WWE returns live tonight at 8/7c on the USA Network and Netflix with the post-SummerSlam episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
Dory Funk Jr. Tribute
As always, ‘WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.’ kicks things off. We see an “In Memory Of’ tribute for late WWE Hall of Fame legend Dory Funk Jr., who passed away earlier this week at the age of 85. We are then welcomed to the show by Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett.
CM Punk, Kevin Owens & Cody Rhodes Kick Things Off
The commentators inform us that the first 30 minutes of tonight’s show will air commercial-free. We then hear the familiar sounds of Cody Rhodes theme music, as “The American Nightmare” makes his way out to kick things off on this week’s show.
Rhodes yells out Randy Orton and he asks where Orton is at. He tells Orton to come down to the ring right now. He says to do it right now and Cody begins to unbutton his collar. Cody asks the fans what they want to talk about. He says to talk about memories.
He says this week, the wrestling world lost a champion in Dory Funk Jr. He says 200 yards from here was WrestleMania 40 where it was John Cena, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton. More memories this weekend where he lost with his boots on to the best in the world and the Undisputed WWE Champion, CM Punk.
He says he is going to assume that CM Punk did not know that Randy Orton was going to roll into the ring and hit him with an RKO. On that note, CM Punk’s music hits and out comes the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion to join Cody in the ring.
Punk says he heard his name and he buzzed the truck because his friend wants to ask him a question. Cody says he doesn’t want to ask him but he will. He asks Punk if he knew about Randy Orton. Punk says no, he didn’t know that Orton was there or hit a drive by RKO.
He says he is pretty pissed about it, if he wants to two man power trip this place, they can go back together, find Orton and beat his ass together. Cody tells him that they have unfinished business but his answer is the one he needs from Orton and he guarantees he will find Orton tonight.
He tells Punk the ring is his, the Champion CM Punk and Cody leaves the ring. He begins to walk to the back and Punk tells him that the unfinished business between them, say when. Kevin’s music hits and out comes Kevin Owens to the ring. Owens and Punk are face to face.
They begin to argue without the microphones and out comes Nick Aldis. He gets on the ring apron and Owens tells Aldis he didn’t see him there but not to worry. Punk asks him if he is there to get his title shot, Owens says he wants to wrestle, that is all he has wanted to do for the last 17 months.
He says 17 months is a long time to be told that you might never get to do what you love again, especially when you haven’t decided. He says he didn’t decide to leave, he had to leave. But he has been proving people wrong his entire career and here he is. Punk nods and applauds.
He says Punk is out there proving Owens right because for three years, people have told him that you have to give Punk a second chance. Phil has changed, he is a new guy but he never bought it, not for one second because he knows who CM Punk and Punk is proving him right by having the arrogance to just say when for the title shot.
When in fact, he is the number one contender for the title. He says he is not surprised that Punk is looking passed him because he thinks he is better than him and everyone. And that is what proves to him that he is right and Punk is still the same arrogant, sociopath he has always known him to be.
Punk says to talk about his arrogance, some people love it, it’s what got him to the dance. It’s why they chanted for him for 10 years while he was gone. He understands the flip side of the coin, some people might not like that he calls himself the best in the world but he backs it up.
He says the title means he is the best in the world. What he doesn’t understand is why Owens can’t appreciate the arrogance because if anyone has benefited from Punk’s arrogance, it’s Owens. Thing he did to knock down doors for people like Owens.
He says people called him skinny fat or if he thought that people waited for Kevin Owens to show up. Owens says it has been 10 years since he was Champion and he has imagined it several times. But he never knew that something would happen to make that moment even better.
Because now he doesn’t just get to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, he gets to humble Punk and beat his ass for it. Punk says it’s good to have impossible dreams, sometimes he dreams big and he can tell that Owens is scared. Punk says if it wasn’t for him, Owens wouldn’t be here right now.
He would be working a 9-5, being a part time indie, asking him to tickets to a WWE show for him and his kid. Punk says Owens tells him that he thinks he is the best in the world but that doesn’t work for him brother, because he knows he is the best in the world.
Owens says Punk kicked doors down for people like him, that’s true. But he should also thank Punk for showing him what not to be, how not to treat people around you. He showed him that some people’s ego can be so inflated that they start to believe when they say they are the best in the world.
