WWE is preparing a major surprise for tonight’s SmackDown in Cincinnati, packed with significant appearances and storyline advances as the company builds toward Crown Jewel VII on October 11. The focus centers on a headline-making contest between WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton from SmackDown and RAW’s Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer, set to compete for the newly introduced WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. This title, first claimed by Liv Morgan last year, marks a historic moment for WWE’s women’s division.
Stratton, nicknamed the Blonde Bombshell, was announced to appear tonight to address her recent controversial but successful title defense against Nia Jax and Jade Cargill. Rumors escalated after Vaquer, also called the Dark Angel, was seen in Cincinnati, confirming tensions leading to the women’s Crown Jewel contract signing scheduled during the show. WWE officially publicized the signing event for these two competitors, making their matchup at Crown Jewel now official.
“@tiffstrattonwwe and @Steph_Vaquer make their #WWECrownJewel Championship Match official TONIGHT on #SmackDown! 📺 8ET/7CT on @USANetwork” — WWE
Damian Priest’s Role and Possible Championship Confrontation
Damian Priest was also slated to appear tonight on SmackDown, although details on his opponent were not declared in the preliminary show preview. Initial advertisements confirmed a match involving Priest in Cincinnati, but by mid-afternoon, he was removed from the official preview on WWE’s website. Priest later spoke with TMZ Sports and revealed plans to challenge Aleister Black, fueling speculation about a potential Last Man Standing match between the two at Crown Jewel.
Reintroduction of MFT Stable Members Anticipated
Solo Sikoa has been steadily reintroducing members of the MFT stable on WWE programming. Following a recent vignette focused on Tonga Loa, last week’s SmackDown featured a promo with Sikoa and JC Mateo. Now, Talla Tonga is rumored for tonight’s show, as PWInsider reports his presence in Cincinnati ahead of the event. Talla, formerly known as Hikuleo, signed with WWE in July 2024 but only debuted on television earlier this year. Since then, he has been repackaged as part of MFT alongside Sikoa, Mateo, Loa, and Tama Tonga, who is also expected to return soon.
His last televised wrestling appearance was in August during a tag victory alongside Mateo against The Motor City Machine Guns. Following that, Talla Tonga, Tonga, and Solo Sikoa were defeated by The Usos and Jacob Fatu at a non-televised UK event on August 27, marking Talla’s most recent competition before tonight’s possible reemergence.
Additional Matches and Appearances Scheduled for Tonight’s SmackDown
Tonight’s SmackDown from the Heritage Bank Center will also feature several important matches and appearances. United States Champion Sami Zayn will defend his title in an Open Challenge, allowing any challenger to step forward. The tag team match will see Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton team up against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, adding to the high stakes atmosphere of the evening. Additionally, The New Day has been confirmed to attend, promising further excitement for fans at the event.
Implications for WWE Storylines and Crown Jewel
Tonight’s SmackDown promises to intensify anticipation heading into Crown Jewel VII with multiple storylines advancing simultaneously. The contract signing between Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer officially sets their groundbreaking championship match, while Damian Priest’s hinted challenge to Aleister Black adds tension for a potential high-profile bout. The possible returns and promotional content for MFT members also suggest a renewed emphasis on this faction’s role in ongoing WWE narratives.
With the lineup including title defenses and key tag matches, the show is poised to deliver pivotal moments that will shape character arcs and rivalries for weeks to come. The intense programming and unexpected appearances underscore WWE’s strategy to maintain dramatic storytelling momentum as Crown Jewel approaches.
.@tiffstrattonwwe and @Steph_Vaquer make their #WWECrownJewel Championship Match official TONIGHT on #SmackDown!
📺 8ET/7CT on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/QRbyypjvC4
— WWE (@WWE) October 3, 2025
