wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 10.16.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Alright everyone, it’s time for WWE Smackdown. We’re on the heels of Money in the Bank which was kind of a giant nothing burger, doubly so on the Smackdown side of things as there wasn’t a Smackdown match on the event. But Tiffany Stratton and Penta won the briefcases, so now we’re doing another friend turning slow burn on the women’s side of things. On RAW that’s what Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez are doing, and have been doing for ages now, while on Smackdown now we get to look forward to Tiffany turning on WWE women’s champion Chelsea Green. Penta was a good choice for the men’s briefcase, though the Smackdown main event scene is packed right now and moving him over might be a logistical error if he does cash in on Sami Zayn. We’ve got to build to Crown Jewel quickly, and hope the Riyadh airport doesn’t get bombed again, so expect some more champion vs. champion stuff. Though Liv vs. Green and Roman Reigns vs. Sami don’t feel like super important matches, but maybe that’s just me being incredibly jaded. Tonight Nikki Bella gets to rematch Paige and Nikki trying for a title run in 2026 is just divine punishment aimed at wrestling. We’re getting another face to face between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, which have all been good thus far but it’s time to actually pull the trigger and move on from this. CM Punk and Kevin Owens still hate each other, US champion Trick Williams doesn’t have anything to do since his presumptive challenger in Carmelo Hayes moved to RAW and joined a faction, Gunther and Finn Balor are still dancing around each other which is a shame, Damian Priest is newly heel and will kill R-Truth tonight, and allegedly there are tag champion on this brand but you could be forgiven for forgetting that. Still no follow up from Blake Monroe, Baron Corbin isn’t doing anything, no sign of Jordynne Grace, and Drew McIntyre feels like he’s about 3 months away from just announcing he’s leaving wrestling for acting. Anyway that’s roughly the lay of the land, let’s get to the action.
Vic Joseph and Corey Graves welcome us to Sacramento, California for the event tonight. We then get to watch wrestlers arrive at the venue. How exciting.
Resident sludge recycling factory and WWE champion Sami Zayn heads to the ring, he’s got Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae in tow. Still baffled we’re stuck with Johnny after they let go of several much more talented guys. Sami gets a mic, so the volume should go off but I’m a professional. He plays with the crowd, not really as strong a reaction as usual for him here. He sort of gloats about the outcome from MITB then advises Penta to focus on Roman Reigns, you know a real star who matters, and leave Sami alone. Next Sami brings up taking on Roman in “please ignore the active war zone”. On Monday he’ll talk to Roman face to face. US champion Trick Williams shows up without any watercraft. Trick gets his own mic, Sami demands the music stop but Trick’s chant continues. Trick calls Sami “gingivitis” this time. He says he and Sami don’t like each other, and he knows Sami can’t stand him because Trick represents the people turning on Sami. Trick is just a bundle of bad memories for Sami, he’s a real superstar. He doesn’t care about Sami or Sami’s “fans”, but Sami disrespected him a couple weeks ago and now Trick will beat his ass. Sami reminds us that he’s WWE champion and recaps their interaction from a few weeks back. He says Trick doesn’t get it, he can’t feel the moment, all he can do is recite things rather than survive. Sami thrives in chaos, he feels the moment and always survives. Trick cuts him off and asks him which of them looks like a joke. Tonight Trick is done talking about it, and if Sami means any of what he said then take a swing and see what happens. Johnny takes Sami’s mic and makes everything worse. Johnny complains about Trick getting handed opportunities just because he’s got swag, an entrance, a chant, a body, but Trick doesn’t have the title. He’s not Johnny entrance, he’s Johnny wrestling and he’ll prove it. Trick isn’t here for excuses, he’s worked as hard as anyone to get here, but if Johnny wants the fight then he’ll deliver. Sami is happy to encourage Johnny to get beaten up. Johnny accepts and Trick calls for a ref as we head to break.
Match #1: Trick Williams vs. Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae and Sami Zayn
Joined in progress as Johnny tries to escape a wrist lock. Trick throws Johnny into commentary, Sami has joined commentary to just make our ears bleed even more. Johnny grabs a side headlock, then hits the ropes but Trick tweaks his knee doing a leap frog. Johnny with some misdirection in the ropes but runs into a shoulder block from Trick. Chops from Trick, Johnny then responds with leg kicks. Delayed vertical suplex from Trick. Johnny avoids a Trick Shot and powders, Trick follows and bounces Johnny off the announce table. Trick and Sami trade some words, Trick takes too long getting back in the ring and Johnny hits a Dragon Screw through the ropes. Johnny to the apron, lands a kick then lines up a dive which knocks Trick over the announce table. Sami and Johnny hug as we head to break.
