By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,410)
Taped August 24, 2026, in Ottawa, Ontario, at Canadian Tire Centre
Simulcast on August 28, 2026, on USA Network and streamed internationally on Netflix
A video package aired at the top of the show that recapped Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk from last week’s show. It focused on Sami Zayn attacking both Kevin Owens and CM Punk, leading to the conclusion of the match. Kevin Owens made his ring entrance in the arena to start the live portion of the show. He grabbed a microphone and said this was not the way he was hoping to come back to Ottawa. Owens said he has lost many WWE title matches, but none hurt like the one he lost last week.
Owens recalled his struggle to get cleared to return to the ring, and how important it was to return at SummerSlam and capture the WWE Championship in Toronto in front of other Canadians, including his parents. Owens then told the story of his Mom being rushed to the hospital fighting for her life, and how difficult it has been for her to travel and watch him wrestle, and how Sami Zayn had cost him an opportunity to win the title in front of her.
Owens said he and Sami Zayn have done many heinous things to each other, but this one is unforgivable, because the opportunity to beat CM Punk for the title in front of his family and Canadian fans may never come again. He then addressed Punk and said he had him beat, and if he thinks they are done, you’re dead wrong bitch. Punk stormed down to the ring and told Owens he’d send him packing from Ottawa like his name is Tkachuk.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis walked alongside Punk to the ring, and soon Gunther was at ringside. He told Punk and Owens that he wasn’t concerned with their nonsense from 20 years ago. He told Owens he was happy his Mom kicked out, but last week he didn’t. Finn Balor walked out and called Gunther a prick. He said neither Owens nor Gunther has beaten him, so if there’s a line for a World Title shot, he wanted to be in it.
Aldis made a Triple Threat between them in the main event of tonight’s show…
Backstage, Tiffany Stratton spoke to Chelsea Green, who was holding a face mask. She asked Chelsea if she was sure she wanted to be out there, and Chelsea insisted she was good to go. The Irresistible Forces made their way to the ring in the arena… [c]
My Take: A decent opening segment to set up the main event. Seems like another instance where Sami Zayn will get himself involved.
Tiffany Stratton made her ring entrance after the break, followed by Chelsea Green… A video was shown of Lash Legend defeating Tiffany Stratton last week by targeting her injured ribs…
1. Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs. Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green: Stratton and Legend started the match. Lash delivered a backbreaker, but Stratton replied with a handspring into a Stunner. Chelsea tagged in and they sent Lash to the floor. Nia tagged in shortly afterward and delivered a headbutt to the face of Green. The official checked on Green, who had to scramble to make a tag…[c]
Chelsea broke up a pinfall as the match returned, but Jax quickly kneed her in the face and sent her to the floor. WWE medical checked on her, and Stratton continued to be isolated and beaten down by Jax and Legend. Lash landed a big right hand and covered for a two count. The heels made quick tags and dominated the offensive output. Stratton showed fire at a couple of points, but was quickly shut down. Jax trash-talked Green on the floor as she struggled to recover from the earlier attack.
Jax missed a leg drop from the top rope. Stratton struggled to make a tag, and Green had to run away from WWE officials trying to get her to leave the match. She tagged in and took down both Jax and Legend with a missile dropkick and a cross body. Legend sent Stratton into the barricade on the floor. Jax pie-faced Green and delivered an Annihilator for the win…
“The Irresistible Forces” Nia Jax and Lash Legend defeated Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton at 9:43
Backstage, Danhausen spoke to Nick Aldis. Gunther walked up and confirmed with Nick Aldis that it was just a triple threat later tonight. Aldis confirmed, and Gunther said he can’t wait to defeat Kevin Owens and the ghost of Finn Balor. Danhausen asked if he could be added to the match, and he said no…
Back in the arena, Paige made her ring entrance for her match against Jacy Jayne…[c]
My Take: The match and finish make sense given the story of both Stratton and Green fighting off the effects of injuries.
Jacy Jayne made her entrance with Fatal Influence as the show returned…
2. Paige vs Jacy Jayne for the Women’s United States Championship: Jayne tripped up Paige and landed a running senton. She attempted a second, but nobody was home. Paige landed a kick and some knee lifts that sent Jayne to the floor. Paige then landed a cannonball off the apron and screamed about it being her house, but the crowd did not react. Lainey Reid delivered a running kick to Paige while Jayne distracted the referee…[c]
Both women collided with a double clothesline as the show returned. They then got to their feet and traded strikes, and Jayne got the better of it. Paige returned fire with a fisherman’s suplex and a Paige Turner for a near fall. She attempted to apply the PTO, but Jacy avoided it and landed a headbutt. Reid and Henley jumped up on the apron, and that allowed Jayne to roll up Paige in a small package and get the win.
