<![CDATA[WrestleRant - Columnist Corner]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:19:38 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Friday Night SmackDown Review - October 9, 2026]]>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:21:31 GMThttps://www.wrestlerant.com/columnist-corner/friday-night-smackdown-review-october-9-2026
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By Graham "GSM" Matthews

CM Punk, Kevin Owens and Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn Interrupted Each Other

I thought we might get to hear from all of the men's Money in the Bank Ladder match combatants in the same segment, similar to 2016 when everyone was sitting on top of ladders taking turns talking. Nope, it was just Punk and Owens, but that was enough for me because I'm still entertained by their interactions. Zayn also played his role really well here. They continue to plant the seeds for a Triple Threat for the title, though I'm not sure when we'd get that since it's been Undisputed WWE Champion vs. World Heavyweight Champion at Crown Jewel in recent years.

Lash Legend, Tiffany Stratton and Women's United States Champion Jacy Jayne def. Sol Ruca, Lola Vice and Roxanne Perez

You'd think they would've done the babyfaces against the heels in the women's Money in the Bank Ladder match since there's an even amount of them, but they went with Raw vs. SmackDown instead. That made for more of a "can they coexist?!" vibe, which has obviously been done to death in this company. It was a solid six-woman tag team affair, though, with everyone involved getting at least a little time to shine.

WWE Tag Team Champions The MFTs def. The War Raiders (Non-Title)

Man, the state of SmackDown's tag team division is just brutal. Raw is somehow worse because their World Tag Team Champions haven't even defended their damn titles since winning them three months ago. Both MFTs and War Raiders are talented, but the crowd had zero incentive to care about this because of the heel vs. heel dynamic, so the match was ultimately forgettable. Bakusai surfaced right before the finish to make it clear they still have their sights set on the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Cody Rhodes Attacked The Miz and Kit Wilson and Addressed Randy Orton

Miz and Wilson have quality chemistry together, but I feel like we constantly see the same stuff from them, not to mention they haven't been involved in anything meaningful since that drawn-out Danhausen feud many months ago. Anyway, this was all about Rhodes and the strong fire he showed on the mic while talking to Nick Aldis about Orton. Those two will face off on SmackDown next week we found out and I have to imagine they'll announce when the rubber match will take place, presumably at Crown Jewel.

Gunther Attacked Danhausen and Finn Balor

Gunther vs. Danhausen was supposed to take place, but Gunther destroyed Danhausen before the bell could ring, so it never got underway. Balor, who's been beefing with Gunther since SummerSlam, made the save, but Gunther attacked him too when Balor thought he had fled. This was a fairly basic angle, but it accomplished what it needed to. Danhausen's undefeated streak stays alive... for now.

Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss def. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) to Win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship

Paxley was originally scheduled to team with Charlotte Flair since it was them that beat Fatal Influence in non-title action several weeks ago, but a backstage attack from Jade Cargill and her baddies prevented Flair from competing, so Bliss filled in for her. I actually like the team of Paxley and Bliss way better and so did the crowd based on their reaction to them. The match was decent and the title change was surprising. I'm not complaining, though, as I'm curious to see where this leads.

United States Champion Trick Williams def. World Tag Team Champion Bron Breakker by Disqualification (Non-Title)

This got started so close to the top of the hour that you had to know it wasn't going to last long and that it was bound to end in some sort of shenanigans. What we got prior to the non-finish was fine albeit brief. The Vision's attack on Williams, Penta and Je'Von Evans was well done. I was expecting Punk and Owens to make the save since they're also in the men's Money in the Bank Ladder match, but no such luck. I don't expect this to lead to a six-man tag team match at another point or anything. I think it was solely designed to put heat on the group going into Saturday night and nothing more.

Overall Show

This was a pretty weak go-home show in my opinion. Granted, I was already excited for Money in the Bank as I usually am, but this edition of SmackDown to move the needle for me whatsoever. The title change was notable, but that was about the only thing that stood out as significant. Save yourself the two hours and simply breeze through the (minimal amount of) highlights ahead of Money in the Bank.
​SEE MORE: SmackDown Reviews
]]><![CDATA[Diamond Dallas Page Talks LA Knight's Rise, Influencing Lives, and Staying Busy]]>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:20:45 GMThttps://www.wrestlerant.com/columnist-corner/diamond-dallas-page-talks-la-knights-rise-influencing-lives-and-staying-busy
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By Graham "GSM" Matthews
Diamond Dallas Page knows potential when he sees it, regardless of whether it's someone struggling with their health or a Superstar breaking through to the next level.

He found himself in a similar spot years ago, not only with his body breaking down from injuries but also the odds being stacked against him when he entered the pro wrestling industry at an older age than most.

He ultimately overcame the adversity and, in addition to capturing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and becoming one of WCW's most popular performers, started his own fitness and rehabilitation program called DDP Yoga that has since saved countless lives.

WWE's LA Knight has experienced a bit of a late-stage career resurgence as well and is on the verge of finally winning the World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank. If WWE will actually pull the trigger on his hot momentum and give him the big one remains to be seen, however.

​Courtesy of Gambling.com, the trusted guide to Online Casinos, WrestleRant caught up with Diamond Dallas Page to discuss how he keeps busy, the power of DDP Yoga, wanting to see Knight conquer Roman Reigns this weekend, and more.
How do you stay so busy and do you ever reach a point where you feel you're doing too much and need to slow down? Or does it motivate you to keep going?
​I'll never stop working, because mainly I don't need to. Kevin Nash said something last year. I walk over [to him], he was rubbing his neck from behind. I go, “Hey, big man.” He goes, “I just got off the phone with my wife. We're making ridiculous money here today. Money we'll never spend.” I'm 70, bro. I'm going to live into my 90s. That's what I see. Maybe 100s, I don't know. That's my goal, because you don't see really any big guys—I'm 6'4—living into their 100s. But hey, I've proven a lot of people wrong a bunch of times. So ideally, that would be cool. But I want to be active the whole time.

I don't eat the way I eat or train the way I train or live the way I live because I want to. I do those things so I can own my life. Owning your life to me is being able to be your own everything. I do what I want to do when I want to do it. What I love about doing an autograph session is, I don't do it to make the money. I know the money is going to be really good. But I do it to connect with the people. I'm so grateful that the guys who don't do anything but the signings can still go out and still make great money.

​The people care about something that happened 30 years ago. The way they care is so amazing. But so many of them come to tell me how incredible DDP Yoga is coming into their life. And I just didn't change their life. I helped save their lives, like over and over and over again. And I always explain to them, you did the work. I'm just the guide.
​How have you been able to maintain that mentality of always reminding people that you care?
​I think I talk about it. I always give people credit. The guy I give the most credit for my success is this guy named Steve, who is my business partner. He makes me look like an angel and I'm not. We really care about other people and it shows in our business model. We give people hope. Look at Jake Roberts, Scott Hall, Butterbean, [Buff] Bagwell, [Scotty] Riggs and then shitloads of other people you have no idea who they are. It helps to empower them, and we give them all the tools, like my DDP Yoga app.

I was just in Germany doing a tour over there, and it was incredible how the people reacted to me. To talk to Sylvester Stallone, for me, I love that guy. What a great, incredible story he has. But he actually put a Instagram post up on the Butterbean video saying, "I am completely amazed by Diamond Dallas Page's healing methods." Pretty cool coming from a guy who had been the action star GOAT. But I just I live with an attitude of gratitude.

I'm going down to the WWE Performance Center. It's been a while since I've been down there to work with the troops. I'm going down there on the 11th and 12th. They're all warriors. Most of them are D1 athletes. I'm going to do some inspiration meets perspiration with them. I'm going to enlighten them to a lot of things that are gems that if they take them and the people who do, they may make it to the next level, which is when you make it to the show. And then when you make it to the show, can you make it to that top 20? Can you make it to the top 10? I've been there, so I know it's all a journey.
Who do you have winning at Money in the Bank this weekend between Roman Reigns and LA Knight, and do you see the similarities between your career and Knight's, at least in terms of your respective late-stage career resurgences?
​I'm going to say LA Knight because I want to throw that into the universe. Roman doesn't need to win. Roman's a god. He's not even a demigod. He's a god in professional wrestling. Roman has done everything, and he's carried that mantle the way freaking [John] Cena did, the way Hulk [Hogan] did, the way “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock did. These are the best. If he doesn't win, it might get him over even more, because there's always that one more step.

