WWE SmackDown Results and Highlights (30/10/26): Chelsea Green Retains, Finn Balor brings back The Demon and Sami Zayn Wins
WWE is bringing a spooky twist to Friday Night SmackDown on October 30, 2026, as the company prepares to deliver a special Halloween-themed edition titled “Danhausen’s Very Nice, Very Evil SmackDown.” The show will take place live from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia, with the uniquely eccentric Danhausen taking centre stage as the host of the evening. Known for his bizarre personality, supernatural antics and entertaining presence, Danhausen is expected to add a distinctive Halloween flavour to the blue brand, making this episode stand out from a regular Friday night show.
However, the Halloween celebrations won’t be the only attraction, as WWE has also lined up two major championship matches for the evening. With Crown Jewel 2026 approaching, the outcomes of these title bouts could have significant implications for the championship picture and potentially reshape the direction of upcoming rivalries. Between Danhausen’s unusual hosting duties, the festive Halloween atmosphere and two high-stakes title clashes, WWE is looking to make this edition of SmackDown a memorable night for fans.
Cody Rhodes opens The Show
Following Danhausen’s Halloween-themed opening segment, Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring to officially kick off the night, setting the tone for his upcoming showdown with Randy Orton at Crown Jewel. The American Nightmare addressed the personal nature of their rivalry, apologising to Orton’s family for the promise he intends to fulfil by punting The Viper in the face the next time an opportunity presents itself. Rhodes also revisited the brutal aftermath of their WWE Championship clash at WrestleMania 42, displaying a photograph of his badly injured face after nearly losing an eye in Las Vegas despite walking away with the victory. With emotions running high, Cody delivered a passionate but concise message, reminding everyone that their Last Man Standing encounter is now just eight days away. By bringing Orton’s family into the conversation and recalling the physical damage he suffered at WrestleMania, Rhodes made it clear that this rivalry has become deeply personal, delivering a strong opening segment that added even more intensity to their highly anticipated Crown Jewel showdown.
Chelsea Green vs Nikki Bella (WWE Women’s Undisputed Championship)
Chelsea Green took psychological warfare to another level as she arrived at the arena dressed exactly like her opponent, Nikki Bella, delivering one final dose of mind games before their match got underway. Bella initially controlled the contest, keeping Green on the defensive before the champion gradually fought her way back into the action following the commercial break. A thunderous dropkick earned Bella a near-fall, prompting Green to turn the tables with a taste of her own mockery. Bella attempted to hit the Broski Boot, paying homage to Green’s husband, Matt Cardona, but missed her target. Green immediately capitalized with a Rough Ryder that nearly secured the victory. Despite surviving the Fearless Lock and the Rack Attack, Green refused to stay down and caught Bella off guard with a perfectly timed small package, stealing the pinfall victory in a surprising finish.
The action continued after the bell as Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan made her presence felt, confronting Green ahead of their scheduled showdown at Crown Jewel and boldly declaring herself the true champion. However, the segment quickly descended into chaos when Tiffany Stratton appeared to tease a potential Money in the Bank cash-in. Before she could make her move, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez launched a sudden attack, overwhelming Stratton and putting her in serious trouble. Just when things looked bleak, Iyo Sky rushed to the ring and unleashed an attack on The Judgment Day duo, successfully clearing them out and making the save for her fellow babyfaces. What began as a post-match confrontation between Green and Morgan ultimately turned into a chaotic ringside situation, leaving several major rivalries hanging in the balance heading towards Crown Jewel.
Rey Fenix vs Ricky Saints (AAA Cruiserweight Championship)
Rey Fenix once again proved why he has become one of SmackDown’s most dependable performers, successfully defending his title against Saints in a hard-fought contest on Friday night. Saints came into the match determined to end Fenix’s impressive championship run, even resorting to targeting his opponent’s mask while attempting to dictate the pace. Fenix eventually fought back with a well-placed kick, but Saints refused to stay down, answering with a Death Valley Driver for a near-fall that brought the crowd to its feet with chants of “This is awesome!” The closing stretch saw Saints attempt the Revolution, only for Fenix to escape. After knocking his challenger away from the top rope, Fenix quickly recovered from being shoved to the mat, caught Saints with the Mexican Muscle Buster and secured another successful title defense.
Despite coming up short, Saints delivered arguably his strongest performance outside his memorable series with Carmelo Hayes, demonstrating that he deserves more opportunities in meaningful matches and storylines on the blue brand. WWE has a performer with plenty of potential in Saints, and giving him a more prominent role could add another exciting dimension to SmackDown’s roster. Meanwhile, Fenix continues to grow into his position as champion, looking increasingly comfortable while building impressive momentum with every passing week. Much like Chad Gable on Raw, Fenix has established himself as something of a workhorse for SmackDown, consistently delivering entertaining performances and providing a level of in-ring reliability that the brand can build around.
Tatum Paxley vs Jade Cargill
Jade Cargill looked to make matters even worse for Tatum Paxley as the two women collided on Friday’s SmackDown, stemming from Cargill’s earlier cheap shot that cost Paxley and Alexa Bliss their Women’s Tag Team Championship opportunity. The match quickly swung in Cargill’s favour after a brutal knee to the face left Paxley stunned heading into the commercial break, with the Poison Ivy-inspired Cargill continuing to punish her opponent by locking her in a Boston Crab during the interruption. Paxley showed plenty of fighting spirit upon returning, mounting a comeback with a series of forearms and a step-up enzuigiri, but her momentum was short-lived. Michin and B-Fab appeared at ringside late in the contest, creating just enough of a distraction for Cargill to regain control and connect with a devastating pump kick to secure the victory. Cargill once again walked away with the win, while Paxley’s ongoing frustrations continued to grow, leaving plenty of room for this rivalry to develop further.