Jacy Jayne defeated Paige at 7:50 to retain the Women’s United States Championship
After the match, Nikki Bella ambushed Paige from behind and landed a series of elbow strikes. She then stomped on her several times before landing the Rack Attack 2.0 to end the segment…
A video package then aired for the upcoming Rhodes and Orton match at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Backstage, Cody Rhodes and Finn Balor spoke about their upcoming matches. Balor advised Cody to keep his cool so they can face each other for the World Title after Finn becomes number one contender…[c]
My Take: You could have taken a sweet nap during that match in the crowd. It was quiet out there. This show has suffered greatly from being taped after Raw this past Monday.
Trick Williams approached Lil Yachty backstage and asked if he was really ready for Baron Corbin. Yachty said he’s had bigger fish to fry in his pan. He recalled Corbin taking the title in Minnesota and putting him through a table, and said he can’t tolerate the disrespect. Yachty said he would last the 5 minutes and then Trick and do his work and get the title back. Corbin walked up after Yachty left and told Trick that friends make you do stupid things. He then said that he doesn’t have to be entertaining; he’s the champ…
In the arena, Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance. He did his usual shtick and said he wanted to talk about Randy Orton. Cody said as much as he’d like to beat Orton here and now, it wouldn’t really accomplish killing the legend killer. He recalled Randy’s focus on number 15, and said it wasn’t even a record, but if anyone was ever going to beat the record, it would have been him. Cody said that Randy has been his own worst enemy, and every time he came to a crossroads, he took the wrong path. He recalled Randy getting slapped on the wrist when others got shown the door, and that Randy’s shoulders could never handle the accountability of his own actions.
Cody said he’s tired of the excuses and how it’s never Randy’s fault. He said that it wouldn’t be Randy beating Randy this time; it would be him…and Randy interrupted him. Orton said that Cody was right. Earlier in his career, he had no accountability, and Cody was right there in the driver’s seat making sure he got tucked in at night. He said if Rhodes felt like he had some resentment about it, he could punch him in the face right now.
Orton brought up him costing Rhodes the title against Punk, and then ridiculed him for his dead dog trying to get under Cody’s skin. He continued and called Cody’s mother trailer park trash, and asked if she would be front row when he beats his ass in his hometown of Atlanta. He tried another insult and called his wife trashy, and then stuck his chin out for Cody to punch him in the face.
Cody said he knew what Orton was doing, and he would do anything to get out of Sunday Night’s Main Event. He said they would find out in Atlanta whether he was a once-in-a-lifetime generational talent like his Dad was, or a generational screw-up like Orton’s Dad was. Randy stewed and said that was too far, and Cody walked away…
Backstage, Tatum Paxley was interviewed. She was asked about her upcoming match with Michin. She whispered something to Jackie Redmond, who ran away immediately. Charlotte and Alexa walked up and said the three of them would face Jade, B-Fab, and Michin at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Charlotte asked her not to make her regret standing up for her. Tatum said she was excited for them to be at ringside for their match, and gave them an awkward hug…[c]
My Take: A solid tension-building segment from Orton and Rhodes. The over-the-top lines from Orton felt straight out of an ’80s movie villain, but I think it worked in this context because Rhodes eventually gave it right back to him.
A video package aired that set up Penta vs. Fenix in the finals of the World Championship Tournament. Rey Fenix was interviewed backstage by Byron Saxton. Fenix said he loved his brother, but this is his moment. Ricky Saints walked up and said they should skip ahead to the part where he loses to his brother and comes back to Smackdown to give him a shot at the AAA Cruiserweight Championship. Fenix said he would come back to Smackdown as the World Heavyweight Champion and shut him up…
Michin made her ring entrance with B-Fab and Jade Cargill. Tatum Paxley made her entrance with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss…
3. Tatum Paxley (w/Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss) vs. Michin (w/Jade Cargill, B-Fab): Michin pie-faced Paxley and grabbed a waist lock. Paxley reversed into a headlock, and then pie-faced Michin right back. After some back and forth, Michin landed a soccer kick from the apron. Tatum replied by knocking her to the floor and delivering a moonsault from the apron…[c]
Michin was in control when the show returned, and rocked Paxley with a right hand. She then applied a submission, but Paxley reversed into a pinfall attempt for a two count. Paxley delivered an Enziguri and then a second one from the floor to the apron. Michin caught another kick attempt and landed a sit-out powerbomb. She then went for a Styles Clash, but Paxley replied with a back drop. She then delivered a rolling kick and her Cemetery Drive finisher for the win.
