WWE SmackDown Preview - October 24, 2025: Cody Rhodes Seeks Redemption & The Road to Saturday Night's Main Event
The road to Saturday Night’s Main Event runs through Tempe, Arizona — and emotions are still raw following last week’s chaotic conclusion on WWE SmackDown. The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, may be the face of WWE, but his composure is beginning to crack.
After a shocking disqualification against Drew McIntyre last week, Cody finds himself walking into dangerous territory. The Scottish Warrior insists he had nothing to do with the pre-match assault on Jacob Fatu, but Cody isn’t buying it — and their rivalry now explodes once again. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis has made it official: Rhodes must defend the WWE Championship one more time against McIntyre this Saturday night.
Tonight, both men will be in the house at the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, and tensions are guaranteed to flare as we get one final face-off before their rematch.
📺 How to Watch
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
- Location: Mullett Arena — Tempe, Arizona
🔥 Women’s Division Spotlight: Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James
Tiffany Stratton may have fallen short at Crown Jewel, but the self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe” is ready to bounce back. Her opponent, Kiana James, has been running her mouth on behalf of Giulia, claiming the Japanese champion never would’ve lost under pressure. Expect Stratton to use tonight’s match to make a bold statement and remind the women’s locker room why she’s still That Girl on SmackDown.
💥 Tag Team Action: Fraxiom vs. #DIY
It’s been months since these two teams clashed, but the rivalry between Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) and #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) hasn’t cooled off. Fraxiom shocked the wrestling world back in May when they defeated the former champs in only their third SmackDown appearance. Now, Gargano and Ciampa are back on the hunt — and desperate to prove they can still hang with the next generation.
🧠 Ongoing Storylines to Watch
- Sami Zayn seeks answers after losing the United States Championship to Ilja Dragunov last week, thanks to interference from The MFTs.
- Solo Sikoa continues to manipulate from the shadows — and no one, not even his former Bloodline allies, is safe from his games.
- Randy Orton and Jade Cargill are both advertised locally, adding even more star power to what’s shaping up as a loaded show in Tempe.
Now the US Champion, @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR is ready to unleash chaos on SmackDown! 😤 pic.twitter.com/g2d6FuWlar
— WWE (@WWE) October 23, 2025
💬 Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
WWE’s blue brand is firing on all cylinders as tensions rise heading into Saturday Night’s Main Event. Cody Rhodes’ short temper might be his undoing — and Drew McIntyre is exactly the kind of competitor who can capitalize on it. Meanwhile, Tiffany Stratton’s bounce-back match feels like a reset moment for the SmackDown women’s division. Between The Wyatt Sicks’ eerie silence and The MFTs’ unpredictable chaos, SmackDown could explode into full-blown bedlam before the night ends.
