WWE
THE SMACKDOWN REPORT SLAM for 07/17/26
THE SMACKDOWN REPORT SLAM for July 17th from the MVP Arena in Albany, NY
The SmackDown Report SLAM!
THE ONLY BLVD THAT’S NOT AN INTERIM
Welcome to the July 17th edition of Friday Night SmackDown at the MVP Arena in Albany, NY. This will be the official go-home show (literally) for Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden in New York City tomorrow night. Thus far, the only match on the card for tonight is Finn Balor going to battle against Talla Tonga. But we will find out what fallout will be after Gunther attacked Nick Aldis last week at the end of SmackDown, while RAW GM Adam Pearce fills in as acting Smackdown’s GM (again). Also, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk will react to having to tag team together in their match against Gunther and Sami Zayn at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Let’s all just hope there’s more to come – so I’ll get to the SLAM and grab us some!
Cold opener (you know what it is). We start things off tonight with a video package recap, starting about two weeks ago when WWE Champion CM Punk won the title form Sami Zayn on RAW, with Zayn freaking out online afterwards. We were then at the point last week on SmackDown when Cody Rhodes confronted Punk. Cody talks about the Rhodes vs Punk match that’s been building up for years. Previously, when Rhodes was the champ he told Punk just say when. Punk asks when. Rhodes says SummerSlam. Then SmackDown GM Nick Aldis makes it official. But Gunther storms into Aldis’s office and tells him to make things right. At the end of SmackDown, Aldis made a tag team match for SNME with Punk & Rhodes vs Gunther & Zayn. Gunther viciously attacks Aldis.
Now live in the MVP Arena, Gunther starts the show in a suit. Gunther tries to raise the mic to talk but the crowd erupts with “You suck!” chants. Gunther addressed the elephant in the room. He says his whole career he’s been an outstanding professional. But ever since joining SmackDown he has been mistreated. He claims he should be the WWE Champion right now. Gunther then claims it was Nick Aldis that prevented that from happening and has made this personal. He mentions his SNME tag team match where he was to team up with Sami Zayn against Cody Rhodes & CM Punk. Zayn is a bum, is beneath him and is unacceptable.
Out comes acting SmackDown GM Adam Pearce. He said Albany has heard enough. Pearce said Gunther should be saying “Thank you.” He mentioned Gunther kicking Rhodes’s head into the car door and costing him the championship match in Chicago. Then he put his hands on Aldis, his boss. Pearce said if it were up to him he would be fired. But Aldis petitioned that Gunther’s tag match goes on as scheduled. Including a stipulation. If Gunther and Zayn are successful in their tag team match at SNME, they’re both added to the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam, and it becomes a fatal-four-way match.
“Kingdom” hits and out comes Rhodes. He does his pyro, then charges the ring, taking down Gunther and pounding on him. Rhodes punches Gunther through the ropes to the outside, the whole time Pearce is trying to calm him down. Rhodes said Gunther isn’t going to make it past SNME. But it’s Friday Night, the lights are bright, and Rhodes wants Gunther tonight in Albany. He asked Pearce for the okay, and Pearce makes it… official.
ANALYSIS: There’s your main event for tonight, folks. I knew they’d have some sort of confrontation to set up the main event for tonight as there was only one match scheduled.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are our commentators for the evening.
We now get the video that was posted by GM Pearce earlier this afternoon on WWE’s social. He announced that WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will not be medically cleared to compete by SummerSlam. So, at SummerSlam, they’re having a 5-women ladder match. Starting tonight and for the next two weeks, women superstars will compete for their spot in the ladder match, with the winner being crowned the Interim WWE Women’s Champion. Once Ripley is able to compete again, he implies we’ll find out who the real WWE Women’s Champion truly is.
ANALYSIS: We reported on that big news which hit WWE’s social about an hour before the start of SmackDown. Get well soon, Rhea Ripley!
After that announcement, we’re shown some of the women paired up in the qualifiers for the Interim WWE Women’s Champion Ladder Match: Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax, and Tiffany Stratton vs Jayce Jane.
Back live in the arena, Finn Balor makes his way out to the ring. Last week he won his match against Tama Tonga. Now, he gets ready to go to war against Tama’ s younger, bigger brother Talla Tonga. That match is next.
Back from break, The Tonga twins come out, this time it’s Talla Tonga fighting Balor. As Talla gets in the ring, we’re shown pic-in-pic of last week where Balor beat Talla’s older brother, Tama.
