wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 9.11.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Well everyone, it’s another Friday and it’s time for WWE Smackdown. After two weeks of taped shows we’re live again, and in Mexico City. Given the elevation of Mexico City expect people to gas out more than usual. The main event is WWE champion CM Punk defending the title against former champion and human landfill Sami Zayn. Sami has been making everything worse for everyone for weeks, but finally bitched enough to get a title shot. I do not expect a clean finish here, Sami’s shenanigans will come into play one way or the other because Kevin Owens, Gunther, and Finn Balor have all seen title plans messed up because of Sami. The WWE title picture has a lot of players but the direction feels a little chaotic right now, not really a bad thing mind you. The WWE women’s title will be up for grabs as Chelsea Green makes her first defense against Nia Jax. Green still has a broken orbital bone that’s healing, and while the odds on Tiffany Stratton turning heel on Green here to cost her the title are low they’re not zero. The AAA tag team belts are on the line as well as the War Raiders defend against former WWE tag team champions Damian Priest and R-Truth. Priest turning heel on Truth seems almost inevitable at this point, the major question being if it’s here or they’ll delay just a bit longer. Sticking with AAA titles, the cruiserweight title will be defended by Rey Fenix against Ricky Saints. Ricky’s been a little MIA from WWE TV and has kind of struggled to get over. Also a grudge match between Paige and Nikki Bella which I’m sure will take up time if nothing else. Cody Rhodes neglected to pull the trigger and punt Randy Orton into oblivion, so expect those two to go at it again in the near future as Randy got the win to even their series at one a piece. US champion Trick Williams needs something to do, his first title run was kind of a nothing burger but he regained the belt so hopefully there’s actually some direction for him besides holding a belt and doing nothing with it. We’ll have to see what becomes of Bakusai after that team debuted last week, Charlotte Flair is struggling to connect with Tatum Paxley, Fatal Influence have gold but no real direction for it. Still no sign of Jordynne Grace, and it’s about time to add Carmelo Hayes to the MIA report. But that’s just the preamble, let’s get to the action.
Michael Cole is on commentary with Wade Barrett tonight and the duo welcome us to Mexico City as we do the usual boring thing of watching wrestlers walking in the venue.
Randy Orton heads to the ring to a massive pop and the crowd happily sings his song. As he walks we get a recap of Randy vs. Cody Rhodes from SNME. Randy gets a mic and enjoys the crowd chanting for him then asks what the people want to talk about. He wants to talk about Cody, the name drop gets booed. Randy beat Cody in front of Cody’s friends and family and Cody showed the whole world that he’s not a killer, just a good man. Cody is a good father, husband, and a good friend. It takes a lot to put down a legend, and take it from someone who killed a lot of legends it takes a piece of your soul to do it. And Cody’s soul is not for sale. Cody isn’t a killer, but Randy is. That gets a pop. Randy doesn’t care if anyone thinks he’s a good person or not, the people mean nothing to him. That gets the crowd to cheer him again. He warns anyone who tries to get between him and the WWE title that he will never hesitate to empty the clip into them. So whoever wins the WWE title tonight, he’s coming for them with the RKO. Good babyface promo from the heel Randy. Randy gets most of the way up the entrance ramp as the crowd keeps singing his song.
In the back Smackdown GM Nick Aldis talks with Chelsea Green and warns her that if she gets hurt again he’s going to have to take the title from her. Green knows, and walks over to find Tiffany Stratton. Tiffany promises to be in Green’s corner tonight for her match.
Coming up will be Rey Fenix vs. Ricky Saints. Before we head to break we get a tribute package in memoriam of the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago today.
Ricky Saints is in the ring as we come back. He’s followed by Rey Fenix who gets a hero’s welcome.
Match #1 – AAA Cruiserweight Title Match: (c) Rey Fenix vs. Ricky Saints
Quick rope running from Fenix and a hurricanrana. Chop from Fenix then his bouncing corkscrew armdrag and a follow up dropkick. Ricky lands a chop then does his own arm drag and poses. Fenix with another hurricanrana, but Ricky boots him to interrupt the tiger feint wheel kick, then hits a diving tornado DDT on the floor to send us to break. Fortunately Netflix feed for me so we’re still good.
