Sami Zayn retains Undisputed title as 'Demon' Finn Balor resurfaces on Halloween SmackDown in Charleston
Sami Zayn retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Trick Williams and Finn Balor returned as 'The Demon' to attack Gunther during the October 30 WWE SmackDown at the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia. The episode was a Halloween-themed show hosted by Danhausen on the night before the Crown Jewel 2026 premium live event.
Danhausen had promised to unveil a new creation as part of his King of the Merch Game segment, giving the episode a central theme tied to the upcoming Crown Jewel PLE. The card featured top men’s division names including Sami Zayn, Trick Williams, Rey Fenix and Cody Rhodes, and women’s division action involving Chelsea Green, Nikki Bella, Jade Cargill and Tatum Paxley. The broadcast combined singles championship defences, character beats and altercations that intensified the build toward Crown Jewel.
Cody Rhodes delivered a promo referencing his forthcoming Last Man Standing clash with Randy Orton and revisited his WrestleMania 42 championship match by showing a photograph of his bloodied face after nearly losing an eye despite winning the contest. Rhodes apologised to Orton’s family during the address and declared his intention to be the last man standing; he said, "The last man standing will be the only man punting and that is ME!" Rhodes also signalled interest in Sami Zayn’s Undisputed Championship as part of the segment.
Chelsea Green, dressing like her challenger Nikki Bella, survived a match with Bella to retain the WWE Women’s Championship when she rolled Bella over for a pinfall after Bella had applied the Fearless Lock and hit the Rack Attack. Following the match, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan confronted Green and staked a claim on the title picture ahead of Crown Jewel; Tiffany Stratton then teased a cash-in but was attacked by Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez before Iyo Sky arrived to make the save.
Rey Fenix retained the AAA Cruiserweight Championship against Ricky Saints after countering a late top‑rope exchange and landing a Mexican Muscle Buster for the three-count. Saints had targeted Fenix’s mask and at one point hit a Death Valley Driver, with Fenix kicking out and Saints later attempting the Revolution; Fenix escaped and the sequence drew loud reactions from the crowd.
Jade Cargill defeated Tatum Paxley in a match that saw Cargill control most of the action after a big knee, while Paxley mounted a comeback after the break with multiple forearms and a step‑up enzuigiri. The finish followed interference from Michin and B-Fab, who distracted Paxley and allowed Cargill to regain control and hit a pump kick for the victory.
A Danhausen segment meant to reveal his new creation was interrupted by Gunther, who assaulted the face‑painted entertainer and overpowered the Minihausens, driving them through two tables and later putting Danhausen in a sleeper hold. The surprise reveal proved to be Finn Balor as The Demon; Balor proceeded to attack Gunther with a series of kicks, shrugged off a chop, drove Gunther through a table and finished the confrontation with a Coup de Grace from a ladder through the announcer’s table. The show noted rumours of a possible match between the two stars at Crown Jewel PLE.
In the main event Sami Zayn successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against Trick Williams after a chaotic contest that saw Johnny Gargano’s interference initially cause a disqualification. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis restarted the match as a No Disqualification contest after removing the outside parties, after which both men used a kendo stick and steel chairs; Williams hit the Trick Shot but Zayn endured, used referee Charles Robinson as a shield, delivered a low blow and struck Williams with the championship belt to secure the pinfall. The Crown Jewel 2026 PLE will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 7.
