wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 10.23.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hey there everyone, it’s Friday so it’s time for WWE Smackdown. Full disclosure, I’m still getting over a pretty nasty head cold so hopefully you’ll all bear with me for this one. A lot of women’s action on the card tonight, WWE women’s champion Chelsea Green will defend her title against Roxanne Perez, the women’s tag belts are up for grabs as Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley defend against Michin and B-Fab, and we’ve got a good old fashioned Street fight between Blake Monroe and Giulia. There’s also a match between Mediocrity’s Finest Trophies and the still not doing much duo of Bakusai. We’re also building to Crown Jewel, which is still taking place in Saudi Arabia because who cares about the safety of everyone involved when there’s a spreadsheet balance to maintain right? To that end expect more talking from WWE champion Sami Zayn, more stooging from Johnny Gargano, more catchphrases from Trick Williams, you know all the same beats they’ve been hitting for weeks now. CM Punk and Kevin Owens are still after each other and Smackdown GM Nick Aldis has promised they’ll get the chance to kill each other but details are still forthcoming. Last week Cody Rhodes Punted Baron Corbin, hopefully back to catering for the next year, showing to Randy Orton that he’s able to pull the metaphorical trigger. So don’t be surprised if we get more between those two. Last week the match between Damian Priest and R-Truth ended early due to injury to Truth, thankfully he seems OK in the aftermath but Priest will need something else to do now. Still no Jordynne Grace, Drew McIntyre might be getting closer to a return but he might also just be happy acting, and the only reward for getting over on Smackdown seems to be getting moved to RAW to be involved in Bloodline related stuff. Anyway that’s the landscape, so let’s get to the action.
First a recap of the stuff between Roman Reigns and Sami.
After that here comes the lightly used tissue that is Sami Zayn along with his stooges Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae as Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcome us to the show. Sami gets a mic and plays with the crowd a bit. He fumbles trying to recap his interaction with Roman then claims the alpha male is the smartest. That’s factually inaccurate, it’s the person who maximizes the success of the group if you look at how group hierarchies actually work. Anyway Sami puts himself over again then yet again claims he wont tolerate disrespect, only to be interrupted by Rey Fenix. Fenix talks to the ring and repeats that he doesn’t know Penta’s plans for the briefcase, and he says he and Sami are still friends. But Penta is his brother, and if Sami disrespects his family then they will have a problem. Johnny gets uppity but Sami calms things and says there’s no problem, he just thinks Penta should focus on Roman is all. But Sami’s problem is with disrespect but here comes Trick Williams and his chant. Who doesn’t love a revolving door segment right? Trick has a mic and talks to the ring, he’s got a problem with Sami. Last week Sami lied a lot about Trick, but he was a little right about Trick not knowing how to survive. Well that’s because Sami puts no fear in his heart. He’s the US champion, been on ESPN, on magazine covers, married the baddest chick in the locker room, brother Trick is here to thrive. And Trick’s only getting better. Then there’s Sami, 25 years in the game still trying to convince people what “it” is. Well “it” already beat Sami at WrestleMania. Just look at Sami, you’re not Lion King, you’re Timon. Only one of them knows how to look like a champion, talk like a champion, walk like a champion, and smell like a champion. When it comes to be a champ Trick is the veteran here while Sami’s still a rookie. Trick wants a title shot, Sami equivocates and says Trick should be afraid of Sami. If Sami wanted to he could cut Trick just with his tongue, make him look like a fool because he sees it all. He’s not going to though, because he’s a good guy. He wants Trick to enjoy his rookie year, but eventually everyone will realize that Trick doesn’t have it. Trick doesn’t even know what it is, you can’t smell it or buy it, and Trick is a whole lot closer to sink or swim than he thinks. Nothing has sharper teeth than Sami, and Trick is not close to a WWE title match. Trick asks where those teeth were when Trick beat him last time, and he’s not asking for a shot he’s demanding one. And if Sami wont oblige then he’ll beat it out of him. Sami cheap shots Trick then he and his goons skedaddle. Nick Aldis shows up, he’s got a problem with all this. They don’t call the shots around here, he is. Tonight Sami and Johnny take on Fenix and Trick. We’ve got a tag team match playa.
We get a recap of Roxanne Perez beating Chelsea Green on Raw basically cleanly. Perez heads to the ring and we head to break.
Post break here comes WWE women’s champion Chelsea Green.