Ricky sends Fenix back into the ring and yanks at his mask. Classic heel move, then he follows with a knee drop. They both head to the floor and Ricky beats up Fenix a bit more. Ricky drops Rey across the barricade then both men head back into the ring. Ax handle from Ricky. Some stomps and crowd taunts from Ricky, that’s about the state of things as we rejoin the broadcast. Ricky heads up top for his Old School variant, which connects. Next Ricky puts Fenix up top, but Fenix counters with an avalanche hurricanrana to start his comeback. A moonsault after a little slip from Fenix connects. Ricky to the apron, but Fenix hits the Adios Amigo kick, then follows to the floor with an orihara moonsault. Back in the ring again and Fenix hits a crossbody for a 2 count. Fenix up to the second rope and tries a Molly Go Round but Ricky counters with a powerbomb then a Revolution DDT but he can only find a 2 count of his own. Ricky survives a Small Package, lands a boot but Fenix with the tiger feint wheel kick to counter. Head kick from Ricky, but Fenix avoids the Roshambo and hits a handspring Cutter for a 2 count. Ricky with a kick out of the corner, but when he heads up top Fenix lands a superkick then hits the Mexican Muscle Buster to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Rey Fenix retained the title in 9:30
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Decent match, Ricky has skill but still feels like he lacks direction. Fenix is pretty awesome per usual, but the obvious outcome put a ceiling on this one.
Post match Fenix offers a handshake, Ricky declines.
In the back Cathy talks with Sami Zayn, who the crowd boo. Sami says this isn’t about him or anyone else, this is about justice. He was happy if Kevin Owens had beaten CM Punk, but Owens didn’t want it. He’d have been happy with Johnny Gargano as well, but that didn’t work out either. Well now it will be the man it was always supposed to be, him. For there to be justice he has to take back what Punk stole from him. Johnny walks over and he says he’s next if Sami wins, right? Sami is a weasel about it though, with all apologies to weasels for associating them with Sami.
Nikki Bella heads to the ring and we head to break.
We come back and here’s Paige. Given that everything is just nostalgia pops in WWE these days I’m curious who gets booed here.
Match #2: Nikki Bella vs. Paige
Paige attacks right away and hits a Thesz Press then mounted punches. Paige throws Nikki around for a bit then lands a thrust kick. Nikki powders in front of the announce tables, Paige follows and keeps up the attack, the crowd is with Paige thus far. Paige with a superkick to Nikki as Nikki was laid out on the Spanish announce table. Back in the ring Paige with her knee strikes through the ropes. Nikki is able to yank Paige down then out of the ring. Paige rams Nikki into the barricade, then into the ring steps. Back in the ring again, Nikki hides behind the ref then misdirects Paige and hits a double leg then uses the ropes for leverage to get the pin.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Nikki Bella won in 3:20
Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: What a lame duck ending. Paige showed good fire and I’m not opposed to Nikki being a scummy heel but man that felt deflating rather than enraging.
In the back Cathy talks with Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Jax buries Green and promises to end her career tonight. Lash warns Tiffany not to get involved.
After this break Trick Williams will talk.
Post break here’s US champion Trick Williams and his chant. It sounds a little different in Spanish, or heavily accented English. As Trick heads to the ring we get a recap of Trick winning the US title at SNME. Trick gets a mic, he’s also got a soccer ball from a fan, and Trick puts himself over. He plays with the crowd a bit about soccer players. Next he recaps winning the US title for us before kicking the ball into the crowd. He plans on winning Money In The Bank, which is coming up, then brings out Lil Yachty to celebrate with him. Well he tries at least, then tries a second time but still no Yachty. Ah yes, here’s Baron Corbin dragging Yachty to the stage. Trick chases Corbin off then checks on the downed Yachty. Corbin shows back up with a kendo stick and attacks Trick. I was really hoping we were moving on from Corbin. Corbin does finally get heat from the crowd though, which must be a nice change of pace for him.
In the back Finn Balor talks with Aldis, Balor still wants a WWE title shot. Danhausen shows up to do mischief in the background. Aldis brings up MITB to Balor, that gets Danhausen’s attention briefly. Gunther shows up to interrupt and complain about being stuck behind a guy who peaked a decade ago and should be retired. Balor and Gunther get into it briefly with Balor punching out Gunther. Danhausen debates touching Gunther but decides against it as Gunther says if Balor wants it this way he’s amenable.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend head to the ring and we head to break.
Back from break and Chelsea Green heads to the ring along with Tiffany Stratton.
