WWE SmackDown Results, Winners, Live Grades Highlights Before Crown Jewel 2025

Welcome to Bleacher Report's live coverage of WWE SmackDown on October 10.

This was the final episode before Saturday's Crown Jewel PLE, so it was the last chance WWE had to sell fans on subscribing to ESPN for the show if they hadn't already.

The show was pre-taped but aired at its usual time in North America. Here's a look at the lineup from Friday's episode:

• The Wyatt Sicks vs. Street Profits (Tag titles)
• Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black (Last Man Standing)
• Sami Zayn U.S. title open challenge
• Giulia and Kiana James vs. Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer

Let's take a look at everything that happened on this week's SmackDown.

Cody Rhodes Opens the Show

The show opened with a video package hyping up Crown Jewel before Cody Rhodes came out wearing his Crown Jewel ring from last year. He spoke about his feud with Seth Rollins leading into the PLE.

He played to the crowd and included the announcers. The fans seemed to be having fun and so did Cody, but this promo didn't actually accomplish anything. It was filler content in every sense. It's a little sad that we could have gotten a fifth match instead of this.

Grade: C

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Notable Moments and Observations

• The video package felt different from what WWE normally does. Having no dialogue or lyrics to the music was a big factor.
• WWE claims there are over 3000 diamonds on the Crown Jewel belt. If they are real, that might be the most expensive title ever produced.
• Michael Cole looked genuinely caught off guard when Cody tossed him the mic.

Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Last time in action: Zayn defeated Aleister Black (SmackDown, October 3), Nakamura lost to Rhodes (SmackDown, June 13)

Zayn's United States Championship was answered by none other than the returning Shinsuke Nakamura, who hasn't had a match since June. The crowd was excited to see Nakamura and sang his song as the match got going.

These two have a history dating back to Nakamura's debut in NXT. Since then, they have clashed in over 70 singles and tag matches both on TV and at live events, so these two know each other about as well as anyone can.

The two veterans did what they do best and put on an entertaining back-and-forth contest. It's impossible to recapture the magic of their first encounter, but they did a good job making this a hard-hitting fight, too.

The only bad thing about this match was the fact that we didn't get to see all of it due to commercials. They fought through two breaks, so they had plenty of time to make this a great performance.

As Nakamura was gearing up for the Kinshasa, he was pulled out of the ring and attacked by a man in a hoodie. It was revealed to be Tama Tonga. The rest of Solo Sikoa's bloodline showed up and attacked Zayn, but Sikoa was not there until the assault was over.

Result: No Contest

Grade: A-

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Notable Moments and Observations

• Nakamura was back to his original theme song and look.
• Drew McIntyre demolished Jacob Fatu in a backstage segment.
• Nakamura's sliding German suplex is always a fun move.
• Cole noted that Zayn was up 4-3 in singles victories over Nakamura heading into this match.
• Sikoa's crew all had face paint on.

Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton vs. Giulia and Kiana James

Last time in action: Giulia and James defeated Michin and B-Fab (SmackDown, Sept. 26), Vaquer defeated Iyo Sky (WrestlePalooza), Stratton defeated Jade Cargill and Nia Jax (SmackDown, Sept. 26)

The next matchup saw Crown Jewel opponents team up when Tiffy and Vaquer took on Giulia and James. Vaquer took a knee to the gut from James when the match started, but she fired back with a side suplex followed by the Devil's Kiss.

The show cut to a break very early in the match. When we returned, Giulia was throwing Vaquer to the mat with a handful of hair. The women's world champion was being double-teamed in the corner for quite some time before she was able to make a tag to a fresh Stratton.

The two top champions managed to work together without any issues to get the win over Giulia and James. The second half of this bout picked up the pace and turned into a fun encounter. It had a couple of rough spots, but nothing too bad.

Result: Tiffy and Vaquer defeated James and Giulia

Grade: B-

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Notable Moments and Observations

• Fatu found McIntyre backstage and they had another brawl after Aldis told Drew that he and Fatu would have a match next week.
• Giulia's entrance music fits her so well.
• If James ditched the props like her handbag and glasses, she would be easier to take seriously. She's a great athlete who has been hampered by her gimmick.
• Giulia's running knee always looks like it makes good contact with her opponent's face.

The Wyatt Sicks vs. Street Profits

Last time in action: The Profits defeated Melo Don't Miz (SmackDown, Sept. 26), The Wyatt Sicks defeated The Profits (SmackDown, August 31)

The men's tag titles were on the line this week when Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy put the belts on the line against Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins.

The Wyatts stormed the ring and got the fight started, but the Profits managed to take control at first. As the show went to a break, Lumis and Gacy took over.

The champions dominated through the commercial. When we returned, Dawkins helped Ford turn the tide back in their favor by holding Gacy and Lumis on his shoulders for a double blockbuster.

If most of this bout didn't happen during a break, it might have been much better. The Wyatts retained their titles in a somewhat short but high-energy match. As the champions posed, the MFTs showed up for a standoff as the lights were still flashing.

Sikoa's men ended up leaving, but the seeds were planted for them to pursue the tag titles.

Result: The Wyatt Sicks defeated The Street Profits

Grade: C+

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Notable Moments and Observations

• Charlotte and Alexa Bliss agreed to defend the women's tag titles against Zaria and Sol Ruca in a backstage segment.
• It's weird that the champions haven't had a match in over a month, and their last one was against the same team. It feels like they don't know what to do with the Wyatts sometimes, which is sad because the group is talented.
• The last time Nikki Cross wrestled on TV was in September of last year. She has been healthy the whole time and has worked some live events.

Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest

Last time in action: Black defeated Priest (SmackDown, Sept. 5)

Two bitter rivals closed the show this week with a Last Man Standing match. Priest came into this with more victories over Black in their feud, so The Dutch Destroyer was looking to even it up to end their story.

The steel steps and a kendo stick were used almost immediately. Both men were using them to inflict damage, but Priest used the steps more effectively since he was more capable of lifting them up and using them as a weapon.

We returned from the break to see them having a kendo stick fight while Priest was on the top rope. Both men went down, but they both made it back to their feet before the 10-count.

Priest hit a Razor's Edge on the announce table just like he did the last time they brawled, but Black made it to his feet in time. They fought into the crowd as The Archer of Infamy was looking to end it.

Zelina Vega, Black's wife, showed up and pleaded with Priest not to continue his onslaught, but Black encouraged her to leave. He threw a fireball at Priest before hitting Black Mass to send Priest crashing from a platform to the floor.

The way this ended was a little strange, but 99% of what we got here was great. Having Vega and Black as an on-screen duo could be a good move for both of them. Time will tell.

Result: Black defeated Priest

Grade: B+

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Notable Moments and Observations

• The meteora Black hit to put Priest on the steel steps looked awesome.
• Black is good at selling when he wants to.
• The way Priest hit the steel steps when Black hit a sunset flip looked nasty.
• The table broke last time Priest hit the Razor's Edge, but not this time.

The Final Word

Friday's SmackDown was a good showing from the blue brand. It managed to hype the PLE appropriately while also providing some fun in-ring action.

The women's tag match was solid, and the tag title match had some fun moments despite being too short, but it was the first and last bouts that shined brightest.

Zayn faced a returning Nakammura in a U.S. title open challenge that ended in controversy thanks to the MFTs, but still provided us with another great encounter between the longtime rivals. 

The main event Last Man Standing match was just as good as you would expect given the competitors involved. Black and Priest bring out the best in each other. 

Crown Jewel being a morning show for American fans is going to be an interesting experience, but the card has the potential to produce a great show. 

Grade: B