WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights and Key Moments for December 5, 2025

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight, December 5, 2025, from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and it’s one of the most stacked episodes yet as the road to Saturday Night’s Main Event and John Cena’s final match reaches its final stretch. With fallout from Survivor Series: WarGames still unfolding, high-stakes matches and major promos are on the table.

The show begins at 8:00 PM ET on the USA Network, with international fans able to stream the show on Netflix. Ringside News will provide live, match-by-match updates and coverage as the show airs. Refresh this page frequently and join the conversation in the comments below!

WWE SmackDown Results (12/5/25): Live Match Updates and Highlights

Michael Cole and Corey Graves are on commentary. A replay from WarGames is shown. LA Knight, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte are shown arriving at the arena.

Drew McIntyre arrives at the arena, but Nick Aldis stops him at the entrance. Drew insists his suspension is over, but Nick tells him it’s still in effect and he’s not allowed inside.

Security steps in and tells Drew to leave. Drew, clearly frustrated, says he’s not doing it for Nick—but so that security can make it home safe tonight. Suddenly, Cody Rhodes rushes in and attacks Drew near his vehicle. Security quickly separates them and pulls Cody off. Cody then storms through the backstage area, heading straight to the ring.

Cody Rhodes comes to the ring and asks Nick Aldis to reinstate Drew McIntyre. He says Drew crossed a line by showing up at his house. Cody tells him, “You came into my home, where my wife sleeps and my children play.” He says Drew is like a cockroach—impossible to get rid of. “I could drop 1.2 megatons on you or split an atom, and you’d still be here, because you are WWE’s resident cockroach.”

Cody says this fight could happen anywhere, but it needs to happen in a WWE ring. Drew never beat him, but maybe he broke him. He tells Aldis to lift the suspension so he can stomp Drew out once and for all.

Tommaso Ciampa says he’s planning to talk to Nick Aldis to get his United States Title match. Johnny Gargano suggests they could also chase the tag team titles instead. As they talk, Carmelo Hayes walks by and interrupts. He tells Ciampa he might want to reschedule that title match—because he has next. Then, with a smirk, he calls Ciampa a jackass and keeps walking.

Damian Priest says he’s tired of hearing Cody talk in circles. He questions whether Cody really thinks he can break him or if he’s just being delusional. Priest says Cody only delayed the inevitable and made things personal by involving his wife and family. Now Priest is bringing in his own family.

Rhea Ripley steps in and says Cody should’ve known she’d be by Priest’s side. They’ve been through everything together. If Cody thought she wouldn’t get involved, he was wrong. She ends it by saying next week it’ll be them versus Cody and Brandi.

Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes for the Men’s United States Championship

Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes lock up to start the match. Hayes pie-faces Ilja, then applies a side headlock and hits a shoulder tackle. Ilja responds with a shoulder tackle of his own. They trade chops, with Ilja landing a stiff one before Hayes fires back. Ilja connects with a running boot to the head and sends Hayes into the turnbuckles. He follows with a running knee, but when he goes for a second, Hayes catches him with a thrust kick that knocks Ilja to the apron.

Ilja recovers with a chop and another boot to the head. He tries to pull Hayes into position by the corner, but Hayes gets up and counters with a press slam. Hayes climbs the turnbuckles, but Ilja slaps him and delivers a running boot that knocks Hayes to the floor. Hayes clutches his knee after the fall.

Back in control, Ilja targets Hayes’ knee with a kick, then lands a brutal chop. He follows with a back drop driver onto the edge of the apron. Hayes fires back with a forearm, but Ilja answers with a hard forearm and another chop. Ilja continues the assault with a kick and a knee, then slams Hayes and goes to the turnbuckle for a knee drop, getting a near fall.

Ilja applies a reverse chin lock, then hits punches, a spinning back fist, and a back senton for another near fall. He grabs a front face lock and they trade punches. Hayes surprises Ilja with an inside cradle for a near fall, but Ilja pops up with a clothesline and gets another close two-count. Ilja rains down elbows to the back of Hayes’ head and follows with a suplex for another near fall.