Some ringside brawling from both men before they head back into the ring. Chop block from Johnny and he looks to work the leg of Trick. Trick fights back with punches, Johnny then kicks his leg and grabs a Tequila Sunrise. Trick rolls through and kicks Johnny a few times to get free. They start trading punches as we rejoin the broadcast, then Trick with a release Flapjack. Side kicks from Trick then a Flapjack. Backhand from Trick to drop Johnny in the corner then some stomps. Johnny tries a Sunset Flip for 2, but Johnny lands a pop up right hand. Tornado thrust kick from Trick, then a Landslide for a 2 count. Trick wants his finish, Candice trips him up though so Johnny tries a dirty pin but still only finds 2. Johnny kicks the knee, then one up top and a diving tornado DDT for 2. Johnny charges, then tries a slingshot Spear but runs into a Trick Shot. No pin from Trick, he yanks Johnny up for a Book End to get the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Trick Williams won in 11:00
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Johnny felt a little slow here, not sure what that was but he didn’t look as sharp as usual. Trick getting a push towards the main event scene is fine I guess, but the main event scene is just so crowded I don’t think he’ll stand out much.
In the back Nick Aldis talks with Blake Monroe about her behavior and next week we’re getting a Street Fight with Blake and Giulia. Chelsea Green interrupts, Blake comments that Green has held that title longer than she thought. Green asks about things, Aldis says Liv isn’t here tonight but will be here eventually. Nikki Bella shows up to whine, Green then offers a title shot next week but Nikki says it has to be in two weeks. Almost all of that was terrible.
Paige heads to the ring for our next match, and hm, I wonder who’s going to win this? That sends us to break.
Post break we get something of a recap of the build to Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton from before Mania.
Nikki heads to the ring.
Match #2: Paige vs. Nikki Bella
Quick takedown from Nikki then some mounted strikes before tossing Paige out of the ring. Some ringside brawling now Paige gets the better of that, so Nikki runs away. Paige chases Nikki up the ramp then throws her back to the ringside area and lands a thrust kick. Back into the ring Nikki then throws Paige out of the ring again, but misses a baseball slide and Paige unloads on Nikki as she caught Nikki in the ring skirt. Paige with the knees through the ropes, but Nikki then yanks her neck first into the top rope and slams her down to the floor to send us to break.
Nikki begs for heat, doesn’t get it. Paige beats the 10 count then Nikki gets some control time. Corner work from Nikki, then she asks for more crowd reaction which she doesn’t get. Both women head up top, Paige fights free with a headbutt but gets caught in an Electric Chair that drops her face first onto the top buckle. Rest hold from Nikki, Paige tries to rally the crowd but runs into a spinebuster. Paige avoids a Rack Attack and hits a sliding knee strike just before we rejoin the broadcast. Paige looks to fire up with clotheslines then hits a Fisherman’s Suplex. German suplex from Paige, then Nikki rakes the eyes but still eats a back suplex. Paige tries a 5 Knuckle Shuffle but Nikki counters into an STF. Nikki loses the hold and Paige gets to the bottom rope. Weak Death Valley Driver from Paige gets a 2 count. Nikki fights back with a facebuster and a running elbow for a 2 count. Paige and Nikki trade roll ups, then Paige gets her feet on the ropes for leverage and finds the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Paige won in 9:16
Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: A little disjointed, and borderline nonsensical booking wise as we know Nikki gets with Green in 2 weeks but loses here to have no momentum. The constant crowd appeals that result in nothing need to stop, if you can’t get the crowd with you then continually asking them to care just reeks of desperation.
In the back Cathy talks with R-Truth. Truth says he’s heartbroken, and he puts over how much he cared for Damian Priest. Well Priest, your ass is his tonight. That sends us to break.
Post break we get a recap of the men’s MITB match.
Kevin Owens is getting checked out by medical and here’s Aldis to ask about his health. Owens says his neck is good, his knee is banged up and shoulder a little hurt, but he’s got no complaints. CM Punk comes over and wants a match with Owens. Aldis is amenable but they’ve got to stop the attacks. Them fighting anywhere outside of a match does nothing for anyone, so he promises they’ll get to kill each other in a match. But until then stay out of each other’s way. Owens walks off then throws tape back at Punk, Punk remarks that he works with children. I understood that reference.
Back to the ring here’s Truth followed by Priest. Truth attacks as Priest was getting in the ring then follows with a suicide dive. Priest, very upset, gets in the ring.
Match #3: Damian Priest vs. R-Truth
Quick kick from Truth but he runs into a thrust kick from Priest. Priest corners Truth and stomps away at him. Right hand from Priest then a corner attack and Broken Arrow for a 2 count. Modified butterfly stretch from Priest, Truth fights free then lands a kick. Shoulder block from Truth but Priest cuts off the second one then hits a lifting Flatliner. Truth avoids a corner splash then pulls himself up top and hits a nice dropkick but Truth is still down. Looks like Truth messed up his left shoulder or elbow on the landing and the ref has to stop this.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Damian Priest won via injury in 3:34
Rating: No Rating
Thoughts: Almost impossible to really rate, if that ending was intentional then it looked as legitimate as possible so they should be commended, but I’m assuming that was a legitimate injury to Truth. Hopefully it’s not a serious injury.
Post match Priest gets a chair, Fraxiom run down so they can take some heat for the downed Truth. Priest tosses the chair down then insults the fans and just leaves and that sends us to break.
We come back to a Street Fighter promo, then a recap of Gunther destroying Danhausen and brawling with Finn Balor last week.
In the back Gunther walks to a turned around chair that he assumes is Aldis. Gunther buries Danhausen and Balor, of course the chair turns to reveal Danhausen in a neck brace and a sling. Gunther says Danhausen is tough at least. Danhausen detected evil in Balor and needs him, but says Gunther didn’t beat him last week. Gunther then says he’ll make sure Halloween is special for Danhausen this year.
Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley head to the ring to celebrate their title win from last week. Both women have mics and play with the crowd a bit, Bliss brings up that they all wanted Charlotte Flair in the match last week then puts over Charlotte as a great friend. Bliss then introduces Paxley again for the crowd. Paxley plays with the crowd a bit then says she’s grateful to be here with Bliss and to be a champion with her. She also thanks Charlotte, she knows Charlotte didn’t want to be out of the ring last week and promises she has a special gift for Charlotte when she’s healed up. That brings out Fatal Influence, all of them have mics. Jayne is nauseous and wants heat, iffy response to that. Jayne brings up being injured from the MITB match and is pissed at Tiffany Stratton for winning. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid chime in to just keep making things tumble down. The heel trio bring up that Charlotte isn’t really a friend, and once they’ve got the tag belts back then Bliss will be back in Charlotte’s shadow. Paxley says if they want the titles back they don’t mind playing with them. No one’s dressed to work so nothing’s happening tonight on that front. Jayne is still hurt, but Fallon and Reid can fight so we get a brawl. The faces the better of things and Paxley with an arm wringer snap down on Jayne then the faces powder before the numbers can catch up to them.
In the back Cathy talks with Rey Fenix, Fenix is happy for his brother Penta’s win. Sami comes over to make everything worse, he sucks up to Fenix a bit then asks if Fenix knows what Penta’s plans are. He tries to manipulate Fenix into getting Penta to focus on Roman. Fenix doesn’t know Penta’s plan but wishes Sami good luck. After this break Fenix will defend his AAA title against Ricky Saints.
Fatal Influence walk in the back and find Jade Cargill and her goon squad. The heel groups snipe at each other, Michin and B-Fab get the next tag title shot apparently.
Back to the ring and here comes Fenix followed by Ricky Saints.
Match #4 – AAA Cruiserweight Title Match: (c) Rey Fenix vs. Ricky Saints
26 minutes between matches, this one gets a bit of grace because I’m sure the injury to Truth threw off the layout. They tie up then Ricky grabs a side headlock and tries a shoulder block but Fenix doesn’t bump. Fenix hits the ropes and snaps off a hurricanrana. Chop from Fenix then a bouncing and twisting armdrag to send Ricky out of the ring. Fenix lines up a dive but runs into a clothesline. Ricky gets sent to the apron and Fenix lands the Adios Amigo kick, then he heads up top for a double springboard crossbody to the floor and that sends us picture in picture.
