The John Report: WWE SmackDown 10/31/25 Review

This is WWE SmackDown featuring Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre, Jade Cargill addresses her recent actions, Alexa Bliss facing Nia Jax, and more.

Happy Halloween. It’s one night before Saturday Night’s Main Event (check out my preview here), featuring four big championship matches. I’m also a busy guy rooting for my Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB World Series in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a fun time of year with my birthday coming on Tuesday as well.

From the Delta Centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, this is SmackDown for episode #1366. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

There was some backstage pre-show walking shown of Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss with Charlotte Flair, and Jade Cargill.

A replay was shown of last week’s SmackDown when Jade Cargill attacked WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, so that was Jade’s heel turn.

The commentary team of Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcomed us to the show.

Let’s Hear from Tiffany Stratton

Tiffany Stratton walked to the ring with the WWE Women’s Championship. Stratton said she’s not waiting until her music hits, and she’s not waiting until Saturday Night’s Main Event.

SmackDown GM Nick Aldis interrupted, saying that he can’t have anything happen to ruin Tiffany’s match against Jade tomorrow night. Nick mentioned Stratton had an injury, so she was barely cleared, and he didn’t want to see any physicality tonight. Stratton called out Jade Cargill, so Jade showed up, and Nick called for security.

Jade Cargill said that this doesn’t serve her. Jade said she busted her head open a few weeks ago, and she tasted her own blood. Jade said that at Saturday’s Night Main Event, Taffy Time is up. Stratton tried to go after Jade in the aisle, but security held Stratton back. Stratton was selling her left knee injury while Cargill went to the back. Stratton held up her title in the ring.

Analysis: A quick segment to put over that story going into their SNME match. I think Jade beating Stratton for the Women’s Title is likely. It’s been a long run for Stratton, but it’s time for Jade to get the title.

There was a video package about the US Champion Ilja Dragunov. They showed Dragunov working out to show his unique training methods while talking about suffering and overcoming pain to succeed.

Ilja Dragunov made his entrance as the US Champion for an open challenge up next.

A commercial aired for Saturday Night’s Main Event, which is also in Salt Lake City.

(Commercial)

R-Truth was dressed as Santa Claus, handing out candies to the Motor City Machine Guns. They wondered if Ron thought it was Christmas instead of Halloween. Truth said, “Ho ho ho” and wished a Merry Christmas. Solo Sikoa approached Motor City Machine Guns and they exchanged words. Chris Sabin said they’re on their way to being two-time Tag Team Champions. Solo said that his MFTs are next in line. Sabin challenged Solo’s MFTs to a tag team match and Solo said he’ll talk to Aldis to make it happen. I believe it was the Wyatt Sicks group walking in the background as well.

The open challenge was answered by Nathan Frazer from the Fraxiom tag team. Tommaso Ciampa walked out instead and told Ilja you can’t be thinking about giving this nerd a shot at the US Title. Frazer yelled at Ciampa. Ilja said that Nathan was here first. Ilja told Ciampa there are no awards for jackasses. Ilja told Ciampa to leave, so Ciampa left.

Analysis: I thought it might lead to a triple threat US Title match, but nope.

United States Championship: Ilja Dragunov vs. Nathan Frazer

Frazer hit a running knee to knock Ilja down. Ilja came back with a hard chop. Frazer hit a spinning kick to knock Ilja out of the ring. Frazer hit a suicide dive onto Ilja on the floor. Back in the ring, Frazer jumped off the top rope, Ilja avoided it and Ilja chopped Frazer to knock him down. Ilja hit another chop for a two count. Ilja sent Frazer into the turnbuckle and hit a hard chop. Ilja kicked Frazer off the apron and into the commentary table. Ilja hit a German Suplex on the floor. The show went to break as the action continued. I’ll take a break as well.

It was Ilja in control during the break. Frazer tried to get some offense going, but Ilja connected with two German Suplexes. Ilja had a cut on his head, while Frazer had visible scarring on his chest from all the chops. Frazer used his speed to bounce off the ropes and hit a reverse DDT. Frazer hit a running SSP for a two count. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Ilja and Frazer exchanged forearms until Frazer connected with a superkick. Ilja chopped Frazer and hit a belly-to-back slam for a two count. Ilja went up top, jumped off, Frazer avoided it and Ilja hit a jumping kick. Ilja hit a knee smash. Ilja charged, Frazer ducked and Ilja bumped over the top to the floor. Frazer did a springboard attack, but Ilja knocked him down with a punch. Ilja jumped off the top with a senton bomb, Frazer moved and Frazer hit a Frog Splash off the top for two. They went on another break as the action continued. Frazer remained on offense with a missile dropkick off the top for a two count. Frazer went up top, jumped off with a Phoenix Splash attempt, Ilja avoided it, and Ilja elbowed Frazer in the head several times. Ilja hit a pumphandle-style suplex for a two count. The blood on Ilja’s head was minimal, so it wasn’t too much. Ilja applied an abdominal stretch.

They went over to the turnbuckle where Ilja teased a Powerbomb, but Frazer hit a hurricanrana to send Ilja out of the ring. Frazer jumped over the top with a somersault dive onto Ilja on the floor. Frazer dropkicked Ilja into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Frazer hit an amazing Phoenix Splash on Ilja for a two count. That was close, so it got a big reaction from the fans, who were chanting, “This is awesome.” Frazer went up top again, but Ilja was back up with chops to the back. Ilja gave Frazer a German Suplex off the turnbuckle and it looked like a rough landing for both guys. Ilja got a two count while the referee checked on both guys. Ilja hit a Powerbomb and an H-Bomb forearm smash for the pinfall win after 18 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Ilja Dragunov

Analysis: **** That was great. Another four-star match for the US Title on SmackDown. It was a long match that went longer than I expected. It’s certainly not a bad thing to have a longer match since Ilja and Frazer are so talented. Frazer winning would have been a big surprise since he’s a tag team wrestler, but Frazer is a very talented guy who can have great matches every time he’s out there. That suplex spot off the turnbuckle was a bit rough, but it looked like they were okay after that. Ilja showed a lot of heart in taking everything that Frazer had, and Ilja found a way to get the win. This was a lot of fun to watch.

After the match, Tommaso Ciampa ran down to the ring and hit Frazer with a forearm to the head. Ciampa told Dragunov he wanted a shot at the US Title.

(Commercial)

There was a replay of Ilja Dragunov beating Nathan Frazer. After the match, Tommaso Ciampa smashed Frazer with a forearm to the head. They showed Axiom going after Ciampa and Johnny Gargano appeared to fight with Axiom. They went fighting to the back.

The wrestlers from before the break were fighting backstage. The fight was broken up by WWE Officials and security. Tama Tonga looked at the US Title. Tama said, “Yeah yeah yeah” at Ilja and handed him the US Title back.

Analysis: That likely means it’s Dragunov against Tama soon.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Kit Wilson

Kit Wilson is alone since his Pretty Deadly partner Elton Prince is out with an injury. Carmelo Hayes is now in a babyface role. This was set up in a segment last week.

There wasn’t much of a reaction to Kit as he yelled, “Toxic” at Melo and stomped on his back/shoulder. Kit hit a unique looking DDT for a two count. Melo came back with punches and a springboard lariat. Melo used his legs to send Kit face first into the mat. Melo hit a suplex into a Cutter for two. Kit left the ring, so Melo hit a somersault over the top onto Kit on the floor. The Miz showed up at ringside and sent Melo into the ring post. The referee was looking at Melo in the ring. Kit jumped off the top and hit an elbow drop for a two count. Kit and Miz were shocked it was a two count. Kit charged and Melo hit the First 48 double knee attack for the pinfall win after 4 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Carmelo Hayes

Analysis: ** Easy win for Melo as you’d expect there. At least Kit got a good nearfall after The Miz got involved.

After the match, The Miz attacked Melo with a Skull Crushing Finale. Miz told Melo it’s not over until he says it’s over.

Analysis: That should lead to a Melo-Miz match soon. I hope Melo wins that feud.

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair were interviewed backstage by Cathy Kelley, who asked about the Kabuki Warriors attacking them. Bliss said that they wanted what Bliss and Flair already have. Flair said that she let Lexi in and thinks that Lexi’s life is better for it. Flair mocked Nia Jax for having no friends. Bliss said she’d remind Jax why she outgrew her since they used to be friends.

Nia Jax made her entrance for singles action.

(Commercial)

* Alexa Bliss defeated Nia Jax.

* MFTs – Tama Tonga & JC Mateo defeated Motor City Machine Guns

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I am hitting pause on my review there to watch the rest of MLB World Series Game 6. See a futher explanation below.

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WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event takes place this Saturday, November 1st, with this lineup:

• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
• For the Vacant World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso
• WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill
• Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio vs. Rusev vs. Penta

You can watch Saturday Night’s Main Event when it streams LIVE on Saturday, November 1 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Peacock in the United States and on YouTube internationally.

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I am not going to be doing a full review live. My favorite baseball team is the Toronto Blue Jays, and they are in the MLB World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6, which is on at the same time as SmackDown. It’s the first time the Jays are in the World Series in 32 years and they are up 3-2, so I’m excited. The Blue Jays could end it tonight, or if the Dodgers win, then it goes to Game 7 on Saturday. I’m going to review some of SmackDown’s first hour, then hit pause and come back later to finish the review. The game will end around 11 p.m. ET or later, so I will come back later in the night to finish the review, or it might be in the morning. I will likely post the results of the matches I miss. It just means you can come back later tonight (or in the morning) to read my thoughts on the show. Once the playoffs are done, there shouldn’t be any issues, and I’ll try to do it live every week just like Raw and most PLEs. Our TJRWrestling News section will also have updates on the show. Thanks for understanding.