WWE SmackDown Results 11/21 - Ilja Dragunov Issues Another US Open Challenge, #DIY Face Nathan Frazer & Axiom

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s live coverage for "WWE SmackDown" on November 21, 2025, coming to you live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado!

United States Champion Ilja Dragunov will be continuing the US Open Challenge tonight when he puts his title on the line once again. As Dragunov still adamantly declines to allow the aforementioned Ciampa to answer the call and challenge him for his title, he has also had successful defenses against the lines of Aleister Black on October 24, Nathan Frazer on October 31, Ciampa's #DIY tag team partner Johnny Gargano on November 7, and the aforementioned Axiom during last Friday's edition of "SmackDown".

Speaking of #DIY, they will be going head-to-head with the aforementioned Frazer and Axiom in tag team competition tonight. Following Dragunov's successful defense against Axiom last Friday, Ciampa blindsided Axiom with an attack as his frustrations with not receiving a United States Championship match from Dragunov and Dragunov's choice of Axiom as his opponent boiled over.

Two more first round matches in The Last Time Is Now Tournament to determine John Cena's final opponent at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13 are set to take place tonight, as Bronson Reed of The Vision collides with Carmelo Hayes while Judgment Day's Finn Balor goes head-to-head with Penta. Whoever wins the match between Reed and Hayes will go on to face GUNTHER in a quarterfinals match this coming Monday on "WWE Raw", while the victor of the match will take on MFT leader Solo Sikoa in another quarterfinals match that same night.

After Rhea Ripley asked to speak with AJ Lee (who had cost Becky Lynch the Women's Intercontinental Championship to Maxxine Dupri) backstage this past Monday on "Raw", WWE has teased the reveal of who will be joining Ripley, IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss & Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend as the fifth member of each respective team in the Women's WarGames match on November 29 at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames.

Meanwhile, as Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Roman Reigns prepare to square off against Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, The Vision, and Brock Lesnar in the Men's WarGames Match, WWE has also teased some fallout from the brawl that broke out between all ten men in the closing moments of Monday's edition of "Raw" when Reigns and Lesnar were revealed as the final members of their respective teams.

We are live! Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet audiences at home before throwing it to a video of the brawl that closed out Monday's episode of "Raw".

Back at ringside, Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Logan Paul are waiting in the ring.

Heyman introduces himself and says he has a Vision for the Men's WarGames match. He says five heroes and main eventers will be locked inside a double cage with Breakker, Reed, and Logan as he hypes up the three men before Logan says he has a lot to say.

Before Logan can continue, Jey Uso's music hits and he makes his way to the ring down the entrance ramp with Jimmy Uso. Jey says no one wants to hear what Logan has to say, then says Heyman is running his mouth despite himself, Jimmy, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns destroying The Vision, Logan, and Drew McIntyre.

Heyman says he created The Bloodline in order for Roman Reigns' family to eat, then says the first thing he taught Jimmy and Jey in The Bloodline is the numbers game is key. He points out that himself, Breakker, Reed, and Logan outnumber Jey and Jimmy.

Rhodes' music hits, but he doesn't appear on the entrance ramp as Jey and Jimmy look confused as to the delay. We head outside the arena and see McIntyre emerge from Rhodes' trailer The camera then pans over to show Rhodes laid out on the steps of his trailer, with Jimmy and Jey rushing to his aid.

Back from the break, Ilja Dragunov then makes his way to the ring. JD McDonagh follows, answering the call for his US Open Challenge. 

The bell rings and the two lock up. Dragunov and McDonagh exchange right hands with one another, but McDonagh sends Dragunov crashing into the bottom rope face first.

During the commercial break, McDonagh dumps Dragunov back in the ring and sends him crashing into the mat with a back suplex. McDonagh cinches in a chokehold on Dragunov, then lands an elbow drop on him off the middle rope and goes for a pin. Dragunov kicks out, but McDonagh fires off kicks on his head. Dragunov responds with a series of spinning backfist sto McDonagh and turns him inside out with a Constantine Special back from the break, then rains down Hammer and Anvil Elbows on him and sends him crashing into the mat with a Death Valley Driver.

Dragunov looks to land a second Constantine Special on McDonagh, but McDonagh reverses into a standing Spanish Fly. He goes for a pin, but Dragunov kicks out before himself and McDonagh spill out of the ring over the top rope.

When the pair get back in the ring during another commercial break, McDonagh wears down Dragunov with a submission hold. Dragunov escapes, but McDonagh levels him with a jawbreaker and goes for a pin. Dragunov kicks out, then teeters on the ropes with McDonagh back from the break and connects with a superplex on him.

McDonagh sends Dragunov crashing into the mat with a brainbuster, then follows it up with a moonsault to him off the top rope and goes for a pin. Dragunov kicks out, then connects with a powerbomb and the H-Bomb on McDonagh for the win.

Winner (and still): Ilja Dragunov

We then head backstage, where Nick Aldis warns Paul Heyman, Logan Paul, and The Vision about pulling any funny business later tonight before reminding them that Drew McIntyre is still suspended. Heyman insists that McIntyre is simply outside the arena tonight and says all that Bronson Reed is here to do tonight is leave Carmelo Hayes laid out.

Back at ringside, Hayes then makes his way to the ring.

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