WWE SmackDown results, grades (Aug. 28): Sami Zayn stands tall after chaos reigns in main event

WWE stayed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on this Friday — August 28 — for the latest "WWE SmackDown," following up last week's big CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens world title match. To say that this iteration of the show missed the mark would be an understatement.KO'ing the audienceDespite WWE's planned pre-tapings of "SmackDown" for the next two weeks, it still felt like there had to be a significant follow-up to one of the biggest TV matches of the company's year, right?Wrong. Entirely wrong.In one of the absolute stupidest, self-sabotaging booking decisions we've seen in quite some time, WWE booked a triple-threat match — a match type notorious for having a no-DQ element to it — to end via a no-contest. That's right. Make that make sense.All it took for Kevin Owens vs. Gunther vs. Finn Balor to end without a winner was apparently Sami Zayn attacking two referees. (Fun fact: WWE has a quite a few more referees than that working for them.)In what world should that end a match? A match where the winner gets a world title shot, no less. Did "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis go home before the main event? Was he still hanging out with Danhausen? Were all the other referees or officials of any kind distracted in catering? This was seriously awful.SAMI 🤯 pic.twitter.com/8npQDGKhl7— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 And it's a shame the ending was so bad, because the match itself had a high pace and was a great time between the ropes. But clearly, Zayn is dealing with a real hand injury, which has delayed WWE's desired progression of his story beat. He hasn't wrestled since SummerSlam — which was literally this same match but without him in it.Honestly, I shouldn't even have to describe why this was all so dumb.The only good bit of continuity out of all this was Owens' interaction with Randy Orton backstage.A friendship that needs to be workshopped 😂@FightOwensFight | @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/pxPucduYFH— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 Getting personalSpeaking of Orton, he and Cody Rhodes went face-to-face in an intense promo battle. It was good, purely thanks to each man digging deep with the family insults. Other than that, it didn't really add much to their feud."Are you at a crossroads" 😳@RandyOrton | @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/knmt9mDl1b— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 Nobody plays mind games like The Viper 🐍@RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/HSWJSJpGeF— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 It's about to be a WAR when @CodyRhodes battles @RandyOrton at #SNME! 👊 pic.twitter.com/0d0TUq3mrF— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 WWE booked itself into somewhat of a corner by adding the "you can't touch each other unless you want to never challenge for a world title again" stipulation to this. It feels wildly familiar in some respects and can be really exploited by Orton in particular. Have him go a step further by actually getting Rhodes' family involved. It's not like we haven't seen that type of personal depth in WWE storylines countless times over the years, after all.The "SmackDown" SquabblesBlack and blue. I see what WWE is doing with Chelsea Green by having her do nothing but lose since winning the interim world title. I really do. It's going to build to a "big," happy, first successful title defense. (Hopefully.) But it just feels wrong, and it isn't establishing her as the caliber she should be treated as. The woman is wicked over. Pay. It. Off.The Irresistible Forces prove to be too much and pick up the WIN! 💪@LinaFanene | @lashlegendwwe pic.twitter.com/xejrvz4hWP— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 Boo-la Twins. Paige getting back into singles competition is fun, even if her first match post-tag title run was randomly a U.S. title shot that she anticlimactically lost. Separating her from the Bellas and the tag scene is refreshing — but the saga isn’t over, despite Brie Bella's injury. The injury derailed any excitement for this feud, not that it had a ton to begin with.A SNEAK ATTACK 😫Nikki Bella takes out Paige after the match! pic.twitter.com/D3InwNwqOg— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 Not worthy to wrestle. Blake Monroe continued to stand her ground on not wrestling last week, claiming most aren't worthy of being her opponent. I don't know why we're stalling her like this. Giulia attacked her backstage, which will clearly "force" Monroe to eventually wrestle her out of disdain for Giulia — when they could have just made last week's interaction an actual match. Whatever, man. Giulia will lose in what is a drag-out, time-wasting feud."That match was beneath me." 😲@giulia0221g did not take too kindly to @BlakeMonroeWWE's actions last week! pic.twitter.com/hq4FQ3AX7x— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 👑 Uncrowned Gem of the Night 👑I mentioned the Orton-Owens interaction being one of the only good things from this show, and it was. But the lone other was Tatum Paxley, who was really allowed to shine in her match against Michin.It was nothing special in terms of matches, but it was a clear showcase designed to make Paxley look great. She's a very refreshing worker to see on the main roster and clearly a unique character. Hopefully, WWE does something of value with her, as she stays attached to Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair in the early goings.CEMETERY DRIVE 🤩@TatumPaxley picks up the WIN in her debut match on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/cEtXnEmOyE— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2026 If tonight is any indication, WWE is phoning it in over these next two weeks. I give Friday's "SmackDown" a crown score of: 👑 1.5/10 👑WWE SmackDown full card results and grades:Undisputed WWE Championship No. 1 contender match: Kevin Owens vs. Gunther vs. Finn Balor ends via no contest – 👑 3/5 👑Tatum Paxley def. Michin – 👑 3/5 👑Women's U.S. Championship: Jacy Jayne (c.) def. Paige – 👑 2.25/5 👑The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) def. Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton – 👑 2/5 👑Recap "SmackDown" with Uncrowned's live blog: