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WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO AT ARENA CDMX
AIRED ON USA NETWORK (RECORDED 8/28)
BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by ProWrestling.net’s Jake Barnett to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed an aerial view of Mexico City. Then they showed fans arriving at the arena and then the arrivals of Sami Zayn and CM Punk. They went to ringside for Cole and Wade Barrett to set the table. A graphic in the corner said, “We Remember 9/11.”
-Randy Orton came out to huge cheers. He played to the crowd at ringside and then entered the ring and asked, “So, what do you want to talk about?” He said at Sunday Night’s Main Event, Cody Rhodes showed that he’s no killer. “Cody Rhodes is a good man, a good father, a good husband, a good friend.” Scattered boos, no cheers. He said Cody’s soul is not for sale.
Orton said he’s a killer and he doesn’t care whether people think he’s a good or not. “That means nothing to me,? he said. He said anyone who comes between him and his 15th world title, he won’t hesitate to “empty that clip.” He said whoever walked out tonight as the WWE Champion, he is coming for them with “the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment, RKO!”
Cole said Orton wants win no. 15 for sole claim to third place in most title reigns. They showed Orton walking to the back as fans sang his theme song with enthusiasm.
-They cut backstage to GM Nick Aldis telling Chelsea Green if she gets hurt, he has no choice but to take the title off of her. Green thanked him because “I needed to keep this title.” Aldis said she earned it, so good luck. Tiffany Stratton walked up to Green and wished her luck.
-They showed Rey Fenix walking down a staircase.
-They went to Cole and Barrett who spoke about the 25th Anniversary of the attacks on 9/11. He talked about what happened and how many died. A video then played narrated by Paul Levesque. The video included footage of the first WWE event after 9/11. [c]
(1) REY FENIX vs. RICKY SAINTS – AAA Cruiserweight Title
The bell rang 20 minutes into the hour. Fenix dominated at the start as the crowd enthusiastically chanted for him. The fans booed when he struck his signature pose after his first offense. Saints dove through the ropes and turned it into a Revolution DDT at ringside. He struck a pose again as they cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Saints walked the top rope and then leaped off with a forearm to Fenix’s arm. Fenix came back with a series of flashy flying moves. Starks made a comeback at 8:00 when he caught Fenix mid-air and turned it into a powerbomb into a stacked pin for a two count. Then he hit a Revolution DDT for a near fall right afterward. Fenix came back with a handspring stunner for a near fall a minute later that the crowd counted along with. Fenix gave Saints a Mexican Muscle Buster for the win.
Fenix offered a handshake to Saints afterward, but Saints snarled and rebuffed the overture. Fans booed.
WINNER: Fenix in 10:00 to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Solid show opener with some flashy moves from both, especially Fenix.)
–Cathy Kelley interviewed Sami backstage about his match later. “I can feel the judgment in your tone,” he said. He said this isn’t about him, it’s about justice. He said he was perfectly happy if Kevin Owens had defeated Punk. He said he handed it to him on a silver platter, but he turned it down. “Fine, forget you!” he said. He said he tried to help Johnny Gargano, and it didn’t work out. He said that’s fine because it could never have been anyone but him. “For there to be justice, it has to be by my hands,” he said. Red-faced, he yelled that tonight he takes back his title. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae walked up to Sami. Gargano was smiling. He said if Sami beats Punk, he’s next. Sami said, “Let’s just get through tonight.” Gargano reiterated what he wanted. Sami said, “I’ve got you, alright? I’ve got you.” Gargano seemed reasonably played and walked away, but studied Sami as he began to walk away.
-Nikki Bella made her ring entrance. [c]
-Cole hyped TripleMania including the AAA Trios Title match.
(2) NIKKI BELLA vs. PAIGE
The bell rang 39 minutes into the hour. Paige took Nikki down with a Thesz Press in the opening seconds. She yelled at her and then tossed her across the ring by her hair. Cole said Nikki was jealous that Paige was so successful with her sister. Cole said this is the first match these two have had against each other in 11 years. Nikki ended up getting a three count with her boots on the second rope. “Niki stole it!” said Cole.
