Last night’s WWE Friday Night SmackDown from Columbia, South Carolina felt different because I was not just watching it through a screen. I was inside Colonial Life Arena, surrounded by a loud crowd that stayed active for almost the entire three-hour experience, from the pre-show action to the Main Event taping to SmackDown itself. The photos and videos I took from my seat showed exactly what made the night work live: the lights, the camera crews, the pyro, the towels, the crowd standing up for big entrances, and the way certain moments hit harder in the building than they probably did on TV.
The show had a lot going on. Trick Williams came home as United States Champion and got treated like one of the biggest stars on the card. Gunther almost talked himself out of a WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes before having to earn it against Royce Keys. Carmelo Hayes returned and immediately started something with Ricky Saints. Jade Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Michin and B-Fab kept the women’s title picture moving, even if the segment did not fully land. The women’s division, more than anything, felt like the biggest creative theme of the night because almost every story was about teams, alliances, loyalty, fake unity, real chemistry or slow-motion breakups.
Here are the full results
Dark Match:
- Blake Monroe defeated Jorynne Grace
WWE Main Event:
- Matt Cardona defeated Nathan Frazer w/Axiom
WWE Friday SmackDown:
- WWE United States Champion Trick Williams w/Lil Yachty def. The Miz
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella & Paige def. Giulia & Kiana James
- Carmelo Hayes def. Ricky Saints
- WWE Tag Team Champion Damian Priest def. Tama Tonga
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Michin & B-Fab via disqualification
- Gunther def. Royce Keys to become No. 1 contender to Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship
Breakdowns & Reactions
The biggest thing I took away from last night was how loud Columbia was. Me and the crowd inside Colonial Life Arena were loud for almost the entire show. This was not one of those TV tapings where the crowd only wakes up for entrances and finishes. People were into the matches, reacting to the promos, chanting, waving towels and standing up for the biggest names. That matters because live energy changes how a show feels. Some segments that may have looked average on TV felt bigger in the building, and some segments that did not work live exposed their flaws even more.
Trick Williams’ homecoming was easily the emotional center of the night. WWE knew exactly what it was doing by leaning into the South Carolina connection. Trick came back as United States Champion, the company gave fans USC Gamecocks towels, and the “Whoop That Trick” chants hit hard in the building. Trick got a massive ovation, and outside of Cody Rhodes, nobody on the show got a reaction like him. The Miz was the right heel for that spot because he could be annoying, disrespectful and entertaining without taking the spotlight away from Trick. Kit Wilson’s interference and Lil Yachty getting involved gave the match the celebrity/homecoming flavor WWE wanted, but the moment still belonged to Trick. WWE’s recap confirms Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale, Yachty stopped the kendo-stick play, and Trick won with the Trick Shot.
The match itself was not meant to be a classic. It was a showcase. Trick got his comeback, the crowd got the win it wanted, and the U.S. Title felt important because Trick felt important. My only real criticism is that WWE has to be careful not to overdo the comedy around him. Last night worked because it was a hometown celebration. Going forward, Trick needs to keep feeling like a champion, not just a fun entrance and catchphrase.
Brie Bella and Paige against Giulia and Kiana James was one of the clearest examples of the women’s division theme last night. The Women’s Tag Team Champions got a big pop live, and the match was good. Brie and Paige felt like an actual team because they carried themselves like champions, worked like partners and got the crowd behind them. Giulia and Kiana, meanwhile, felt like a pairing that is not meant to last. They had moments of good teamwork, but WWE is clearly still teasing their breakup. WWE’s recap noted that Paige won with the Ram-Paige after Brie and Paige survived Giulia and Kiana’s offense.
That is where the women’s division is interesting right now. Brie and Paige feel like champions. Nia Jax and Lash Legend feel like a true powerhouse unit as The Irresistible Forces. Fatal Influence feels like an actual faction. Jade, Michin and B-Fab feel like a unit, but more like Jade’s crew than three equal partners. Charlotte and Alexa feel like temporary allies. Rhea, Charlotte and Alexa felt even more temporary last week. Giulia and Kiana feel like a breakup waiting to happen. That was the whole division last night: who is really together, who is pretending, and who is about to fall apart?
