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.
A video package recapped Stephanie Vaquer’s title win and other highlights from WWE”s tour of South America and Mexico. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship was confirmed for the main event. In the arena, Rey Fenix completed his entrance, followed by Trick Williams. Footage was shown of Baron Corbin attacking Trick Williams last week on Smackdown.
2. Randy Orton vs. Rey Fenix vs. Trick Williams to qualify for Money in the Bank: Fenix got off to a hot start. Randy Orton went shoulder first into the ring post, and Fenix landed a splash on Trick Williams at ringside, followed by a moonsault back in the ring for a two count. Trick recovered and sent Fenix to the floor. Orton woke up and landed back drops on both Fenix and Lil Yachty on the announce table on the outside…[c]
Orton dropped Fenix with a right hand and then set up for a Superplex on Trick Williams. Fenix popped back up and turned it into a Tower of Doom out of the corner. He then delivered a splash on Orton and covered for a close near fall. Fenix delivered kicks to Orton and Williams. Orton tried to toss Fenix from the ring, but he held onto the ropes and delivered a big kick to Orton instead. Fenix lined up and ran at Orton, but got caught with a lariat instead. Orton set up for a draping DDT on Williams, but Rey interrupted him with a rope walk into a soccer kick.
Williams sent Fenix to the floor and delivered a spin kick to Orton for a near fall. Fenix returned and landed a superkick to Williams. He then went to the top rope and dove directly into an RKO from Orton. Williams then delivered a Trick Shot to Orton and sent him to the outside. He covered Fenix and got the win.
Trick Williams qualified for Money in the Bank at 10:19
After the match, Trick celebrated with Yachty. Backstage, LeRae and Gargano bickered about the title shot that didn’t happen. Zayn then showed up and gave a sob story about how he cannot get screwed out of the title again. He then manipulated Gargano and said if he loses the title, then Gargano may never get a title shot again. LeRae wasn’t buying it and rolled her eyes at Zayn as Gargano promised they would talk about it.
Elsewhere, the MFTs told Nakamura that whatever happens next to Kyoki was on his head. Nakamura was then shown and said they are confused, because they are the prey and not the predators. Bakusai will face the MFTs up next…[c]
My Take: Jason and I discussed this match on Dot Net Weekly and I initially said Trick was my prediction before we both agreed that Fenix was the sentimental favorite. I think Fenix had the best performance in this match despite Trick getting the win. Hopefully he continues to get opportunities in the ring on Smackdown.
Alexa and Charlotte were shown backstage speaking to Tatum Paxley. Tatum and Charlotte tried to offer advice to Alexa, but she told them she needed to be by herself to focus. She left them to have a disagreement about Tatum’s many emotional support candles. Bakusai made their ring entrance in the arena. They were followed by the WWE Tag Team Champions MFT.
2. “Bakusai” Kyoki and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. “MFT” Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga w/Haku: Kyoki and Tama started the match. Kyoki tried to attack Talla Tonga on the apron, but he was stopped by Tama. Kyoki ended up sending both men to ringside and delivering a double dropkick off the ring apron…[c]
Kyoki and Tama clashed in the ring with a series of strikes. Talla tagged in and shrugged off a dropkick. He went for a chokeslam, but it was reversed into a facebuster. Kyoko then dove on both Tama and Talla at ringside. Nakamura and Kyoki then landed a double team suplex into a splash for a two count. Nakamura then landed a knee strike for a near fall. Haku had seen enough of this, and attacked Nakamura with his walking stick at ringside for a DQ.
Nakamura and Kyoki won by disqualification
After the match, Talla landed a chokeslam on Kyoki and they left him laying on the floor next to Nakamura who clutched his neck. Backstage, Kevin Owens was shown backstage, and said he would beat Sami Zayn in the same arena he defeated John Cena in his debut match. Finn Balor walked up and told Owens it was awfully convenient that he got a title shot the week after he helped Sami Zayn win it. He said Owens can do it his way, and he would do it the right way. Balor said he was coming after whoever won, even if it mean winning Money in the Bank to do it…[c]
My Take: It would be nice if Kyoki’s character didn’t give off the vibe of an overgrown toddler. I liked the backstage interaction between Owens and Balor. It feel like the first time in a while that Balor has had some moral clarity.
Backstage, Nick Aldis spoke to Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton. Danhausen appeared and told Aldis that Gooner called about human monies in the bank, and he blocked some guy named Mickey who kept calling. Tiffany then told Chelsea she was entering a Money in the Bank qualifier. Nikki Bella then walked up and told Chelsea she was coming after her championship.
Michael Cole conducted a sit down interview with Cody Rhodes. He asked Cody why he wasn’t able to “pull the trigger” at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Cole referenced Cody being called QB1, but said the team is now gone. He referenced all of the people who stood in the ring with him after his win at WrestleMania when he finished his story and stabbed him in the back. Cody said maybe he should have seen it coming, but he had hoped it would turn out differently.
He then said it’s a very large team, and it’s not just the people fighting for the WWE Championship. Cole then asked Cody what would happen the next time he’s in the ring with Orton. Cody replied that he resented the idea that he had to compromise himself in order to be a winner, and listed off his laundry list of accomplishments since returning to WWE. He then elaborated that he would not make the same mistake he made at Sunday Night’s Main Event a second time.
