WWE SmackDown: WarGames Heats Up, AJ Lee Returns In a Wild Night Of Action
Alright, let’s call a spade a spade. Sometimes, a wrestling show looks about as exciting as a preseason NFL game on paper. You see the matchups, you shrug, and you figure you’ll catch the highlights later. Friday’s SmackDown felt a bit like that going in. But then the bell rang, and what we got was less of a routine scrimmage and more of a full-blown, slobberknocker of a rivalry week. This was one of the most solid episodes in recent memory, packed with hard-hitting action and a bombshell return that sent the internet into a frenzy.
With Survivor Series and the infamous WarGames looming, you could feel the tension ratcheting up. This SmackDown wasn’t just about moving pieces on the chessboard; it was about flipping the whole table over.
WarGames Drama: The Vision’s Plan Goes Up in Smoke
The night kicked off with Paul Heyman and his merry band of bruisers, Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, and Bronson Reed, strutting to the ring like they owned the place. Heyman, doing his best “evil genius” monologue, was hyping up his WarGames squad when The Usos’ music hit, and the crowd went absolutely bananas. Jimmy and Jey came out, trading verbal jabs with Heyman’s crew. But when Cody Rhodes was a no-show, we got a chilling backstage shot: Drew McIntyre leaving “The American Nightmare” laid out on his own tour bus. It was a short, sharp shock to the system that set a chaotic tone for the rest of the night.
This all came to a head in the “Last Time is Now” tournament match between Carmelo Hayes and the colossal Bronson Reed. Reed, with Heyman’s goon squad at ringside, looked like he was about to punch his ticket to the next round. He was tossing Hayes around like a sack of potatoes. But just when it looked like Melo was toast, The Usos charged down to even the odds.
Then, in a moment of pure, unadulterated chaos, a vengeful Rhodes appeared, planting Reed with a Cross Rhodes on the outside. Hayes, ever the opportunist, slid back into the ring to win by count-out. It was a messy, controversial finish, but it was storytelling gold. The Vision’s grand plan blew up in their faces, and Hayes advances, leaving a trail of beautiful destruction in his wake.
US Title Open Challenge: A Brutal Classic
Ilja Dragunov’s open challenges are quickly becoming must-see TV for SmackDown, and this week was no exception. When JD McDonagh answered the call, you knew you were in for a slugfest. These two have a history, and they beat the tar out of each other. This wasn’t a technical wrestling clinic; it was a bar fight. Dragunov’s strikes left McDonagh’s chest looking like a raw slab of beef, and Dragunov himself was bleeding by the end.
McDonagh, ever the scrappy underdog, used every dirty trick in the book to gain an advantage. He even hit a picture-perfect moonsault that had the crowd on its feet. But “The Mad Dragon” was just too much. After a grueling back-and-forth, Dragunov hit his finisher for a clean, hard-earned victory. This match was a testament to sheer toughness and a reminder of why Dragunov is one of the most compelling champions in the game.
The Main Event and a Shocking Return
SmackDown’s main event saw another tournament bout between two of the most skilled athletes on the roster: Finn Balor and Penta. Putting these two in the final slot was a stroke of genius. They put on an absolute show, filled with high-flying spots and nail-biting near falls. Balor, embracing his inner villain, played the heel role to perfection, which only made the crowd rally harder behind the masked luchador. After a series of thrilling counters, Penta hit his devastating Destroyer finisher to secure the win and advance in the tournament.
But the biggest moment of the night was yet to come. The show closed with the women’s WarGames teams facing off. With tensions already high, Rhea Ripley’s squad introduced their final member, and the arena exploded. AJ Lee is back! Her return sent shockwaves through the entire industry. Before the babyfaces could even celebrate, they were ambushed from behind, ending the show in a massive brawl.
It was a perfectly chaotic exclamation point on a night of SmackDown that exceeded all expectations. WWE is firing on all cylinders heading into Survivor Series, and if this episode is any indication, we are in for one heck of a ride.
