The road to WWE Night Of Champions continues tonight in “The City of Fountains.”
WWE SmackDown is live this evening at 8/7c on USA Network from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO.
‘WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.’ flashes on the screen to get things started. We then shoot outside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO., where Joe Tessitore welcomes us to the show. We then see the usual show-opening Superstar arrivals.
Undisputed WWE Championship (Special Referee: Sami Zayn)
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther
We’re starting off hot. A PLE-style pre-match hype video package airs to tell the story leading up to what will be our commercial-free opening match, as Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes puts his title on-the-line against Gunther with Sami Zayn as the special guest referee.
The package wraps up, we return inside the arena and hear the theme of Sami Zayn, who comes out donning the zebra striped referee shirt. He settles in the ring and then the sounds of Gunther’s entrance tune hits. Out comes “The Career-Killer” to a ton of boos.
From there, he settles in the ring, his music dies down and the familiar sounds of the theme for “The American Nightmare” hits. Pyro explodes as the reigning, defending Undisputed WWE Champion makes his way out to a big pop from the crowd, who sing along with his catchy-tune.
The two men circle the ring before Cody looks for gain an edge on his challenger, only to be taken to the mat by Gunther. Gunther grabs the champ but is taken to the corner by Rhodes, who is forced to make a clean break by Zayn.
Gunther sees his opening and takes it, sending Cody to the ropes before raking his back. He lays some more shots into the champs, forcing him to the corner, only for Rhodes to fire back, sending him across the ring. Zayn begins a count before intervening, bringing the champ away, which allows Gunther to sneak a big boot in the process.
Crowd are not a fan of Sami’s strict officiating here as Gunther continues to beat the champ down for a near-fall. Cody crawls toward the ropes, where Gunther goes after his face before Zayn intervenes with a less forceful count for the break.
Still, he admonishes the challenger as Cody gets back to his feet, firing up to send Gunther to the corner. He charges to the opposite side but is intercepted by Gunther, who starts laying some more strikes on the champ before applying a figure four leglock.
While Zayn is focused on checking if Cody is ready to submit, he doesn’t see Gunther grab the ropes for leverage, but when he does catch it, he calls for a break. Gunther is not happy that Zayn is seemingly calling it down the middle. Cody rolls Gunther up from behind but he kicks out.
Now we see Cody start to fight back once again, landing a Cross Rhodes on the challenger before making the cover…but Gunther has his foot under the ropes much like Clash in Italy, only this time the ref sees it and stops the count.
Rhodes gives out to Zayn about the call, going so far as to shove the special guest ref…who shoves him back, and sends the champ into the arms of Gunther for a sleeper hold. Sami is shocked about what just happened, hesitant for a moment before checking on Cody.
The hesitation allows the champ to make it to the ropes for a break, with Gunther arguing with Sami once more before shoving him…and Zayn slaps him in the face in response! This incites a riot of sorts inside the Ring General, who drops his appointed special guest ref with a powerbomb.
Another referee comes out as Cody fights back, but he only gets a near-fall for his efforts. Gunther fights back, landing a hard powerbomb on the champ for a stacked pin…but the second ref’s count is stopped at two when he is pulled out of the ring by Zayn.
Sami yells at Gunther about disrespecting his authority before Cody goes for a sunset flip on the challenger…and an irate Zayn kicks Gunther off the ropes, making a fast three count to give Cody the win. Sami quickly leaves the ring, telling Gunther he lost as he escapes up the ramp. Nick Aldis comes out to have it out with Zayn.
Zayn refuses to deal with the GM as he leaves to the back. He is followed by Aldis, and both men are followed by Gunther making a beeline up the ramp as we cut to commercial. When we return, we shoot backstage, where we see Aldis arguing with all three of the men invovled in our opening contest.
Cody admitted he didn’t like how that ended either as he rushes back out to ringside. He grabs a microphone and tells Kansas City they deserve more than this, calling for a “correct” referee to come out here so we can start this match over.
The referee that came out earlier follows behind a charging Gunther, and the match is restarted. Gunther looks to catch the champ by surprise with a sleeper hold, and Cody looks like he is fading…but fights back long enough to counter with a sleeper hold of his own.
The challenger fends him off by sending him into the corner, but before anything else can happen, Sami comes running into the ring with a Helluva Kick on Gunther. The ref calls for the bell. It’s over again without a legitimate finish. Gunther wins presumably via DQ, while Cody retains. Zayn hits Cody with the title.
Winner Via DQ: Gunther
Backstage With Jade Cargill & Tiffany Stratton
Now we shoot backstage, where we see Jade Cargill and her amazing baddies talk about Rhea Ripley being re-injured, as well as Tiffany Stratton getting involved in business she shouldn’t be. They run Stratton down some more before walking off, and we get a look at the upcoming King and Queen of the Ring semifinal matches.
Blake Monroe Coming Soon
Another vignette airs for Blake Monroe, who is focused on Giulia as she promises to make her debut soon. The ‘coming soon’ video wraps up and the show heads back live inside the arena for our next match of the evening.
WWE Tag-Team Championships
Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. Tama & Talla Tonga
Now inside the arena, Tama and Talla Tonga make their way out to boos. The reigning and defending champions R-Truth and Damian Priest come out from there. WWE Tag-Team Championship action is up next. Priest and Talla kick things off for their respective teams at the onset.
They lock up, only for Talla to shove Damian to the corner. Priest climbs the turnbuckle and pulls a Triple H, telling Talla what he can do with a certain gesture before going on the attack, but Talla won’t go down, sending Priest to the mat with a shoulder-block.
Now we see The War Raiders viewing the match on a monitor from backstage. In the ring, Talla continues going to work on Priest before making a tag to Tama, but Damian takes the fight to him by bringing him to the corner for some right hands and a tag to Truth.
They double-team Tama before Truth lands a running corner charge, followed with a nod to his “childhood hero” John Cena as he lands the shoulder tackle into a Proto-plex and five-knuckle shuffle. He looks to end things with an Attitude Adjustment.
Instead, Talla gets involved, distracting Truth long enough for Tama to send him out of the ring. With the ref focused on Tama in the ring, Talla looks to sneak attack Truth before Priest comes after him, only to be caught with a chokeslam.
On that note, the show shifts gears and settles into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues. When the show returns, we see things still in progress. Truth manages to take Tama to the mat with a dropkick as we see the War Raiders still watching.
Priest gets the tag as he goes after Tama, knocking Tall off the apron before sending Tama to the corner for a shoulder attack. Third time is not a charm as Tama fights back, but he takes a devastating Flatliner and Damian gets a close two-count.
Talla looks for some revenge as he comes into the ring for a chokeslam, but Priest sends him to the outside. Tama takes him down but is struggling to capitalize as we see Solo out at ringside. Talla argues with him about being here before being shoved out of harm’s way.
Priest gets a double ax handle on Sikoa…and somewhere in all of this, Truth made a tag. I say that because as Tama starts to choke out Priest he gets rolled up by Truth, allowing the champs to win. With the win, they retain the WWE Tag-Team titles.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: R-Truth & Damian Priest
Backstage With Sami Zayn, Johnny Gargano & Nick Aldis
Backstage, Sami Zayn is talking to Johnny Gargano about trying to do the right thing to no avail, before Nick Aldis comes in shouting at him over what happened. Sami reminds the GM that he made Zayn the ref for this match, saying he’s had enough before shoving the ref’s shirt into Nick’s hands and walking off. We head to a break.
WWE U.S. Championship No. 1 Contender
Ricky Saints vs. Carmelo Hayes
The show returns and we head to a quick backstage segment with King of the Ring semifinalists Jey Uso and Je’Von Evans ahead of their showdown later tonight. Back inside the arena, we head down to ringside for our next match of the evening.
The entrances take place and then the bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running. Saints looks for an early advantage but gets caught by Hayes, who lands a springboard clothesline to take Ricky to the corner. Saints fights back, setting up for a rope walk.
Instead, he gets caught with an inverted atomic drop by Melo. Thrust kick is evaded as Saints leaves the ring, but that just opens him up for a somersault plancha by Hayes. He brings Ricky back in the ring before going up top, but Saints dodges him and lays in a few shots.
Now we see Hayes go to the corner, but he gets caught by Saints, who brings him right back to the mat before sending him into the ropes. Hayes fights back, setting Ricky up for a DDT onto the apron. On that note, the show shifts gears and settles into a mid-match commercial break.
When the show returns, Saints sends Melo to the corner, dropping him to the mat for a chin-lock. Hayes starts to fight back but is sent to the mat by Saints, who covers for a two. He lands some stomps as we get a dueling “let’s go Melo” and “let’s go Saints” chant. Saints takes Melo down hard to the mat.