Match #1 – WWE Women’s Title Match: (c) Chelsea Green vs. Roxanne Perez
Circling then a tie up, both women roll each other then Green grabs an arm wringer. Perez pretty quickly counters and they wind up screwing up a La Magistral cradle. Green tries a few Gedo Clutch versions for 2 counts then Perez bridges out of a pin and slaps Green. Green slaps her back then hits a Zig Zag for a 2 count. Perez tosses Green out of the ring, then Green comes back into the ring and hits a dropkick, Perez powders then Green hits a suicide dive. Back in the ring but Perez rolls all the way out, Green tries a baseball slide but Perez blocks it. They wind up back in the ring then Perez lands a dropkick to the knee then posts Green. Perez exposes some metal on the buckles then stomps Green’s arm across it to send us to break.
Some ringside brawling from Perez as he batters Green around the barricades. Back in the ring Perez keeps going after the arm of Green. A few minor timing issues then Perez with some rope work. Cartwheel knee drop from Perez gets a 2 count. Perez grabs a Camel Clutch to kill some time, Green fights upright then hits a backpack Stunner to get free. Back elbow from Green, then a bit of a corner boot. Green up top but Perez whacks her then climbs up only for Green slip free and yank her out of position. We rejoin the broadcast as Green hits a superplex. Green starts to fire up with clotheslines then a mid rope Meteora. Perez avoids an Unpretty Her then grabs a Small Package for a 2 count. Perez avoids a corner rush but then runs into some knees. The ref is distracted, and Raquel Rodriguez runs down to knock Green off the ropes, then the director focuses the camera shot on Raquel instead of Perez hitting a Shining Wizard for a 2 count. Iyo Sky runs down to fight off Raquel, Perez then dives onto Iyo. Back in the ring Perez avoids a superkick but Green counters Pop Rox into an Unpretty Her to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Chelsea Green retained the title in 9:45
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: A little rough in places, and mostly hurt by the crowd not caring at all. Everyone was just waiting for the interference and the post match stuff, because WWE has largely conditioned the audience not to care about anything in this kind of match until that happens.
Post match Liv Morgan shows up to attack Green. Iyo kills Liv with a German suplex but Perez and Raquel overpower Iyo. Tiffany Stratton now shows up with the briefcase and disposes of Perez and Liv, then she and Iyo team up to deal with Raquel. Liv tries to steal the briefcase but Perez and Green take her out. Tiffany considers the briefcase, then crushes Liv with it. Before Liv can cash in Raquel drags Liv out of the ring, which apparently is all it takes to keep the contract from being cashed in.
We get a recap of Cody Punting Corbin last week, Corbin is out indefinitely with some medical babble. Cody’s bus is here so we might hear from him later after Randy Orton arrives.
Giulia heads to the ring, her Street Fight with Blake Monroe will be up after this break.
Post break Green and Tiffany talk with Iyo in the back. Tiffany can’t wait to become the women’s world champion. Green wants booze and takes Iyo and Tiffany with her.
Back to the ring, here comes Blake and for some reason they still haven’t worked out her cool entrance with the mirror. That’s just disappointing.
Match #2 – Street Fight: Giulia vs. Blake Monroe
Immediate brawling as Giulia attacks Blake on the ramp. Giulia throws Blake around the barricades, oh there’s a bunch of chairs set up in a pyramid and Blake avoids going into it. Blake grabs a kendo stick, then starts hitting Giulia with it. Blake then dropkicks Giulia into the barricade, Blake climbs the barricade but Giulia crotches her then hits a running kick to drive Blake to the floor. Giulia looks under the ring and finds her own kendo stick, she’s after something else but Blake attacks her to interrupt things. Blake tries to send Giulia into the chairs but Giulia reverses the whip and Blake almost pulls off a strike but one chair remains set upright as we head to break.
Giulia cleans up some of the chairs just into a large pile on the ground, that lets Blake recover though and Blake rams Giulia into the ring apron. Blake moves the ring steps around, then charges Giulia but runs into a trash can shot from Giulia. Giulia sends Blake into the ring then follows with the can, but Blake knees Giulia to find a 2 count. Blake with the kendo stick assisted Crippler Crossface for a bit, Giulia counters into a pin for 2. Giulia grabs the kendo stick now and unloads on Blake with it and hits a White Russian Legsweep for a 2 count. Giulia puts the can over Blake’s head and whacks it with the stick then just kicks Blake over. That’s the state of things as we rejoin the broadcast. Blake rolls to the floor and we get some brawling up the ramp. They fight up to the stage then Blake shoves Giulia into the screen. The ref reminds them that you do have to win in the ring in a Street Fight, Blake and Giulia the fight through gorilla. They get to the backstage area and Giulia gets a face full of hair spray from Blake, but Blake looks at herself in a mirror too long and Giulia shoves her head first into the mirror which shatters. Giulia drags Blake back to the stage but Blake lands a headbutt. Blake staggers towards the ring but Giulia clocks her with an Arrivederci Knee. They do finally get back to the ring, Giulia up top and hits a dropkick. Sickening Curb Stomp from Giulia, Super Dragon style, but only a 2 count. The crowd want tables, but Blake has a fire extinguisher which she sets off in Giulia’s face. They’re both on the ring steps and Blake then hits a superplex off the steps onto that pile of chairs from earlier and both women are down. Blake is the first to start recovering and shoves Giulia back into the ring. Giulia counters a Neutralizer but Blake holds on and hits the Neutralizer to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Blake Monroe won in 10:54
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Pretty good stuff from both women, appropriately violent or at least as violent as network standards and practices allow. The outcome was never in doubt as Giulia has never been able to find her footing on the main roster and Blake is someone they clearly have optimism around.
