SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX. AT HILLIARD CENTER
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 5,344 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 10,323 spectators when configured for concerts.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch.com’s Eric Corbridge 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 Corpus Christi. Then they showed arrivals of wrestlers involved in the Money in the Bank qualifiers.
-A recap aired of Sami Zayn’s WWE Title win last week.
-G.M. Nick Aldis stood mid-ring and welcomed fans to the Smackdown. He said sometimes in his job, you have to deal with people who rub you the wrong way. He said he must remain professional through it all. He then introduced Sami Zayn. Fans booed. Sami made his entrance, flaunting the belt as he walked the entrance stage and looked at the fans. Cole said, “The man who believes there is finally justice for Sami.” Corey Graves said some people think Sami is polarizing and abrasive, but he always finds a way to survive.
He entered the ring and told Aldis it must kill him to say outloud that eh is the Undisputed WWE Champion. He got in Aldis’s face, gloating. “It sure feels good coming out of my mouth,” he said. He said he’s a little surprised at the reaction from fans. He said he means what he says and he says what he means, and he said “Justice for Sami” wasn’t just about justice for him, but justice for all. He said even to the fans booing, this is for you. He said him holding the belt is a lesson of perseverence whether they realize it or not. Fans chanted “CM Punk!”
He said they aren’t used to having a champion with a strong sense of morlity. He said he doesn’t just believe in justice, but also equality. He said when you have all these other top WWE Superstars knocking on his door, he expects them to treat him equal to how he treats them. “I expect equality!” he yelled in Aldis’s face.
Johnny Gargano’s music played and he made his way out with Candice LeRae. They hugged and smiled. Sami said that from the bottom of his heart, it means the world to him that they’re out there. Gargano said he wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but there’s another reason they’re out there. He said they made a deal that if they helped him beat Punk, he’d be first in line. “I’m here to collect,” he said. Sami said not to split hairs, but he never said Gargano would be first in line; that’s something Gargano said.
Gargano told Sami he made a promise. Sami said he just said he’d take care of him. Gargano yelled that means he is first in line, so he wanted a title shot tonight. Fans cheered. Aldis said he’s not sure what’s going on between them, and it’s not his concern, but Sami doesn’t make championship matches. Sami said, “Johnny, that’s what I was trying to tell you. It’s not just up to me, it’s up to him.” Aldis said Gargano already got a title shot in his hometown. He said the man who is first in line isn’t there this week, and that’s Punk. Kevin Owens’ music played and he walked out.
Owens carried a mic to the ring. He told Aldis that he deserves a title match. LeRae said that’s not happening because “Johnny is next.” KO then gave Gargano a Stunner. Aldis said he knows what he is going to say, but he’s the one who makes title matches. He said after what he said last week, he can’t reward bad behavior. Gargano asked if he is high. He pointed out that Sami screwed up three or four recent WWE Title matches to get that title match last week. Aldis conceded the point. KO pointed out that Sami cost him his title match in Toronto. “Not to mention that he is an arrogant jackass,” he said. Aldis said he can’t argue with that. He said it does have him thinking. Sami said there’s nothing to think about.
Sami grabbed Aldis’s lapel and said last time he was WWE Champion, he threw Punk at him at the last minute and he is not letting that happen again. “Is that what you think is going on here?” he said. “I am the champion and I am not having that again. You understand?” Aldis said, “Understand this: Get your hands off me, now.” He said said he was on the fence about this, but he just made the decision real easy for him. He told Sami he is defending the WWE Title against Owens tonight. Aldis told Sami his last reign was nine days. “Let’s see if we can get past seven,” he said. KO nodded in satisfaction as Sami chased Aldis up the ramp and made his case and said he shouldn’t have put his hands on him. Randy Orton’s music then played. Fans cheered as he walked out.
Orton looked at Sami and then. looked down at the belt. He rubbed his knuckles on it and then headed to the ring as they cut to a break. [c]
-Graves narrated clips of WWE on tour last week including El Grande Americano beating Dominik Mysterio for the AAA Mega Championship and then Roman Reigns vs. Penta on Raw.
-Cole said tonight would be the first time in WWE, not counting NXT, that Sami and KO would battle one on one.