Ricky reverses an Irish whip and sends Fenix into the ring post to take over. A bit of ringside brawling from Saints then he starts punching away at Fenix in the ring. Ricky is able to corner Fenix and lay in some strikes. More corner work from Ricky then he puts Fenix up top and climbs up looking for something. Both men land some strikes up top and Fenix chops Ricky down then tries a flip off the middle rope but is caught in a powerbomb as we rejoin the broadcast. Ricky with some corner strikes again but Fenix fights back with a flurry of kicks only to then run into a stiff looking boot. Fenix avoids Roshambo and hits the handspring Cutter for a 2 count. Ricky takes a corner kick, then Fenix up top for a lovely Frog Splash for a 2 count. Fenix landed about half on Ricky’s head with that one. Ricky counts a rolling attack with a Death Valley Driver for 2. Again Ricky puts Fenix up top, he lands a right hand then climbs up with him but Fenix slips free and kicks the leg of Saints. Fenix wants the Mexican Muscle Buster but Ricky fights that off only to then take a rolling uppercut. Fenix with the bouncing avalanche hurricanrana, then he heads up but Rick shoves the ref into the ropes to break that. Roshambo follow up but the ref, on ethical grounds, refuses to count. Ricky yells at him, the ref knows what Ricky did and yells back at at him, Ricky wont let it go so the ref DQs him.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Rey Fenix won via disqualification in 9:19
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: We were heading higher than this before the finish which I think hurt things. That said Fenix and Ricky work well together and this was no exception. It’s a shame it took the crowd as long to get into this one as it did.
Post match another Roshambo from Ricky to Fenix.
In the back Cody walks and finds Alids, Cody wants Randy but Aldis hasn’t seen him. Cody knows Aldis did everything he could do, so Cody will now do what he can do. That sends us to break.
Next week we’ll get that Street Fight between Giulia and Blake Monroe, Michin and B-Fab trying for the women’s tag belts, and non-title MFT against Bakusai. Sounds like a skippable show.
Cody heads to the ring, he gets a chair and a mic then has a seat in the middle of the ring. He brings up that he’s going to sit here until Randy Orton shows up for their face to face. Instead of Randy we get. . . Baron Corbin. I just, I just can’t with this. No reaction for Corbin. Corbin has a mic and talks to the ring, saying he’s never seen in Cody what everyone else claims to see. No matter how much time passes, Cody’s always here whining about something. Corbin says no everyone has a killer instinct, he does though. he likes hurting people while Cody is focused on being the good guy. He’s getting back to where he belongs at Cody’s expense. Cody doesn’t have the patience for this tonight and knocks Corbin out of the ring. Actually there’s still time on the clock so get a ref out here. That sends us to break. Corbin of all people, FML.
Match #5: Cody Rhodes vs. Baron Corbin
Corbin attacks early but Cody corners him for a 10 punch. This has already gone 30 seconds too long for a main event guy dealing Corbin’s useless ass. Corbin punches Cody out of the ring and we get some ringside brawling. The crowd with a “we want Randy” chant as we rejoin the broadcast. Back in the ring Cody lands some strikes but runs into a Deep Six for a 2 count. Hard corner whip from Corbin. The crowd is currently dead for Corbin’s boring offense. Cody dodges out of the corner and Corbin posts himself, then a double clothesline and both men are down. Now Cody looks to fire up and hits the snap powerslam. Jabs from Cody then the old Bionic Elbow and a Disaster Kick. Randy shows up to attack Cody and get the match thrown out.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Cody Rhodes won via DQ in 4:50
Rating: DUD
Thoughts: Of all the late notice filler you could have gotten to fill time you went with Corbin?
Randy and Cody brawl around the ringside area, Randy gets the better of things and rams Cody into the ring post. Into the ring now, Randy lines up a Punt for a big pop but Cody dodges and hits a Cody Cutter. Now it’s Cody who lines up a Punt but Corbin shows up to make things worse yet again and attack Cody. Randy runs out of there then Cody with a Super Cody Cutter to Crybaby Corbin. Randy yells from the ramp that Cody wont actually do it, Cody looks to line up a Punt on Corbin and actually hits it. That shocks Randy as Cody stares at him and Corbin hopefully goes back to catering until his contract expires. The crowd actually chant “one more time” at Cody as the episode ends because they’re bloodthirsty, and because like sane people they want Corbin to go away.