Match #3 – WWE Women’s Title Match: (c) Chelsea Green w/ Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax w/ Lash Legend
21 minutes between matches, not great. Green starts with a dropkick, then misdirects Jax out of the ring and follows with a suicide dive but Jax just catches her and rams her into the ring apron. Jax then tosses Green over the announce table. Back in the ring Jax tosses Green around. Green avoids a corner attack then hits an enziguri, next she goes up top and sort of hits a missile dropkick to send Jax out of the ring. Follow up attack from Green but Jax yanks her down onto the apron then throws her into the barricade. Back in the ring Jax bounces Green’s face into the corner a few times, Green fights back but runs into an ST-Joe, Jax follows with a senton for a 2 count. Jax slams Green down by the hair, then hauls Green into a corner and Jax climbs up top then chokes Green a bit. Green fights back with a kick then tosses Jax off the top rope. Boot from Green then she hits a hurricanrana and a double knee attack. Jax hauls Green up into a Samoan Drop for another 2 count. Now Jax removes the protective mask off of Green and tosses her out of the ring. Lash lines up an attack but Tiffany takes the elbow for her. Green rams Lash into the ring post, but back in the ring Jax squashes Green then tries an Annihilator but Green rolls out of the way. Green gets her mask back on, hangs up Jax, then climbs up top again and Jax intercepts her. Headbutt from Green then they screw up the flipping Unpretty Her, hit a normal one and that gets Green the win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Chelsea Green retained the title in 6:16
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Green and Jax work well enough together for David and Goliath style bouts but they had to almost speed run through stuff here. The slightly screwed up finish didn’t help things either. Good crowd though.
In the back Cathy talks with WWE champion CM Punk. Punk says sometimes you have to teach bad behavior a lesson, and as a champion you’ve won the idiot lottery. He’s got a bunch of people gunning for him, but he’s not here in Mexico City to lose his title to a guy who broke his hand jerking off to his 9 day title reign. Tonight he’s breaking Sami’s face in the thin air of Mexico City, and he will prove to Sami that he’s the best in the world.
Damian Priest and R-Truth head to the ring for their title shot, that’ll be up after this break.
We come back and here come the champion War Raiders.
Match #4 – AAA Tag Team Title Match: (c) War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) vs. Damian Priest and R-Truth
Erik and Ivar attack at the bell and isolate Truth. Erik with a diving elbow to Priest on the floor then Ivar with a Splash to Truth for 2. Truth is isolated now and Erik tags in so it’s clubbing time. Elbow from Erik then Ivar tags back in as Truth is cornered. Clothesline from Ivar for a 2 count. More tags between Erik and Ivar, but Truth avoids a corner attack then low bridges Erik and tags in Priest. Priest attacks Ivar with punches then his hopping shoulder block. Leaping back elbow to Erik then tornado kicks for both men as Priest is on fire. Corner splashes from Priest then the lifting Flatliner to Ivar for a 2 count. Erik pulls Ivar out of the ring so they can recover, Priest then attacks both men with a leaping cross body off the ring steps to send us to break.
Priest boxes the ears of Ivar but Erik ties him up and Ivar knocks Priest out of the ring. On the floor Erik slams Ivar onto the downed Priest. Back in the ring Priest looks to tag out but Erik blocks him with a front headlock and body blows. Ivar tags in and knees Priest, then Erik with a knee to the face and that gets a 2 count. Bit of a neck crank from Ivar, Priest fights out of that then fights out of the heel corner with kicks. Ivar tries to block Priest tagging out, then he cheap shots Truth. Ivar to the second rope but Priest with a gamen giri then he heads up for an avalanche hurricanrana, Priest might have landed on his own head there, but both men are down as we come back. Truth gets the hot tag, Erik tags in as well but Truth gets the Cena Sequence off. Erik tags Ivar, Truth tries the Attitude Adjustment but he needs a second attempt bot get Ivar up and cover for 2 as Erik breaks up the pin. Priest shows up to unload on Erik with strikes but he runs into the pop up powerslam. Truth still fights back with punches but Ivar with a wheel kick to floor him. Erik tags back in, Ragnarok connects and the War Raiders retain.
OFFICIAL RESULT: War Raiders retained the titles in 8:18
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Another solid match, the Raiders in Mexico have a little more crowd juice than with the general WWE crowd which helped. This crowd has been elevating things all night.
Post match Priest is unhappy in the ring with the downed Truth. Priest offers a hand and helps Truth up, they share a hug then Priest gives Truth a sombrero that Truth had worn to the ring which of course cements his immediate heel turn as he clotheslines Truth to the mat. Truth doesn’t understand, Priest doesn’t care to explain and spikes Truth with South of Heaven onto the sombrero.
