Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for October 23, 2026

Sami Zayn, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Sami looks to see how many "ride or die" fans are in the crowd before mentioning his meeting with Roman Reigns on Raw, and says that their conversation got him thinking as to who "the man" is in WWE. He says that the alpha male is not fundamentally the strongest, but the smartest and the one who knows how to survive, and that is him. He says there are eight billion people on the planet, but only one WWE Champion, and it is him. He says that CM Punk, Gunther, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and others have their sights set on, and it is him, and as he says he will not take anything from anyone, including Roman Reigns and Penta, Rey Fenix shows up. Fenix says he told Sami last week that he does not know what Penta is going to do, then says they have never had a problem and that they are still friends, but Penta is his brother, and if Sami disrespects his family, they will have a problem. Sami says that Penta should focus his efforts on somewhere else, like Roman Reigns, and says his problem is not with Fenix, but with people who show disrespect towards him. Suddenly, Trick Williams shows up. Trick says he feels Fenix's pain and that he has a problem with Sami, too, after Sami told all kinds of lies about him, including that he does not know how to survive. He then says that Sami puts no fear in his heart and therefore has no need to survive. He says he has been on sports shows and magazines and has married the best woman in the game, and he does not need to survive because he can thrive. He says that he has been in the main roster for ten months while Sami has no idea what "it" is after fifteen to twenty years in the game. He says that he has been in the main roster for ten months while Sami has no idea what "it" is after fifteen to twenty years in the game. Trick says that "it" beat Sami at WrestleMania, then demands a match for the WWE Championship with Sami, and Sami says that while Trick is not scared of him, he should be, as Trick's tongue is silver while his is steel and is sharp enough to cut him, make him look like a fool and destroy him on the microphone. He then says he will not do that because Sami Zayn is having a great, enjoyable rookie year and because everyone will eventually realize that Trick does not have "it" and that Trick does not know what "it" is. Sami says Trick is closer to "sink or swim" right now and that he is swimming in deep waters with him, and that Trick is nowhere close to getting a WWE Championship match. Trick asks Sami where that sharpness was when he beat him at WrestleMania, and says that he is demanding, not asking for, a title match, and that he will beat one out of him if he does not get it. Gargano gets in front of Trick only to get grabbed, and Sami hits Trick with a cheap shot while he, Gargano and Candice leave. General Manager Nick Aldis shows up and says that Sami may be WWE Champion, but he is not the boss, and to remind him of that, Sami will team up with Gargano against Fenix and Trick later tonight.

Chelsea Green retains the WWE Women's Championship against Roxanne Perez after Iyo Sky shows up and takes out Raquel Rodriguez on the outside. After the match, Liv Morgan shows up, and both Chelsea Green and Iyo Sky are outnumbered until Tiffany Stratton shows up and evens the numbers game. Liv Morgan nearly hits Tiffany Stratton with her own briefcase, but Tiffany fights back and nearly cashes in on Liv until Roxanne and Raquel make the save.

It is announced that Baron Corbin suffered a cervical muscle strain, an orbital bone conclusion, and blurred vision following being punted by "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes last week.

Backstage, Chelsea Green thanks Iyo Sky for showing up to help her, then says that this is the start of a beautiful friendship. Chelsea also had the feeling that Tiffany Stratton would return, and Tiffany hopes to cash in on Liv Morgan. Chelsea, Iyo and Tiffany then focus on having some martinis.

Blake Monroe beats Giulia in a street fight.

Randy Orton heads to the ring. Orton addresses "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, saying that he is proud of him after his balls dropped low enough to punt someone in the head, saying it is a badge of honor for him to make Cody crack. He then says that he can still see through Cody and while Cody can punt anybody in the locker room, they both know none of that matters until Cody does it to "The Legend Killer." Orton says that he knows that if Cody gets the opportunity, he will yet again hesitate. All of a sudden, Cody heads to the ring. Cody ponders when Orton became such a coward, especially when he is close to reaching the record for most world champions and when Orton is known as "The Legend Killer," even when it was not to Orton's own benefit. As Cody is talking, General Manager Nick Aldis and two officials are at ringside. Cody says he is unafraid because he is an anomaly and "The Legend Killer Killer" to Orton, saying that "I.O.U." and not "RKO" are not the three most dangerous letters to him. Cody then asks "What are we waiting for?" The two officials soon swoop into the ring before Aldis interrupts, but Orton says that this is not happening tonight. Aldis says that if they won't do this right here and now, they can settle it at Crown Jewel. Cody says he will wrestle Orton, but it will not just be any match, and states that it will be Last Man Standing. Orton says that is fine by him, then warns Cody that he asked for this and leaves.

"Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab beat Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley to become the WWE Women's Tag Team Champion after Jade Cargill hits Tatum Paxley with a cheap shot behind the referee's back after Michin grabs the ropes to block the Cemetery Drive, allowing Michin to hit Tatum with the Styles Clash for the win.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Trick Williams, who announces that he will be facing Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship next week. Rey Fenix shows up and reminds Trick that they have a tag match this week. Fenix and Trick leave, then an angry Damian Priest shows up.

Bakusai (Shinsuke Nakamura and Kiyoki) vs. The MFTs (Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa) for the WWE Tag Team Championships ends before it can begin with Kiyoki shows up from the crowd and steals Haku's walking stick while Shinsuke Nakamura walks down the ramp, starting a brawl that multiple referees have to break up.

In footage from earlier today, General Manager Nick Aldis announces that two weeks from tonight, CM Punk and Kevin Owens will settle their differences in the ring. He then moderates a face-to-face between the two men. Punk and Owens sit at the table, then Aldis gives them the floor. Punk says he should be getting ready for Crown Jewel, but he lost out on a championship thanks to Owens. Owens says he had Punk beaten in Toronto and that he had Punk beat, and that Punk cost him the title early on. Owens says if it were up to him, he would never have had to look at Punk again, but Punk had to return. Punk insists this is all a waste of his time and that Owens does not know him as he and Owens state they will put each other down. Owens says he has heard from enough people about Punk to know something about him, and after Aldis adjourns the meeting, Punk says he will put Owens on his back as he leaves. Owens says he will do the same to Punk.

Sami Zayn and Johnny Gargano vs. Trick Williams and Rey Fenix ends in a no-contest with Ricky Saints attacking Rey Fenix out of nowhere, allowing Sami and Gargano to gang up on Trick Williams. All of a sudden, Penta shows up and makes the save before declaring the match a six-man tag match.

Trick Williams, Penta and Rey Fenix beat Sami Zayn, Johnny Gargano and Ricky Saints in a six-man tag match.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!