WWE SmackDown in Ottawa features key matches and segments

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Kevin Owens looks on during SmackDown at TD Garden on August 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. | Photo by Michael Owens/WWE via Getty Images To give the main roster some time off during the U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend (other than Sunday Night’s Main Event), WWE is taking next Friday off. In order to do so, they taped this week’s SmackDown after Raw last night (Aug. 24), and will tape both next week’s shows on Friday night in Cleveland. With this schedule, taped editions of Raw and SmackDown will premiere at their usual times on USA Network or Netflix, depending on your location and or use of Stephanie McMahon’s advice). Here are spoilers for the SmackDown we’ll see on Friday night, courtesy of Tom Sherwood and PWInsider’s Jane Murphy: A match to determine CM Punk’s next challenger was set-up when first Gunther, then Finn Bálor interrupted Kevin Owens’ show-opening promo. Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend) def. Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green. Green was led away by medical staff at one point, but returned to finish the match. In a backstage scene, Gunther interrupts a meeting between Danhausen and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. Tatum Paxley def. Michin. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were out with Paxley. Jacy Jayne def. Paige. Nikki Bella attacked Paige post-match. Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Gunther ends in DQ/non-finish when Sami Zayn interferes. Zayn stands tall to end that segment. Giulia attacks Blake Monroe during a backstage segment. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton’s promo segment includes Orton going off on Rhodes’ “trash ass wife” and taking shots at Cody’s mother since he couldn’t put hands on Randy. Seem like a decent way to spend a couple hours this Friday night?