WWE SmackDown sets street fight and tag title defense for October 23

WWE SmackDown aired October 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California with three matches and some big announcements for next week's show. General Manager Nick Aldis set up a street fight, a Women's Tag Team Championship defense, and another solid card for October 23.

Giulia and Blake Monroe are going to war. Aldis announced a street fight between the two for next week's SmackDown. No rules, no count-outs, no disqualifications—just two wrestlers settling it the hard way. If you've been following their feud, this is the blowoff it needed.

Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley will defend the Women's Tag Team Championship against Michin and B-Fab on October 23. Bliss has been a cornerstone of WWE for years, and Paxley is the kind of rising talent who can hold her own. Michin and B-Fab are the underdogs, but upset wins are what make tag team wrestling worth watching. This one could go either way.

Three matches delivered on the October 16 card

The October 16 episode featured Trick Williams against Johnny Gargano, Nikki Bella versus Paige, and Damian Priest taking on R-Truth. Williams and Gargano is always a solid matchup—two guys who know how to work a crowd and tell a story in the ring. Priest and R-Truth is the kind of pairing that mixes power with unpredictability, and R-Truth can make anything entertaining.

Nikki Bella and Paige is a throwback to the Divas Era that some of us remember from the 2010s, when WWE was finally giving women real time and real storylines. Both have been around long enough to know what they're doing, and seeing them go at it again in 2026 is a reminder of how far the women's division has come since the days when they got five minutes and a bathroom break.

What it means for SmackDown's October 23 episode

The street fight is the headliner. Giulia has been one of the most talked-about signings in recent years, and a street fight gives her the chance to show what she can do when the gloves come off. Blake Monroe is no pushover, and this match should be physical, personal and worth your Friday night.

The tag title match adds stakes to the women's division. Bliss and Paxley are a strong team, but Michin and B-Fab are hungry, and title changes happen when you least expect them. If you're a fan of tag team wrestling—the kind we grew up on with the Road Warriors, Demolition and the Hart Foundation—this is the kind of match that keeps the tradition alive.

SmackDown is doing what it does best: building to big moments with matches that matter. The October 23 card is worth tuning in for, and if you're a fan of the women's division, it's a must-watch.