wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 7.17.26
Loading...Well it’s another Friday night and so here we all gather for WWE Smackdown. As of my preview writing there are 0 matches announced for the event tonight, so there’s that. The big story on the blue brand last week was Gunther demolishing Smackdown GM Nick Aldis to close the show. That should of course lead to Aldis and Gunther at SummerSlam but we’ll likely get a tad closer to that reality here. In the mean time Adam Pearce is back here, likely to make more matches for RAW. Tomorrow at SNME we’ve got WWE champion CM Punk and Cody Rhodes teaming up against Gunther and Sami Zayn, so that’ll likely get some play tonight. Still no official word on WWE women’s champion Rhea Ripley so the women’s division is still just a lot of nothing. To that end last week Jade Cargill broke Alexa Bliss’s arm so expect Charlotte Flair to be involved with wanting retribution. Last week Baron Corbin showed back up and ruined a perfectly good match between Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes, so expect Corbin to enter the US title picture along with Ricky Saints still lurking about. Blake Monroe wasn’t on TV last week, apparently they couldn’t find 45 seconds for her attack on Chelsea Green to make air. R-Truth and Damian Priest are still allegedly lining up a title for title match with the War Raiders, though we’ll see if anything ever comes of that. The Bloodline BS has continued to infect Smackdown, so I expect Jimmy Uso to be here to once again look for Solo Sikoa. Finn Balor got a win last week, but still no direction. Still nothing for Ilja Dragunov, Jordynne Grace, or Shinsuke Nakamura while Johnny Gargano is still just being a depressed slug, and still no word on returns for Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, or Kevin Owens. WWE has a very good roster right now but man, they really need to utilize them better. Anyway last week was at least a step in the right direction for episodic television, so let’s hope tonight is even better.
First a recap of last week, mostly the stuff with CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, the whole WWE title picture really, as well as Gunther’s attack on Nick Aldis.
After the recap here comes Gunther as Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcome us to the show in Albany, New York. Gunther, showered in boos, gets a mic and eventually has to address the elephant in the room. He’s prided himself on being a professional, but since coming back to Smackdown he’s been mistreated. Aldis might be jealous, and Gunther should be standing here as WWE champion. The only thing stopping him is Nick Aldis. Aldis is the one who’s made this situation personal. So now he’s being forced to team up with Sami Zayn tomorrow to take on Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. Sami is a bum and beneath Gunther, this position is unacceptable. Adam Pearce interrupts and says we’ve all heard enough from Gunther. Feel however you want but the only thing Gunther should be thanking Pearce for saving Gunther’s job. Pearce recaps what Gunther’s been doing lately and he says if Gunther worked for Pearce then Pearce would have fired Gunther. For reasons beyond Pearce’s knowing we’re still here though. Pearce says that if Gunther had just listened last week he’d have heard that if Gunther and Sami win at SNME they’re entered to the SummerSlam main event and it becomes a Fatal 4-Way. For some reason Aldis has kept lobbying for Gunther and that stipulation is still in place. That brings out Cody, he does half his entrance then sprints into the ring and attacks Gunther. Cody punches the big Austrian out of the ring then gets a mic and says Gunther gets handed another stipulation. Gunther kicked a car door into Cody’s head and now Cody is attacking him on sight, and promises Gunther will not even make it to SNME if he has his way. Cody’s read, Gunther looks ready, how about them one on one tonight. Pearce seems to like the idea and makes that match. Gunther’s position is clear but he meandered a bit in his promo because he had to include Aldis as a talking point. Cody had good fire and when he gets to just cut loose like that it’s usually to his benefit.
We get a video from Adam Pearce, finally giving us an update on WWE women’s champion Rhea Ripley. Ripley is close to recovery but wont be cleared for SummerSlam. So at SummerSlam we’ll have an interim women’s title match in a ladder match. We’ll have 5 qualifying matches between now and the event. The title’s fake so is there really any difference between an interim champion and just stripping Ripley? To that end though we’re getting Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax tonight for a spot in that match. Also we’ll get Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne in another qualifying match.
To the ring, here’s Finn Balor. Balor will break his back trying to make Talla Tonga look good after this break.
Post break here comes Talla and his music that sounds like you asked an AI to create a generic kaiju theme. Seriously, I might take AI over Def Rebel at this point.
Match #1: Finn Balor vs. Talla Tonga w/ Tama Tonga
Talla stands around and then misses punches. Balor with a few punches as he tries to avoid getting cornered. Some leg kicks from Balor but he runs into a shoulder block. Talla with some control work in the ropes, he still spends way too much time wandering around looking at the crowd for a reaction. Balor is able to low bridge Talla but Talla then climbs to the apron, catches Balor by the neck and rams him into the corner. Clothesline from Talla and he begs for a reaction which he kind of gets to send us to break.
Some ringside brawling from Talla now, then he distracts the ref so Tama can get in a cheap shot. Balor is barely able to beat the 10 count then Talla gets back to his control stuff. Neck crank from Talla, which is maybe a quarter step up from a nerve hold. Well speak of the devil, now Talla grabs a nerve hold. Balor tries to rally the crowd, they actually do respond to him as he fights free while we rejoin the broadcast. Running powerslam from Talla gets a 2 count. Balor avoids a corner rush and gets back to strikes then dropkicks the knee of Talla. Eye of the Hurricane from Balor but only a 1 count because Talla’s timing isn’t good. Talla with a sloppy Samoan Drop to avoid a 1917. Balor rolls to the apron, lands a kick then climbs up top but Talla grabs him by the throat and tries a chokeslam but Balor counters into a DDT. Kick to Tama, then Balor just runs into a big boot from Tama which gets a 2 count. Talla ties up Balor in the ropes and makes noise but then misses a running boot. Tama distracts the ref so Balor can do some low blows, then a Sling Blade on the floor to Tama. Back in the ring Balor hits the shotgun dropkick to Talla, then a Coup de Grace connects but Balor wants another one which also connects to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Finn Balor won in 9:33
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Balor worked his butt off to make the crowd care about Talla, and to his credit he mostly did it. Balor singlehandedly besting both Tama and Talla is a little odd given how much time and effort was put into those two, but I’m not complaining. Talla’s control work still feels off, and he lacks the big man feel despite being objectively a large man.
In the back CM Punk talks with Pearce about the stipulation for tomorrow. Punk doesn’t like that, then Punk says he’ll talk to Cody about tonight. Punk turns into Damian Priest, Priest says they’re cool and he hopes Punk understands he’s looking for the title. The two share well intentioned words then Punk leaves. R-Truth pops up and talks with Priest a bit, that felt oddly cut at the end.
Jade video where she puts herself over ahead of her qualifying match. Nia Jax gets to talk a bit as well, she looks like she’s lost a fair amount of weight. Jacy Jayne talks as well, putting herself over and promising that Fatal Influence will be running things after SummerSlam. Tiffany then brings up having the home field advantage at SummerSlam and she’ll become Tiffy two belts.
To the ring, here comes Tiffany and she’ll take on Jayne after this break.
Post break here comes Jacy Jayne along with the rest of Fatal Influence. Reid and Henley attack Tiffany before the bell, so here’s Brie Bella and Paige to deal with the goons so we’ll have a fair match as the tag teams fight to the back.
Match #2: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne
Jayne is slow to realize the match starts and Tiffany unloads on her with chops and strikes. Jayne misses a chop and Tiffany returns it. They screw up an Irish whip spot then Tiffany ties up Jayne in the ropes to hit a hip attack and running low dropkick for a 2 count. That’s the state of things as we head to break. Odd layout choice.
Jayne rolls through a Sunset Flip and lands a kick then starts with the mounted punches and a senton. Corner work from Jayne now then a running back elbow. More kicks from Jayne as she retains control then talks at the crowd. Jayne with a facelock, Tiffany fights free with a jawbreaker but Jayne then lands chops to keep control as we rejoin the broadcast. Tiffany avoids a senton then we get a double crossbody spot and both women are down. They start trading strikes for a bit, then Jayne lands some kicks and a really awkward looking enziguri. Tiffany now fires up with clotheslines and a spinning back elbow, then allegedly a cartwheel Alabama Slam. Tiffany heads up top, but Jayne hits the ropes to crotch Tiffany then follows up with a twisting neckbreaker off the ropes for a 2 count. Tiffany avoids the Rolling Encore and hits a springboard Stunner. Finlay Roll from Tiffany then a Prettiest Moonsault Ever to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Tiffany Stratton won in 7:44
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Solid enough overall work despite a couple of awkwardly executed spots. Jayne was getting some heat again, which has been a little bit in short supply after the debut, but Tiffany was the smarter choice for the ladder match overall. Plus there will likely be a last chance thing so we get to 6 women in that match and Jayne could win that.
Next a video from Baron Corbin. Corbin says a lot of people think they’re tough, but he’s the real deal and will bring reality crashing down on them. He tells his opponents to smile while they can, and enjoy what they have because he’s coming for it all.
In the back Jackie talks with Trick Williams. Trick calls Corbin a big bald headed bitch. He runs down Corbin for being bald again, which is weak, and then Carmelo Hayes comes over. Hayes and Trick bicker for a bit then Hayes says he knows Trick knows Hayes is the better of the two of them. Trick says Hayes hasn’t done anything in two years on Smackdown, then retreats to catchphrases because man is he just programmed at this point.
After this break we’ll get Jade vs. Jax.
Post break we get a hype video for Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar in Hell in a Cell. That’s maybe the best built match for SummerSlam overall.
Nia Jax got the jobbers entrance, so here comes Jade Cargill and her underlings.
Match #3: Nia Jax vs. Jade Cargill w/ Michin and B-Fab
Jax avoids a pump kick and hits a Samoan Drop then a leg drop. Now Jax goes to the second rope and misses a leg drop, then Jade with a superkick and a spinebuster. On the floor Charlotte Flair shows up to attack Michin and B-Fab. Charlotte attacks Jade to cause the DQ
OFFICIAL RESULT: Jade Cargill won via DQ in :59
Rating: Angle, not a match
Thoughts: I’m not sure we needed to protect Jax like this, there were other ways to handle this particular situation and I’m not sure this was the right one.
Post match Charlotte goes to Pillmanize the arm of Jade but Michin and B-Fab pull Jade to safety. Jax is pissed at losing the match and squashes Charlotte in the corner. That leads to Jade hitting Jaded on Charlotte to crickets.
In the back Jackie talks with Gunther, Gunther says Cody forced himself into Gunther’s business and Gunther will beat rationality into him. As for tomorrow, he doesn’t care at all about Sami. Candice LeRae wheels over depressed Johnny Gargano, Candice talks at Gunther and says she and Johnny need Sami to win. Gunther is befuddled, oh we see Blake Monroe lurking in the background then she jumps Candice once Gunther leaves. Blake abuses Candice, then introduces herself. Blake walks by depressed Johnny and insults him, but Johnny is a pro and doesn’t react. That sends us to break.
Post break we get confirmation of Jade’s advancement to the ladder match. In the back Nia Jax and Lash Legend yell at Adam Pearce for what just happened. Pearce says Jax will get another qualifying match next week against Charlotte Flair. OK then.
Back to the ring, Fraxiom are hanging out for our next match. Here come the War Raiders, because we’ve got to reintroduce them to the WWE audience.
Match #4 – Tag Team Match: Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) vs. War Raiders (Erik and Ivar)
Erik and Frazer start, Erik overpowers Frazer while commentary joke about the World Cup. Frazer gets mobile for a bit but Erik then runs him over. Ivar tags in and Frazer gets crushed in the corner. Corner work from Ivar then Erik tags back in. Frazer with some body blows but he eats a knee and gets floored again. Enziguri from Frazer then he tags in Axiom. Axiom and Frazer speed up and double team Erik, then misdirect Ivar to the floor. Frazer with a suicide dive but he’s caught, so Axiom has to hit the old orihara moonsault onto the pile of bodies to send us picture in picture.
Erik punches down Axiom back in the ring then tags in Ivar and they both just abuse Axiom for a bit. Some more tags from the Raiders then Erik slams Ivar onto Axiom for a 2 count. Ivar tags back in and Axiom resumes taking heat. Erik grabs a front headlock, he switches towards a standing guillotine but Axiom fights free but can’t make the tag. Axiom finally gets free and tags Frazer. Frazer gets to fire up and “hits” a Sling Blade then a Shining Wizard. As we rejoin the broadcast Frazer goes up for a Phoenix Splash, lands on his feet then tags out. Ivar tags in, and suddenly he wakes up to run over Axiom and Frazer for a bit. Ivar stacks up Axiom and Frazer then goes up top, but misses his moonsault. Axiom and Frazer with superkicks to Erik then Frazer with a springboard 450 to Ivar for a 2 count. Axiom tags back in, but Ivar avoids the Catapulta Infernale and decapitates Axiom with a wheel kick. Erik tags in and rams Ivar into Axiom in the corner then hits a slam but Frazer breaks up the pin to save the match. Ivar tags back in, Axiom fights back with strikes though then both men with suicide dives onto Ivar. Frazer dives onto Erik and Axiom then gets booted by Ivar. Ivar goes up top, but Axiom kicks him then climbs up as Frazer tags in. Frazer and Axiom hit a double superplex, then Frazer hits the Phoenix Splash but Erik breaks up the pin to save the match. Axiom and Erik both tag in, they trade flurries of strikes then Ivar with a blind tag before Erik hits the full nelson knee to the back of the head. A pop up slam to Frazer, then a Ragnarok to Axiom and we’re done here.
