SmackDown’s Power Move: LA Knight and The Usos Close in on Cena’s Final Showdown

Event Highlights on SmackDown

SmackDown, taped Friday, delivered a high-stakes night as WWE’s Road to Survivor Series: WarGames rolled toward Cena’s upcoming retirement showdown.

Two names rose to the forefront as LA Knight and The Usos both moved closer to a historic Cena clash, securing semifinal spots in the Time is Running Out bracket for the December 5 edition of SmackDown.

The night opened with a strong Time is Running Out match where Jey Uso faced Rusev and earned the win with an Uso Splash, cementing his semifinal berth.

In backstage moments, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis prepared to reveal Knight’s second-round foe after Shams’ (Shamus’) injury withdrawal. The Miz pressed for a chance, but Aldis left it to a random draw. Ar Truth crashed the scene, subverting the draw by swapping the name to Knight’s advantage, adding a cheeky twist to the proceedings.

Knight capitalized on the chaos and, after beating Miz, pinned him with the BFT to secure a semifinal position—his path previously highlighted by a win over Zack Ryder—setting up a clash with Uso for a spot in the final.

Officials confirmed the semifinal winner would meet either Johnathan or Solo Sikoa in the final on December 8, a match designed to determine Cena’s final challenger before his retirement at the following event.

Analysts noted the absence of several WarGames core stars from the last pre-show episode, a marketing oddity that wouldn’t dampen the continuing buzz around the brand’s biggest storyline.

On the side, Chelsea Green celebrated the United States women’s title, while Jade Cargill delivered a Jaded to a rising rival, launching a fresh feud. Charlotte Flair defeated Asuka with a Natural Selection, granting Flair’s team a strategic edge ahead of WarGames.

In the men’s 5-on-5 WarGames-style match, Solo Sikoa’s team faced Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rey Phoenix, Alex Shelley, and Chris Sabin from the Motor City Machine Guns. Sikoa survived the chaos by pinning Sami Zayn with a Samoan Spike, only for The Wyatt Six to appear post-match and deliver a Sister Abigail on Sikoa, opening doors to new storylines ahead.

PUNCHLINES: If suspense were a finishing move, this night would be undefeated. And if the drama got any bigger, even my calendar needs a WrestleMania calendar app to keep up.