WWE SmackDown aired from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia. The Halloween-themed show featured three championship matches, Danhausen unveiling his “evil experiment,” the return of “The Demon” Finn Bálor and Sami Zayn defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Trick Williams.
Cody Rhodes Addresses Randy Orton
Cody Rhodes opened the show by discussing his upcoming Last Man Standing Match against Randy Orton at Crown Jewel. Rhodes acknowledged that it would be his first time competing under the stipulation, describing its simple concept as barbaric because the only way to win was to incapacitate an opponent for a ten-count.
Rhodes then apologised to Orton’s wife, children and fans for what he intended to do. He displayed a photograph of the injuries he suffered during his WrestleMania victory over Orton and said there were receipts in professional wrestling before promising to take Randy “to the cleaners.”
After recalling the numerous Superstars Orton had punted throughout his career, Rhodes promised to deliver one collective receipt with his own punt. He also suggested that the winner would become the likely number-one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship, whether Sami Zayn or Trick Williams emerged from the night as champion. Rhodes declared that he would be the Last Man Standing and the only man delivering the punt.
Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton Discuss Their Championship Plans
Cathy Kelley asked Tiffany Stratton about her failed attempt to cash in the Money in the Bank contract on Raw. Stratton blamed The Judgment Day for Liv Morgan remaining Women’s World Champion and promised to wait until Morgan was alone before trying again.
Chelsea Green declared that she and Stratton would become the most iconic duo in WWE history. When Kelley pointed out that Green was dressed as Nikki Bella, Chelsea insisted she was portraying a monster after seeing Nikki’s true colours. She vowed to prove that she was not a Bella impersonator but the genuine WWE Women’s Champion.
Danhausen interrupted and offered to exchange his jar of teeth for Stratton’s briefcase, believing it contained a large amount of “human monies.” Stratton declined and walked away, prompting Danhausen to blame Kelley for frightening her.
WWE Women’s Championship
Chelsea Green (c) vs. Nikki Bella
Green and Nikki countered one another’s finishing moves during the opening exchange, leading to a stalemate. Green scored with two Japanese arm drags before driving Nikki face-first into the top turnbuckle. Nikki recovered by knocking the champion from the top rope and repeatedly throwing her into the barricade.
Nikki controlled the match through the commercial break and landed the Bella Buster for a two-count. Green responded with a ripcord slam and Zig Zag, but Nikki regained momentum with a springboard enzuigiri. After mocking Matt Cardona, Nikki attempted the Broski Boot, only for Green to avoid it and deliver a running Meteora to the back of her neck.
Green followed with the Rough Ryder for a near-fall. Nikki escaped the Unprettier and attempted the Fearless Lock, but Green rolled her up for two. Nikki then connected with the Rack Attack 2.0, although Green saved her title by placing one foot on the bottom rope. Moments later, the champion caught Nikki with an inside cradle to retain.
Winner: Chelsea Green via Pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
Liv Morgan entered after the match and offered Green sarcastic congratulations. Morgan said their journeys were similar because little had initially been expected of either woman, yet both had worked their way to the top of their respective divisions.
Morgan argued that the similarities ended there because she was a real champion while Green was a joke who contributed nothing to the women’s division. She promised that Green’s luck would run out when they met at Crown Jewel.
Stratton approached with the Money in the Bank briefcase, but The Judgment Day attacked her from behind. Green dropped Morgan with the Unprettier before Stratton used the briefcase to fight off Morgan’s allies. Stratton landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and slowly handed her briefcase to the referee, but Raquel Rodriguez stopped the cash-in with a Big Boot.
Roxanne Perez ambushed Green as The Judgment Day attacked both champions. Morgan took possession of Stratton’s briefcase until Iyo Sky rushed to the ring and made the save.
Sami Zayn Promises to Silence Trick Williams
Cathy Kelley asked Sami Zayn about his outspoken dislike of Trick Williams before their championship match. Zayn complained that he had received constant disrespect since regaining the Undisputed WWE Championship, citing Nick Aldis’ doubts about the length of his reign, Roman Reigns questioning whether he would reach Crown Jewel as champion and even Danhausen offering his opinion.
