WWE SmackDown results, grades (Oct. 9): New champs crowned on the Money in the Bank go-home show

"WWE SmackDown" was in Lafayette, Louisiana on this Friday, Oct. 9, for the go-home show before Money in the Bank in New Orleans. It wasn't the most eventful or impactful go-home show, but at least it felt like one, unlike Monday's "Raw."Tatum Time is now!She did it, gang. After my cries of justice for Tatum Paxley following her Money in the Bank qualifier match defeat, the former NXT star has acquired main roster gold. It may just be Women's Tag Team gold, but it is gold nonetheless.NEW WOMEN'S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!! 🏆What a moment for @AlexaBliss_WWE and @TatumPaxley!! pic.twitter.com/7iWcux41Ds— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 There are a lot of mixed feelings around this whole angle, to be fair. But Paxley's victory alongside Alexa Bliss in dethroning Fatal Influence was objectively a fun time in the ring. If there's any problem, it's that Fatal Influence lost this soon after becoming champions. Only 84 days and not a single defense — so, it feels a bit like a rug pull for this stellar faction spearheaded by the great Jacy Jayne.On the flip side, as I've said in recent weeks, Paxley is her. Her upside is undeniable, and giving her any push this fast is warranted. Plus, there's plenty more story to sink your teeth into with her, Bliss and Charlotte Flair. The latter was originally supposed to be in the match until Jade Cargill and her pals took her out backstage.OH NO 😨@Jade_Cargill, Michin and B-Fab with a brutal ATTACK on Charlotte Flair! pic.twitter.com/wcGRoF0YYS— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 The direction we're headed with the trio of Flair, Bliss and Paxley clearly points to a jealousy angle — somewhat reminiscent of the Bellas turning on Paige. But WWE also has the ability, whenever it so chooses, to bring back the "Freedbird rule."For those unfamiliar, the "Freebird rule" simply means everyone within a trio can be considered the tag-team champions. They all technically hold the two belts between them; they just have to choose which two members compete in their matches. Few times does the "Freebird rule" fit, but when it does — like it would here — it could be great, and something new. Especially when it also works in the direction of Fatal Influence — and The Vision over on "Raw." It literally couldn't be a better time to bring it back for all three groups, especially since Bron Breakker doesn't give a damn about the belt he currently holds.Breakking the rulesAll Money in the Bank participants were under one roof tonight. That included Breakker, who met with WWE's two general managers and Trick Williams to start the night. Adam Pearce set up a match despite tonight's show being under Nick Aldis' watch.What made this hilarious by night's end was that it ended the same way every Vision match ends — something Pearce should be highly aware of. It was a classic, bogus DQ that saw Austin Theory rush the ring and attack Williams out of the blue. All that this does at this juncture is make Breakker look like he can't do anything on his own, which I'm pretty sure is the complete opposite effect that WWE wants.OH MAN 😲The Vision have ruined this Main Event!! pic.twitter.com/JXpLd1m3K6— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 I mean, seriously. Breakker is technically losing matches left and right regularly because his teammates are getting him disqualified. Why is this guy rewarded in any capacity? And why should we ever expect him to win on his own because of that? He seemingly can't, especially against noteworthy opposition.The sad part is that the match was good while it lasted with the unique pairing. You just always knew it wasn't going to end clean, and it was an excuse to get Je'Von Evans and Penta out there for no other reason than to hype Money in the Bank.Bronson Reed probably came out of this looking the best, as he squished everyone in his path like he usually does.Absolute MADNESS to end tonight's SmackDown!! 😱Don't miss #MITB tomorrow at 6 ET/3 PT! pic.twitter.com/cfNs1gUb6N— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 Do your jobIt's that time again to highlight how randomly inept WWE referees are.Instead of getting a spot on Money in the Bank, Gunther — the man who retired John Cena, Goldberg and AJ Styles — had a match with Danhausen on "SmackDown." Well, he was supposed to. But the match technically never started, because Danhausen grabbed the referee's hand before the match began. And … I guess the referee just never started it? Despite both men being in the ring, and Gunther going on the attack.Like, why not?This is just absolutely BRUTAL 😬@Gunther_AUT pic.twitter.com/q4h0XEFXBU— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 Usually in a case like this, when we see a match start delayed, it's because attacks are happening outside of the ring, which is fine. Whatever. Both wrestlers in the ring is the rule. But we literally saw this exact same thing weeks ago, when Blake Monroe was originally supposed to have her debut match against Giulia.(It's just now dawning on me that Monroe was also nowhere to be seen tonight, despite finally getting said match and winning last week. Ludicrous work, WWE.)Anyway, what's the point of having a referee who just doesn't do their job? Why couldn't those both have been matches? To protect Danhausen and Giulia? Danhausen maybe, but it's Gunther he was matched with. And Giulia has been relegated to being a glorified jobber, which Danhausen basically is too.OH NO 😨@Gunther_AUT with a horrific sneak attack on Finn Balor! pic.twitter.com/rvDqUL2AGW— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 The whole thing was ultimately a vehicle to get Finn Balor beat down by Gunther and nudge them closer to a match. Maybe in a cage or something. I have no idea. This all just felt off.👑 Uncrowned Gem of the Night 👑Promo work, while nothing groundbreaking, was the star of the night on "SmackDown." Leave it to your old-reliable, championship-caliber wrestlers, huh?To start the night, CM Punk and Kevin Owens reminded us how phenomenal their reality-bending chemistry is. Then Sami Zayn joined them as a voice of reason, but instead of helping, he fueled the feud. It felt like a great triple-threat tease. But realistically, it was probably foreshadowing the ladder match tomorrow coming down to Punk and Owens.Now THIS is a staredown! 👀@CMPunk | @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/CoWSOrPXAn— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 "Neither one of you is going to grab that briefcase" 😳@SamiZayn with some HARSH words for Kevin Owens and CM Punk! pic.twitter.com/200HDmM5RV— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 Elsewhere, we saw aggressive Cody Rhodes, which is always a version of him we like. He's essentially promising to murder Randy Orton when he gets a chance. We hope he doesn't succeed in that promise, but I'll totally watch him try..@RandyOrton has made his intentions very clear 😯 pic.twitter.com/uZ1gii5CEy— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 The American Nightmare @CodyRhodes just made an example out of @KitWilson_PD and @mikethemiz! ✅ pic.twitter.com/RvhFOqPz3e— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026.@CodyRhodes is DONE playing games with Randy Orton! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/qMY1w2McCi— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2026 I give Friday's "SmackDown" a crown score of: 👑 5/10 👑WWE SmackDown full card results and grades:Trick Williams def. Bron Breakker — 👑 2.5/5 👑Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss def. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) (c) — 👑 4/5 👑The MFT (Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga) def. War Raiders (Eryk and Ivar) — 👑 2/5 👑Lash Legend, Tiffany Stratton and Jacy Jayne def. Roxanne Perez, Lola Vice and Sol Ruca def. Roxanne Perez, Lola Vice and Sol Ruca — 👑 3.75/5 👑Recap "SmackDown" with Uncrowned's live blog: