By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE SmackDown (Episode 1,412)
Mexico City, Mexico, at Arena CDMX
Simulcast on September 11, 2026, on USA Network and streamed internationally on Netflix
Sami Zayn and CM Punk were shown walking into the arena in advance of their match later on in the show. Arena CDMX was showcased and looked to be quite full. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett joined in from the commentary table. Randy Orton made his ring entrance to begin the show in the arena. A video package recapped the match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton at Sunday Night’s Main Event, including Randy using shortcuts to win.
Orton asked the crowd what they wanted to talk about, to mock Cody Rhodes. At the mention of Cody’s name, booing rang out. Orton said he showed everyone exactly who he is on Sunday in front of his wife and Mother. Orton said he’s not a killer, he’s a good man, husband, father, and friend. He said it takes a lot to put down a legend, including a piece of your soul, and Cody’s soul is not for sale. Orton then called himself a killer, and it means nothing to him whether or not he’s perceived as a good person.
Orton said anyone who gets in the way of his number 15 is going to be destroyed, whatever it takes. Orton then turned his attention to the winner of the WWE Championship match tonight on SmackDown, and said they were next, and he would do it with the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment: RKO. Orton then left as the crowd sang his music and chanted for him…
Backstage, Chelsea Green thanked Nick Aldis for allowing her to defend her title. Tiffany Stratton walked up, and they discussed Tiffany being in her corner to prevent Lash Legend from getting involved. Rey Fenix was shown backstage, and he’ll be up next against Ricky Saints. Afterward, a 9/11 memorial video was introduced by Michael Cole…
My Take: Orton continues to walk the line between babyface and heel, and why? Is there some narrative benefit to this that I’m unable to comprehend?
Ricky Saints was in the ring as the show returned. Rey Fenix followed him…
1. Rey Fenix vs. Ricky Saints for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Fenix got some chants to start the match. He performed a hurracarrana and a very complex arm drag. Saints climbed back in with a tornado DDT that took Fenix off the ring apron and out to the floor…[c]
Both men battled on the turnbuckle. Fenix landed another hurracarrana out of the corner, followed by a moonsault press for a near fall. He then walked the ropes and performed a Goodbye Amigo, and then a splash onto Saints on the floor. Fenix landed a flying cross body in the ring for another near fall. Fenix climbed to the second rope and flipped toward Saints, but got caught in a powerbomb. Saints then landed a Revolution DDT for a very close near fall.
Fenix landed a kick to the face. Saints tried to shove him into the referee, but didn’t succeed. Fenix landed a handspring stunner for another near fall. Fenix delivered a Mexican Muscle Buster a moment later for the win.
Rey Fenix defeated Ricky Saints at 9:37 to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Championship
Afterward, Fenix attempted to shake hands with Saints, but he refused and left the ring. Sami Zayn was interviewed backstage and was asked about his upcoming rematch. Sami said it’s not about him; it’s about justice. He said he was perfectly happy with someone else getting justice, but he tried to help Johnny Gargano and Kevin Owens, and it didn’t work out. He said he then realized that it had to be him, and justice must come from his hands.
Johnny Gargano appeared, and they embraced. He said if Sami beats Punk, he’s next. Sami said he wanted to get through tonight first, but Gargano insisted, and Sami agreed. In the arena, Nikki Bella made her ring entrance…[c]
My Take: Interesting conversation between Gargano and Owens. Sami is becoming increasingly unhinged, and Gargano was barely able to contain his own frustration. Saints and Fenix was an enjoyable match, but Ricky Saints is in an odd place creatively.
Paige made her ring entrance as the show returned.
2. Paige vs. Nikki Bella: Paige landed a Thesz Press and then tossed Nikki across the ring by her hair. The action spilled outside where Paige slammed Nikki into the ring post and the barricade. She then tossed Nikki onto the Spanish announce table and then back into the ring. Nikki tripped up Paige near the ring apron and dragged her back to the floor. Paige responded by reversing an Irish Whip and sent Nikki back into the barricade and the steel steps.
Nikki pulled the official in front of her to create a distraction for Paige. She then rolled up Paige and used the rope for leverage to get the win.
