Steve Carrier on October 31, 2025
Ilja Dragunov is wasting no time building his reputation as a fighting champion.
WWE’s resident “Mad Dragon” will once again put his United States Championship on the line in an open challenge on the October 31 edition of Friday Night SmackDown—and all eyes are on who will step up next. Dragunov announced the open challenge on social media earlier today, stating:
“This title is a legacy and the open challenge is my duty. Who wants to step up tonight?”
The hard-hitting champion won the U.S. Title on October 17 after defeating Sami Zayn in an intense battle, and successfully retained it last week against Aleister Black in another open challenge. His willingness to take on all comers is quickly turning his reign into must-see TV—and tonight’s episode promises a nother big test.
This week’s SmackDown airs live from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City and serves as the final stop before Saturday Night’s Main Event. In addition to Dragunov’s title defense, the show features several key segments and matches:
- Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. TBA – U.S. Title Open Challenge
- Carmelo Hayes vs. Kit Wilson
- Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
- Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre appear ahead of their Undisputed Title clash
- Jade Cargill speaks following her shocking heel turn on Tiffany Stratton
Fans won’t want to miss what’s sure to be a chaotic and memorable night heading into the weekend.
WWE SmackDown airs tonight at 8 PM ET on the USA Network in the U.S., and will be available internationally on streaming platforms such as Netflix. Ringside News will have live play-by-play coverage, results, and breaking updates as they happen—so be sure to follow along.
Who do you think will answer Ilja Dragunov’s open challenge tonight? Let us know in the comments and keep the conversation going.
October 31, 2025 2:24 pm
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