WINNER: Nikki in 3:00.
-Backstage, Kelley interviewed Nia Jax and Lash Legend. She asked if Green’s injury is going to change her approach. Jax said Green getting hurt right after winning the title shows she never should have won it. Lash said Tiffany better not show up with any ideas or she’ll break her ribs. [c]
-Trick Williams made his ring entrance and pleased the crowd with a series of self-aggrandizing lines and some references to Mexican athletes. He talked about what he did to Baron Corbin at Sunday Night’s Main Event. He then introduced Lil Yachty. Barrett said he was laid up for several days after his match against Corbin on Sunday. When Yachty didn’t come out at first, Trick said he needed to introduce him properly. He called him “the five minute man.” Once again, he didn’t come out. Instead, Corbin dragged Yachy onto the stage. Trick ran up the ramp and Corbin fled. Officials came out to check on Yachty. Trick helped Yachty stand. Corbin ran back out and hit Trick with a kendo stick. Corbin yelled, “Just you wait! We aren’t done!”
-Backstage, Aldis told Finn Balor he just heard about Orton talking about no. 15. He said he thinks when it comes to that title, he should be next. “The line starts with me,” he said. Danhausen showed up behind them and shined the monitor with the Smackdown logo on it. Aldis told Balor he should be thinking about Money in the Bnak. That got Danhausen’s attempt. Aldis said he’d explain it later. Gunther barged in. Aldis said they were having a private conversation. Gunther said he peaked ten years ago and if he had any decency, he would have hung up boots a long time ago. He said maybe he needs someone to beat some sense into him. When Gunther left, Balor told Aldis that Gunther “is a whiny little bitch” and he’s “heard it all before.” Gunther returned and asked what he just said. Balor knocked him down with a strike to the side of his head and then left with Aldis. Danhausen snuck away.
-Nia Jax made her entrance with Lash Legend. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
(3) CHELSEA GREEN (w/Tiffany Stratton) vs. NIA JAX (w/Lash Legend) – Interim Women’s Title match
The bell rang 3 minutes into the hour. The graphic did not note this is the “interim” title. Green went on the attack with a flurry of strikes and then threw a charging Jax to the floor. She dove through the ropes, but Jax caught her and threw her over the Spanish announce desk.
Jax took over a minute later and landed a leaping senton for a two count at 3:00. Jax tried to rip off Green’s mask. Green slipped free and threw Jax off the top rope to the mat. Green went on the attack. Jax yanked off Greene’s mask and threw her to her to the floor. When Lash made a move toward Green, Tiffany shoved Green out of the way and got knocked down instead. Jax went for the Annihilator in the ring, but Green moved. Green put her protective facemask back on. She climbed to the top rope. She gave Jax an Unpretty-Her for the win.
WINNER: Green in 7:00 to retain the WWE Women’s Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s odd they don’t mention it’s an Interim Title. The match was solid, with the crowd eating up Green’s underdog scrappiness.)
-Kelley asked Punk why he gave Sami a title shot, saying he “badgered himself” into the title shot. Punk sometimes bad behavior needs to be taught a lesson. He said Sami won the idiot lottery. He said all eyes are on him. “If you think I came to Mexico City to lose my title to a guy who broke his hand jerking it to his nine day fluke title win, you’ve got another thing coming,” he said. Punk noted how thin the air is. He said he plans to hit Sami so hard, his jaw is wired shut and he won’t be heard from again.
