SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS
OCTOBER 2, 2026
DENVER, COL. AT BALL ARENA
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 10,202 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 21,000 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 Joshua White plus an on-site report from PWTorch’s Chris Griffin 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 Denver.
-A preview video package aired on the Money in the Bank qualifiers last week.
-They showed arrival shots of Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae. Cole called Gargano “rejuvenated.” Gargano eyed a rolling crate as he walked past it like it was a donut and he had cut out junk food.
(1) TIFFANY STRATTON vs. TATUM PAXLEY vs. CANDICE LERAE – Women’s Money in the Bank qualifier
The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. LeRae gave Tiffany a neckbreaker as Tiffany was giving Paxley a DDT. Cole was touting how nearly inevitable it is that the MITB winner ends up successfully cashing in to win a title. Paxley landed a moonsault press onto both opponents off the ring apron as they dutifully stood waiting to be hit. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Eventually Stratton rallied and gave LeRae an Alabama Slam and then leaped off the top rope with a swanton. Paxley kiced Stratton as soon as she landed for a near fall at 7:00. Paxley landed her Cemetery Drive, but LeRae threw her out of the ring and went for a cover for a two count. All three were down and slow to get up.
Stratton landed a rolling senton on LeRae, but Paxley landed a 450 splash on LeRae. Stratton landed a Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win.
WINNER: Stratton in 10:00 to advance to MITB.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Chelsea Green in lobby of a lodge restaurant. Danhausen showed up in the background and chatted and used a hand scanner on someone. She said she’s banking on Tiffany winning. Nikki Bella approached her and said Green shouldn’t worry about the MTIB since she’ll win it first. Paige then showed up and told Nikki she’s not special anymore and she wants to beat the crap out of her. Paige said they’ll wrestle in two weeks in Sacramento. She then slapped Nikki. Chelsea smiled and told Nikki, “That was for me, too.”
-Rey Fenix made his entrance.
(2) REY FENIX & FRAXIOM (Nathan Fraser & Axiom) vs. THE VIKING RAIDERS (Erik & Ivar) & RICKY SAINTS
Fraxiom were in the ring and the tail end of the Raiders’ entrance aired. Then Saints’s full entrance took place. A clip aired of Saints taunting Fenix in the locker room two weeks ago and then Fenix punching him. Then they showed Saints talking the Raiders into teaming with him. Cole called Saints a stooge for making things up. The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour. Fraser and Axiom threw Saints to the floor and then Fenix tagged in and landed a dive over the top rope. He got caught up in the ropes and crashed on the apron and favored his leg. Graves said Fenix has performed that thousands of times, but it backfired. [c]
After the break, Saints and Axiom were battling. Saints took over after a distraction by Erik. He went for the mask. Axiom eventually hot-tagged Fenix who went after Ivar with a barrage of rapid-fire offense. He gave a cutter to an interfering Saints. Ran the top rope and punt kicked Erik off the ring apron. He then gave Saints a Death Valley Driver. He kipped up and played to the crowd. Fenix stomped the mat and landed a superkick to Ivar’s chin. He followed with a top rope frog splash, but Erik broke up the subsequent coverage. All six battled next.
Axiom landed a moonsault press over the top rope onto Saints and Erik as Fenix battled Ivar in the ring. Fenix took Ivar down out of the corner, but Saints blind tagged in and landed Roshambo for the win.
WINNER: Saints & War Raiders in 15:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good action-packed match and a nice spotlight moment for Saints, which he hasn’t had much of since arriving on Smackdown.)
-Kelley interviewed Cody Rhodes backstage. Cody said the MITB qualifier is his focus today. Trick Williams laughed and walked up to Cody. He said if he makes it to MITB, that means his American Nightmare story is over because he’s already qualified. He said he going to climb the ladder and look like a tall glass of chocolate milk. He said he’d go on from there to knock the frosting off the gingerbread man. When he said, “Let’s talk about it,” Cody stared him down and said, “It looks like we just did.” [c]
-A vignette aired on Damien Priest who said the pain he caused R-Truth was personal. He said if he comes back looking for trouble, he’ll put him down and feel good about it. He said he’s going to be who he really is, not who people think he is. He said what he is is a bad man and a violent man. “That’s all you’re going to see from now on,” he said.
-Charlotte, Alxea Bliss and Tatum Paxley were standing next to each other like normal people do. In the background, Danhausen was being escorted out of the arena by security, but as soon as they turned their backs, he snuck back in. Charlotte said there is no more room for losing. Paxley was all smiles as Charlotte gave her a Charlotte Flair hat. Charlotte then hugged Bliss.
-Sami Zayn made his ring entrance. He asked the fans, “How many of you came to ride or die with the last real good guy.” Some cheers, mostly boos. He said he was a little disappointed in their reaction. He said maybe he was naive in thinking Justice for Sami would take hold once he managed to win the WWE Title not once, but twice now. He said he had a reality check for everybody. He said he is a survivor and he finds a way. He said it’s time he finds the respect as a champion he is entitled to. Je’Von Evans then interrupted. “Hell, yeah!” said Cole. “This is a surprise!” Evans made his way out wearing his branded “67 Bouceyyyyy” t-shirt.
Evans told Sami he looks like he’s crashing out and asked if he’s okay. Sami asked if he noticed he’s WWE Champion. Evans said he did. Sami interrupted him. Evans asked if his time isn’t the future, but it’s right now. He said perhaps he’ll win MITB and then beat him for the WWE Title without him realizing what was happening.
Penta’s music interrupted and he made his way out. He said when he becomes Mr. MITB, he doesn’t care if the champion is Sami or Roman Reigns. He said either way he’ll cash in.
