WWE SmackDown heads north of the border tonight, and WWE has loaded up its return to Toronto with a main event that has legitimate Match of the Year potential.

CM Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens at Scotiabank Arena. Owens earned the opportunity by winning a Fatal 4-Way at SummerSlam, pinning longtime friend Sami Zayn in his first match back from injury.

CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens Could Steal the Year

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about this one. Punk and Owens are two of the best storytellers of their generation, they have history dating back years before WWE, and putting Owens in a WWE Championship match in Canada adds another layer to an already compelling matchup.

This has the vibe of a Match of the Year contender.

I expect Punk to retain, but I don’t think Owens’ championship story ends tonight. In fact, this feels like an opportunity to plant seeds for Owens eventually winning the title before the end of 2026.

Sami Zayn could be important to how WWE gets there. Owens pinned Zayn to earn this opportunity, and that relationship has never needed much encouragement to become complicated.

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are also advertised for SmackDown following their chaotic brawl last week, with the two now officially scheduled to face each other at Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6.

Elsewhere, Giulia faces the debuting Blake Monroe, while WWE Tag Team Champions MFT defend against Damian Priest and R-Truth.

How to Watch WWE SmackDown Tonight

Date: Friday, August 21, 2026
Location: Scotiabank Arena — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
United States: USA Network
International: Netflix