by Ilja Dragunov made a shocking return and dethroned Sami Zayn to become the new United States Champion on the 17 October 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown, which took place at SAP Center in San Jose, California. Also during this show, Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes collided in the main event in an impromptu match after McIntyre’s scheduled opponent for tonight, Jacob Fatu, was attacked by a mysterious person backstage.
Sol Ruca and Zaria also had an incredible showing in the ring during this episode of SmackDown, competing against the team of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss for the Women’s Tag Team Titles. All this and much more unfolded during the show—to find out complete details, read the full article below.
WWE SmackDown 17 October 2025 Complete Results – Winners and Losers
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss retained Women’s Tag Team Titles by defeating ZaRuca (Zaria & Sol Ruca) via submission (Sol tapped to Figure 8 Lock applied by Charlotte)
- Ilja Dragunov becomes the new U.S. Champion by defeating Sami Zayn in the U.S. Title Open Challenge via pinfall
- MCMG (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) defeated Los Garza (Berto & Garza) via pinfall (Shelley pinned Garza)
- Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes via DQ
All Highlights and Major Moments from the Show
- General Manager Nick Aldis opened the show by announcing the main event match between Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu as a #1 contender’s match for the Undisputed WWE Championship, with the winner facing Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare entered the ring, conceding that Seth Rollins defeated him for the Crown Jewel Championship but urging Rollins to focus on his own business while Cody handles SmackDown. He pondered whether his next foe would be Drew McIntyre or Jacob Fatu, hyped the bright lights of tonight’s event, and declared that Saturday Night’s Main Event will run through San Jose, California.
- Backstage, Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s confront Rey Fenix. When Fenix refuses to step aside so Solo’s photo shoot can go next, Solo and the MFT’s lay Fenix out.
- Blake Monroe was seated in the front row during the Women’s Tag Team Title match, and in the climactic moments, she caused a distraction to Sol Ruca, helping Charlotte Flair apply the Figure Eight lock on Sol for the submission win to retain the titles.
- Backstage, Cody Rhodes meets Jacob Fatu, who welcomes him to San Jose before telling him that after he dog-walks Drew McIntyre later tonight in the main event, he will show Cody the real meaning of “ghost riding the whip” and prove he is all gas and no brakes.
- In a pre-taped hype package video, Aleister Black says he has been selling an image and that everything he has done has been a calculated move on his part. He hasn’t felt this accomplished since aligning with his wife, Zelina Vega, who appears. Aleister and Zelina say this was by design, and Aleister declares there is no one more violent than Zelina. Zelina states they are not the infection, but the mirror that shows it. Aleister says he and Zelina are what one considers “a necessary evil” and a balance, while Zelina adds they are not poison, but salvation.
- Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis was seen having a conversation in his office with The Miz when Sami Zayn shows up, wondering why he is not on tonight’s show. Aldis mentions that Shinsuke Nakamura wants a proper rematch, then references Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s attacking him recently. Sami refuses to hide backstage and says the open challenge means everything to him, then declares he is going out to the ring for his open challenge anyway.
- After the U.S. Title Open Challenge match between Sami Zayn and Ilja Dragunov ended, the MFT’s attacks both men and lays them out. Rey Fenix runs out and fends off the MFT’s, but he gets chokeslammed by Tama Tonga. Solo Sikoa then proclaims that his family tree will take back everything they have lost and become champions once again. Suddenly, Bo Dallas appears on the TitanTron, telling Solo, “Seek and ye shall find, knock and ye shall enter… but are you ready for what is on the other side?” The Wyatt Sicks then appear behind Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s, and both sides have a staredown. Solo and the MFT’s then back out of the ring.
- Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Tiffany Stratton, who admits she’s unhappy about losing at Crown Jewel but acknowledges Stephanie Vaquer took her to her limits. As Tiffany ponders her next move, Kiana James interrupts, claiming Tiffany would have won if she’d employed her services like Giulia did. Taking it as an insult to her in-ring ability, Tiffany challenges Kiana to a match, which Kiana accepts.
- Backstage, Fraxiom discusses the current state of the SmackDown tag team division, with Nathan Frazer eager to act while Axiom prefers to pick their moment to strike. DIY interrupts, with Tommaso Ciampa noting they’ve stayed out of the way recently but nothing has changed. When DIY goes for Axiom’s mask, Axiom snaps back by challenging them to a tag team match.
- Before the main event Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Match between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu, Jacob was found laid out backstage by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, severely bleeding from the mouth.
- In the main event, Drew McIntyre enters the ring smiling as General Manager Nick Aldis checks on the attacked Jacob Fatu, asking if he saw anything. McIntyre demands the referee declare him the new #1 contender, but Aldis intervenes. McIntyre denies involvement in the attack and insists on the title shot, prompting “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes to storm in, fed up, and challenge him to fight right now. The two brawl around the ring, leading to an impromptu match.
- After the main event match, Drew McIntyre gouges Cody’s eyes, and security and officials have to stop Cody from hitting McIntyre with a Cross Rhodes on the announce table. This does not stop Cody from diving onto McIntyre from the top rope as the show went off the air.