[HOUR TWO]
Trick’s music then interrupted and he made his way out to the ring. He said he’s the one who holds down the brand. Then he turned to Sami and said it’s been months and his fashion and hygiene is still awful. He said he is the only winner in the ring and he’s looking at at two losers and probably all three when it comes to the MITB match. He asked how they’ll react when their momentum and hope dries up and the crowd reactions fade. He said nobody can overcome what he’s overcome. Trick sniffed him. Sami got in his face and said, “Sniff me again!” He said until they’ve overcome some obstacles, none of them deserve to stand in the same ring as the WWE Champion. He marched to the back. Cole said, “Sami needs to relax a little bit.” Corey Graves said he’s made some good points.
Finn Balor’s music played and he stepped out as Sami reached the entrance stage. They eyed each other. Balor leaned in and told Sami, “Brief case or not, I’m coming for that title.” Sami said he’s not special and he’s not the only one coming at him. He told him to earn a shot at his title. Balor punched him. Gunther then came out and put Balor in a sleeper and then smiled at Sami before giving him a short-arm clothesline. Then he threw Sami and Balor into ladders on the stage.
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who reacted.
-Kelley interviewed Stratton who vowed to become Miss Two-Time Money in the Bank. Chelsea said she is so proud of her. Lash Legend walked up to them and said she’s the powerhouse is going to dominate the entire match and win the briefcase, and then come for Green’s title. Green’s excitement turned to worry.
-Giulia made her entrance. [c]
-Kelley asked Gunther in an over-the-top way and asked why attacked Sami. Danhausen showed up with his “Evil Detector.” Gunther threw the device aside and shoved Danhausen into the wall and then tossed him into boxes. Cole told Danhausen to “please take the hint.”
(3) GIUILIA vs. BLAKE MONROE
Monroe’s entrance aired. The bell rang 16 minutes into the hour. Cole noted this is Monroe’s official in-ring debut on Smackdown. They fought to ringside early after Graves gushed about Monroe. They cut to a very early break. [c]
Giulia backdropped out of Monroe’s Neutralizer attempt. Monroe gave Giulia a headbutt, but she no-sold it. Then she applied a stomp to her back for a two count at 7:00. Monroe knocked Giulia off the top rope and Giulia hit the ringpost face-first. Monroe pinned her.
WINNER: Monroe in 8:00.
-A recap aired of the latest angle with Royce Key and his crew and The Bloodline.
-Backstage, Gargano was talking to LeRae. He said the night isn’t lost as he still has a chance. Sami walked up and said G.M. Nick Aldis told him there will be big consequences if he gets involved. He told Gargano, who suddenly looked like he lost hope, that he can still do it himself. Gargano was inspired by Sami’s pep talk and yelled, “Let’s go!”
-Kevin Owens made his entrance first. Graves said it’s been a highly emotional week for Owens and he wears his emotions on his sleeve, but he’ll do what he does best, which is fight.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was the first allusion to Pac that I noticed all episode.) [c]
(4) JOHNNY GARGANO vs. CODY RHODES vs. KEVIN OWENS – Money in the Bank qualifier
Gargano’s entrance aired and then Cody’s. The bell rang at 41:00. They cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
Owens rammed Gargano into the ringside steps and then set up a slam onto a table. LeRae intervened. Gargano returned to the ring and went after Cody. Cody landed a snap powerslam to cheers. He then landed a Disaster Kick. Cody turned to punching away at KO. Gargano recovered and took Cody down with a Gargano Escape mid-ring. Owens yanked Gargano off of Cody. Graves reversed to a released German suplex as “Nevillesque.” Gargano took KO down and applied a Gargano Escape. KO leveraged Gargano’s shoulders down for a two count. Cody slammed Gargano onto KO and then played to the corwd as he awaited Gargano to stand so he could then give him CrossRhodes. Gargano escaped. Gargano almost kicked LeRae after she held Cody on the ring apron. Cody shoved Gargano into LeRae who crashed onto the table at ringside. Cody then knocked Gargano off the ring apron through the table.
KO and Cody collided mid-ring.Both were down and they cut to another double-box break. [c/db]
Cody set up a superplex on KO. Gargano intervened. Owens landed a Swanton on Cody, but Gargano kicked KO and made the cover for a two count. All three were down and slow to get up as fans chanted, “Cody! Cody!” KO went for a Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Gargano blocked it. KO landed a stunner instead. Cody interrupted the count. Graves called it brilliant as Cole pointed out “there are no disqualifications.” (Stupid rule, by the way.)
Owens and Cody stood and exchanged strike. When Orton landed a CrossRhodes and made the cover, Randy Orton yanked the ref out of the ring. Cody went after Orton at ringside. Orton whipped Cody into the ringside steps. He stayed on the attack and set up a draping DDT off the ring apron. Cody slipped free and rammed Orton into the ringpost. Some fans chanted, “Randy! Randy!” Cody then started to run toward Orton for stomp, but Gargano dove through the ropes to intercept Cody. Gargano then gave KO his One Final Beat finisher. Owens kicked out. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
KO kicked a charging Gargnao and then landed his Pop-Up Powerbomb. When Cody tried to interrupt the count, Orton held his leg so KO got the three count. “Randy Orton screwed Cody Rhodes again!” shouted Cole. Cole said Cody is now even further from another WWE Title match.
WINNER: Owens in 17:00.
-Orton ran up the steps afterward like a cowardly heel.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good action. Good for Graves slipping in a reference to Neville, but why did he make it sound forbidden when he said “Dare I say” first? Anyway, the Orton-Cody feud advanced. If only Orton would extend his “cowardly heel” act to his promos. The action in the match was plenty good, as you’d expect with these three.)
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 Joshua White plus an on-site report from PWTorch’s Chris Griffin 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/uxcq4p4qdu
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
