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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA AT GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY ERIC CORBRIDGE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reported as of this afternoon that 6,939 tickets were distributed so far. The arena was set up to accommodate 7,844 fans.
[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 tonight from Indianapolis and the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Typical arrivals were shown of those grapplers who were set to compete including Finn Balor with a weird hat and jacket get-up, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Tatum Paxley, The Irresistible Forces, and Giulia. They cut to a wide shot inside the arena to show the steel cage being lowered while flames erupted from each corner post. A video package recapped the feud between Trick Williams and Baron Corbin.
The United States Champion Trick Williams entered for a title defense. He was accompanied, as usual, by Lil Yachty, who carried the furry title belt. Corey Graves noted that the feud between Trick and Corbin would end tonight. Michael Cole plugged Trick Williams sharing the cover of SLAM magazine with NBA star Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers. Mr. “I cause the pain” Baron Corbin came rode out onto the stage on a white motorcycle. He parked it there and walked down to the ring to very little reaction. Cole mentioned that this was only Corbin’s second steel cage match. It was also Trick’s second cage match, though his first occurred in NXT.
Cole pointed out that in this match a wrestler can win by escaping the cage over the top, through the door, or via pinfall or submission.
(1) TRICK WILLIAMS (c) (w/Lil Yachty) vs. BARON CORBIN – United States Championship Steel Cage Match
The match started with both men throwing flurries of blows. Trick gained the advantage with a spin kick and a flapjack, prompting some tricks to be whooped. Corbin escaped from Trick’s shoulders and tossed him into the side of the cage. He clubbed Trick and then gave him a modified AA for a two-count. They seemed to have sound issues and went to a split screen break. [c]
Both men were in a perilous situation, trading blows while straddling the top of the cage. Trick won the battle and Corbin climbed back down onto the ropes. Trik tried to climb down the outside so Corbin climbed back up and hooked him as Trick dangled his legs from the cage. Corbin superplexed Trick from the side of the cage into the ring, then covered for a nearfall. Trick immediately draped an arm over Corbin, still hurting from the superplex himself, leading to another two-count. Both men were down.
Corbin screamed as he used the ropes to drag himself to his feet. Corbin began to climb while Trick crawled to the door. Corbin noticed and ran over to pull Trick back into the ring. Corbin kicked the door into Lil Yachty’s face and smiled. When he turned around Trick nailed him with a Trick Kick and hooked the leg, but Corbin kicked out at two again. Trick called for the Trick Shot but Corbin leveled him with a clothesline. Corbin chokeslammed him and both men were down again.
Corbin grimaced as he crawled to the door. Lil Yachty got some payback as he slammed the door into Corbin’s face, sending Corbin careening right into a Trick Shot. Trick covered for the one…two…Corbin kicked out! Cole pointed out that no one had ever kicked out of the Trick Shot before. The crowd chanted for Trick as he missed a second Trick Shot attempt and went knee-first into the cage. Trick clutched at his knee as Corbin gave him a German suplex. Corbin hit the Deep Six and hooked the leg for another nearfall. Both men were down yet again.
Corbin was up first and went for an End of Days. Trick escaped, sent Corbin into the sides of the cage twice, then hit a weak-looking Bookend. Trick fired up gave Corbin a second Bookend. After standing there for at least 20 seconds, Trick picked up Corbin and gave him a third Bookend before covering for the definitive victory.
WINNER: Trick Williams via pinfall in 12:00. Williams retained the U.S. title.
After the match, Trick climbed the cage and held his belt high while standing on the corner and holding onto the cable.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: It was a definitive end to the long Trick/Corbin feud. It was a decent match that seemed to have four or five segments where they would hit some moves until both men were down. I’m interested to see where Trick goes next since he’s in the Money in the Bank match but is also still the U.S. Champion. I’m personally not as interested in what Corbin does next.)
