A major, last-minute change has been made to tonight’s October 17, 2025, edition of Friday Night SmackDown. PWInsider.com has confirmed that Jacob Fatu will no longer be competing on the broadcast.
The decision to pull Fatu was reportedly made just “minutes ago”. This change stems from a significant injury Fatu has sustained. On Thursday, BodySlam.net was the first to report that Fatu is dealing with a non-wrestling-related injury. The injury is believed to be serious, with reports suggesting he could be out of action for an extended period, potentially well into 2026.
In a notable detail, the PWInsider report confirms that Jacob Fatu is physically present at tonight’s taping. Despite being at the venue, he will not be part of the in-ring action as previously planned. It’s possible that they will do an angle tonight to write him off.
As a result of Fatu’s removal, WWE will be moving forward with a new main event for the broadcast. The headline match will now be WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre.
This newly announced match is being billed by the company as a “WrestlePalooza rematch,” referencing a previous encounter between the two.
