WWE SmackDown Notes: Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton Can Never Challenge For WWE Title Again If They Touch Each Other Before 9/6 SNME Show, Blake Monroe In-Ring Debut Delayed, Baron Corbin vs. Lil Yachty Set for 9/6 WWE SNME Show, Hiromu Takahashi Makes WWE Debut & Reveals New Ring Name of “Kyoki”, 8/28 Show Card

Aug 21, 2026

Nick Aldis Warns Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton They Can Never Challenge For WWE Title Again If They Touch Each Other Before Sept. 6th Sunday Night’s Main Event

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada featured WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis issuing a stiff warning to both Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

During the show, Rhodes was seen in the ring and called out Orton to come out to the ring right now. This led to Orton coming out and after some heated words between the two, Rhodes demanded a fight with Orton right now. Aldis came out and yelled at both of them saying that he has had enough of them constantly causing problems and fighting put the fans and officials in danger. Aldis stated that Orton and Rhodes can’t touch each other before their match at next month’s Sunday Night’s Main Event show or else they will never get another shot at the WWE Championship.

.@RealNickAldis is standing on business 😤 pic.twitter.com/lPIqGIbt9z
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026

Blake Monroe SmackDown In-Ring Debut Delayed

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Blake Monroe’s official in-ring debut for the SmackDown brand being delayed.

Monroe had been scheduled to face off against Giulia in a singles match, which ended in a No Contest due to Monroe attacking Giulia before the match could start and the referee calling it off.

The Glamour wasted NO time 👊 pic.twitter.com/UWTrdyl7Th
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026

Monroe’s has yet to make a televised match in WWE since this past April’s NXT Revenge Week 2 and since her official call-up this past April and SmackDown debut this past June.

Lil Yachty vs. Baron Corbin Set for Sept. 6th WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured one new match set for the card of WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event show, which takes place on September 9 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

This new match announced was a singles match of Lil Yachty vs. Baron Corbin.

This new match was setup following an in-ring promo segment involving Lil Yachty, Trick Williams, and WWE United States Champion Baron Corbin that ended with Corbin agreeing to give Williams one more shot at his title but in return he wants a five-minute match against Yachty at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Corbin told Williams that all Yachty has to do is just last the five minutes and the title shot will be his. Yachty responded attacking Corbin with a kendo stick and accepted the challenge.

WHOOP THAT TRICK! 👊@lilyachty and @_trickwilliams had heard ENOUGH! pic.twitter.com/DffdeFMlVr
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026

"YOU'RE ON!"@lilyachty has accepted the challenge and will take on Baron Corbin at Sunday Night's Main Event! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YYgFceoFxh
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026

Current card for September 6th WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event show:

Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker
Lil Yachty vs. Baron Corbin

Hiromu Takahashi Makes WWE Debut & Reveals New Ring Name

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured former NJPW talent Hiromu Takahashi making his official WWE debut.

During the show, a video aired featuring Shinsuke Nakamura talking about how he has found a tag team partner, which led to Takahashi showing up and revealing his new ring name of Kyoki. Nakamura stated that they are coming for the MFTs and their WWE Tag titles.

LISTEN UP, MFTS! 😤

Kyoki and @ShinsukeN have a message… pic.twitter.com/2kHpg6VVv0
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026

Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured one new match announced for the card of next week’s show on August 28.

This upcoming show will be taped on Monday, August 24 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as part of that night’s WWE RAW show tapings at the same venue.

Current card for August 28th WWE SmackDown show:

Tatum Paxley vs. Michin