CM Punk remains Undisputed WWE Champion after surviving a turbulent title defense against Johnny Gargano on the September 4 edition of WWE SmackDown from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The champion’s victory was only part of a wild closing sequence, however, as Sami Zayn repeatedly inserted himself into the match and triggered a confrontation involving Kevin Owens, GUNTHER, and Finn Balor at ringside.
By the end of the night, Punk had made his own intentions clear. Following his win over Gargano, Punk asked SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis to make an Undisputed WWE Championship match against Zayn for next Friday’s show. Aldis accepted the request, giving Zayn the championship opportunity he has repeatedly claimed he deserves.
The show also featured Bakusai’s first outing as a team, a major update on interim WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green’s health, Nia Jax defeating Tiffany Stratton, and an escalating rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton ahead of WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event.
Punk’s title defense becomes the center of SmackDown chaos
The Undisputed WWE Championship situation dominated the program from its opening moments. GUNTHER entered the ring and demanded that Sami Zayn appear, insisting that SmackDown would not proceed otherwise. Zayn answered from the crowd and was unapologetic over his role in last week’s Triple Threat Number One Contenders Match involving GUNTHER, Finn Balor, and Kevin Owens.
Zayn argued that he had been wronged long before he disrupted the contenders match. He maintained that CM Punk, whom he described as “the biggest snake in the grass,” was not the champion the brand needed. Zayn said that nobody would get what they wanted until he received what he believed was owed to him.
GUNTHER attempted to confront him directly in the crowd, only for Balor to arrive looking for his own measure of justice. Zayn fled toward ringside, where Owens’ entrance cut off another escape route and sent Zayn running through the audience.
Later backstage, Punk approached a visibly dejected Johnny Gargano, who was with Candice LeRae. Punk told Gargano that he had spent his career striving to become a World Champion, then unexpectedly offered him an Undisputed WWE Championship match that night. Gargano initially seemed stunned by the proposal, but LeRae encouraged him to take the opening. Gargano then accepted.
The main event gave Gargano an immediate chance to capitalize on that enormous opportunity. Punk controlled early with power offense, but Gargano answered with his usual speed and precision, including a Monkey Flip, a dive over the top rope, and a series of sharp strikes. Both men came close to ending the match as the pace increased, with Gargano surviving a sit-out powerbomb and Punk escaping Gargano’s attempts to build momentum for a decisive superkick.
The match’s complexion changed when Zayn emerged at ringside. Punk briefly left the ring to confront him, allowing LeRae to use the distraction to take Punk down with a hurricanrana from the apron. Gargano followed with a dive through the middle rope and a DDT from the apron over the top rope, but he still could not put the champion away.
Zayn then slid the championship belt toward Gargano, only for Owens to attack Zayn from behind. GUNTHER charged in and dropped Owens with a big boot before berating Zayn. Balor soon joined the fray, taking GUNTHER down with a Sling Blade. Zayn responded by striking Balor, GUNTHER, and Owens with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt.
Inside the ring, Punk had connected with a GTS on Gargano, but LeRae distracted the referee and prevented the official from seeing the potential pinfall. Zayn subsequently struck Punk with the title belt, giving Gargano another opening. Gargano covered the champion, but Punk kicked out. Aldis finally arrived with officials to remove Zayn from the ringside area after another exchange with LeRae. With the interference ended, Punk delivered one more GTS and pinned Gargano to retain.
Gargano’s effort fell short, but Zayn’s actions have now brought him directly into the title picture. The champion’s request for a match next week was approved on the spot, setting up a volatile championship encounter between Punk and Zayn on the September 11 episode of SmackDown.
Bakusai wins first match as MFT watches closely
Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki, collectively known as Bakusai, competed together for the first time against The Miz and Kit Wilson. The pairing had drawn attention after Nakamura introduced Kyoki as his new partner, particularly from MFT members Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions.
Wilson and Kyoki opened the match, but Miz and Wilson found opportunities to isolate Nakamura. Wilson struck Nakamura with a flying uppercut on the floor while the referee’s attention was elsewhere, and Miz later applied an Ankle Lock to keep the veteran grounded.
