WWE SmackDown Predictions & Match Card August 28, 2026: Preview, Start Time, Location

WWE SmackDown will air on Friday, August 28, 2026, but this week's episode will not be live. WWE will tape the show on Monday, August 24, at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, immediately following Monday Night Raw. Raw itself has been moved to a special 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT start time on Netflix to accommodate the double taping, while the recorded SmackDown episode will air in its normal Friday slot at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on USA Network, with Netflix.

The unusual schedule is part of WWE's upcoming double-taping plans. WWE is adjusting its television schedule ahead of its upcoming Mexico and South America tour, giving wrestlers and personnel an easier schedule before the international run. WWE will also hold another double taping in Cleveland on August 28, where the August 31 Raw and September 4 SmackDown episodes are scheduled to be recorded.

SmackDown Confirmed Match Card August 28, 2026

No matches have been officially confirmed for the August 28 episode of WWE SmackDown as of now. WWE is expected to begin announcing matches and segments soon as it heads into Monday's double taping in Ottawa. We will update the confirmed match card as soon as WWE announces something for the show.

Predicted WWE SmackDown Card – August 28, 2026

With nothing officially announced yet, there are several directions WWE could take based on what happened on the August 21 SmackDown in Toronto. CM Punk retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens, Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga retained their tag titles, Blake Monroe's scheduled match against Giulia never properly got underway, and several other stories progressed throughout the night.

The clearest story coming out of Toronto involves CM Punk, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

Punk successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against Owens, but the finish created an entirely new problem. Zayn interfered during the match and initially appeared willing to help Owens defeat Punk. Owens refused to use the championship as a weapon, leading Zayn to strike Owens with the title instead. Punk then finished with the GTS and retained his championship. Zayn wasn't finished, attacking both men afterward and presenting himself as someone who believes he deserves the championship.

That makes a three-man confrontation one of the easiest predictions for August 28. Owens has every reason to want Zayn after being cost the championship, while Punk will also want answers after Zayn interfered in his title defense. WWE could use the Ottawa episode to bring all three men together and determine where the Undisputed WWE Championship story goes next.

Blake Monroe vs. Giulia Could Finally Take Place

Blake Monroe vs. Giulia was advertised for Toronto as Monroe's SmackDown in-ring debut, but fans never received the match as originally expected. Monroe attacked Giulia before their scheduled contest, resulting in the match being called off. That gives WWE an easy reason to try again one week later.

Nick Aldis could announce that Monroe will not be allowed to avoid Giulia and officially reschedule the match for Ottawa. WWE could also stretch the rivalry further by having Giulia demand another opportunity to get her hands on Monroe. Either way, their unfinished business from Toronto makes Giulia vs. Blake Monroe one of the strongest match predictions for the August 28 episode.

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton Could Have Their Final Confrontation Before Sunday Night's Main Event

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are already heading toward a singles match at Sunday Night's Main Event on September 6, and their issues continued during the August 21 SmackDown. With only one more SmackDown scheduled after August 28 before the September 6 event, WWE could use Ottawa to push their rivalry closer to the match.

Rather than booking them against each other early, another confrontation makes more sense. Orton could interrupt Rhodes during a promo, or WWE could put one of them in a match before the other appears afterward. Their history gives WWE plenty to work with without giving away their singles match before Sunday Night's Main Event.

The August 28 episode could therefore feature another face-to-face encounter between Rhodes and Orton, possibly ending with one of them getting the better of the other before September 6.

Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn Could Be Set Up

WWE also has the option of moving directly from the Toronto finish into Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn. Owens had CM Punk in trouble before Zayn's involvement changed the match. More importantly, Owens refused to take the shortcut Zayn offered him, only for his longtime friend and rival to hit him with the championship belt.

Their history makes this more than a random attack. Owens and Zayn have spent years moving between friendship and rivalry across WWE, NXT and their careers before joining the company. Zayn costing Owens an opportunity to become Undisputed WWE Champion gives them another reason to fight. WWE doesn't necessarily need to give the match away in Ottawa, though. An Owens promo confronting Zayn about his actions could instead lead to a brawl and set up a match for a later date.

Where and When to Watch WWE SmackDown

The August 28, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown will be taped on Monday, August 24 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, after the special 6 p.m. ET edition of Raw. Canadian Tire Centre lists the combined event as beginning at 5:30 p.m. local time, while WWE also advertises the Ottawa event as “Monday Night RAW & WWE SmackDown.”

The taped SmackDown episode will then air on Friday, August 28 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on USA Network in the United States, with WWE programming available through Netflix in most international markets.