By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE SmackDown (Episode 1,417)
Sacramento, California, at Golden 1 Center
Simulcast live on October 16, 2026, on USA Network and streamed internationally on Netflix
Cody Rhodes, R-Truth, Damien Priest, Tatum Paxley, and Alexa Bliss were shown walking backstage. Vic Joseph was on commentary with Corey Graves. Sami Zayn made his entrance in the arena along with Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. Zayn asked the crowd who came to ride or die with the last real good guy. A mixed reaction rang out, and he said he hated to say he told you so, but vultures are circling around his title and they got what they deserved.
Zayn said Je’Von Evans, CM Punk, Trick Williams, and Kevin Owens all came up short. He said he wouldn’t waste his breath on Trick Williams tonight, but he gave a sarcastic congratulations to Penta and told him to focus his energy with Roman Reigns. He then said he had his own personal history with Roman Reigns, and that would come into focus in a few weeks when they go one on one at Crown Jewel. Out of respect, he said he would hold off on addressing it until Monday when he could say it to Roman face to face.
Trick Williams interrupted Sami and made his way to the ring. Trick fired up the crowd and Sami demanded the production team shut down his music. He told Trick to say what he had to say. Trick said it’s not secret they don’t like each other, and after last week he sees that it’s personal for Sami. He said he understands why, because every time he sees Trick Williams he remembers WrestleMania and Backlash, and Trick Williams being a real superstar. He then continued and told Sami he would beat his ass.
Zayn told Williams he already told him it wasn’t a game and he wasn’t to be trifled with, but he has to turn everything into a joke because that’s all he is. He told Williams he can’t differentiate what’s serious from what’s a joke, and he doesn’t have the survival skills to discern between a real threat and a joke. Zayn told Trick he’s a survivor, and that’s why he’s going to stay where he is and Trick will stay where he is. Trick said he’s not joking, and told him to take a swing and find out what happens.
Gargano grabbed a microphone and said enough, and told Trick he’s disrespecting them too. He said Trick was handed opportunities they had to work for because he had an entrance and he had “it”. Gargano then said if he continued the disrespect, he’d find out why they call him Johnny Wrestling instead of Johnny Entrance. Trick said he wasn’t making excuses, and he works as hard as everybody, and he’d beat his ass too. Gargano accepted, and a referee was called out to the ring…[c]
My Take: A decent segment to set up the opening match. It seems like they aren’t too focused on Crown Jewel until Monday so this was fairly self contained. Trick was very over with the live crowd, particularly for his catchphrase.
