WWE SmackDown results for August 28, 2026, featured Sami Zayn wreaking havoc during the No. 1 contender match between Kevin Owens, Gunther and Finn Balor. CM Punk also became involved as SmackDown built toward WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event.
Owens, after losing his Undisputed WWE Championship match to Punk last week, largely due to Sami Zayn, opened SmackDown with an in-ring promo. Owens explained the various reasons why that night was special to him and how Zayn ruined it, but that’s not where his focus lies right now.
Punk heard his name and quickly joined the fray, but even the champ didn’t make it to the ring before being interrupted by “The Ring General” Gunther. Finn Balor returned the favor, interrupting him, as the four stars made different claims. General manager Nick Aldis announced a triple-threat match later in the evening to determine the number one contender.
The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) vs. Tiffany Stratton and WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green was the first match of the evening. The match never developed much momentum, with several exchanges feeling slower than the surrounding championship angles. Green continued to work the injury with a face mask, and in the end, it was her downfall. Jax attacked it multiple times to pick up the pinfall victory over the champ.
Paige had a shot at Jacy Jayne (with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) and her WWE Women’s United States Championship. The lack of athleticism truly ruined their near-fall attempt, with the challenger hitting a slow-motion Paige Turner, and the kickout happening far too early. The finish was also shallow booking, with Henley and Reid helping the champion retain the title.
Nikki Bella, after her recent heel turn, rushed Paige after everyone else cleared. Bella hit her finisher, and the crowd went wild.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes cut a promo ahead of his match against “The Viper” Randy Orton at the upcoming WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event. Orton punted Rhodes back at WrestleMania, turning heel at his expense.
Orton didn’t like the dialogue, so he joined Rhodes in the ring, and actually brought genuine heat to that promo. The Viper mentioned that The American Nightmare used to be his chauffeur, that his daughters buried their dog in the backyard, and he called his mother trailer park trash.
Just as it seemed the insults were done, Orton took a shot at his wife, before wearing an ear-to-ear grin. Rhodes tried to bring his opponent’s father into it, but it didn’t land the same. The two will face off at WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event.
Michin (with B-Fab and Jade Cargill) had a singles match against Tatum Paxley (with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair), ahead of their upcoming six-woman tag match on Sunday. The match itself was not noteworthy, but Paxley won her SmackDown in-ring debut and showed the audience her finisher, Cemetery Drive.
It was time for the number-one contender match, and the guys weren’t concerned about it being on SmackDown, delivering Premium Live Event-quality intensity and physicality. It seemed Balor had the match in hand, when he was pulled out of his pinfall attempt by Zayn, who then knocked out the referee. Another ref rushed down the ramp to count for Owens, but was also taken out by the distraught star.
Punk tried to stop him, but Zayn knocked out everybody with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt. Owens, Gunther, Balor, Punk, and two referees all lay lifeless around him as the show went off the air, without an official bell to signify the end of the match.
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These WWE SmackDown results advanced the Undisputed WWE Championship picture, intensified the Rhodes-Orton rivalry, and set up matches for the upcoming WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event. It also felt top-heavy, with the middle card failing to deliver this week.
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