WWE SmackDown Preview: The Final Stop Before Saturday Night’s Main Event
It’s the go-home show on Friday Night SmackDown, folks. And if you know anything about the squared circle, you know that the night before the big dance is often where the real fireworks happen.
Tonight, the WWE circus pulls into the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. We are less than 24 hours away from “Saturday Night’s Main Event” in Washington, D.C., and the tension is thick enough to cut with a steel chair. The roster isn’t just looking to punch their time cards tonight; they are looking to send a message before the spotlight gets blindingly bright tomorrow.
Let’s be honest: usually, the episode before a Premium Live Event (PLE) is a lot of staring contests and pointing at signs. But looking at this card? We might actually get some wrestling that steals the weekend early. Here is everything you need to know about tonight’s Friday Night SmackDown.
Cody Rhodes Has a Split Focus Problem
Let’s talk about the American Nightmare. Cody Rhodes is scheduled to be in the building tonight on SmackDown, and frankly, the guy looks like he needs a vacation. Being the face of the company is exhausting, but it’s even worse when you’re fighting a war on two fronts.
Tomorrow night, Rhodes has a massive “Champion vs. Champion” showdown against NXT’s Oba Femi. On paper, Rhodes should be studying Femi. He should be worried about the sheer power coming his way. But instead? He’s stuck in a mental chess match with Drew McIntyre.
Rhodes tried to get GM Nick Aldis to lift McIntyre’s suspension last week, and Aldis gave him a hard “no.” That rejection has to be eating at him. Meanwhile, Oba Femi is over on X (formerly Twitter) roasting Rhodes, telling the world he’s going to expose the WWE Champion. Femi isn’t acting like a rookie happy to be here; he’s acting like a predator sensing a distracted prey.
The United States Championship: A Reward For Bad Behavior?
I love pro wrestling logic. In what other sport can you ruin a match, beat up the contestants, and get rewarded with a title shot the very next week? That is exactly what Tommaso Ciampa pulled off.
After interfering in the #1 Contender’s match and costing Carmelo Hayes the gold, Ciampa essentially bullied his way into a match with Ilja Dragunov. And you know what? I’m not complaining.
Dragunov has been an absolute workhorse as the U.S. Champion. The “Mad Dragon” brings an intensity that makes you hurt just watching him on an HD screen. He’s looking to notch his seventh successful defense tonight. But Ciampa is a different kind of animal. He’s desperate, he’s crafty, and he feels like he’s owed the world. This isn’t going to be a technical masterpiece; it’s going to be a street fight with a referee. Expect stiff chops and zero apologies.
The Terror Twins Reunite For Revenge On SmackDown
Finally, the band is back together. Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley, affectionately dubbed the “Terror Twins”, are teaming up in a Mixed Tag Team Match against Aleister Black and Zelina Vega.
This one feels personal. Black and Vega haven’t just been attacking Priest physically; they’ve been dissecting him psychologically. They claim Priest is wearing a mask, hiding who he really is. If you’ve followed Priest’s career, you know he doesn’t take kindly to people trying to get inside his head.
Priest admits he’s “successfully pissed off,” which is usually bad news for whoever is standing across the ring. Bringing Ripley into the fold tips the scales dramatically. She is rarely on the losing side of a brawl. Expect this to be fast, chaotic, and likely to end with someone staring at the lights.
Alexa Bliss Facing a Tall Order
Alexa Bliss is looking to climb back to the top of the mountain, but tonight she has a literal mountain to climb. She’s stepping into the ring against Lash Legend.
This is Legend’s debut singles match on the blue brand, and she wants to make a splash. We saw what happened last week—Legend and Nia Jax laid waste to Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and The Kabuki Warriors. That is a lot of star power left lying on the canvas.
Bliss is a veteran. She knows how to navigate giants. But Legend has momentum and raw power on her side. If Bliss isn’t careful, she’s going to end up as just another highlight in Legend’s rookie reel.
How To Catch the Action
If you aren’t in Pennsylvania tonight, get your snacks ready.
- When: 8 p.m. ET
- Where: USA Network
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV, YouTube TV
Buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride to D.C.
