Men’s US Champion Sami Zayn makes his entrance for this week’s Open Challenge as we go to commercials.

There are some Cincinnati Bengals football players in the crowd as Zayn waits for his opponent. Carmelo Hayes’ music hits and he’s got a microphone. Hayes tells Zayn he doesn’t have anyone holding him back anymore and it’s time for him to show Zayn why he’s “Him”. From behind, the Miz grabs Hayes and hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Hayes in the aisle. While some backstage fools tend to Hayes, Aleister Black emerges and grabs Hayes’ microphone. Black says he’s happy to take the Open Challenge.

WWE Men’s US Championship Open Challenge – Sami Zayn (C) vs Aleister Black

Zayn controls at the outset with some Steamboat-level armdrags. Black wallops Zayn with a kick to the face and then takes over the offense. Cole points out that this is Black’s first singles title match on the main roster as we go to commercials.

Zayn has taken control when the show returns. Zayn hits a top rope moonsault to the floor on a dazed Black. Zayn hits a Michinoku Driver and that gets two. Black fires up with some kicks and a bridging German, and that gets two. Black hits a big knee and rolls up Zayn for two. Black ascends but Zayn manages to overcome him and hit a superplex. We go to another commercial break.

Black and Zayn slug it out before Black hits a huge knee on a flying Zayn for two. Black takes over with strikes and Zayn misses a Helluva Kick. Black hits a Meteora and covers for two. Damien Priest heads to ringside to annoy Black, and Zayn uses the distraction to hit the Helluva Kick and the Blue Thunder Bomb before covering and getting three.

This was weirdly heatless and easily the worst of Zayn’s title defenses so far, and I can’t really blame it on Zayn. Using the US title to further two feuds (Miz/Melo and Black/Priest) feels like a colossal waste of time but here we are. 1.5*

Winner and STILL WWE Men’s US Champion – Sami Zayn

Post-match sees Priest hoist a dazed Black up for a Razor’s Edge through the announce table. Cole points out that Priest cleared their table in the nicest way possible before smashing Black through it.

EARLIER TODAY Smackdown GM Nick Aldis is speaking with WWE Women’s Speed and NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and Zaria when Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre decide to interrupt. Green wants them to become Slaygents but Ruca and Zaria are only focused on the Women’s tag team championships. Aldis makes a match between the teams as Green and Fyre storm off.

Green and Fyre make their entrance as we go to commercials.

Sol Ruca and Zaria vs Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre

Cole and Booker discuss the upcoming NXT-TNA Showdown that’s coming on Tuesday night and Book is excited for it. Fyre and Zaria start and Zaria shows off her strength by yanking Fyre up for a choke while posing on the second rope. Green tags in and Zaria wallops her with a headbutt. Ruca tags in and stretches Green on the ropes before covering for two. Green and Fyre pull off some double team work to gain the advantage. Green works over Ruca and she and Fyre do more double team work with kicks. Green gets a two count as Zaria flies around to run Fyre into the barrier. Green wants the Unpretty-her but Ruca pushes her off and hits the Sol Snatcher. Ruca covers and gets three.

Not much to it, really. A quick sprint to get Zaria and Ruca some shine prior to what I’m guessing is going to be a match for the titles in Perth, since Zaria is Australian. I’m not sure the crowd knew who they were, but they popped for the Sol Snatcher because it’s an awesome finisher. 2*

Winners – Sol Ruca and Zaria (Sol Snatcher on Green)

Cathy Kelley is backstage with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. They put over Zaria and Ruca’s win but warn them that they should be ready if a match is made for the titles. Flair hits a WOO and wants Bliss to do it, but she declines as Kelley does it instead.

WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is heading to the ring for a Crown Jewel contract signing as we go to commercials.

Highlights of Roman Reigns returning on Raw are shown. I still can’t get over how good the visual was of Jey and Roman reconciling while Jimmy stared in disbelief. Regardless, Roman is awesome and he’ll be on this week’s Raw.

Randy Orton is stretching and Cody Rhodes enters to make sure everything is good prior to their match. Orton says it’s all good and Rhodes daps him up while once again saying he’s got Orton’s back.

Nick Aldis is in the ring for the contract signing, and Tiffany Stratton is out first followed by Stephanie Vaquer. There are some respectful remarks from Vaquer and Stratton, but Stratton also promises that she’s going to win in Perth. The contract is signed and Aldis and the champions pose in the middle of the ring. As Stratton leaves she’s attacked from behind by WWE Women’s US Champion Giulia and Kiana James. James has a proposal for Vaquer and wants her to join their group. A recovered Stratton yanks James out of the ring and Giulia escapes before Vaquer can hit the SVB on her. I sense a tag match coming.

Cole mentions Corey Graves “convalescing” still at home and Booker says Graves is done in a joking fashion.

EARLIER TODAY Nick Aldis was chatting with Je’von Evans and Rey Fenix pops in to mention how great Evans match was with Sami Zayn last week. Los Garza stop by to insult Fenix and Evans so Aldis makes a tag match for tonight.

Evans and Fenix make their entrance as we go to commercials.

Jacob Fatu has a pre-taped promo where he mentions being tired of people lying and whining. Fatu makes sure to assure Drew McIntyre that he’s all gas and no brakes.

Je’von Evans and Rey Fenix vs Los Garza (Angel y Berto)

Evans gets an immediate roll up for two on Berto. Evans hits a cross-body on Berto for two. Berto catches Evans with a roundhouse kick and covers for two. Berto works Evans over but Fenix charges in to help his partner. Fenix hits a tope torneo on Angel, Berto hits a tope con hilo on Fenix, and Evans flies over the top rope with a huge splash that takes out all three. We go to commercials.

