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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 2, 2026
DENVER, COLORADO AT BALL ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY ERIC CORBRIDGE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reported as of this afternoon that 10,202 tickets were distributed. The arena has a capacity of 21,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
[HOUR ONE]
Like wrestling, the best stories are told with well-developed characters. BadWill is my workplace comedy comic about the colorful employees and customers of a thrift store that only accepts donations from past relationships. Episodes 1 and 2 are available now at BadWillComic.com.
– Smackdown emanated from the shadow of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado. It was a little more than a week away from the annual Money in the Bank Premium Live Event. They recapped C.M. Punk’s win last week to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match. Superstar arrivals were shown for competitors this evening’s men’s qualifying match including Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Johnny Gargano, with wife Candice LeRae, who also has a qualifying match of her own to kick off the show.
– Tiffany Stratton entered for the women’s qualifying match. LeRae was out second. Tatum Paxley was out last. Michael Cole pointed out that this would not only be Paxley’s first Money in the Bank match, but her first ladder match.
(1) TATUM PAXLEY vs. TIFFANY STRATTON vs. CANDICE LERAE – Money in the Bank Triple Threat Qualifier match
LeRae went on the offensive from the start by attacking Paxley and Stratton. She took out Paxley on the floor but ran into a Stratton springboard elbow and spinebuster when she returned to the ring. Stratton hooked the leg for an early two-count. The action was fast early with several attempted rollups and two-counts. Stratton with a basement dropkick and cover, as Cole pointed out each woman showing urgency tonight. Paxley executed a snap suplex on LeRae then knocked her off the apron. She knocked Stratton to the floor and moonsaulted onto her opponents on the floor. [c]
This was the final women’s qualifying match. Paxley was in control and the crowd was reacting to her firing up. She hit a weak looking release German suplex but Stratton entered the ring and hit dueling handspring stunners followed by a big Alabama slam to LeRae. Stratton went up top and hit a swanton bomb on LeRae, but was immediately caught by a Paxley spin kick, leading to a nearfall. All three women were down.
LeRae caught Paxley with a codebreaker while hitting Stratton with a cannonball, which was unique. She went for a springboard but Paxley tipped her over the ropes. Stratton rolled up Paxley behind for another two-count. Paxley hit her Cemetery Drive finisher on Stratton and LeRae unsuccessfully tried to steal the pinfall as Paxley managed to break it up. The women were all down again as Cole pointed out the career-altering stakes of winning the ladder match.
LeRae was up first again and perched Paxley on the top buckle. Paxley knocked her off, leading to Stratton hitting her roll-through maneuver on LeRae. Paxley hit a 450 splash but Stratton immediately hit the Prettiest Moonsault ever to score the three count.
WINNER: Tiffany Stratton via pinfall in 10:00. Stratton qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: A strong effort by all three women that was received well by the crowd. Now there will be the intrigue of whether Stratton can win the briefcase and potentially cash in on her bestie Chelsea Green. If you read this column, you’ll know that I’m often very critical of Stratton. But she looked good here. And she seems to have shaken off the ring rust or whatever was ailing her for the first few months after returning from injury.)
– Cathy Kelley interviewed the WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green in what appeared to be a hotel lobby. Danhausen was in the background with a metal detector wand, checking on random people for some reason. Green told Kelley that she was banking on Stratton winning the briefcase. Nikki Bella walked up and was mean to Green again and said she was going to take her title. Paige walked up from the other side and disagreed, telling Bella that she had to face her instead. Paige said she’d give Bella two weeks to prepare for their match. Paige slapped Bella. Green said that was for her too and walked off.
