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.
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