Nikki Bella defeated Paige at 3:17
Nikki scrambled to the back to make her escape. Nia Jax and Lash Legend were shown backstage. They said they would break Chelsea Green’s face and break Tiffany’s ribs if she tried to get in the way. Trick Williams will make an appearance up next…[c]
My Take: A short sprint of a match that used a lot of shortcuts to arrive at something that did a nice job of hiding the limitations of those involved. These two will thrive in brawls and No DQ stipulations.
Trick Williams made his ring entrance for a promo segment. The fans chanted “Quinones” as Trick made his way to the ring. Trick introduced himself and clarified that the fans were chanting “Quinones”, and said he was the best Footballer Mexico City has to offer, just like he was the greatest superstar in the WWE. He held a Football given to him by a fan and said he kicked Baron Corbin’s head off just like this, and booted the Football into the crowd.
Trick started an introduction for Lil Yachty, but he didn’t show up. Trick thought Yachty was being a diva, so he gave an even more elaborate introduction, but Baron Corbin dragged him out and left him beaten on the stage. Trick ran to check on him, and Corbin ran back out from the back and cracked him with a Kendo Stick. Corbin yelled that it wasn’t over yet.
Backstage, Finn Balor argued with Nick Aldis that he should be up next for the WWE Championship. Aldis told him to consider Money in the Bank. Gunther walked up, and Aldis told him he was interrupting again. Gunther told Balor he peaked 10 years ago and if he had any dignity, he would have retired by now. Balor wasn’t having it and called him a pinhead and sat him down on the couch with a forearm shot. Aldis sent Balor out of the room. Danhausen approached Gunther from behind and made a gesture. It might have been a curse, but he didn’t say anything, and the gesture was blocked from camera view. Nia Jax made her entrance in the building…[c]
My Take: Trick needs to be his own man at this point. I don’t think the association with Yachty is adding anything to his act at this point. Gunther and Balor should make for a good singles match when it happens.
Chelsea Green completed her entrance with Tiffany Stratton…
3. Chelsea Green vs. Nia Jax for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship: The action spilled outside quickly, and Green was sent spilling over the Spanish commentary table. Jax sent Green back into the ring and booted Green in the face. Green tried to fight back with punches, but Jax shrugged them off and tossed her into the corner. She then landed an enziguri and a missile dropkick that sent Jax back to the floor. Chelsea attempted a kick, but Jax sent her down hard on the apron, and then tossed her into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Jax bounced Green off the turnbuckle and landed a uranage. Jax then landed a running senton for a close near fall. Jax tried to rip off Chelsea’s face mask, but she was able to fight her off. Green managed to slam Jax off the second turnbuckle, but she quickly recovered and landed a Samoan drop for a two count.
Nia ripped off the face mask and sent Green to the floor. Tiffany saved Chelsea from a punch from Lash Legend. Nia attempted an Annihilator, but Chelsea moved out of the way. She then landed a very ugly Unprettyher out of the corner and got the win…
Chelsea Green defeated Nia Jax at 6:26 to retain the Interim WWE Women’s Championship
CM Punk was interviewed backstage and asked about Sami Zayn badgering him for a rematch. Punk says sometimes bad behavior needs to be taught a lesson. He said as the Champion you get to win the idiot lottery, and right now Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are part of the problem. Punk said the air was rare in Mexico City at elevation, and he looked forward to putting Sami high in the sky and dropping his face on his knee so he could wire his jaw shut. Punk said he was tired of the excuses and he wouldn’t have to hear any more of them after tonight…
R-Truth and Damien Priest made their entrance…[c]
My Take: The Unprettyher looks pretty ugly in standard form, and it looked bowling-shoe ugly coming out of the corner. That said, the majority of the match was entertaining, and Green needed a solid win.
The War Raiders made their ring entrance as the show returned.
4. “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar vs. R-Truth and Damian Priest for the AAA Tag Team Championships: Erik and Ivar got a fast start. Erik took Priest off the apron to the floor, and Ivar splashed R-Truth for a near fall. They then delivered some double-team attacks on Truth and isolated him in their corner. Priest eventually got a tag and dominated the match, but Erik and Ivar retreated to the floor. Priest took a run around the ring and splashed them on the floor after launching himself using the ring steps…[c]
Truth performed his Ron Cena routine with a Five Knuckle Shuffle. Truth then delivered an Attitude Adjustment to Ivar, but Erik broke it up with a knee strike. Priest tried to help but got dumped back to the floor. Ivar landed a spinning heel kick, and the Raiders delivered a Ragnarok powerbomb for the win.
