WWE Friday Night SmackDown will emanate from the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania tonight. This episode serves as the final stop before Saturday Night’s Main Event, which takes place tomorrow in Washington, D.C. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is scheduled to appear in the building just 24 hours before his Champion vs. Champion match against NXT Champion Oba Femi.
While Rhodes is set to face Femi, his attention has been divided by his ongoing issues with Drew McIntyre. The “American Nightmare” demanded that General Manager Nick Aldis lift McIntyre’s suspension last week, but the request was not granted. Rhodes continues to campaign for a fight against McIntyre, raising questions about his focus heading into the weekend.
Oba Femi Issues Warning
Oba Femi has taken notice of Rhodes’ distracted demeanor. The two-time NXT Champion sent a direct message to his opponent, vowing to prove he is the present force in WWE rather than just a future prospect.
“He will not see the future, he will see the now!”@Obaofwwe has a message for @CodyRhodes ahead of #SNME… 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0gawXYdd7n
— WWE (@WWE) December 10, 2025
Tonight’s show will feature three scheduled matches, including a Men’s United States Championship defense. Ilja Dragunov will defend his title against former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa. Dragunov, who has successfully defended the championship six times, granted the match after Ciampa interfered in a bout last week to cost Carmelo Hayes a victory.
Matches Set For Tonight
The “Terror Twins” will reunite as Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley team up to face Aleister Black and Zelina Vega in a Mixed Tag Team Match. Black and Vega have spent months goading Priest, claiming to see a “real” version of him hidden beneath a false façade. Priest stated that their efforts have only “successfully pissed him off,” leading him to recruit Ripley to settle the score.
Additionally, Alexa Bliss will take on Lash Legend in singles competition. This marks Legend’s debut singles match on the SmackDown roster. The match was made after Legend and Nia Jax attacked Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and The Kabuki Warriors last week, leaving them laying in the ring. WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill and Sami Zayn are also advertised to appear on the broadcast.
WWE SmackDown Match Card:
- United States Championship: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa
- Mixed Tag Team Match: Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs. Aleister Black & Zelina Vega
- Alexa Bliss vs. Lash Legend
