Smackdown – 08.21.26

By Niz on 21 August 2026

Smackdown is LIVE on the USA and Netflix airwaves tonight from the ScotiaBank Arena in beautiful Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The announcing team for tonight’s massive show includes Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett on match calls and analysis, Mark Nash on ring introductions, and Cathy Kelley on interviews and news segments. There are two huge title matches tonight including a Men’s Undisputed Championship defense, so let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever…..TOGETHER

Arrivals: WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion CM Punk and his opponent in tonight’s gigantic title match, Kevin Owens.

Tessitore and Barrett introduce the show from the desk, and both have thoughts about Punk-Owens. They also then talk about the latest between Randall Keith Orton and Cody Raheem Rhodes. Rhodes and GM Nick Aldis were interrupted by Sami Zayn during last week‘s broadcast and was about to face Rhodes with a shot at the winner of Punk-Owens on the line when Orton attempted to murder Rhodes with a chair. Rhodes eventually regained the upper hand and was prevented by a huge group of Security goobers from doing the same to Orton.

Backstage, Zayn is once again bellowing at Aldis about things being unfair. Zayn mentions all the folks who have gotten in his way lately and wants to know how things are going to go against him tonight. Orton slides up behind Zayn as he’s mentioning Orton’s attack on Rhodes being the latest bit of nonsense that has derailed his path back to the title. Suddenly the PA erupts with Cody Rhodes’s voice, as Rhodes is in the ring with a mic bellowing for Orton to join him.

Aldis tells Orton to remain in place as Zayn vows to take things into his own hands. Orton follows Aldis and an incandescent Zayn smacks a water bottle away. Aldis gets half a sentence out before “Voices” hits and Orton comes down the aisle claiming that Rhodes has a time and place for their fight in Atlanta. Rhodes mentions they could just dispense with things right now, and Aldis says he’s sick of both of them putting their own interests at heart. Aldis says if either of them touch each other before Sunday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta they will NEVER EVER get another shot at Punk’s title AGAYNE. (The only part of Jericho in WWE that I miss is his ramped-up Canadian accent schtick.) Aldis asks them what they want to do knowing what he just said, and Orton says he’s got Orton’s word that “Mr. Professional” Randy Orton is on the scene. Orton mentions the end of last week’s show and knows that Rhodes is lying about wanting to destroy Orton with a chair at the end of the show. Orton said nothing stopped him when he had the shot at Rhodes, and it’s because Rhodes is “a good guy, the Golden Boy, the American Day-Dream”. Orton says Rhodes couldn’t answer the question of who will end Orton’s career. Rhodes says that Orton is operating with a dangerous assumption that Rhodes is a good guy. Rhodes has learned from all his enemies that Orton will always come back to Rhodes because he’s QB1. Rhodes says it’s not a prediction, it’s a SPOILER. (No. Just….no. No Heyman in this please.)

Here’s WWE Men’s Tag Team Champions Tama and Talla Tonga backstage. They dare anyone to step up to challenge for their new titles, and here’s Haku in to say that it’s time to show everyone who the motherf***in’ Tongans are. Well then.

Damian Priest and R-Truth make an entrance as we go to commercials.

WWE Men’s Tag Team Championship: The MFT’s (Tama and Talla Tonga) (C) vs Damian Priest and R-Truth

Haku is out with the new champs. The fighting starts prior to the bell with Talla taking Truth to the floor while Tama battles Priest in the ring. Priest hits a bunch of rights but is cut off by a Tama knee lift. Priest nails Tama with a straight right and drives him into a corner for more punishment (AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders are watching all this on a backstage monitor). Priest boots a charging Tama down and Truth tags in. Truth mashes Tama with a splash and Priest and Truth combine to send a charging Talla over the top rope to the floor. They clothesline Tama to the floor and Priest wants Truth to fly onto Tama, which he does. Priest nails Talla as Truth tosses Tama back in. Truth gets caught by Tama when charging, and Tama immediately slashes him down with a Hidden Blade. Tama smashes Truth with rights before dumping him to the floor. We go to commercials.

