WWE SmackDown Results: Zayn beats Owens with Punk’s help, Trick & Jacy qualify for MITB

September 18, 2026 John Kleinchester NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

September 18, 2026
Hilliard Center – Corpus Christi, TX

By: John Kleinchester

WWE SmackDown Results

  • Money in the Bank Qualifier: Trick Williams over Rey Fenix & Randy Orton via Trick Kick in 10:29
  • Bakusai over MFTs via DQ in 7:20
  • Money in the Bank Qualifier: Jacy Jayne over Jade Cargill & Alexa Bliss via Superkick in 11:27
  • WWE Championship: Sami Zayn over Kevin Owens via Helluva Kick in 16:00

 

Justice For All

Friday Night SmackDown from Corpus Christi kicked off with Nick Aldis introducing the new WWE Champion, Sami Zayn. Zayn said he fought for everyone, even those booing him. Sami said he also believes strongly in equality, and he wants Aldis to treat him the way he was treated, with obstacle after obstacle put in his way. This brought out Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae (who Cole called Candice Michelle). 

Sami thanked Johnny and Candice, noting that he wouldn’t have won the title without them. Gargano reminded Sami that they had a deal that he gets the first title shot. Sami said he never actually agreed to a title match, but Gargano pushed for it tonight. Aldis interrupted, saying that he makes championship matches and that he already had a title match a few weeks ago in Cleveland. Aldis said he sees CM Punk as next in line, but he wasn’t there tonight. That brought out Kevin Owens. 

Owens started to say he deserved a title match, but Candice interrupted, saying Johnny was next. With that, Owens hit a Stunner on Gargano. Aldis said he couldn’t reward bad behavior, and Owens retorted that Zayn interfered in three or four matches over the last few weeks. Zayn freaked out and put his hands on Aldis, so Aldis made a title match against Kevin Owens tonight. Aldis finished by asking aloud whether Sami’s second reign would be seven days, after his first was only nine. Zayn ran down the aisle to complain to Aldis, but Randy Orton entered for his Money in the Bank Qualifying match, stared down Sami, and got a nod of approval from Kevin Owens.

Money in the Bank Qualifier

The first match of the night was a triple threat between Randy Orton, Rey Fenix, and Trick Williams, with the winner going on to the Money in the Bank match at… Money in the Bank. The match began with Fenix bearing the brunt of offense from the two larger opponents. Orton dropped Fenix, Williams, and Lil’ Yachty on the announce table as the show went to commercial. Upon return, Orton stayed in control, but Fenix began using his high-flying moveset to fight from underneath. Orton hit power slams on both Fenix and Williams, but got caught with the Goodbye Amigo kick from Fenix. The action spiraled from there, with Fenix getting caught with an RKO in a splash off the top rope. Before Orton could make the cover, Williams hit the Trick Shot (which didn’t really connect) on Orton and pinned Fenix to advance to Money in the Bank. 

Backstage, Sami Zayn was freaking out, saying they were trying to take his title again. Then Sami complained that Gargano wasn’t even on Aldis’ list of challengers, and he would work on it. Zayn said that if he loses the title, Gargano would never get a shot. 

 

The MFTs cut a backstage promo, saying they never needed Shinsuke Nakamura and that he should have left Kyoki in Japan because whatever happened to him would be Nakamura’s fault. Bakusai responded immediately, saying the MFTs are not the hunters; they are the prey. 

 

Charlotte, Alexa, and Tatum Paxley were backstage trying to help Alexa focus on her MITB qualifying match. Alexa said she needed to focus by herself and left. Tatum started showing Charlotte her candles, and she blew out one that signified bad luck. Or something along those lines. 

 

Bakusai vs. MFTs

The next match saw Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki taking on the MFTs with Haku in a non-title match. Kyoki took control early in the match, taking it to both Talla and Tama as the show went to an ad break. Upon return, Kyoki battled Tama Tonga and absorbed his hard-hitting offense. Talla tagged in, and Kyoki countered a chokeslam into a DDT, then followed up with a cannonball onto both opponents on the floor. Out of nowhere, Haku hit Nakamura with his Tongan Walking Stick, causing the disqualification. The MFTs assaulted Bakusai, leaving them lying. 

