“SmackDown” set up a major match for the Crown Jewel event Oct. 11 in Perth, Australia. Tiffany Stratton retained her WWE Women’s Championship on Friday, keeping her undefeated year intact. “SmackDown” ended with the two women’s world champs, Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer, eyeing each other’s titles as they will meet for the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. But the story of Friday night was a save, a surprise and an incredible showing by one of the most talented wrestlers in the roster.

Sept. 26 “SmackDown” results

• Street Profits def. Melo Don’t Miz

• Women’s U.S. champ Giulia and Kiana James def. B-Fab and Michin

• Men’s U.S. champ Sami Zayn def. Je’Von Evans

• Women’s champion Tiffany Stratton def. Nia Jax and Jade Cargill

The night belonged to Je’Von Evans

No one flies like Je’Von!! 🙌@WWEJeVonEvans pic.twitter.com/5UN3VxLFic

— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2025

There were big plot points from “SmackDown.” Randy Orton saved Cody Rhodes from a Vision double-team beatdown, and Jacob Fatu confronted Drew McIntyre. But I will address those two points below because the biggest takeaway from this episode of “SmackDown” was the fantastic showing of NXT’s Je’Von Evans, who faced Sami Zayn in the U.S. Title Open Challenge.

Evans is a star in the making, a future world champion who more than held his own against Zayn. Evans, 21, has been wrestling since 2018; imagine what he will look like at 25, at 30. Take a bow, Je’Von.

This is also the beauty of the U.S. Title Open Challenge. Zayn is the kind of wrestler who can have terrific matches against everyone on the WWE roster and carry this open challenge, making his opponents look fantastic in the process — and ultimately winning via the increasingly destructive Blue Thunder Bomb. So far, Zayn’s U.S. Title Open Challenge has been an incredible success and it’s one of the best things about WWE.

Other takeaways, storylines

BUSINESS JUST PICKED UP.

RANDY ORTON IS HERE AND JUST HELPED CODY RHODES TAKE OUT THE VISION!!! 🐍 pic.twitter.com/Bv8wVFQzP4

— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2025

• Orton came to Rhodes’ aid to stave off The Vision. It still feels like we will get a Rhodes vs. Orton match, which would be their first since the King of the Ring final in June, but with Survivor Series happening Nov. 29, it’s more likely we will see the former Legacy stablemates continue to team up.

• The women’s triple threat match was a bumpy road. Jade Cargill was bleeding from a cut above her eye after being thrown into the ring steps by Nia Jax. And the ending of the match caused confusion. Stratton covered Jax, and referee Daphanie LaShaunn began to count before abruptly pausing at two after Jax’s shoulders were still on the mat. Stratton then quickly landed an elbow and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to get the three count. Whatever miscommunication happened that caused it, the moment made me think of what former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas would always tell me: No matter where you are in the match, as the referee, if you are making the count and the shoulders stay down, you count to three.

THEY’RE HERE. ⭕

AND THEY’RE WATCHING. pic.twitter.com/UXarRACNAz

— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2025

• Melo Don’t Miz and Street Profits have had their share of miscommunication and fracture, and it looks like Melo Don’t Miz could soon become Melo Won’t Miz after Carmelo Hayes refused to break up a pin on The Miz following an exchange between the two. The Street Profits now have a tag team title match against the Wyatt Sicks, who were watching closely from behind the announcer’s table, but they could also implode during the title match (or soon after).

Great to have you at SmackDown, @LylesNoah! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/SRd3cdBiVt

— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2025

• Jacob Fatu appeared on “SmackDown” to confront McIntyre, and after a great exchange, Fatu flattened The Scottish Warrior. A match between the two would be terrific.