-Damien Priest made his entrance, and then R-Truth joined him. [c]
(4) THE WAR RAIDERS (Ivar & Erik) vs. DAMIEN PRIEST & R-TRUTH – AAA Tag Team Championship match
The Raiders attacked Priest & Truth before the bell and the ref rewarded the illegal pre-match attack by promptly calling for the bell 18 minutes into the hour. Ivar landed a top rope splash on Truth for a near fall. Priest made a comeback and played to the crowd at ringside and then leaped off the ringside steps onto the Raiders at ringside as they cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Back from the break, Priest hot-tagged in Truth. Truth rallied to cheers. He went into John Cena’s finishing sequence and landed a Five-Knuckle Shuffle on Erik. Erik leaped up and tagged in Ivar. Truth set up an AA on him, but Ivar slipped free. He tried again and hit it. Erik broke up the cover with a running knee to the jaw. Priest intervened, but Ivar powerslammed him. Truth and Ivar battled mid-ring next. The Raiders double-slammed Truth and then Ivar scored a three count.
WINNERS: The War Raiders in 8:00 to retain the AAA Tag Team Titles.
-Priest put his hands on his hips afterward and seemed upset. He helped Truth stand and then hugged him. He then handed him a sombrero. They played to the crowd and then Priest hit him with a clothesline. Fans booed. “Oh no!” shouted Cole. Priest then gave Truth a South of Heaven. Cole said he understands Priest’s frustration, but they were good friends.
-Backstage, they cut to Alexa Bliss telling Charlotte it was just one miscue and now they have something to work on. Charlotte said they had a lot to work on, and now they’re added a third person. Fatal Influence walked up to them and taunted them. Charlotte said she wasn’t in the mood. Tatum Paxley came up behind the heel trio and startled them. She told them to hold onto their tag titles real tight. Paxley said she has Charlotte’s back no matter what. Charlotte asked if she can trust her. She said she hopes what happened on SNME was “just a rookie mistake.” She stormed off. Bliss told Paxton to just give Charlotte some time.
-A video package aired on Sami Zayn’s journey to this title shot. [c]
-They showed Omas backstage chatting with Dominik Mysterio. Then they showed Rey Mysterio. Cole hyped an exclusive sitdown interview with Cody Rhodes next week. Barrett hyped a MITB qualifier match next week.
-Kelley interviewed Fenix about his win tonight, TripleMania on Sunday, and the his brother Penta’s match against Roman Reigns on Raw on Monday. Starks walked up to him and apologized and said he was the better man. He then jumped Fenix from behind.
-Sami made his ring entrance. Then Punk made his entrance to cheer, chants, and signing of his song. Mark Nash did formal ring introductions.
(5) CM PUNK vs. SAMI ZAYN – WWE Title match
The bell rang 43 minutes into the hour. Punk went on the attack at the start. Punk mounted Sami in the corner, but sold a knee tweak when he landed back on the mat. He dove through the ropes onto Sami and they cut to a very early double-box break. [c/db]
Punk stayed on the attack during the break. Sami took over. Sami locked Punk in a figure-four leglock at 7:00 as fans loudly chanted “CM Punk!” Punk rolled to the bottom rope to force a break. They cut to another double-box break at 8:00. [c/db]
Sami rallied and signaled for a Helluva Kick at 12:00, but Punk clotheslined him. Punk then hit a Go To Sleep, but his knee gave out so he was slow to crawl over and make a cover. Sami lifted his shoulder before three. Gargano and LeRae can out. Punk turned toward Gargano. Sami rolled up Punk from behind for a two count. He then applied another figure-four leglock. Fans loudly chanted “CM Punk!” Candice distracted the ref as Punk cinched on an Anaconda Vice. Sami tapped, but the ref didn’t see it. Gargano entered and swung the title belt at Punk. Punk ducked and gave Gargano a GTS. The ref rolled Gargano out of the ring. Sami reached for the belt, but Kevin Owens entered. He took the belt and swung at Sami, but Sami ducked and the belt hit Punk in the skull. Cole said it was inadvertent. Barrett asked if he was sure about that. Sami gave KO a low blow.
Sami landed a running Helluva Kic to Punk for a three count. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” said Cole. He noted it was his second WWE Title win “under the most questionable of circumstances.” Cole said: “Brace yourselves. This man is going to be hell to live with.” Cole said a lot of people will be gunning for him.
WINNER: Sami Zayn in 15:00 to win the WWE Title.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by ProWrestling.net’s Jake Barnett to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/8jnzahygun
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
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