– The AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix entered for a six-man tag team match. Cole said that Fenix was ready to deal with his “Ricky Saints problem”, while Corey Graves noted that Fenix already has ten successful title defenses. [c]
(2) REY FENIX & FRAXIOM (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) vs. RICKY SAINTS & THE WAR RAIDERS (Erik & Ivar)
Frazer squared off with Erik to start things off. Erik gave him a forearm to the face and tagged out to Ivar, then they double-teamed him with quick tags. Saints tagged himself in and pummeled Frazer with right hands in the corner and tagged back out. Frazer tagged out to his partners and they used their speed to send Ivar reeling to the floor. Frazer and Axiom hit their stereo dives through the ropes onto the Raiders. Fenix tagged in and went for a moonsault dive over the ropes but got caught and came down awkwardly on the apron. His boot appeared to catch Saints in the face. Graves noted that this was why they call it high risk. Fenix limped a bit but seemed to be okay as they went to a break. [c]
Erik distracted Axiom from the apron, which allowed Saints to kick Axiom’s legs out from under him. Saints was aggressively trying to rip Axiom’s mask off as Graves said that Saints doesn’t respond well to being embarrassed. The heels retained control as Erik pummeled on Axiom some more. Axiom hit a dropkick and tried to make a hot tag but Saints cut it off. Axiom finally made the lukewarm tag to Fenix who came in and hit a springboard cutter on Saints and a spink kick on Erik. He rocked Ivar in the corner and then hit Erik with the Goodbye Amigo while testing my ability to keep up with the action. He dropped Saints with a brain buster and kipped up to the delight of the crowd. He hit a big frog splash on Ivar and covered but Erik made the save.
Things got chaotic as one by one every competitor entered the rings and knocked each other down. Frazer dove through the ropes but Erik caught him by the throat, until Axiom flew over the top with a moonsault to take Erik out. Back in the ring, Ivar was perched on the top rope and Fenix stunned him with an uppercut. Fenix went for a hurricanrana but Ivar caught hip. Saints made a blind tag and Fenix had no idea. Saints came in and hit his Rochambeau finisher for the one…two…three.
WINNERS: Ricky Saints and The War Raiders via pinfall in 11:00.
– Cathy Kelley talked to Cody Rhodes in what looked like the club level about his match tonight. Cody said he was going to win the match. Trick Williams walked up and wished Cody luck in the match tonight but said that if Cody won tonight his “Nightmare” would end because Trick was going to win the match and go on to defeat the Gingerbread Man (Sami Zayn) to win the WWE title. [c]
– They aired a vignette on Damian Priest. He was walking around New York City while speaking Spanish and talking to people and saying it was the foundation for el Campion. Priest said that somehow he lost his way and put others needs ahead of his own. He said he that the pained he caused R-Truth was personal and if he comes back for more, Priest will enjoy putting him down … professionally. Priest said he had to return to New York City to remind himself that he was a violent man.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: It was effective in the sense that it reminded people that Priest is a New Yorker and street tough. It was kinda giving me a modern day Razor Ramon vibe, which is not the first time Priest has received that comparison.)
– Tatum Paxley was upset that she lost and complained to Alexa Bliss. Danhausen was hilariously being escorted out of the building by security, presumably for his wanding antics earlier. Charlotte Flair walked up cheered her up by saying they were going to face Fatal Influence next week for the tag titles. Paxley kept trying to hug Flair, but she stopped her. Flair gave her baseball hat to Paxley instead and hugged Bliss. Paxley looked bummed, so Flair said, “hey, you got the hat.”
– The Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn entered to a strong reaction because he’s earned it. Zayn had his “Justic for Sami” t-shirt on and the title around his waist. The briefcases hung from the rafters. Zayn asked the Denver crowd how many of them came to ride or die with the last real good guy? Boos ensued. Zayn was disappointed in that reaction. He pointed out that no champion in WWE history had his journey and was upset that this was the reaction he received. He said that he wasn’t given the respect that WWE champions were supposed to get, when he hears wrestlers all assume it is a forgone conclusion that if they get a match with Zayn then they will beat him. Zayn said he is a survivor that overcomes and finds a way. Cue Je’von Evans. Cole, Graves, and I were all surprised, though Evans is obviously one of the money in the bank competitors.
Evans made a spectacle of himself as he walked to the ring, first climbing the ladder, then yelling “aye oh, aye oh” from the top rope when he entered the ring. He apologized to Zayn and said he didn’t mean to interrupt, but Zayn snapped back, correctly pointing out the spectacle Evans made and said that he absolutely meant to interrupt. Evans said Zayn looked like an Angry Bird that was crashing out. Zayn said he was fine because he was the WWE Champion and that he’s been where Evans is now. Evans cut him off and said that his time wasn’t in the future but it was right now. Evans said he was coming for the title and that “what if it didn’t take him 20 years like Zayn to win it.” Evans said he was going to win the briefcase, cash-in on Zayn, and then beat the snot out of him to become the WWE Champion. Before Zayn could speak, he was interrupted by the music of PENTA.
