By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,409)
Toronto, Ontario, at Scotiabank Arena
Aired live August 21, 2026, on USA Network (streamed internationally on Netflix)
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett were on commentary. Shots aired of WWE Champion CM Punk and Kevin Owens. Tessitore and Barrett spoke from their desk at ringside and said the WWE Championship match would be the first Punk vs. Owens match… A video package spotlighted the Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton feud…
Backstage, Sami Zayn vented to Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis about not being in the WWE Championship match. Zayn took issue with Randy Orton attacking Cody Rhodes when Zayn was supposed to face Cody. Orton showed up behind Zayn.
Cody Rhodes stood in the ring and called out Randy Orton. Nick Aldis walked onto the stage and told Cody that they weren’t doing this tonight. Orton made his entrance and said he’d beat Cody’s ass in two weeks on Sunday Night’s Main Event. Cody called for the match to take place now.
Aldis said Cody and Orton could tear each other apart on Sunday Night’s Main Event, but not a second sooner. He said that if either man placed a finger on the other, they would never get another shot at the WWE Championship. Orton said there was no way he would get in the ring and jeopardize his chance at becoming a 15-time champion.
Orton turned his attention to Cody. Orton said Cody wouldn’t have been able to live with himself had he struck him with a chair full force last week. Orton said he has zero remorse and knows how to be his worst self. Orton said Cody is a good guy and always will be.
Cody questioned if it would actually be a bad thing to hit Orton with a chair, given some of the things that Orton did to him. Cody said the one who kills the Legend Killer is QB1. “Randy, that’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler,” Cody said. Cody’s entrance theme played while he stood in the ring and looked down at Orton, who stared at him from the floor…
WWE Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga walked backstage and told teams to step up and challenge them if they want the tag team titles. Haku appeared and was censored while he spoke…
Damian Priest and R-Truth made their entrance for their WWE Tag Team Title match, and then the show cut to commercial… [C]
Powell’s POV: I always get a kick out of Sami Zayn putting his foot in his mouth. Cody showed good intensity, while Orton is taking a cocky heel approach. They’ve done enough brawling that it’s logical to set up a stipulation that prohibits them from making contact. By the way, the venue is loud and packed. WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 15,999, with 15,818 tickets distributed. The total number of seats on the map is 18,149. The last time WWE ran the venue, 16,095 tickets were distributed for the January 26, 2026, WWE Raw show.
Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga made their entrance with Haku while ring announcer Mark Nash introduced them…
1. Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga (w/Haku) vs. Damian Priest and R-Truth for the WWE Tag Team Titles. AAA Tag Team Champions “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar were shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. Truth performed a pescado on Tama. Back in the ring, Tama clotheslined Truth using the top rope. Tama hit Truth and covered him for a one count. Tama threw several punches at Truth before dumping him to the floor before a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Truth went on an offensive run and hit John Cena’s signature moves on Tama. Truth went for the pin, but Talla broke it up. Priest cleared Talla to the floor. Priest set up for a move from the apron, but Tama bumped him to the floor. Talla chokeslammed Truth onto the apron. The champions hit their Red Cross finisher on Truth, and then Tama pinned him.
Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga defeated Damian Priest and R-Truth in 11:35 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
After the match, a frustrated Priest returned to the ring. Priest pulled Truth to his feet and hugged him…
Powell’s POV: I was with the live crowd, as they clearly expected Priest to turn on Truth afterward. Truth even got more offense than usual during the match, so it seemed like he was being set up to look sympathetic if Priest blamed him for the loss.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed WWE Champion CM Punk, who said he’s grown and evolved. Punk said that when he looks at Kevin Owens, he sees the same guy. Randy Orton walked onto the set and said that after he whoops Cody’s ass in Cody’s hometown, he’s coming for his 15th world title win. Punk said he was looking forward to it… [C]
Tessitore hyped the two-night AAA Triplemania… Tessitore set up a recap of last week’s angle with Nick Aldis stripping Chelsea Green of the WWE Women’s Championship due to injury, only to change his mind…
Backstage, Chelsea Green told Tiffany Stratton that she had a plan to make it up to her for the way things went down last week. Stratton said she knew that Green was trying to help, but she said she wanted Green to stay backstage because she didn’t want anything to jeopardize her title reign.
