The September 19 edition of Friday Night SmackDown will be the final episode of WWE TV ahead of the Wrestlepalooza 2025 Premium Live Event.
With the huge premiere on the new ESPN app, fans should see some significant changes one day before the PLE from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Whether it be returning talent or additions to the WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 PLE card, there should be some intriguing stories told on the SmackDown brand.
Here are seven potential changes to WWE SmackDown before Wrestlepalooza 2025.
7. Cody Rhodes Is Back
On the September 12 edition of SmackDown, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his return to the company for the first time in a month to get some revenge on Drew McIntyre.
This set up the Undisputed WWE Championship Match between Rhodes and McIntyre for the WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 event on Saturday, September 20.
The main segment advertised for the go-home episode of SmackDown will be Rhodes speaking ahead of his showdown with his rival in Indianapolis.
Rhodes should have plenty to say about McIntyre after his vicious attack that sidelined him for weeks, which should get plenty of attention with Wrestlepalooza 2025 on the horizon.
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6. R-Truth Goes For Revenge For John Cena On Brock Lesnar
On September 18, WWE announced that Wrestlepalooza 2025 will be opening with John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar.
This two decades long rivalry will come to a head with Cena’s retirement tour winding down considering he only has five more dates left before he hangs up his jorts.
On the September 12 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Ron “R-Truth” Killings confronted Lesnar in defense of his “older brother” Cena, which led to Truth being laid out with a F-5.
After being attacked by Cena’s rival, fans could see Truth go for vengeance after Brock, leading to a tense moment 24 hours ahead of WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025.
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5. New Title Match Made For WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025
Just a few days ahead of WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025, reports circulated that promotional material revealed that there were plans for Tiffany Stratton to defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill and Nia Jax in a three-way match at the event.
Stratton and Cargill went to a double countout draw in their last title match on the September 12 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
Post match, Nia Jax came out to attack both women, making a statement that she is still in the title picture.
This may have set the stage for Stratton to defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Cargill and Jax in a triple threat to be made official by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis on the September 19 episode.
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4. Jade Cargill Turns Heel
At WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night One, Tiffany Stratton defeated Jade Cargill to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
Then, Cargill came up short in her second bid for the top prize in the SmackDown women’s division when she and Stratton went to a double countout draw.
After failing to win the title twice, this could lead to some anger being shown by a sometimes volatile Jade.
Finally snapping under the pressure of her high expectations, Cargill can turn heel for the first time in her WWE run and beat down anyone in her way, including the very popular Stratton.
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3. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre Get Their Shot At Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
On the August 29 edition of SmackDown, a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match was scheduled to be Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair defending against Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre.
However, Green and Fyre attacked the champions from behind with the duo injuring Flair’s surgically repaired knee, which cancelled their title match.
Green and Fyre have complained about not getting their scheduled title bout with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis telling them that they would get the next opportunity following NXT Homecoming.
After Charlotte and Alexa retained the gold against The Culling’s Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley at Homecoming, it may be time for the champions to defend against Chelsea and Alba either on the September 19 SmackDown or WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025.
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2. Randy Orton Betrays Cody Rhodes
Back at WWE Night of Champions 2025, Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to win the King of the Ring Tournament Finals.
Orton showed some regret over his decisions in the match to hesitate on the punt kick and not use a steel chair.
After Drew McIntyre picked up a win over Orton on the September 12 episode of SmackDown, “The Legend Killer” may be filled with anger and might take out an unlikely target.
Shocking the fans and his longtime friend, Orton could snap and betray Rhodes just one day ahead of Cody’s Undisputed WWE Championship Match against Drew McIntyre at WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025.
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1. Bianca Belair Returns
Since suffering a broken finger injury against IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley at WWE WrestleMania 41, fans have not seen Bianca Belair much after being sidelined.
Despite making brief appearances, there has been some discussion on when Belair will make her return to WWE where she has plenty of unfinished business.
“The E.S.T. of WWE” is one of the top stars of the SmackDown women’s division, so her presence has been missed and needed before the end of 2025.
Just one day ahead of the historic WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 event on ESPN, Belair might just make her return and immediately thrust herself into the WWE Women’s Championship picture.
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