In the back Randy Orton walks and we head to break.
Randy heads to the ring as we return from break. Mic time for Randy, who’s getting a big positive reaction. He mentions Cody, which gets boos, and talks about Cody’s various nicknames. Well whoever Cody is he wants you to know that he’s proud of him. He never thought Cody would actually grow balls big enough to Punt someone in the head. This is almost like a badge of honor for Randy, because he finally made Cody crack. He still sees through him though, Cody can kick everyone in the head but it only matters if Cody can do it to Randy. The guy who for 25 years has stared down legends, mentors, friends and alike who kicked all of them in the head without hesitation. He knows that if Cody gets the chance to kick him he’ll hesitate again. That does bring out Cody Rhodes. Cody, suited up, heads to the ring. Aldis and some officials run down to try and keep peace. Cody gets in the ring anyway and gets his own mic and says he’s confused, he never knew Randy had become such a coward. Randy is the only guy here with a shot at the record for title wins, he used to be the apex predator but Cody is unafraid. Cody reminds us that Randy is the Legend Killer, he kills things and not always to his own benefit. Triple H got Punted then Randy killed his chance at being the face of WWE, Punted Dusty Rhodes but killed his chance at winning his 15th title. Randy’s the last man standing from that whole group from OVW. So who is Cody in all this? Everyone knows Randy has Punted Cody, but the very next night Cody walked out here for the crowd while Randy nursed wounds at home like a little bitch. Cody knows he’s the anomaly to Randy, the one who will kill the Legend Killer. RKO might be the three most dangerous letters in WWE, but for Randy those letters are just IOU. Randy hit Cody with everything, now he’s just talking. Cody asks what we’re waiting for, but before physicality breaks out Aldis gets a mic. Before any violence breaks out, Randy interrupts and he’s not interested in fighting tonight. Aldis says that’s fine, how about at Crown Jewel. You know, where the chance of getting blown up is significantly higher. Cody wants to wrestle Randy, but not just in any match. Oh no, Cody wants Last Man Standing. Randy considers that for a second, then accepts, but remember Cody that you asked for it.
After this break, women’s tag title action.
Post break the challengers are in the ring and the champs are most of the way there.
Match #3 – Women’s Tag Team Title Match: (c) Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley vs. Michin and B-Fab w/ Jade Cargill
24 minutes between matches, dicey. Bliss and B-Fab start us off, Bliss with slaps, B-Fab then lands some knees and an elbow. B-Fab knocks Bliss down to no pop. Corner wheel kick from B-Fab then a sliding clothesline for a 2 count. Bliss jumps onto B-Fab’s back then tags Paxley, Bliss and Paxley double team B-Fab for a bit. Paxley heads to the floor then kicks B-Fab. Michin spills to the floor and Paxley with a moonsault off the apron onto her as we head to break.
Back in the ring Michin tags in and Paxley gets double teamed so the heels can take over. B-Fab tags back in and Paxley takes some more team offense. Awkward scoop slam from B-Fab. Another scoop slam from B-Fab then Michin tags in and does an awkward assisted moonsault for a 2 count. Michin slams Paxley down by the hair to keep control. Chin lock from Michin, Paxley fights free but Michin hits a German suplex to retain control. Paxley attacks B-Fab then hits a German suplex on Michin as we rejoin the broadcast. Enziguri from Paxley, both women tag out and Bliss gets to run wild on B-Fab with her usual offense. Walk over Blockbuster from Bliss gets a 2 count. B-Fab avoids Sister Abigail, Michin tags in but Bliss fights her and B-Fab off including a satellite DDT to Michin. Bliss goes up top, Paxley tags in and Bliss jumps onto B-Fab instead. Michin dropkicks Bliss but Paxley drills her with a Rolling Thunder kick, then Paxley up top to miss a 450 Splash. Headbutt from Paxley, but Michin avoids Cemetery Drive then Jade lands a cheap shot to set up Michin hitting a Styles Clash to win the belts.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Michin and B-Fab won the belts in 7:55
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: The crowd just did not care about this one. The title change is a surprise but the women’s tag belts have pretty much never meant anything so bouncing them around is hardly anything new. B-Fab still feels uncoordinated and awkward with much of her stuff and the group just has no momentum or heat.
