WWE SmackDown aired from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with the final build toward Crown Jewel. The show featured CM Punk facing Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred main event, Chelsea Green and Liv Morgan exchanging words before their Crown Jewel Championship match, and escalating tensions involving Sami Zayn, Roman Reigns and 946.

The broadcast opened with a video package highlighting the rivalry between Punk and Owens ahead of their main event.

Sami Zayn Walks Away as 946 Attacks Jimmy Uso

After footage recapped Monday’s confrontation between Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn, the Undisputed WWE Champion entered the ring and asked who was ready to ride or die with “the last real good guy.”

Zayn addressed Reigns’ prediction that he would lose the championship before Crown Jewel. Sami pointed out that he appeared on Roman’s show, survived and returned to SmackDown with his title intact. He admitted that Reigns’ words would have affected him in the past, but said nobody could overlook him while he remained Undisputed WWE Champion.

Sami recalled the closing moments of Raw and noted that Roman was no longer looking down at him — he was looking up. Jimmy Uso interrupted and reminded Zayn that they were once family before questioning why he attacked Reigns during the chaos involving 946.

Zayn insisted that family never changes and said that, in another world, he would still stand alongside The Bloodline. In the present, however, he was the Undisputed WWE Champion. Sami reminded Jimmy that he made him an honorary Uce before Roman did, but also accused Jimmy of always being the first to pull the trigger when circumstances became difficult.

Jimmy asked what had happened to Sami and accused him of making the situation personal. He said Sami wanted Roman’s full attention and now had it, revealing that Reigns told him Zayn would “catch this beating” at Crown Jewel.

Rather than being intimidated, Zayn said that was exactly what he wanted. He needed Roman to take their match seriously and wanted everything the OTC could offer.

As Sami prepared to leave, members of 946 emerged from the crowd and attacked Jimmy. Zayn watched from the apron before stepping down to the floor. Jimmy attempted to fight back, but the numbers overwhelmed him and Royce Keys planted him with a spinebuster.

Zayn appeared conflicted as he stood with his back to the ring, but ultimately walked away while 946 stood over his former Bloodline brother.

Sami Zayn Meets Rey Fenix, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae

Rey Fenix approached Zayn backstage and silently shook his head at the champion before walking away. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae then checked on Sami, with Gargano assuring him that avoiding 946 had been the correct decision because he had the biggest match of his career at Crown Jewel.

Candice suggested that Sami reward Gargano with an Undisputed WWE Championship opportunity. Zayn said he first needed to retain the title long enough to give Johnny that match.

Sami questioned Fenix’s reaction and noted that Penta possessed the Money in the Bank briefcase, suggesting the brothers might be plotting against him. Zayn agreed that Gargano deserved an opportunity and promised to speak with Nick Aldis.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tama Tonga

Shinsuke Nakamura and Tama Tonga opened with an exchange of punches and knees. Tama gained control with a takedown and several strikes, but Nakamura answered with forearms before choking his opponent against the ropes and delivering a series of kicks.

Nakamura positioned Tonga across the ropes and connected with a sliding German suplex before sending him into the ringside barricade. After the commercial break, Nakamura maintained his momentum with a flying boot, forearms, knees and repeated kicks to the chest.

Tonga escaped a full nelson, but Nakamura caught him with an arm-trapped German suplex for a near fall. Tama responded with a flatliner, suplex and brainbuster, but Nakamura survived before landing a spinning heel kick and reverse exploder.

As Nakamura prepared for the Kinshasa, Talla Tonga climbed onto the apron and provided a distraction. Tama attempted to capitalize with a roll-up before connecting with the Cutthroat, but Nakamura kicked out.

Kyoki confronted Talla at ringside and managed to knock him down with a dropkick. Back inside the ring, Nakamura connected with the Kinshasa to secure the victory.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura via Pinfall

CM Punk Addresses Kevin Owens

Jackie Redmond interviewed CM Punk about his No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens. Punk claimed the rivalry was not nearly as personal for him as it appeared to be for Owens and said he was simply looking forward to wrapping a chair around Kevin’s head.

