Tonight’s SmackDown in Denver is a consequential stop on WWE’s sprint to Survivor Series: WarGames (Nov. 29) and the later stages of John Cena’s farewell narrative. The Blue Brand finishes the opening round of “The Last Time Is Now” tournament with two high-stakes first-round matches — Penta vs. Finn Bálor and Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed — while Chelsea Green’s U.S. Title celebration promises heat and possible run-ins. Tonight’s results will not only set the final quarterfinal bracket for Cena’s farewell tournament but also shape momentum entering WarGames and next Friday’s SmackDown traditional five-on-five elimination match.
Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show
- Penta vs. Finn Bálor — The Last Time Is Now tournament (First Round).
- Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed — The Last Time Is Now tournament (First Round).
- Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) vs. #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) — tag match.
- Chelsea Green — United States Championship celebration (segment).
- Promos/backstage teases tied to Survivor Series: WarGames and the Nov. 28 SmackDown five-on-five elimination match.
The Last Time Is Now Tournament First-Round Results
Below is the complete, sourced list of confirmed first-round victories in “The Last Time Is Now” tournament. Each line names the winner and who they defeated to advance to the tournament’s second round.
- Rusev defeated Damian Priest to advance.
- Sheamus defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to advance.
- Jey Uso defeated The Miz to advance.
- LA Knight defeated the returning Zack Ryder / Matt Cardona to advance.
- GUNTHER defeated NXT’s Je’Von Evans to advance.
- Solo Sikoa defeated the returning Dolph Ziggler/Nic Nemeth to advance.
Tonight’s winners (from Penta vs. Finn Bálor and Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed) will complete the quarterfinal field. Expect WWE to use the last first-round results to establish seeding and narrative momentum rather than publish a single static bracket right away — the company has been revealing pairings episodically as TV storytelling.
What each advancing winner means (analysis & scouting)
- Rusev (def. Damian Priest) — Rusev’s win leans into his hard-striking, country-strong persona. He’s being positioned as a legitimate threat with a mean streak; his ring style allows him to look credible against both technical and brawling opponents in the quarters. Expect Rusev to be booked to survive attritional bouts and capitalize on heat-based finishes.
- Sheamus (def. Shinsuke Nakamura) — A Brogue Kick finish keeps Sheamus’s aura of sudden-impact danger intact. Against nimble, technical opponents Sheamus is being presented as the power reset to the bracket — someone who can end long sequences with a single decisive strike. That gives him upside in any quarterfinal matchup.
- Jey Uso (def. The Miz) — Jey’s win reinforces a hard-charging, crowd-driven style; his momentum positions him as a TV-friendly favorite to carry the tournament into bigger featured TV matches. Jey’s athleticism and family narrative make him a natural magnet for high-visibility quarterfinals.
- LA Knight (def. Zack Ryder / Matt Cardona) — Knight’s win is being sold as a reclamation. The “gatekeeper” posture he’s assumed since his victory suggests WWE might keep him in high-profile TV matches with the booking highlighting his charisma and resilience as much as in-ring chops. His quarterfinal contest will likely be built as a big-moment test.
- GUNTHER — The Intercontinental Champion’s advancement (and presence in tournament recaps) frames him as the in-ring standard bearer: methodical, punishing, and unlikely to be fast-rolled. If booked properly, GUNTHER becomes the logical top seed-style threat in the bracket.
- Solo Sikoa — Sikoa’s physicality and tribal psychology make him a destructive force for the bracket. His advances build toward crossover storytelling with the Bloodline/MFT threads and the Samizayn elimination storyline on SmackDown.
Quarterfinal outlook — likely directions and TV matchups
Once tonight’s matches finish, WWE will have eight quarterfinalists. Historically WWE uses TV to manufacture a few big quarterfinal pairings to create must-see television; plausible matchups based on current storylines and momentum include:
- GUNTHER vs. Sheamus — a classic power/technical clash that sells well on paper.
- LA Knight vs. Jey Uso — charisma vs. momentum; a TV-friendly big match.
- Rusev vs. a power opponent (Bronson Reed or Solo Sikoa) — a clash that favors storytelling over quick finishes.
WWE will likely stagger quarterfinal matches across Raw and SmackDown so that each show can deliver a marquee tournament moment and keep Cena’s farewell build front-and-center.
Build to Survivor Series: WarGames — quick recap of confirmed teams (men’s) and SmackDown’s elimination match
- Men’s WarGames teams (confirmed):
Team Punk / Rhodes: CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso.
Team Vision: Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed.
This supercard collision is positioned to resolve multiple rivalries and create instant post-match fallout for December booking. - SmackDown Nov. 28 — Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match:
Sami Zayn’s team: Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rey Fenix, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin (Motor City Machine Guns).
Opponents: Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo. This match was booked after the Sikoa/Zayn blowup and is being used as a go-home spectacle and heat builder for WarGames weekend.
Chelsea Green’s U.S. Title celebration — what to expect
Chelsea Green’s recent U.S. Title win is an earned TV moment that WWE will use to either (1) elevate a midcard title program by inserting a credible challenger, or (2) seed an outside attack that ties into the larger Survivor Series/WarGames narrative. Watch for surprise appearances or a physical interruption designed to set an immediate title feud.
Key takeaways — what tonight’s results mean for next week and Survivor Series
- Tonight finalizes the tournament’s quarterfinal field. The identity and momentum of tonight’s winners will determine which quarterfinal pairings WWE can credibly sell in the coming two weeks.
- Momentum matters heading to WarGames. Whoever emerges from tonight with a decisive win will carry storyline fuel into Friday’s go-home Elimination match and the two WarGames teams.
- SmackDown is doubling as tournament TV and WarGames build. Expect short, sharp promos and backstage heat to convert match outcomes into Survivor Series narrative stakes.
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