Danhausen Debuts his Experiment
Danhausen’s long-awaited attempt to unveil his latest creation took a terrifying turn when Gunther launched a brutal ambush before the face-painted entertainer could complete his big reveal. The Ring General wasted no time dismantling Danhausen and his miniature allies, the Minihausens, who rushed to their leader’s defence but were quickly overwhelmed and sent crashing through two tables. Gunther subsequently locked Danhausen in a sleeper hold, seemingly bringing the bizarre segment to an end. However, before being put to sleep, Danhausen managed to unleash a curse that brought an unexpected surprise to the arena as the lights revealed The Demon Finn Balor. The returning supernatural force received an enormous reaction from the crowd, immediately shifting the momentum against Gunther.
The Demon wasted little time making his presence felt, unloading a series of devastating kicks before shrugging off a thunderous chop from Gunther, leaving the former World Champion visibly stunned. Balor then sent Gunther crashing through a table before taking the destruction to another level by climbing a ladder and delivering a spectacular Coup de Grace through the announce table. Perhaps the most significant moment came when Gunther, a competitor known for his confidence and ruthless demeanour, appeared genuinely frightened as The Demon stood before him inside the ring. Rather than simply presenting Balor as another returning superstar, WWE successfully reintroduced the darker, more intimidating side of his character, making Gunther’s rare display of fear arguably the biggest statement of the entire segment.
Sami Zayn vs Trick Williams (WWE Undisputed Championship)
Sami Zayn entered the commercial break firmly in control, seemingly determined to prove his point that Trick Williams was not yet ready to become the face of Friday nights or carry the WWE Championship. Zayn repeatedly targeted the challenger, questioning whether Williams truly possessed the qualities needed to reach the top of WWE. However, Trick refused to back down, fighting his way back into the contest with a series of stomps in the corner before Zayn halted his momentum by trapping him across the ropes. The United States Champion responded with a jumping knee that briefly shifted the advantage. As the action intensified, Zayn attempted to connect with a Helluva Kick, but Williams managed to stop him. Outside interference soon threatened to derail the match, with Johnny Gargano attempting to get involved before Lil Yachty neutralized him. Candice LeRae then tossed the WWE Championship into the ring, creating another opening for Zayn, but Williams struck with a Book End. Gargano’s decision to pull referee Charles Robinson out of the ring appeared to bring the contest to an abrupt end via disqualification. However, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis intervened, officially changing the match to a No Disqualification Match while ordering everyone at ringside to leave the arena.
With the outside distractions removed, the two competitors were free to settle their differences without any restrictions. Zayn returned from the commercial break armed with a kendo stick and used it to inflict further punishment, but Williams answered with a neckbreaker and a thunderous kick. Despite several close calls, neither man could secure the decisive three-count. Zayn later delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb onto a pile of steel chairs, but Williams somehow survived the impact. The challenger appeared to have another opportunity to capture the championship after connecting with his signature Trick Shot, only for the champion to escape defeat once again. As the match reached its closing moments, Zayn resorted to increasingly desperate tactics, using referee Charles Robinson as a human shield before delivering a low blow to Williams. The champion then capitalized on the opening by smashing Williams across the face with the WWE Championship, allowing him to steal the victory and retain his title. Zayn ultimately proved that he was willing to cross every possible line to remain champion, while Williams came agonizingly close to capturing the biggest prize of his career.
Other Notable Moments from The Show
– The rivalry between Paige and Blake Monroe officially began to take shape backstage when their heated verbal confrontation interrupted Cathy Kelley’s interview with Monroe. What started as an interview quickly turned into an intriguing face-off, with both women making their presence felt and setting the stage for what could become an exciting feud. The segment did exactly what it needed to do by creating anticipation without giving too much away, and honestly, this is a match worth getting excited about. Paige going head-to-head with Monroe has plenty of potential, and if WWE follows through on this confrontation, consider me sold — take my money, because I absolutely want to see these two step into the ring together!
– A backstage interview with Damian Priest, conducted by Cathy Kelley, was interrupted by Fraxiom, as Nathan Frazer took the opportunity to step forward and challenge The Archer of Infamy to a match. Frazer confidently talked his way into the confrontation, seemingly eager to test himself against the former World Champion. However, Priest was quick to deliver a chilling warning to both members of Fraxiom, reminding them of the brutal punishment he had already inflicted on R-Truth, someone he actually likes. Priest made it clear that if he was capable of treating a friend that way, neither Frazer nor Axiom should expect any mercy when they stepped into the ring with him.
– The highly anticipated rematch between CM Punk and Kevin Owens on next week’s SmackDown in Brooklyn just got a whole lot more interesting, as WWE has officially announced that the two rivals will collide in a No Holds Barred Match. With neither competitor needing to worry about disqualifications or count-outs, all the ingredients are in place for an all-out war. Given the personal animosity and unfinished business between Punk and Owens, I am hoping this encounter delivers absolute chaos, brutal weapon shots, hard-hitting action, and a level of intensity that leaves both men battered by the time it’s over. This has the potential to be one of the most explosive matches on SmackDown.