In the back Trick talks with Cathy, he gets a WWE title shot next week. Fenix comes over and is happy for Trick but they need to get ready. They head out and we pan over to Damian Priest looking very pissed as we head to break.
Oh, apparently this is for the belts? MFT are in the ring as we come back but we do get the Bakusai entrance. Kyoki stole Haku’s walking stick, Haku sends the Tongan’s after them and we get some brawling. Oh, Cole just got it wrong as this was supposed to be non-title. The teams brawl as officials and ref show up to try and restore order. Yeah, they just sort of fight and that match isn’t happening.
We get video from earlier today, Aldis announces that in two weeks in Brooklyn we’ll get Punk vs. Owens. Both CM Punk and Kevin Owens are here and sit across a small table from each other. Aldis doesn’t want cheap shots or random fights, they’ve got each other in two weeks. Punk says this is a waste of his time, he should be preparing for Roman at Crown Jewel. Owens disagrees, he had Punk beaten in Toronto and Punk would never have gotten to Crown Jewel anyway. Owens does agree it’s a waste of time, he never wanted to see Punk ever again. He was fine ignoring Punk for three years, but then Owens becomes number one contender and Punk was champion. Punk again says this is a waste of his time. Owens says being around Punk makes him a miserable prick. Punk says they don’t know each other, and Owens knows enough people who do know him. Punk says Owens doesn’t care about himself, he was happy just stopping Punk from winning. That leads to Punk walking off promising to put Owens on his back in Brooklyn.
Back to the ring and here’s Sami and Johnny for our main event as we head to break.
Next week we’ll get Green defending the title against Nikki Bella, who lost to Paige, and Trick Williams getting a WWE title shot at Sami.
Rey Fenix is in the ring but we definitely need to get another chance for Trick’s chant to take up air time.
Match #4 – Tag Team Match: Trick Williams and Rey Fenix vs. Sami Zayn and Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae
22 minutes between matches, this second hour has not been it. Sami and Trick start us off, then Sami tags out. Johnny hits the ropes but runs into a shoulder block. Trick wants Sami, so Sami tags back in. Ricky Saints shows up to attack Fenix and get the match thrown out.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Trick and Fenix won via Disqualification in 1:92
Rating: DUD
Thoughts: Total dud, exists only to set up the next thing.
The heels attack everyone, but here’s Penta to clear house. Penta’s dressed for work so this will just turn into a trios match, and Penta gets a mic to ask for the six man. Fenix and Penta dive onto the heels as we get another break, or did it start? Unclear.
Match #5 – Trios Match: Trick Williams, Ren Fenix, and Penta vs. Sami Zayn, Ricky Saints, and Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae
Fenix and Sami square off as the bell finally rings. Fenix with some knees then an Adios Amigo kick. Gorgeous cross body from Fenix. Ricky tags in to work Fenix for a bit, then Sami tags back in as we rejoin the broadcast. Fenix fights back with a back elbow but Sami counters a rolling attack with a powerbomb for a 2 count. Sami with a cheap shot to Trick then he tags in Johnny. Fenix knees out of a suplex from Johnny, then hits the Tiger Feint wheel kick to put both men down. Penta gets the hot tag and runs wild on Johnny but Ricky hits a cheap shot. Penta with a tilt a whirl backbreaker to Johnny, superkick to Ricky then one for Sami as well. Delayed mule kick from Penta to Johnny for 2. Fenix with a double springboard crossbody to Ricky on the floor. Penta Driver to Johnny for a near fall. now Penta wants the Destroyer but Johnny intercepts him with a superkick. Sami wants in, but Trick is up on the other side and both men tag. Trick and Sami trade punches for a bit with Trick getting the better of things, then a leaping clothesline. Sami avoids a Trick Shot, then Ricky with a Revolution DDT after a blind tag and Fenix breaks up the pin. Handspring Cutter from Fenix, everyone Gets Their Stuff In spot, Sami wants a Helluva Kick on Penta but Trick intercepts with a clothesline. Trick with a Trick Shot to Sami, Ricky rolls up Trick for 2 though as Ricky is legal. Book End to Ricky and that’ll do it.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Rey Fenix, Penta, and Trick Williams won in 6:35
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: It’s amazing how much the energy jumped up as soon as Penta showed up. Trick got to stand tall at the end, and they’re trying to get him into the main event scene but that scene is quite stuffed already. Penta’s energy helped this a lot though as the man is quite over.
Sami clutches the belt on the floor as the faces stand tall while the episode ends.
