Hall’s WWE Smackdown Review 10.16.26

Smackdown
Date: October 16, 2026
Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re done with Money In The Bank and have a few weeks to go before Crown Jewel, wherever it is going to be taking place. That means it’s time for champion vs. champion matches, because this is still a thing that we’re doing. Other than that, Randy Orton is here to meet Cody Rhodes face to face again. Let’s get to it.

Here are Sami Zayn, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae to get things going. Zayn hates to say he told us so but everyone who has been coming after his title has gotten what they deserve. This includes Trick Williams, who comes out to interrupt. Williams says this is personal because he makes Zayn see everyone turning on him. Zayn says Williams disrespected him by turning this into a joke because that’s all Williams knows how to do. Williams says Zayn looks like a joke and usually he says “let’s talk about it”, but he’s done talking. Gargano cuts Williams off, saying this is disrespectful to Zayn because Williams doesn’t have the gold. That doesn’t work for Williams and the match is on.

Trick Williams vs. Johnny Gargano

Non-title and Candice LeRae and Sami Zayn are here with Gargano. We’re joined in progress with Gargano working on a headlock but Williams drops him with a shoulder. A rather delayed suplex has Gargano bailing out to the floor so Williams throws him back in. Zayn offers a distraction though and Gargano scores with a suicide dive over the announcers’ table.

We take a break and come back with Williams knocking him into the corner. They trade some big shots in the corner with Gargano actually getting the better of things. Williams faceplants him down but LeRae offers a distraction, allowing Gargano to grab a tornado DDT for two of his own. The slingshot spear is kneed out of the air though and a Bookend finishes for Williams at 11:00.

Rating: B-. It was a good win for Williams, even without the title being on the line. Williams is on that weird border between the main event and the midcard scene, which makes wins like these more valuable. Gargano is in a strange place of his own, as he’s kind of a lackey but not an intentional one, which makes for a situation that could go in a few different directions.

We look at Tiffany Stratton winning Money In The Bank again.

Nick Aldis tells Blake Monroe that she’s facing Giulia in a street fight next week. Chelsea Green comes in to ask if Liv Morgan is here, with Aldis saying she isn’t. Judgment Day might be in the future though, as Roxanne Perez might be getting a title shot. Nikki Bella comes in to say she’s getting a title shot soon. Green isn’t impressed, which isn’t a surprise as Bella can take the fun out of anything.

Back in March, Randy Orton attacked Cody Rhodes.

Paige vs. Nikki Bella

Bella jumps her to start and they’re quickly on the floor, where Paige sends Bella into the barricade a few times. A baseball slide misses for Bella and Paige ties her in the ring skirt to hammer away again. Bella goes after the hip and slams her on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Paige hitting some clotheslines and suplexes to put Bella in trouble. A rake to the eyes breaks up the Paige Turner and Bella grabs the STF. That’s broken up and Paige knocks her down again but Bella’s big forearm gets two. The referee almost gets bumped, allowing Paige to grab a rollup with feet on the ropes for the pin at 9:18.

Rating: C. I’m trying so hard to care about anything these two do and it’s not working at all. This was about Paige evening the score with Bella by pinning her again but as long as Bella is out there talking, it brings down anything they’re doing anywhere else. The match was fine enough, but I don’t care about the people involved and that’s hard to overcome.

R-Truth is ready to face Damian Priest, who has been stepping on his pinkie toe. And something about arroz con pollo.

Video on Penta winning the Money In The Bank briefcase.

Nick Aldis checks on Kevin Owens, who is happy because CM Punk didn’t win the briefcase. Punk comes in and Aldis tells them to not fight until he can sell tickets. Until then, stay away from each other.

R-Truth vs. Damian Priest

R-Truth jumps him before the bell to start but runs into a boot in the corner. The Broken Arrow drops R-Truth again and Priest chokes on the ropes. The double arm crank goes on for a bit, followed by the lifting Downward Spiral to cut off the comeback. Priest charges into a boot in the corner and R-Truth pulls himself up for a missile dropkick…but is hurt in the process. The medics come in and the match is thrown out at about 3:30. No rating, but they were starting to pick things up at the end.

Post match Priest grabs a chair so Fraxiom run in for the (non-physical) save.