Elsewhere, Jade Cargill and her crew were interviewed. Mia and B-Fab said they were next in line for the Women’s Tag Team Championships, and Jade said she was going after her title and it starts tonight when she qualified for Money in the Bank. She then made her ring entrance in the arena. She will face Alexa Bliss and Jacy Jayne up next…[c]
My Take: Interesting interview from Rhodes. He seems to acknowledge that he can’t continue to make the same mistakes while also resenting the idea that he has to change in order for it to happen.
Jacy Jayne and Alexa Bliss made their ring entrances for the next match.
3. Jade Cargill vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Jacy Jayne to qualify for Money in the Bank: Jacy tripped Alexa at the start of the match, and then backed out of the ring when confronted by Jade Cargill. Jacy jumped up on the commentary desk to gloat, and Alexa went to ringside and tripped her up. Jade asserted control of the match with a shoulder tackle and a body slam to Jayne. Jacy fired back with a head scissors, but it didn’t last long. Jade and Bliss took turns knocking each other out of the ring. Jacy took a run at Jade, but she countered with a spinning side slam…[c]
Jacy placed Alexa on the top turnbuckle and set up for a Superplex. Jade entered the ring and turned it into a tower of doom very similarly to the spot in the first Money in the Bank qualifier. Jade then ran the ropes and splashed both Jacy and Alexa in opposite corners, but Jacy moved on the third attempt and she crashed into the ring post. Bliss landed a DDT and a flying head scissors on Jayne. Bliss followed Jayne out to the floor with a flip dive from the ring apron.
Jade approached Alexa and hit her with a knee strike. Jayne then sent Jade into the ring steps and then delivered a running knee strike in the ring to Bliss for a close near fall. After a bit of back and forth, Bliss set up for twisted bliss on Jayne. She rolled out of the ring instead. Alexa splashed both women at ringside and then tossed Jayne back into the ring. She then landed Sister Abigail and made a cover, but Jade broke up the fall in awkward fashion. Jade then sent Jayne to the floor and delivered Jaded to Bliss, but Jayne broke up the fall with a superkick and stole the fall on Bliss for the win.
Jacy Jayne qualified for Money in the Bank at 11:06
Backstage, Guilia was interviewed about being in a Money in the Bank Qualifying match next week with Charlotte and Lash Legend. Nia and Lash walked up and said Lash was going to destroy her next week. Guilia said Lash could tell her how she feels next week when she kicks her teeth in. Elsewhere, Trick Williams approached Sami Zayn. He told Trick he wasn’t going to stand for his disrespect, and that he was a two time WWE Champion, and not ginger bread. Trick said he was going to win Money in the Bank and then come and take his title again…[c]
My Take: I like Jacy getting the win there. I assumed both Alexa and Charlotte would be in the match, but perhaps Charlotte qualifies next week and kicks off some jealousy from Alexa.
A video package aired of Damien Priest expressing his frustration with R-Truth, and that he should have betrayed him long ago. He said he had looked in the mirror and realized that he was the one that needed to change. Priest said Truth could say he betrayed him, but he should also call him a bad man. In the arena, Kevin Owens made his ring entrance, followed by Sami Zayn.
4. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship: Kevin Owens attacked Zayn as soon as he turned his back, and then the bell rang. The action went outside where Owens landed a big shoulder block followed by a running senton…[c]
Zayn hung up Owens on the top rope and delivered some punches and elbows. He then tossed Owens with extra force into the turnbuckle, and he started to grab at his neck. Sami climbed to the second rope and delivered a double axe handle to the back of Owens’ neck for a two count. He then climbed up to the top rope, but Owens met him there. After a battle in the corner Owens hit a superkick. He then landed a running senton and a cannonball in the corner.
He then picked up Zayn on his shoulders and delivered a John Cena’s Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. Owens then went for a pop up powerbomb, but Zayn reversed into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count…[c]
Owens knocked Zayn off the turnbuckle in the corner. He then delivered a Swanton and covered for a close near fall. Afterward he grabbed at his neck. Johnny Gargano ran down and distracted the referee so Candice could deliver a Tornado DDT to Owens. Zayn then delivered a Heluva Kick and covered for a close near fall. Zayn was beside himself and lined up for another Heluva Kick, but Owens reversed into a pop up powerbomb. He then delivered a Stunner, but Gargano slipped his foot onto the ropes.
Owens left to ringside and tossed Gargano into the ring barricade repeatedly. He then set up for a powerbomb onto the commentary table, but Zayn bailed him out. Owens then suplexed Zayn into the table, and sent him back into the ring. Gargano grabbed the WWE Title and tried to hit Owens with it, but got a Stunner for his trouble. CM Punk suddenly appeared while the referee barked at Candice LeRae and hit Owens with the belt. Zayn covered and got a 2.9 count that seemed to surprise everyone. He then delivered another Heluva Kick and got the win.
Sami Zayn defeated Kevin Owens at 16:09
After the match, CM Punk entered the ring and delivered a GTS to both Owens and Zayn. He then celebrated with the crowd to close the show.
My Take: I expected chaos and was not disappointed. I have to think KO wasn’t supposed to kick out of that belt strike from Punk and they had to improvise there, but I’m not sure if it was Owens or the referee who made the mistake. Overall, I’d give this show a slightly above average grade. The opening and closing of the show were fun, but the middle portion of the episode sagged a bit. I’ll have more to say in my audio review for Members later on tonight.
Jade is the worst. Fire her butt. Just wanted to post that.