This week, WWE took over the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, for the December 5th episode of Friday Night SmackDown, featuring the aftermath of the highly debated Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 Premium Live event. The show included several matches, notably the finals of the “Last Time Is Now” tournament between LA Knight and Gunther to decide John Cena’s final challenger.
Sportstar’s rating system evaluates the entire SmackDown card to rank the best and worst matches, as well as other performances throughout the night.
4. Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fire
Rating from TheSportster: 3.75/10
This week’s match between Jade Cargill and Alba Fire was brief and lacked substance, ending before any quality or meaningful story could develop. The match began at a decent pace, allowing Alba Fire to land an early attack aided by Chelsea Green’s distraction, who slapped Cargill. It felt odd to see Cargill presented as a “babyface on the brink” despite her heel turn and recent dominance as a fierce world champion, creating a mismatched story that didn’t benefit either wrestler. Kiana James and Julia ran interference to chase away Chelsea Green, enabling Cargill to execute a Spinebuster, thrust kick, and Jaded finisher for the victory. The bout was strange, unhelpful to either character, and too fast to build any meaningful feud or momentum. A simpler squash match focusing on Cargill might have been a better use of time.
3. Alexa Bliss vs. Kairi Sane
Rating from TheSportster: 6.75/10
Alexa Bliss and Kairi Sane faced off in a singles match steeped in their ongoing rivalry within the vibrant women’s tag team scene. Despite being short, the match was well-paced, with both competitors executing technically sound moves and infusing the bout with personal tension through taunts, slaps, and shoves. The ringside antics involving Asuka and Charlotte Flair’s tag partners added energy but were somewhat distracting. The climax was strong, with Bliss capitalizing on catching a flying elbow attempt to hit her finishing move, Sister Abigail, securing the win.
2. Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes (US Championship)
Rating from TheSportster: 7.75/10
Carmelo Hayes answered the open United States Championship challenge this week against champion Ilja Dragunov, continuing their chemistry from NXT battles with a hard-hitting, athletic match featuring powerful slams and surprising strikes. The match had standout moments, including Hayes reversing a Constantine Special into a springboard clothesline and nearly defeating Dragunov with a spinning facebuster. Unfortunately, Tommaso Ciampa’s interference and post-match attack on Hayes behind the referee marred what had been an intense contest. Dragunov claimed a straightforward victory, adding another chapter to his open challenge legacy and ongoing storyline, although the match did not fully live up to the talent involved.
1. Gunther vs. LA Knight (Last Time Is Now Tournament Finals)
Rating from TheSportster: 8.5/10
In the tournament finals, LA Knight started strong against Gunther, surprising him early in this high-stakes contest. Gunther used a methodical, club-like clothesline to wear Knight down, but Knight fought fiercely, relying on his resilience and impactful moves to counter the larger opponent. The match featured dynamic back-and-forth action, including burning hammers and powerbombs, creating an intense and realistic fight atmosphere. Gunther’s focus on Knight’s neck in the closing moments and the persistent effort from Knight kept the crowd engaged, but ultimately, Gunther forced Knight to submit with brutal submission moves. The match’s latter half showcased excellent storytelling and crowd involvement, making it a standout performance.
Fan Take: This episode of SmackDown highlights WWE’s mix of emerging rivalries, fresh talent, and veteran storytelling, which is critical for building anticipation toward future events. The tournament final between Gunther and LA Knight especially sets the stage for exciting championship narratives, promising fans compelling matches and rivalries ahead.
