WWE SmackDown Preview - November 14, 2025: Mystery Entrant, Tournament Drama & WarGames Build

Albany hosts a massive night as the road to Survivor Series heats up.

WWE SmackDown rolls into the MVP Arena in Albany tonight, and the blue brand is loaded with tournament intrigue, WarGames fallout, and several major names circling toward high-stakes battles. With two opening-round matches in The Last Time Is Now Tournament — plus multiple top champions in action — this is shaping up to be one of the more important SmackDown episodes of the fall.

How to Watch WWE SmackDown Tonight

TV: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, FuboTV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
Location: MVP Arena — Albany, New York

Announced Card for WWE SmackDown (11/14/25)

• The Last Time Is Now Tournament – Opening Round:
  LA Knight vs. Mystery Opponent
• The Last Time Is Now Tournament – Opening Round:
  Jey Uso vs. The Miz
• WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill vs. B-Fab
• Sami Zayn addresses Solo Sikoa

LA Knight Enters the Tournament… But Against Who?

The mystery surrounding LA Knight’s tournament opponent remains the biggest question heading into tonight’s show. Nick Aldis pulled the name from the tumbler last week, smiled like a man holding a winning lottery ticket, and refused to tell anyone — even Knight.

The Megastar heads into the opening round blind.
 No scouting. No preparation. No warning.

WWE has teased that the tournament field will feature “major surprises,” opening the door to anything from:

• an NXT standout,
• a returning former star,
• or even a familiar ghost from John Cena’s past.

Whatever happens, Knight is walking into Albany with a massive disadvantage — and potentially a massive story waiting on the other side.

Jey Uso vs. The Miz – Cena’s Past Meets Cena’s Present

The second tournament match carries its own weight.
 The Miz, a man who still loudly claims he deserves to retire John Cena, steps into the opening round against Jey Uso, a former World Heavyweight Champion determined to carve out his own legacy.

The Miz has never let anyone forget WrestleMania XXVII — and he believes one last match with Cena is his right.

Jey, meanwhile, has reinvented himself at the top of WWE’s singles scene. A win here would propel him closer to a showdown with Cena that fans have never seen one-on-one.

Nick Aldis to Reveal Final Tournament Entrants

Aldis will finish filling the tournament bracket tonight by drawing four more names from the tumbler. If last week is any indication, the SmackDown GM is enjoying every second of keeping the locker room in suspense.

Don’t be surprised if a major shocker emerges from this final round of announcements.

Jade Cargill vs. B-Fab – A New Rival Stands Up

WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill steps back into the ring tonight following her statement win over Tiffany Stratton. Cargill has been as dominant as advertised since claiming the title, and she’s made it clear she’s willing to run through any woman on the roster.

B-Fab didn’t hesitate.
After a tense backstage confrontation last week, she stepped straight up to the champ — and now walks into what might be the biggest moment of her singles career.

This could be a short demolition or the beginning of a surprising new rivalry.

WarGames Build Continues: Flair, Bliss, Jax & Legend Explode

After Nia Jax and Lash Legend crashed Monday Night Raw’s main event and cost Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss their Women’s Tag Team Titles, all four women are expected to confront each other tonight as WarGames barrels toward Survivor Series.

Expect heat. Expect violence.
 WarGames doesn’t start in a cage — it starts here.

Cody Rhodes Addresses Unfinished Business

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is also slated to appear. Although he’s locked in for WarGames alongside CM Punk and Jey Uso, Rhodes hasn’t forgotten about Aleister Black — or the suspended Drew McIntyre.

The big question tonight:
 Does Drew McIntyre show up despite being suspended?

The Scottish Warrior is not known for accepting punishment gracefully.

Sami Zayn Sends a Message to Solo Sikoa

WWE has confirmed that Sami Zayn will be in the house to address Solo Sikoa directly. With the ongoing tension between Zayn, Solo, and the Bloodline’s evolving structure, expect fireworks — or fists — to fly.

U.S. Title Open Challenge Rumors – Ilja Dragunov Again?

There are backstage whispers that United States Champion Ilja Dragunov may issue another Open Challenge tonight. If true, the MVP Arena could be in for a match-of-the-night candidate.

Wrestling.news | Backstage Take

This SmackDown has all the ingredients of a sleeper hit.

The mystery opponent for LA Knight is a real hook — especially with WWE hinting at “outsiders” and legacy names entering this bracket. The Miz vs. Jey Uso is a legitimately strong opening-round matchup, and Jade Cargill’s title reign continues to feel like a big deal.

But the true throughline of the night is chaos:

• WarGames tensions escalating,
• Cody seeking revenge,
• Drew McIntyre possibly breaking the rules,
• and the looming specter of John Cena’s final match.

If WWE sticks the landing on the mystery reveal and the final tumbler picks, this could be the most-discussed SmackDown of the month.

#WWENews #WWESmackDown