The Irresistible Forces interrupting Brie and Paige before the match was good on paper. Nia and Lash saying they wanted the champions to retain against The Judgment Day on Raw so they could take the titles back at Saturday Night’s Main Event made sense. The problem is WWE later ran down the Saturday Night’s Main Event card and that match was not announced. That made the tease feel unfinished. It may simply mean WWE is waiting until after the Raw title defense, but live in the building, it felt like a setup with no clean payoff.
Carmelo Hayes returning against Ricky Saints was one of the better wrestling stories on the show. Melo came back with purpose, talked about the United States Championship and immediately ran into Ricky, who has that cocky, slippery energy. The match had a simple but effective finish: Ricky tried to use the ropes, got caught, and Melo beat him by using Ricky’s own underhanded tactics against him. That is turnabout as fair play, and it gives them an actual reason to keep feuding. WWE’s recap confirmed Saints tried to use the ropes first before Hayes stole the win with his own rope leverage.
That finish works because it does not bury either guy. Melo looks smart and dangerous in his return. Ricky looks frustrated but not weak. It also puts Melo right back in Trick’s orbit while giving him a side issue with Saints. If WWE handles this right, Melo trying to humble Ricky could become one of SmackDown’s better midcard feuds.
Damian Priest vs. Tama Tonga was solid, but it felt more like a chapter in the Solo Sikoa/MFT story than a match that existed on its own. Priest won with South of Heaven, then Talla Tonga and Solo attacked him after the match. The in-ring work was fine, and Priest got a good reaction, but the more important story is Solo still trying to build power around himself. WWE also used Solo later when he tried to influence Royce Keys, so at least his presence connected across the episode instead of feeling random.
The Jade Cargill, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss segment is where I have to be honest: it fell flat live. Jade has presence. Charlotte has presence. Alexa has presence. But the promo itself did not really go anywhere. The crowd reacted in spots, especially because Charlotte can still pull “Flair Country” energy in the Carolinas, but the segment felt more like a bridge than a major turning point. WWE clearly wanted to keep Jade’s title chase alive while also teasing Jade vs. Charlotte, but the talking part did not have enough urgency.
The tag match after the promo worked better than the promo. Charlotte and Alexa against Michin and B-Fab ended in a disqualification when Jade pulled Alexa out of the ring, then Jade, Michin and B-Fab beat down Charlotte and Alexa. The match also kept teasing Jade and Charlotte eventually clashing in a singles match because Charlotte kept taunting Jade, Jade kept responding, and every time they shared space, the attention shifted to them. WWE can say the immediate story is Jade chasing Rhea Ripley and the WWE Women’s Championship, but the longer-term money match still feels like Jade vs. Charlotte.
The bigger issue is what WWE did with Fatal Influence. Last week, Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were dealing with Fatal Influence after the six-woman tag. Fatal Influence came in hot, picked up major momentum and Jacy Jayne looked especially strong by being involved in big wins and standing across from names like Rhea, Charlotte and Alexa. Then Jade returned, and suddenly WWE moved the focus to Jade, Michin and B-Fab. I understand why. Jade’s return is a major story, and if she is heading toward Rhea at Clash in Italy, WWE had to heat that up fast. But where does that leave Fatal Influence?
That is the problem. Fatal Influence should not feel like a group WWE used for one hot week and then paused because Jade came back. They are too fresh, too loud and too useful for that. The best thing WWE did last night was at least give them a backstage promo where Jacy, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid made it clear they see themselves as a real unit while everyone else is pretending to be friends. That promo helped, but WWE needs to follow through. Fatal Influence should either crash Saturday Night’s Main Event or insert themselves back into the title scene quickly, because dropping them after that kind of momentum would be bad creative.
Gunther, Cody Rhodes, Royce Keys and Nick Aldis gave the show its strongest creative thread. Gunther came out with the contract for Clash in Italy, but he tried to control the situation instead of just signing. Nick Aldis then called him out for overplaying his hand, which forced Gunther to earn the title shot against Royce Keys. That was smart booking. Aldis looked like an actual general manager, Gunther looked arrogant, Cody looked like the champion waiting for his challenger, and Royce looked like a young powerhouse smart enough to try to steal the opportunity.
Royce Keys benefited from the night even though he lost. He tried to sign the contract. He got a main event. He threw Gunther around. He rejected Solo Sikoa’s chair offer. He looked like someone WWE actually wants to elevate. This also gave the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner real follow-through for once. Since that trophy was introduced at WrestleMania 30, it has rarely felt like an instant ticket to something meaningful. Royce being pushed straight into a WWE Championship contender’s match made the trophy feel more important than it has in years.