OFFICIAL RESULT: War Raiders won in 11:36
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: I’m surprised they got the time to actually turn in a fun little match. Fraxiom don’t have direction but will never disappoint in the ring. The War Raiders can still go and it was nice to see the crowd get back invested in them so quickly. Good stuff overall.
After that a recap of some WWE live events.
In the back Cody warms up, but here’s Punk to talk to him. Punk brings up how crazy this is, and Cody knows tonight is a bad idea but Punk then says he’ll be out there to make sure Cody doesn’t actually get hurt. Cody says Punk can watch on a monitor, they bicker a bit about that and we head to break.
Post break we get a recap of the Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins stuff from RAW. Roman really did cook Seth there on the mic.
After that commentary run down the SNME card.
We see Danhausen in his lair, Jackie shows up to talk with him. Danhausen talks about taking on JD McDonagh, he says he wont be out numbered. He’s got a secret weapon, a stuffed animal cat. His computer goes sideways with sparks and they bail on the scene.
Back to the ring and here comes Gunther, and Cody attacks Gunther during his entrance. Cody abuses Gunther for a bit as they head to the ringside area. Gunther takes one of the safest barrier bumps I’ve seen but sells it like death so good on him. Into the ring now.
Match #5: Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther
Drop down right hand from Cody the a double leg into punches. Cody flips out of a back suplex but Gunther shoves him off the Cody Cutter to the floor and sends us to break.
Gunther tosses Cody onto the apron then both men head into the ring. Chops now from Gunther as he gets to his control work. Gunther blocks a scoop slam then drops an elbow into Cody’s face. Cody tries another scoop slam but his back or leg gives out and Gunther just kind of flops on top of him. Top wrist lock from Gunther, both men fight into the ropes then Gunther lands another chop. That’s the state of things as we rejoin the broadcast. Some knees to the body from Gunther then a downward chop, Burning Sword style. Cody flips out of a back suplex then avoids a lariat and hits a Cody Cutter, well sort of hits it. Punches from Cody as he fires up and then hits the snap powerslam. Disaster Kick from Cody, then another Cody Cutter. Gunther avoids a Cross Rhodes and lands a chop. Gunther with a kick to the leg of Cody, then another one sends head over heels. On the floor Gunther wraps Cody’s leg around the ring post. That’ll bring out CM Punk. Punk power walks to the ring to root Cody on and keep things on the up and up. Gunther wants the Go To Sleep but Cody slips free then we get a double down spot to send us picture in picture.
Cody and Gunther start trading strikes for a bit. Jabs from Cody then the Bionic Elbow and a Pedigree but the knee of Cody doesn’t let him capitalize on the moment. That’s the state of things as we rejoin the broadcast, then Gunther hits a powerbomb for 2 and turns the kickout into a half Boston Crab. Gunther trash talks Punk while cranking the leg of Cody. Cody, for silly reasons, pulls himself all the way across the ring for the ropes then kicks Gunther away. Gunther misses a corner boot so Cody now returns the leg work and hits a Dragon Screw. Cody with the Figure 4 Leg Lock, but here’s Sami Zayn to make everything worse and attack Punk through the crowd. Sami and Punk brawl for a bit and Cody breaks the hold seeing this. That allows Gunther to recover, but Cody just with a suicide dive onto Sami. Sami attacks Cody and that’ll get things thrown out.
OFFICIAL RESULT: No Contest in 12:50
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: They were never going to let this end any other way, which isn’t a bad thing but also means that I’m not sure we needed 13 minutes to get to the conclusion. Still, Gunther and Cody work well together but the overall layout here just felt stretched for time. Which isn’t a problem Smackdown should have, they have a good roster just have the layout be better overall.
Punk shows up to break up a powerbomb on the announce table and now we’ve got all four men brawling all over the area to end the episode as officials desperately try to separate them.