Paige told Green that what Green did last week was empowering. “Fatal Influence” U.S. Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid showed up and mocked Stratton and Paige for advising Green, even though they have no idea how to keep a championship. Paige challenged Jayne by talking about taking her title…
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Blake Monroe, who had a rack of clothes. Monroe spoke about facing Giulia and said she was trying to find the appropriate outfit to wear “in this dump.” Monroe said she will make people remember her… [C]
Tessitore hyped AAA Ola de Calor and NXT Heatwave for August 30…
Giulia made her entrance. Blake Monroe came out and attacked Giulia from behind in the entrance aisle. Monroe tossed Giulia inside the ring and followed her. The referee didn’t call for the bell. Rather, Monroe continued to work over Giulia and capped it off by hitting her with a Neutralizer…
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss spoke backstage about Bliss’s belated birthday brunch. Tatum Paxley showed up and said she couldn’t wait to hang out with Flair and Bliss. Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin showed up and called Paxley a freak show. Paxley asked which one of them was Mary and said she needed their blood. Michin challenged Paxley to a match next week. Paxley said it would be her first match and accepted. Paxley hugged an uncomfortable Flair, who spoke up for her at one point in the verbal exchange…
Trick Williams and Lil Yachty were shown walking backstage… [C] Tessitore plugged Survivor Series tickets…
Trick Williams made his entrance with Lil Yachty. Ring announcer Mark Nash said Yachty is the self-proclaimed best man to ever breathe. Trick said he had Yachty back, but he didn’t have his U.S. Title back. Trick said that since Baron Corbin walks around looking like a cue ball, he could hit him with his Trick Shot and get his title back.
[Hour Two] U.S. Champion Baron Corbin drove a motorcycle onto the stage and then walked to the ring, but he wasn’t wearing his title belt. Once in the ring, Corbin head-faked Yachty, who rolled out of the ring. Trick said he was the one Corbin was looking for. Trick told Corbin to stop ducking him and give the people what they want.
Trick challenged Corbin to an immediate title shot. Corbin said the title belt was getting “a pretty little haircut.” Corbin said Trick wouldn’t get another title shot. Corbin said Trick lost the title and then lost his rematch. Corbin said Trick had nothing to offer him. Yachty returned to the ring. Corbin called Yachty a coat-carrying friend and said this was over.
Yachty hit Corbin with a kendo stick. Corbin ended up on the floor and said he would face Trick on Sunday Night’s Main Event, but first he wanted to face Yachty in his hometown. Corbin said that if Yachty survives five minutes, Trick gets his title shot. If Yachty doesn’t survive the five minutes, then Trick won’t get another title shot. Yachty agreed to the stipulation. Corbin told him it would be the longest five minutes of his life…
Powell’s POV: This is a unique spin on the usual stipulation. Normally, it would be that if a babyface wrestler beats a heel, then the babyface gets five minutes alone in the ring with the heel’s manager.
Cathy Kelley tried to interview Kevin Owens in a backstage area, but she made her exit when Finn Balor showed up. Balor said he was glad that Owens was back at SummerSlam, but a little heads-up would have been nice.
Gunther entered the picture and said Owens wouldn’t have to worry about Balor because he’s a shadow of himself. Gunther said that if Owens wins the WWE Championship, he’ll have to worry about him instead. Gunther exited. Balor had encouraging words for Owens…
Tiffany Stratton made her entrance for a match against Lash Legend…
An ad for Raw hyped the Oba Femi and Bron Breakker contract signing, Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez, and “anything can happen when LA Knight and Solo Sikoa take the fight to The Bloodline”… [C] Lash Legend made her entrance with Nia Jax…
2. Lash Legend (w/Nia Jax) vs. Tiffany Stratton. Tessitore played up the rib injury that the heels gave Stratton a week earlier. Stratton went for a suicide dive, but Legend caught her. Legend did a weak tap into the ring post before doing a tame slam onto the apron. [C]
Stratton had a nice run of offense. Stratton went up top for her finisher, but Legend cut her off. Legend hit the Lash Extension and pinned Stratton.
Lash Legend beat Tiffany Stratton in 7:20.
Afterward, Jax entered the ring and performed a leg drop on Stratton. Legend picked up Stratton and held her in a bear hug while Jax hit Stratton from behind.
WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green came out with a kendo stick. Green hit Legend and Jax with the kendo stick to clear them from the ring…
The broadcast team spoke about the main event. A CM Punk and Kevin Owens video package aired… Tessitore said the WWE Championship match was up next… [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s cool that Canada native Green was able to make the trip to Toronto and have a moment despite her orbital bone injury. Meanwhile, I don’t know if we’ll get a clean finish, but it looks like they are giving Punk and Owens a lot of time.
Tessitore plugged the early start time for Monday’s Raw at 5CT/6ET…
A Shinsuke Nakamura vignette aired. He said he warned everyone for weeks. Hiromu Takahashi entered the picture and introduced himself as Kyoki. He said that after competing around the world, he’s finally arrived in WWE. He said the stronger his opponents are, the more fun he has. Nakamura said Kyoki isn’t afraid of chaos; he enjoys it. Nakamura said there will be an explosion when strong style and madness collide…
Powell’s POV: Will Naraku (f/k/a Evil) align with these two? More importantly, who is taking care of Daryl while Hiromu is away?!?
