From the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, WWE Friday Night SmackDown delivered a pivotal chapter on the road to John Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. With the finals of The Last Time Is Now Tournament headlining, plus a loaded undercard that featured a hot U.S. Title opener, women’s division chaos and a chilling confrontation between Solo Sikoa and The Wyatt Sicks, the blue brand set the tone for the last stretch of 2025 in a big way.
Here are the full results
- WWE United States Championship – Open Challenge:
Ilja Dragunov (c) def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall after a Torpedo Moscow and H-Bomb (with a crucial assist from Tommaso Ciampa’s interference). - Singles Match:
Alexa Bliss def. Kairi Sane via pinfall after Sister Abigail; post-match, Nia Jax & Lash Legend attacked Bliss and Charlotte Flair, then posed with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. - Non-Title Singles Match:
Jade Cargill def. Alba Fyre via pinfall after a spinebuster, pump kick and Jaded, following ringside chaos involving Chelsea Green, Giulia and Kiana James. - The Last Time Is Now Tournament Finals – Winner Faces John Cena in His Final Match:
Gunther def. LA Knight via submission with a cravat-style crossface, winning the 16-man tournament and becoming John Cena’s final WWE opponent at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington, D.C.
Parking lot chaos & Cody Rhodes’ message for Drew McIntyre
SmackDown effectively opened in the parking lot, where Drew McIntyre arrived only to be informed by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis that his suspension from Survivor Series: WarGames was still in effect. As Drew argued with security and reluctantly agreed to leave, he was blindsided by WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who dove into his truck, raked his eyes and brawled with him until security pulled Cody away.
Cody then marched to the ring and cut a fiery promo, accusing McIntyre of breaking an unwritten rule by invading the Rhodes family’s truck and putting Brandi and their children at risk. He called Drew WWE’s “resident cockroach” and demanded that Aldis reinstate him so they can settle things inside a WWE ring.
Show-stealer opener: Ilja Dragunov retains the U.S. Title over Carmelo Hayes
Ilja Dragunov’s United States Championship Open Challenge brought out Carmelo Hayes, flanked by his growing aura as one of Cena’s tournament-era standouts. The match immediately lived up to its on-paper potential, with Dragunov and Hayes trading blistering chops, precision counters and big bumps that had “fight forever” energy.
Hayes targeted Dragunov’s neck and back, hitting a springboard clothesline and a facebuster for near falls, while Ilja answered with a German suplex and a crushing powerbomb. Late in the match, Hayes seemed poised to steal the title after a dramatic DDT to the apron and a top-rope attempt—until Tommaso Ciampa arrived, tripping Hayes on the ropes behind the referee’s back.
Dragunov instantly capitalized, drilling Melo with Torpedo Moscow followed by the H-Bomb for the three-count.
Afterward, replays exposed Ciampa’s interference, leaving Dragunov visibly furious that his successful title defense came with an asterisk.
Flair & Bliss get the win, but Nia Jax & Lash Legend make a statement
The women’s division spotlight hit as Alexa Bliss (with Charlotte Flair) collided with Kairi Sane (with Asuka) in a match laced with personal history and tag-team stakes. Sane came out aggressive, using the environment and Asuka’s distractions to punish Bliss with ringside offense and a double stomp off the top rope.
Down the stretch, Asuka again tried to tilt the scales, hopping on the apron to distract Bliss. Charlotte neutralized her with a big boot at ringside, and when Sane went for the InSane Elbow, Bliss stood up, caught her mid-air, and spiked her with Sister Abigail for the pin.
The celebration was short-lived. Nia Jax and Lash Legend jumped Flair and Bliss from behind, destroying everyone in sight—including Sane and Asuka when they tried to intervene—and ended the segment by holding the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships high.
SNME and NXT Deadline collide: Cody’s next challenger & Bayley vs. Sol Ruca
Backstage, Nick Aldis brought Cody Rhodes into his office alongside NXT Champion Ricky Saints and Oba Femi. Cody revealed he requested the meeting, then announced that whoever wins the NXT Championship match at NXT Deadline will face him for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event next week.
Later, Aldis also had to deal with The Miz, who argued he should be John Cena’s final opponent because he beat Cena at WrestleMania. Aldis shot him down and instead introduced Bayley, announcing she’ll face Sol Ruca from NXT at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Jade Cargill shrugs off chaos to beat Alba Fyre
In non-title action, WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill faced Alba Fyre, accompanied by Chelsea Green. Fyre opened aggressively, but outside interference from Giulia and Kiana James disrupted everything, dragging Green into chaos on the ramp.
Cargill took advantage and finished Fyre with a spinebuster, pump kick and Jaded, keeping her momentum strong heading into SNME.
Backstage, Cargill crossed paths with B-Fab and Mi Chin, leading to a heated exchange and Jade vowing to request a match with Mi Chin next week.
Solo Sikoa calls out Uncle Howdy – and The Wyatt Sicks answer
Solo Sikoa and MFT addressed last week’s assault by The Wyatt Sicks, with Solo declaring he intends to reclaim everything they “stole” from the Wyatt legacy. The lights cut out, and when they returned, the entire faction encircled the ring: Nikki Cross, Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis and Uncle Howdy himself.
A chaotic brawl erupted, ending with Rowan booting Talla Tonga off the apron while Solo stared down the eerie faction.
The road to Cena’s last night: Gunther vs. LA Knight – Tournament Finals
The main event saw LA Knight and Gunther battle for the right to face John Cena in his final match. Knight hit a massive Attitude Adjustment–into–Burning Hammer combo, nearly ending it, while Gunther answered with top-rope splashes, powerbombs and relentless neck work.
After Knight’s knee buckled, Gunther locked in a savage cravat-style crossface submission, forcing Knight to tap out.
With the victory, Gunther wins The Last Time Is Now Tournament and officially becomes John Cena’s final opponent next Saturday at SNME.
Complete Last Time Is Now Tournament Results
First Round
- Rusev def. Damian Priest
- Sheamus def. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Jey Uso def. The Miz
- LA Knight def. Matt Cardona
- Gunther def. Je’Von Evans
- Solo Sikoa def. Dolph Ziggler
- Carmelo Hayes def. Bronson Reed (count-out)
- Penta def. Finn Bálor
Quarterfinals
- Jey Uso def. Rusev
- LA Knight def. The Miz
- Solo Sikoa def. Penta (doctor stoppage)
- Gunther def. Carmelo Hayes
Semi-finals
- Gunther def. Solo Sikoa
- LA Knight def. Jey Uso
Finals
- Gunther def. LA Knight via submission to win the tournament and earn the match with John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
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