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Hey there everyone, it’s Friday so it’s time for WWE Smackdown. SummerSlam is looming large on the horizon, and now that SNME is behind us pretty much everything is set. WWE champion CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are heating up their rivalry, it went from tense but respectful to quite heated in the aftermath of Punk and Rhodes beating Gunther and Sami Zayn at SNME. Those two will doubtless have things to say tonight. Speaking of that tag match though, Gunther is now slated to battle Smackdown GM Nick Aldis after Aldis brawled with Gunther post SNME. We’ll see if Aldis is allowed to keep his General Manager position through this or if he’ll transition to full time worker and someone else takes over the suit and tie role. Sami Zayn is left out in the cold a bit though, so expect him to whine some more tonight then interfere in the SummerSlam title match. On the women’s side we know WWE women’s champion Rhea Ripley is still injured so we’re still having qualifying matches for a ladder match at SummerSlam for the interim title. Last week Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton qualified, tonight Charlotte Flair tries to qualify over Nia Jax. There still need to be a couple more qualifiers so we’ll see what gets announced. Royce Keys and Solo Sikoa will team up in a tune up match before their trios bout at SummerSlam, the US title picture is crowded now that Baron Corbin returned and Trick Williams continues to be relatively inactive as champion. Fatal Influence won the women’s tag belts at SNME with a finish that was flatly stupid, made the ref look idiotic, and was a damning indictment of everyone involved in terms of them being professionals about understanding layout and blocking. But Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid have belts, so there’s that. Finn Balor has pinned, cleanly, both of the Tonga brothers so he should move on, though will likely wind up trapped in their vortex a little longer. Still nothing for Ilja Dragunov, Shinsuke Nakamura, or Jordynne Grace, and at some point that R-Truth and Damian Priest vs. the War Raiders match will actually have to happen. But all in all Smackdown has bounced back just a bit over the last couple of weeks so let’s hope that pattern holds as we get to the action.

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcome us to Oakland, California. After that we see wrestlers arriving at the venue.

We get a recap of the Gunther and Nick Aldis stuff, Aldis and Adam Pearce are in the ring with a table set up for a contract signing. Pearce plays with the crowd and he’s here to make sure Aldis and Gunther sign the contract. Gunther comes out, and we’ve got some specifics to hammer out before actually signing. Gunther is wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, what is going on?! All three men have mics as the participants sit. Pearce says that Aldis will have to give up his GM duties to Pearce after signing the contract. Aldis will also that WWE will not be liable for anything that happens between him and Gunther. Aldis knows exactly what he’s signing, and says he never wanted any of this but Gunther just couldn’t stop pushing. Gunther pushed them to this, and Aldis signs the contract. Gunther considers, then mocks Pearce and Aldis for wearing suits. There’s a lot of mic issues with Gunther’s mic, and he says this will be the greatest moment of Aldis’s career, but all of this is beneath Gunther. Gunther should be preparing to win the WWE title, but Aldis got involved and doesn’t know how to do his job. Ever since Gunther joined Smackdown Aldis has had it out for him, and he finally figured out that Aldis is jealous of him. He knows Aldis is a former NWA world champion, but Aldis never really made it as a wrestler. He was dreaming of being here, in WWE, but it never happened while Gunther just showed up and got it all. Titles, records, money, Gunther have all of that while Aldis had nothing. Aldis had to face just not being good enough. Now Gunther will make the dream of Aldis come true, he signs the contract, and says he’ll have Aldis join the list of legends that Gunther has retired. All his victims were chasing one more moment, now Gunther will add him to that list. Aldis gets a mic and says Gunther is just repeating himself, but if Gunther actually believed that he wouldn’t be here still saying it. Aldis figured Gunther out, Gunther is projecting because Gunther never thought this would actually happen. Gunther thought he’d just cheap shot Aldis, pay a fine, and move on. But Aldis fought back, and knows Gunther doesn’t want any of this. Now Gunther is the one with his career in jeopardy, because Aldis hasn’t had a match in 3 years and if that guy beats Gunther at SummerSlam then Gunther goes from career killer to a man bitched out by his boss. That prompts the brawl, Aldis gets the better of Gunther at first but Pearce separates them and Gunther takes Aldis to dick kick city then powerbombs him through the table. I appreciate Aldis taking the obvious talking point and actually turning things around on him just a bit. That sends us to break.

Post break we get a recap of the physicality that just happened.