Talla has Priest over his shoulder when the show returns. Priest fires off some back elbows to escape and then boxes Talla’s ears. Priest hits a discus kick and then drops a charging Tama with a reverse uranage. Priest smashes Talla down and bellows at the crowd before ascending. Priest mashes Talla with a top rope lariat and covers for one. Priest drops the straps and calls for South of Heaven, but Talla fires a goozle back in response. Priest elbows out of it only to get blasted by a Talla lariat. Talla works Priest over in the MFT corner but he manages to escape. Priest’s crawl doesn’t make it as a newly-tagged in Tama prevents the tag. Priest wallops Tama with a discus kick and tags in Truth. Truth goes into the Cena routine and wants the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Truth hoists Tama up for the AA and covers for two as Talla breaks it up. Priest drops Talla to the floor with a clothesline and then charges around the length of the ring to hit a double-sledge off the steps. Tama pushes Priest off the ring-steps with Talla right there to catch Priest. Talla chokeslams Priest on the apron as Priest grabs Tama from behind for a roll-up that gets two. Tama twists Truth into a rolling neckbreaker and tags in Talla. Truth rises and gets caught with the Red Cross High-Low that finishes things.

It wasn’t a masterpiece but if you like a more physical tag style this was right up your alley. Truth has now eaten two pins in a row against the Tongans and we’ll see if anything comes of that. The MFT’s don’t do things in a pretty way but their brand of violence plays well in settings like this where they aren’t as shackled creatively as they once were for eight months over a damn lantern. 2.75*

Winners AND STILL WWE Men’s Tag Team Champions – The MFT’s (Red Cross High-Low on Truth)

Post-match sees a frustrated Priest offer a hand to Truth and they hug it out.

Here’s Cathy Kelley with CM Punk and she wants to know about his gameplan for tonight. Punk says he’s used to hostile territories and guys with agendas. Punk says he’s evolved and gotten better but only sees the same guy from 20 years ago when he looks at Owens. Randy Orton slides into scene for a quick handshake before telling Punk he’s coming for him after he whoops Rhodes in Atlanta. Punk says he’s looking forward to it as Orton leaves. We take a break.

Here’s a look back at the Nick Aldis-WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green interaction from last week. Back live here’s Green with a hurting Tiffany Stratton promising to take her out for a nice steak dinner. Stratton assures Green she’s okay and doesn’t want her to come out to help during tonight’s festivities. Stratton mentions not having anything further potentially jeopardizing Green’s reign and Green is touched by that. Green pats Paige on the back as they walk by her and Paige stops them to mention how much she admired Green’s promo last week. Here’s Fatal Influence (WWE Women’s US Champion Jacy Jayne and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) in to laugh at the trio while Henley says it’s a matter of time before they have Green’s title as well. Paige proposes taking Jayne’s US title since “Nikki Backstabbing Bella” isn’t around, but Jayne seems to blow it off while telling Stratton to keep wrapping tape around herself while Jayne and company keep wrapping gold around themselves. Fatal crack themselves up and leave.

Here’s Cathy Kelley with Blake Monroe. Kelley asks about Monroe’s debut and this wasn’t what she envisioned because she thinks that she should have debuted against Chelsea Green for the title. Monroe says everyone will be talking about her very soon as we go to a break.

Giulia vs Blake Monroe

Monroe attacks Giulia in the aisle during her entrance before blasting her with a bunch of kicks to the head. Monroe drives Giulia’s head into the apron and then into the ring steps. Monroe dumps Giulia into the ring and lines her up for a headbutt and knee-lift. Monroe hits a Neutralizer on Giulia and that is apparently it for whatever this is going to be.

There’s been some concern around Giulia’s booking lately after she lost to Michin on Main Event – see Kat’s report for further details – and I’m not sure this is going to help. Monroe looks like a bully here and I guess that this accomplished whatever they were hoping to do without actually pinning Giulia again. We’ll get rematches here, I’m guessing.

Here’s Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss backstage talking about a birthday celebration that might include some mimosas, prosecco, and Bloody Mary’s. Here’s Tatum Paxley in to ask if she should talk to Mary or supply her own blood, and Flair wants to know what is happening here. Before Bliss can answer, here’s Jade Cargill with Michin and B-Fab in to call Flair pathetic for needing her “freak show” sidekicks to help her out. Paxley introduces herself to Cargill while asking which of the three is Mary because she needs their blood. Michin wants Paxley next week and Paxley grasps a horrified Flair while saying “MY VERY FIRST MATCH!”. B-Fab takes a baffled Cargill away from the scene as Paxley hugs Flair for defending her.

Here’s Trick Williams and Lil Yachty heading out for a chat as we go to commercials.

