WWE SmackDown took place from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Trick Williams defeated Johnny Gargano, Paige scored a controversial victory over Nikki Bella, and Rey Fenix retained the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship by disqualification. In the main event, Randy Orton interrupted Cody Rhodes’ match with Baron Corbin before Rhodes delivered a Punt of his own to Corbin.
Sami Zayn, Trick Williams and Johnny Gargano
Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn opened the show by celebrating the failures of those who had recently challenged him. He mocked Je’Von Evans, CM Punk, Kevin Owens and Trick Williams before congratulating PENTA on winning Money in the Bank.
Zayn advised PENTA to focus on Roman Reigns rather than attempting to cash in on him. He then addressed his expected Crown Jewel match against Reigns, promising to speak directly to the World Heavyweight Champion on Monday’s Raw.
Trick Williams interrupted and accused Zayn of being threatened by him. Trick said Zayn saw a genuine superstar every time he looked at him and challenged the champion to take a swing.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae came to the ring. Gargano defended Zayn and accused Trick of being handed opportunities that wrestlers such as himself had worked years to receive. Trick challenged Gargano to a match, and Gargano accepted.
Trick Williams vs. Johnny Gargano
Sami Zayn joined commentary for the match, which began during the commercial break. Gargano quickly targeted Trick’s left knee with kicks, a Dragon Screw Leg Whip and a chop block.
Trick took control with a delayed vertical suplex but was unable to connect with the Trick Shot. Gargano used a distraction from Candice LeRae to attack Trick’s knee in the ropes before delivering a suicide dive that sent him over the announce table.
Gargano continued attacking the injured leg and applied a single-leg crab. Trick escaped with several up-kicks and mounted a comeback with two leg lariats, a flapjack and the Trick Slap.
LeRae later tripped Trick behind the referee’s back. Gargano attempted to capitalize with a rollup while holding the tights, but Trick kicked out. Gargano followed with a superkick and Tornado DDT for another near fall.
Trick blocked a Slingshot Spear with the Trick Shot and followed with the Book End to secure the victory.
Winner: Trick Williams via Pinfall
Blake Monroe and Giulia Set for a Street Fight
Nick Aldis spoke with Blake Monroe about her escalating altercations with Giulia. Monroe told Aldis to do something about the situation, leading him to schedule a Street Fight between the two for the following week.
Chelsea Green then arrived and learned that Tiffany Stratton was recovering. Green said she had sent Stratton a basket of blue cheese-stuffed olives before turning her attention to Liv Morgan.
Aldis explained that Morgan was not present and revealed that Adam Pearce was unhappy about Green placing his champion in a dangerous position on Raw. He also warned that the rest of The Judgment Day would eventually have to appear on SmackDown, particularly if Roxanne Perez intended to pursue her title opportunity.
Nikki Bella joined the conversation and questioned why Perez would receive a championship match before her. Nikki said she would earn a title shot by defeating Paige.
Green challenged Nikki to a WWE Women’s Championship match the following week. Nikki declined because of other commitments, so the match was scheduled for two weeks later.
Nikki Bella vs. Paige
Nikki immediately tackled Paige and delivered a ground-and-pound attack. The fight spilled outside, where both competitors were driven into the barricade.
Paige rag-dolled Nikki around ringside, connected with a superkick and delivered Muay Thai knee strikes after returning to the ring. Nikki answered by snapping Paige’s left arm across the top rope and slamming her onto the floor.
Nikki controlled the match until Paige fought back with two clotheslines, a fisherman’s suplex and a release German suplex. Nikki countered the Five Knuckle Shuffle with the STF, but Paige reached the bottom rope.
Paige later connected with an Attitude Adjustment for a two-count. Nikki blocked the Rampage, delivered a knee smash and nearly won following a forearm.
After Paige prevented the Rack Attack 2.0, Nikki sent her toward the referee and attempted an O’Connor Roll. Paige reversed the position and used the bottom rope for leverage to steal the victory.
Winner: Paige via Pinfall
R-Truth Addresses Damian Priest
R-Truth told Cathy Kelley that he was heartbroken by Damian Priest’s betrayal. Truth said Priest had been his friend but was no longer, and he promised to make Priest regret turning against him.
CM Punk and Kevin Owens Confront Each Other
Kevin Owens spoke with Nick Aldis in the trainer’s room. Owens said that his shoulder and knee were hurt, but his neck felt good. Although he failed to leave Money in the Bank with the contract, Owens considered the night successful because CM Punk had also lost.
Punk arrived and demanded a match against Owens. Aldis agreed that the match should happen but refused to allow them to fight backstage, in catering or in the parking lot. He wanted both men healthy so their confrontation could happen in an official match.
Owens agreed to stay away from Punk before throwing his medical tape at him. Aldis promised to begin working on making their match official.
Damian Priest vs. R-Truth
Truth knocked Priest from the apron before the bell and followed with a stage dive. Once the match officially began, Truth avoided a clothesline with a split and connected with a leg lariat.
Priest responded with a superkick before driving Truth shoulder-first into the middle turnbuckle. Priest controlled the match with strikes, a leaping back elbow and the Broken Arrow for a two-count.
Truth fought back with a leaping shoulder tackle and later avoided Priest in the corner. He connected with a missile dropkick but landed badly, prompting the referee to stop the match.
