WWE SmackDown Review: October 24, 2025
Welcome to our review of WWE SmackDown, where we break down the highs and lows of the latest episode. This week’s show had its moments, but it was a largely uneventful affair, with some matches and segments feeling like they were just going through the motions. However, there were some notable exceptions, including a significant heel turn and a teased rivalry that has the potential to be exciting.
Hated: Slightly Underwhelming Open Challenger
The show kicked off with Ilja Dragunov’s first title defense as United States Champion, and while the match against Aleister Black was solid, it felt like a missed opportunity to create something special. Black is a great wrestler, but he didn’t quite feel like the right choice for the open challenge, and the match itself was predictable, with Damian Priest’s interference feeling like a foregone conclusion. As Max Everett notes, “it was a solid sense of fighting psychology, but it felt inconsequential even in the moment.”
Loved: An NXT UK Rivalry Teased
One of the highlights of the show was the teased rivalry between Ilja Dragunov and FrAxiom. The two have a history of great matches, and their encounter backstage was a nice nod to their past encounters. As Max Everett notes, “Axiom is legitimately one of the best opponents Dragunov has ever had, maybe even comparable to Gunther.” This could be an exciting development, especially if it leads to a title match between the two.
Loved: Characters with Memories
Another highlight of the show was the interaction between Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss backstage. As Miles Schneiderman notes, “Jax reminded both Bliss and the viewers that Charlotte Flair is hardly Bliss’ first ‘friend,'” which added a nice layer of depth to the segment. It’s always great to see WWE characters with memories, and this encounter was a nice reminder that these characters have a history and can draw upon it to create more nuanced storylines.
Hated: One Women’s Match on the Card
Unfortunately, the women’s division was largely underrepresented on this episode, with only one match featuring Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James. As Samantha Schipman notes, “the match didn’t last but one commercial break,” and it felt like a wasted opportunity to showcase the talents of these women. The lack of women’s matches is a recurring problem in WWE, and it’s disappointing to see it continue.
Loved: A Storm Comes for the WWE Women’s Champion
However, the women’s division did get a significant boost with the heel turn of Jade Cargill. As Olivia Quinlan notes, “the execution was still pretty flawless,” and it was a great way to set up a title match between Cargill and Stratton. The turn was well-done, and it added a nice layer of complexity to Cargill’s character.
Hated: No Disqualification, No Reason
Finally, the main event match between Drew McIntyre and Jimmy Uso was a disappointment, especially given the No Disqualification stipulation. As Olivia Quinlan notes, “it didn’t feel like it was a fight at all, and completely lacked the hostility that was needed in order to make it feel important rather than boilerplate.” The match was a letdown, and it didn’t quite live up to the hype.
For more on WWE SmackDown, check out the full review Here
