WWE SmackDown Preview - September 19, 2025: Wrestlepalooza Go-Home Show, Lesnar, Rhodes, Zayn vs. Hayes & Final Hype Before Wrestlepalooza
The road to Wrestlepalooza hits its final stop tonight as WWE SmackDown rolls into the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. With ESPN’s first-ever WWE premium live event set for Saturday, this go-home show promises to raise the stakes and set the tone for a historic weekend.
Brock Lesnar Returns – With Destruction on His Mind
Brock Lesnar is scheduled for back-to-back SmackDown appearances for the first time in years. Last week, The Beast planted R-Truth with a vicious F-5 while taunting John Cena, his opponent at Wrestlepalooza.
Cena is not advertised for tonight, but that hardly matters—Lesnar has never needed an excuse to unleash chaos. The question is: who, if anyone, will step in his path just 24 hours before one of the most personal matches of his career?
Cody Rhodes Prepares for Drew McIntyre
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes makes his return to the blue brand after saving Randy Orton from a post-match Claymore assault by Drew McIntyre last week. With McIntyre breathing down his neck and vowing to reclaim the top spot, Rhodes enters tonight’s SmackDown carrying the weight of both the championship and a dangerous challenger.
Will we see another brawl between champion and challenger before their high-stakes clash on Saturday?
United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
Sami Zayn continues his open-challenge crusade, and tonight it’s Carmelo Hayes stepping up. Despite Miz’s attempts to steer him toward tag team gold, Hayes has made it clear—singles stardom is his destiny.
Zayn has already turned back the likes of John Cena and Rey Fenix, but Melo may be his toughest test yet. A win tonight would not only crown Hayes as champion, but firmly establish him as a breakout star on SmackDown.
Women’s Division Fallout
The women’s division remains in flux following the chaotic double count-out between Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton. With Stratton sidelined by concussion protocol, her immediate future is unclear, but the Wrestlepalooza card could still be impacted.
Meanwhile, Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss await their next challengers, with Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre circling after being promised an opportunity by GM Nick Aldis. Expect words—or fireworks—tonight.
SmackDown Card (Announced)
- Brock Lesnar appears
- Cody Rhodes appears
- United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
How to Watch:
- TV: USA Network
- Streaming: Peacock (internationally)
- Start Time: 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Tonight is the definition of a go-home show: expect quick teases, heavy staredowns, and just enough chaos to push fans over the edge heading into Wrestlepalooza. Don’t be surprised if Lesnar wrecks more than one superstar to send his final message to Cena, or better yet John Cena could make a surprise appearance. Meanwhile, Rhodes and McIntyre could ignite a pull-apart brawl if tensions explode. And if Carmelo Hayes shocks the world and dethrones Sami Zayn, it would be a major momentum shift heading into Saturday. Buckle up—SmackDown has one job tonight: sell the spectacle of Wrestlepalooza, and the table is set perfectly.