Punk admitted he remained angry about losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to someone he considered a mediocre midcarder in Sami Zayn because of Owens’ interference. He compared Owens to an ex-girlfriend who could not move on and promised to deal with him before turning his attention back to reclaiming the championship.

Gunther and Finn Balor Brawl

Gunther entered the ring and asked whether the crowd genuinely believed he was afraid of Finn Balor the previous week. He insisted that the unusual situation merely caught him off guard and claimed he had done everyone a favor by ending the spectacle.

Gunther said Balor’s career was hanging by a thread and argued that Finn was well past his prime. He initially hoped his criticism would motivate Balor to rediscover his potential, but instead Finn befriended Danhausen, painted his face and embraced what Gunther considered a ridiculous performance.

Although Gunther once admired Balor, he now believed Finn had disgraced professional wrestling. He offered Balor one final opportunity to confront him like a man.

Balor answered and said the previous week offered only a glimpse of what he could unleash. Finn acknowledged that the Demon might consist of face paint, smoke and mirrors, but reminded Gunther that it was still Balor who stomped him before driving him through a table.

Finn said Gunther wanted the real Balor and now had him standing directly in front of him — without paint or special effects, but with a demon inside waiting to emerge.

Balor threw the first punch, but Gunther answered with a knee. Finn fought back with forearms, sent Gunther over the ropes and connected with a kick from the apron. Gunther caught Balor as he came from the turnbuckles and attempted a powerbomb, but Finn escaped and landed a Sling Blade followed by a dropkick into the corner. Balor climbed to the top rope, but Gunther retreated before he could deliver the Coup de Grace.

Fatal Influence Promise to Reclaim the Women’s Tag Team Titles

Byron Saxton interviewed Fatal Influence before the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match. Jacy Jayne repeatedly called Byron by the wrong name before mocking Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley’s brief championship reign.

Jayne added that Charlotte Flair should be thankful Jade Cargill took her out. Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley also criticized their opponents, with Henley promising that Fatal Influence would reclaim the titles and warning that the entire women’s division was under their influence.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
B-Fab and Michin vs. Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley

Michin and Lainey Reid opened with a lockup before accusing one another of pulling hair. They traded pinning combinations and briefly teased exchanging punches before Michin took Reid down and connected with a dropkick.

B-Fab tagged in and joined Michin for a series of kicks. Reid responded with a lungblower before Fallon Henley entered and delivered a sliding forearm for a two-count. Henley continued wearing down B-Fab until Fab answered with a back elbow, forearm and sliding clothesline.

Henley applied a sleeper after B-Fab knocked Reid from the apron, but Fab escaped by driving Fallon into the turnbuckles. Henley kicked B-Fab in the head and knocked Michin from the apron before both legal competitors connected with simultaneous clotheslines.

Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss suddenly appeared at ringside. Bliss launched herself from the barricade with a Molly-Go-Round onto Jacy Jayne, while Paxley caught Jade Cargill with a crossbody.

Paxley and Bliss entered the ring and attacked both teams, forcing the referee to stop the match. Cargill and Jayne joined the brawl before Bayley rushed out, only to be caught by Jade with a bicycle kick.

Cargill prepared to deliver Jaded until Charlotte Flair’s music hit. Flair charged into the ring and exchanged forearms with Jade. Cargill landed a kick but missed another bicycle kick, allowing Charlotte to attempt the Figure Four before being interrupted by a superkick.

Flair, Bayley, Paxley and Bliss eventually cleared the ring and stood together.

Result: No Contest

Kevin Owens Responds to CM Punk

Byron Saxton interviewed Owens about Punk’s earlier remarks. Kevin questioned Punk’s attempts to appear calm and suggested that if he constantly found himself surrounded by conflict, Punk might be the actual problem.

