The road to WWE SummerSlam 2026 continues tonight, as WWE SmackDown is live at 8/7c on the USA Network and Netflix from Oklahoma City, OK.
‘WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.’ airs to get the show officially off-and-running. We see a video package recapping CM Punk’s return and victory over Sami Zayn to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion from this past Monday’s WWE Raw in Chicago.
Reinstated SmackDown G.M. Nick Aldis Introduces CM Punk
At ringside, Nick Aldis is reinstated as SmackDown General Manager after taking on mediation following his scuffle with Gunther at Night of Champions. With that out of the way, Aldis introduces our new Undisputed WWE Champion to the ring as CM Punk emerges to a roar from the OKC crowd.
With that said, “The Best in the World” heads to the ring as the crowd sings along with his iconic theme song. Aldis thanks him for taking his call on Monday, giving the new champ the floor. He tells the fans that he had been in talks with WWE and NBCUniversal, spearheaded by Nick Aldis to bring Punk to SmackDown.
Those talks were expedited on Monday, and when title opportunities fall out of the sky he is willing to catch them. He talks about getting his gear on at home, kissing his beautiful wife goodbye, and heading to the arena on Monday. Now, he gets to ask how great it is to be alive on a Friday Night in Oklahoma City.
Punk addresses those in the back and how hungry they are to go after this title. Like he told Nick before the show started, he tells those in the back that if anyone thinks he’s got something that belongs to them, come fight for it. He turns his attention to Sami Zayn from there.
He acknowledges what the former champ had to say about him on social media. He understands where Zayn is coming from, and he certainly deserves a rematch. He also brings up Gunther as someone he’s had history with, even if he ends up regretting saying his name.
He brings up Finn Balor and their title bouts in recent months, as well as Royce Keys and Damian Priest…before being interrupted by the arrival of Cody Rhodes. “The American Nightmare” emerges and makes his way down to join Punk in the ring.
Rhodes poses on the ropes in the corner as pyro goes off. Punk stares at him. Rhodes references Punk’s black eye before getting on the microphone. Punk asks Rhodes what he wants to talk about. Rhodes says the last time they spoke in the ring, Rhodes was the one with a black eye.
Rhodes talks about how Punk’s championship match fell out of the sky, but the impending match between the two has been years in the making. Punk says he didn’t call out Rhodes because they’re friends and didn’t want to ruin the friendship.
Punk says a Rhodes/Punk match is a WrestleMania match and Rhodes says last time they were in the ring, Rhodes told Punk to just say when and – Punk interrupts and says “When?”. Rhodes says SummerSlam and the two shake hands in the ring. Aldis says it’s official and this will be the main event at SummerSlam.
Backstage
Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab are being interviewed by Cathy Kelley. Cargill says she’ll kick Alexa Bliss’ ass tonight to repay Charlotte Flair for costing Cargill her title match against Tiffany Stratton. Cargill says whatever happens to Bliss tonight is all Flair’s fault.
Tama Tonga vs. Finn Balor
Inside the arena, wehead down to the ring for our first match of the evening. It will be Finn Balor going one-on-one against Tama Tonga. Balor takes Tonga out at the bell and punches him around the ring. Balor chops Tonga and Tonga takes Balor down with a shoulder tackle.
Balor kicks Tonga and clotheslines him over the ropes to the outside. Balor gets tripped up by Talla Tonga allowing Tama Tonga to strike Balor and then hit him with a running elbow. Balor is covered and he kicks out at two. On that note, we head to a mid-match commercial break as the action continues.
When the show returns, we see the bout still in progress. Tonga has Balor in a headlock and Balor powers out of the move. Tonga kicks Balor and strikes him into the corner. Balor rolls up Tonga and Tonga kicks out and hits a back breaker and covers Balor for a near fall.
Balor punches Tonga and slams down Tonga with a float over Russian Leg Sweep. Balor punches Tonga some more and hits a flying forearm. Tonga is chopped and slammed to the mat and covered for a two count. Tonga battles back with some punches to Balor and Tonga slams down Balor with a spinning side slam and covers him for a near fall.
Tonga rams into Balor in the corner and Balor runs at Tonga and hits a SlingBlade. Balor now connects with a shotgun dropkick and climbs the ropes. Talla Tonga distracts Balor who misses Coup de Grace. Tonga hits Cuthroat and a driver and then covers Balor who kicks out at two.
Balor rolls up Tonga and Tonga kicks out and then gets tossed to the outside. Balor comes over the rope and takes out the Tonga Brothers and then throws Tama back in the ring and hits a shotgun dropkick into the corner. Balor comes off the top rope and hits Coup De Grace and gets the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Backstage
Backstage, Cathy Kelley is with Carmelo Hayes. Kelley asks Hayes about his thoughts about his match against Trick Williams. Hayes says he comes up short sometimes and then talks smack about Williams and Little Yachty. Hayes says his aim has never been more clear and today he’ll prove that he is ‘him.’