– Cathy Kelley interviewed The Irresistible Forces. Lash Legend said she would with her qualifying match tonight. Nia Jax agreed with her. Lash asked Jax to interview her so she did, while holding a lipstick as if it were her microphone. Jax snapped at Cathy and told her “that’s how you do it” to end the segment.
– They showed a recap of the end of the WWE Championship match between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens from last week. Unsurprisingly, there was nothing shown of the controversy when the referee counted to three, but then Owens oddly raised his shoulder with Sami’s help etc.. There was a focus on C.M Punk hitting Owens with the title and then post-match giving both Sami and Owens a GTS.
– C.M. Punk was asked in the back by Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis if he would step into his office for a word. Punk asked if he was in trouble. Aldis, with a smile on his face, assured him that he wasn’t. [c]
When Punk walked into Aldis’ office, Kevin Owens was laying on the couch. Punk was frustrated with that but Aldis said he wanted to talk to them together. Aldis said that they are there to compete at the highest level, not try to sabotage each other’s careers. Aldis said he couldn’t have this bleed over into the Money in the Bank ladder match. Punk said he’d gladly stay out of Owens’ orbit if Owens would do the same. Owens walked out of the office and bumped Punk’s shoulder on the way out.
– In some lounge area in the back, Chelsea Green was freaking out to Tiffany Stratton and Paige about how any woman can win the Money in the Bank briefcase and cash in on her at any time. She was also concerned about Nikki Bella. Paige and Stratton left while Green stayed back. Naturally, as soon as they left Nikki Bella walked into the screen (within like ONE second) and talked down to Green. Paige and Stratton returned so Bella left. Green: “never meet your heroes.”
(Corbridge’s Analysis: I think the entire Money in the Bank concept has been played out for over a decade. It almost always leads to a cheap title win and unmemorable reign. Seriously…name me 3 strong title reigns coming off a cash-in. I’ll wait. That said, I’m intrigued by Green’s approach of being scared about the possibility of someone cashing in against her. It’s a mindset that hasn’t been explored very much in the past. It does slightly go against character though, but only because Green’s confidence and guts had increased over the last month or so.)
– Charlotte Flair entered for her qualifying match, with her usual pyro display. Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley were not with her. [c]
– Giulia entered for the match second. Lash Legend entered last, without Nia Jax at her side.
(2) CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. GIULIA vs. LASH LEGEND – Money in the Bank Triple Threat Qualifier match
Cole said that Giulia was looking to qualify for her second Money in the Bank match, while Flair was going for her fourth. Cole also pointed out that Flair had been cashed-in on three times in the past. Flair watched as Legend and Giulia squared off. Legend clotheslined both Flair and Giulia down. She launched Giulia into the corner and then charged into the corner at Flair. Flair moved and kicked her in the head. Giulia jumped on Flair’s back so she threw her off. Legend leveled Flair with a kick so Flair rolled to the floor. Giulia locked a guillotine on Legend, which brought her to her knees. Legend powered out and turned it into a vertical suplex. Flair with a cross-body onto Legend, then clothesline her over the top rope to the floor. Flair rolled off the apron with a senton onto Legend, only to be met with a missile dropkick from Giulia on the floor. [c]
The briefcases were hanging from the rafters as Flair hit several chops while very audibly telling Legend what to do next. Flair hit a fallaway slam on Giulia and kipped up. Flair strutted, to the delight of the fans. Flair climbed the ropes with Giulia on her shoulders, leading to Legend predictably coming up underneath and powerbombing them both. She covered both to no avail. Flair slipped away from Legend and gave her a Sister Abigail into the ropes, then jumped off the second rope. Legend caught her and gave her a fallaway slam. Legend kipped up but immediately ate a missile dropkick to the jaw from Giulia. Legend kicked out of the subsequent cover. Giulia beat Flair down with some kicks and forearms. Flair took out Legend’s knee with a chop block and then a back stabber. Flair went tried to lock in the figure four but Giulia picked her up and whipped Flair into the ropes. Flair flipped over them and gave Legend a boot, knocking her to ringside. Giulia went for a double underhook suplex from the tope rope and hit it. Legend grabbed her and sent her from the ring and covered Flair for the one…two…Flair kicked out.
