WWE SmackDown Tonight (12/5/25): Start Time, Match Card, How To Watch & Live Stream

Wrestling fans across the globe have been wondering all year long who would get the honor of being John Cena's final opponent, and we'll finally know by the end of the night.

WWE Friday Night SmackDown is in Austin, Texas tonight and the finals of The 'Last Time is Now' Tournament will be headlining the show.

Former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther will face off against LA Knight, and the winner will punch their ticket to Saturday Night's Main Event in Washington D.C. on December 13 to wrestle The 'Greatest of All-Time' in the final match of his Hall of Fame career.

Who do YOU think will be John Cena's final opponent?

LA KNIGHT or GUNTHER?

See you Friday. 😤 pic.twitter.com/sTQHTnlv4p
— WWE (@WWE) December 2, 2025

There are questions abound in the wake of Survivor Series weekend. Now that WarGames is over, what's the status of Drew McIntyre? The Scottish Warrior was suspended by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis before Paul Heyman used a loophole in the WarGames contract language to procure McIntyre's services for his team.

What's next for WWE Champion Cody Rhodes? The American Nightmare is coming off a very disappointing loss in the match his father created, and he will be at the Moody Center later this evening. What will he want to talk about? Perhaps the mysterious masked ally that cost his team the match, or maybe his tense stare down with Roman Reigns after it was over.

Solo Sikoa will also be in the building tonight to issue his response to the Wyatt Sicks. After weeks of stalking the MFT's, Uncle Howdy finally struck with a Sister Abigail on the former Men's United States Champion. Is Sikoa ready to declare war on the Wyatts?

Will Jade Cargill's reign of terror continue? The WWE Women's Champion ruined Chelsea Green's Women's United States Championship celebration a week ago when she laid out both Green and her Secret Hervice. Tonight she'll go one-on-one with Alba Fyre, and Alexa Bliss is looking to build momentum toward a rematch for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles by taking on Kairi Sane.

Sami Zayn, Tiffany Stratton and Randy Orton are all being advertised for the show as well, but will they be there? Here's everything we know about tonight's episode of SmackDown from Austin, Texas. Check back for updates as more matches and segments are announced throughout the day.

The 'Last Time is Now' Tournament Finals: Gunther vs. LA Knight

It all comes down to this. Gunther and LA Knight have cut their way through a field of 16 men to reach the finals of The 'Last Time is Now' Tournament and the winner tonight will move on to face John Cena in his retirement match on December 13 at Saturday Night's Main Event.

The Ring General has already ended the career of one Hall of Famer this year. Will he get the opportunity to do it again, or will The Megastar reset the former World Heavyweight Champion back to factory settings and earn the match of a lifetime?

Men's United States Open Challenge

Ilja Dragunov will once again put his Men's United States Championship on the line in an open challenge. He's had Tama Tonga and Tommaso Ciampa both express heavy interest in a title opportunity. Will tonight be the night that either man gets their opportunity or will someone else step up to the Mad Dragon? He's a couple of weeks to rest up since his last title defense, so Dragunov should be as fresh as can be expected for whomever his opponent ends up being.

WWE Women's Champion Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fyre

Jade Cargill has made one thing perfectly clear, she does not like it when other women in the locker room run their mouths. When Women's United States Champion Chelsea Green declared herself to be the greatest champion in all of North America, she called down a thunderstorm and was taken out by the reigning WWE Women's Champion. Tonight, it will be up to the resident head of the Secret Hervice to retaliate.

Alexa Bliss vs. WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane

After emerging from WarGames with a victory, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair let their intentions be known that they were after a rematch for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. The only problem is that several other teams have now emerged as title contenders, including their WarGames teammates Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY. Alexa Bliss will look to take a step closer to earning their rematch against the Kabuki Warriors when she battles Kairi Sane tonight.