In the back Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair walk and talk, Charlotte is still not happy with them losing to Jade and company. Fatal Influence show up to snark at them until Paxley shows up to remind them that she and Charlotte beat them. With the odds even Fatal Influence head out. Paxley tries to apologize, but Charlotte isn’t sure she can trust Paxley yet. Charlotte leaves, and Bliss stops Paxley from following her, telling her to just give Charlotte time.
We get a hype job for the main event, which will be up after this break.
Next week we’ll get an interview with Cody and the start of qualifying matches for MITB.
In the back Cathy talks with Fenix about Penta’s title match with Roman Reigns. Fenix says this weekend is a great time for the family, he’s got to defend on Sunday. Ricky Saints interrupts and apologizes for walking away from Fenix in the ring, he shakes Fenix’s hand and says Fenix was the better man out there, then walks away only to attack once Fenix turns his back. Ricky says tonight he’s the better man.
Back to the ring here’s Sami Zayn to a cascade of boos. The champ comes out next to a raucous reception. We get the special in ring introductions. They’re giving Punk and Sami 15 minutes or so it seems if we’re looking at bell time.
Match #5 – WWE Title Match: (c) CM Punk vs. Sami Zayn
Immediately both men get to punching, Punk corners Sami and hits a 10 punch, but seems to tweak his left foot or knee on the dismount. Sami powders, Punk with a suicide dive and we head picture in picture.
Kick from Punk but getting back in the ring Sami starts stomping on him. Punk with chops then an arm wringer but that’s the bad hand of Sami so Sami disengages. Corner shoulder strikes from Sami, Punk fights back with a chop and a suplex. Sami again tries to protect his left hand, Punk launches him into a corner and Sami takes a bump which kind of lands on his bad hand. Clothesline from Sami then he goes to a chin lock. Chop from Sami then he goes for a 10 punch but Punk counters with a Manhattan Drop then an Atomic Drop and a neckbreaker. They’re trading strikes as we come back to broadcast, Sami runs into a sort of Kitchen Sink knee lift but the bad knee of Punk gives out. Sami finally realizes Punk’s knee is tweaked. Punk heads to the apron, the ref checks on him then Sami runs around to attack the knee of Punk. A bit of wrapping the leg around the ring post from Sami. Some leg work from Sami now. Sami whines at the ref for some reason, Punk with a couple kicks but his left leg still gives out. A few rights from Punk, then another neckbreaker. Sami tries to beg off, Punk attacks the bad hand by slamming it onto the mat a few times. Punk stomps the hand, then tries Go To Sleep but Sami catches the bad leg then grabs Figure 4 leg lock. They roll into the ropes to break the hold. Sami has to remove his own wrist brace as it was all messed up and we go picture in picture again.
Punk elbows the back hand of Sami, Sami kicks the bad knee. They’re both just hitting the weak spots on the other for a bit before Sami lands a series of punches but Punk drops him with a head kick and both men are down. Punk up first and looks to climb the ropes, the bad knee makes him take his time but he does get up there only for Sami to attack the bad knee and drop Punk onto the top. Sami climbs up with Punk and hits a superplex as we rejoin the broadcast and both men are down. Punk runs Sami into a corner and hits a step up knee to the chin. Sami avoids the Bulldog from Punk then his hand gives out trying a Blue Thunder Bomb. Next Sami avoids a Go To Sleep and shoves Punk towards the ref then does hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a 2 count. Both wounded men stagger around, then Sami hits the corner Exploder suplex. Sami lines up the Helluva Kick, but Punk cuts him off with a clothesline. Go To Sleep connects but the bad knee means Punk is way too slow on the cover and Sami kicks at 2.9. Punk wants the Go To Sleep again, but here’s Johnny and Candice LeRae to make everything worse. Sami tries a roll up for 2, then gets the Figure 4 again. Punk grabs the bad wrist of Sami and switches to the Anaconda Vice, Sami’s tapping but Candice has the ref distracted. Johnny with the WWE title, but misses the shot to Punk and eats a Go To Sleep but Punk’s knee is shot. Sami gets the belt, but here’s Kevin Owens to steal it from him but he hits Punk with the belt. Then he tries for Sami but Sami with a low blow to Owens. Sami disposes of the belt, hits the Helluva Kick and wins the title.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Sami Zayn won the title in 15:30
Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: That clown fiesta finish knocked this down from 4 stars. One can hope Sami loses next week because him having shorter and shorter title reigns would just be hilarious. Both men being the walking wounded helped and I appreciate both men going for the injuries on the other as a narrative device.
Sami celebrates post match as the episode ends.
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