WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - September 25th, 2026

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Trick Williams defends United States Title against Baron Corbin in Steel Cage Match

Trick Williams will defend the United States Championship against Baron Corbin in a Steel Cage Match. The two Superstars have engaged in a nasty rivalry since Corbin's shocking return, setting the stage for several physical altercations, as well as Corbin capturing the title at SummerSlam and Williams winning it back at Sunday Night's Main Event. Who will emerge from the unforgiving steel as champion?


:smackdown:

— Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet audiences at home as Trick Williams and Lil Yachty make their way to the ring. Baron Corbin follows. Randy Orton also made his way to the commentary desk while the cage was being lowered and told Cole that he wanted to be interviewed later in the show.

WWE United States Championship Steel Cage Match: Trick Williams (c) vs. Baron Corbin

The bell rings and the two men exchange right hands with one another. Williams delivers a leg lariat and a flapjack to Corbin, then fires off stomps on him in the corner. Corbin gains the upperhand and sends Williams crashing into the side of the steel cage face first during the commercial break, but Williams delivers a Death Valley Driver to Corbin.

Corbin jams Williams' head into the side of the cage, then delivers a clothesline to Williams' chest. Williams looks to escape the cage, but Corbin joins Williams on the top of the cage and the two men exchange right hands on top of the cage back from the break.

Williams makes it over the top of the cage, but Corbin joins him on the top and delivers a superplex to Williams off the top of the cage. Corbin pins Williams, but Williams kicks out. Williams then pins Corbin, but Corbin kicks out.

Williams looks to escape through the door of the cage, but Corbin stops Williams and uses the door of the cage to level Yachty on the outside. Williams catches Corbin with a Trick Kick and pins him, but Corbin kicks out and delivers a clothesline to Williams. Corbin follows it up with a chokeslam on Williams and looks to escape through the door, but Yachty uses the door to hit Corbin with.

Corbin turns around into a Trick Shot from Williams and Williams pins him, but Corbin kicks out and Williams sets up for a second Trick Shot. Corbin moves out of the way and Williams' knee hits the side of the cage, then delivers a Deep Six to Williams and goes for a pin. Williams kicks out and delivers a trio of Book Ends to Corbin for the win.

Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Trick Williams

— Backstage, Nia Jax expressed confidence in Lash Legend ahead of her Money in the Bank qualifying match later tonight.

— The commentary team recapped last week’s Undisputed WWE Championship match between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn before cameras showed CM Punk preparing for his match later tonight. Nick Aldis then asked Punk to meet him in his office.

Inside the office, Punk found Aldis alongside Owens. Aldis said he did not want the issues between Punk and Owens carrying over into tonight’s Money in the Bank qualifier. Punk responded that he had nothing Owens wanted and said he would stay out of his way. Owens then left without saying anything.

— Backstage, Paige tried to get Tiffany Stratton and a concerned Chelsea Green focused on their upcoming six-woman tag team match against Fatal Influence.

After Stratton and Paige walked away, Nikki Bella confronted Green and said nothing would stop her from taking the WWE Women’s Championship. Paige returned and stepped between them, prompting Nikki to back away. Green responded, “Never meet your heroes.”

— Back at ringside, Charlotte Flair makes her way out. Giulia and Lash Legend follow.

Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifier: Charlotte Flair vs. Lash Legend vs. Giulia

The bell rings and Legend slaps Giulia. Giulia slaps Legend, then fires off forearms on Flair. Flair fires off chops on Giulia, but Giulia delivers a kick to Flair's spine during the commercial break and levels her with a shotgun dropkick. Legend drapes Giulia though the middle rope and fires off forearms on her, but Flair looks to level Legend with a crossbody off the middle rope aback from the break. Legend catches Flair and delivers a Fallaway Slam to her, but Giulia delivers a shotgun dropkick to Legend and pins her. Legend kicks out.

Giulia fires off stomps on Legend, then fires off a few kicks on Flair. Flair sets up for a Figure Eight Leg Lock on Legend, but Giulia rocks Flair with a headbutt and Flair responds with a boot to Giulia through the middle rope. She ascends to the top rope, but Giulia joins her up there and delivers a superplex to Flair. Legend dumps Giulia out of the ring and pins Flair, but Flair kicks out and uses Legend to knock Giulia off the ring apron.

Legend rocks Flair with a back elbow, but Giulia delivers a knee to Legend's face. Flair rocks Legend with a kick as Giulia ascends up the ropes, but Flair sends Giulia crashing on top of Legend to level Legend. Flair then steps over Legend and Giulia and delivers a moonsault to both women off the top rope. She pins Legend, but Legend kicks out.

Legend sets up for the Lash Extension on Flair, but Flair counters into a Figure Eight Leg Lock. Giulia delivers a kick to Flair to break the fall, then delivers the Arrivederci Knee and Northern Lights Bomb to Flair. Legend catches Giulia with a Lash Extension and pins her for the win.

Winner: Lash Legend

— WWE showed footage from Cody Rhodes’ recent interview with Michael Cole, where Rhodes said he would not hesitate to kick Randy Orton’s head in. Cameras then showed Orton waiting for Cole backstage, with their interview scheduled for after the commercial break.

— Backstage, Blake Monroe confronted Giulia over her loss in the Money in the Bank qualifier. Giulia responded with a slap and the two began brawling before Nick Aldis stepped in and announced they would face each other next week.

— Michael Cole sat down with Randy Orton after Orton demanded an interview earlier in the night. Orton immediately brought up Cody Rhodes’ recent comments and questioned why Rhodes waited until the cameras were off to threaten him.

Orton said Rhodes has changed considerably over the years while he himself has remained the same throughout his WWE career. He suggested that if Rhodes follows through on his threat, it would show that Rhodes has compromised himself again.

Orton then asked Cole what he believed would happen if the two crossed paths. When Cole did not immediately answer, Orton became frustrated, raised his voice and brought the interview to an end.

— Sami Zayn acknowledged that Randy Orton is back in the Undisputed WWE Championship picture and said plenty of people do not want him holding the title. Zayn said that has been the story of his reign, but vowed to continue surviving and retaining the championship.

Finn Balor interrupted and accused Zayn of screwing over several people on his way to the title. Balor made it clear that he intends to come after the championship regardless of whether he wins Money in the Bank. Johnny Gargano then joined the conversation, prompting Zayn to ask for his support.

Gargano instead questioned when he would receive his own championship opportunity, and Zayn eventually admitted that Gargano deserved one. Zayn claimed he had already asked Nick Aldis for the match but was turned down. Instead, he said he secured Money in the Bank qualifying matches for Gargano and LeRae.

Gargano asked whether winning Money in the Bank would be the path to finally getting his title opportunity. Zayn then asked whether Gargano still had his back, and after a brief hesitation, Gargano agreed. The show moves on from there.

— Paige, Tiffany Stratton, and Chelsea Green then make their way to the ring. Fatal Influence follows.

Fatal Influence vs. Paige, Tiffany Stratton, and Chelsea Green

Paige and Fallon Henley begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Lainey Reid tags in, but Paige lands a dropkick on her and fires off knees on her face as Reid is draped through the middle rope. Stratton tags in and lands a Hip Attack on Reid, then lands a shotgun dropkick on her during the commercial break and goes for a pin. Reid kicks out.

Henley pulls Startton out of the ring and Jayne lands a superkick on her on the outside as Reid distracts the referee. Reid pins Stratton, but Stratton kicks out and Reid sends her crashing into the corner spine first. Reid rains down right hands on Stratton.

Henley tags in and double teams on Stratton with Reid back from the break. Green tags in and sends Reid and Henley crashing out of the ring, but Henley pulls Green out of the ring. Stratton flies off the top rope to take down Henley and Reid on the outside, but Jayne delivers a cannonball to Green and Stratton off the ring apron. Paige runs the ropes looking to fly, but Nikki trips her up. This opens the door for Jayne to connect with the Rolling Encore on Paige and pin her for the win.

Winners: Fatal Influence

— We then head over to a video of Damian Priest attacking R-Truth at the WWE Performance Center earlier this week and firing off stomps on him.

— Backstage, Gunther was being interviewed when Danhausen interrupted and asked about their respective plans heading into Money in the Bank. Danhausen appeared ready to curse Gunther, but Gunther grabbed him by the throat and warned him to stay out of his way.

— WWE showed footage of CM Punk throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game. Punk wore a Pete Crow-Armstrong jersey during the appearance.

— WWE confirmed two Money in the Bank qualifying matches for next week’s show. Tatum Paxley will face Candice LeRae and Tiffany Stratton in a women’s qualifier, while Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes and Johnny Gargano will meet in a men’s qualifier.

— Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring and opened by addressing Money in the Bank before turning his attention to Randy Orton. Rhodes said next week would be about the qualifying match, but there were other issues he needed to address first.

Rhodes referenced CM Punk defeating him at SummerSlam with involvement from Orton before Punk later lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Sami Zayn. He then shifted his focus directly to Orton and the comments Orton made earlier in the night during his interview with Michael Cole.

Rhodes said Orton had placed him in what felt like an unwinnable position. He brought up being asked by his boss to give everything he had, along with facing John Cena during Cena’s retirement year, and described himself as someone who has repeatedly dealt with those situations.

Rhodes then warned that the next time Orton puts himself in that position, he would kick Orton’s head off his shoulders. Rhodes closed by suggesting that Orton may not be the only person who ends up on the receiving end of that aggression.

— CM Punk, Finn Balor, and GUNTHER make their way to the ring.

Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier: CM Punk vs. Finn Balor vs. Gunther

The bell rings and Punk fires off right hands on GUNTHER. GUNTHER delivers a chop to Punk, then levels Balor with a chop. Punk fires off a chop on Zayn and Balor follows suit, with both men continuing to fire off chops on GUNTHER.

Punk scoops up Balor on his shoulders, but GUNTHER levels both men and cinches in a Boston Crab on Punk. Balor breaks the hold with a kick to GUNTHER's spine, but GUNTHER levels Balor with a chop. Balor delivers a double DDT to Punk and GUNTHER during the commercial break, but GUNTHER catches Balor in a sleeper.

GUNTHER sends Punk crashing into the barricade and lays Balor across the top turnbuckle, then uses it to wrench back on Balor and wear him down. Punk fires off right hands on GUNTHER, but Balor fires off open palm strikes and kicks on GUNTHER. Punk delivers an elbow drop to GUNTHER off the top rope, but Punk calls for a GTS and gets GUNTHER up on his shoulders. GUNTHER rakes Punk's eyes to escape, but Balor and Punk cinch in a double Boston Crab on GUNTHER.

Balor ascends to the top rope and delivers a Coup De Grace on Punk. Balor levels GUNTHER with a Sling Blade, but Punk gets up Balor for a GTS. GUNTHER catches Punk in a sleeper and sets up for a powerbomb, but Punk escapes and GUNTHER catches him in a sleeper hold. Balor ascends to the top rope and delivers a Coup De Grace to GUNTHER's spine to break the hold, but Punk steals the win from Balor by pinning GUNTHER for the win.

Winner: CM Punk