Flair send Legend into the ropes which knocked Giulia back to the floor. Flair then gave Legend a German suplex. She didn’t release and went for another but Legend punched out of it and went for a figure four herself. Giulia kneed her in the face and Flair superkicked Legend. Flair rocket launched Giulia off the tope rope into Legend toppling them both. Flair walked over them and climbed up and hit the moonsault on both. Flair covered Legend for a one…two…Legend kicked out. Flair tried to hit the Natural Selection on both women but Legend slid to the side so it only hit Giulia. Legend went for the Lash Extension but Flair countered into the Figure Eight. Giulia kicked Flair in the gut to break it up, then hit the Arrivederci running knee and a northern lights bomb. She covered but Legend picked her up and gave Giulia the Lash Extension, then covered for the three count.
WINNER: Lash Legend via pinfall in 12:00. Legend qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: That was a very solid effort by all three women. Legend now moves on to be the “base” in the ladder match for the other high-flying women.)
– They showed what happened after Michael Cole interviewed Cody Rhodes last week. Cody told Cole that “if it happens again, I’m going to kick his f**king head off” (referring to Randy Orton.) They then showed footage from before tonight’s show, where Orton walked down to ringside where Cole and Graves were already sitting. Orton said he saw the earlier footage and told Cole that he was going to do a sit-down interview with him tonight. He told Cole he doesn’t get a choice. Back live, Orton was shown sitting down next to an empty chair; waiting in the back for Cole to leave ringside to interview him. [c]
– Giulia was walking in the back holding her neck. Blake Monroe walked up and told her go back where she came from: obscurity. Giulia attacked her. Officials immediately showed up and restrained them both. Aldis walked up and made a match between them for next week.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: That’s the second time tonight that people jumped into a shot WAY too quickly for it to make any believable sense. Be better WWE. It’s not hard.)
[HOUR TWO]
– Graves said it was time to go to the back for Cole to interview Orton. Cole sat there for a minute until Orton got frustrated and asked if Cole was going to ask him a question. Cole said he wasn’t sure what to ask and wasn’t sure why he was there. Orton asked Cole what Cody said last week. Cole replied that Cody said he didn’t want to compromise himself and that he felt disappointed. Orton said he knew all that but wanted to be reminded what Cody said after the interview, so Cole told him. Orton mocked having forgotten but rhetorically questioned why Cody waited until after the interview to say it.
Orton said it was because Cody actually was compromised but didn’t want anyone to know it. Orton ran down Cody’s history and previous gimmicks and kept saying that no matter what, Cody is still a good guy. Orton said that in contrast, he has always been himself. Orton said he has done despicable things to get world titles and he wants more, so he will continue to be himself to get that job done. Orton said that if Cody kicks him then Cody truly is compromised, but if Cody doesn’t then he has peaked. Orton asked Cole if Cody was going to kick Orton in the skull. Cole tried to avoid answering. Orton demanded that he answer and got in Cole’s face while yelling. The crowd reacted to that. Cole shook his head no. Orton sat back down and calmly said he agreed and that the interview was over. He grabbed Cole’s hand and told him to have a great rest of the show. The crowd clapped and cheered.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: That was an excellent job by Orton and Cole. The only problem is that Orton did it so well that the crowd clapped and cheered when it was over. Seriously. This is some bizarro world shit in WWE, where there is too much “respect for performance”. It essentially proves that WWE is failing at the suspension of disbelief that is vital for a wrestling promotion to hit on all cylinders. It sucks because Orton and Cole really did perform very well. Perhaps if the curtain hadn’t been pulled so far back on pro wrestling for year now, this kind of thing wouldn’t happen .)