R-Truth is backstage with Fraxiom. Nathan Frazer and Axiom leave after Truth pays them what he lost in a bet. War Raiders pop by and Erik says he wants Truth to go talk to Aldis for their title match. Erik and Ivar leave, Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu come by. Fatu asks if Truth has seen Royce Keys. Truth says he doesn’t know Keys. Damian Priest comes by and tells them he’s seen Keys today. Fatu and Uso leave.
Nick Aldis is on the phone backstage talking to Sami Zayn on the phone. Zayn is upset about the title match and Gunther storms into Aldis’ office. Aldis hangs up the phone and Gunther tells Aldis it’s Aldis’ first day off and he’s here to give Aldis a chance to fix this. Gunther says he is next in line for a title shot and is giving Aldis till the end of the night to fix this. Aldis says he’ll take this into consideration.
The Bloodline Issues Handled In The Ring
We cut to the ring, Jimmy Uso & Jacob Fatu are in the ring. Uso calls out Solo Sikoa. Instead, Royce Keys comes out and marches to the ring. Uso says Keys doesn’t look like Sikoa and asks why he’s out here. Keys says he’s here because Uso mentioned his name and this week, he was mentioned again.
Keys says their family business is starting to affect him. Uso says tonight it’s about OTC business and Keys says The OTC isn’t even here. Fatu walks up to Keys and stares at him. Fatu says he and Keys are tight and they should keep it like that and tells Keys to please not go there when it comes to Roman Reigns.
Keys says it doesn’t have to be like that and Uso says Keys doesn’t tell them what to do because he’s not part of this family. Keys says loyalty makes you family, not blood. Keys talks about how many family members he’s lost and says he has no family and that Fatu is like his brother and he won’t see Fatu fall.
Uso tells Keys to not cross a line he can’t come back from. Keys says he’s not out here to fight but he sees a line on the ground and he’s going to cross it and Keys steps one step forward. Uso says he and Fatu will annihilate Keys and Fatu stops Uso.
He asks, “we?” and says there is no we and this one is on Uso and he’s out. Fatu drops the mic and leaves Uso in the ring with Keys. Uso calls for a referee for an official match and says Keys can’t come back from this and attacks Keys. Keys clotheslines Uso and then knocks him out of the ring.
Jimmy Uso vs. Royce Keys
The bell sounds to get things started and we see Keys take down Uso after a headlock from Uso. Uso is punched in the corner and then clotheslined down to the mat. Uso kicks Keys and then goes to suplex him but Keys counters and suplexes Uso.
Uso is covered and he kicks out at one and then rolls out of the ring. Keys goes out after him and Uso moves out of the way and Keys slams into the steel steps. Uso comes off the top rope and splashes onto Keys and covers him for a near fall.
Uso kicks Keys and Keys takes Uso down with a standing cross body. Keys is sent out of the ring and Uso flies over the ropes sending Keys into the announce desk and we cut to a break. When the show returs, Keys punches Uso and then slams him down with a powerslam.
Uso is covered and he kicks out at two. Uso rolls out of the ring and Keys slams Uso onto the announce desk. Keys slams Uso again. Uso fights back and sends Keys into the ringpost. Solo Sikoa comes out of nowhere and attacks Uso. Jacob Fatu comes out.
As he does, Sikoa charges at him. Fatu punches Sikoa and gets Sikoa in a Tongan Death Grip. Fatu tosses Sikoa over the barricades. Keys is distracted and Uso spears Keys in the ring and gets the win. After the match, Fatu brings Sikoa in the ring and starts beating him up.
Keys stops Fatu and the two argue and Fatu superkicks Keys and then hits Keys with a senton. Uso gets a chair and throws it in the ring, Fatu places it around Sikoa’s neck and goes to hit him with a running hip attack, but instead stops.
Fatu tells Sikoa to stop messing with them because next time he won’t stop and says Roman Reigns wants to talk to him on Monday and he leaves Sikoa in the ring as he and Uso leave to wrap up the eventful post-match scene.
Winner: Jimmy Uso
Backstage
Cathy Kelley talks to CM Punk backstage about Gunther wanting to jump the line. Punk says he wants everyone who wants to fight him to get in line. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae are behind Punk. Gargano is laying on a crate and LeRae says Punk stole the dream of the underdog being on top.
Punk says he remembers Johnny Wrestling and tells LeRae and Gargano to get back in the ring and stop doing whatever they’re doing. Finn Balor comes by and welcomes Punk to SmackDown. The show moves on from there.
Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill
We see Alexa Bliss along with Charlotte Flair head to the ring and we head to break. When the show returns, Jade Cargill and The Baddies duo of B-Fab and Michin make their way out. It will be Bliss going one-on-one against Cargill.
The bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running. Bliss and Cargill circle each other. Cargill pushes Bliss out of the way and talks smack to Flair. Bliss jumps onto Cargill’s back and is tossed off. Cargill goes back to Flair and Bliss knocks Cargill down at her knee.
She then slams into her against the ropes. Bliss covers Cargill and Cargill kicks out. Bliss smacks Cargill and Cargill counters a float-over and slams Bliss onto her knee and gets Bliss in a back breaker. On that note, the show shifts gears and heads into a mid-match commercial break.
