By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE SmackDown (Episode 1,418)
Ontario, California, at Toyota Arena
Simulcast live on October 23, 2026, on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
Footage recapped Monday’s Raw featuring the reunion of Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns. In the arena, Sami Zayn made his ring entrance with Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano. He did his ride or die shtick and got the majority of boos. Sami then said he went toe to toe in the ring with Roman Reigns, and he said it got him thinking about whether it was the man that made the championship or the other way around. Zayn said that there is this idea that the alpha male is the greatest, but in his mind the alpha male is the smartest.
He then made reference to 8 billion people living on earth, and only one of them is the WWE Champion, and there was only one man that everyone in the back had their sights on, and it was him. He continued speaking and said that Penta was trying to stick his nose in his business, but was interrupted by Rey Fenix. Rey walked to the ring and told Sami he didn’t know what Penta was going to do. He told Sami they were still friends, but if he continued to disrespect his brother, they would start to have a problem.
Sami replied that he didn’t want problems with Rey, he just thought Penta should focus on Roman Reigns. He then started to talk about the lack of respect people have for him, but that brought out Trick Williams. Trick said that he felt Rey’s pain, and said Sami said something last week that stuck with him. He said Sami said he didn’t know how to survive. Trick rattled off a list of his accomplishments over his first 10 months, and said Sami puts no fear in his heart. He said he was there to thrive, not survive.
Trick continued and said that Sami had spent 25 years in the business convincing people that he knew what “it” was, but “it” already beat his ass at WrestleMania. He continued and said he’s the only one in the ring that knew how to talk and walk like a champion, and when it comes to being a Champion, Sami is the rookie and he was the veteran. Trick said he was tired of talking and it was about time Sami gave him his title shot.
Sami replied that Trick has a silver tongue, but his is steel and razor sharp. He said he could cut him to pieces with the microphone, but he won’t because he’s a good guy. Zayn continued and said that Trick doesn’t know what it is, and it’s not something you can smell. He told Trick that he was the shark and Trick was swimming in dangerous waters, and he’s nowhere near a title shot.
Trick got fired up and said that if he was so dangerous, then why did he beat him at WrestleMania in the first place? He then said he wasn’t asking for a title shot, he was demanding it. Nick Aldis appeared on the stage and said he was tired of these guys talking like they run the place. He said they have now made their problems his problem and booked a match between Johnny Gargano and Sami vs. Rey Fenix and Trick Williams for later in the show.
Roxanne Perez made her ring entrance for her title match with Chelsea Green…[c]
My Take: This was a decent segment to set up the main event, but I’m surprised by how little WWE is making out of Crown Jewel that is a few weeks away.
Chelsea Green made her ring entrance for the opening match..
2. Chelsea Green vs. Roxanne Perez for the WWE Women’s Championship: They locked up to start and held on through several reversals. There was an awkward pinfall from Roxanne that got a two count. Chelsea then took down Green and covered for a two count of her own. Perez got knocked to the floor, and Green followed up with a dive through the ropes. Perez regained control by wrapping up Green’s arm using the bottom rope and stomping on it…[c]
Chelsea Green delivered a superplex out of the corner as the show returned. Perez managed to pull Green into a roll up, but Green kicked out at 2.5. Green took down Perez and went up top, but Raquel Rodriguez ran down and shoved her from the top rope. Perez landed a Shining Wizard, but only got a near fall. Iyo Sky ran down to the ring to even the odds, and after avoiding a Pop Rocks, Green landed an Unpretty her for the win.
Chelsea Green defeated Roxanne Perez at 9:23 to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
After the match, Liv Morgan appeared and the group beating commenced on both Chelsea Green and Iyo Sky. Tiffany Stratton ran down to the ring to even the odds. Stratton and Sky cleared Perez and Rodriguez from the ring. Stratton hit Morgan with the briefcase and even tried to cash in, but Rodriguez and Perez pulled her from the ring. We then got a video recap of the main event segment from Last Week’s show where Rhodes punted Baron Corbin.
