WWE Friday Night SmackDown on the USA Network | October 3rd, 2025 — The Episode Recap:

Cody Rhodes hits a Cross Rhodes on Seth Rollins as Seth Rollins was about to hit a Curb Stomp, but was intercepted into a Cross Rhodes as this was the final moments of this Episode of SmackDown. (Photo by WWE)

The October 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — Match Results:

The Opening Match: Sami Zayn (c) defeated Aleister Black in a WWE United States Title Match | via Pin-Fall — (15:19)

The 2nd Match: Sol Ruca & Zaria defeated The Green Regime (Alba Fyre & Chelsea Green) in a Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall — (03:49)

The 3rd Match: Je’Von Evans & Rey Fenix defeated Los Garza (Angel & Berto) in a Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:09)

The Main Event Match: The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed) (with Paul Heyman) defeated Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton in a Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall — (15:16)

My Thoughts on the October 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

My Thoughts: This was a very fun episode of SmackDown. Now, there are still glaring holes, and I'm going to be honest here until Road DOgg is out and Triple H can grow a pair and not worry about fracturing a friendship due to his friend not knowing how to write a fucking show. SmackDown is still going to be a show that is just filled with what the fuck moments. But the show kicked off with the Vision getting into Randy Orton's head, which is still funny because the tease of his heel turn to Cody Rhodes has been ongoing for almost two years, so I don't know, maybe in 2027 we see the heel turn and Randy Orton can still eyeball the World Title from Cody Rhodes. The Opener was great. Carmelo Hayes turned babyface, which was needed, and this is finally the start of the Rise of Melo, I pray. The Miz and Carmelo Hayes feud is now, in which I see Carmelo Hayes being elevated and being a main star of the show after. Aleister Black answered Sami Zayn, in which both men had a very fun match, but Damian Priest cost Aleister Balck his shot at gaining the WWE United States Title, and now those two are fighting in Perth in a Last Man Standing Match. Sol Ruca and Zaria took down The Green Regime in Alba Fyre and Chelsea Green. These past weeks, you've been seeing exciting new young talent on the TV Screens, and Sol Ruca is a must-add for SmackDown, same with Je'Von Evans; those two can add life to the show 100%. Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton had a Contract Signing, which was interrupted by the WWE Women's United States Champion, Giulia, and Kiana James, and next week we have a tag match with Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton as they take on Giulia and Kiana James. This is actually a match I'm looking forward to. Je'Von Evans had back-to-back weeks on SmackDown, and he tagged with Rey Fenix in a fun tag team match in which they defeated Los Garza, who are without Santos Escobar, which is something to look at, as Santos Escobar has been hinting at a departure from WWE with his recent activity on Social Media. The Street Profits’ seeds are being planted more for a breakup. I expect it to happen next week in Perth on SmackDown as they fight for the WWE Tag Team Titles against the Wyatt Sicks. I see a turn coming if they lose that match. I'm glad both men will be singles stars as both can be very big if booked right, but this story has been taken care of properly, with them really pinning the point of frustration and how if they lose, someone will turn. The Main Event Match was some fun stuff as Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton took on The Vision in a Tag Team Match. The match was good all-around. What I liked was the after-match stuff, how Seth Rollins wants to prove to himself he can get Cody Rhodes, but he caught a Cross Rhodes to end the show. This was a fine episode, more of this please, and no stupid non-sensical booking, but I'm asking for a lot because we know Road Dogg is going to go back to his old ways eventually, a broken clock can strike twice a day, and that's why Road Dogg did with this episode.

The October 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Aleister Black in a WWE United States Title Match | The Match Rating: ****.25 — This is actually shocking. This is Aleister Black's first Main roster title Shot, as he had a stint beforehand in 2019-2020 and didn't even receive a shot. But Aleister Black got the shot as Carmelo Hayes was ambushed by The Miz, which caused a full Face Turn for Carmelo Hayes as Melo Doesn't Miz is officially disbanded. But this match was Aleister Black's best match to date since his return to WWE. This was very fun, hard-hitting, and had some spark by Sami Zayn as he has been bringing the spark to SmackDown since he got traded to the Blue Brand. Aleister Black's strikes were defying as you can hear those hard hits across the arena. Aleister Black had some moments where he could've finished the job, but he didn't do so. Damian Priest appeared and cost Aleister Black the match as Sami Zayn retained and is 5-0 in his US Open Challengers, which have been a huge breath of fresh air for the horrid SmackDown show, as it needed a workhorse like Sami Zayn on the show. But this was fun, I can't wait for Australia when he does another US Open Challenge, which I assume Grayson Waller accepts in his home country. Aleister Black and Damian Priest have a Main Event Last Man Standing Match for the Perth SmackDown episode next week to presumably end their long feud, which is dated to July of this year.

