By Last Word On Sports,Michael Joseph Sugue
Copyright yardbarker
The night before a much-awaited Premium Live Event, Wrestlepalooza, WWE SmackDown puts on one heck of a show to heat things up for Saturday. We get a title match, plus an appearance of a champion themselves, and a lot more coming this way for the WWE Universe. Here’s a WWE SmackDown preview for September 19, 2025. Let’s run it down.
WWE SmackDown Preview and Card (9/19/25):
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Appears Live on WWE SmackDown
WWE United States Championship – “Sami Zayn U.S. Open Challenge”: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
Long, Hard Road Back
Fresh off his win at WWE SummerSlam 2025 against John Cena to regain the Undisputed WWE Championship, Cody Rhodes was riding extremely high. Unfortunately, this euphoria would not last long. Sure, he expected a target on his back, but he didn’t expect to be brutalized by a man, and a competitor who should’ve done better.
On a SmackDown a number of weeks ago, Drew McIntyre would put Cody Rhodes out of commission for an extended time after he delivered a Claymore to the skull of Rhodes through the side of the announcers’ table. Every week, McIntyre would taunt Cody, asking commentators such as Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore, and Michael Cole about “medical updates,” fully knowing the uncertainties around Rhodes’ health.
Last week, McIntyre was shocked to see the return of the “American Nightmare,” running for his life from the Undisputed WWE Champion. To no one’s surprise, Cody Rhodes is out for blood, and he will get his pound of flesh at Wrestlepalooza. This Friday, the champions speak for the first time since coming back.
What does he have to say ahead of his title defense against Drew McIntyre in Indianapolis?