Guilia made her ring entrance before the break. She faces Blake Monroe next…[c]
My Take: A decent match, but a few clumsy moments kept it from standing out. I wish I could buy in on these early briefcase cash in attempts, but it makes little sense that Stratton would cash in on Morgan when WWE is so in love with shock betrayals.
Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton celebrated with Iyo Sky outside the arena. Tiffany said she couldn’t wait to cash in on Liv, and Green said it was time for the three of them to go get some Martinis. Blake Monroe made her ring entrance for this no disqualification match.
2. Blake Monroe vs. Guilia in a Street Fight: Guilia charged Monroe on the floor and tossed her into the barricade. She then tried to toss Monroe into a pile of chairs that was set up at ringside, but she avoided it. Monroe produced a kendo stick and struck Guilia with it multiple times. She then followed up with a shotgun dropkick that sent Guilia into the barricade. Monroe tried to climb the barricade, but Guilia tripped her up and then knocked her into the timekeeper’s area. After a battle on the floor, Guilia ended up tossing Monroe through the pile of chairs that was stacked up like a pyramid…[c]
Both women battled into the backstage area as the show returned. Blake sprayed Guilia in the face with hairspray and then admired herself in the mirror. Guilia recovered and shoved her into the mirror and broke it. The women battled back into the arena and towards the ring. Guilia hit Monroe with a missile dropkick and then performed a curbstomp in the ring for a close near fall. Monroe fired back with a fire extinguisher and shot it into her eyes. She then performed a superplex into the pile of steel chairs on the floor from the top of the ring steps.
Both women were down, and Monroe dragged Guilia back into the ring. She landed a Neutralizer and covered for the win.
Blake Monroe defeated Guilia at 10:46
After the match, Monroe celebrated her win and talked trash to Guilia on the ground. Backstage, Randy Orton was shown walking in a hallway backstage…[c]
My Take: I enjoyed that match significantly more than the opener. They had a lot of shortcuts and weapons involved, the match was paced well and both women worked hard within the confines of what is considered a hardcore match in WWE in 2026.
Randy Orton made his ring entrance after the break. Orton addressed Cody Rhodes and called him QB1, Grandson of a Plumber, Guile, and told him he was proud of him. He said never in a million years did he think his balls would drop low enough to punt somebody in the head, and it was a badge of honor for him to make Cody Rhodes crack. Orton said he sees through him, and said he could kick the head off everybody in the locker room, but none of it matters unless he does it to him.
He continued and said he kicked the head off mentors, legends and friends with zero hesitation for 20 years. Orton said he knows that if Cody gets the opportunity again, he will hesitate. Cody’s music hit and he headed to the ring. Nick Aldis walked out and talked to Cody before he got into the ring. Cody blew him off and got in anyways.
Cody said he was confused and asked when Randy Orton became a coward. He said he has a shot at the greatest record of all time, and said he wondered why he wasn’t afraid. Cody said he was out there rewriting their history. He was the legend killer, but he also killed any chance he had at being the face of the company. Cody said he punted him too, but the next night one of them walked out in front of the paying customers and the other stayed in St. Louis and nursed his wounds like a little bitch.
He then asked the crowd to remind him what the most dangerous letters in WWE were. The crowd said RKO, but Cody said they were IOU because he knows Randy was just as tired of all the talking as he was so what were they waiting for? Aldis piped up and tried to put a match together for tonight, but Orton blew it off. Aldis then offered a match between them at Crown Jewel. Cody then said he would gladly wrestle Randy Orton, but not just any match, he wanted Last Man Standing. Orton said fine but then told Cody to remember that he asked for this.
Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss will defend their titles against B-Fab and Michin next…[c]
My Take: Last Man Standing is one of my least favorite match stipulations. It typically just ends up being a lot of counting and not much suspense. Hopefully Cody and Randy will buck that trend.
Entrances for the Women’s Tag match took place after the break.
3. Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley vs. B-Fab and Michin for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Paxley and Bliss took control in the early going on B-Fab. Paxley landed a rising kick from the floor to the apron, and then performed a moonsault on Michin on the floor…[c]
Bliss tagged into the match and hit some rapid fire offense onto B-Fab, capped off with a DDT. She then delivered a running blockbuster and covered for a near fall. She then set up for Sister Abigail, but B-Fab escaped and made a tag to Michin. Bliss landed a tornado DDT on Michin and climbed to the top rope. She tagged Paxley and then dove onto B-Fab who ran into the ring. Paxley landed a wheel kick to Michin and climbed to the top herself.
She couldn’t connect with a 450, but then tried and failed for a Cemetery Drive. Jade Cargill landed a hard right hand to Paxley, and then Michin landed a Styles Clash and got the win.
B-Fab and Michin defeated Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss at 7:40 to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Backstage, Trick Williams told Cathy Kelley that he would face Sami Zayn next week for the WWE Championship. After he walked away, Damien Priest was shown looking disgusted. MFT will face Bakusai next…[c]
My Take: Not a great match. I guess the friction between Paxley, Bliss, and Flair will be determining who goes back after the Women’s Tag Titles?
MFT made their entrance. Bakusai followed, but Kyoki stole Haku’s cane and ran up to the stage with it. This caused a brawl on the stage, which resulted in WWE officials breaking things up. The advertised match never occurred as the brawl was broken up.
A pre-recorded interview from “earlier today” took place with Nick Adlis. He announced that two weeks from now on Smackdown, they would face each other Brooklyn on Smackdown. He then invited them into frame to say what they had to say to each other. Punk started and said this was a monumental waste of his time, because he should be preparing for Roman Reigns but Owens has cost him his title. They both spoke over each other for a bit and talked in circles about their history. Punk said he has no familiarity with Owens whatsoever. They have never conversed, shared a drink, or eaten together. Owens replied I don’t need to do that with you. He said he’d been around enough people who knew you to know who you are.
Punk accused Owens of making excuses and not being a serious person. He tried to pretend he didn’t care and that it was beneath him, but Owens kept pointing out that his tone indicated otherwise. Punk eventually walked off and said he would put Owens on his back in two weeks in Brooklyn. Owens told Aldis that Punk clearly cares more about Owens that he says, and thanked Aldis for the match in two weeks.
Sami Zayn and Johnny Gargano made their entrance for the main event…[c]
My Take: Not much substance to that promo from Owens and Punk. It wasn’t bad, but I’ll call it a victory if it makes one of them a clear heel and face by the end of it.
Rey Fenix made his ring entrance, followed by Trick Williams.
4. Sami Zayn and Johnny Gargano vs. Rey Fenix and Trick WIlliams: The match ended after about 30 seconds when Ricky Saints appeared and attacked Rey Fenix.
The match ended in a no contest at 0:30
After the match, Penta appeared and called for a six man tag match. Rey and Fenix dove on Saints, Gargano, and Zayn on the floor…[c]
5. Ricky Saints, Zami Zayn, and Johnny Gargano vs. Rey Fenix, Penta, and Trick Williams: The match was joined in progress. Fenix landed a spider kick on Gargano and tagged in Penta. Saints and Gargano tried to jump Penta, but he stuffed them both with kicks. Penta then sent Zayn to the floor and performed a handstand kick in the corner on Gargano for a near fall.
Fenix dove onto Saints on the floor, and Penta landed a Penta Driver on Gargano for a near fall. He lined up for a Mexican Destroyer, but Gargano caught him coming in with a Superkick. Gargano crawled for the corner and both Trick and Sami tagged into the match. Trick won a strike exchange and landed ar running lariat. He went for a Trick Shot, but got caught with a DDT from Saints. The pace picked up and there was a series of rapid fire signature moves.
Trick prevented a Heluva Kick from Zayn on Pega and landed a Trick Shot on Zayn. He then delivered a Book End on Saints and got the win.
Trick Williams, Penta and Fenix defeated Sami Zayn, Ricky Saints and Johnny Gargano
The winning team celebrated as the show went off the air…
My Take: There were a few segments that I found intriguing, but this felt like a mostly missable episode of Smackdown. The main event was well worked, but the outcome never seemed in doubt with the advertised Trick vs. Sami World Title match taking place next week.