Finn Balor vs Talla Tonga:
They circle each other, Balor getting trapped in the corner by the bigger Talla. Talla swings and misses as Balor hits punches to the head and gut. He tries to yank Talla out of the corner, but Talla hangs on and puts Balor in a chokehold, throwing Balor into another corner. Talla swings and misses again as Balor hit him with a Flair chop, which Talla no-sells. Talla again swings and misses at Balor, now Balor tries to kick Talla’s left knee down. Balor hits the ropes, but Talla caught him this time with a vicious Shouldertackle. Stomps by Talla and then threw Balor front-first into the corner turnbuckle hard. Talla picks up Balor and hits an Uppercut as Balor falls to the second rope. Talla sits on his neck on the turnbuckle until the ref counts him off. Balor gets back up and tries to punch out Talla, but Talla with a right-hand body shot. Talla picks up Balor, but Balor slips out from behind. Talla charges Balor, but Balor sends Talla over the top rope. He gets right back up on the apron trying to choke Balor, and Balor comes back with more head and gut punches. Balor runs the ropes and tries a move to get him off the apron, but Talla caught him in a choke. Talla went for a Chokeslam, Balor elbows him to stop that, but Talla doesn’t let go. This time slamming Balor against the top turnbuckle. Clothesline by Talla as he shows off his power before the commercial.
Back from break and Talla is back in the ring hitting a running Powerslam on Balor and a pin for a two-count. Balor rolled to the corner as Talla charged and leaped, but Balor moved and Talla hit his head on the steel post (clearly slapped his hand on it for the sound fx). Balor with punches to the head and kicks to the left knee. Talla shoves Balor to the ropes, Balor ducks a Clothesline and bounces off the other side, hitting a Double Basement Dropkick on Talla’s knee. Talla tries to pick Balor up, but Balor reverses it into a form of DDT. Balor tried to follow up, but Talla hit a Samoan Drop. Balor rolls to the apron. As Talla approaches, Balor hit a Gut Shouldertackle and a head kick, which knocked Talla down. Balor went up for the Coup de Grace but got caught with a chokehold. Talla is looking for a T-Bomb Chokeslam, which Balor countered into a DDT. Tama got on the apron and Balor punched him back down. Balor tries for a Shotgun Dropkick but eats a big boot by Talla instead for a close call. Talla ties Balor in the middle ropes and ran off the ropes for a kick, but Balor hung Talla over the top rope. Tama climbs to the apron on the opposite side and is arguing with the distracted ref. Meanwhile, while Talla is hung up with the top rope between his legs, Balor bounces him up and down. Balor goes to the outside and Tama charges at him, but Tama gets a Slingblade from Balor. He gets back in the ring and nails the Shotgun Dropkick on Talla. Balor goes up one corner and hits the Coup de Grace, but he then goes up the other corner for a two-fer Coup de Grace and the win.
WINNER: Finn Balor (10 minutes)
ANALYSIS: ***
A great showing by both men. Talla playing the nearly unstoppable big Samoan heel while Balor is the veteran who made several good comebacks. Balor having to do two of his Coup de Grace finishers on Talla made sense, as it keeps Talla a tough guy.
Now that Balor has beaten both Tonga Bros, what’s next? There’s not much storyline-wise, but the only thing I can think of is to make the Tonga Bros a powerful tag team. There’s a few guys on SmackDown Balor that might be willing to team up with him, even though most have made it clear they don’t like him.
Now somewhere backstage we see GM Pearce with Undisputed WWE Champion Punk. Punk wants to understand correctly that if Gunther and Zayn win at SNME, his title match at SummerSlam is a fatal four-way. Punk says he’s more old-school and prefers one-on-one. Pearce says he doesn’t like it either, but that’s the decision. Punk also mentions that in the Rhodes vs Gunther match tonight Gunther is trying to hurt Rhodes not win. Pearce says Rhodes wants his receipt for Gunther injuring him and losing his spot as #1 contender on RAW. Punk says he’ll go talk to Rhodes.
Once Punk turns around, he bumps into the tag team champ Damian Priest. Priest says he appreciates the shoutout last week. He hopes Punk is still the champ after SummerSlam because he’ll be waiting for him. Punk says he hopes Priest is still the tag team champ, because him and Rhodes are going in as a tag team in the Garden, maybe they’ll come after Priest. After Punk leaves, R-Truth jumps behind Priest and startles him. Priest asks “Dawg. Were you here the whole time?” (A silly throwback to when R-Truth made his return back at the 2023 Survivor Series)
Now we get a video where Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Jacy Jayne and The Women’s US Champ Tiffany Stratton are featured talking about their upcoming qualifier matches for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match. Cargill said when opportunities come knocking she kicks down the door. Jax said she’s not feeling any pressure coming from her third World Championship. Jayne said Fatal Influence will remind everyone exactly who they are. Stratton said Minnesota will witness history because Tiffy two-belts has a nice ring to it.
Now live, we have our first of two Interim WWE Women’s Championship Qualifiers as Stratton comes to the ring. That match is, of course, after the break.
We’re back just before Jacy Jayne and the rest of Fatal Influence comes out. We’re also reminded that Fatal Influence has an opportunity for the Women’s Tag Team gold tomorrow at SNME against Brie Bella & Paige.
Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne (w/ Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid):
Before the bell even rang, the trio of Jayne, Henley, and Reid attacked Stratton in the corner. Brie Bella and Paige made the save for Stratton by taking Henley and Reid outside the ring and back down the ramp. That led to the one-on-one Stratton vs Jayne match.
The bell finally rang and, while Jayne was still distracted by the chaos outside the ring, Stratton came up from behind Jayne and attacked her into several corners. Stratton kicked Jayne while she was in one corner and Jayne kicked her back, slamming her head into the turnbuckle. Jayne is still distracted by what happened outside, so she delays delivering a Flair chop which Stratton ducks and gives a chop to Jayne. Stratton whips Jayne to the ropes and telegraphs a Back Body Drop, so she gets kicked. Jayne charged but Stratton tripped her up onto the second rope. Stratton does a heavy seated Senton (one of Rhea Ripley’s signature moves) and a Running Dropkick for a two-count. Break.
Now back as Stratton was going up top but Jayne moved out of the way, so she leaped back down. Stratton tried to throw Jayne to the ropes, but Jayne reversed it. Stratton tried a roll-up move under Jayne and Jayne rolled through and kicked Stratton. Jayne pounds Stratton on the mat. She throws Stratton and kicks her in the corner. Jayne continues to choke out Stratton on the ropes then elbows Stratton down for a two. Jayne continues to taunt the crowd. She throws Stratton into the corner and squashes her, then rolls her out of the corner for a back and head kick and a two-count. Jayne gets Stratton in a head lock of some kind on the mat as Stratton tries to get fired up. Stratton with a Jawbreaker to get out of it. Stratton with punches to Jayne, then Jayne with chops to Stratton. Odd time for a break.
Stratton kicks out of a pin attempt as we come back. Jayne with elbows to the back but misses with a Senton. Both women run the ropes and do a Cross Body Block collision spot. Back and forth punches, with Stratton getting the better of it. But Jayne gets several kicks in, including an Enzuigiri attempt which struck Stratton more on the shoulder instead of the head. Jayne hit the ropes, but Stratton was waiting for her with a couple Clotheslines. Spinning elbow and an Alabama Slam by Stratton. Stratton goes up top but Jayne punches her and hangs her on the top. Jayne hits a Hanging Neckbreaker for a close call. Jayne gets ready for Rolling Encore but misses as Stratton flips and hits the ropes for a Stunner move on Jayne and a Rolling Senton. Stratton hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and advances to the ladder match.
WINNER: Tiffany Stratton (8 minutes)
ANALYSIS: ***
It was a nice way to start off the qualifier matches. I also like how the tag team champs, who Fatal Influence will face tomorrow night, came out and chased the other two off making it a clean match. Jayne was way too cocky throughout the match, so it was a little dragged out at times. But still a good match to start things off with.
I figured Stratton would win. I kind of agree that two-belts Tiffy sounds kinda nice.
A video package aired about Baron Corbin talking about how he has been watching the shows, seeing these guys talking about how they think they are tough. Their reality is about to come crashing down. Corbin said he’s the real deal. He mentions Trick Williams saying he’s the first name on a long list, and Carmelo Hayes was just collateral damage. Corbin said if you get in his way, you get run over. Corbin told Trick to smile while he can and enjoy what he has because he’s Baron Corbin and is coming for it all.
ANALYSIS: I really like this new version of Corbin. I said last time that he looked really good. He’s not the King Corbin or the goofy poor Corbin anymore. It’s good that they’re presenting him like a vicious threat.
Now backstage with Jackie Redmond interviewing the US Champ Trick Williams with his new white faux furred championship title. Williams said Corbin wants to come out and dial 1-800-whoop-ass. Corbin calls himself a big bad wolf. Williams said Corbin was a bald-headed bitch. He says Corbin’s problem is that he has the championship and his title has more hair than he does.
Carmelo Hayes walked up to Williams, who said Hayes needs to apologize for what he did to Lil Yachty. Hayes apologized that Yachty was the only one able to walk out on two feet last week. He said Williams found a loophole where he doesn’t have to defend his title against him. He puts that on Corbin. Hayes said Williams holds his title really tight when he comes around. And they both know that’s because he’s better than Williams.
Williams claimed Hayes has done nothing on SmackDown for the last two-and-a-half years, even though Williams was here for seven months and he’s the hottest thing on SmackDown. Williams told Melo to mind his business while grown folks were talking.
ANALYSIS: It’s a nice feud between these two who know each other so well. Even though it’s tough sometimes to fully understand what they’re saying (try typing it), but that’s just the way they talk fast and ramble on.
I can see Hayes getting a rematch, but most likely Corbin will be included in it making it a triple-threat match at SummerSlam. I wouldn’t mind that at all. Even though Corbin has been gone for a while, he’s already made an impact and deserves it.
Up next is our second qualifier for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match. Cargill against Jax is after the ‘mercial.
Before we get to the match, we’re shown a replay of last Monday’s RAW between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi. Femi was in RAW GM Adam Pearce’s office saying he knew Heyman and Lesnar were afraid. Earlier that night, Heyman and Lesnar are in the ring with police in gear (local indie wrestlers). Heyman said Femi is obsessed with Lesnar. Heyman said he got a restraining order against Femi. Femi showed up as Lesnar and Heyman hid behind the “cops”. Heyman told Femi he is in violation of the restraining order and ordered the cops to do their job. One by one, and two by two, Femi took out the cops. While we watched the aftermath, we hear Pearce telling Femi the cops and restraining order were phony and Heyman was bluffing. We see the end of the Lesnar-Femi confrontation where Lesnar just walks away. Femi yells Lesnar can’t run from Oba Femi!
Now back live, Nia Jax is in the ring for the qualifier match. She gets her ring announcement before Cargill comes out with B-Fab and Michin. Once in the ring, we get a pic-in-pic of what happened last SmackDown where Cargill “injured” Alexa Bliss’ left arm by snapping it at a weird angle.
ANALYSIS: I said this before last week. It’s just writing off Bliss from TV for a little bit. Bliss’ elbows are double-jointed, so she has the ability to make her arms look like they’re bending the wrong way. She’s never used it on the main roster, so I’ve never seen it before up close. It’s pretty cool.
Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Nia Jax vs Jade Cargill (w/ Michin & B-Fab):
Right off the bell Cargill went for a kick but Jax dodged it, hit a Samoan Drop and a Leg Drop for a two. Jax moved Cargill to the corner for the Annihilator and Cargill just got out of the way. Cargill with a kick to Jax and a Spinebuster.
Suddenly, while Cargill was circling Jax showing off, Charlotte Flair showed up on the outside. She sent B-Fab into the steel steps and Michin over the barricade. Flair gets in the ring and charges Cargill, she avoids a kick by Cargill, and Flair nails her with a kick causing a surprisingly quick DQ finish.
WINNER by DQ: Jade Cargill (exactly 1 minute)
ANALYSIS: *
A qualifier match that went exactly one minute precisely? They actually used a Championship Ladder Match Qualifier as a quick way to show a storyline and get Cargill into the ladder match cheaply instead of showing some competition. Sure, we all know they were both heels and likely wouldn’t have gotten any reactions from the crowd. But they could’ve either booked it better against a face (Flair could’ve came out near the finish to distract Cargill with no DQ needed) or given them some more time to show off these two women superstars’ power vs power (then they could do a DQ cheap finish). Depending on what happens next, this could be an interesting development or a complete waste.
All in all, I figured, one way or another, that Cargill would win as I don’t see Jax in a match as competitive and dangerous as a ladder match. Why even but Jax in this? And where was Lash Legend?
After the match, Flair brings a steel chair into the ring and places it around Cargill’s arm the same way Cargill did to Bliss. Flair went to smash the chair over Cargill’s arm but B-Fab and Michin got her out of there just in time. Cargill is then announced as the winner by DQ as Jax is in the corner staring a hole in the back of Flair’s head while Flair looks at Cargill on the outside. Jax splashes Flair in the corner. Jax storms off as Cargill gets into the ring and hits Jaded on Flair. She laughs as the rest of her baddies pose.
ANALYSIS: See, there’s the storyline. No cheap throwaway qualifier match needed.
Backstage once again, Redmond is now with Gunther. She asks what he thinks about if he wins, he gets a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship in a fatal four-way. Gunther said when things don’t go his was or the attention isn’t on him, Rhodes forces his way into his business. He’s going to beat some rationale into that man. He doesn’t care about Zayn.
In came Candice LeRae as she rolled an equipment case with Johnny Gargano on it. She said tomorrow Zayn is his partner, and if him and Zayn win tomorrow, Zayn will be the fourth person in the four-way title match. She said not to do anything stupid because “we” need this win. Gunther told LeRae to tell Zayn to show up, shut up, and not to get in his way.
ANALYSIS: Again, Gargano gets paid just to be rolled around on top of a box crate. Must be nice. Or he’s going to be on the roster cut eventually. At least it was mildly funnier when Zayn was using him to talk to. I don’t know why this has gone on for so long.
Blake Monroe attacked LeRae from behind and threw her back and forth into some crates. Blake introduced herself as the new girl and she’ll see Candice around. As Monroe walked away she looked down at Gargano and told him he needed a haircut. Let’s take a break to think about all this.
ANALYSIS: Monroe seems to be in some sort of vicious girl gimmick attacking everybody. Let’s put her in a match and see how she does.
When we come back, we’re elsewhere backstage with Jax and Lash Legend yelling at RAW GM Pearce about what happened earlier when Jax got DQ’ed by Flair. Jax said Flair ruined her qualifying match. They keep telling Pearce they expect consequences. Pearce said he saw what happened, so Jax will have another opportunity to win her way into the Ladder Match next week against Charlotte Flair.
Back live we see Fraxiom in the ring for their match. Then, the AAA World Tag Team Champions The War Raiders come down the ring.
Fraxiom – Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs War Raiders – Erik & Ivar:
Frazer and Erik start and Erik slams Frazer down. Frazer flips around the ring and rolls up Erik for a two. Erik slams Frazer down again and tags in Ivar. Frazer is double teamed in the heel’s corner as he’s attacked. Ivar elbows Frazer in the corner and Erik is tagged back in. Frazer punches Erik and Erik knees Frazer to the mat. Frazer kicks Erik and tags in Axiom. Erik is double teamed as Ivar runs in but is leaped over so he gets sent to the outside. Frazer tries for a Suicide Dive through the middle rope and gets caught. Axiom then Moonsaults out onto The War Raiders saving his partner. Time for a commercial.
Once we return Frazer is in top as he tried for a Phoenix Splash, Erik avoided it and Ivar and Axiom tagged in. Ivar with some power moves, including a Seated Senton on Frazer. Ivar stacked Axiom on Frazer and went for a moonsault, but Fraxiom moved as Ivar crashed and burned. Double Superkick on Eric. Axiom hit a running kick on Ivar. Frazer tagged in and hit a Springboard 450 Splash for a close call. Axion tagged in but Ivar Clotheslined Frazer and hit a spin kick on Axiom. Erik tagged in and slammed Ivar onto Axiom against the turnbuckle. Spinebuster on Axiom, but Frazer jumped off the top with the save. Erik tagged in Ivar, but Fraxion gave kicks to both Erik and Ivar stopping Ivar from coming in. Axiom hit a jumping knee on Erik to the opposite outside floor. Frazer tagged in and hit a Suicide Dive on Ivar to the announce desk, and Axiom hit a Suicide Dive on Ivar as well. Frazer hit a top rope Somersault Dive over the opposite side onto Erik. Ivar Superkicked Axiom in the ring. Ivar went up top, Axiom stopped him with a kick and Frazer tagged back in. Double Superplex on Ivar off the top. Frazer went up top and hit a Phoenix Splash on Ivar for just a one-count because Erik ran in and hit Frazer with a knee. Erik and Axiom tag in. Erik hit Axiom with a forearm and then slammed the knee. Ivar tagged in and hit a Pop-Up Powerslam on Frazer. War Raiders hit Ragnarok on Axiom, and Ivar pinned Axiom for the win.
WINNER: The War Raiders (11 minutes)
ANALYSIS: *** ½
Despite this match not expected to be on, this was a surprisingly exciting tag team match. The War Raiders are great with their power moves and using their agility despite their large size. Fraxiom are a great high-flying tag team that can put on a show. I liked how, despite getting beat down, it looked like Fraxiom might get the win a few times. That’s what good tag team matches are about. Telling the story in the ring even if there’s no story behind how the match came about.
We’re shown clips from Fanatics Fest in NYC today. LA Knight was with Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys. Knight trash-talked The Usos and Jacob Fatu since they are in a tag team match at SummerSlam. Then, on Rhodes’ “What Do You Want To Talk About” at Fanatics Fest, Tom Brady said he’d get in there for one match. Brady confronted Logan Paul (minus his left arm brace) and slapped him. Do I sense a match?
Now backstage, one more time, Rhodes is getting ready for his match when Punk walks up to him. Punk wasn’t sure if it was a good idea for Rhodes to face Gunther before they tag team together tomorrow night on SNME. Rhodes said it wasn’t, but Punk would’ve done the same thing. Punk said he is going to watch Rhodes’ back. Rhodes told Punk to watch on a monitor. Punk claimed he would see him out there. The crowd roared “CM Punk!” Rhodes said he’d see him tomorrow, and Punk said see would see him at SummerSlam. Rhodes vs Gunther is next!
Once we come back from break, we first get a video package about the Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins match at SummerSlam. We’re shown what happened last Monday on RAW during the contract signing as Reigns and Rollins did their promos while they showed clips of the events happening as they talked about them. Like Rollins breaking up The Shield, Rollins’ fake injury angle with his most recent Money in the Bank briefcase cash-in at 2025 SummerSlam, and his first MitB briefcase cash-in called the “Heist of the Century” at WrestleMania 31.
Then the commentators remind us about Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 18th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. We go over the card for the show:
- The World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and 2026 NBA Champion Jalen Brunson will be there
- Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk & Cody Rhodes vs Gunther & Sami Zayn (if Gunther & Zayn win, the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam becomes a fatal four-way match)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Scream Mode (Brie Bella & Paige) (c) vs Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)
- Bayley vs Lyra Valkyria
- No Disqualification Match: Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh
Now, somewhere deep backstage in Danhausen’s lab, Redmond interviewed Danhausen. She talked about his match at SNME against JD McDonagh (“the guy with the head”) and said, even though he refused help from Matt Cardona, they can assume Dominik Mysterio will be there and The Judgment Day likes to use the numbers game. Danhausen showed her a stuffed toy black cat in a cage. He said you never cross paths with a cat, because if you do, “You are cursed!” Suddenly, his old tube-style monitor exploded and smoke was coming out. Danhausen told Redmond she should probably run. They both took off, with Danhausen grabbing his cage.
ANALYSIS: Oh, Danhausen. I really haven’t a clue who his help is going to be as he said he had some that was from NYC. Maybe Jalen Brunson? Maybe it’ll be the electrified Kit Wilson and The Miz? Even though it might just be a bathroom break match, it’s still comedy fun.
Live back in the arena, Gunther comes out for his match. When suddenly, from behind as soon as he hits the aisle, Rhodes jumps him and attacks with punches and throws him on the steel ringside barricade. Gunther tries to escape towards the ring, but Rhodes follows and slams his head onto the apron and on the steel steps. Rhodes slams his head against the commentary table. Gunther finally takes off his coat. Rhodes throws Gunther into the ring as the ref rings the bell. Now the match is under way.
Cody Rhodes vs Gunther:
Rhodes did his kick and Uppercut move. He then tackled Gunther to the mat and ground and pounds. Rhodes went for a Clothesline, Gunther ducked and tried to toss him up. Rhodes landed on his feet behind Gunther and tried for a Springboard off the ropes, but Gunther pushed him off as Rhodes landed hard on the outside floor. Breakity-break.
After the break, Rhodes is back in the ring with Gunther stalking him. Gunther chops Rhodes. He sends Rhodes across the ropes a few times while holding on to him giving him knees to the gut. Gunther turns Rhodes around and chops him to the mat. Gunther just walks around Rhodes, showing off that he’s going to win the title. He tried for a Suplex and Rhodes landed on his feet again. Springboard attempt by Rhodes but Gunther caught him and tried to Clothesline him. Rhodes ducked and went for the ropes again, this time hitting the Cody Cutter. Punches and a Scoop Slam by Rhodes. Disaster Kick on Gunther. A second Cody Cutter on Gunther. Rhodes went for Cross Rhodes, but Gunther rolled out of it and gave a big chop to Rhodes into the corner. He throws Rhodes into the opposite corner and charges, Rhodes gets a foot up, but Gunther grabbed the boot and hung him up, kneeing the leg. Gunther kicks Rhodes’ damaged left leg hard and sends Rhodes head over heels to the mat. Gunther takes Rhodes to the other corner and slams his left leg against the steel post.
“Cult of Personality” hits and Punk comes out. Gunther gets back in the ring as Punk encourages Rhodes on from the outside. Gunther signals for the GTS in front of Punk. He goes for a GTS but Rhodes slipped out, hit the ropes, and both men did a Double Lariat collision. Let’s have one more break.
Gunther is up now and gives Rhodes a Powerbomb for a close call, then turns it into a Half Crab submission hold. Rhodes almost makes it to the ropes, but Gunther tries to pull him back to the middle of the ring. He reverses it and kicks Gunther off of him. Rhodes went to the corner and Gunther charged, but Rhodes moved and Gunther got his right boot hung up on the top rope. Rhodes with a running kick to the back of Gunther’s right leg. Gunter tried to kick Rhodes, but Rhodes does a Dragon Screw to twist the right leg of Gunther. Rhodes with a Figure Four submission on Gunther.
Suddenly, out comes Zayn (in his new “JUSTICE FOR SAMI” T-shirt) as he attacks Punk on the outside with punches. Zayn throws Punk over the commentary table. Meanwhile, in the ring Gunther got to the ropes so Rhodes released the hold. He then sees Zayn. Gunther tried to apply the Sleeper Hold on Rhodes from behind, Rhodes reversed the Sleeper Hold on Gunther, Rhodes hit the ropes and ducked a Clothesline from Gunther, then hits a Suicide Dive onto Zayn on the outside. Rhodes punched Gunther down as he tried to get back in the ring, but Zayn grabbed Rhodes and yanked him down, pushing him into the steel post. There’s the DQ.
WINNER by DQ: Cody Rhodes (13 minutes)
ANALYSIS: *** ¼
For the time given, these two put on a very good match. Even though you could tell they didn’t want either guy getting a win over the other the day before SNME. It wasn’t supposed to be about someone getting the “W” over the other. It’s about Rhodes wanting a receipt for what Gunther did to him. They’re better off taking the cheap DQ finish (second of the night). Soon as Punk came out you could tell Zayn wouldn’t be far behind. And Zayn was the right pick to do the DQ because he was angry enough at Rhodes that he wanted to attack him. Gunther obviously didn’t care about losing after that.
Post match, Zayn cleared off the commentary table. Gunther wanted a Powerbomb, but Punk was back up to take out Gunther, and then he tackled Zayn as well. Rhodes and Zayn exchanged punches. Punk and Gunther were fighting on the other side. All four guys went into the ring and got into a huge brawl while WWE Officials were there trying to break it up. The commentators were freaking out. The brawling kept on going as the credits rolled and the show ended.
ANALYSIS: That’s how you should end the show just before a big event like SNME. Have all four guys in the main event brawl it out at the end to release their energy before their big tag team match. It also sends the crowd home happy and excited for SNME.
video © WWE
And that’s the SLAM, homies! Next up is tomorrow night’s Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 18th at 8pm ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. In case you’ve already forgotten, here’s the card for the show:
- The World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and 2026 NBA Champion Jalen Brunson will be there
- Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk & Cody Rhodes vs Gunther & Sami Zayn (if Gunther & Zayn win, the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam becomes a fatal four-way match)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Scream Mode (Brie Bella & Paige) (c) vs Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)
- Bayley vs Lyra Valkyria
- No Disqualification Match: Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh
Next week we will witness the fallout from Saturday Night’s Main Event and continue our crash course into SummerSlam that will take place at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN on August 1st and 2nd.
The next Monday Night RAW comes to us fresh and hot on July 20th from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. And the next Friday Night SmackDown will be on July 24th from the Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA, where more qualifiers for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match at SummerSlam will take place, including Nia Jax vs Charlotte Flair.
So stay safe, don’t brawl with your tag team broskies, and see y’all along the BLVD!