Trick and Yachty make their entrance to a huge pop when the show returns. Yachty is introduced and Trick is upset about Baron Corbin taking short-cuts and cheap shots. Trick calls out WWE Men’s US Champion Baron Corbin who arrives immediately on his motorcycle. (Was he like…riding it around backstage?) Corbin intimidates Yachty out of the ring, and Trick points out Corbin cheating him constantly. Trick wants Corbin right now for the title, and Corbin, who is beltless, says that the title is getting a haircut. Corbin says Trick lost the title match AND the rematch and has nothing left to offer Corbin. Corbin tells Trick they’re done and turns right into a kendo stick from Yachty. (Barrett: “He’s getting beaten up by a man in a white beret?!”) Another kendo stick shot sends Corbin to the floor. Corbin says at Sunday Night’s Main Event Trick can get his shot if Yachty gives Corbin five minutes. Corbin says if he beats Yachty in less than five minutes then Corbin and Trick are done. Yachty and Trick think for a minute and Yachty grabs the mic to say it’s on. Corbin promises Yachty that it will be the longest five minutes of his life.

Here’s Cathy Kelley with Kevin Owens who gets immediately interrupted by Finn Balor. Balor tells Owens he was happy to see him at Summerslam but some heads up would have been nice. Here’s GUNTHER in to say that he’ll take some weight off of him by saying that Balor is a shadow of his former self and Owens won’t have to worry about him. GUNTHER mentions that he will be the one that Owens needs to concern himself with should he win the title. GUNTHER leaves, and Balor also tells Owens that if he wins, Balor will be waiting for him. They dap it up and Balor leaves.

Tiffany Stratton makes an entrance as we go to commercials.

Lash Legend vs Tiffany Stratton

Nia Jax is out with Legend, while Stratton is alone. Stratton attacks at the bell and smashes Legend with a dropkick. Stratton hits a handspring back elbow but runs into a Legend uppercut in response. Legend drives in a knee (Stratton is selling a rib injury from last week, I should point out.) and Stratton collapses. Legend yanks Stratton up for a slam and covers her for two. Legend rag dolls Stratton in a bear hug before driving her back-first into a corner. Stratton wants a sunset flip but Legend yanks her up and out of it. Stratton clips Legend’s knee and then wants a tope suicida. Legend catches Stratton and smashes her into a ring post as we go to a commercial break.

They’re slugging it out when the show returns and Legend smashes Stratton down. Legend hits a backdrop suplex and nips up impressively. Legend misses an elbow drop and a charge before Stratton trips her up into a corner. Stratton hits a handspring stunner (Legend does the big Rock split-legged stunner sell here to my absolute amusement.) and then ascends. Stratton misses a swanton and ducks a Legend clothesline attempt before pulling Legend down with a crucifix driver. Stratton’s cover gets two. Stratton ascends but Legend springs up to yank Stratton down for the Last Extension and that ends things.

That’s a pretty decisive win for Legend despite Stratton’s selling of previous injuries. My biggest issue here is that Legend didn’t sell AT ALL for any of Stratton’s offense and while I get that she’s meant to be this hoss-machine type, you can still sell a stunner for longer than five seconds, you know? Not selling is endemic in modern television wrestling. I know we just need to get to the fireworks factory but man it just drives me nuts sometimes. Anyway, let’s get to the post-match. 2.25*

Winner – Last Legend (Lash Extension)

Post-match sees Jax enter for a legdrop on the helpless Stratton. Legend and Jax smash Stratton and here’s Chelsea Green out with a kendo stick to kick the crap out of Legend and Jax. Green checks on Stratton before barking at a retreating Jax and Legend.

Tessitore and Barrett hype up the main event as two goofs behind them shoot middle fingers at the cameras. Ah wrestling fans, you do go on. After a look back at last week’s promo battle, we go to commercials.

Here’s a reminder that Raw starts at 6 PM Eastern this Monday.

Here’s Shinsuke Nakamura in a pre-tape to say that his darkness has finally come to light in the form of KYOKI (The former Hiromu Takahashi has finally arrived!). KYOKI says the stronger they are, the more fun they have. Nakamura threatens MFT by saying that when madness and STRONG STYLE collide there will be an explosion.

Kevin Owens makes his entrance (“Twenty years, bitch. Twenty years.”) and fires up the crowd before calling for Punk’s “stupid-ass music”. “Cult of Personality” gets a mixed reception but the crowd sings along as usual. Punk is wearing a Jason Voorhees-like hockey mask and white gear. Owens and Punk get into it before announcements even happen, and then Mark Nash does the in-ring intros.