In the back Cathy updates us on Aldis but human dumpster fire Sami Zayn shows up to interrupt her. He talks about winning the WWE title but the powers that be didn’t want him as champion. Within days he was defending the title on a different show, against Cody Rhodes. When Cody got taken out the second corporate poster boy CM Punk showed up ready to go. Now Punk vs. Cody is set for SummerSlam and everyone’s happy except Sami. He was champion 18 days ago and now has no SummerSlam match. He yells at Adam Pearce, Pearce doesn’t want to deal with Sami’s crap. Sami wants to be added to the title match, Pearce can’t do that and tells Sami to shut up. He knows Sami got caught in the crosshairs, so Sami will get a number one contender’s match at SummerSlam against a winner of a Fatal 4-Way tonight. That’s not enough for Sami who continues his whining, Pearce says Sami can take the match or leave it, and Sami takes it. But he doesn’t want any funny business at SummerSlam, which Pearce seems to agree with.

To the ring and Brie Bella waits for Lainey Reid. Reid does get the Fatal Influence entrance. Oh, all three of them have mics trying to regain heat, Reid talks first and asks for heat but doesn’t get it. Fallon says they’ve taken out two legends. Jayne now wants gold as well. Good grief, the lack of heat or interest in this is profound. Jayne whines about not being in the SummerSlam ladder match, then says she’s taking the US title from Tiffany Stratton at some point. Once again, the deafening crickets are sad. Brie and Reid start brawling, no bell though. Eventually the bell rings.

Match #1: Brie Bella w/ Paige vs. Lainey Reid w/ Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley

25 minutes before the first match, not great but not the worst either. Brie starts with control work, a roll up and some kicks. Reid gets sent to the apron but bounces Brie into the corner then lands a kick and then a very ugly Cutter between the ropes to send us to break.

Reid with some control work, which is a lot posing to minimal heat. A lot of Reid’s in ring stuff assumes she’s more over than she is right now, and she can’t seem to adjust. Some work in the ropes from Reid, Brie fights back out of the corner but runs into a punch and Reid keeps control. Reid with some more stomps, they try to heighten the crowd audio in the mix to make her seem to have heat but Brie fights back anyway and hits a Russian leg sweep for a 2 count. Brie avoids an elbow drop, she goes with kicks as we rejoin the broadcast. Brie Mode knee but only a 2 count. Reid runs into a back elbow then Brie hits a Bulldog. Brie goes up top, Fallon tries to get involved and that allows Reid to kick Brie then climb up top with her. Reid wants a superplex but Brie counters with an avalanche Gordbuster. Paige attacks Jayne, then Reid counters a Sunset Flip but grabs the ropes for leverage, the ref sees it and Brie finishes the roll up to get the 3.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Brie Bella won in 5:42

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Reid still feels a little green, and the lack of investment in Fatal Influence is a little shocking given their initial heat. Brie winning was probably the wrong call, as we’re just going into a non-title affair anyway so Reid cheating to win might have been the better overall call as Fatal Influence still kind of look like goobers.

Post match Fatal Influence attack, but here’s Nikki Bella returning to even the odds and hit Jayne with a Rack Attack. Nikki gets a mic and puts the old legends over then challenges them to a trios match at SummerSlam.

In the back Cathy talks with Finn Balor about his Fatal 4-Way tonight, Balor thinks about 2016 SummerSlam when he had the best and worst night of his career. 10 years later he’s been scratching and clawing to get that glory back. Gunther shows up and mocks Balor, he’s taking what’s his and mocks Balor taking 10 years for this kind of moment. That sends us to break.

Post break we get a recap of the LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, and Royce Keys vs. Jacob Fatu, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso fracas from Monday. Man what they’ve done to Fatu is just criminal. Reducing that guy to just a stooge.

In the back Royce Keys warms up, and here’s Solo Sikoa to hype him up. Keys is happy to be home and he’s got a big opportunity tonight. LA Knight shows up, he hopes Keys wins tonight but reminds him to keep eyes in the back of his head for Bloodline BS. Keys reminds us he’s a grown ass man and he’s taking everything he wants. Solo says they’re all on the same team, all the Bloodline found is an ass whooping at SummerSlam. Holy crap, they’re letting Solo be a bit of a jive turkey and fast talker. Thank God, finally, we’re letting Solo be a character.

In the back Tiffany Stratton hypes up Chelsea Green for her match tonight, they both have some tension before Green heads off. Blake Monroe shows up to talk with Tiffany, Blake advises Tiffany to be more worried about her title than Green’s antics. Not the strongest Blake promo.

Green heads to the ring, she’ll take on Kiana James after this break.

Post break we find James in the ring.

Match #2: Chelsea Green vs. Kiana James

The winner here gets into the SummerSlam ladder match. James misses a corner rush then Green lands a slap. That just annoys James, but Green is able to dropkick her out of the ring then tries a suicide dive but James intercepts with a right hand. Knees from James on the floor then she drapes Green over the barricade and lands a superkick. Back into the ring the crowd chant for Green who starts fighting back with some elbows. James misses an elbow drop and Green hits the sliding face buster. Some Japanese arm drags from Green then a Russian leg sweep. Rough Rider from Green but only a 2 count. James avoids an Unpretty Her then lands a superkick and follows with a Falcon Arrow for 2. Green avoids a boot but takes a Codebreaker, then avoids a Samoan Drop and hits the Unpretty Her to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Chelsea Green won in 3:28

Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: Too short to go any higher. James has no direction or momentum so Green winning was the obvious and correct call.

In the back Damian Priest warms up, and R-Truth comes over. Their tag title match is next week while Priest is in a 4-Way tonight. Truth isn’t sure that’s PG. Some banter follows but here’s Cody Rhodes to joke about coming for the tag belts. Truth thinks Priest and Cody are just confused then wanders off. Cody puts over Priest a bit and says he’ll be waiting after regaining the title. Priest doesn’t care who it is, everyone’s sick of the same people being the face of the brand and Priest is coming to drop the champion and shake things up. Cody warns Priest he should care a little less about the boys, but likes the overall attitude from Priest. Cody heads out and we head to break.

Post break we get a recap of SNME and the Punk and Cody stuff.

Cody heads to the ring as we start the second half of the episode. Cody gets a mic, somewhat mixed reaction for him but still leaning positive as he plays with the crowd. He reminds us of his match with CM Punk then asks him to come to the ring. That does bring out the champ. Cody goes to hand Punk a mic but drops it on accident, that annoys Punk who removes his jacket. They share words then Punk ignores the downed mic to get another one from a PA and then says it’s a shame they’re at this point now. Punk doesn’t ever want to turn his back on Cody now because Cody might attack him and they both accuse each other of paranoia. Cody says they’ve both had accidents lately, which he accepts. He tells Punk he doesn’t just need to beat him just for the title, Punk interrupts and says he didn’t want the title to come between them but if Cody’s got another reason the by all means explain it. Cody says he and Punk have done a lot of these moments, and they’ve heard all the nice things said but while Cody loves Punk he also doesn’t like him. In 2011 Punk cut the pipe bomb promo, showed everyone there was another way and Cody did everything Punk talked about. Punk had a pipe bomb, Cody then dropped a nuke on the business. Cody was aware though, each step he took on that journey the fans wanted it to be Punk instead of him. Priest just told Cody he was sick of him, but Cody is done apologizing for everything he’s worked for. Cody went for the one who knocked to the one they all knocked for. He’s been in this ring with the very best, and he doesn’t sweat any of them except for Punk. Only Punk puts the chip back on Cody’s shoulder. He loves and respects Punk, but he doesn’t like him. For this story to have a proper ending he has to beat Punk at SummerSlam. Punk considers, then asks if Cody just doesn’t like that he’s the champion. He knows how big a shadow he casts and a lot of people can’t get out from under it. But with Cody it’s not jealousy, they’re just brothers who fight. He’s glad Cody paid attention but only history determines if Cody did it bigger and better, because Cody showed Punk there was a way back after leaving. Now they’ve been chasing each other but at SummerSlam that ends. Punk says Cody is lying to himself, Cody can’t handle the pressure of taking the title from someone who you actually like, can’t rise to the occasion of just having an athletic contest and now he’s got to make himself the victim and everyone else his enemy. If Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, John Cena are all his enemies, well that makes Punk his only fried. Punk promised he’d never stab Cody in the back, but he will stab him in the front. If Cody thinks the only way this plays out is beating Punk then at SummerSlam Punk will break his heart. Cody removes his tie then says they’ve said all there is to say. They’ll be tagging on house shows, and Cody will get Punk his main events until SummerSlam when he whips his ass. Punk says at SummerSlam he’ll whip Cody’s ass and give him the lesson that Punk is the best in the ring, and on the mic. Not even Dusty’s kid can touch him. Cody interrupts Punk leaving and objects to Dusty getting brought into this, and says he’ll win the title a fourth time then makes the Horsemen sign so his music can play. Pretty good stuff from both men here, and the move towards Cody finally turning to the dark side takes another step on that path.