Kyoki shifted the momentum once he received the tag. He used a hurricanrana to send Wilson into Miz, then used another hurricanrana sequence to send Miz out of the ring. Kyoki followed with a senton off the ropes onto both opponents at ringside and hit Wilson with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall.
Miz broke up the pin and attempted to regain control, but Kyoki answered with a codebreaker. Nakamura then sent Miz to the floor with a Kinshasa. Wilson nearly stole the match with a roll-up on Kyoki, but Kyoki escaped and planted Wilson with a reverse Stunner for the winning pinfall.
Bakusai’s celebration did not last long. Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga, and Haku appeared after the bell and stared down the new team. The champions did not physically engage Nakamura and Kyoki, but their presence made the message unmistakable: Bakusai is now firmly on MFT’s radar.
Chelsea Green is medically cleared, and Nia Jax makes a statement
Chelsea Green learned that she is cleared to compete despite the fractured orbital bone that has recently forced her to wear a protective face mask. Aldis brought a doctor to the ring for the announcement, while Green insisted she did not need further protection or special treatment as Interim Women’s Champion.
The doctor explained that Green’s orbital bone had not completely healed, but stated that she could compete as long as she wears the mask. Green embraced the decision and challenged the rest of the women’s division to try taking the title from her.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend interrupted immediately. Jax said she had been waiting to hear Green was cleared and demanded a shot at the Interim Women’s Championship. She also threatened to break Green’s other orbital bone. Tiffany Stratton came out to support Green, leading Aldis to schedule Jax against Stratton immediately and to announce that Jax will challenge Green for the championship next week.
Jax defeated Stratton after Lash Legend created a crucial distraction. Stratton rallied with a hurricanrana, two Stunner variations, and a Crucifix Bomb, but Legend’s involvement stopped her from gaining full control. Jax responded with a Samoan Drop and the An-Nia-Lator for the victory.
Afterward, Jax removed Green’s protective mask and left the ring holding it. Green confronted her and tried to get it back, but Jax retreated with the mask in hand. Green will head into next week’s title defense medically cleared but without the protection she had been relying on.
Women’s division rivalries intensify across the show
Tatum Paxley and Charlotte Flair defeated Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley of Fatal Influence in tag team action. Alexa Bliss accompanied Flair and Paxley, although Flair had only learned shortly before the match that Bliss had selected Paxley as her partner.
Flair brought the match back in her team’s favor with a double crossbody, chops, a back handspring clothesline, a Fallaway Slam, and Natural Selection. Paxley then launched herself onto both opponents at ringside before eventually finishing Reid with a Cemetery Drive.
Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin attacked Flair, Bliss, and Paxley after the match in advance of their Six-Woman Tag Team Match at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Fatal Influence joined the assault, which ended with Cargill delivering Jaded to Flair.
Elsewhere, Blake Monroe and Giulia again failed to reach their advertised match. Giulia attacked Monroe in the Gorilla position and drove her into the TitanTron. Officials attempted to separate them, but Monroe fought back until Giulia broke free and hit an Arrivederci Knee. Their unresolved conflict continues after Monroe had previously made clear that she wants her first WWE main roster match to be for Green’s Interim Women’s Championship.
Nikki Bella also exchanged words with Paige backstage. Paige told Nikki that she had never liked her and accused her of building a career on “hustle, loyalty, and respect.” Paige told Bella to bring her best for their match next week.
Rhodes and Orton remain one incident away from exploding
Cody Rhodes sat down with Corey Graves to discuss his upcoming clash with Randy Orton at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Orton interrupted the interview and tried to bait Rhodes into violating Aldis’ order that Rhodes not touch him before the event.
Orton repeatedly pushed for a reaction, but Rhodes kept his composure. The exchange grew increasingly tense until Rhodes told Orton that he was “screwed” at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Rhodes successfully avoided Orton’s trap, but the restraint displayed Friday could be much harder to maintain once they are finally allowed to fight.
SmackDown closed with a new championship match made official and several major rivalries moving forward. Punk versus Zayn now stands at the top of next week’s card, while Green faces a dangerous first defense against Jax, Nikki Bella meets Paige, and the fallout from Bakusai’s debut could soon reach the WWE Tag Team Championship picture.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.