Every Match Ranked & Reviewed

On the road to the upcoming Money In The Bank 2026 PLE, WWE headed to the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas on September 18 for the latest edition of Friday Night SmackDown. The show featured a major main event between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship, qualifying matches for the Money In The Bank ladder matches, and more throughout the night!

TheSportster’s rating system will take a look across the latest episode of Friday Night SmackDown to determine the best match of the night, the weakest on the card, and how everything else stacked up through the show too.

4

The MFTs Vs. Bakusai

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5.75/10

The new tag team of Shinsuke Nakamura & Kyoki sought to continue momentum after their debut match win as a duo by taking on the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions, The MFTs, in non-title action on Friday Night SmackDown. Kyoki ran wild in the opening stages, taking out both opponents with a dropkick on the outside, but it wasn’t long until the heels slowed things down and took control of Nakamura. Kyoki soon re-entered the ring for a hot tag, absorbing punishment thrown his way to get the crowd behind him.

The Bakusai duo continued to generate momentum in their attacks on the champions, but they were halted in their tracks by an interfering Haku, who attacked Nakamura with a walking stick and threw him into the steel steps. Ending this match via disqualification was expected, but it was a frustrating finish regardless.

3

Alexa Bliss Vs. Jade Cargill Vs. Jacy Jayne (Money In The Bank Qualifier)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5.75/10

The latest qualifying match for the women’s Money In The Bank saw former winner Alexa Bliss, the reigning United States Champion Jacy Jayne, and Jade Cargill meet in the ring in triple threat action on the blue brand. The early stages saw some decent interactions, helped along by some great heelish character work from Jayne, steadily building up investment from the fans. However, a very awkward powerbomb spot halted some of the match’s momentum and led to things becoming a little disjointed in places, as did Cargill arriving late to break up a pinfall after a Sister Abigail in another very awkward moment.

Cargill would execute a brutal Jaded on Bliss in the final moments, but a superkick allowed Jayne to stop the pinfall and steal the victory, earning her spot in the Money In The Bank ladder match at the 2026 PLE.

2

Randy Orton Vs. Rey Fenix Vs. Trick Williams (Money In The Bank Qualifier)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7.75/10

The opening match of Friday Night SmackDown this week saw three very differing styles of competitor battling it out to earn a spot in the men’s Money In The Bank ladder match. Former briefcase-holder Randy Orton took on reigning AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix and new United States Champion Trick Williams in a fun bout on the blue brand. With just ten minutes handed to these competitors, this was a short match that retained pretty good pace throughout, featuring several strong moments too.

For instance, Orton slammed Lil Yachty on the announce table, a huge Tower Of Doom spot, Fenix’s Goodbye Amigo kick to intercept Orton’s draping DDT, Orton catching Fenix with an RKO mid-air, and several close near-falls. In the end, Williams hit a Trick Shot on Orton and shoved him out of the ring to pin a prone Fenix. One thing is for sure though; we need a singles match between Fenix & Orton sometime soon.

1

Sami Zayn Vs. Kevin Owens (WWE Championship)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7.75/10

In the main event of Friday Night SmackDown, longtime friends and rivals Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens wrestled once again in singles action, though this time they competed with the WWE Championship up for grabs, so the stakes could not be higher. Owens ambushed Zayn during the ring introductions, dishing out some vicious punishment in the early moments, taking a cheap shot on his heated rival. Everything had an added level of emphasis in the moves they dished out to one another, putting in a very strong and technically sound in-ring performance.

As has been the case in many of WWE’s world title matches on SmackDown in recent months, the finish was overbooked. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae arrived to interfere and attack Owens, though Owens managed to kick out of a Helluva Kick to a big reaction. Owens came inches from a victory after a pop-up powerbomb and stunner, only for Gargano to put Owens’ foot on the rope. Owens would send Zayn through the announce table, seemingly settling the score… only for CM Punk to show up and hit Owens with the WWE Title belt, costing him the match and handing Zayn the win. Unfortunately, the finish of this match was botched due to either the referee not counting the three or Owens forgetting to kick out, leading to Zayn hitting a Helluva Kick to retain the gold.