SmackDown Erupts: Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre’s Explosive Mic War Steals the Show — Chaos, Brawls, and Title Drama Rock WWE
WWE rolled into the Delta Center in Salt Lake City for the Oct. 31 edition of SmackDown — the final stop before Saturday Night’s Main Event — and the blue brand delivered an action-packed night filled with brawls, elite wrestling, and a fiery showdown between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre that finally ignited their world-title feud.
From Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton’s backstage chaos to a United States Championship scene suddenly packed with hungry challengers, SmackDown hit on every level — and capped it all with a contract signing that turned into one of the best closing segments in weeks.
Jade Cargill & Tiffany Stratton’s Feud Explodes
Jade Cargill shocked the WWE Universe last week by turning heel, and she doubled down on SmackDown. Tiffany Stratton limped out full of rage, ignoring her injuries and demanding a fight. Nick Aldis tried to stop things from getting physical — but Cargill strutted out, dropped a cold-blooded heel promo, and triggered a wild attempted brawl.
Security barely kept them apart. The buildup to their title clash just got real.
The U.S. Title Scene Suddenly Has Depth — And Fire
Ilja Dragunov’s open challenge continues to revitalize the U.S. Championship division. This week, Nathan Frazer and Tommaso Ciampa both rushed to answer it — with Frazer getting the nod.
After the match, chaos erupted as multiple contenders swarmed, including Axiom and Tama Tonga. For the first time in a long time, the U.S. Title picture feels competitive, unpredictable, and alive.
Ilja Dragunov vs. Nathan Frazer Steals the Night
Dragunov vs. Frazer delivered the match of the night. Hard strikes, blistering pace, technical excellence — both men left the ring bruised and welted, proving the U.S. Championship is becoming the must-watch division.
Dragunov keeps stacking brilliant defenses, and if he keeps this pace, his reign could go down as one of the best in recent SmackDown history.
Carmelo Hayes’ Babyface Era Takes Off
After being betrayed by The Miz, Carmelo Hayes is embracing the babyface spotlight — and it clicked instantly. He sprinted through Kit Wilson in a fast, crowd-popping showcase, fighting off Miz’s interference and making a statement.
The post-match attack keeps the feud hot, but Hayes is clearly being positioned for big things. His star power is shining brighter than ever.
Rhodes vs. McIntyre Finally Finds Its Fire
The Rhodes-McIntyre feud had struggled to connect — until now. Their contract-signing segment delivered pure intensity and emotion. McIntyre refused to sign until Rhodes agreed to a DQ title-change rule, calling back to Cody’s recent disqualification.
Insults flew, egos clashed, and the crowd hung on every word. McIntyre calling himself The American Dream and Rhodes firing back about Drew’s past WWE release set the tone — brutal, personal, compelling.
McIntyre got the final shot by dropping Rhodes, but both men walked out winners in momentum. Their title match now feels like a war waiting to happen.
Final Takeaway
SmackDown delivered its best pre-PPV build in weeks:
- Top-tier women’s rivalry heat
- A thriving U.S. Championship scene
- A breakout babyface moment for Hayes
- A WWE title feud finally catching fire
The blue brand is rolling into Saturday Night’s Main Event with serious momentum — and the Rhodes-McIntyre clash just became can’t-miss.
