WWE SmackDown on Friday, December 5, 2025, took place at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and aired live at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT on USA Network in the United States. The advertised four-match card was headlined by Gunther vs. LA Knight in the final of The Last Time is Now Tournament, with the winner earning a match against John Cena in Cena’s final bout. Gunther won the final by submission.
Because December 5, 2025 is now in the past, this is a results and viewing-information guide rather than a listing for an upcoming episode.
WWE SmackDown December 5, 2025: quick details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, December 5, 2025 |
| Venue | Moody Center, Austin, Texas |
| U.S. start time | 8:00 p.m. Eastern / 7:00 p.m. Central |
| U.S. broadcaster | USA Network |
| Main event | Gunther vs. LA Knight — The Last Time is Now Tournament final |
| Key consequence | Gunther earned the right to face John Cena in Cena’s final match |
WWE’s official event page confirms the episode’s broadcast information and completed results. WWE’s live-event announcement identifies Austin and Moody Center as the host city and venue.
How to watch SmackDown from December 5, 2025
United States
The episode aired live on USA Network at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT. Viewers needed access through a participating cable, satellite, or live-TV streaming package that carried USA Network in their area. Lineups, pricing, blackout rules, and replay availability vary by provider, so viewers should check their own service rather than assume that every live-TV package includes the channel.
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WWE’s broader programming page identifies the relevant U.S. SmackDown schedule as Fridays at 8 ET/7 CT on USA Network. That is a U.S.-specific distribution detail; international viewers may have a different broadcaster, start time, or on-demand platform depending on their country.
For fans looking for ways to watch SmackDown live, the reliable starting point is the USA Network listing for the viewer’s territory and the channel guide for their authorized TV provider. The December 5 broadcast itself is not an upcoming live stream now that the event has concluded.
International viewers
WWE’s U.S. broadcast arrangement should not be treated as a worldwide viewing instruction. International distribution can differ by market, and the available replay or on-demand option may also vary. Check WWE’s local programming information and the official listings for the broadcaster or platform available in your country.
Full advertised match card and results
The advertised card contained four matches. Since WWE’s official results page documents the completed episode, the results below are presented as results rather than predictions.
Gunther defeated LA Knight in The Last Time is Now Tournament final
Gunther defeated LA Knight by submission in the tournament final. WWE’s recap describes the finish as a modified STF. The victory made Gunther John Cena’s opponent for Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
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This was the night’s most consequential match: the tournament was not merely a route to a title opportunity or a standard future main-event slot. The winner received the right to face Cena, giving the SmackDown main event a direct connection to Cena’s farewell storyline.
Ilja Dragunov retained the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes
Ilja Dragunov defeated Carmelo Hayes to retain the United States Championship. Tommaso Ciampa interfered during the match, and Dragunov followed with Torpedo Moscow to secure the victory.
The interference was an important part of the finish because Dragunov’s title defense was not presented as a completely straightforward singles contest. The official result still records Dragunov as the winner and champion after the match.
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Alexa Bliss defeated Kairi Sane after countering Sane’s attempted Insane Elbow and hitting Sister Abigail. The match was one of the featured women’s singles contests on the card.
Jade Cargill defeated Alba Fyre
Jade Cargill defeated Alba Fyre with Jaded in the advertised WWE Women’s Championship match. WWE’s preview identified Fyre as representing Chelsea Green’s Secret Hervice.
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Other major developments from the episode
SmackDown also advanced several stories outside the four advertised matches:
- Cody Rhodes demanded Drew McIntyre’s reinstatement. The development kept McIntyre’s status and his conflict with WWE’s authority structure in focus.
- The Wyatt Sicks brawled with The MFTs. The confrontation added another non-match escalation to the episode.
- Nia Jax and Lash Legend attacked the women’s-title contenders and the Kabuki Warriors. The attack took place after Alexa Bliss’s match and broadened the women’s-division conflict beyond the scheduled bouts.
Advertised appearances were not necessarily matches
Some contemporary listings and previews also mentioned Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, Drew McIntyre, and Sami Zayn. Those names should be separated from the confirmed match card. A wrestler can be advertised for an episode because of a backstage segment, confrontation, interview, or storyline appearance; that does not mean the wrestler had a match.
For that reason, the four bouts listed above are the confirmed in-ring card, while the additional names belong in the episode’s broader storyline and appearance context.
Moody Center venue information
Moody Center in Austin, Texas, was the announced venue for the December 5 episode. WWE’s own event announcement is the primary source for the city and venue, and Moody Center’s event archive also corroborates that WWE Friday Night SmackDown appeared there.
The show is over, so December 5, 2025 tickets are no longer a current purchasing opportunity. Fans interested in attending a future WWE event in Austin should check the official Moody Center calendar and WWE’s current event listings rather than relying on old ticket pages.
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What viewers should know about replays and archives
The original U.S. broadcast was on USA Network. Whether a completed episode remains available as a replay depends on the viewer’s TV provider, territory, and current WWE or network distribution arrangements. A listing for the original live broadcast should not be confused with a guaranteed permanent replay or a universally available streaming archive.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThere is also no basis for treating a cloud video-looping service as an authorized way to watch WWE. Services designed to loop a user’s own prerecorded video are unrelated to WWE’s official broadcast distribution.
Fan merchandise related to SmackDown
Readers looking for a souvenir rather than a way to watch the completed episode can browse official SmackDown merchandise, including apparel, accessories, collectibles, toys, and action figures. Availability changes, and a general SmackDown product should not be described as an event-specific December 5, 2025 collectible unless the product listing explicitly says so.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
What date was the WWE SmackDown episode covered here?
It was Friday, December 5, 2025. The year matters because the title can otherwise be confused with a future December 5 episode.
What time did WWE SmackDown start on December 5, 2025?
The U.S. broadcast began at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT on USA Network.
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Where did WWE SmackDown take place on December 5, 2025?
The episode took place at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
Who won the tournament final between Gunther and LA Knight?
Gunther defeated LA Knight by submission in The Last Time is Now Tournament final and earned the right to face John Cena in Cena’s final match.
Was every wrestler mentioned in previews booked in a match?
No. Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, Drew McIntyre, and Sami Zayn were among the talent discussed in contemporary coverage, but being advertised for an appearance does not establish that the wrestler had a match. The confirmed card consisted of four bouts.
The Bottom Line
WWE SmackDown on December 5, 2025 aired from Moody Center in Austin at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT on USA Network in the United States. Gunther’s submission win over LA Knight in The Last Time is Now Tournament final was the defining result, sending him on to face John Cena.
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