WWE Friday Night SmackDown is set to air live tonight at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) on the USA Network from the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. Frustrations are high for WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who got himself disqualified in an impromptu title defense against Drew McIntyre last week.
Rhodes had been expecting a No. 1 Contender’s Match between McIntyre and Jacob Fatu, but Fatu was assaulted before the match. While McIntyre denies involvement, Rhodes’ actions suggest he believes otherwise. As a result, the SmackDown General Manager has ordered Rhodes to defend the WWE Championship against McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Both men are expected to be in Tempe tonight.
The United States Championship picture was thrown into disarray last week when the returning Ilja Dragunov defeated Sami Zayn for the title during an open challenge. Solo Sikoa played a major role in the outcome, and The MFT’s attacked both Dragunov and Zayn after the match. This leaves questions about what is next for Zayn and whether Shinsuke Nakamura will still receive his rematch after The MFT’s cost him a title opportunity two weeks ago.
Two matches are currently advertised for tonight’s show. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton is scheduled to face Kiana James. Stratton is looking to rebound from her loss at Crown Jewel, and she is fired up after James claimed last week that her client, Women’s US Champion Giulia, would not have lost.
Also, Fraxiom and #DIY will rekindle their rivalry in the tag team division. The teams have history dating to May when Fraxiom upset Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, who have yet to defeat the tag team. Randy Orton and Jade Cargill are also advertised locally for the show. Here is the announced lineup:
- WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James
- Fraxiom vs. #DIY
How to Watch
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
- Location: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona
- Streaming: Fubo TV, Peacock, YouTube TV, DirecTV, Hulu+ Live TV