Owens tells him that he must be so lonely on that pedestal he put himself on. Meanwhile, thank you, because seeing what Punk has become has made him realize not to let the business turn into a miserable piece of shit like him. They drop the microphones but in comes Nick Aldis and WWE officials. Owens pushes Punk but officials break it up.
Charlotte Flair Vows Revenge On Jade Cargill
The commercial-free opening thirty minutes continues from there, as we shift gears and head backstage where we see Cathy Kelley is standing by with Charlotte Flair. She tells Kelley that when Jade Cargill arrived in WWE three years ago, she saw someone who wants to be the top girl but tonight, she is not fighting for that.
She is fighting for her best friend, Alexa Bliss, who brought her back to life. When she held Alexa’s daughter a few weeks ago telling her that her mom will be okay, it lit something. Flair tells Jade two alpha’s, one ring, and if Jade is half the woman she says she is, she will come alone for their match tonight.
Trick Williams With A Message For Baron Corbin
Now we shift to another brief backstage segment, as the owner of “The Lemon Pepper-Steppers” himself, Trick Williams is shown. Trick-Willy tells Baron Corbin that tonight, he gets his rematch for the WWE United States Championship he lost to him at WWE SummerSlam this past weekend.
Williams says he sees Corbin doing podcasts with his title but the only reason he got his title is because he hit him in the head with it. Because at the end of the day, he doesn’t have what it takes to beat him straight up. He says no matter what, tonight Philly is going to “Whoop that Trick” and Trick is going to “whoop that ass.”
WWE United States Championship
Baron Corbin (c) vs. Trick Williams
With that said, Williams quick pre-match backstage promo wraps up. Inside the arena, the familiar horns for Trick Williams’ theme hits and the loud “Whoop that Trick!” chants spread throughout the Philadelphia crowd. Williams makes his way to the ring for his SummerSlam rematch for the U.S. title against Baron Corbin.
The reigning and defending U.S. Champion Baron Corbin comes out next, riding a motorcycle that he parks on the top of the entrance ramp. The newly crowned U.S. title-holder makes his way to the ring and after the formal pre-match ring introductions for the champ and challenger, the bell sounds to get things started.
We see Corbin with right hands straight out of the gate, but Trick connects with a clothesline that slows the new champ down. Corbin rolls to the outside of the ring to regroup. Trick heads to the outside to avoid allowing that to happen. He lands a chop to the chest.
From there, Trick throws Corbin into the steel ring post and connects with another big chop. He throws Corbin into the time keeper’s area and then hits a cross-body over the barricade and onto Corbin on the outside of the ring on the unforgiving floor.
On that note, the commercial-free opening thirty minutes of tonight’s show wraps up, as the program heads into the first advertising break of the evening, with the title tilt still ongoing. When the show returns, we see Corbin working over Williams some more.
Trick hits a modified flap-jack. Trick with the Trick Slap and he goes for the cover but Corbin kicks out. Trick goes for the Book End but Corbin with right hands. Trick throws Corbin to the ropes and Trick with a Trick kick. Trick runs towards Corbin but Corbin with the deep six.
He goes for the cover but Trick kicks out. Trick with a right hand but Corbin with a right hand. Corbin goes for a right hand but Trick with a neck breaker and he clotheslines Corbin to the outside of the ring. Trick to the outside and he grabs Corbin but Corbin pushes Trick into the ring post.
He throws Trick back into the ring. Corbin grabs the United States title and gets in the ring. The referee grabs the title from him and he throws the title to the outside. Trick with the Book End. He goes for the cover but Corbin kicks out. Trick runs towards Corbin but Corbin goes for End of Days, Trick lands on his feet and Trick with the Trick Shot.
He goes for the title but Corbin gets his arm onto the ropes. Corbin rolls to the outside of the ring and he grabs the United States title. Trick goes to grab Corbin but Corbin hits him with the title and the referee doesn’t see it. Corbin goes for the cover and gets the pin to retain his U.S. title with a successful first defense.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Baron Corbin
Backstage With Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Nick Aldis
After the opening championship contest wraps up, we head backstage where we see reinstated SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is speaking on the phone. In comes Sami Zayn and he congratulates Aldis on SummerSlam, He says when his son was in the ring and hugged Aldis, he cried. He asks Aldis if he is going to congratulate him too.
