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Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s weekly recap of WWE SmackDown from September 25, 2026. This episode featured a high-stakes steel cage match for the men’s US Championship and exciting Money in the Bank qualifiers, with Lash Legend and CM Punk securing their spots in the ladder matches. While there was also the ongoing storyline involving Fatal Influence against Chelsea Green, Tiffany Stratton, and Paige, this review focuses specifically on the three matches that had real implications in the show’s narrative.
If you missed the event or want a full rundown beyond these key matches, our detailed results page has everything covered. Here, we offer our personal insights, highlighting three aspects of the show we disliked and three that stood out positively.
Disliked: Time to End the Trick Williams vs. Baron Corbin Feud
A few weeks ago, we expressed frustration over the prolonged rivalry between Trick Williams and Baron Corbin, sparked by Corbin’s entrance ramp attack on Williams and Lil Yachty. Unfortunately, their US Championship steel cage bout did little to revive interest. While the steel cage might have seemed appropriate due to their long-standing feud, its effectiveness was undermined when Lil Yachty interfered, breaking the classic cage match rules. The match itself lacked excitement, and relying on repeated uses of Corbin’s Book End move felt underwhelming—Williams hitting his actual finisher might have created more impact. We hope this chapter finally closes, as analyst Corey Graves suggested.
Liked: SmackDown Opens with Action Instead of Promos
Recently, SmackDown has felt repetitive, overrun by excessive promos and lacking fresh energy aside from the Undisputed WWE Championship storylines and Money in the Bank qualifiers. This week, the show kicked off with a steel cage match rather than the usual in-ring interviews or promos, which provided a refreshing change. While the bout between Trick Williams and Baron Corbin wasn’t thrilling, it was commendable that WWE opted to start with competitive action. The segment featuring Orton’s demanded interview and Rhodes’ follow-up were brief and unobtrusive. Sami Zayn’s backstage interaction was well-balanced, avoiding promo overload. WWE could benefit from shaking up its show formula more often.
Disliked: Giulia’s Continual Losses
Giulia suffered yet another disappointing defeat, pinned by Lash Legend in a Women’s Money in the Bank qualifier. Despite her outstanding wrestling skills—proven in Japan’s STARDOM and elsewhere—she seems routinely booked to lose, painting an unfair picture of her talent. The match also involved Charlotte Flair, whose storyline centers on reclaiming a world title shot without needing the MITB briefcase. While Legend’s star power justifies her win, it’s frustrating to see Giulia relegated to the role of perennial loser, especially when Flair could have logically taken the pin instead. Furthermore, Giulia’s backstage segment where she was told to “go back to obscurity” was unnecessarily harsh. WWE must reconsider its approach for her to reach her potential.
Liked: Injecting New Faces into the Women’s MITB Match
Although the Women’s MITB qualifier match had its flaws, it was encouraging to see fresh talent, mostly NXT call-ups from the past year, filling the ladder match roster. Lash Legend earned her spot to join Roxanne Perez, Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, and Lola Vice, with one final qualifier still to come. While Legend started slow, her performance later impressed, and Flair also had some shaky moments, possibly just an off night. Giulia stood out as the most technically skilled in the match, even if booking didn’t favor her. Upcoming qualifiers will feature established competitors and rising stars, promising an exciting field for the ladder match—likely the most anticipated event at the next premium live event in recent memory.
Disliked: Excessive ‘Stolen’ Victories in MITB Qualifier Matches
The qualifying rounds for Money in the Bank continue to be dominated by three-way matches, but cleanliness in results is lacking. Apart from Bron Breakker and Penta securing straightforward wins, most other qualifiers—including two on this show—ended with “stolen” victories. These outcomes often feel lazy and have become a repetitive storytelling device for WWE, similar to frequent disqualifications or inconclusive finishes. While some interference-driven outcomes make narrative sense, the sheer volume of such finishes detracts from the gravity of the qualifiers and highlights WWE’s overreliance on non-clean finishes.
Liked: An Enjoyable Main Event
Despite being another stolen win, the main event three-way match between GUNTHER, CM Punk, and Finn Balor delivered solid entertainment. The dynamic worked well: GUNTHER as the dominant heel target, with Punk and Balor, both faces, briefly teaming up for mutual advantage. GUNTHER showcased his signature combination of power and agility, Balor impressed with agility and speed, and Punk applied veteran savvy. Although GUNTHER took the pin, his monstrous aura remained intact, especially given Balor’s decisive Coup de Grace that sealed the result. Punk emerged as the clever opportunist, securing a Money in the Bank qualifying spot without relying on sheer strength. This match was by far the highlight of the night and delivered meaningful storytelling in the ring.
Written by Olivia Quinlan, Daisy Ruth, Max Everett, and Samantha Schipman
Fan Take:
This episode of SmackDown highlights the ongoing challenge WWE faces balancing fresh talent development with compelling storylines. For fighting fans, it underscores how well-executed matches and character dynamics can elevate interest and anticipation in the sport, especially when top-tier performers are given space to shine authentically.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