Gunther vs. Royce was the best match of the night. It had stakes, size and a clear story. Royce used power. Gunther chopped him down, worked the shoulder and kept finding ways to survive. Solo tried to get involved, Royce refused the shortcut, and Gunther capitalized with the powerbomb. Afterward, Cody hit Gunther with Cross Rhodes and sent the crowd home with the champion standing tall. WWE confirmed Gunther is now No. 1 contender and will challenge Cody at Clash in Italy.
The only thing WWE still did not make clean enough is whether Gunther has officially moved from Raw to SmackDown. The story was built around Gunther deciding whether to come to SmackDown to challenge Cody. The contract was framed around him joining SmackDown. Cody even welcomed him to SmackDown after laying him out. But WWE still needs to say it clearly. If Gunther is now on SmackDown, say that. If he is still technically a Raw star using a Heyman favor to get this title match, say that. Brand clarity matters, especially when the world title picture is involved.
Online reaction after the show seemed to center on the same major things that stood out live: Trick’s homecoming, Gunther vs. Royce being strong, Cody and Gunther becoming official for Clash in Italy, and the women’s division getting more crowded. Some reaction praised the main event and Royce’s performance, while other coverage pointed out that the women’s division had a lot happening but not all of it was clean. That matches how I felt in the building. The show was fun and meaningful, but some creative threads need tighter follow-through.
Best Match and Segment of the Night
Best match of the night: Gunther vs. Royce Keys.
It had the biggest stakes, the strongest layout and the best finish. Royce looked like he belonged in the main event, Gunther survived without looking weak, Solo’s interference advanced another story, and Cody closing the show with Cross Rhodes gave the title feud the final image it needed.
Best segment of the night: Trick Williams’ homecoming.
From my seat, nothing felt more special than Trick getting that Columbia reaction. The towels, the “Whoop That Trick” chants, the hometown energy, Lil Yachty getting involved, and Trick winning in front of South Carolina made it feel like the emotional peak of the night.
What Was Announced for Next Week
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga
That was the only clear next-week SmackDown match announced during the show, and it continues the MFT-related fallout after Talla attacked Nakamura backstage.
Current Saturday Night’s Main Event Card
- Logan Paul & Austin Theory vs. The Street Profits for the World Tag Team Championship
- Penta vs. Ethan Page for the Intercontinental Championship
- Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab
The six-woman tag was the major SmackDown addition, but the Women’s Tag Team Title tease with Brie Bella, Paige, Nia Jax and Lash Legend was not officially added to the rundown as of last night.
Final Thoughts
Last night’s SmackDown was a fun show to attend and a stronger live experience than a perfect TV episode. Columbia was loud. Trick Williams felt like a hometown star. Cody Rhodes still felt like the top babyface attraction. Gunther vs. Royce Keys delivered. Carmelo Hayes returning against Ricky Saints gave SmackDown a fresh feud. The Women’s Tag Team Champions got a real reaction. The road to Clash in Italy now has Cody vs. Gunther locked in.
But the show also had real creative issues. Jade and Charlotte’s segment did not hit the way it needed to. WWE moved away from Fatal Influence too quickly after heating them up last week. The women’s division has a lot of interesting teams and alliances, but WWE has to make sure those stories connect instead of feeling like pieces being shuffled around. The Irresistible Forces tease needed a cleaner explanation. Gunther’s brand status still needs to be clarified.
That is my honest read from being there: last night was loud, entertaining and worth attending, but WWE has to tighten the follow-through. SmackDown has a lot of good pieces right now. Trick feels hotter. Cody vs. Gunther feels big. Royce Keys feels elevated. The women’s division feels busy in a good way. Now WWE just has to make sure the stories do not get messy on the way to Clash in Italy.
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I’m the quiet one until the bell rings then I’ve got takes. I live for WWE NXT and TNA, I want every promotion to succeed, and I will absolutely roast the bad decisions on sight (because someone has to). Anime taught me to respect long-term storytelling; wrestling taught me that sometimes the plan is “we panicked” and called it “unpredictable.” The Miz got me into all of this, so yeah I appreciate confidence, commitment, and the art of talking like you’re already the main event. Now I bring that same energy to the page as the main writer for Late Night Crew Wrestling because if you’re not here to be must-see and tell the truth, why are you here?!