Owens said Punk tried to dismiss their rivalry as beneath him, but Kevin knew he had gotten under his skin. He revealed that he was receiving treatment at the WWE Performance Center on Wednesday when Punk allegedly asked Shawn Michaels to make him leave.

Kevin also criticized Punk for challenging for the NXT Championship, arguing that the brand was supposed to represent WWE’s future. Owens acknowledged that neither he nor Punk had much time before becoming part of the past and said his goal was to send “Phil” there sooner than expected.

Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley Issue a Warning

Saxton later caught up with Flair, Bayley, Bliss and Paxley following the brawl. Bayley said she would not tolerate disrespect from anyone, while Charlotte warned that if their enemies wanted a war, the four of them were prepared to give them one.

Chelsea Green and Liv Morgan Exchange Words Before Crown Jewel

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis entered the ring to discuss the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship match and introduced WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green. Aldis acknowledged that he and Green had not always agreed, but said their relationship had improved and expressed his respect for her.

Aldis praised the depth of WWE’s women’s division and said he was proud to have Green representing SmackDown at Crown Jewel. He then invited Chelsea to respond to Liv Morgan’s comments from the previous week.

Green admitted that she did not always believe in herself and said Morgan’s insults had affected her more than she wanted to admit. Liv had called her talentless, useless and a placeholder champion, and Chelsea knew Morgan was not the only person who felt that way. What hurt most was that Green sometimes believed those things herself.

Chelsea explained that she fought through those doubts every time she came to work. There were moments when she looked at the WWE Women’s Championship and wondered whether she genuinely deserved it. Aldis interrupted and assured Green that she had earned everything that came with being champion, but Chelsea said reassurance alone was no longer enough.

Green questioned whether her name belonged alongside the legendary women who previously held the title. She wanted to leave a meaningful legacy and believed defeating Morgan was the only way to prove she belonged.

Chelsea said a loss would validate everything Liv had said and every doubt she had ever experienced. A victory, however, would eliminate questions about her reign and cement her place in WWE history as a legitimate champion.

Morgan interrupted and mocked Green for becoming emotional. Liv said WWE did not award participation trophies and questioned whom Chelsea had defeated to win the championship. She claimed Green only became champion because Rhea Ripley was injured and Chelsea happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Morgan argued that the fans supported Chelsea because they saw themselves in her, describing Green as a representation of ordinary people who believed luck could turn them into winners. Liv called her a charity case and promised to prove every negative thought Chelsea held about herself was true.

Morgan concluded by declaring that she would leave Crown Jewel as a two-time Crown Jewel Champion and the greatest women’s champion of all time.

Trick Williams Remains Focused on Championship Gold

Byron Saxton interviewed Trick Williams and Lil Yachty backstage. Trick admitted that he expected to be holding two championships and preparing to face Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel, but acknowledged that the path to the top was not always straightforward.

Williams said becoming champion remained his ultimate objective and that it was a question of when, not if, he would accomplish it. When Saxton mentioned Damian Priest’s recent comments, Yachty dismissed Priest as an “emo goth man.”

Trick said he was tired of being disrespected and warned that anyone with a problem knew where to find him.

Damian Priest vs. Nathan Frazer

Nathan Frazer attacked before the bell with consecutive suicide dives onto Damian Priest. He followed Priest into the ring and connected with a shooting star press to the back as the referee officially started the match.

Frazer landed a jumping thrust kick and unloaded with punches, but Priest answered with a forearm, several knees and a face-first slam. Priest attempted South of Heaven, but Frazer landed on his feet and sent him outside.

After connecting with a flying kick, Frazer attempted another suicide dive. Priest caught him in midair and violently drove him into the barricade before delivering a Razor’s Edge onto the announce table.

Frazer was unable to continue, forcing the referee to stop the match. Axiom approached Priest afterward and attempted to calm him down, but Damian responded by throwing Axiom into the ring post.