WWE Men’s Undisputed Championship: CM Punk (C) vs Kevin Owens

Owens gets a massive pop with his intro, while Punk is booed pretty heavily during his. This is Punk’s first match on Smackdown in 12 years. There’s a hockey fight to start and Owens clobbers Punk a bunch into a corner. Punk eats a clothesline that sends him to the floor and Owens gives chase. Punk stomps Owens on returning to the ring and then wants a suplex. Owens wins that battle and drops Punk stomach-first over the ropes before blasting him with a monster right hand. Owens goes to the floor and lays in some vicious chops before clearing the announce table. A recovered Punk redecorates the table while shaking Tessitore’s hand. Owens prevents a kick and blasts Punk in the jewels with one of his own before crushing Punk with a standing senton. Owens hits the kick part of the stunner set-up but Punk yanks him into a neckbreaker before Owens can finish the move. We go to a break.

Punk is bullying Owens in a corner when the show returns. Punk smashes Owens head into a turnbuckle but Owens prevents a second one with a gut-shot and some chops. Punk prevents a back body drop with a kick but Owens shakes it off and levels Punk with a lariat. Owens fires off a bunch of rights before driving Punk down with kicks. Punk goes to the floor and Owens goes out for another lariat. Owens tosses Punk back in and lines him up for a cannonball with some stink on it. Owens covers and gets two. Owens slowly ascends but Punk rolls all the way to the floor. Owens follows to smash Punk with a superkick before getting on top of the barrier for a frog splash on Punk through the announce desk. Owens drives Punk back in and ascends again for a swanton that gets two. Owens yanks Punk up for a slap but Punk fires up with kicks in response. Punk’s cover gets two. Punk puts the bad-mouth on Toronto for “not winning anything since 1967” before walloping Owens with a running knee strike. Punk smashes Owens down with a lariat before ascending. Punk returns Owens’ earlier “suck it” gesture before nailing him with the SAVAGE ELBOW for two. Punk wants the Anaconda Vice and Owens goes to the eyes to break it up. Owens yanks Punk over for two but turns right into a Punk neckbreaker upon rising. Punk hits a neckbreaker and pushes the ref away for some clubbering. Punk is being booed unmercifully by the Toronto crowd at this point and seems to be enjoying it as he calls for the GTS. Punk yanks Owens up but Owens catches Punk’s GTS attempt and slaps on the Sharpshooter to a bonkers response from the crowd. Punk makes the ropes and Owens is forced to release. Owens blasts Punk with a kick before Punk fires up by dropping Owens throat-first over the top rope. Punk misses a roundhouse kick and pushes Owens into the referee during a stunner attempt. Punk wants GTS but Owens slips off and pushes Punk into the staggering ref, and that sends the ref to the floor. Owens yanks Punk into a stunner and gets the visual pin with no ref available to count. Owens barks at the downed ref and calls for another one to come down. Owens walks into a GTS with Punk covering to no avail. Punk fires off right hands and goes out to see if he can revive the ref, and here’s Sami Zayn in to run Punk into a ring post. Zayn fires Punk back in to another stunner from Owens. Zayn runs the ref back in for the longest of two counts. Zayn yanks the title off the stand it sits on for title matches and tosses it to Owens. Owens picks up the title and hesitates, so Zayn leaps up onto the apron for some verbals. Owens pushes the title belt back to Zayn and says he doesn’t want to win like this this time. Zayn smashes Owens in the head with the belt and a recovered Punk instantly strikes with another GTS. Punk covers and gets three.

So for me, the overbooked finish and too much time on the floor are the main negatives here, but otherwise this was a terrific main event for television. It had that old-school heat you love to see from a hot Toronto crowd, and they were hanging on every move while very much treating Punk like the most hated of heels. Owens did his part perfectly and while I have zero interest in another Zayn-Owens feud, I suspect we will be getting at least a three-way coming up soon, OR that you’ve now got your group for Money In The Bank with Zayn, Owens, Balor, Rhodes, Orton, and GUNTHER with the winner getting Punk at Survivor Series. Regardless, despite the minor flaws, I enjoyed this a bunch. 4*

Winner AND STILL WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion – CM Punk (GTS)

Post-match has some instant highlights while Punk gets some cheers while doing some Hogan-esque poses. Zayn mashes Punk with the title belt when he comes off the second rope and stands over top of him. Zayn crushes a charging Owens with another belt-shot before waffling Punk with one. Zayn screams at Punk about stealing the title before wandering around barking at the crowd with the belt in hand. The credits roll and we’re out.

The main event delivered even without a title change. I thought the rest of the show was about what you might suspect from where we are with things. I was a little surprised at the Legend-Stratton result but I think everything else that happened was fairly on-point for Smackdown and it’s various eccentricities. There’s some heat around the title now, which is a good thing, and there’s some major contenders circling. Everything else is just kind of there at the moment, but there’s an SNME in the future that might settle a few things so we can move on.

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend.