A segment on the October 17, 2025 edition of WWE SmackDown intended to name a new number one contender was derailed by a backstage attack. The incident was reportedly an angle used to write Jacob Fatu off television to cover for a real-life injury he has sustained. The show segment began as the introduction for a match between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre was set to start.
The broadcast cut backstage, where cameras showed Jacob Fatu on the ground and bloodied. WWE officials, including General Manager Nick Aldis, were shown checking on Fatu. As this was happening, Drew McIntyre’s music played, and he made his entrance, proceeding to the ring. McIntyre instructed the referee to raise his hand in victory via forfeit.
Nick Aldis then came out to the entrance ramp. McIntyre addressed Aldis, stating he had nothing to do with Jacob and demanded Aldis give him the number one contender’s match. Before Aldis could respond, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes appeared and walked to the middle of the aisle.
Rhodes confronted McIntyre, telling him, “he knows what he did.” Rhodes then told McIntyre, “if he wants the title that bad, come and get it.” McIntyre met Rhodes in the aisle, and the two began to brawl around the ringside area. The referee signaled for the bell, starting an impromptu match between Rhodes and McIntyre.
The match was a brawl that quickly went outside the ring. At one point, Rhodes hit McIntyre with a Cody Cutter, but McIntyre slid out of the ring. Rhodes followed with a dive through the ropes but was struck with a forearm to the side of the face. McIntyre then threw Rhodes over the ringside barricade. The match ended when Rhodes hit McIntyre over the head with his championship title, causing the referee to call for the bell.
The conflict did not end with the disqualification. Rhodes cleared the announce table, but as he grabbed McIntyre, Drew raked his eyes. Rhodes recovered and slammed McIntyre’s head onto the table, preparing to execute a Cross Rhodes. Referees ran out to separate the two men. Rhodes managed to break free from the officials, climbed the turnbuckle, and dove over the top rope onto McIntyre and the group of referees as the show concluded.
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What happened to Jacob Fatu?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/WX6aY82QIh
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2025
There's NO stopping @CodyRhodes 😤 pic.twitter.com/2CwyT80Toe
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2025
