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WWE SmackDown 10/24 Recap: Drew McIntyre Gets Payback on Cody Rhodes

Originally posted on Fights Around The World
By Mario Mungia | Last updated Oct 25, 2025 12:31 AM ET

Tonight’s episode of SmackDown emanates from Tempe, Arizona, as fans pack in the Mullett Arena for a show featured around Cody Rhodes and his continued feud with Drew McIntyre, the night before Arizona State takes on UH Cougars. With the year ending, the final quarter brings the final strategic pieces into place as the Road to WrestleMania nears.

The shakeup the red brand has seen of late makes it utterly important for the roster’s “QB1,” Rhodes, to establish a proper program with McIntyre after the two ended last week’s show. With Cody’s suits blacker than ever and a need for a storyline with meat on the bones, there is no telling what happens with eight days left until Saturday Night’s Main Event, especially if the goal of creative is to end his monotony.

Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre Continue “Their Story”… Jimmy Uso Starts A New One

Drew hijacked Cody’s promo from the jump and promised to ‘finish his story’ at SNME, but it was the ‘jumping’ of Jacob Fatu that was propped up as a major focus. In fact, Jimmy USO was in the building and seen talking to Cody in the back prior to the world champ making his entrance through Gorilla. Jimmy thanked Cody for ‘being there’ for his cousin Jacob, and UCE was prepared to bring up his grievances with GM Nic Aldis.

The segment was short, and before you knew it, Jimmy was out there on the attack, but the fact that this entire program was lumped in with the Jacob Fatu storylines spells shenanigans. What was interesting about any of it was Drew’s speculation of who could have mugged Jacob, insinuating that a ‘face’ could be responsible—naming Jimmy and Jey, but Cody’s name was interestingly left out of Drew’s blame game.

Jimmy attacked Drew when we came back from commercial, just as the “Scottish Psychopath” was demanding retribution. Later in the back, Jimmy got Aldis to book him in a “street fight” with Drew as he attempts to forget about the ‘Jey drama’ for a night.

Jimmy Uso vs Drew McIntyre— No DQ

The No DQ stipulations worked against Jimmy as Drew picked up the win by putting one half of The USO’s through a table. Drew didn’t stop there; he put a chair to Jimmy’s throat and threatened to put him out for good as WWE officials tried their best to prevent it.

It took the intervention of Cody to pull Drew off Jimmy, but then Drew ended up getting the drop (Claymore Kick) on Cody to stand tall at the end of SmackDown.

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MFT (JC Moteo and Tama Tonga) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rey Fenix— Tag Team Titles

The Rey Fenix experiment has been a turbulent one since he debuted for the WWE back in April. Tonight, he continued his tag team booking with his second partner, Nakamura, after Andrade became persona non grata within the ranks of WWE. For the MFTs, they certainly have an added dynamic since hitting the makeup department, and their feud with The Wyatt Sicks certainly has promise.

Still, the lack of defenses of the tag team titles on either brand almost demands a new set of champions, considering that the SmackDown division has been the premier tag division in all of wrestling. While Fenix and Nakamura present an interesting pairing, it is odd that the company has yet to reunite the famous Lucha Bros, given that both continue to receive bookings where allies are essential.

Rey sole the show in this one, and he had the match well in hand before Solo got on the apron to distract the ref, allowing for Talla Tonga to hit a choke slam on Fenix to help the MFTs retain the titles.

Tiffany Stratton(c) vs. Kiana James

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Tiffany Stratton received a blowoff win against James tonight as she fights back from her loss to Stephanie Vaquer at Crown Jewel Perth. James has played a supporting role in the case of the women’s U.S. champion, Giulia, is concerned.

Stratton controlled much of the action, but Giulia attacked her after picking up the win off of the “Prettiest Moonsault.” Jade Cargill made the save, raising Tiffany’s hand after handing her the title back, but it was all to set up the women’s champ as she delivered a devastating clothesline and continued with the beatdown post-match.

The finish of the segment saw Jade attempt to seriously hurt the champ’s leg, and the former tag team champ with Bianca Belair demanded a world title match during a brief backstage interview where she said she ‘made the mistake’ of thinking this world rewards patience.

Ilja Dragunov(c) vs. Aleister Black—U.S. Championship Open Challenge

After making his return from injury to win the U.S. title from Sami Zayn last week, Draunov committed to continuing the ‘open challenge’ made famous by John Cena and continued by Zayn. Dragunov put Sami over in the locker room, and then he received a genuine face promo.

Zayn explained to Dragunov before the match that the open challenge is a responsibility not every superstar has the heart to run back-to-back and week to week.

For Black, he made a good showing with his wife Zelina Vega accompanying him ringside and even played a part in his entrance. However, Vega was caught interfering and was tossed by the referee, and that was when Damian Priest came out to cause the distraction that led to Black’s loss.

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OTHER TIDBITS

-A match was set up between Alexis Bliss and Nia Jax after the tag champs were interviewed about the Bayley/Lyra challenge issued on RAW. While Flare and Bliss will have to see them eventually, the latter will be in action next week.

-Carmelo Hayes will be in action next week as his feud with The Miz continues to intensify.

-Braun Strowman’s new show on USA: “Everything on the Menu” premiered tonight following SmackDown.

This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.

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