Ilja locks in a Fujiwara arm bar, but Hayes powers up and connects with a knee strike. Ilja blocks the next kick and hits a German suplex, then holds on and hits a second German suplex. Ilja holds on after the second German suplex and transitions into an abdominal stretch, driving repeated elbows into Hayes’ clavicle. Hayes manages to escape before Ilja can hit a wrist clutch suplex.

Hayes fights back with a series of chops and forearms. Ilja answers with forearms and chops of his own. Hayes stuns Ilja with a facebuster, but Ilja quickly responds with a sharp kick Ilja goes for the Konstantin Special but misses, and Hayes capitalizes with a springboard clothesline. He follows up with La Mistica and scores a near fall. Hayes goes for the First 48, but Ilja blocks it and powers through, turning it into a powerbomb. Ilja sets up for the H-Bomb, but Hayes gets his knees up just in time. As Ilja bounces off the ropes, Hayes rolls him up for a near fall.

Ilja fires back with a kick, then hits a belly-to-back suplex into an elevated clothesline. He heads to the apron and climbs the turnbuckles, but Hayes recovers and nails him with a running dropkick, knocking Ilja to the floor. Hayes follows up with a slingshot DDT onto the apron, then throws Ilja into the ringside barrier. Hayes climbs to the top rope, but while the referee is checking on Ilja, Tommaso Ciampa appears and crotches Hayes behind the official’s back. Ilja takes advantage, hitting Torpedo Moscow, then follows with the H-Bomb for the three-count.

Winner: Ilja Dragunov (retains the NXT Championship)

After the match, Ilja watches the replay on the screen and sees how Ciampa interfered. He’s visibly pissed off.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley is with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. She brings up their win at Survivor Series and asks if that victory came from putting their issues with Rhea Ripley aside. Charlotte says the win wasn’t about Rhea—it was for Alexa. She admits she needs her and would be lost without her. Alexa responds by joking that she’s proud of Charlotte’s social skills after Survivor Series. Charlotte then says their next goal is to win back the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.

We return with a video package showing highlights from the tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley is with LA Knight. She asks what a win tonight would mean to him. Knight says he’s not interested in talking about dream matches. He’s said it before—beating John Cena would cement his legacy. Only one man stands in his way now. He brings up Gunther’s impressive resume as a former United States and World Champion, but says Gunther has never faced someone like him. Knight calls himself an unstoppable force and promises that tonight won’t be any different. He ends by saying if it’s a fight Gunther wants, then he’s going to get it—because just like everyone else, Gunther will be dropped on his head.

Alexa Bliss vs. Kairi Sane

Kairi Sane and Alexa Bliss lock up and reach a stalemate. They tie up again and end up in the corner, where Sane lands some kicks after the break. Alexa sends Sane to the apron and tries to land a punch, but misses. Sane hits a shoulder to Alexa’s midsection, but mistimes her move off the turnbuckles. They trade rollups for near falls. Sane slaps Alexa and mocks her height. Alexa fires back with a slap of her own and takes her down with an STO, then follows with a flip senton.

Sane rolls to the floor and tries to regroup, eventually getting in Charlotte Flair’s face. Asuka takes advantage and sweeps Alexa’s legs on the apron. Sane then delivers an Alabama Slam into the ringside barrier. She and Asuka hug before continuing the match. Sane lands a chop, rolls in to beat the count, and then goes back to the floor, sending Alexa into the apron. Back in the ring, Sane goes up top and hits a flying forearm for a near fall.

Sane keeps the pressure on with punches to the back of Alexa’s neck. Alexa fights back with punches and kicks, but Sane wants more. She blocks a kick and hits a stiff forearm for another near fall. Kairi Sane applies a Boston Crab, but Alexa reaches the ropes to force a break. While the referee is distracted by Sane, Charlotte Flair also gets the ref’s attention, giving Asuka the opening to choke Alexa on the ropes.