Kevin Owens made his entrance for the main event and was cheered. WWE Champion CM Punk made his entrance and was booed by some fans while others sang his entrance theme. Punk wore a cool custom goalie mask that he took off before delivering the “clobberin’ time” line. Owens sat on the top turnbuckle and watched Punk before returning to the mat and exchanging some shoves with him…
3. CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship. Mark Nash delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Dan Engler was the referee. The bell rang. Owens got the better of an initial punching exchange. Owens cleared Punk from the ring with a clothesline over the top rope and then went to the floor. Punk rolled back inside the ring and then stomped Owens once he followed. Owens regrouped quickly and sent Punk to the floor. Owens joined him and threw chops and punches before tossing him back in the ring.
Owens cleared the broadcast table. Punk returned to the floor, where he kicked Owens before tossing him back inside the ring. Punk picked up the top piece and put it back on the broadcast table. Funny. Back in the ring, Owens kicked Punk and went for a Stunner, but Punk countered with a neckbreaker before a PIP break. [C]
Owens had Punk down in a corner when he crossed his arms and then crotch chopped before hitting Punk with a cannonball in the corner. Owens went up top, but Punk rolled to the floor and smiled until Owens hit him from behind. Owens got Punk on the broadcast table and then jumped off the barricade and splashed him through the table.
Back in the ring, Owens hit a Swanton and covered Punk for a near fall. Punk came back with a series of kicks, including one to the head that put Owens down and led to a Punk near fall. Punk put Owens down with a knee strike to the head. Punk went up top and smiled at the booing crowd before hitting a top rope elbow drop for another near fall.
Punk applied the Anaconda Vice. Owens rolled onto Punk and got the two count to break the hold. Punk put Owens right back down with a neckbreaker. Punk followed up with a second neckbreaker. Owens threw a punch from his knees, but Punk knocked him back down and signaled for the GTS.
Punk hoisted up Owens and went for the GTS, but Owens blocked it and put him in the Sharpshooter. Punk struggled and eventually reached the bottom rope to break the hold. Punk rolled onto the apron and clotheslined Owens over the top rope. Back in the ring, Owens went for a Stunner, but Punk shoved him toward the referee. Punk went for a GTS, but Owens slipped away and shoved Punk into the referee. REF BUMP!!!
Owens hit a Stunner and got a visual pinfall while the referee was down on the floor. Owens motioned for another referee. Punk got up and hit Owens with a GTS and then got a visual pinfall of his own while the referee was still down.
Punk went to the floor to revive the referee. Sami Zayn showed up and ran Punk into the ring post. Zayn tossed Punk back inside the ring, where Owens hit him with a Stunner. Zayn threw the referee back in the ring. Owens covered Punk and the referee counted, but Punk kicked out at the last moment.
The referee was still groggy when Zayn grabbed the WWE Championship belt and placed it in the ring for Owens, who picked it up. Barrett noted that the referee was down, so Owens could do whatever he wanted. Owens decided against using the belt as a weapon and gave it back to Zayn, telling Zayn he wasn’t going to do it like that this time. Zayn hit Owens with the belt. Punk recovered and hit Owens with a GTS. Punk covered Owens while the weary referee made a slow three count.
CM Punk beat Kevin Owens in 18:50 to retain the WWE Championship.
Afterward, Punk stood on the ropes and flexed. Once Punk was back in the ring, Zayn hit him with the title belt. Owens got back to his feet and tried to go after Zayn, who hit him with the belt. Punk got back to his knees, and then Zayn hit him with the belt again. Zayn yelled at Punk about stealing the title from him. Zayn held up the title belt and was booed while the executive producer credits were shown to close out the episode…
Powell’s POV: I had very little hope of getting a clean finish, but there was a lot more to the match than I anticipated. Punk and Owens were given plenty of time, and it was fun to watch Punk play a heel for the night in Canada. Zayn costing Owens the match was an interesting twist, though I’m sure there will be a bunch of complaints from some fans about them revisiting their feud. I’m cool with it. It was a good move to have Zayn hit Punk with the title belt, as it eliminates any questions about whether they are aligned. I assume this is leading to a Triple Threat or perhaps even a four-way with Gunther for the championship.
Overall, the main event carried the show that was pretty ordinary otherwise. I will be back shortly with my weekly same-night audio review of Smackdown. They are usually reserved for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons), but tonight’s review will be available for everyone as a Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast. Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Be the first to comment