We'll see. I mean, he looks like a champion. He sounds like a champion. I hope it is this weekend for him because he's a good dude, man. Inside my Hall of Fame ring, I wrote and inscribed, “Work ethic equals dreams!” He gets that, and so does Roman. We've got some elite guys up there, man. Cody Rhodes carried that company on his back for two years, man, and still is. It's going to be great.
SEE MORE: Interviews
]]><![CDATA[TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! Review - October 8, 2026]]>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:22:05 GMThttps://www.wrestlerant.com/columnist-corner/tna-thursday-night-impact-review-october-8-2026
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By Graham "GSM" Matthews

The Hardys, TNA World Tag Team Champions The Nemeths and Leon Slater Interrupted Each Other

We've seen so much of The Hardys and The Nemeths against each other in the last year and a half that I can't say their latest verbal exchange did anything to leave me looking forward to their rematch in the main event, but at least it did its job in hyping that up. Slater's promo was the highlight of the segment for me as he talked trash from afar since he can't come in contact with Nic Nemeth until Bound for Glory.

TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champions Kiera Hogan and Allie def. Ki Vibez and Alex Gracia (Non-Title)

This was another basic showcase for Hogan and Allie to give them a warm-up win before Bound for Glory. It was wisely kept short and sweet so it didn't overstay its welcome. Post-match, the champs called out Zoey Serrano, who they bumped into backstage beforehand. Yes, that was all it took to set up a match between them for the pay-per-view. We found out later on that Serrano will be teaming with her old PFC stablemate, Shayna Baszler.

Joe Alonzo, The Home Town Man, A.J. Francis and Brian Myers def. Trey Miguel, Elijah, Frankie Kazarian and Bear Bronson

Per the stipulation, Alonzo will enter at the No. 20 spot in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Battle Royal at Bound for Glory because he picked up the pinfall win for his team here, while Miguel will have to enter first because he ate the pinfall for his team. I liked how random these teams were since there theoretically shouldn't be any alliances come Saturday, and the action was adequate for as long as this lasted.

TNA Knockouts Television Champion M by Elegance vs. Elayna Black Ended in a Time-Limit Draw

I originally thought this was happening at Bound for Glory, even if it was on the pre-show, but obviously not. I still find M to be rather generic, but she's making the most of this run and improving. She and Black had a well-worked match. The time-limit draw finish was disappointing, but TNA doesn't do time-limit draws very often and it did leave the door open for a rematch.

Fabian Aichner def. KC Navarro

Both of these guys will be a part of the TNA X-Division Championship match at Bound for Glory, so this served as a nice preview of that. It was an enjoyable encounter that could have easily gone either way and the win gave Aichner a momentum boost. I could see either of them realistically walking out of the event the new X-Division champ, so that upcoming bout feels genuinely unpredictbale.

TNA World Tag Team Champions The Nemeths def. The Hardys

This was on par with the other encounters these The Nemeths and The Hardys have had. There was a chance The Hardys could have gotten the belts back here, and honestly, they should have. Why do The Nemeths have to be holding the tag titles when they aren't defending them at Bound for Glory? And why would syX cost The Hardys the win when they could have contended for the tag titles if The Hardys won here? That stuff aside, it was a quality main event.

Overall Show

As far as go-home shows go, this was a solid one. I have no idea why TNA had to rush to put together a card together for Bound for Glory, and a few of the matches don't feel as important as they should, but I am confident the show can still deliver given what's on tap. This wasn't a home run of an edition of iMPACT! by any means, but it accomplished what it needed to with everything that's advertised being touched upon.
SEE MORE: TNA Reviews
]]><![CDATA[Monday Night Raw Review - October 5, 2026]]>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:15:41 GMThttps://www.wrestlerant.com/columnist-corner/monday-night-raw-review-october-5-2026
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By Graham "GSM" Matthews

World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns Confronted LA Knight

This was actual the first verbal exchange these two have had in the ring in at least a month or so, and it was needed ahead of their championship clash on Saturday night. They didn't say anything we haven't already heard from them, but it was a solid segment with good work from both men. I'm sure most viewers were already sold on the match, so hopefully it delivers.

Je'Von Evans and Penta def. World Tag Team Champions The Vision (Austin Theory and Bron Breakker) (Non-Title)

It's easy to forget that The Vision are the World Tag Team champs because they haven't defended them a single time three months ago. Why even bother with the belts at this point? Anyway, this was a fun preview of the men's Money in the Bank Ladder match that all of these guys except for Theory will be a part of. Bronson Reed emerged afterward to help the rest of The Vision to lay out the babyfaces before Oba Femi made the save. Femi's post-match promo was strong, too.

The Judgment Day (Roxanne Perez and Women's Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez) def. Lola Vice and Sol Ruca

I'd normally be happy with Perez picking up the win for her team, but the fact that it happened on the go-home show for Money in the Bank makes me worried that he won't be winning the women's Money in the Bank Ladder match after all. Hopefully that's just a swerve. Anyway, this was a well-worked tag team bout. I'm surprised Vice took the loss for her team instead of Ruca since Vice just debuted.