Winner: Damian Priest via Referee Stoppage

Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Preview

A video package aired to promote the Last Man Standing match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton at Crown Jewel.

No Holds Barred Match
CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens

CM Punk and Kevin Owens immediately exchanged punches before Punk landed an elbow, short-arm clothesline and running knee. Owens escaped an attempted bulldog, avoided the Go To Sleep and clotheslined Punk over the ropes.

The fight spilled to ringside, where both men used the announce table before Punk pulled a table from underneath the ring. Owens responded with a steel chair, striking Punk across the ribs and back before following him into the crowd.

They fought through the audience using anything within reach. Punk threw a wheelchair at Owens, while Kevin answered with a trash can. Owens sent Punk into the barricade and a camera before rubbing his head against nearby plexiglass and standing on his groin while he was trapped against the railing.

Punk reversed an Irish whip and brought the fight back toward ringside, delivering a clothesline from the barricade before striking Owens in the head with the steel steps. Punk attempted a piledriver onto the steps, but Owens escaped and swept his legs, causing Punk to land back-first on the steel.

Owens retrieved two tables and positioned them beside one another at ringside. Punk gained possession of the chair and repeatedly struck Kevin before sending him back into the ring. Punk threw a trash can inside, but Owens used it first and placed it over Punk’s upper body. Owens repeatedly struck the can with a chair before delivering a cannonball with Punk still trapped underneath.

Kevin attempted to powerbomb Punk onto the trash can, but Punk countered with a back body drop that sent Owens crashing onto it. The fight moved up the aisle and onto the stage, where Owens drove Punk into his image on the LED screen.

Owens attempted a piledriver, but Punk countered with the Go To Sleep. Punk placed Kevin on a production cart and pushed it down the aisle, sending it crashing into the ring apron.

Back inside, Punk delivered a top-rope elbow drop for a near fall before applying the Anaconda Vice. Owens escaped by raking Punk’s eyes and biting him. Kevin wedged a chair between the turnbuckles and attempted to send Punk into it, but Punk reversed the momentum and drove Owens into the steel before hitting a DDT onto another chair for a two-count.

Punk threw several more chairs into the ring and placed one across Owens’ body before climbing the ropes. Kevin rolled outside before Punk could jump, but Punk followed and struck him with the chair.

With Owens lying across one of the tables, Punk climbed onto the barricade and delivered a flying elbow that sent both men through the table. Punk returned Owens to the ring and retrieved a steel chain, wrapping it around his knee as he prepared for another Go To Sleep.

Owens blocked the move and landed a headbutt and kick. Punk avoided a Stunner, but Kevin quickly answered with a superkick and Swanton Bomb for a close two-count.

Owens struck Punk across the back with a chair and arranged several chairs in the middle of the ring. He used the edge of another chair to choke Punk before positioning him on the turnbuckles for a superplex. Punk blocked the move and sent Owens crashing to the mat with a headbutt.

Punk swept Kevin’s legs and caused him to land on the apron, but Owens recovered and drove Punk into the ring post. Kevin left Punk across a ringside table and climbed the ropes for a Swanton Bomb, only for Punk to return to the ring and stop him.

After exchanging strikes on the turnbuckles, Punk kicked Owens in the head and delivered a press slam that sent Kevin crashing onto the row of chairs. Owens somehow kicked out of the ensuing pin attempt.

Punk attempted a Go To Sleep on the apron, but Owens escaped and delivered a fisherman’s buster that sent both men through the tables at ringside. Kevin eventually returned Punk to the ring and connected with a Stunner, but Punk kicked out.

Owens drove the leg of a chair into Punk’s face before wrapping the steel chain around his fist. As Kevin prepared to strike, Punk caught him with the Go To Sleep. The impact sent Owens into the ropes, but he rebounded and landed the chain-wrapped punch.

Owens collapsed on top of Punk, allowing the referee to count the decisive pinfall.