Zayn refused to believe that all his sacrifices would culminate in him losing the championship to Williams. He argued that everything appealing about Trick could be purchased in a shop, whereas grit, resilience and survival instincts could not be bought.
Calling himself WWE’s most versatile and adaptable Superstar, Zayn declared that there would never be another performer like him. He promised to demand the respect he deserved by defeating Williams and meeting Reigns at Crown Jewel.
Blake Monroe and Paige Exchange Words
Blake Monroe told Cathy Kelley that after concluding her rivalry with Giulia, she could finally pursue her original objective on SmackDown. Monroe described herself as world-championship material and claimed Chelsea Green was crumbling under pressure while she stood ready to enter the spotlight.
Paige interrupted and said winning one match did not make Monroe championship material. Blake claimed she had been a major fan of Paige a decade earlier but advised her not to interfere in matters that did not concern her. Paige responded by warning Monroe to watch her mouth before walking away.
AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
Rey Fenix (c) vs. Ricky Saints
Saints opened with a barrage of strikes, but Fenix quickly responded with chops, a lucha libre arm drag and a dropkick that sent his challenger outside. Fenix followed with a cannonball senton through the ropes and a flying crossbody inside the ring for a two-count.
Saints took control by sending Fenix to the floor, landing a wrecking-ball dropkick and driving him over the announce table. He attempted to remove Fenix’s mask during the commercial break and later delivered an avalanche Jackhammer for a near-fall.
Fenix mounted his comeback with a rebound spinning heel kick, double-underhook facebuster and double-springboard moonsault, but none was enough to finish Saints. The challenger answered with the Revolution DDT and a Death Valley Driver for two more near-falls.
The champion survived a lengthy sequence of counters and connected with two roll-through cutters. Saints blocked an initial Mexican Muscle Buster attempt and repeatedly kicked Fenix in the face. Fenix nevertheless recovered, placed Saints back on the turnbuckles and delivered the Mexican Muscle Buster to retain his championship.
Winner: Rey Fenix via Pinfall to retain the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
The Baddies and Fatal Influence Trade Insults
Cathy Kelley asked Jade Cargill and The Baddies about accusations that their championship victory the previous week had been unfair. Michin rejected the suggestion, while B-Fab said they did not care how the fans felt and demanded recognition for getting the job done.
Cargill blamed Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley for disappointing their supporters. She acknowledged that Charlotte Flair’s presence might have affected the outcome but insisted she had dealt with Charlotte herself. Cargill also made it clear that she had no objection to punching Paxley in the face.
Fatal Influence interrupted and reluctantly praised The Baddies for borrowing from their playbook. Fallon Henley warned that they could not outperform Fatal Influence at its own game, while Lainey Reid suggested they could learn from the best.
Trick Williams Plans to Become a Double Champion
Trick Williams told Cathy Kelley that he was tired of Zayn acting like a different person simply because he held the WWE Championship. Williams argued that possessing a title did not grant magical powers and reminded everyone that he had already defeated Zayn twice.
Trick planned to leave with both the United States and WWE Championships before confronting Roman Reigns on Raw. Lil Yachty then wandered into Danhausen’s top-secret laboratory, where Danhausen had revived the Gingerbread Man.
Jade Cargill vs. Tatum Paxley
Paxley jumped onto Cargill’s back before the bell, but Jade threw her down and began overpowering her with strikes, a corner spear and a sliding lariat. Paxley used her speed to fight back with running crossbodies into the turnbuckles, a dropkick and a leaping knee for a two-count.
Cargill knocked Paxley from the apron and later avoided an apron moonsault before landing a superkick and pop-up knee. She remained in control during the commercial break and applied a single-leg crab, but Paxley escaped and produced consecutive near-falls with a rolling crucifix and sunset flip.
Paxley continued her comeback with a roundhouse kick, step-up enzuigiri and somersault leg drop. Cargill blocked the Cemetery Drive before another exchange of strikes left Paxley with an opportunity to climb the turnbuckles.
B-Fab swept Paxley’s legs behind the referee’s back. Alexa Bliss responded with a flying crossbody from the steel steps, only for Michin to dropkick her on the floor. Inside the ring, Cargill followed a Pump Kick with Jaded to secure the victory.
Winner: Jade Cargill via Pinfall
Damian Priest Threatens to Start Stacking Bodies
Damian Priest questioned why Trick Williams had received a WWE Championship opportunity when Priest had never been granted one. He blamed his lack of opportunities on the time he had wasted with R-Truth and said Truth was no longer his concern after taking himself out of the picture.
Priest warned that if Nick Aldis did not correct the situation, he would begin stacking bodies outside the general manager’s office until he received what belonged to him.
Nathan Frazer and Axiom confronted Priest and demanded revenge for his attack the previous week. Frazer said one member of Fraxiom would face Priest and make him experience the same pain as Truth. Priest responded that he had entered a different frame of mind and enjoyed turning on Truth, inviting them to imagine what he might do to them.
Danhausen’s Evil Experiment
Danhausen entered his laboratory and declared his Halloween edition of SmackDown a terrifying success. He prepared to reveal his greatest and most evil experiment but struggled to operate the equipment.
GUNTHER appeared and struck Danhausen with a forearm before destroying the laboratory decorations. He powerbombed Danhausen through a table and prepared to do it again when the cloning machine activated and produced several Minihausens.
GUNTHER dismantled the clones, throwing pumpkins at them and powerbombing two Minihausens through another table. Danhausen crawled back into the ring and attempted to fight with a chop, but GUNTHER trapped him in the Sleeper Hold.
Danhausen performed his curse gesture as the arena went dark. “The Demon” Finn Bálor emerged from the stretcher and attacked GUNTHER with flying strikes and the Wicklow Drop. GUNTHER whipped Bálor with his leather belt, but it had no effect.
Bálor delivered the Sling Blade and drove GUNTHER through a table in the corner with the Shotgun Dropkick. He retrieved a ladder and struck GUNTHER with it before placing him across the announce table. Bálor climbed the ladder and delivered the Coup de Grâce through the table, leaving himself and Danhausen standing tall.
A video package aired promoting the rivalry between CM Punk and Kevin Owens. The two will meet in a No Holds Barred Match on next week’s SmackDown from Brooklyn, New York.
Undisputed WWE Championship
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
Zayn repeatedly slapped Williams following an opening lock-up, prompting the challenger to respond with haymakers, an uppercut and a leaping clothesline. Williams continued with a bodyslam and corner punches, but Zayn sent him face-first into the ring post before throwing him into the steel steps.
Zayn controlled the action with strikes and repeatedly attempted to pin Williams. Trick eventually countered with a vertical suplex and began absorbing the champion’s offence before firing back with haymakers, a discus uppercut, leg lariats and the Trick Slap. He followed with the Whoop That stomps and a spinning heel kick for a two-count.
Zayn countered the Book End with an arm drag and delivered an Exploder Suplex into the turnbuckles. Williams stopped the Helluva Kick with a flying lariat as Johnny Gargano distracted the referee and Candice LeRae slid the championship into the ring.
Lil Yachty pulled Gargano from the apron, while Williams avoided Zayn’s attempted belt shot and landed the Book End. Gargano pulled the referee out of the ring during the count, resulting in a disqualification.
Nick Aldis appeared and restarted the match under No Disqualification rules. He also barred Yachty, Gargano and LeRae from ringside.
Williams immediately struck Zayn with a kendo stick and took the fight into the crowd. The wrestlers used a rubbish bin and traded strikes before returning to ringside, where Zayn repeatedly whipped Williams with the kendo stick. Williams responded with a neckbreaker, multiple kendo-stick shots and the Trick Kick for a two-count.
Williams threw several chairs into the ring, but Zayn countered the Book End with a Blue Thunder Bomb onto the pile. Trick survived and later delivered the Trick Shot, but the champion kicked out.
Williams grabbed the WWE Championship, only for Zayn to hide behind the referee. Zayn took advantage of the positioning to deliver a low blow before striking Williams with the running championship belt shot to retain his title.
Winner: Sami Zayn via Pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship
