All articles tagged with #smackdown
Baron Corbin made a surprise return to WWE on SmackDown, ruining Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes with his End of Days while Trick Williams debuted Lil Yachty’s fur edition United States Championship, signaling a brewing feud between Corbin and Williams.
Gunther attacked Nick Aldis on SmackDown after it was announced that he would team with Sami Zayn to face Cody Rhodes and CM Punk at Saturday Night’s Main Event, choking Aldis before officials could intervene. The feud appears far from over, and Cody Rhodes later came to Aldis’ aid as SmackDown went off the air, with Gunther walking away from a potential one-on-one bout.
CM Punk is expected to have a lengthy Undisputed WWE Championship reign, largely on SmackDown, with NBCUniversal pushing his presence; he returned on the July 6 Raw and ended Sami Zayn’s nine-day title run, and he will make Raw appearances as needed.
CM Punk is hitting the road with a full-time schedule this summer, appearing on SmackDown and at multiple house shows through July and August as WWE leans into his status as a top champion.
CM Punk is officially moved to SmackDown as the brand's top champion, with WWE promoting him for upcoming SmackDowns starting in Oklahoma City and NM house shows; a SummerSlam title defense against Cody Rhodes is expected after Punk's Raw return where he defeated Sami Zayn.
Atlantic City taped SmackDown spoilers reveal Cody Rhodes pinned Jey Uso in the main event, earning a showdown with Sami Zayn for the Undisputed Championship on next Friday’s SmackDown (July 7). The night also featured Jade Cargill/Michin/B-Fab defeating Flair/Stratton/Green, Rey Fenix retaining the AAA Cruiserweight title over Vikingo, Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams set as a non-title match for July 10, and Danhausen announcing a JD McDonagh bout at MSG on July 18, along with Balor’s involvement in the Rhodes storyline and Uso sustaining an ankle injury but finishing the match.
SmackDown’s July 3 edition, taped June 29 in Atlantic City, opens with Sami Zayn addressing his Undisputed WWE Title win while Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso interrupt to set up the main event; Cody later defeats Jey to become the Number One Contender for the Undisputed Title and will face Sami on Raw July 7. The show also features backstage promos and matches (Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill/Michin/B-Fab; Rey Fenix vs El Hijo de Vikingo for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship; Danhausen with Cardona, Wilson and Miz; Lainey Reid vs Brie Bella; Tama Tonga & Talla Tonga vs Finn Balor), plus ongoing storyline developments and coverage by Fightful starting at 8 PM ET.
Spoilers from SmackDown taped in Atlantic City show Sami Zayn touting his WWE Championship win, with Cody Rhodes congratulating him and a booked number-one contender match to determine who will challenge Zayn on Raw in Chicago (July 6). The taped show also features various post-Night of Champions segments and matches setting up further fallout, including Jade Cargill-related dynamics and other backstage angles.
Tama and Talla Tonga (MFT) told Solo Sikoa on SmackDown they’re done dragging him into their feud with Roman Reigns, following word from the elders of the tribe; Sikoa reacted in disbelief, shouting that nobody leaves him, as fans wonder if the Tongans will realign with Roman’s Bloodline, after Solo had previously crashed Raw to help LA Knight defeat Jimmy Uso.
SmackDown, taped in London and the go-home show for Night of Champions, sets Cody Rhodes up for a triple-threat title defense against Gunther and Sami Zayn after last week’s chaotic finish; the piece argues the bigger threats to Rhodes come from Raw stars like Oba Femi, Jey Uso, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns, not SmackDown’s roster. The night’s lineup includes Paige vs Jacy Jayne, Giulia vs Kiana James, Jade Cargill vs Chelsea Green, and Rey Fenix vs Nathan Frazer, with several cross-brand storylines (Ripley’s status, Bloodline drama, and more) shaping the title picture ahead of Saudi Arabia.
SmackDown was taped in London on 6/23 as the go-home show for Night of Champions, featuring Giulia defeating Kiana James (followed by Blake Monroe’s first main-roster appearance attacking Giulia), Danhausen and Matt Cardona defeating Los Garza, Jade Cargill defeating Chelsea Green, and a chaotic closing segment with Gunther, Jey Uso, Oba Femi, Sami Zayn, and Cody Rhodes setting up their Night of Champions triple threat; other notes include Ricky Saints and Trick Williams opening, Tama Tonga and Tonga splitting from Solo Sikoa, Rey Fenix defeating Nathan Frazer, and Paige defeating Jacy Jayne. The episode is the last 3-hour SmackDown of the year as the show plans to return to a 2-hour format in 2026.
PWInsider reports WWE SmackDown was taped in London on June 23 for the June 26 episode, revealing spoilers including Trick Williams and Ricky Saints speaking in the ring; Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga exiting Solo Sikoa; Rey Fenix defending/retaining the AAA Cruiserweight Championship against Nathan Frazer; The War Raiders challenging Damian Priest & R-Truth; LA Knight confronting Solo Sikoa; Paige vs. Jacy Jayne; Danhausen & Matt Cardona defeating Los Garza with help from The Miz and Kit Wilson; Jade Cargill defeating Chelsea Green; Guilia defeating Kiana James; Blake Monroe attacking Guilia; and Cody Rhodes, Oba Femi, Gunther, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso closing the show in a brawl.
Sami Zayn’s volatile guest-refereeing in Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther opens SmackDown with controversy, restart drama from Nick Aldis, and a late finish that sets up a looming Night of Champions triple threat; the show also features Liv Morgan's knee-injury-influenced win over Charlotte Flair in King/Queen of the Ring action, Jey Uso's advancement, and ongoing Bloodline intrigue with Solo Sikoa, plus a batch of midcard angles. Overall, a middling episode highlighted by strong Zayn character work and a few underwhelming matches, graded a C.
SmackDown tees up a crowded, twisty run toward the King of the Ring and a looming Gunther–Cody Rhodes title rematch: Gunther demands Sami Zayn as referee for Clash in Italy to tilt the odds, while Cody and Sami’s dynamic grows more combustible. Jey Uso’s King of the Ring path remains unsettled amid Bloodline chatter, with LA Knight, Finn Balor, and Royce Keys jockeying for momentum. Charlotte Flair defeats Jade Cargill to reach the Queen of the Ring semifinals, with Jade eyeing a US title chase; Brie Bella and Paige win a non-title tag, and Night of Champions stakes begin to materialize via Ricky Saints vs Carmelo Hayes for a shot at Trick Williams. Blake Monroe teases future seeds as the midcard stays busy. The in-ring work is solid, but the plotting feels a touch overbooked at times, earning a B- overall.
WWE announced on SmackDown that CM Punk will attend Fanatics Fest in New York City on July 19, effectively ending rumors of a potential return to AEW and keeping Punk in WWE for now after his WrestleMania-era absence; the piece notes fan speculation about a Chicago appearance on July 6 but centers on Punk representing WWE at the NYC event.