Angel and Berto hit a big double team move on Fenix and Evans and Angel covers Fenix for two. Fenix tries some offense but Angel cuts him off with a lariat. Berto and Evans tag in and Berto holds the ropes as he covers Evans for two. Evans reverses and gets two. Fenix tags in and smashes Berto with a Mexican Muscle Buster as Evans hits his OG Cuttter on Angel. Fenix covers Berto and gets three.

A quick television showcase for Evans and Fenix, so perhaps this will be Evans future when he eventually gets called up – assuming they still have the “you have to be 25 years old to be on the main roster” rule, Evans is only 21 currently. Los Garza are a fine team to give some folks some shine and that’s what they did here. 2.25*

Winners – Je’von Evans and Rey Fenix (Mexican Muscle Buster on Berto)

A grinning Damien Priest is met by Cathy Kelley backstage. Priest mentions that he’s the physical form of the consequences to Black’s escalating violence and here’s Kit Wilson in a wheelchair to interrupt. Wilson rises from the chair after once again chastising Black’s toxic masculinity. Priest pokes Wilson back into the chair and then sends him down a ramp where Wilson crashes into something and screams. Priest challenges Black for a Last Man Standing match on next week’s Smackdown.

Solo Sikoa hypes up Talla Tonga, who joins Sikoa, JC Mateo, and Tonga Loa. Tonga professes his love for Sikoa and Sikoa mentions there’s something missing from the group and when he finds it, everyone is on notice.

Cody Rhodes makes his second entrance of the evening as we go to commercials.

Cathy Kelley is backstage with The Street Profits and B-Fab. The Profits will take on the Wyatt Sicks for the tag team titles next Friday and they assure Kelley they’re on the same page while also wanting the SMOKE. A monitor behind them plays a quick video from the Wyatt Sicks where they make sure to point out the issues the Profits have had with each other lately.

Cole runs down the card for next Friday as “Voices” finally hits. Orton takes forever to enter but does get an autograph for a kid at ringside from Cody.

The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed) vs WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton

Orton and Breakker start and Orton gets the immediate advantage as Cole actually name drops Ted DiBiase Jr in the year of our Lord 2025. There’s a picture-in-picture commercial break after Orton dumps Breakker to the floor. Breakker gains the advantage and pounds away on Orton in a neutral corner. Orton comes back and dumps Breakker back to the floor. Orton backdrops Breakker on the announce table a few times but Reed charges over and does the same thing to Orton. Let’s all hope Booker’s candy supply is okay. Reed tags in and he and Orton slug it out as we return to full screen.

Orton slips a Reed charge in a corner and tags in Rhodes. Rhodes hits a big kick that sends Breakker to the floor and then Rhodes dumps a charging Reed out as well. Rhodes hits a tope suicida on Reed and then rolls him in. Reed kicks out at one. Breakker smashes Rhodes from behind while Reed has the ref distracted. Reed catches Rhodes trying for a Cody Cutter and hits a massive slam on the champion. Booker says the “young guys” have a different look about them while neglecting to point out that Reed is 37 years old, much like how Jade Cargill apparently just arrived from AEW. Booker says a lot of things these days, is what I’m saying. There are more picture-in-picture commercials.

Breakker casually tosses Rhodes over his shoulder and to the floor, so Reed helpfully jumps down and shoves Rhodes back in. Reed and Breakker work Rhodes over in their corner and pull off a cool move where Breakker climbs on Reed’s back as he splashes Rhodes. Breakker barks at Orton and holds off Rhodes from tagging him. Breakker drops bombs on Rhodes head while mocking the crowd. Reed misses a senton and Rhodes finally tags in Orton. Orton hits a snap powerslam on Breakker and then snaps one off on Reed. Reed recovers with a Death Valley Driver on Orton but Orton stops Reed from going for the Tsunami.

Orton hits a superplex and Breakker breaks up the count at two. Breakker charges down the apron and smashes Rhodes through the timekeeper’s barricade. Orton hits his draping DDT on Reed and wants the RKO. Heyman distracts the ref and here’s WWE Men’s World Champion Seth Rollins to hit a curb stomp on Orton. Reed pulls Orton over to the corner and hits the Tsunami. Reed covers Orton and gets three.

I’m not sure this needed almost twenty minutes but the whole thing worked pretty well. The finish worked decently enough within the various stories being told. Cody’s offense looked awkward at times and Orton works mostly in second gear these days, but they still have it as far as in-ring psychology stuff goes. Breakker and Reed are my kind of ass-kicking heels. Match of the night but it wasn’t a high bar to clear. 3*

Winners – The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed) (Reed Tsunami on Orton)

Post-match sees Rollins vociferously ordering Reed and Breakker to not go back for more because Rhodes is apparently his issue to deal with. Heyman pleads with Rollins to leave things be for tonight but he can’t resist. Rhodes ducks Rollins stomp attempt and snatches Rollins up for the CrossRhodes. Heyman holds back Breakker and Reed as Rollins tumbles to the floor, and we’re out.

Well, that was an episode of Smackdown, that’s for sure. I can see why they’re bringing some NXT talent in to pad these shows because the cupboard feels pretty empty right now. It’s been a sprint to set up the Perth card since WrestlePalooza and it’s showing. Thumbs in the middle for tonight, but leaning down overall.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Enjoy your Saturday.