(1) RANDY ORTON vs. TRICK WILLIAMS (w/Lil Yachty) vs. REY FENIX – Money in the Bank qualifier
The end of Fenix’s entrance theme played. Then Trick’s full entrance aired. The bell rang 27 minutes into the hour. Orton knocked Fenix down and then battled Trick. Orton slammed Fenix onto the announce desk. When Trick went after Orton, Orton slammed him on the table. Yachty walked up to Orton and talked with him. Orton poked him in the eyes and then also dropped him on the announce desk. “Randy Orton’s rolling!” said Cole as they cut to a break. [c]
Orton was battling Trick in the corner. When he set up Trick for a top rope superplex, Fenix springboarded himself into a sunset bomb of Orton who took Trick down with him. He then landed a top rope frog splash for a near fall at 7:00.
Fenix kicked Orton to break up his attempt at a draping DDT. He played to the crowd, then climbed to the top rope. Trick knocked him down, then gave Orton a cyclone kick for a two coiunt. He played to the crowd. Fenix gave Trick a poison rana and then a sidekick to the face. Fenix went for a top rope move, but Orton caught him mid-air with an RKO. Trick then gave Orton a Trick Shot before he could make the cover, then covered Fenix for the win.
WINNER: Trick in 11:00 to qualify for Money in the Bank.
-Backstage, LeRae told Gargano that she told him they’d probably end up disappointed. Sami came up to them and ranted that they were trying to take his title again. Sami asked of Gargano heard Aldis say he already got his title shot. He said that’s wrong and he’ll work on it. He said they had a misunderstanding last week but he’ll make it right. He sobbed as he said he cannot lose his title after only 7 days. He asked Gargano if he thinks he’ll ever get a shot at the title again if he loses tonight. He asked Gargano if he understand what he’s saying. Gargano said he does. Sami said they’d talk later. Gargano walked away. LeRae side-eyed him.
-Backstage, Tama Tonga stood with Talla Tonga with Haku and the tag titles. He told Shinsuke Nakamura that whatever happens to Kyoki now will be on his hands.
-A promo aired with Nakamura and Kyoki. Nakamura said Tama seems confused “You aren’t the hunter, you are the prey!” he said. [c]
-Charlotte asked Alexa Bliss if she was ready for her match. Bliss said she needed to focus alone and walked away. Tatum Paxley lit a candle for Charlotte. Blew it out. Paxley said that was bad luck. Charlotte panicked and told her to relight it.
(2) TAMA TONGA & TALLA TONGA (w/Haku) vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA & KYOKI – WWE Tag Team Title match
The bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. Kyoki and Tama battled first. Tama took over after a distraction by Talla. He made a comeback and landed a double-dropkick on the Tongas at ringside as they cut to a very early break at 1:00. [c]
Kyoki leaped off the top rope onto both Tongas at ringside at 5:00. Nakamura and Kyoki threw Talla into the ring. Nakamura overhead suplexed Kyoki onto Talla for a two count. When Nakamura landed a knee strike, Haku hit Nakamura with his cane. The ref DQ’d the Tongans.
WINNERS: Nakamura & Kyoki in 7:00 so the Tongas retained the titles.
-Talla, Tama, and Haku attacked Nakamura and Kyoki after the match.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Owens backstage. He said this is the arena where he made his Raw debut and beat John Cena. He said the stars are aligned tonight for him to beat Sami and become WWE Champion. Finn Balor walked up to him and said it’s nice to see the stars aligned for someone. He said it’s kind of convenient that he gets the first crack at the title considering he helped him win it. Balor said he’s doing things the right way, and no matter who wins tonight, he’s coming after the title. He said if that means he has to win MITB to do it, he will. He wished him luck.
-They showed Cody getting mic’d up. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Aldis congratulated Chelsea Green on her win last week. He said she has proven herself. Danhausen popped out of Aldis’s office on Aldis’s phone. He said Gunther was on the phone and he was upset about MITB. Aldis asked why he had his phone and followed him into his office. Tiffany Stratton told Green she’s going to be in the one of the MITB qualifiers and she hoped she didn’t mind. Green was excited for her. Nikki Bella told her to keep her name out of her mouth. She said she’s coming after her and she doesn’t need qualifying matches “because I am a legend, I am an icon.” She said she’s coming after her title.
-They went to Graves at ringside. Cole’s chair was empty as he left to interview Cody. Graves commented on black and white footage of Cody stopping short on going after Orton when he was down, which opened up Orton to give him a low blow and an RKO for the win.