– The Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn was talked to in the back by Cathy Kelley. He was upset about how Nick Aldis once again tried to screw him by putting him in the match against Owens last week. Sami said that his title reign will be all about him prevailing no matter what is thrown at him because he is the only person who is doing things for the right reasons. He said that you can stay true to who you are and still be the last real good guy. Sami said all the sharks that are circling him now are doing it for the wrong reasons. Finn Balor interrupted and said that they were all going after Sami because he chose to screw them all over on his way to the top. Balor said he was coming for Sami and for his title and then they’d see what justice really looked like. Balor left and Johnny Gargano entered with Candie LeRae. Gargano wanted to know where his title match. Sami said he talked to Nick Aldis but Aldis said no. Sami said that instead he got Gargano and LeRae qualifying matches for Money in the Bank. Gargano was satisfied with that. Sami blatantly pointed out that since he clearly had Gargano’s back, that Gargano needed to have his. Gargano said he was ride or die but LeRae looked unsure.
– WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green entered for the next match. Green was still wearing her bedazzled face mask. [c]
(3) CHELSEA GREEN, TIFFANY STRATTON, PAIGE vs. FATAL INFLUENCE (JACY JAYNE, FALLON HENLEY, LAINEY REID)
Paige started off with a big chop on Henley. She tagged Reid who ate a dropkick. Paige his several knees to the face on Reid through the ropes. Green and Stratton double teamed Reid. Paige caught Jayne with a superkick. The babyfaces hugged in the ring. [c]
Jayne cut down a Stratton advantage and tagged in Reid. Henley and Reid double-teamed Stratton and Reid hit a natural selection for a two-count. Green made a hot tag and gave Reid two arm drags and an enziguri. She kicked Henley off the apron and jumped of the top rope, rolled through, and caught a Reid superkick. Both women tagged out. Paige with a German suplex and a fisherman’s suplex. on Jayne. Paige declared who lived in the ring. Spoiler – it was her. Paige connected with the Paige Turner but Henley broke up the cover. It turned into chaos as Reid and Henely went after Green on the floor. Stratton hit a cross body on both women. Jayne hit a somersault attack while the dumb babyfaces were hugging. Paige ran the ropes but Nikki Bella crawled out from under the ring and tripped her. Bella crawled back under the ring. Jayne hit the Rolling Encore forearm and covered for the win.
WINNERS: Fatal Influence via pinfall in 8:00.
After the match, Nikki Bella gloated at the babyfaces from out in the crowd.
– Cole sent them to footage from an “unfortunate incident” involving R-Truth at the performance center earlier in the week. Truth got attacked from behind by Damian Priest. Priest yelled at him and asked if everything was still funny to him as he beat him down. Priest yelled at him in Spanish while sitting in a chair that was across Truth’s throat.
– Cathy Kelley interviewed Gunther in the back, who said it was a disgrace that he had to participate in a qualifier for a “ladder climbing contest.” He said that Balor was the one who had a real opportunity tonight. Gunther did give Balor credit for having a good right hook. He questioned whether he would still be wrestling the ghost of Finn Balor tonight. Danhausen walked up and put his arm around Gunther. He started babbling about human monies and how they were going to split the winning of Money in the Bank, until apparently coming to the conclusion himself that he was wrong. Then he started to curse Gunther until Gunther grabbed him by the throat and told him to knock it off and stay away from him. [c]
(Corbridge’s Analysis: Gunther may actually be underappreciated. “Ladder climbing contest” was an amazing turn of phrase. I think it is good that WWE has dialed back on how much they use Danhausen.)
– Cody Rhodes entered for an in-ring talking segment. The crowd cheered his entrance then there were a lot of boos when he was in the ring holding a microphone. Cody wanted to talk about how at Summerslam he had C.M. Punk defeated until Randy Orton interfered. Cody said that Orton was framing it like a good thing for Cody to punt him in the head and bad if he didn’t, which was an unwinnable position for Cody. Cody pointed out that he was the king of unwinnable positions and gave examples of how his boss (The Rock) demanded his soul, how he had to defeat John Cena during Cena’ retirement tour, and his entire first reign as WWE Champion was against beloved superstars. Cody promised Orton that he was going to kick his head off his shoulders. But he wouldn’t promise that Orton was the only one.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: Cody made several great points about how he has been done no favors while trying to be the top babyface in the company. It is very meta since he’s basically calling out WWE management for doing that to him. It is also something that Wade Keller has been pointing out for a LONG time. I still will be very surprised if Cody turns heel anytime soon. I think it is more likely that they want to rectify Cody’s position as a top babyface.)
