WWE delivered its last "SmackDown" of 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, sending fans home happy with some fun Christmas themes and a title match.
The last "SmackDown" of the year was pretty solid, earning a Crown score of 7/10.
Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes - United States Championship - WWE Smackdown 05/12/2025 (In Spanish)
Carmelo Hayes Dethrones Ilja Dragunov
Ilja Dragunov just doesn't know how not to put on bangers, but this time he lost. Stunningly, the champion was dethroned by one Carmelo Hayes, with whom he teamed last week.
Hayes should have advanced through the John Cena retirement tournament and been the one to defeat the legend. But this was a great way to prop him up highly by beating the company's best work-rate champion. And as for Dragunov, his run has been excellent- practically a weekly seminar on how to have killer matches with zero storyline attached. Now, he can go on to bigger and better things.
As for the match itself, it was perhaps Dragunov's best yet, and some of the late-match sequences were absurd. A mid-air cutter reversal from Hayes, an H-Bomb reversal, then a First 48 counter off a Coast-to-Coast into a Nothing But Net. Madness.
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Carmelo Hayes challenges Ilja Dragunov for the United States Championship. Hayes countered a superplex from Dragunov into an awesome cutter, but The Mad Dragon kicked out as the WWE Universe erupted into a "this is awesome" chant. The Mad Dragon blasted Hayes with the Constantine Special and an enormous senton. Dragunov looked to end the match when he destroyed Hayes with a death valley driver onto the apron. Hayes somehow connected with the First 48 before executing Nothing But Net to win the United States Title.After, Dragunov showed proper respect, taking the title from the referee and wrapping it around the new champion’s waist himself, putting him over huge before leaving the ring. This was awesome all the way around.
When WWE tries and gives wrestlers time, you see brilliance like what these two did.
However, Johnny Gargano laid Hayes out backstage.
Three Stages of Hell Match Announced
Drew McIntyre was granted the decision of where his title match with Cody Rhodes will take place and what the stipulation will be - a move so wildly illogical that it's difficult even to dissect. If anything, it's only deepening the hole WWE has put itself in, where McIntyre has to win the match to avoid looking like a complete clown.
Before all that, however, McIntyre made Rhodes look like the clown in their face-to-face when Drew made the announcement of their match Friday night. The Scotsman antagonized and attempted to get Rhodes to hit him, cutting a devilishly excellent heel promo. The match will be a "Three Stages of Hell" match on "SmackDown" in Berlin, Germany, two weeks from now.
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That's not a stipulation we get often, so I'm here for it. It also makes it easier to excuse a McIntyre loss, so well done there, WWE. But really, this entire segment only bolstered the notion that McIntyre should win.
Drew McIntyre announces that he will challenge Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell Match on the Jan. 9 edition of SmackDown in Berlin.
McIntyre then got personal, saying he was sorry Engler’s wife had to watch that while fantasizing about having a husband like McIntyre. He even apologized to the man’s children for having such a coward, corporate stooge for a father.
Before signing off, McIntyre left him with one last verbal shot - “When I send you straight to hell, say hi to your dad for me.”
They ended the show with the challenger standing tall. They’ll settle up in two weeks overseas.
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Joe Hendry Arrives on SmackDown
Joe Hendry has officially arrived in WWE as a member of the main roster, and I dare say his introduction on "SmackDown" was perfect.
This time, it was the silliest business you can think of, but in a fun, harmless way - not the way that makes you want to slam your head into a wall. Playing up the holiday season, WWE pitted Hendry against The Miz after their interaction at Saturday Night's Main Event, and made it a Christmas-themed street fight.
It all came after Hendry opened the show with a hilarious song about Miz.
Hendry shined, as he should have, with Miz continually playing his role to perfection. Alpha Academy and R-Truth even got involved in the fun, battering Miz with their finishers, utilizing cookies, trees and tables.
After The Miz ruined Joe Hendry's Christmas Spectacular, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis changed the scheduled match between Joe Hendry and The Miz into a Miracle on 34th Street Fight.
Hendry and Miz brought all the holiday weapons, including a tiny violin and a small pair of ornaments.
Eventually, Hendry battered The A-Lister with a Christmas tree before connecting with a huge fallaway slam.
On the outside, an elf-costumed Akira Tozawa tried to give some holiday cookies to The Awesome One, but this enraged The Miz, who blasted Tozawa in the face with a big boot.
Hendry gifted Miz some candy cane Kendo stick strikes before sending him back into the ring.
Tozawa, Hendry, a Christmas-outfitted Otis and an Easter Bunny surrounded Miz, taking turns beating down The A-Lister.
The Easter Bunny was revealed to be R-Truth, who hit a Five Knuckle Shuffle on his former tag team partner.
Hendry nailed a Standing Ovation through a table to win the match.
Though it was intentionally comical, it makes one wonder exactly what Hendry's run on "SmackDown" will look like.
New Wave on the Horizon?
WWE is seemingly realizing it needs to freshen things up with its main roster. What's always an easy way to do that? Bring up the NXT stars.
Now, of course, the art of the surprise, while nearly dead in this day and age, is the best route. However, the teasing of "free agents" Evans - and now Trick Williams on "SmackDown" - is a pretty intriguing approach.
The former NXT and TNA Champion Williams has been pushed to feel like a big deal, and it was noticeable in his presence alongside "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. To keep the storyline afloat, Williams mentioned "Raw" has made him a big offer, but he wants to hear out "SmackDown," or at least play the field. That's until Rhodes cut him off.
Even more interesting, Oba Femi received a brief vignette later in the night. Are times actually about to change?
Other Highlights
- Charlotte Flair defeated Lash Legend with a roll-up.
- Giulia and Kiana James defeated Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre in their tag-team match, with Giulia pinning Green.
Match Results
The straight up results from this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown:
- Joe Hendry def. The Miz in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight
- Charlotte Flair def. Lash Legend via pinfall
- Carmelo Hayes def. Ilja Dragunov via pinfall to win the United States championship
- Giulia & Kiana James def. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre via pinfall
Backstage Segments
- Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab all cut promos on each other backstage.
- Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes spoke backstage.
- Michin & B-Fab spoke backstage, saying they did not respect Cargill.
- Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Kabuki Warriors backstage segment.