Sane follows up with a forearm to Alexa’s back and gets a near fall. She keeps the pressure on with a running forearm in the corner, then slams Alexa down and climbs the turnbuckles. Alexa recovers and punches Sane to cut her off. She climbs up for a superplex, but Sane blocks it and delivers a headbutt, causing Alexa to fall into the tree of woe. Sane follows with a double stomp and gets another near fall.

Kairi Sane goes for the Sliding D, but Alexa moves and Sane crashes into the turnbuckles. Alexa fires back with a slap, a punch, a knee strike, and a dropkick. She follows with a Blockbuster.

As Alexa sets up for Sister Abigail, Asuka jumps on the apron to distract her. Sane rolls Alexa up from behind but only gets a near fall. Charlotte takes out Asuka with a kick on the floor. Meanwhile, Sane hits Alexa with a spinning back fist and goes up top for the Insane Elbow. Alexa gets to her feet just in time, catches Sane in mid-air, and delivers Sister Abigail for the three-count.

Winner: Alexa Bliss

After the match, Lash Legend and Nia Jax ambush Alexa and Charlotte from behind. Nia punches Alexa and follows up with a Samoan Drop to Flair. Sane stands frozen in the corner, unsure of what to do. Asuka steps up, landing a back fist to Nia and kicks to Lash. Nia recovers with a pop-up headbutt. Sane tries to help with a sleeper on Nia, but Nia throws her off with a snap mare, and Lash drops Sane with a big boot. Nia climbs the turnbuckles for the AnNIAlator, but Asuka pulls Sane out of the ring just in time.

Backstage, Nick Aldis tells Daphne to keep an eye on the parking lot. Cody Rhodes arrives and tells Nick he’s calmed down and asks if everything is okay.

Moments later, Ricky Saints and Oba Femi walk into the office. They question why they’re being called in after their match last night. Cody tells them that next week, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, he wants to give the winner of their next match a big opportunity to face in him a match!

Lash Legend and Nia Jax are shown walking backstage when Cathy Kelley approaches them for a quick interview.

Cathy asks if the post-match attack was really necessary. Nia tells her not to sneak up on them like that. She says the Kabuki Warriors got exactly what they deserved after Lash was misted. Lash says what happened was just a preview of what they’re capable of. They’re coming for the tag team titles, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.

WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fyre

Chelsea Green stands on the apron showing off her tag team title belts, creating a distraction. Alba Fyre takes advantage with a dropkick and starts throwing punches. Jade Cargill shoves her off, but Alba comes right back with a headscissors takedown and corner kicks, followed by another stiff kick.

Alba goes for a tornado DDT, but Jade blocks it. Alba lands a thrust kick and chokes Jade on the ropes. Green slaps Jade from the outside, and Alba follows up with a kick of her own. Suddenly, Kiana James appears with Giulia by her side. Giulia walks up and punches Chelsea Green. Meanwhile, the match is still going. Alba gets distracted, allowing Jade to hit a spinebuster followed by a bicycle kick. Jade finishes it off with Jaded for the three-count.

Winner: Jade Cargill

Backstage, Nathan Frazer says he and Axiom want a piece of Ciampa and Gargano. Axiom adds that they stole his mask, making it personal.

Ilja Dragunov steps in and says Tommaso Ciampa has tarnished the image of the United States Championship. He says if Ciampa wants attention, then he’ll get it. Ilja demands the match. Nick Aldis agrees and gives Ilja the match for next week. Ilja tells Frazer and Axiom that once he’s done, they can have whatever’s left of Ciampa. Ilja turns around and walks straight into Tama Tonga. Solo Sikoa quickly pulls Tama aside and tells him it’s time to go. We head to commercial.

Backstage, Jade Cargill walks through the hallway and crosses paths with B-Fab. Jade tells her she saw what she did to Alba Fyre and says it should’ve reminded her of something. Michin steps in and immediately shuts it down, saying whatever Jade’s planning isn’t going to happen. Jade fires back, calling Michin B-Fab’s lap dog. Michin suggests they go talk to Nick Aldis, and Jade agrees—but says she’ll do it herself.

