CM Punk retains Undisputed title as Blake Monroe wins on WWE SmackDown in Toronto
On August 21 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, CM Punk retained the Undisputed WWE title and Blake Monroe won her main-roster in-ring debut on the WWE SmackDown episode.
The show, broadcast on the USA Network in the United States and on Netflix internationally, featured a announced card that included a world title headliner and a main-roster debut following Monroe’s promotion a few months ago.
Shinsuke Nakamura teased a mystery partner to target the new WWE Tag Team Champions, The MFTs, and the ally named as a possibility in coverage was Hiromu Takahashi; the partner could attack Tama and Talla Tonga immediately after their scheduled title defense against R-Truth and Damian Priest.
Blake Monroe, who had been promoted to the main roster a few months ago, made her advertised in-ring debut in a singles match against The Beautiful Madness, Giulia, and was reported to have won that bout.
Former friends Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton have been exchanging physicality since Orton’s return at SummerSlam 2026, and SmackDown was expected to feature a face-to-face or verbal exchange between them to build toward their Sunday Night’s Main Event encounter.
Despite Chelsea Green attempting to fend off members of Fatal Influence, Tiffany Stratton lost the WWE Women’s United States title to Jacy Jayne on SmackDown last week, and the episode was noted as likely to tease tensions between Stratton and Green en route to a potential feud over the WWE Women’s Championship.
The advertised main event saw CM Punk defend the Undisputed WWE title against Kevin Owens; coverage noted Owens had family and fans in attendance but suggested he was unlikely to win and could lose due to outside interference, potentially from Sami Zayn, who believes Owens cost him a title opportunity.
The promotion’s next confirmed big-ticket television event is Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and Money in the Bank is scheduled for October 10, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
