WWE SmackDown preview: Bliss & Paxley defend Women’s Tag titles at Toyota Arena on Oct 23, 2026

WWE SmackDown returns on October 23, 2026, at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, with a Women’s Tag Team title defence and several grudge matches as the show continues the build to Crown Jewel 2026. The announced card includes Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Michin and B-Fab, a Street Fight pitting Giulia against Blake Monroe, and The MFTs versus Bakusai in tag-team action.

Bliss and Paxley captured the Women’s Tag Team titles after replacing Charlotte Flair in the contest against Fatal Influence, and their first defence will be one of the focal points of the October 23 show. The rivalry between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes intensified on the October 16 programme when Orton interfered in Rhodes’ match against Baron Corbin, a storyline development that continues to inform SmackDown build-ups this week. General Manager Nick Aldis has been active on the card, including sanctioning the rematch between Giulia and Blake Monroe under no-disqualification rules.

Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley will put their newly won championships on the line against Michin and B-Fab, with the champions entering the match on the momentum of their recent title victory. Michin and B-Fab are presented as an established team whose teamwork and aggression could disrupt the new titleholders. A successful defence would consolidate Bliss and Paxley’s position in the division, while an upset would immediately change the tag landscape on SmackDown.

Giulia and Blake Monroe meet in a Street Fight after Monroe previously defeated Giulia using mind games and underhanded tactics. Aldis converted the rematch into a no-disqualification contest, removing the standard restrictions and allowing both competitors to use the environment. The stipulation raises the potential for a more physical encounter between the two and gives Giulia a formal avenue for revenge.

The MFTs, represented by Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, are scheduled to face Bakusai’s Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki in a tag-team bout that brings contrasting styles together. The MFTs are expected to lean on physicality while Nakamura’s experience and striking are noted as assets for Bakusai. Victory for either side would provide momentum and affect the tag-team dynamics on the blue brand.

A World Tag Team title defence is also slated as a dark match when Bron Breakker and Austin Theory defend against LA Knight and Solo Sikoa; Breakker and Theory are identified as representing The Vision faction. Although this encounter is listed outside the main SmackDown programme, it is scheduled for the October 23 evening at Toyota Arena and is presented as an added element to the show’s card.

For ongoing coverage and updates on the October 23 episode, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join the community on Telegram & Whatsapp, as SmackDown progresses in its build to Crown Jewel 2026.