– Before Cody could leave, C.M. Punk came out for his qualifying match. Cody stood face to face with Punk on the stage. They both smiled. Cody walked to the back. Punk did his Ben Grimm impression and went to the ring for the main event of the evening. [c]
Balor was in the ring when they got back from the break. Gunther entered last.
(4) C.M. PUNK vs. FINN BALOR vs. GUNTHER – Money in the Bank Triple Threat Qualifier match
They all took turns chopping each other. Punk and Balor teamed up to take out Gunther. Punk lifted Balor for a GTS but Gunther kicked Punk in the gut so he dropped him. Gunther put Punk into a Boston Crab by the ropes. Balor broke it up with a kick so Gunther chopped him into oblivion. Balor and Punk teamed up again to knock Gunther down, but again Punk went for a GTS. Balor escaped and dropped both men with a reverse DDT. Balor clotheslined Punk to the floor. Gunther grabbed Balor briefly into a sleeper hold but Balor backed out of it and the momentum sent Gunther to the floor where Punk was waiting to hoist him into the GTS position. Balor somersaulted over the top rope onto both men at ringside. Balor was in control as Cole speculated whether he’d be going to New Orleans and Money in the Bank. [c]
Cole pointed out that Punk won back-to-back Money in the Bank matches years ago. Gunther draped Balor across the corner buckle and ropes and pressed his boot into Balor’s chin. Gunther went to the floor, where Punk fought back with punches until Gunther picked him up and dropped him spine first on the barricade. Punk collapsed into the time keeper’s area. Gunther returned to the ring and Balor fought back with chops and a Pele kick that dropped the Ring General. Punk returned and came off the top rope with an elbow drop on Gunther, who kicked out at two. Punk hit running knees on both and a clothesline/bulldog combo on them. Punk went for the GTS on Gunther, but Gunther raked his eyes. Gunther tried to powerbomb both Balor and Punk at the same time, which I’ve never ever seen before. It didn’t happen. Punk and Balor escaped and simultaneously put Gunther in a Boston Crab.
Cole questioned who would win if Gunther tapped. (a great question). Balor ended up trying to steal the pin with a small package on Punk, who kicked out. Punk went for another GTS on Balor who pushed him off and into Gunther on the apron. Gunther fell to ringside as Balor rolled up Punk for a nearfall. Balor hit a Slingblade and the mule kick to put Punk in the drop zone. Balor nailed the Coup de Grace and covered, but Gunther pulled Balor off. Balor hit a Slingblade on Gunther, who recovered quickly and tried to put on the sleeper. Balor escaped, only to get nailed with a Punk GTS. Gunther with a dropkick and powerbomb on Punk. Punk kicked out at two!
Punk ducked a clothesline and lifted Gunther for a GTS. Gunther slipped out and applied the sleeper and tried to pivot to a powerbomb. Punk escaped and went for the GTS one more time but Gunther chopped him in the back and locked in the sleeper, falling to the mat. Balor came off with a Coup de Grace on Gunther’s back. However, before Balor could get back to cover, Punk hooked the leg for the three count.
WINNER: C.M. Punk via pinfall in 12:00. Punk qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match.
After the match, Balor was in total disbelief. Punk had his hand raised by the referee. Gunther was angry on the floor while Punk and Balor got face to face in the ring. Balor and Punk shook hands.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: Terrific match with several innovative spots, great timing, and a clever finish. Three total main event professionals. And it sets up the one on one match between Gunther and Balor now too. I highly doubt Punk is going to win the Money in the Bank match. He doesn’t need it.)
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