PENTA came out, in what was sure to not be the end of the ladder match competitor parade, and headed to the ring to chat. He said he didn’t care if it was Zayn or Roman Reigns because he was going to win, cash-in, and become the champion. Trick Williams predictably came out next. He reminded PENTA and Evans that tonight was Friday and (in his opinion) this was where he holds things down. He got in Zayn’s face and said, “what’s up Gingerbread?” He congratulated Zayn for his two title wins but then ran him down for not combing his hair, wearing Skechers, and having breath that smelled like ten pounds of bounce that ass.”. Trick said he was going to win the briefcase.
[HOUR TWO]
Zayn asked everyone if they got it out of their system. The crowd booed. Zayn asked the other wrestlers what happens when they lose and the adversity starts? Zayn said he survived being “the Gingerbread Man” and getting pinned in a mouse trap at Wrestlemania and still overcame it all. He got in their faces and said that no one could overcome what he has. When he got in Trick’s face, Trick tried to sniff him again so Zayn gave him a face butt and dared him to “sniff him again.” Zayn said that until they overcame some obstacles, that none of them deserve to stand in the ring with the WWE Champion. Zayn left the ring and went to the top of the ramp. But Finn Balor’s music played and he came out to meet him there.
Balor told Zayn that “briefcase or not, he was coming for the title.” Zayn said that Balor wasn’t special so he needed to do something to earn the shot. Balor decked him. Gunther came out and clotheslined Balor, and then Zayn. Gunther threw both Balor and Zayn into some ladders that were erected on the ramp to advertise the upcoming PLE.
(Corbridge’s Analysis – It’s well known that Zayn has a lot of prospective challengers. And that’s before you consider all the possible briefcase winners. It’s a great place to be if you’re a fan of the WWE title picture. It’s always good to get the ladder match competitors in the same ring together, but it was all standard stuff. However, as usual Zayn SHINED. He stood there while all three babyfaces gave their promos, then hit them all with a verbal uppercut by pointing out everything that he’s overcome to get where he’s at now. It’s a good thing he bailed to the floor after that because there was nothing they could say after that anyway. Also, Zayn does the little things so well, including getting in Trick’s face and daring him to sniff him again, which elicited a big crowd reaction.)
– Cathy Kelley congratulated Tiffany Stratton for qualifying for the money in the bank match. Chelsea Green rand into the picture and they celebrated together with high-pitched shrieks. Lash Legend walked up and said she was going to bully her way into winning the briefcase.
– Giulia went to the ring for the next match. [c]
– Cathy Kelley tried to catch up with Gunther in the back to ask him why he attacked Balor and Zayn earlier. Danhausen, who apparently got back in the building, walked up to check him with his metal detector. Gunther didn’t appreciate his antics and launched Danhausen into some crates.
Blake Monroe made her entrance to take on Giulia after weeks of false starts. This was finally Monroe’s main roster debut match.
(3) BLAKE MONROE vs. GIULIA
They unloaded on each other with right hands to start. Monroe took her over with a headlock but Giulia escaped and charged her in the corner. Monroe leapt over and stomped on Giulia in the corner. Monroe did a handstand into a hurricanrana in the corner and covered for a two count. Cole said that Monroe credited her time in NXT for helping her develop her aggression. Monroe gave Giulia a big knee to the face on the floor. [c]
Giulia rallied after the break with a running forearm in the corner and a missile dropkick. Giulia hooked the leg for the one…two…kick out. Monroe with a slingblade and a back suplex for a nearfall of her own. Giulia backdropped her. Monroe headbutted Giulia, but apparently Giulia has a very hard head because she purposely no-sold it. Giulia hit the Arrivederci and stomped her face into the mat. She covered but again Monroe kicked out. Giulia grabbed Monroe by the hair as Monroe was on the apron. She dragged her to the corner but Monroe dropped down, causing Giulia to land face first on the top buckle. It apparently (for storyline purposes) knocked her out as Monroe covered her for the three count. [c]
WINNER: Blake Monroe via pinfall in 8:00.
