WWE taped the November 2 edition of SmackDown at Barclays Center in New York following that week’s Raw, setting the stage for Crown Jewel with several major confrontations and a violent main event.
The taped show was built around personal issues rather than a quiet final push toward the premium live event. Kevin Owens and CM Punk closed the night in a No Holds Barred match, while Sami Zayn addressed his attack on Roman Reigns from Raw. Elsewhere, GUNTHER and Finn Bálor came face-to-face, and Women’s World Champions Liv Morgan and Chelsea Green exchanged sharp words ahead of their Crown Jewel meeting.
As always with material from a taped program, WWE’s final broadcast presentation could include edits, reordered segments, or other changes. The reported results and developments, however, point to a show designed to escalate multiple Crown Jewel rivalries before the event.
Kevin Owens reportedly defeats CM Punk in No Holds Barred main event
The reported main event saw Kevin Owens defeat CM Punk under No Holds Barred rules. With no disqualifications and no restrictions on weapon use, the match was said to feature both men using a variety of objects as they attempted to put the other away.
For more background on this topic, read Drew McIntyre Says WWE Remains His Home as Hollywood Opportunities Continue.
The two competitors also reportedly delivered their respective finishing moves during the contest, underlining the level of punishment required to decide a match between two wrestlers with substantial histories of high-stakes conflict. Owens ultimately emerged with the victory, ending the show on a significant result for him heading into Crown Jewel.
A No Holds Barred environment naturally shifts the focus away from conventional ring strategy and toward endurance, aggression, and the ability to capitalize when an opponent is vulnerable. The reported finish gives Owens momentum, but the manner of the match also suggests that neither man left the confrontation without taking considerable damage.
For a go-home episode, closing with Owens over Punk is a notable statement. WWE positioned their issue as the night’s final attraction, and the reported weapon-filled match ensured their rivalry received the strongest possible visual punctuation before Crown Jewel.
Sami Zayn says he will not be overlooked again
Sami Zayn addressed the previous attack on Roman Reigns during the show. Zayn’s central message was that he no longer intends to accept being overlooked, framing his actions as the response of someone determined to command the respect he believes he has earned.
Jimmy Uso entered the ring to question Zayn’s decision to attack Reigns. Zayn acknowledged why Jimmy would be confused, specifically noting the family connection between Jimmy and Reigns. Still, Zayn made clear that his priorities have changed around his status as WWE Champion and the recognition that comes with it.
Zayn stated that he would have stood alongside The Bloodline in their conflict with the 946 if he were not WWE Champion. His point was not that he had forgotten the relationship or the shared history, but that he believes the championship demands a different level of respect from those around him.
Jimmy warned Zayn that Reigns would defeat him at Crown Jewel. Rather than backing away from that challenge, Zayn appeared pleased by it, saying that Reigns had finally given him the attention he had been seeking. The exchange reinforced that Zayn is not treating Reigns simply as a looming threat; he is viewing the confrontation as validation that he can no longer be dismissed.
The situation deteriorated when the 946 attacked Jimmy Uso once again. Zayn did not come to Jimmy’s assistance. That choice added another layer to Zayn’s explanation: he may understand Jimmy’s position, but he is not prepared to put himself back in the role others expect him to play. The reported segment leaves the relationship between Zayn and Jimmy in a deeply uncertain place ahead of Crown Jewel.
GUNTHER challenges Finn Bálor
GUNTHER opened the taped SmackDown by targeting Finn Bálor verbally. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion reportedly ridiculed Bálor’s career before issuing a challenge for a match. GUNTHER also called for the “real” Bálor to show himself, making the confrontation as much about Bálor’s identity and resolve as it was about an in-ring contest.
Bálor answered the call and the exchange quickly became physical. The two men brawled before GUNTHER exited the ring, leaving them to stare each other down after the confrontation.
The segment was brief in terms of an official match outcome, but it established a clear tone. GUNTHER’s approach was to challenge Bálor’s standing and toughness directly. Bálor’s response was not to offer a lengthy rebuttal, but to meet him face-to-face and engage physically. That is the sort of confrontation that can make a prospective match feel less like a standard pairing and more like a fight over pride.
GUNTHER’s former world champion status adds weight to his words, but Bálor’s willingness to brawl made it clear that the challenge was not going unanswered. Whether their conflict is resolved at Crown Jewel or continues beyond it, the taping placed both men on a collision course.
Liv Morgan and Chelsea Green trade personal insults
The show also brought together Liv Morgan and Chelsea Green, the two women’s world champions, before Crown Jewel. Morgan reportedly called Green talentless and labeled her a charity case. Morgan then declared that she intends to become Crown Jewel Champion again and be regarded as the greatest.
The face-to-face gave their impending match a direct verbal hook. Morgan’s comments did not merely question Green’s chances; they challenged Green’s legitimacy as a champion and competitor. Green, meanwhile, entered the segment as the target of a champion who was openly stating her aim of reclaiming the Crown Jewel distinction.
There was no reported physical altercation between Morgan and Green in this segment, but the exchange was clearly centered on status. Both women hold world championships, and Morgan’s words framed Crown Jewel as a chance to add another defining accomplishment to her résumé. Green now heads toward the event after being publicly told that she has not earned her place.
Women’s tag match breaks down into larger fight
A women’s tag team match pitted B-Fab and Michin against Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid. The bout reportedly did not remain confined to the four scheduled participants for long, as the situation spiraled into a wider fight involving several major names.
Jade Cargill was involved in the ensuing chaos, as were Fatal Influence. Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Alexa Bliss also entered the fray as a trio. The expanded brawl turned the match into a broader statement about the crowded and volatile landscape surrounding the women’s division.
The reported sequence is notable because it connected competitors from multiple ongoing issues in one segment. Rather than allowing a single team to claim a clean, uncomplicated spotlight, WWE used the match as a launching point for an all-out confrontation. Cargill’s involvement, alongside the presence of Flair, Bayley, and Bliss, ensured that the aftermath carried more weight than a routine tag result.
Shinsuke Nakamura gets past Tama Tonga; Damian Priest vs. Nate Frazer is halted
Shinsuke Nakamura reportedly got the better of Tama Tonga in their match. The available details do not outline the finish, but Nakamura was the wrestler who left the encounter with the advantage.
Damian Priest was scheduled to face Nate Frazer, though their match was called off after Frazer was reportedly unable to continue. The stoppage followed Priest throwing Frazer onto the commentary table. No additional information was provided regarding Frazer’s condition, so the reported development should not be taken as confirmation of an injury or a longer-term absence.
What is clear is that Priest’s physicality prevented the match from reaching a standard conclusion. For Frazer, the interruption halted an opportunity against a formidable opponent. For Priest, it reinforced the forceful approach he brought into the show.
Crown Jewel tensions rise across SmackDown
The November 2 taping appears to have served its purpose as WWE’s final SmackDown stop before Crown Jewel. The show featured a decisive No Holds Barred result, an unresolved confrontation between GUNTHER and Bálor, a championship-level verbal showdown, and significant movement in the Zayn-Reigns story.
The biggest emotional question coming out of the episode may be Sami Zayn’s relationship with those closest to Reigns. Zayn heard Jimmy Uso’s warning, watched Jimmy get attacked by the 946, and chose not to intervene. Meanwhile, Owens’ victory over Punk gives the main-event scene a fresh result to process, while GUNTHER and Bálor added a physical edge to their mounting issue.
With Crown Jewel next, the reported taping left little room for ambiguity about the intensity of WWE’s major rivalries. The next step is seeing whether the momentum created in Brooklyn carries through when those conflicts move from confrontations and warnings to decisive matches.
In pictures
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.