WWE SmackDown Preview (Nov. 14, 2025): Is WWE Setting LA Knight Up for Failure?
SmackDown returns tonight (Nov. 14) live from MVP Arena in Albany, New York, marking the fifth episode in the seven-week buildup to Survivor Series on November 29. As the road to one of WWE’s biggest events heats up, tonight’s show promises intrigue, surprises, and plenty of drama. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is WWE deliberately stacking the odds against LA Knight?
The Last Time Is Now Tournament Continues—But at LA Knight’s Expense?
The opening round of The Last Time Is Now tournament—which will determine John Cena’s final opponent—rolls on with two more matches tonight. The most talked-about bout? LA Knight versus a mystery opponent. Knight, WWE’s tireless workhorse, has been chasing the world title on Raw for months, yet victories have eluded him. And this is the part most people miss: WWE doesn’t seem to be doing him any favors.
This week on Raw, Knight’s promo hyping his tournament match was unceremoniously cut short—airing during a commercial break. Now, he’s facing an unknown adversary, someone Nick Aldis has kept tightly under wraps. Could it be a returning legend, an outsider, or a surprise star? No matter who it is, Knight’s chances of winning take a nosedive. How is this fair? While the mystery man likely knows who he’s facing and has had time to prepare, Knight is walking in blind. Is WWE setting him up to fail? And if so, why?
The Rest of the Card: Chaos and Questions Abound
Beyond Knight’s uphill battle, tonight’s SmackDown is packed with action. Jey Uso takes on The Miz in another tournament match, but with Uso’s status as a world title contender and Miz’s recent struggles, will outside interference from The Brons or a Raw interloper tip the scales?
Fresh off her heel turn and WWE Women’s Championship win, Jade Cargill—now dubbed “That Bitch”—faces B-Fab in a non-title match. The question isn’t if Jade will win, but how quickly she’ll dominate.
Other Storylines to Watch:
- Drew McIntyre’s Suspension: After attacking a referee, McIntyre is sidelined, leaving WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to join the men’s War Games team. But will The Vision crash the party tonight?
- Damian Priest’s Injury: Returning too soon from a fireball attack by Aleister Black, Priest was eliminated from the tournament. Will Black and Zelina Vega taunt him further?
- Giulia’s Rebound: After losing the Women’s United States Championship to Chelsea Green in under two minutes, will Giulia get a rematch? Or is her partnership with Kiana James already crumbling?
- Nakamura vs. The MFTs: After attacking the MFTs last week, Shinsuke Nakamura and the Motor City Machine Guns may spark a 6-man tag team match. But are the Wyatt Sicks waiting in the shadows?
- Sami Zayn’s Return: Medically cleared or not, Zayn is in the MFTs’ crosshairs after saving Rey Fenix. Will he face retribution tonight?
- Solo Sikoa’s Mystery Opponent: Heading to Raw next week for the tournament, will Sikoa get any hints about who he’ll face?
- Jacob Fatu’s Attacker: Has Nick Aldis made progress in identifying Fatu’s assailant? Surely he’s reviewed the security footage by now?
- Ilja Dragunov’s Open Challenge: Will the United States Champion defend his title again tonight? And will Tommaso Ciampa finally get his shot?
- Women’s Tag Team Turmoil: After losing their titles to Lash Legend and Nia Jax, will Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair seek revenge? And will the War Games participants add to the chaos?
- Tiffany Stratton’s Response: Will the former WWE Women’s Champion address her loss?
- Randy Orton’s Absence: Seriously, where is he?
Controversial Question: Is WWE Playing Favorites?
WWE’s treatment of LA Knight raises eyebrows. Are they intentionally holding him back, or is this just another twist in his underdog story? And what does this say about the company’s priorities? Is WWE favoring surprise returns over consistent stars like Knight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss.
Tune in tonight to see if LA Knight survives the mystery opponent, or if WWE’s latest move leaves him—and his fans—feeling screwed.
