WWE Smackdown results (11/14): Barnett’s live review of LA Knight vs. a mystery opponent, and Jey Uso vs. The Miz in The Last Time Is Now tournament matches
By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,369)
November 14, 2025, in Albany, New York, at MVP Arena
Simulcast live on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
A video package aired to start the show that featured the conclusion of Raw and the setup for the Women’s Wargames match at Survivor Series. In the arena, Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley made their ring entrance.
Rhea has a microphone and said the Kabuki Warriors have thought they were untouchable since she’s been out with a broken nose. If you add Nia Jax and Lash legend to the mix, they think they have a numbers advantage, but all they’ve ended up with is more enemies. Iyo said making enemies always catches up to you, and shouted Wargames at the top of her lungs. Rhea then introduced two of their teammates for Wargames, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.
Alexa got on the microphone and said The Kabuki Warriors, Nia and Lash started it, but they would finish it. The second they said Wargames, she knew they were in. Charlotte told Rhea that she couldn’t pretend anymore. She told Rhea she doesn’t like her, doesn’t trust her, and she thinks she’s a snake. Charlotte said there was too much history between them to look past it. She told Alexa that if she wanted to do it, she could, but they’d have to count her out.
Charlotte left the ring and headed to the back while everyone in the ring looked confused. Jade Cargill and B-Fab were shown walking into the building earlier today. They will face each other tonight. LA Knight was also shown, and he faces a mystery opponent later in the show. Jey Uso was then shown in the concourse, and made his way to the ring through the crowd with his typical entrance. He will face The Miz next…[c]
My Take: Charlotte is a messy bitch for waiting until she was on live television to blow up the Survivor Series team. Definitely could have dropped that one in the group chat first.
Before Jey Uso could do his encore, The Miz made his ring entrance.
1. The Miz vs. Jey Uso in a Last Time is Now Tournament Match: The Miz got an early advantage with some strikes, but Jey broke it up with a head kick. Miz recovered and set up for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Jey avoided it and clotheslined him to the floor. Jey then dove at Miz and sent him crashing over the announce desk…[c]
Miz controlled the action during the break. He landed a facebuster and a DDT as the show returned and covered for a near fall. Miz delivered a series of kicks, but Jey avoided the last one and landed an elevated neckbreaker for a near fall. Both men were then down, and Miz crawled to the corner to recover. Jey got to his feet and set up to charge into the opposite corner, but Miz moved out of the way and landed Cena’s five moves of doom.
He delivered a five knuckle shuffle, and then picked up Jey for an Attitude Adjustment, but Jey broke free. Jey picked up Miz, but he slipped out the back and delivered a Skull Crushing Finale for a close near fall. Jey attempted a second rope Attitude Adjustment of his own, but Miz got hung up on the top rope and they fell awkwardly. Jey quickly hit a spear and a top rope splash and covered for the win.
Jey Uso defeated The Miz at 10:11
After the match, The Miz remained down as Jey celebrated. Backstage, Nick Aldis spoke to Ilja Dragunov when DIY walked up. Ciampa complained about being denied open challenges, and Ilja told him he was carrying out the legacy of the US title open challenge, and that meant fighting warriors that fight with honor and respect. And so tonight, he would give the title shot to someone who meets those standards, and pointed to Axiom. Aldis then walked away, but ran into Paul Heyman and Bronson Reed…[c]
My Take: A good, but not quite great opener from Jey and The Miz. There were a few awkward spots, but they didn’t ruin the match flow.
A video clip aired of John Cena explaining his path to becoming a Pro Wrestler. Backstage, Nick Aldis called security to his office. Heyman and Bronson Reed approached, and reminded him that the Wargames contract allows him to recruit anyone from any brand, including Smackdown. Cody Rhodes approached, and Heyman called him the Golden Goose that was afforded all this protection. Cody said he didn’t know anything about all that, but the business of today was the WWE Championship, and if Bronson Reed wasn’t there to fight he could leave.
Reed said he wanted a fight, and Heyman said it was no use if the title wasn’t on the line. Cody accepted, and Aldis booked Cody vs. Bronson Reed in the main event for the WWE Championship. In the arena, Ilja Dragunov and Axiom kicked off without ring entrances.
2. Ilja Dragunov vs Axiom for the WWE US Championship: They traded some mat reversals and strike evasions early on. Dragunov put his fingers together and stared down Axiom to let him know he was that close. Both men ended up locking arms for a backslide, but neither got the advantage. Dragunov broke free and delivered a series of strikes. He attempted an H-Bomb, but Axiom avoided it and turned it into an armbar.
Axiom dazed Dragunov with a strike and then sent him over the top rope with a jumping kick. Dragunov climbed back on the apron and they battled back and forth there. After a back and forth, Dragunov got the advantage with a headbutt. Dragunov then delivered a top rope senton for a two count…[c]
Axiom started a comeback with a head kick. He then landed a missile dropkick from the top rope for a close near fall. Dragunov went for a discus clothesline, but Axiom blocked and reversed into an armbar. Dragunov powered out with a powerbomb and fired up the crowd. He went for another H-Bomb, but Axiom avoided it and delivered a wild springboard backflip DDT for a close near fall. Axiom then delivered a Spanish Fly from the top.
He then lined up to capitalize on it, but Dragunov launched out of the corner with a Torpedo Moscow headbutt and then landed an H-Bomb for the win.
