With John Cena’s final match looming tonight at Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE hit the gas on the go-home SmackDown—using the night to spotlight the “right now” of NXT, tighten the screws on Cody Rhodes’ world-title orbit, and send multiple divisions into SNME with real momentum. The biggest takeaway wasn’t just wins and losses—it was the feeling that the future wasn’t waiting its turn… it kicked the door down and stood toe-to-toe with the face of WWE.
Here are the full results
- United States Champion Ilja Dragunov def. Tommaso Ciampa (U.S. Title match)
- Lash Legend def. Alexa Bliss
- Je’Von Evans def. The Miz
- Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley def. Aleister Black & Zelina Vega (Mixed Tag Team Match)
The night NXT stood in Cody’s shadow—and didn’t blink
Cody Rhodes arrived still boiling over the Drew McIntyre situation, and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis addressed the ongoing suspension drama—making it clear he’s trying to get a “resolution,” even as legal posturing complicates everything. That tension became the perfect runway for the real collision course: newly crowned NXT Champion Oba Femi confronting Rhodes in the ring and framing Saturday’s SNME exhibition as present vs. future—except Oba’s message was that the future is already here.
Dragunov survives Ciampa—and the fallout gets louder
Ilja Dragunov and Tommaso Ciampa went to war for the United States Championship, with Ciampa targeting Dragunov’s knee and #DIY’s presence looming. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae attempted to influence the outcome, but Dragunov still escaped with the title. Post-match, #DIY tried to swarm the champion—only for Carmelo Hayes to hit the ring and run them off, adding a fresh layer to Dragunov’s title story.
Je’Von Evans scores the kind of win that changes perception
One night before SNME’s tag showcase, Je’Von Evans stepped into SmackDown pressure and walked out with a signature win over The Miz—a loud statement that the spotlight isn’t “too big,” it’s exactly where he belongs. Evans countered Miz’s Skull-Crushing Finale into a match-ending cutter for the win.
Lash Legend plants her flag
Lash Legend pinned Alexa Bliss in a match designed to do exactly what it did: make Lash look like a problem—right now. Legend finished with the Lash Extension, and the moment read like a clear “welcome to the deep end” statement for the women’s scene.
The Terror Twins reunite and close the show strong
In the main event, Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley beat Aleister Black & Zelina Vega—a win that kept Ripley’s aura sky-high heading into tonight’s SNME weekend spotlight. Ripley landed the decisive Riptide on Vega to seal it.
Bonus chaos and challenges
SmackDown also featured Solo Sikoa and The MFTs firing warning shots at The Wyatt Sicks and their tag-title ambitions, framed as a verbal collision that escalated toward a title challenge. The show also included Jade Cargill overpowering Michin during a heated pre-match attack, reinforcing her dominance heading deeper into the winter stretch.
Here is the final Saturday Night’s Main Event card
- John Cena vs. Gunther (John Cena’s Final Match)
- Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi
- World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans & TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater
- Bayley vs. Sol Ruca
SmackDown’s job was simple: make tonight feel unavoidable. Between Oba Femi staring through Cody Rhodes like a man who already sees the throne, Dragunov surviving #DIY’s traps, and Je’Von Evans proving he can steal the show from a veteran like Miz, WWE didn’t just promote Saturday—it built a runway for a changing of the guard, with John Cena’s final bell waiting at the end of it all.
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