AAA World Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix def. Ethan Page

The booking of Page has been bizarre as of late. He's clearly in the hunt for the Intercontinental Championship, yet he lost to Dragon Lee in what was basically a number one contender's match last month and he failed to win the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship here. I'm not saying he should have won this, but this latest loss doesn't exactly make him feel like a threat to Chad Gable. On the bright side, this was a nice match from him and Fenix.

The Judgment Day (JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio) def. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee

Mysterio and Lee made for a hell of a team here, making for an enjoyable outing with Judgment Day. Judgment Day lose way more often than they win, so this was a pretty shocking victory for them, especially with McDonagh pinning Rey. Big Cass interfered right before the finish, so the babyfaces had an out for the loss. For anyone who complained about Cass losing to Lee last week, he immediately got his heat back with his post-match attack here.

Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan in a Women's World Championship No. 1 Contender's Match Ended in a No Contest

It's been obvious for two months now that we were headed toward a Triple Threat for the World Heavyweight Championship, so as much as I hated all the Judgment Day shenanigans here, it made sense to go with some sort of a non-finish to set up the Triple Threat for Money in the Bank. Lynch vs. Morgan was fine prior to that point but was overshadowed by the announcement. It was refreshing to see the women close the show for a change, though.

Overall Show

This wasn't quite on par with last week's above-average edition of Raw, but it was still an adequate effort on the whole. The Money in the Bank card is finally complete and it has a lot of promise on paper. It could even be one of WWE's better shows all year depending on the booking. The final hype for the event was effective on the Raw side of things and the entertaining action on this episode made it fly by for the most part.
SEE MORE: Raw Reviews
]]><![CDATA[Friday Night SmackDown Review - October 2, 2026]]>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 05:15:11 GMThttps://www.wrestlerant.com/columnist-corner/friday-night-smackdown-review-october-2-2026
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By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Tiffany Stratton def. Candice LeRae and Tatum Paxley in a Triple Threat Match to Qualify for the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match

I like how LeRae got a spot in this qualifier because Sami Zayn lobbied for both her and Johnny Gargano so they wouldn't turn on him. Granted, she was never going to win, but at least she was there to take the fall instead of Paxley. This had some quality action and the crowd was into it. While I would have loved to see another fresh face such as Paxley in the Money in the Bank mix for the women, Stratton does give it some star power by being involved.

Ricky Saints and The War Raiders def. AAA World Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix and Fraxiom

Saints and Fenix faced off for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship three weeks ago, and the progression of their feud has transpired entirely on social media. This was a smart way of getting these six stars on the show, though. It was well worked and Saints pinning Fenix was the right call. Speaking of Fenix, it's been amazing to see him appearing all over WWE TV in recent months.

Je'Von Evans, Penta and United States Champion Trick Williams Confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn; Gunther Attacked Finn Balor and Zayn

Zayn has been playing his role remarkably well as the paranoid heel champion thinking that everyone's out to get him. I liked how we didn't get the usual cast of characters confronting him here. Okay, so Balor and Gunther did show up at the end up the segment, but this was the first time we've seen Evans, Penta and Williams step up to him in the ring since Zayn became champ. This was a solid segment to tease the possibility of any of those three winning Money in the Bank and cashing in on Zayn.

Blake Monroe def. Giulia

This marked Monroe's in-ring debut. For the record, she was called up to the main roster in April and she's been beefing backstage with Giulia for months. It took way too long for them to have their first match. Anyway, what we got was good, at least what we saw of it. Unfortunately, the finish was lame. Of course, Monroe winning was a must, but the way it was executed was underwhelming and didn't seem to put much heat on Monroe.

Kevin Owens def. Johnny Gargano and Cody Rhodes in a Triple Threat Match to Qualify for the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match

This was along the same lines as last week's Triple Threat main event in that it was unpredictable, star-studded and excellent. All three guys worked really well together and I appreciated that this lasted as long as it did. Owens qualifying made the most sense, as did Randy Orton interfering to cost Rhodes the win and further that feud. Both Money in the Bank Ladder matches look super strong on paper.

Overall Show

A hot crowd can make all the difference and that was certainly the case with this show. SmackDown has been better as of late, but this episode in particular stood out because of its structure and the meaningful matches that opened and closed the show. Everything in the middle held my interest as well, so it ended up being an enjoyable episode with more successful build for Money in the Bank next weekend.
SEE MORE: SmackDown Reviews
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