Sami Zayn retains WWE Championship on SmackDown

During the September 18 episode of WWE SmackDown in Corpus Christi, Texas, Sami Zayn successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens. The match featured significant interference from Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and CM Punk. Following the bout, CM Punk delivered a GTS to both Zayn and Owens.

In Money in the Bank qualifying matches, Trick Williams secured a spot in the men’s ladder match by defeating Randy Orton and Rey Fenix. In the women’s division, Jacy Jayne qualified for the ladder match after a triple threat contest involving Alexa Bliss and Jade Cargill.

Cody Rhodes also made a televised return via a sit-down interview with Michael Cole. Rhodes addressed his recent loss to Randy Orton, stating he would not hesitate to use more aggressive tactics in their next encounter. A post-interview clip released by Triple H showed Rhodes expressing intense frustration toward Orton, suggesting a potential shift in his character.