Saints with a kick to the knee, but Hayes off the ropes hits a Dirty Diana then a Black Crush but only a near fall out of that. Hayes heads up top, but misses a flying nothing, Ricky then tries a Revolution DDT, both men trade counters for pins but can’t find one.
A turnbuckle pad has come off. Ricky blocks First 48 and puts Hayes on the top rope with the exposed buckle. They head up top, avalanche Gordbuster from Hayes but Ricky then crotches him onto the exposed metal. Hayes still avoids a Roshambo.
He then hits First 48 but no cover, when he tries the cover Ricky kicks him backwards into the exposed buckle, Hayes hits the back of his head. Saints covers him and wins. With the win, it will be Ricky Saints challenging Trick Williams at Night of Champions.
Winner and NEW No. 1 Contender to WWE U.S. Championship: Ricky Saints
World Title Main Event Set For WWE Night Of Champions
In the back, Nick Aldis talks on the phone then talks with Cody Rhodes. “The American Nightmare” knows Gunther has put Aldis in a bad position, but there’s only one solution. A triple threat match at Night of Champions. Aldis agrees to that. It appears set. The show moves on from there.
Cathy Kelley Interviews Charlotte Flair
Cathy Kelley talks with Charlotte Flair, Charlotte is still hungry and wants another world title. She wants this crown and then a shot to get her 15th title at SummerSlam. She’ll show Liv why Charlotte is the queen then, now, and forever. That sends us to break.
Backstage With Danhausen, The Miz, Kit Wilson, Angel, Berto & Matt Cardona
In the back Danhausen has Miz and Kit Wilson in tinfoil hats and makes them do catchphrases. Angel and Berto show up to complain about Danhausen owing them money. Matt Cardona shows up to defend Danhausen and shoo off Berto and Angel. Cardona touches the electric stuff and might be reverting to Zach Ryder sooner rather than later.
Backstage With R-Truth & Finn Balor
Backstage, R-Truth polishes his title but Finn Balor shows up. Truth and Balor talk, Truth is the master of gaslighting about what happened last week. Balor doesn’t want Truth’s help later but Truth says if you’re Judgement Day it’s for Life.
Priest shows up and still has tension with Balor and doesn’t trust him. Moderately successful comedy, but we’re angling to reunite another faction just like the Bloodline has and that just reeks of lazy or uncreative booking. The show moves on.
2026 WWE King Of The Ring Tournament
Je’Von Evans vs. Jey Uso
‘Main Event’ Jey Uso makes his YEET-friendly entrance to the ring as we gear up for semifinal action in the ongoing 2026 WWE King of the Ring tournament. Uso goes one-on-one against “The Bouncy” Je’Von Evans when the show returns. The winner will faces Oba Femi in the tourney finals.
On that note, the show shifts gears and heads into a quick pre-match commercial break. The show returns and Evans makes his way out. Uso grabs a side headlock then hits the ropes but Evans bounces around then rolls him up for a two-count.
We see a dropkick from Evans, and Uso powders. Evans is still favoring his ribs. Uso runs into a another gorgeous dropkick and powders, then Evans with a huge dive over the top rope. On that note, we shift gears and head into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues.
The show returns and we see this high stakes King of the Ring tourney tilt still in progress. When the show returns, we see Evans return to the ring. Jey gets back in the ring and begs off then offers a handshake. Evans thinks, but eventually does, Jey tries the cheap shot but Evans was ready and lands a hard right hand.
Now we see a ten punch spot from Evans only gets 9 before Jey trips him and does his own ten punch which gets to nine but when he tries the big standing punch Evans hits a lovely dropkick to get a two count. Both men head to the apron, Evans lands an uppercut and Jey slumps back into the ring.
Evans bounces up top for a crossbody which gets a two count. That seems to have aggravated the ribs of Evans, he’s doing a good job of selling those without being over the top with it. Chops from Evans, but then Jey turns the tables and takes over.
Evans back flips off the bottom rope to avoid Jey then hits a suplex and bounces up with ease. Another chop from Evans then he hits the ropes but runs into a high elevation pop up Samoan Drop. That gets to the ribs of Evans and he’s down and hurt.
Jey rips the shirt off of Evans which reveals his taped up ribs so Jey goes after them. Evans tries to fight back with punches Jey hits a right hand then a backbreaker to keep Evans down. Jey runs into a back elbow, Evans up top but Jey shoves him all the way to the barricade. We head to another mid-match break there.
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