WWE SmackDown Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From Danhausen's Very Nice, Very Evil Show

Danhausen appropriately hosted a Halloween Eve edition of WWE SmackDown, live from Charleston, West Virginia, headlined by Sami Zayn defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against United States Champion Trick Williams.

What went down in the high-stakes main event? What did the very nice, very evil host have in store for the rest of the SmackDown brand?

Find out in this recap of the October 30 broadcast.

Lineup

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Announced in advance of Friday's show were:

• Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn (c)
• WWE Women's Championship Match: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Nikki Bella
• AAA Cruiserweight Championship Match: Rey Fenix (c) vs. Ricky Saints

A Nightmare on Rhodes Street

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Last Time in Action: Cody Rhodes defeated Baron Corbin via DQ (SmackDown, October 16)

After a Halloween-themed opening to the show featuring Danhausen, The American Nightmare took to the squared circle to kick things off.

Cody Rhodes apologized to Randy Orton's family for having to keep his promise to punt him in the face the next time he gets the chance.

He showed off the picture of his face after WrestleMania 42, where he nearly lost his eye and left Las Vegas a bloody mess, despite beating The Viper in their WWE Championship Match at that show.

A fired-up wrapped up his Crown Jewel hype promo, eight days before his Last Man Standing Match against his former mentor in short, sweet fashion.

Grade

A

Top Takeaways

• This was a perfect opening promo. It was short and sweet promo that laid out the story and gave fans an idea of what to expect from Rhodes, who upped the ante by introducing Orton's family into the picture, much as his rival had done his.
• This was the first time in weeks where the crowd seemed to be at least a little split on Rhodes. It will be interesting to see, if he is pushed over the edge, if that grows.

WWE Women's Championship Match: Chelsea Green vs. Nikki Bella

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Last Time in Action: Chelsea Green defeated Roxanne Perez (SmackDown, October 23); Nikki Bella lost to Paige (SmackDown, October 16)

It was a case of Single White Female as Chelsea Green entered the arena dressed like her challenger, one final mind game before the bell rang.

Bella dominated entering the break but after, the champion mounted a comeback. The challenger stunted that with a big dropkick that netted her a two-count. Looking to match her mockery, Bella attempted a Broski Boot (ala Green's husband, Matt Cardona) but missed. Green responded with a Rough Ryder for a near-fall.

She survived the Fearless Lock and the Rack Attack, then caught Bella with a small package for the victory from nowhere.

After the match, Women's World Champion Liv Morgan, Green's opponent at Crown Jewel, appeared and called herself a real champion.

Tiffany Stratton appeared and teased a cash-in but was ambushed by Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. Iyo Sky made the save, clearing the ring of the Judgment Day before checking on her fellow babyfaces.

Result

Green defeated Bella

Grade

C

Top Takeaways

• The match was limited in time by the commercial break and everything that followed it was nearly a carbon copy of the same Judgment Day beatdown and Iyo Sky save that we have seen multiple times in recent weeks.
• Stratton was badly nursing her left knee at one point during the beatdown.
• Backstage, Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn cut a passionate promo on Roman Reigns. His contributions to the Crown Jewel rivalry have carried the program.

AAA Cruiserweight Championship Match: Rey Fenix vs. Ricky Saints

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Last Time In Action: Rey Fenix defeated Jack Cartwheel, Kento, and Laredo Kid (AAA Heroes Inmortales 2026, October 24); Ricky Saints, Sami Zayn, and Johnny Gargano lost to Fenix, Penta, and Trick Williams (SmackDown, October 23)

Saints sought to end Fenix's run of successful title defenses Friday on SmackDown, going as far as to target the mask of his opponent while he controlled the pace of the bout.

Fenix fought back and rocked Absolute with a kick, but could not put him away. Saints answered with a Death Valley Driver but also netted just a two-count as chants of "this is awesome" rained down from the stands.

Late in the match, Saints looked for the Revolution but Fenix fought out. With the challenger on the top rope, Fenix tried a hurricanrana but was shoved to the mat. He rebounded quickly, delivered the Mexican Muscle Buster, and scored the win.

Result

Fenix defeated Saints to retain the title

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

• Backstage, Paige and Blake Monroe kicked off their rivalry with a verbal exchange that interrupted a Cathy Kelley interview with the latter.
• This was the best Saints has looked outside of his series with Carmelo Hayes. SmackDown could benefit from more of his work.
• Fenix finally looks comfortable and has momentum on his side. Like Chad Gable over on Raw, he has become the workhorse of the blue brand and can be counted on to deliver more weeks than not.

Tatum Paxley vs. Jade Cargill

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Last Time in Action: Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss lost to B-Fab and Michin (SmackDown, October 23); Jade Cargill lost to Jacy Jayne and Bliss (SmackDown, September 18)

Jade Cargill attempted to make Tatum Paxley an even sadder clown Friday night when the two squared off, the result of the former's cheap shot on the latter that cost her and Alexa Bliss the Women's Tag Team Championship.

A big knee by Cargill to Paxley's face stunned her, entering the commercial break as the Poison Ivy-costumed villain seized control.

During the break, Cargill dominated, trapping Paxley in a Boston Crab. The babyface fought back as the show returned to the air. She fired up, rocked her opponent with a pair of forearms and a step-up enzuigiri.

Late in the match, Michin and B-Fab made their presence felt at ringside, providing a distraction that allowed Cargill to recover and deliver a pumpkick for the win.

Result

Cargill defeated Paxley

Grade

C+

Top Takeaways

• At least this repetitive, distraction-filled finale made sense within the context of the story being told. Michin and B-Fab benefited from Cargill inserting herself into last week's match and they repaid the favor here.
• Why beat Paxley so much all of the sudden? She was garnering good reactions and had made a positive impact early in her run. Unless the goal is to put the title back on her and Bliss, this feels like an unnecessary cool down.