WWE SmackDown Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Mexico City

The September 11 edition of WWE SmackDown promised two world title matches and a grudge match collision in Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico.

CM Punk and Sami Zayn collided again for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Chelsea Green defended the WWE Women's Championship against Nia Jax.

Nikki Bella and Paige hoped to settle their rivalry in the ring. The War Raiders defended the AAA Tag Team Championships against Damian Priest and R-Truth. Ricky Saints challenge Rey Fénix for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship.

Check out the winners, grades and highlights from a special SmackDown.

Randy Orton Turns His Focus to Number 15

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Randy Orton

Randy Orton started the show to call Cody Rhodes "a good man" and "not a killer" like The Viper.

He then turned his focus to number 15, promising to go after whoever emerged from the Undisputed WWE Championship match in the main event.

This was a fine opening promo from Orton, who has always sounded more comfortable as a heel.

However, as a heel, he continues to be too popular to get booed most of the time, especially while feuding with The American Nightmare.

He might get booed though in a direct conflict with CM Punk, which looks to be the next direction.

This does further muddle the title picture given Kevin Owens, Gunther and Finn Bálor are still also after the gold.

Grade

B

Notable Moments and Observations

• The crowd sang "Voices" throughout Orton's entrance then cheered him while booing any references to Rhodes.
• Orton cheekily opened with Rhodes' own "What do you want to talk about?"
• After the opener, Michael Cole introduced a memorial package for 9/11 narrated by Triple H.

AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fénix (c) vs. Ricky Saints

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Rey Fénix

Last Time in Action: Rey Fénix lost to Penta in the finals of the World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contender Tournament (Raw, August 28); Ricky Saints defeated Axiom (Main Event, July 31).

Fénix had Saints' number early until The Absolute One sent him to the floor and landed a Revolution DDT on the floor to send the match to commercial break.

The athleticism of Fénix got him back into the action, but he could keep Saints down. The challenger nearly took the win with a Revolution DDT in the ring.

The champion caught Saints with a Springboard Cutter then knocked him out on the top rope with a kick followed by the Mexican Muscle Buster for the win.

Even with a hot crowd for Fénix, this never felt like it went anywhere. Saints and Fénix traded flashy moves without drama or flow.

By the end, it was a foregone conclusion that Saints was not at the same level as Fénix, yet he gave him too much offense throughout to establish himself as a dominant champion.

The right man absolutely won, but WWE needs to figure out what Saints is doing on SmackDown. He seems lost on this roster, losing to everyone with no direction.

Perhaps his growing frustration could fuel a more vicious direction. Until then, he is just a body on this roster, taking the fall for bigger stars.

Result

Fénix def. Saints by pinfall to retain the Cruiserweight Championship.

Grade

C

Notable Moments and Observations

• Saints got no entrance for this title match to quickly establish that he had no chance against Fénix.
• The crowd was unsurprisingly heavily behind the Cruiserweight champion. It is a shame US fans have not embraced him nearly as much.
• Fénix offered a handshake afterward, but Saints refused it with frustration.

Paige vs. Nikki Bella

Last Time in Action: Paige lost to Jacy Jayne for the Women's United States Championship (SmackDown, August 28); Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Paige lost to Fatal Influence (SummerSlam Night 1, August 1).

Paige stormed to the ring for her entrance, going right after Nikki. It was a dominant showing until Nikki caught her with a Double Leg Takedown until a pin with her feet on the ropes to steal the win.

This was barely a match despite the supposed legendary history between these two women. Three minutes of Paige in control shifted to a flat ending with Nikki escaping.

If this is what fans are supposed to expect from these two fighting going forward, there is no reason to get excited for any of it.

With Brie Bella out of action for the foreseeable future, maybe it would be best to simply move past this rivalry and try to pair up Paige and Nikki with younger rivals that can make them look better.

Result

Nikki def. Paige by pinfall.

Grade

F

Notable Moments and Observations

• Before the match, Michael Cole hyped up the AAA Trios Championships match for TripleMania.
• The crowd was hyped for Paige and fairly muted for Nikki.