(Corbridge’s Analysis – Monroe didn’t impress, but I never expected her to given what I’ve seen of her in-ring abilities in the past. It was odd that one minute they were acting like Giulia has a Samoan-like indestructible head, only for her to get knocked out by the top buckle thirty seconds later. )
– Johnny Gargano consoled Candice LeRae following her loss earlier tonight. He said he could still win tonight and become “Johnny in the Bank.” Sami Zayn walked up so Gargano asked him if they were still good for tonight, implying that Zayn was going to get involved in Gargano’s qualifying match. Zayn said Aldis threatened him so he wouldn’t be able to help him. Zayn gave Gargano a huge pep talk and said he could win the match on his own. It fired up Gargano, who murdered a nearby a water bottle (ala Zayn) and walked off. Zayn stood there crossing his fingers.
– Kevin Owens entered for the main event qualifying match. Gargano was out second, accompanied by LeRae. Cody Rhodes came out last. Cole noted that Cody was looking to qualify for his fifth Money in the Bank match, but his first in thirteen years.
(5) CODY RHODES vs. JOHNNY GARGANO vs. KEVIN OWENS– Money in the Bank Triple Threat Qualifier match
Cody attacked Owens first. Cody went for a backslide on Owens and a roll up on Gargano early on. Owens whipped Cody into the corner. Cole pointed out that if Gargano won then he’d finally get the title shot that Zayn promised him. Gargano hit a slingshot spear on Cody, and then a dive through the ropes onto Owens. Gargano was in control as they went to a split screen. [c]
Owens pulled a table from under the ring and set it up on the floor. Slim Jim appreciated the gesture. Owens was ready to put Gargano through it but LeRae pulled her husband free. Gargano returned to the ring to get beat up by Cody, who nailed him with a snap slam and a Disaster kick. He gave Owens the Dusty punches and bionic elbow. Gargano locked Cody in a crossface but Owens pulled him off. Owens with a release German Suplex that Graves referred to as “Neville-esque”. Gargano put Owens in the Gargano escape lock but Owens rolled him up to force the break. Cody suplexed Gargano onto Owens and stared up at the briefcases. Cody went for the Cross Rhodes but Gargano countered with a knee to the face. Since there were no disqualifications in a triple threat match, LeRae jumped onto the apron and hooked Cody’s arms so Gargano could attack him. It backfired and LeRae fell onto the table that Owen set up earlier, but she’s so light that it didn’t break. Cody knocked Gargano off the apron and through the table, since he is marginally heavier. Cody and Owens were both down in the ring as they went to another split screen. [c]
Owens hit his patented “reverse superplex into suplex of his own” on Gargano, then covered for a nearfall. Cody and Gargano both met Owens at the top rope. Gargano gave Cody a sunset flip powerbomb and Owens hit a swanton bomb on Cody. Gargano superkicked Owens to keep him away and fell onto Cody as the referee counted one…two… Cody kicked out! All three men were down. Cody was up first and hit a super Cody Cutter on Gargano. Owens hit a stunner on Gargano and hooked the leg for the one…two…Cody stopped the referee from counting by diving onto him. Owens stomped on Cody. Cole pointed out again that there are no disqualifications. Owens yelled at the official Charles Robinson. Owens and Cody traded blows, first methodically, but then the intensity ramped up. Cody hit a Cross Rhodes and covered but Randy Orton pulled the referee to the floor.
Cody went to fight him on the floor but Orton whipped him into the steel steps. Cody recovered and sent Orton into the ringpost. Instead of getting back in the ring, Cody ran at Orton to punt him, but Gargano intercepted with a dive through the ropes that took out Cody. Gargano quickly hit a tornado DDT on Owen back in the ring and hooked the leg for another nearfall. Gargano was heartbroken that that didn’t win the match. The crowd was fired up at this point. Owens hit a superkick and a pop up powerbomb. Owens covered. Cody crawled into the ring to stop it but Orton pulled him back out again and prevented it. The referee counted to three.
WINNER: Kevin Owens via pinfall in 17:00. Owens qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match.
After the match, Orton fled into the crowd. Cody went part of the way after him.
Second (but different) plug! If you enjoy workplace comedies, on October 5 at 9:00 AM ET I’m launching BadWill Presents: Workplace Comedy Character Championship! I narrowed the field to 64 characters throughout television history to battle it out across all my social media platforms. There will be two head-to-head matchups every day, and you decide who advances. Funniest, most iconic, best written, who you’d rather work with, pure irrational loyalty, vote however you want! I think it’s going to be a LOT of fun! And at the end we will crown the GREATEST WORKPLACE COMEDY CHARACTER!
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