Out in the arena, Solo Sikoa makes his way to the ring, flanked by the unpainted masses. Solo grabs a mic and says he kept his word—Sami Zayn was a problem, and they took him out. Now, it’s time to move forward. He turns his attention to the Wyatts. Solo calls out Uncle Howdy, saying he knows Howdy has been watching them—but Solo’s been watching too.

Solo formally introduces himself, making it clear this is his ring, his show, and his family tree. He says the Wyatt family is in possession of something that rightfully belongs to his bloodline—the tag team titles. He reminds Howdy that sneak attacks won’t work with him. When Solo strikes, people don’t come back. His family isn’t just here to fight—they’re here to hurt.

Solo warns Howdy to pay close attention. Everything that once belonged to Howdy, as Solo points to the sky, will now belong to him. He vows to take the love, the legacy, and the name. Solo ends with a chilling message: he will strip Howdy of the Wyatt name—because he can. All he has to do… is Bo-LIEVE. After Solo Sikoa finishes his message to Uncle Howdy, the rest of his group exits the ring, leaving Solo alone.

Suddenly, the screen flashes with a blipvert, and the arena goes dark. When the lights come back on, the Wyatt faction is surrounding the ring, standing on the apron. Solo turns around—and Uncle Howdy is standing right in his face. The black-shirted Pacific Islanders climb onto the apron as tensions rise.

Solo and Howdy throw the first punches, and a massive brawl breaks out with both factions spilling into the ring. Erick Rowan unleashes a flurry of kicks and clotheslines, clearing the ring until he’s left standing across from Talla Tonga. Rowan and Talla trade heavy punches. Talla lands a boot, but Rowan fires back and kicks Talla out of the ring, standing tall for a moment.

Backstage, The Miz storms into Nick Aldis’ office, calling it a travesty that he isn’t John Cena’s final opponent. He insists he should be the star of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Nick reminds Miz he saw exactly what he pulled last week and that not just anyone gets booked for that stage.

Bayley walks in and thanks Nick for booking her for Saturday Night’s Main Event. Sol Ruca steps in as her announced opponent. Bayley says Sol is impressive, but competing on RAW and SmackDown is a different level. Sol tells her that’s exactly what she’s looking for. Bayley smirks and says she’ll be watching Deadline.

Elsewhere, Cathy Kelley is with Gunther and asks about his approach to tonight’s match. Gunther says it doesn’t matter where you’re from or what language you speak—“Ring General” always translates to victory. He’s confident he’ll beat LA Knight tonight and then defeat John Cena in his final match next week. He acknowledges the hunger of the other superstars, but says the outcome of the tournament is a foregone conclusion. Gunther tells Cena he may not be able to see John, but John will see him—and not just see him win, but see how he wins.

Aleister Black speaks in a dark, focused tone. He says there’s something deeply broken inside Damian Priest. He describes watching a man who was clearly drowning try to convince the world that his head was above water. Black brings up how Priest talks about people he once called friends who turned out not to be. He says when he walked away, he left Priest as a perfect monster—but now, standing beside him, is Rhea Ripley. Zelina Vega steps in, calling Rhea a succubus—someone who latches on to drain your soul. She says the Judgment Day Priest once knew is gone, and the so-called “Terror Twins” are nothing more than a reminder of how far he’s fallen. Black ends it by saying if Priest truly wants to walk through the inferno, then he’ll be the one to guide him through it.

Next week on WWE programming:

• Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs. Aleister Black and Zelina Vega
• Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ilja Dragunov for the United States Championship
• Alexa Bliss vs. Lash Legend

Last Time Is Now Tournament Final: GUNTHER vs. LA Knight

Gunther starts things off by pie-facing LA Knight, but Knight quickly fires back with punches and kicks. Gunther responds with a thunderous chop and sets up for a powerbomb, but Knight counters with a back body drop.