Kevin Owens spoke backstage about how this arena in Corpus Christi was where he had his first WWE match against John Cena, which he won. Finn Balor interrupted, saying it was convenient that Owens helped Zayn win last week and now he had a title shot. Balor said that he would do things the right way, even if it meant winning the Money in the Bank briefcase. 

 

Nick Aldis told Chelsea Green that she really proved herself last week. Danhausen interrupted, saying Gunther was on the phone and he was really mad. Tiffany Stratton said she was going to have a MITB Qualifying match. Nikki Bella interrupted, saying she was coming after her title. 

“Exclusive” Sit-Down Interview with Cody Rhodes

Michael Cole asked Cody Rhodes why he couldn’t pull the trigger on someone he cares about. Cody brought up all the talk of him turning toward a darker path. He continued, saying he was uncompromising, but the situation would come up again, and he would act differently than he did at Sunday Night’s Main Event. So, all of this was just to say he would cheat if he had to? Okay. 

B-Fab and Michin said backstage that they were after the Women’s tag titles, and Jade said she was coming back for her WWE title. 

 

Money in the Bank Qualifier

The next match was the Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying match, featuring Jade Cargill taking on Alexa Bliss and Jacy Jayne. As the match began, Michael Cole noted that 100% of the time, the Women’s MITB winner had successfully cashed in to win a championship. Early in the match, Jayne started talking trash and got her face dropped on the announce table. Jade took control before the commercial break. Upon return, Cargill attempted to pin both Jayne and Bliss, but to no avail. The match continued as Jayne hit a running knee on Bliss for a near fall. Bliss hit Sister Abigail on Jayne, but Jade grabbed the referee to stop the count. Jade hit Jaded on Bliss, but Jayne pushed Jade off of Bliss and scored the pinfall herself. This was the exact same finish as the Men’s match. 

An interview with Giulia was interrupted by Nia Jax and Lash Legend, as Giulia, Legend, and XXXX will square off in a MITB qualifier next week. 

 

Trick Williams told Lil’ Yachty backstage that he had a plan to take care of Baron Corbin. They ran into Sami Zayn, calling him Gingerbread. Zayn said Trick should show him some respect. Trick said he hoped Sami would win tonight so he could take his title again. 

 

A vignette aired of Damian Priest explaining his turn on R-Truth, saying he should have done it sooner. Priest concluded by saying he was a bad man. 

WWE Championship

The main event of the evening saw Kevin Owens challenge Sami Zayn for the WWE title. Owens jumped Sami before the bell rang, but Owens quickly hit a Senton on Sami on the floor as the show went to break. Once back, the two went back and forth for a bit until Owens hit two Sentons followed by a Cannonball in the corner. Owens hit an AA for a two-count, referencing his first WWE match against Cena. Sami avoided a pop-up Powerbomb and a Stunner, then countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. After another ad break, Owens hit a Swanton off the top rope for a big near fall. Johnny Gargano ran down, distracted the referee, and let Candice LeRae hit a Tornado DDT on Owens. Zayn hit the Helluva Kick, but Owens kicked out. Owens countered a second Helluva attempt with a Pop-Up Powerbomb and a Stunner, but Gargano put Zayn’s foot on the ropes. Owens attacked Gargano on the outside and then put Zayn through the announce table. Gargano grabbed the WWE title but got a Stunner before he could use it. LeRae distracted the referee when CM Punk appeared and hit Owens with the title. 

Zayn covered Owens, and Owens didn’t kick out despite the referee pausing the count, in a clear botch as the announcers tried to claim Owens got a shoulder up. Sami hit the Helluva Kick and scored the pinfall. Punk returned to the ring and hit both Zayn and Owens with a GTS. 

About John Kleinchester 357 Articles
John Kleinchester is a New Jersey–based wrestling reporter, primarily covering WWE and AEW. He can be reached at [email protected].
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