Friday’s “SmackDown” emphasized that the rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre is certainly not over, as Rhodes continues to get enraged by the sight of McIntyre.

This episode also served as a launchpad for next week’s “SmackDown,” where we could see the rivalry surrounding the United States Championship finally come to a head, and a mixed-tag team match that involves a terrorizing reunion. It also foreshadowed rivalries of the future, where two massive teams locked eyes (and fists) in the ring, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13, where we finally know who will face John Cena in his final match.

Friday ‘SmackDown’ results

• Ilja Dragunov def. Carmelo Hayes to retain the United States Championship
• Alexa Bliss def. Kairi Sane
• Jade Cargill def. Alba Fyre to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
• Gunther def. LA Knight in “The Last Time Is Now” tournament final

Is Gunther the best opponent for John Cena’s final match?

Gunther just keeps going 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/WdalxZ7Y2c

— WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2025

Gunther defeated LA Knight to win “The Last Time Is Now” tournament and the right to face Cena in his final WWE match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C.

I don’t mind Gunther as the choice, although it doesn’t perfectly fit SNME’s theme of spotlighting future talent. A couple months ago, my pick to face Cena in his final match was Dominik Mysterio. He hasn’t been world champion yet, but absolutely on course to become one, and would benefit greatly from the aura that would come with pinning the “Greatest of All Time” in his final match. But “Dirty Dom” did get his victory over Cena in his hometown of San Diego at Survivor Series, and one could argue that’s equally as impactful to his career. For Gunther, he is already a former world champion and a main event star, so a win over Cena could be viewed as just another notch on his belt. Now, having retired two pro wrestling legends in a calendar year (Gunther already defeated Goldberg in his final match in July) is an impressive feat, and a “Legend Killer” era of Gunther would be something. Maybe he faces Randy Orton in 2026 — “Legend Killer vs. Legend Killer” — and fans are talking a lot about a Chris Jericho WWE retirement run.

But that’s for later. Let’s dive into next week’s match between Cena and Gunther.

Logically, Gunther should win this match. He’s sticking around while Cena is retiring. He will be among the athletes who will carry the WWE for years to come. The only scenario I can create for Cena winning this match, if you are looking for one, is that the match is in Washington, D.C. and a “Cena wins one for America in the country’s capital” is a nice touch. But that’s the only scenario I could remotely see happening for a Cena victory. Cena has immense respect for WWE and pro wrestling. He’d choose to, and want to go out on his shield. And quite frankly, the result doesn’t matter on Saturday — the paying homage does. The post-match celebration does. I hope it’s a long party in the ring filled with gratitude and respect. Because the “Greatest of All Time” deserves it.

Other takeaways/storylines

NEXT WEEK

THE TERROR TWINS vs. ALEISTER BLACK & ZELINA

Looks like you messed with the wrong person, Aleister Black… 👀 pic.twitter.com/bmhE62xHnf

— WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2025

• Damien Priest and Rhea Ripley revealed that the Terror Twins are back. Next week on “SmackDown” it will be Priest and Ripley against Aleister Black and Zelina Vega, which should be a highly entertaining match. I could see this rivalry spilling into 2026, maybe even on the first “SmackDown” of the year, in a cage or another climactic specialty match.

Come on, Ciampa! 😡 pic.twitter.com/frHVoXU1CY

— WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2025

• Tommaso Ciampa interfered in the United States Championship open challenge match between Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes, costing Hayes the match with Dragunov unaware. But Dragunov saw the replay on the big screen while walking back up the aisle and became enraged. Eventually, Dragunov will get fed up with Ciampa — who’s been asking for the challenge — and grant him a title match. I wouldn’t mind Ciampa winning by crook and Dragunov chasing him all the way to WrestleMania.

Tomorrow night just got a whole lot bigger!

The winner of the NXT Championship Match at NXT Deadline will be facing Cody Rhodes NEXT WEEK at Saturday Night’s Main Event 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SigcbWNSIW

— WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2025

• WWE Undisputed champion Cody Rhodes spoke to NXT champion Ricky Saints and challenger Oba Femi, who will meet on Saturday’s NXT Deadline main event. Rhodes said that the winner of that match will face him at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which aligns with the show’s theme of focusing on future talent. Rhodes and Saints are long-time competitors with a lot of mutual respect. That match would be a highly entertaining match for SNME.

WHAT THE?!

Cody Rhodes just ATTACKED Drew McIntyre! 😱 pic.twitter.com/42RnboVPUO

— WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2025

• … and more on Rhodes, whose rivalry with Drew McIntyre continued for another week. McIntyre waltzed into the arena thinking he was no longer suspended following his team’s win at Survivor Series: WarGames, but “SmackDown” general manager Adam Pearce kicked him out — again — but not before Rhodes beat him up inside McIntyre’s own truck (a nice callback to McIntyre roughing up Rhodes on his bus a few weeks ago). After it was over, Rhodes begged Pearce to reinstate McIntyre. Will that be their final match, and will it be on “SmackDown” or at the Royal Rumble?

