WWE SmackDown Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Sept. 12

Just eight days before WWE presents its debut ESPN premium live event Wrestlepalooza, the company hit the USA Network airwaves with a high-profile episode of SmackDown featuring the latest appearance from Brock Lesnar, a WWE Women's Championship defense, a United States Championship Open Challenge, and more.

What went down, how did it affect the road to Wrestlepalooza, and how did each match and segment on Friday's show grade out? Find out in this recap from the September 12 broadcast.

Match Card

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Announced in advance of Friday's show were:

• Brock Lesnar appearance
• Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre
• WWE Women's Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
• United States Championship Open Challenge featuring Sami Zayn

Brock Lesnar Promo

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Last Time in Action: Brock Lesnar lost to Cody Rhodes (SummerSlam, August 5, 2023)

Brock Lesnar kicked off the show, ready to address his recent actions. Before he could, though, R-Truth's music interrupted and the well-known, lifelong John Cena fan joined The Beast in the squared circle.

Truth welcomed Lesnar back but took exception to him making life miserable for his "childhood hero." He said he was there to defend The Unseen 17, and even claimed he was his brother, "Ron Cena."

Lesnar predictably ended the segment with an F-5, during which he ripped his jeans.

Grade

F

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Truth claimed Cena was a different beast than normal, that he was running on hustle, loyalty, respect, and "two drops of that kid's tears," referencing the young fan the retiring Superstar made cry overseas.
• When the highlight is the biggest star on the show tearing his pants, it says all there is to say about the usefulness of the opening 15 minutes. This accomplished nothing and, ultimately, was a waste of valuable television time that could have been utilized for quite literally anything else.

United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Rey Fenix

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Last Time in Action: Sami Zayn fought to a no-contest with John Cena (SmackDown, September 5); Rey Fenix defeated Kit Wilson (Main Event, August 15)

In the opening match of the night, Zayn put his United States Championship on the line against Rey Fenix in an open challenge, continuing the legacy Cena began when he last held that title in 2015.

Fenix got off to a hot start, taking, leaving Zayn reeling entering the commercial break.

Back from the timeout, Fenix continued to frustrate Zayn with his high-flying arsenal, including a tope con hilo and a tornado DDT for a two-count.

Coming out of another commercial, Zayn and Fenix traded counters and reversals, neither man gaining a sustained advantage. The fans in Norfolk, Virginia hung on every near-fall, waiting to see which competitor would be able to keep the other down long enough to escape with the win.

The answer was Zayn, who rocked the challenger with a Helluva Kick to score the pinfall victory and retain his title.

Result

Zayn defeated Fenix

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• It does not feel like a stretch in the least to suggest that nothing else on tonight's show will touch this. Two great in-ring competitors, delivering a wrestling-centric match devoid of interference and run-ins, ending with one man being better than the other, even if it was only for one night. More of this, please.
• And more of Fenix, who has been as poorly utilized as anyone since he arrived on the scene before WrestleMania 41. He is too good not to get the same looks that his older brother, Penta, does.

B-Fab vs. Giulia

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Last Time in Action: B-Fab lost to Chelsea Green (Main Event, August 8); Giulia defeated Michin (SmackDown, September 5)

Before the scheduled non-title match between B-Fab and Giulia could get started, the former found herself on the receiving end of a two-on-one beatdown at the hands of the Women's United States champion and her manager, Kiana James.

The attack ended when Michin rushed the ring with a kendo stick, unloading on James but just narrowly missing The Beautiful Madness.

The heels fled up the aisle to close things out.

Grade

C-

Top Moments and Takeaways

• It is mind-numbing how poorly the creative team has utilized Giulia. She is stuck firmly in the midcard, with a mouthpiece she does not need, in an uninspired feud that gets minimal TV time like this one.

• The rivalry between The Wyatt Sicks and The Street Profits figures to continue after the latest video from the latter.

WWE Women's Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill

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Last Time in Action: Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax and Becky Lynch (SmackDown, August 22)

After making one mistake that cost her the WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam, Cargill sought to win the title that has eluded her to this point in her career as she again challenged Stratton.

The Storm dominated the action, using her strength to her advantage. Stratton, as she has done multiple times throughout her run as champion, fought back and capitalized on a miscalculation by her challenger. She tried for a moonsault from the top rope to the floor but missed, allowing Cargill to drive her through the timekeeper's position.

Unfortunately, the referee's count reached 10 and the match was ruled a count-out, much to the dismay of the fans. Nia Jax, the former champion, appeared and laid Stratton out, delivering an Annihilator for good measure.

Result

Stratton and Cargill fought to a double count-out

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Stratton and Cargill have surprisingly strong chemistry and it was on display here. This was, arguably, an improvement on their SummerSlam match and was, unfortunately, hurt only by a questionable finish.

• It is an indictment on the SmackDown creative team that going back to Nia Jax is the only way the division can advance forward, through little fault of her own. Perhaps this would have been a more opportune spot for Giulia.

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

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Last Time in Action: Randy Orton and Jellyroll lost to Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul (SummerSlam, August 2); McIntyre and Paul lost to John Cena and Cody Rhodes via disqualification (Smackdown, August 8)

Weeks of mounting tension culminated Friday night in the main event of SmackDown as Orton and McIntyre squared off in singles competition.

The Scottish Warrior systematically worked over the body of his longtime rival, punishing The Viper. Orton recovered and dished out similar punishment to his fellow former WWE champion, only to suffer a potentially devastating side suplex into the announce table entering the final commercial break of the evening.

After the break, Orton rolled, repeatedly slamming McIntyre back-first into the same commentary table he experienced earlier. Back inside the squared circle, the heel caught The Legend Killer with a Claymore from out of nowhere, to which the Orton responded with an RKO.

His head bleeding, and frustration mounting, Orton set up for his trademark punt. The referee blocked him, providing just enough of a distraction for the villain to deliver the Claymore and score the win.

Afterward, he attempted an attack on The Viper, only for Cody Rhodes to make his return and pummel McIntyre, a month after suffering a vicious assault at his hand. The reigning undisputed WWE champion laid down the challenge for a match at Wrestlepalooza.

Result

McIntyre pinned Orton

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• This one ran a little long, which messed with the timing late, but the tease of Orton reverting to his old ways, Rhodes' return, and the official challenge for Wrestlepalooza made up for it. Before that, Orton and McIntyre had a predictably strong match, the likes of which they had on a seemingly endless basis during the pandemic.
• Orton is clearly headed toward a heel turn and the inevitable showdown with Rhodes. That match is WrestleMania-worthy and, hopefully, is held off for the biggest show of the year.

Overall Grade

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This was a placeholder show at best.

Rhodes' return and brawl with McIntyre set up the expected Wrestlepalooza main event, but the rest of Friday's show was a big nothingburger, no cheese.

The women's title match ended with no finish and the reintroduction of Jax to the title picture for what feels like the umpteenth time this year.

The latest in the Giulia-Michin rivalry amounted to nothing that could not have been saved for quick backstage vignette and Lesnar's return to kick off the show meant nothing whatsoever to the show or his rivalry with Cena.

If it was not for the Zayn-Fenix match, this would have been a complete miss. The individual segments may have graded out higher but as an overall show, this was a thumbs down.

Grade: C-