WWE SmackDown Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Aug. 21
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The latest episode of WWE SmackDown featured a high-stakes segment between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, with General Manager Nick Aldis imposing strict rules to prevent physical altercations. The show also highlighted Kevin Owens' pursuit of the WWE Championship held by CM Punk.
Why it matters
WWE continues to build long-term narrative arcs for its major stars, driving engagement for upcoming premium live events like Saturday Night's Main Event.
00:11 Featured Video Contreras' 450-FT BOMB 💣 Previous Next Home Pro Wrestling WWE Pro Wrestling WWE SmackDown Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Aug. 21 Chris Mueller Aug 21, 2026 We might be getting another edition of Saturday Night's Main Event in a couple of weeks, but all eyes were on SmackDown this week due to the big main event.
After making his surprise return at SummerSlam, Kevin Owens earned a shot at the WWE Championship held by CM Punk, and he chose Toronto to host the match.
After several months of video packages and backstage segments, Blake Monroe's in-ring debut on the main roster was hyped for this week, too.
We also saw Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes continue their story as they prepare to do battle at SNME on Sept. 6.
Let's take a look at what happened on this week's show.
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