When the show returns, we see the action still ongoing. Bliss kicks Cargill from the corner and pummels Cargill’s back with some strikes. Bliss kicks and chops Cargill and kicks Cargill into the corner. Bliss hits Natural Selection and covers Cargill for a near fall.
Cargill overpowers Bliss and chucks Bliss into the corner. Bliss tries for a crossbody and Cargill catches her. Bliss counters and sets up for Sister Abigail and Cargill counters. B-Fab and Michin trip Bliss and Flair takes out Cargill and Bliss tries for a pin and Cargill kicks out.
Bliss gets distracted by B-Fab and Cargill hits a pumpkick followed by Jaded and gets the win. After the match, Michin throws a chair to Cargill in the ring. Flair runs in and attacks Cargill. B-Fab and Michin attack Flair and she takes them out. Cargill kicks Flair and then puts Bliss’ arm in a chair and starts hyperextending it.
Meanwhile, we see Flair getting beaten up in the corner. Cargill slams Bliss’ arm down in the chair and officials run in to check on Bliss who screams in pain. Cargill, B-Fab and Michin leave as Flair and officials check on Bliss. That’s how the eventful post-match scene wraps up.
Winner: Jade Cargill
Trick Williams Shows Off Custom Fur Edition U.S. Title
Backstage, we see Trick Williams looking for his United States title and assumes Ricky Saints has stolen it. Lil Yachty comes in and tells Williams he got him a legacy title. Yachty presents Williams with a new title that is made from the same kind of fur that his white fur coat is made from.
Trick Williams (w/ Lil Yachty) vs. Carmelo Hayes
After a quick backstage segment with Charlotte Flair looking on and pissed as medics check on Alexa Bliss’ arm following the attack by Jade Cargill earlier in the show, we head to the ring for what is likely the final actual match of the evening.
The entrances take place for former friends turned rivals Trick Williams, who comes out accompanied by Lil Yachty, and Carmelo Hayes. The bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running. Williams sends Hayes into the corner. They lock up and Williams sends Hayes into the other corner.
Williams collides with Hayes sending him to the mat and Hayes is then stomped on in the corner. Ricky Saints watches the match backstage and in the ring, Hayes chops Williams and flies around the ring. Hayes drop kicks Williams and hits a springboard splash onto Williams.
Williams comes back with a FlapJack and slaps Hayes to the mat and we cut to a commercial break as the action continues in the ring. When the show returns, we see things still in progress. Williams hits Hayes with an uppercut and Hayes fires back with Dirty Diana and covers Williams for a near fall.
Williams and Hayes counter holds and Williams then takes down Hayes with some kicks and then slammed down with The Book End and Hayes kicks out of the pin. Hayes kicks Williams and comes off the middle rope and DDT’s Williams and covers him for a two count.
Hayes talks smack to Williams and Williams hits a jumping neck breaker and covers Hayes for a near fall. Williams places Hayes on the top turn buckle and then climbs up with Hayes. Hayes punches Williams off the ropes and Hayes comes off the top rope with a Frog Splash and Williams is covered for a near fall.
We cut to Saints who still watches the match and he looks angry. Hayes goes for 1st-48 but Williams stops it and the two trade pinning attempts. Hayes kicks Williams to the mat and comes off the top rope and misses a Frog Splash. Williams kicks Hayes down and covers him and Hayes kicks out at two.
Williams is punched to the outside and Hayes comes and pushes Williams into Yachty knocking him out. Back in the ring, Hayes hits 1st48 and then climbs the ropes. Baron Corbin comes out of nowhere and pushes Hayes off the top rope and then gets in the ring and starts attacking Williams.
After the match, Corbin hits End of Days on Hayes and then slams Williams down with the End of Days. Corbin goes and gets the Unites States title and poses with it before dropping it on Williams and then Corbin leaves the ring.
Winner via DQ: Carmelo Hayes
Gunther Goes Wild, Attacks Nick Aldis
It’s main event (segment) time!
Gunther is shown looking pissed as he walks backstage while the show heads into the final commercial break of the evening. When the show returns, Gunther makes his way out to the ring. Gunther gets on the mic and calls out Nick Aldis so Aldis can give Gunther his decision.
Aldis comes out with a mic and tells Gunther he’s decided he’ll Gunther exactly what he wants. Aldis says Gunther wants Cody Rhodes and CM Punk he’ll give Gunther both of them next week at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Aldis says Rhodes and Punk will battle Gunther and Sami Zayn in a tag team match.
Gunther says Aldis needed to fix his mistake and Aldis says the only mistake he needed to fix is Gunther being an asshole since being signed to SmackDown. Gunther attacks Aldis. Gunther clotheslines Aldis to the mat and then locks him in a sleeper hold. Officials run down and break them up.
Gunther breaks free and locks Aldis in another sleeperhold. Officials pull Gunther off Aldis and Gunther goes back and locks Aldis in another sleeperhold. Gunther breaks the hold and then attacks Aldis again as the end credits hit the screen. Aldis has faded and Cody Rhodes comes out to make the save to end the show. Thanks for joining us!
