There was a major surprise in the Last Time is Now tournament.
Smackdown’s latest episode kicked off with a promo featuring the two men’s Wargames teams, followed by a backstage scene where Drew McIntyre ambushed Cody Rhodes on a bus. Later in the night, Bronson Reed faced Carmelo Hayes in the tournament’s first round to decide John Cena’s final opponent. Despite Mero’s aggressive offense, Reed appeared nearly unstoppable for most of the match. Towards the end, Logan Paul diverted the referee’s attention while Bron Breaker attempted a spear on Carmelo, but Breaker was caught off guard by a superkick from The Usos.
Eventually, Carmelo Hayes defeated Bronson Reed after Cody Rhodes intervened with a powerful Cross Rhodes on the floor. With Reed unable to beat the ten-count, Hayes secured the win. The segment concluded with the undisputed WWE Champion delivering a strong promo for the heel team, confirming his participation in next Saturday’s WarGames match despite the earlier attack.
In another tournament match, Penta triumphed over Finn Balor to advance, and WWE announced that Sheamus’ replacement for the tournament will be revealed on next week’s Raw.
Fan Take: This surprising turn in the tournament keeps WWE storytelling fresh and unpredictable, intensifying fan investment in upcoming WarGames matches. It also highlights WWE’s willingness to shake up matchups and character roles, which can lead to exciting shifts in the sport’s landscape.