The 2nd Match: Sol Ruca & Zaria vs. The Green Regime (Alba Fyre & Chelsea Green) in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: N/A — This match was a showcase for the SmackDown viewers for Sol Ruca and Zaria, who are two of the best young talents in WWE today. I liked how Sol Ruca was displayed; she looked great, same for Zaria. Alba Fyre and Chelsea Green did their part in making them look good in this match.

The 3rd Match: Je’Von Evans & Rey Fenix vs. Los Garza (Angel & Berto) in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: ***.75 — This was a very enjoyable tag team match. Santos Escobar appears to be out of WWE, as he posted cryptic photos on social media to be on his way to the media and was absent with Los Garza, but we saw Je'Von Evans in action, hinting at a possible move to SmackDown. If so, it would be an excellent decision because this young talent has the potential to be a superstar and the main face of the company for decades. Rey Fenix teamed up again with Je'Von Evans against Los Garza, who defeated them back in the summer. Exciting high-flying moves and fun in-ring moments. Using Angel and Berto is great--both are highly underrated and deserve a push as a team next. Evans and Fenix won, and I really like this duo. If this features a temporary partnership to boost SmackDown, I'm all for it. I've loved the matches these two have delivered individually, but together, they create something special.

The Main Event Match: The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: ***.50 — You know I've been a fan of having the World Champion fighting on weekly shows, and this episode was an example that you can further a storyline while your top guys are fighting in the Main Event. This match was fun. I liked seeing Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton tagging to take on the Vision in Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, which I must say is a fresh match, not repetitive of an actual match with stakes in a storyline for Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. I liked the in-ring action; Bron Breakker was flying everywhere. That spot where he broke the barricade was insane. Randy Orton got screwed over by Seth Rollins as he ate a Curb Stomp to help the Vision win, and this was their biggest win as a Tag Team to date. But afterwards, the voices in Seth Rollins' head were ringing as Paul Heyman pleaded to not go and get him because he is in his head, and Seth Rollins tried to Curb Stomp Cody Rhodes but failed majorly as he topok a Cross Rhodes. What I liked about this is that this shows Seth Rollins' hunger to beat Cody Rhodes. Cody Rhodes is 3-0 against him, and Seth Rollins was Cody Rhodes' Shield and one of the main reasons why he got the World Title at WrestleMania 40. Seth Rollins wants to beat him; it is eating him away. He wants that clean victory to prove he has Cody Rhodes' number, but can he do it? I speculate he gets help, which will pinpoint down he can't beat Cody Rhodes without help and shows he can't do it. Great storytelling, and I like where this story is going, and for Randy Orton, the story with him and Cody Rhodes needs the trigger sooner rather than later. Tired of this pending Randy Orton heel turn, as it has been teased for almost two years now. But over fun stuff in the Main Event and an actual solid show by Road Dogg, which is a huge shocker to me.

The September 5th WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Match of the Night: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Aleister Black in a WWE United States Title Match | The Match Rating: ****.25 — Aleister Black’s best match in his 2nd Return to WWE. Sami Zayn continues to be a highlight for SmackDown as the US Open Challenge continues to bring a light to SmackDown.

The October 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Episode Grade: 7/10 (B-) — This was a very decent episode of SmackDown. I’ll give Road Dogg props; he did a good job writing the show, but he still isn’t the man for the job, and they need a change as soon as possible because he will go back to his old habits and make the show unwatchable again.

Next Week, WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Perth, Australia, October 10th Episode — The Announced Matches & Segments:

1. Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest in a Last Man Standing Match.

2. Stephanie Vaquer & Tiffany Stratton vs. Giulia & Kiana James in a Tag Team Match.

3. The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) (c) vs. The Street Profits in a WWE Tag Team Title Match.

4. Sami Zayn (c) vs. ??? in a WWE United States Title Match.