He says he would still be WWE Champion if it wasn’t for Aldis. He says he gave Punk a title match, he added Gunther and Kevin Owens to his match. In comes Owens and Aldis says they have unfinished business. Owens tells Aldis he knows when he wants that title match, on August 21 in Toronto. Aldis says he will make some calls.
Once Aldis leaves, Zayn welcomes Owens back. Owens says he doesn’t sound sincere. Zayn says he is happy for him, he is back and he has a title opportunity. He says of course he is happy but he needs him to understand and acknowledge that his return 100-percent screwed him, came at his expense.
Owens says yes, it did mess things up for him. Zayn asks him to say sorry. Owens says he is sorry but had Zayn been in his position, he would have done the same thing. Owens says Phil (CM Punk) can imply that he didn’t earn it but the last match he had before leaving, he won and he beat Zayn before he left.
Zayn says good for him and he wants to see him being champion and if there is anything he can do to make that happen to let him know. Owens says he appreciates that but he knows how long he has been waiting. Zayn tells Owens not to expect him to stop chasing what he wants just because it’s what Owens wants. We head to a break.
Carmelo Hayes Attacks Baron Corbin
When we return, we shoot backstage and see Cathy Kelley standing by with Baron Corbin. She tells him that is two upset wins against Trick Williams. He tells her upset and asks her if he is the underdog in this story. He says he already has a title, the first of many. He says he hopes everyone that doubted him feels stupid right now.
Corbin says there is no one in that locker room that can step to him for that title. In comes Carmelo Hayes and he hits Corbin with a right hand. He throws Corbin into the garage door. He says he just spoke to Nick Aldis and he will go up against him next week for the United States title in his home town.
Chelsea Green’s Interim Women’s Title Celebration Gets Interrupted
From there, footage is shown of Chelsea Green winning the ladder match to become the new Interim WWE Women’s Champion at WWE SummerSlam 2026 this past weekend. Back live inside the arena, Green makes her way to the ring, which is decked out for her Interim Women’s Championship Celebration.
It’s a red carpet in the ring with balloons in all four corners. She says she loves them, she appreciates them sticking with them since the beginning and pledging their allegiance. Because of them cheering her, they are a huge part of the reason why she walked out of SummerSlam as the new WWE Women’s Champion.
She says and while they are thanking people, it’s only right that she thanks herself because she’s also the reason why they are all there tonight. She says she wants to thank her beautiful, stunning, blonde bombshell of a best friend, Tiffany Stratton. Her music hits and out she comes to the ring.
Chelsea tells her she is sorry for what happened on Sunday but she knows that their friendship is stronger than that. She says she wants to make a toast to strong, female friendships. Tiffany says she wanted to talk to her about something but out come Fatal Influence. Jane says that’s enough of this cringy little soap opera.
She says if it wasn’t for Tiffany, she would have been in that ladder match and she would be the one standing in the ring as the WWE Women’s Champion. And they all know it. They talk about how they should all be champions but instead they have Chelsea Green, the self proclaimed hot mess.
But what makes it worse is that Chelsea actually thinks she deserves it. Chelsea says that was rude, she is celebrating her moment. Jane tells her they are not out here to ruin her tragic little moment. Jane tells Tiffany that she took away her chance at the title, now she leaves her no choice but to take away the thing that she loves the most.
They get in the ring and Jane says since Chelsea’s best friend ruined her chance of being Tiffy two belts, why not take her United States title. And after that, Tiffany can be Tiffy no titles. Tiffany tells her she will give her a title match next week if they give them a tag title match right here, right now. Fatal Influence accepts. We head to a break.
WWE Women’s Tag-Team Championships
Fatal Influence (c) vs. Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton
The show returns from the commercials and we head right into the WWE Women’s Tag-Team title tilt that was set up heading into the break. The bell rings and we are under way. Chelsea with right hands onto Reid and Tiffany is tagged in. They double team Reid and Tiffany with a drop kick.
Henley is tagged in and Tiffany with an arm drag. She goes for another arm drag but Henley with a right hand and a kick to the side of the head. She throws Tiffany to the ropes but Tiffany with a stunner. In comes Reid but Chelsea with a right hand.
After that, Stratton and Green throw Fatal Influence to the outside of the ring. They follow that up with a pair of double suicide dives onto the Fatal Influence members outside of the ring. On that note, the show shifts gears and heads into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues.
When the show returns, we see things still ongoing. Chelsea and Reid are in the ring. Tiffany is tagged in and she clotheslines Reid. Henley gets on the ring apron but Tiffany with a drop kick. Tiffany with an Alabama Slam onto Reid. She climbs the top rope and lands the Swanton.
In comes Henley who hits her with a right hand. Chelsea is tagged in. She throws Henley to the outside of the ring. Chelsea goes for the Unpretty-Her onto Reid but Reid gets out of it. Reid on the ring apron and she kicks Chelsea. She climbs the top rope but Chelsea with a gorilla press slam.
Now we see Henley come in, but Chelsea connects with a cutter. She goes for the Unpretty-Her but Jane drags Tiffany to the outside. Reid distracts the referee. Chelsea grabs Jane but Jane hits her with a Rolling Encore. Henley to the outside.
She throws Tiffany into the barricade. Reid and Henley with the Fatal Flaw onto Chelsea to win. After the match, we see even more unfold from those involved in this one. In come Nia Jax and Lash Legend. They hit Green and Tiffany. Nia grabs the Interim WWE Women;’s Championship and poses with it to end the post-match scene.
Winners and STILL WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Fatal Influence
Backstage With Damian Priest, R-Truth & The War Raiders
Backstage, we see Cathy Kelley standing by with Damian Priest. He tells her it’s the same thing over and over. They beat MFT’s for the tag titles. After that, the MFT’s jumped them, they hit them again and MFT’s hit them again. He says they have Haku but he has Ron Killing and he is Damian Priest.
In come the War Raiders. They tell Priest that they will be double champions. In comes R-Truth who tells them they aren’t afraid of luchadores, the Road Warriors, the Legion of Doom, Hawk or Animal. He says he will talk to SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis.
They will defend their titles against them and the MFTs next week. Priest says last week they went title for title and next week they have to defend theirs. He asks him if Aldis mentioned the AAA Tag Titles and R-Truth says he didn’t. The show moves on to another commercial break.
Brock Lesnar’s WWE Retirement
When the show returns from the break, we shoot to a Brock Lesnar video package, where we see Oba Femi getting the win against Brock Lesnar inside Hell In A Cell at WWE SummerSlam this past weekend. They show the clip of Brock Lesnar announcing his retirement on the Pat McAfee Show.
Randy Orton’s SmackDown Return Interrupted By Cody Rhodes
Inside the arena, Randy Orton’s music hits and out he comes to the ring. As he is about to speak, Cody’s music hits and out he comes. He gets in the ring and Orton rolls to the outside of the ring. Cody grabs a microphone and he asks Orton what he is waiting on. He tells him to get in the ring right now.
Orton puts the microphone down but he backs off. Out come Nick Aldis and WWE officials. Cody asks if that is how they are going to do it. He says after 20 years, after everything they have been through, especially recently, he says Orton owes him an explanation. Orton says he doesn’t owe him anything.
He says Cody asked for this, on the road to WrestleMania, he asked for the very best version of Randy Orton. He gave him permission to be the best version. He calls Cody a cocky, arrogant, son of a bitch. HE says Cody gave permission to him, a 14 time World Champion, the viper, the legend killer.
He says he played Cody’s game, he gave him the best version and Cody beat him. He congratulates Cody for that. He says but in that moment, he snapped. He felt an echo that got louder and the voices came back more clear than they ever were in his entire career and they told him to kick Cody in the face as hard as he could.
And in that moment, he realized that the best version of Randy Orton wasn’t going to bring home number 15 but the worst version of Randy Orton can and will. He says he doesn’t care who has it. If it’s Owens, Punk but he knows that it won’t be Cody because as long as there is air in his lungs, he will make sure that Cody is never a WWE Champion again. Cody says the worst version.
He asks where the title is right now. He doesn’t have to turn the other cheek, he doesn’t have to turn the other eye. He says what about the worst version of him. He doesn’t have to be the good guy anymore. He says Orton calls himself the legend killer but to look around, he is the last legend left. “Who kills you?” Mic drop.