-Cole asked Cody in a sitdown interview backstage about “what’s become a pattern.” He said he wasn’t able to pull the trigger on someone he cared about. “What happened?” he said. Cody said he isn’t wrong. He said he doesn’t want to make excuses and call it mercy. Cole said people call him QB1 and he said he is proud that someone like him represents WWE. He said it seems like there’s no longer a team and the players are gone. He said if you look at the photo of everyone who celebrated his win at WrestleMania 40, all of them have stabbed him in the back. Cody said maybe he should have seen it coming and beaten them to the punch. He said everybody gets a bit seduced by the biggest title in the game. He said perhaps he was arrogant or naive thinking it’d go different for him. He said it’s not the end of QB1. He said it’s a large team, not just those fighting for the WWE Title. Cole said Cody will be in the ring with Orton again. He said when he standing just a few feet away from him, what’s he going to do? Cody said every week, whether it’s in the locker room or the arena or online discussions about whether there’s a darker path for him, he asked if people know something he doesn’t know. He said the success he has had was because of him. He said he had experimented and disrupted more than anyone other than perhaps Paul Heyman. He said he was uncompromized when he achieved it all. He said he didn’t ask for the torch, he took it. He said the situation is going to come up again, “and when it does, I won’t make the same decision I made at Sunday Night’s Main Event.”
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Jade Gargill, B-Fab, and Michin backstage. Jade said her girls are going to become tag champs and she won’t let Alexa take what’s hers. She said she’s going to win MITB.
-Jade made her entrance. [c]
(3) JADE CARGILL vs. ALEXA BLISS vs. JACY JAYNE – Money in the Bank qualifier
Jacy celebrated an early advantage on the announce desk. Bliss yanked her down. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Bliss landed a running cannonball onto Jacy at ringside at 8:00. Jade kneed Bliss at ringside. Jayne shoved Jade into the ringside steps. Jacy landed a kneedrop on Bliss for a two count.
Jade eventually countered a Sister Abigail and gave Bliss a Jaded. Jacy stole the cover and got the win.
WINNER: Jacy Jayne in 11:00 to qualify for MITB.
-Graves hyped Gunther vs. Balor vs. Punk and Charlotte vbs. Giulia vs. Lash Legend in MITB qualifiers next Friday on Smackdown.
-Kelley interviewed Giulia about her chance next week. Nia Jax and Lash interrupted her first sentence and they exchanged words.
-As Trick and Yachty were chatting, Sami approached them and said he wouldn’t stand for his disrespect after calling him gingerbread man. Trick said he would take his title after winning MITB. [c]
-Damien Priest cut a heel promo.
(4) SAMI ZAYN vs. KEVIN OWENS – Undisputed WWE Title match
Owens came out first and let out some barbaric yells. Sami made his entrance. They did formal ring introductions. Owens attacked him from behind. The ref rewarded the illegal attack by calling for the bell 43 minutes into the hour. He stomped away at Sami in the corner. They cut to a very early double-box break. [c/db]
They cut to another double-box brea at 8:00. [c/db]
KO landed a top rope Swanton for a near fall 11:00. Gargano and LeRae ran out. With Gargano distracting the ref, LeRae gave KO a tornado DDT. Sami landed a Helluva Kick at 12:00 for a very near fall. KO went after Gargano at ringside. Sami then attacked KO. KO, though, slammed Sami onto the announce table. KO threw Sami into the ring. Gargano snuck into the ring as Sami held the ref. KO blocked him and gave him a stunner. As LeRae yelled at the ref, Punk showed up and he hit KO with the title belt. Sami kicked Punk off the ring apron and then crawled over and made the cover. The ref stopped his count. Sami actually had to kind of life KO’s shoulder. Fans chanted “CM Punk!” Sami asked the ref to explain himself. Then he hit KO with the Helluva Kick for the win.
WINNER: Sami in 15:00 to retain the WWE Title.
-Punk punched away at Sami afterward and then gave him a GTS. He stood over both KO and Sami and his music played. He gave KO a GTS also.
(Keller’s Analysis: Did KO forget to lift his shoulder or was he temporarily legit knocked out by the KO belt shot? It was awkward, either way.)
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch.com’s Eric Corbridge 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/j7aw4btan9
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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