“You do not deserve the name Wyatt…”

Solo Sikoa just made this real personal… 😬 pic.twitter.com/3AqVd22Y0O

— WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2025

• Solo Sikoa and MFT have finally addressed the Wyatt Sicks head-on.

“Everything that was his … that is yours … will be mine,” Sikoa said. “You do not deserve the name Wyatt.” He went on to say he is going to take it all away “because I can … all I have to do is Bo-Lieve.” This caused the Wyatt Sicks to arrive, with Uncle Howdy in the ring, flanked by the rest of the Sicks. The segment ended with both groups throwing punches at each other. Erik Rowan threw Tala Tonga out of the ring and the Wyatts stood tall, having the edge.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 18th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats have lost consecutive games and three of their last five. Worse, they are struggling to shoot.

Panic is bubbling up in the Bluegrass State.

Fans booed the Wildcats off the court at halftime Friday night and headed to the exits before Kentucky’s 94-59 loss to No. 11 Gonzaga that dropped the Wildcats to 5-4.

Onetime Kentucky one-and-done star DeMarcus Cousins didn’t hold back on his opinion on social media: “Can’t lie…this uk team has no heart! This is hard to watch smh”

Kentucky coach Mark Pope took no issue issue with Cousins’ opinion and took the blame to himself.

“As a former player, I’m pissed at the coach, too, and that’s just all deserved,” Pope said. “There’s nothing inappropriate about what he said at all.”

The Wildcats missed their first 10 shots and first seven outside the arc. The Wildcats shot so poorly that Gonzaga’s Graham Ike made more buckets inside the arc (10) than Kentucky (nine). Kentucky wound up 16-of-60 (26.7%) and 7-of-34 (20.6%) from 3-point range.

Asked if Wildcats were trying to do too much to help, Pope said it was more being indecisive: “It’s all coming from me. It’s on me.”

Fans tried to give Kentucky energy, roaring when Denzel Aberdeen knocked down the first 3 of the game. It didn’t help as Kentucky was 5-of-31 from the field and 3-of-20 from 3-point range in the first half, prompting more boos. The Wildcats trailed 43-20 at halftime.

“All the boos we heard tonight were incredibly well-deserved mostly for me, and we have to fix it,” Pope said.

This is the second straight game Kentucky has struggled to shoot outside the arc. The Wildcats made just 1-of-13 attempts from 3 losing Tuesday night to No. 16 North Carolina 67-64. Against Gonzaga, they clanked balls off almost every part of the rim with at least a couple of airballs only to keep shooting.

That wasn’t the only issue. Kentucky was outrebounded 43-31 and outscored 46-18 in the paint and 32-19 in bench points.

Expectations always are high for the program with eight national championships. Pope took the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 and finished with a 24-12 record in his debut season. Then the Wildcats beat top-ranked Purdue by 13 in an exhibition in October, amping the usual hype even more.

Injuries sidelined projected starting point guard Jaland Lowe the past five games with an injured right shoulder, though Lowe came off the bench against Gonzaga wearing a brace. Mouhamed Dioubate missed his fourth game Friday night.

Yet another tough nonconference schedule hasn’t helped. Each loss has been to a ranked opponent, starting with in-state rival Louisville on Nov. 11 and Michigan State on Nov. 18. Pope said it’s a bad spot right now.

“We have to dig ourselves out of it,” Pope said.

HOUSTON — Rockets star Kevin Durant drilled a 10-foot jumper with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter Friday against the Phoenix Suns to become the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points.

Entering the matchup against his former team, Durant needed four points to hit the 31,000-point milestone. He got there with a pair of free throws and the midrange jumper on his third attempt of the night.

Just two nights before, Durant lamented missing out on the opportunity join the company of 31,000-point scorers Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James during a 121-95 win over the Sacramento Kings. Needing 28 points in that contest to reach the milestone, Durant played 32 minutes but sat out the majority of the fourth quarter and finished with 8 assists, 3 rebounds and a block to go with his 24 points.

“Damn, I could have [done] that tonight,” Durant quipped after Wednesday’s win when informed of how close he was to reaching 31,000 career points. Durant then expressed appreciation for his latest accomplishment when asked whether career milestones still move him at this stage of what will be a Hall of Fame career.

“Yeah, they do. Hell yeah,” Durant said. “I mean, eight players in the history of the game, that’s insane.”

Durant remains at eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list behind James, Abdul-Jabbar, Malone, Bryant, Jordan, Nowitzki and Chamberlain. If the 15-time NBA All-Star remains healthy, it’s likely he’ll pass Chamberlain (31,419 points) and Nowitzki (31,560) this season and perhaps even Jordan (32,292).

“I’m always grateful for all my coaches, teammates, guys that set screens for me, that give up their shots to look for me, that [have] encouraged me throughout my entire career,” Durant said. “I had a few teammates, playing with Russ [Westbrook], he meant a lot in my career when it comes to that. Steven [Adams] meant a lot in my career. Jeff Green. So, every time I hit these milestones I tend to think about my teammates and the journey I’ve been through. Even as a kid, so many people invested in my life, in my career and wanted to see me do well. So, I owe a lot to them. I always think about that when I hit milestones like this.”