“The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar defeated Damian Priest and R-Truth at 8:35 to retain the AAA Tag Team Titles
After the match, Priest returned to the ring and hugged Truth. He then put a sombrero on his head. Truth started to celebrate, but Priest cut him down with a lariat. Priest performed a South of Heaven chokeslam and left the ring…
Backstage, Charlotte and Alexa Bliss argued about their miscue from Sunday Night’s Main Event. Fatal Influence showed up to mock them, but Tatum approached them from behind and scared them. Tatum and Charlotte told them to hold onto those tag titles tight, and Fatal Influence walked away.
Charlotte said she could trust Lexi, but she’s not sure about Tatum and hopes Sunday was just a rookie mistake. Tatum tried to talk, but Alexa shut her down and told her to give Charlotte time…
A video package then aired for Punk and Sami…[c]
My Take: Well, it’s about time Priest got back to business. The Truth partnership had run its course, and it was past time to give him some fresh singles matchups.
Rey Fenix was interviewed backstage by Cathy Kelley. Ricky Saints walked up and offered him a handshake and called him the better man. This truce lasted about 10 seconds as Saints quickly ambushed him from behind and threw him into a nearby rolling garage door. In the arena, Sami Zayn made his ring entrance for the main event, and then CM Punk’s entrance followed…
5. CM Punk vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship: Punk took the action to the floor immediately and dove on Sami through the ropes. He then posed for the crowd…[c]
Both men traded punches in the ring. Punk attempted a knee lift but collapsed afterward. The referee checked on Punk afterward, and he rolled to the apron. Sami delivered a chop block to the bad knee and then began wrapping it around the ring post. Punk recovered enough to go on the attack and began targeting the injured wrist of Sami Zayn. He went for a GTS, but Sami avoided it and applied a Figure Four Leg Lock. Punk scrambled to reach the ropes…[c]
Sami Zayn delivered a superplex as the show returned. Punk attempted a bulldog, but his knee collapsed. Zayn then went for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Zayn couldn’t lift him up. Zayn shoved Punk towards the referee, and then summoned enough grit to deliver a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. He then delivered an exploder suplex in the corner, and lined up for a Helluva Kick. Punk was able to counter with a Lariat and a Go to Sleep, but Punk was slow to cover due to the knee and got a near fall.
Punk signaled for one more, but Johnny Gargano ran down to ringside. He got the apron, and Sami rolled up Punk from behind for a two count. Zayn then applied a Figure Four, but Punk managed to wiggle free and apply the Anaconda Vise. Candice LeRae distracted the ref and prevented him from seeing the tap-out. Punk gave Gargano a GTS, but his knee gave out afterwards. Kevin Owens then ran down and tried to hit Sami with the WWE Title, but hit Punk instead. Sami then hit a low blow on Owens and a Helluva Kick on Punk and made a cover for the win.
Sami Zayn defeated CM Punk to win the WWE Championship at 14:43
After the match, Zayn celebrated as pyro went off to close the show…
My Take: Well, that was surprising. I didn’t think there was much reason to move the title off Punk here, but clearly WWE has other plans. I guess Randy Orton’s threat from earlier in the show to go after number 15 becomes considerably more credible than it initially sounded, and many other sharks are circling as well. The WWE Title scene remains chaotic and busy heading into the fall. It’s probably a good thing with football returning, as it will at least keep people from drifting away for lack of suspense. My SmackDown audio reviews are available weekly for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Imagine honoring people killed on 9/11, while having a cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia who funded 9/11. Good old MAGA hypocrisy on display.
It’s bad enough we 24/7 nonstop information. Don’t come here with your non wrestling bs.
They literally just put the world title on a Muslim on 9/11. That’s not an accident.
I didn’t consider that at all.
So punk didnt want to lose to Orton so he drops the title to Sami in a way that looks flaky so he can stay relevant and also now Orton can go after the world title and beat Sami
I would put the belt on Trick Williams. If it goes Sami then Orton then Trick. For me, I want to see new. Trick is still kind of green, but he has natural charisma and a lot of talent. WWE is a like a championship team with a lot of older players. I’m not a NY Islanders fan but the WWE reminds me of the 80s Islanders. Great teams, but they didn’t know how or when to move to the youth.