Knight follows with a kick and sets up for the BFT, but Gunther slips out and rolls to the floor. Knight stays aggressive, hitting a dropkick through the ropes and slamming Gunther into the announce table multiple times. LA Knight sends Gunther flying over the announce table, then climbs the turnbuckles to pose for the crowd. Gunther recovers and shoves Knight back into the ring, following up with a European uppercut.

Gunther lands several punches to Knight’s shoulder, but Knight fights back with punches of his own. Knight whips Gunther into the corner, but runs into a boot. Gunther comes out with a clothesline and then kicks Knight while he’s down.

Gunther tries for a suplex, but Knight lands on his feet and hits a neckbreaker for a near fall. Knight connects with a kick, but Gunther slams him to the mat and drops a forearm to the top of his head. Knight fires back with punches, but Gunther grabs a sleeper hold. Knight manages to break free and sends Gunther to the floor. Knight stays on him, throwing Gunther into the ringside barrier. Gunther answers with a stiff chop and drops Knight with a backdrop driver onto the apron.

Back in the ring, Gunther delivers a series of knees in the corner. Knight fights back and sends Gunther to the mat, but misses a follow-up elbow drop. Knight blocks an Irish whip and punches Gunther, but Gunther quickly regains control with a brutal Irish whip and a kick to Knight’s back.

Gunther lands a stiff chop and keeps control of Knight’s arm. He follows with a second chop, then a third. He goes for another, but Knight ducks and fires back with a flying clothesline. Knight picks up momentum with an Irish whip followed by a jumping neckbreaker. He sets up for the BFT, but Gunther avoids it. Gunther goes for a German suplex, but Knight elbows his way out. Knight rolls him up with an O’Connor Roll for a near fall.

Gunther kicks out and immediately locks in a sleeper hold, but Knight floats over and nearly scores another pin. Knight fires up and hits a Death Valley Driver, then follows with a Burning Hammer for a close near fall. He throws a series of punches, but Gunther responds with hard chops and forearms.

Gunther blasts Knight with a boot to the head, then follows with another. Knight rebounds with a clothesline, but Gunther bounces off the ropes and they both hit clotheslines at the same time—knocking each other down. Back on their feet, they trade punches again. Knight mixes in chops and kicks, then charges into the corner with a running hip attack to keep the pressure on. Gunther locks in a sleeper hold again, but LA Knight counters with a belly-to-back suplex to break free. Knight climbs to the turnbuckles, looking for the Catchphrase Elbow, but Gunther rolls out of the way and Knight lands on his feet.

Gunther charges with a dropkick, but Knight escapes a follow-up powerbomb and hits a DDT. Knight heads back to the turnbuckles and this time connects with the Catchphrase Elbow, scoring a near fall. LA Knight sets up for the BFT, but Gunther counters with a German suplex. Knight clutches his neck as Gunther follows up with a leg-assisted neck snap. Gunther then levels him with a clothesline and heads to the top rope. Knight cuts him off, but Gunther fights back with chops to the back of Knight’s neck. Knight fires back with punches and tries for a superplex, but Gunther blocks it and shoves him to the mat.

Gunther hits a frog splash, then climbs back up and lands a second one—this time to Knight’s back—but only gets a near fall. Gunther delivers a powerbomb and goes for the cover, but Knight kicks out again. Gunther waits for Knight to rise, but Knight explodes with a BFT out of nowhere. He covers, but Gunther manages to get his foot on the bottom rope to break the count. Gunther traps LA Knight in a sleeper hold, then drives elbows into his clavicle before locking the sleeper back in—this time adding body scissors for extra pressure.

Knight fights to his feet and tries to lift Gunther off the mat, but Gunther stops him with more sharp elbows. Gunther transitions into a cravate hold and leans back, wrenching Knight’s neck and spine in a brutal contortion. With nowhere to go and the pain overwhelming, Knight taps out.

Winner: Gunther

The show ends as we go to credits.