Storylines to watch out for WWE SmackDown tonight: Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu; Crown Jewel fallout & more (October 17, 2025)
(Courtesy : WWE)
Cody Rhodes will address his loss on tonight’s SmackDown!
The October 17 episode of Friday Night SmackDown is set to air live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The episode will serve as the fallout show from Crown Jewel, which concluded on October 11 in Perth, Australia.
Multiple top names, including Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Tiffany Stratton, Sami Zayn, Jade Cargill, and Jacob Fatu, among others, are advertised for the show. The promotion has announced a grudge match, a WWE Tag Team title match, and an appearance by Cody Rhodes.
Ahead of this week’s show in San Jose, California, let us take a look at the top four storylines that will be in play on this week’s WWE SmackDown.
5. Crown Jewel aftermath
The 2025 edition of WWE Crown Jewel concluded last Saturday at the RAC Arena in Perth. The PLE saw Seth Rollins defeat Cody Rhodes to win the 2025 men’s Crown Jewel title. Additionally, Stephanie Vaquer defeated Tiffany Stratton to capture the women’s Crown Jewel title.
Tonight’s episode will serve as the fallout show from the PLE, where Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is scheduled to make an appearance. Rhodes will address the loss against Seth Rollins, where the men’s Crown Jewel title was on the line.
4. Last man standing
During the final moments of last week’s show, Zelina Vega interfered in the last man standing match between Damian Priest and Aleister Black. Vega pleaded with Priest, who overtook control of the action, to punish Black.
However, Black capitalized on the distraction to hit Priest with a fireball, sending Damian off the platform with the Blackmass to win the match. Many fans are speculating on a similar CM Punk – Seth Rollins Wrestlepalooza feud. Since the addition of Vega into the fray, they will have to tune in tonight to see how the storyline unfolds.
3. Jacob Fatu takes on Drew McIntyre
During last week’s show, both Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu continued their feud, brawling on two different occasions, forcing General Manager Nick Aldis to announce a match between the two in Fatu’s backyard for this week. After brawling nonstop, the two heavyweights will finally settle their score inside the ring.
This match comes amid the report from Bodyslam.net that Fatu is currently dealing with “a non-wrestling-related injury” that will keep him off television for an extended period, with reports indicating that his absence could stretch into 2026. It remains to be seen how the storyline will progress if Fatu is indeed injured or if he can continue, especially with WWE moving forward with tonight’s match.
2. Tag Team titles match
In a backstage segment last week, NXT’s Sol Ruca and Zaria caught up with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, once again putting forth their demand for a title shot. Ruca and Zaria have got their wish as they are set to battle Flair and Bliss for the Women’s Tag Team titles on this week’s fallout show.
In recent weeks, Ruca and Zaia have made multiple appearances on the main roster. With reports suggesting that calls up from NXT to SmackDown are expected, it will be interesting to see how this match plays out.
1. MFTs feuding with Wyatt Sicks
During last week’s show, The Wyatt Sicks celebrated their win over the Strett Profits as Solo Sikoa and his MFTs (JC Mateo, Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga, and Tanga Tonga) arrived. Nikki came face-to-face with Sikoa, who then signaled his MFTs to back off.
It remains to be seen how the storyline will unfold, depending on whether Fatu is actually injured or able to continue, especially with WWE proceeding with tonight’s match.
When and where will the October 17, 2025, show of SmackDown take place?
The October 17 episode of WWE SmackDown is set to air live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Where can fans tune in to catch all the action on the Blue brand?
Fans can tune in to the USA Network in the US and on Netflix internationally, excluding some markets, to catch all the action.
Will the show have a special start time for international fans like last week?
No, unlike the October 10 show of SmackDown, the next week’s show will revert to the original time of 8 PM ET.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.
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