WWE SmackDown Notes: Corey Graves Returns to SmackDown Commentary, Jade Cargill Turns Heel on Tiffany Stratton, Damian Priest Surprise Return, Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton for WWE Women’s Title Set for 11/1 WWE SNME Show, 10/31 Show Card

WWE
Oct 24, 2025

Corey Graves Makes Return to SmackDown Commentary

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona featured Corey Graves making his return to the SmackDown commentary team.

At the start of the show, Michael Cole welcomed everyone tuning in and then turned his attention towards Graves welcoming him back to SmackDown’s commentary team after healing up from Brock Lesnar’s attack on him weeks ago.

This was Graves’ first appearance on SmackDown since Lesnar’s attack on him on the September 19th show.

Jade Cargill Turns Heel on Tiffany Stratton

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Jade Cargill turning heel and attacking WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton.

Following Stratton’s victory over Kiana James in a singles match, WWE Women’s United States Champion Giulia got into the ring and attacked Stratton. This led to Cargill’s music playing and her running out to the ring to save Stratton. Cargill quickly cleared the ring of Giulia and James and then helped up Stratton back to her feet.

Cargill then handed Stratton her title belt and raised up her hand in celebration. This turned out to be a ruse after Cargill pretended to walk away only to attack Stratton laying her out. Cargill continued her attack throwing Stratton out of the ring and continued the beatings at ringside as WWE officials ran out trying to break it up to no avail for a while. Cargill finally started to walk away only to get in one last attack by throwing her into the ring steps and stomped on her knee before getting back in the ring and grabbed Stratton’s title belt before leaving.

In a follow-up segment, Cargill was seen walking backstage and was stopped by Cathy Kelly for some words about what she had just done to Stratton and if she is worried about the consequences. Cargill responded back in an angry tone stating you only face consequences when you make mistakes but she didn’t make any. Cargill continued stating she is not asking for power, she is taking it and beginning with the WWE Women’s Championship.

Damian Priest Makes Surprise Return

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Damien Priest making his surprise return from “injury.”

Throughout the WWE United States Championship Open Challenge match between Aleister Black and Ilja Dragunov, Zelina Vega constantly interfered to help out Black. This eventually led to the referee tossing Vega from ringside but before she could leave, Priest’s music played and he came out wearing sun glasses. Priest took off the glasses to reveal a bruise left from Black’s fireball attack on him a couple weeks ago. This led to Black being distracted in the ring and Dragunov using the moment to hit Black with a Torpedo Moscow for the pinfall victory to retain his title.

Following the match, Priest got into the ring and proceeded to beat down Black and tossed him out of the ring and continued his attack. This led to Vega jumping on Priest’s back and raked him in the eyes. Vega then grabbed Black and the two escaped to safety through the crowd.

Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton for WWE Women’s Title Announced for November 1st WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured one new match announced for the card of WWE’s next Saturday Night’s Main Event show, which takes place on November 1st at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This new match announced was a WWE Women’s Championship match of Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton (c).

Current card for November 1st WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event show:

  • Undisputed WWE Championship – Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes (c)
  • Vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Jey Uso vs. CM Punk
  • WWE Women’s Championship – Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton (c)

Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured three new matches announced for the card of next week’s show on October 31st at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Current card for October 31st WWE SmackDown show:

  • WWE United States Championship Open Challenge match – mystery opponent vs. Ilja Dragunov (c)
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Kit Wilson
  • Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
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