Ilja Dragunov defeated Axiom to retain the US Title at 11:32
Backstage, R-Truth handed Nick Aldis his bingo balls to be entered into the hopper. After some arguing, he agreed. Chelsea Green then walked up and complained about her US Title celebration being cancelled, and promised to forgive him if he gave her a title celebration next week. He said he could make that work, but handed her R-Truth’s balls and walked out fo the room…[c]
My Take: Fun match from Axiom and Dragunov. The US Title Open Challenge continues to produce great matches on weekly TV.
After the previous match, Tomasso Ciampa attacked Axiom, but was quickly run off by Nathan Frazer. Sami Zayn’s music hit and he made his way to the ring in street clothes. Footage was shown of Sami Zayn making the save for Rey Fenix last week at the end of his match with Talla Tonga. Zayn had a microphone and said he lived up to his promise to beat Solo Sikoa for the United States Championship. He said he did great things with the US Title, but the last four weeks have been extremely challenging for him because he hasn’t been medically cleared.
He expressed regret at being forced to watch friends of his being attacked by Solo and the MFTs. Sami said he watched week after week while being told to do nothing, but that ends tonight. He called out Solo and said they both have problems with each other and they need to sort it out face to face. Solo made his entrance with the MFTs. Solo walked out and said Sami thinks he knows who he is, but he doesn’t. He called Sami weak, a liar, and desperate. Solo accused Sami of being selfish and only caring about himself, and said he didn’t give a damn about the people in the back or in the audience.
Solo said he cares about his family, and that he knows nothing of loyalty. He then said that he better chill out before he comes into the ring to kick his ass. Solo signaled and the MFTs got on the apron. He then said he could drop him right now, but he’s not going to. Solo said he’d wait until he’s medically cleared, and then he’s coming for him. Sami replied that he wouldn’t have to wait for long, because he’s officially 100% cleared as of tonight. He said if Solo wanted to do something, he should do it tonight, but added that he didn’t exactly ome alone.
Shinsuke Nakamura, Rey Fenix, and the Motor City Machine guns then swarmed the ring. A brawl broke out in the ring and at ringside. Fenix landed a huge tornado press onto the MFTs at ringside. The babyface squad stood tall to end the segment. Backstage, The Usos told Cody Rhodes he had his back later with The Vision. Jimmy added that he talked to CM Punk and was in for Wargames…[c]
My Take: This looks to be setting up a traditional Survivor Series match. The random nature of the babyface team makes me think they’ll probably get mollywhopped, but it should end up being a decent match.
Backstage, Solo complained to Nick Aldis about Sami. Nick Aldis said Solo and the MFTs would face Sami, Shinsuke, Fenix, and The MCMG in a traditional Survivor Series match on the Smackdown before Survivor Series. Uncle Howdy was shown in the background watching the conversation. In the arena, LA Knight made his right entrance. His surprise opponent ended up being Mr. Chelsea Green Zack Ryder.
3. LA Knight vs. Zack Ryder in a Last Time is Now Tournament Match: They battled back and forth early on, but Ryder sent Knight out of the ring after getting the better of a strike exchange…[c]
Ryder avoided a vertical suplex, but ate a series of punches and a lariat instead. Knight followed up with a Russian leg sweep and a neckbreaker for a near fall. Ryder recovered and tossed Ryder into the corner. He then followed up with a running kick and covered for a near fall. Knight got to his feet and delivered a neckbreaker. He attempted a top rope elbow, but Ryder avoided it and landed a Rough Ryder for a close near fall.
Knight struggled to his feet and Ryder sold frustration. Knight went for a BFT, but Ryder rolled him up for a two count. Ryder attempted a top rope dive, but Knight reversed into a powerbomb. He then followed up with a BFT and got the win.
LA Knight defeated Zack Ryder at 8:32
Backstage, Alexa Bliss tried to convince Iyo and Rhea that Charlotte could be convinced to join their team. Nia Jax, Lash Legend, and the Kabuki Warriors showed up mid-stream and destroyed them. They were all beaten down and thrown into the nearby equipment crates. WWE officials showed up to pull away the heels. In the arena, Jade Cargill made her ring entrance for the next match…[c]
My Take: It was good to see Zack Ryder on WWE TV again. I’m not sure if he’s anywhere close to being signed full time, but I think he could be a solid contributor if they do.
B-Fab completed her entrance as the show returned.
4. B-Fab vs. Jade Cargille for the WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill showed off her power early and often. She delivered a chokeslam and a powerbomb in the first minute. B-Fab struggled to get to her feet, and Jade just picked her up and delivered another powerbomb. She finished her off with Jaded and it was over.
Jade Cargill defeated B-Fab at 2:18
Michin checked on B-Fab after the match. Jade took notice and they went face to face. Jade shoved her down and set up a future match. Backstage, Carmelo Hayes spoke about the Last Time is Now tournament. He addressed John Cena and said if he gets the shot against him, he won’t miss. Bronson Reed walked up and said he was going to go out and end Cody Rhodes title reign, and then he would end Carmelo on his way to ending John Cena’s career. Bronson Reed vs. Cody Rhodes is up next…[c]
My Take: Jade destroying the same people that Guilia destroyed to kick off her US Title reign is rather uninspired booking. Smackdown has really struggled to make the Women’s Division pop off the screen.
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