Photo Credit: WWE

25) – The Night Before Wrestlepalooza

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Michael Joseph Sugue | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 1:37 AM ET

The night before a much-awaited Premium Live Event, Wrestlepalooza, WWE SmackDown puts on one heck of a show to heat things up for Saturday. We get a title match, plus an appearance of a champion themselves, and a lot more coming this way for the WWE Universe. Here’s a WWE SmackDown preview for September 19, 2025. Let’s run it down.

WWE SmackDown Preview and Card (9/19/25):

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Appears Live on WWE SmackDown
WWE United States Championship – “Sami Zayn U.S. Open Challenge”: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes

Long, Hard Road Back

Fresh off his win at WWE SummerSlam 2025 against John Cena to regain the Undisputed WWE Championship, Cody Rhodes was riding extremely high. Unfortunately, this euphoria would not last long. Sure, he expected a target on his back, but he didn’t expect to be brutalized by a man, and a competitor who should’ve done better.

On a SmackDown a number of weeks ago, Drew McIntyre would put Cody Rhodes out of commission for an extended time after he delivered a Claymore to the skull of Rhodes through the side of the announcers’ table. Every week, McIntyre would taunt Cody, asking commentators such as Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore, and Michael Cole about “medical updates,” fully knowing the uncertainties around Rhodes’ health.

Last week, McIntyre was shocked to see the return of the “American Nightmare,” running for his life from the Undisputed WWE Champion. To no one’s surprise, Cody Rhodes is out for blood, and he will get his pound of flesh at Wrestlepalooza. This Friday, the champions speak for the first time since coming back.

What does he have to say ahead of his title defense against Drew McIntyre in Indianapolis?

Open Season

A number of weeks ago, Sami Zayn officially commissioned the “Sami Zayn U.S. Open Challenge” where he’ll have United States Title defense against anyone who would want it. Thus far, he has defended it against concept originator John Cena, as well as last week in a compelling and successful title defense against Rey Fenix.

This week, he battles “The 1” in the form of Carmelo Hayes. Melo has been hunting for gold as of late, with Melo Don’t Miz wanting to challenge for the WWE Tag Team Titles, held by The Wyatt Sicks. For this SmackDown, he needs to set that aside, as he focuses on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Hayes asked, and Zayn gave it to him on the spot, recognizing the crazy potential magic these two could create in the ring. Sami Zayn may have the championship and experience advantage. However, Hayes has the hunger to wear gold once again in WWE.

Will the open challenges continue for Sami Zayn? Or will Melo not miss and capture the U.S. Championship once and for all?

Watch it all unfold this Friday night on The USA Network and Netflix!

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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