Gunther rants about hurting Danhausen to Nick Aldis, who is in his chair and doesn’t respond. Well in theory at least, as Gunther turns the chair around to reveal Danhausen. Gunther promises to ruin Danhausen’s Halloween, which is notable as Danhausen is set to host NXT’s Halloween Havoc that night.

Here are Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley to celebrate their Women’s Tag Team Title win. Bliss talks about how Charlotte wanted to be involved in this match but she supports the two of them. As for Paxley, she may be new around here but she deserves this. Paxley thanks Charlotte for always being there for her and has a gift whenever Charlotte gets back.

This brings out Fatal Influence, with the injured Fallon Henley ranting about Tiffany Stratton stealing the Money In The Bank briefcase. Oh and Charlotte doesn’t think anything of them and Bliss is just a convenience for her. Paxley is ready for a rematch so the fight is on with Fatal Influence getting beaten down as the champions leave.

Rey Fenix is proud of Penta winning Money In The Bank but Sami Zayn interrupts. Zayn sucks up to him a bit and asks if he has talked to Penta. Fenix doesn’t know what Penta is planning, which leaves Zayn frustrated.

We look back at Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes at Summerslam.

Jade Cargill and the Baddies tell Fatal Influence they have the next Women’s Tag Team Title shot.

AAA Cruiserweight Title: Rey Fenix vs. Ricky Saints

Saints is challenging. They trade shoulders to start and Fenix snaps off a running hurricanrana, followed by the rope walk kick to the head. Saints is knocked outside for the big dive and we take a break. We come back with Fenix escaping the Roshambo and grabbing the handspring cutter for two.

There’s the frog splash for two more so Saints gives him a Death Valley Driver for the same. What looked to be a superplex attempt is countered into a failed Mexican MuscleBuster attempt. Instead a super hurricanrana brings Saints down, with Saints shoving the referee into the ropes. Now Roshambo can connect but the referee won’t count, with Saints arguing enough to get disqualified at 9:27.

Rating: C+. The ending was a bit of a surprise but I’m guessing the idea is to turn Saints into a longer term challenger for the title. That’s not the most exciting thing but I’ll take that over having the same nothing title defenses week after week. That has been the case for way too long and I don’t need to see it continue that way. Saints isn’t the best challenger in the world but he’s better than nothing.

Post match Saints lays Fenix out again.

We look at Randy Orton beating Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Rhodes comes up to Nick Aldis to ask about Orton. Aldis hasn’t seen him and Rhodes is off to the ring.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Here is Rhodes, in a chair, for a chat. He was demanded a face to face with Orton but gets Baron Corbin of all people instead. Corbin is tired of hearing so much about Rhodes, because he just doesn’t have that killer instinct. The day Corbin came back, he took out everyone in the ring and now he’ll do it again here to Rhodes. The brawl is teased and Rhodes says get a referee out here.

Cody Rhodes vs. Baron Corbin

We’re joined in progress with Corbin knocking Rhodes (who is in workout gear) down for two. Corbin misses a charge in the corner though and they clothesline each other down. Back up and Rhodes hits the powerslam into the Bionic Elbow. The Disaster Kick connects but here is Orton to jump Rhodes for the DQ at 2:46 shown.

Post match Orton goes after Rhodes but gets taken down by the Cody Cutter. The super Cody Cutter puts Corbin down as well but Rhodes isn’t done. Rhodes gives Corbin a Punt (not shown on Netflix) and Orton knows he’s in trouble to end the show.

 

Results
Trick Williams b. Johnny Gargano – Bookend
Paige b. Nikki Bella – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Damian Priest vs. R-Truth went to a no contest due to referee stoppage
Rey Fenix b. Ricky Saints via DQ when Saints argued with the referee
Cody Rhodes b. Baron Corbin via DQ when Randy Orton interfered

 

 

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6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

I wasn’t exactly feeling this one as it had some moments, but there were too many times here where it stopped feeling interesting. The Orton/Rhodes stuff isn’t overly interesting until they actually have Rhodes pull the trigger in a match. That isn’t currently scheduled and it could be awhile before it happens. The only other big story is Zayn and the World Title, which is basically “I wonder if Penta is going to cash in on me”. Not the most thrilling show here and they have a lot to cover before Crown Jewel.