By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE SmackDown (Episode 1,413)
Corpus Christi, Texas, at the Hilliard Center
Simulcast on September 18, 2026, on USA Network and streamed internationally on Netflix
Michael Cole introduced the show while Alexa Bliss, Jade Cargill, and Jacy Jayne were shown backstage with their crews ahead of their Money in the Bank qualifier. Rey Fenix, Trick Williams, and Randy Orton were also shown walking backstage ahead of their qualifier match. A video package then aired for Sami Zayn’s WWE Championship victory in Mexico City last week. Nick Aldis was in the ring and said part of his job was dealing with people who rub you the wrong way.
He said he was out there per his never ending over the top requests and introduced WWE Champion Sami Zayn. He made his ring entrance to a mostly negative reaction. A CM Punk chant broke out as Sami stood with the microphone. Sami asked Aldis if all of the booing was funny to him. He then said it must have killed Aldis to give that smarmy and disingenuous introduction. Sami said the words WWE Champion felt good coming out of his mouth, but he was disappointed in the reaction in Corpus Christi.
Zayn continued and said when he said justice, he meant for everyone, including the people booing in the crowd. He continued and said justice was served, and this is what it looks like. Sami then held up the WWE Championship. He then said he gets it, fans weren’t used to having a Champion with a strong moral character. Sami said he also believes in equality, and told Aldis that he expects everyone that begs him for a title shot to be treated exactly the same way he treated him.
Johnny Gargano’s music hit and he headed to the ring with Candice LeRae. Sami gave him a hug while Michael Cole misspoke Candice Michelle instead of LeRae. Johnny got right to the point and said Sami promised him he’d be first in line for a title shot, and he was cashing in. Zayn tried to weasel out of it by saying he told him he’d take care of him, but never promised him a title shot. Gargano told him a promise was a promise and he wanted his match tonight in Corpus Christi.
Aldis stepped up and told Gargano that he had a title shot in his home town a few weeks ago and the man he considers next in line is CM Punk. Kevin Owens’ music hit and he headed to the ring with a microphone. Owens tried to make his claim as the next WWE title challenger, but Candice interrupted and told him Johnny was next. He then turned to Gargano and gave him a stunner to take him out of the ring. Aldis tried to imply that he wasn’t going to reward bad behavior, and Owens brought up that Zayn had been rewarded for his bad behavior by ruining Smackdown main events and costing him his WWE Title match in Toronto.
Zayn told Aldis that he wasn’t going to get screwed again like he did with CM Punk last time. He put his hands on Aldis, who told him to take his hands off of him immediately. Aldis said Zayn has made this decision very easy, and told him he would defend his WWE Championship against Kevin Owens later tonight. Aldis left the ring, and Zayn followed him complaining. Randy Orton’s music hit and he walked past Zayn and Owens on the way to the ring. The Money in the Bank qualifier is up next…[c]
My Take: That was pretty much exactly what I was expecting for Sami’s title reign. He’s a full on weasel and the most vulnerable WWE Champion in ages. I enjoy the vibe of instability it introduces into the top of the card. A lot more outcomes feel possible.
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