For two weeks in a row, Friday Night SmackDown was held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. WWE had previously conducted a double taping before Thanksgiving and the Survivor Series 2025 weekend, featuring several key matches such as two Last Time Is Now Tournament bouts to decide John Cena’s final opponent, a WarGames Advantage match, and a traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team match. Despite a promising lineup, this week’s SmackDown fell short in delivering quality wrestling action.
Sportstar’s rating system evaluates the entire SmackDown show to identify the best and worst matches and gauge the overall performance.
Starting with the opening match—Jey Uso versus Rusev from the Last Time Is Now Tournament—it scored 5.25 out of 10. Rusev controlled the match early with powerful strikes, dominating most of the bout, while Jey Uso struggled to impress the crowd, who appeared largely disengaged. The most notable moment was when Rusev’s kick sent Jey flying through the air, yet the crowd reaction remained muted. In the closing moments, Uso capitalized on Rusev underestimating him and secured a victory. The match’s structure was chaotic, the in-ring action was mediocre, and the audience response was weak, which was surprising given Uso’s involvement with the ongoing WarGames storyline.
Next up, the matchup between MFT and the team of Sami Zayn, Motor City Machine Guns, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Rey Fenix earned a 5.75 rating. Sami Zayn was the standout performer, injecting energy throughout the slow-paced match that mostly showcased MFT’s dominance. The crowd only engaged sporadically, and eliminations felt lackluster, with key talents like JC Mateo, Nakamura, Sabin, and Shelley exiting too easily. Rey Fenix brought some excitement with his Lucha Libre style, but overall, the match suffered from weak storytelling. Sami Zayn’s valiant but doomed effort against heavy odds was the main plot point.
The contest between LA Knight and The Miz, also part of the Last Time Is Now Tournament, garnered a 6.25 rating. While not exceptional, the bout was steady and showcased the wrestlers’ reliable skill. Noteworthy moments included a superplex and Miz’s STF submission attempt. The storyline followed a classic formula: Knight started strong, Miz dominated, and Knight rallied for a comeback. In the end, Knight’s win was anticipated, with little suspense around Miz’s chances.
The highlight of the night was Charlotte Flair versus Asuka in the WarGames Advantage match, rated 6.5. Though not the best performance by either, this match was the most compelling of the evening, despite the crowd’s subdued response. The physical contest featured heavy boots and chops from Flair and fierce kicks from Asuka, with momentum swinging back and forth. The match climaxed with a mist attack gone awry and a reversal of Asuka’s submission hold, ultimately leading to Flair securing victory through a well-executed finish.
Fan Take: While this week’s SmackDown lacked the excitement and intensity fans expect, the Last Time Is Now Tournament continues to build intrigue for John Cena’s final opponent, and the WarGames Advantage storyline is set to add high stakes to upcoming events. WWE fans should keep an eye on how these narratives evolve, as they could significantly shape the road to Survivor Series and beyond.
