A last-minute withdrawal causes changes to the main event of WWE SmackDown (SPOILERS)

The card of the blue brand show is modified due to an injury

Jacob Fatu could be sidelined from in-ring action until well into 2026

WWE SmackDown
Photo Credit: WWE
Antonio Rubio
Antonio Rubio
Published 10/18/2025

A few hours before WWE celebrates a new episode of Friday Night SmackDown, the show's lineup has had to be modified. The reason is found in an injury to Jacob Fatu not related to professional wrestling, which could keep the wrestler out of the rings "well into 2026", as reported this afternoon by the Bodyslam media outlet.

So far, WWE continues to promote the match that Fatu was supposed to have against Drew McIntyre. However, Mike Johnson, from PWInsider, has been able to confirm that, indeed, "The Samoan Werewolf" will not be able to compete tonight. Cody Rhodes will take his place to face the Scotsman in a Wrestlepalooza rematch in the main event of the night. At the moment, it is unknown if the Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line.

Below is the updated lineup for the show (with spoilers).

WWE SmackDown Lineup October 17, 2025

  • Cody Rhodes Promo
  • WWE Women's Tag Team Championships: Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair (c) vs. ZaRuca (Sol Ruca and Zaria)
  • Segment featuring Aleister Black and Zelina Vega
  • Segment featuring Sami Zayn and Nick Aldis
  • Open Challenge for the United States Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
  • Los Garza (Berto and Angel) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre

WWE SmackDown Schedule October 17, 2025

Time Countries
19:00 Mexico City (Mexico), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Managua (Nicaragua), San Jose (Costa Rica), San Salvador (El Salvador), Tegucigalpa (Honduras)
20:00 New York (USA), Bogota (Colombia), Lima (Peru), Panama, Quito (Ecuador)
21:00 Caracas (Venezuela), La Paz (Bolivia), Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
22:00 Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay), Santiago (Chile), Asuncion (Paraguay)
01:00 Canary Islands (Spain)
02:00 Spain

How to Watch WWE SmackDown

  • United States: USA Network
  • Mexico: Netflix
  • LATAM and Spain: Netflix with basic or premium subscription