Tatum Paxley defeated Michin at 8:08
Paxley celebrated with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte after the match. Video was shown of Blake Monroe attacking Giulia before their match could begin last week. Backstage, Blake Monroe was interviewed by Jackie Redmond. She was asked why she jeopardized her own debut, and she replied that the match was beneath her. Monroe said that when there is a worthy opponent and an entrance glamorous enough, she would make her debut. Guilia appeared from off screen and attacked Monroe, and tossed her into a nearby rolling garage door…
Elsewhere backstage, Randy Orton approached Kevin Owens and said it pains him to admit that he was right about Cody, but he still hasn’t forgotten that Owens dropped him on his head, and so they still aren’t friends. Owens said they could work on it, but he had to go win his match…[c]
My Take: Paxley is going to be just fine as long as they give her plenty of opportunity to show off her crazy athleticism.
The MFTs were shown in a video package. They threatened Nakamura and Kyoki and said they would get put in the dirt. Haku said their challengers must be destroyed because they are the MFing Tongans…
Backstage, Priest told Truth that he’s got his back, but he needed to go back to focusing on singles titles. The War Raiders walked up, and Truth ended up talking Priest into another tag match in Mexico for the AAA Tag Team Titles…
Elsewhere backstage, Nick Aldis spoke to Nia Jax. She demanded to be given a Women’s WWE Championship match within the next two weeks or she would take it by force. The Miz and Kit Wilson then approached Aldis and said they were tired of being denied opportunity, so he made them a match against Nakamura and Kyoki next week…
In the arena, Kevin Owens made his entrance for the main event…[c]
My Take: I’m curious if they have Priest turn on Truth after the match in Mexico. Seems superficially plausible to me.
Gunther finished his ring entrance as the show returned, followed by Finn Balor…
4. Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Gunther in a Triple Threat for a WWE Championship opportunity: Gunther attacked Balor as he got to the ring, and the bell rang immediately. KO ambushed Gunther, but was put down with a big boot. Balor set up for a reverse DDT on Gunther, but Owens kicked him in the face. Owens then delivered a Swanton to Gunther for a two count. Gunther battled back with some chops. He attempted a sleeper on Balor, but he dashed towards the ropes and sent Gunther to the floor. Balor then delivered a dive to the floor onto Gunther…[c]
Owens landed a superkick on Gunther, and then Balor landed a Pele kick on Owens. For a moment, all three men were down. Balor climbed to the top rope, but Owens climbed with him. Gunther pulled Owens down from the corner and landed a loud chop. He then did the same to Balor. Gunther applied a Sleeper to Owens, but Balor broke it up with a Coup de Grace. He then drove Gunther into the corner with a shotgun dropkick, and delivered another Coup de Grace to Gunther.
Sami Zayn pulled Balor out of the ring to prevent the pinfall and then punched the official. Owens landed a stunner on Gunther and covered. Another official tried to come down to the ring, and Sami took him out before he could get to the ring. CM Punk then ran down to the ring and brawled with Sami Zayn. The action spilled into the ring, where Punk and Owens went back at it. Zayn eventually hit both Owens and Balor with the title belt.
Gunther applied a sleeper to Zayn, but he hit him with the title belt as well. Finally, Sami laid out Punk with the title belt, and the match ended without a finish, with Sami holding the title up over his head.
Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Gunther ended in an apparent no contest
My Take: I’m not a huge fan of shows that end in an unsatisfying way like this. I understand why they’d go this route from a storytelling standpoint, but it would have been nice to have Nick Aldis or somebody come out to announce that fans would get a conclusion or at least another match next week to sort this out. Overall, this was a below-average show. I think Cody and Randy had the most entertaining segment. I’ll have more to say in my same-night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by grading it below.
‘Chelsea Green spoke to Chelsea Green’ … Somehow, I could see that happening, just not on this show. 🙂