Backstage With Sami Zayn, CM Punk, Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae
Now we shift gears and head to a backstage segment. We see Sami Zayn is with Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. Gargano is still laying down doing the depressed planking thing. Zayn says the truth is that he is a little jealous of Kevin Owens. Not because he gets to wrestle CM Punk for the title.
No not that. But instead because he gets to tell Punk what a fraud he is. LeRae points behind Zayn and it’s CM Punk. He asks if they are still doing this and by this he means Zayn crying behind his back. He says he knows Zayn and Owens is jealous, he doesn’t know what Johnny is but at least Owens says it to his face.
Zayn calls Punk a fraud, his days are numbered. Zayn says he has a broken bone in his hand but if he didn’t, he would break his face right now. Punk says if he could have, he would have. He says Zayn lost, just like Owens will lose. Punk says he would give Gargano and LeRae a title match before he gives Zayn a title shot.
Backstage With Jade Cargill, B-Fab & Michin
Now in a different area backstage, we see Cathy Kelley standing by with Jade Cargill, B-Fab and Michin. B-Fab tells her they don’t care what Charlotte Flair has to say. They have proven that Flair is nothing compared to Jade. Michin says Jade is the greatest title of all time and the only thing missing is the Championship.
The Latest From Shinsuke Nakamura & Nikki Bella
A Nikki Bella heel video airs where she vows to make Paige’s life a living hell. We also get a vignette teasing the return of “The King of Strong Style” and Japanese pro wrestling legend Shinsuke Nakamura. In his video, Nakamura addresses The MFTs and says he’s starting a war, but he’s no longer a one-man army because he’s not coming alone.
Three Title Matches Set For 8/14 SmackDown In Boston
Announced for next week’s WWE SmackDown on August 14 in Boston, MA. is Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes for the U.S. title, Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne for the Women’s U.S. title, and Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. War Raiders vs. MFTs for the WWE Tag-Team titles.
Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill
It’s main event time!
Closing out the post-SummerSlam episode of SmackDown in Philadelphia this evening will be a women’s singles showdown, with “The Queen” Charlotte Flair going one-on-one against Jade Cargill. The two make their respective ring entrances, and then the bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running.
Flair and Cargill immediately grapple to the outside of the ring. Cargill pushes Flair into the ring apron and back into the ring. Cargill gets back in the ring. Cargill to the ropes and a shoulder tackle onto Flair. Cargill goes for a right hand but Flair with a chop block.
Flair with a shoulder tackle. Flair with a snap mare and a head scissor take down. They grapple to the outside of the ring and Cargill gets Flair on her shoulders. She throws Flair face first onto the announce table. Cargill throws Flair over the barricade. We head to a mid-match break on that note.
When the show returns, we see Flair with a German suplex. Flair with right hands but Cargill with right hands. Flair with chops to the chest and a clothesline. Flair to the ropes but Cargill with a jump kick. She goes for the cover but Flair kicks out.
Cargill throws Flair to the turnbuckle but Flair flips over and onto the ring apron. Flair with a big boot. Flair climbs the top rope and lands a cross body but Cargill rolls Flair into a cover but Flair kicks out. Cargill with a super kick and she lifts Flair up, slamming her.
She goes for the cover but Flair kicks out. Cargill climbs the top rope but Flair gets to her feet. Flair goes for a leg scissor take down but Cargill pulls her up and powerbombs her. She goes for the cover but Flair kicks out. Cargill goes for a kick but Flair moves out of the way and Flair with a chop block.
Flair with a kick to the face. Flair with the Figure Four Leg Lock and she bridges into the Figure Eight. B-Fab gets on the ring apron and distracts the referee. Michin pulls Flair and breaks it up. Alexa Bliss’ music hits and out comes Alexa Bliss with Lilly.
The lights go out. The lights turn back on, Tatum Paxley of NXT is standing on the top rope and lands a cross body onto B-Fab and Michin. Tatum Paxley hugs Bliss. In the ring, Cargill lights Flair up, however Flair then answers back with Alexa Bliss’ Sister Abigail finisher.
After that, “The Queen” climbed to the top rope. We see Flair with the Natural Selection. She goes for the cover and gets the pin and the victory to end this one. Once the match wraps up, we see Flair, Bliss and Paxley hug. This week’s SmackDown wraps up on that note. Thanks for joining us!
Winner: Charlotte Flair