Winner: Damian Priest via Referee Stoppage
After the match, Priest grabbed a steel chair. Fraxiom rushed to the ring and prevented him from attacking Truth.
GUNTHER Confronts Danhausen
GUNTHER entered Nick Aldis’ office and complained about being placed in a match against someone he did not consider a wrestler. He claimed that injuring people who did not belong was an old-school way of removing them from the business.
GUNTHER also said Finn Bálor had suffered the consequences of interfering in his business. However, Aldis was not in the office. Danhausen was sitting in his chair instead.
Danhausen reminded GUNTHER that he had not technically defeated him and requested a rematch on Halloween. GUNTHER grabbed Danhausen by his neck brace and promised to make Halloween a special night for him before shoving him into the chair.
Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley’s Championship Celebration
Alexa Bliss introduced her new WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship partner, Tatum Paxley. Bliss praised Charlotte Flair for giving up her place in the championship match and supporting them from ringside.
Paxley thanked Bliss and Charlotte before revealing that she had a special gift waiting for Charlotte when she returned.
Fatal Influence interrupted the celebration. Jacy Jayne complained about Tiffany Stratton taking the Money in the Bank briefcase and mocked the champions’ friendship with Charlotte.
Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid claimed Charlotte did not genuinely care about Paxley and was unhappy that Bliss had become champion without her.
Paxley offered Fatal Influence an opportunity to regain the titles. Jayne said she could not compete because of her injury, but Henley and Reid could.
A brawl followed. Bliss and Paxley cleared the ring before Bliss struck Jayne with a forearm and Paxley delivered a swinging arm-ringer. The champions then escaped before Fatal Influence could retaliate.
Sami Zayn Questions Rey Fenix
Rey Fenix told Cathy Kelley that he was proud of PENTA for winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Sami Zayn interrupted and asked whether Fenix had spoken to his brother. Fenix recognized that Zayn was attempting to discover whether PENTA intended to cash in on him or Roman Reigns.
Fenix said he did not know what PENTA would do and wished Zayn good luck before walking away. A frustrated Zayn knocked over a water bottle.
Fatal Influence and The Baddies Trade Words
Fatal Influence confronted Jade Cargill and The Baddies backstage. Both groups argued about which team deserved the next opportunity at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Michin revealed that The Baddies had spoken with Nick Aldis and would receive the next title match. She suggested they might face Fatal Influence after capturing the championship.
Rey Fenix vs. Ricky Saints for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
Fenix used his speed to evade Saints before connecting with a running hurricanrana, a double-springboard arm drag and the Goodbye Amigo Kick. He followed with a springboard crossbody to the outside.
Saints regained control by sending Fenix face-first into the ring post. He attacked Fenix’s mask and wore the champion down with corner clotheslines and repeated stomps.
Fenix attempted to fight back from the top turnbuckle, but Saints caught him in midair with a powerbomb for a two-count. Fenix later avoided Roshambo and delivered a handspring cutter.
After Fenix connected with a frog splash, Saints countered a roll-through cutter with a Death Valley Driver. Fenix answered with a roll-through shotei and a double-springboard hurricanrana.
As Fenix climbed the turnbuckles, Saints shoved the referee into the ropes, causing Fenix to become trapped in the tree of woe. Saints delivered Roshambo, but the referee refused to count the pin.
Saints confronted the official, who called for the disqualification.
Winner: Rey Fenix via Disqualification
After the match, Saints attacked Fenix with a ground-and-pound assault before delivering another Roshambo. Fenix remained the AAA World Cruiserweight Champion.
Cody Rhodes Calls Out Randy Orton
Cody Rhodes asked Nick Aldis whether Randy Orton had arrived. Aldis said he had not seen Orton, so Cody decided to go to the ring and attempt to draw him out.
Cody Rhodes and Baron Corbin
Cody entered the ring and promised to remain there until Randy Orton confronted him.
Baron Corbin appeared instead. Corbin said he had never understood why people supported Cody and accused him of constantly complaining about his problems.
Corbin claimed Cody lacked the killer instinct necessary to reach the top because he was too concerned with being a good person, following the rules and pleasing the fans. Corbin promised to return to the top at Cody’s expense.
Cody punched Corbin and knocked him from the ring. With Orton still absent, Cody called for a referee and challenged Corbin to an immediate match.
Cody Rhodes vs. Baron Corbin
Corbin took control early with Deep Six for a two-count. He followed with kicks, stomps and a ground-and-pound attack while taunting the Sacramento crowd.
Cody drove Corbin shoulder-first into the ring post before both men collided with simultaneous clotheslines. Cody recovered with two punches, a running forearm and a powerslam.
Cody delivered the Bionic Elbow and Disaster Kick before preparing for Cross Rhodes. Randy Orton suddenly appeared and pulled Cody from the ring, forcing the disqualification.
Winner: Cody Rhodes via Disqualification
After the match, Orton attacked Cody around ringside and repeatedly drove him into the steel steps, announce table and ring post.
Cody avoided the Punt and responded with the Cody Cutter. He prepared to deliver a Punt of his own to Orton, but Corbin stopped him with a corner clothesline.
Orton escaped while Corbin attempted the End of Days. Cody landed on his feet, connected with the Super Cody Cutter and delivered the Punt to Corbin as SmackDown went off the air.