We get a recap of Charlotte Flair causing the DQ so Jade Cargill advanced to the ladder match last week.

Charlotte talks with Cathy at gorilla, she doesn’t regret anything from last week. She wasn’t thinking about title matches, just that her best friend wasn’t here. Jade can come after Charlotte all she wants, but doing that to Bliss was across the line. Charlotte is going through Nia Jax and will then take out Jade at SummerSlam because payback is a you know what. Charlotte heads to the ring and we head to break.

We get some highlights from SNME as we come back, you know, in case you missed the basketball players showing up. Nia Jax got the jobbers entrance.

Match #3: Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax

34 minutes between matches, not so good. They tie up, Jax lands a knee then corners Charlotte. Charlotte boots her way out of the corner then hits a slow motion hurricanrana before cornering Jax with shoulder strikes and chops. Charlotte to the apron, Jax obligingly runs into her foot, then Charlotte with a top rope crossbody for 2. Jax hits a sit out powerbomb for a 2 count of her own. That sends us to break.

Jax gets to retain control with some corner work. Charlotte fights back with a chop but Jax clotheslines her down to keep control. Jax goes to a slightly modified Cobra Clutch, Charlotte fights free with a jawbreaker but Jax squashes her in the corner to prevent the comeback. Now Jax goes to the second rope, Charlotte is able to counter with a hurricanrana for a 2 count. Chops and a boot then a walkover clothesline from Charlotte as we come back to broadcast. Charlotte tries to climb the ropes, Jax yanks her down though then goes to the second rope for a leg drop that gets a 2 count. Jax tries the Annihilator but takes too long and Charlotte counters with a folding powerbomb for a near fall. That spot used to mean a lot more. Charlotte goes up top but here comes Jade Cargill and flunkies. That allows Jax to toss Charlotte out of the ring. Jax yells at Jade and company to mind their own business, Jade sics B-Fab and Michin on Charlotte, Charlotte is able to fight them off though. Back in the ring Charlotte knocks Jade off the apron then boot Jax out of the ring but Jade lays out Charlotte to end the match.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair won via disqualification in 8:13

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Decent match but not much more, Jax has kind of overused her ability to take that powerbomb spot and it’s had diminishing returns overall. Still not sure why we’re protecting Jax this much.

Post match Jade hits Charlotte with Jaded again. This Jade stuff is depressingly repetitive at this point. Jax then throws a tantrum.

Commentary runs down the SummerSlam card for us.

Damian Priest heads to the ring for our main event and we head to break.

Post break we find Finn Balor heading to the ring. Royce Keys got the full jobber treatment and Trick Williams walks with his chant.

Match #4 – Fatal 4-Way Match: Trick Williams vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest vs. Royce Keys

Balor and Priest stare down, then Keys with clotheslines to them and a boot to Trick. Keys gets to run wild for a bit including a nice fall away slam to Trick to clear the ring and send us picture in picture.

Everyone starts brawling on the floor now, Keys hits a running Snake Eyes style move on Balor then Priest jumps off the steps to drop Keys. Priest charges at Trick but gets Flapjacked into the announce table. Back in the ring Balor with a Sunset Flip to Trick for 2 then Trick drops him with a shoulder block. Stalling suplex from Trick, bless Balor for saving that a couple of times. Trick with a corner splash to Balor, but he misses a second one and Balor unloads on him in the corner. Balor with chops to Trick then a 10 Punch that gets to 7 before Priest shows up to try a Razor’s Edge but Balor slips free and stomps on Priest. Trick tries a Sunset Flip on Balor but Balor rolls through then hits a dropkick. Keys shows up and Balor hits an Eye of the Hurricane to drop him. Priest boots down the running Balor then spikes Trick with a lifting Flatliner. Corner splash from Pries to Keys then Trick avoids a rebound clothesline and hits a neckbreaker then a Flapjack for Balor. Trick with corner stomps to Balor and Keys, but Priest hits an enziguri then boxes the ears. Backhand from Trick to send Priest out of the ring. Balor dumps Trick, low bridges Keys, then hits a lovely dive onto the pile of bodies. Solo Sikoa heads down the ramp as we go picture in picture again.

Solo stays out of things, just cheering on Keys as Keys hits Priest in the ring with a snap powerslam. Balor snaps Keys over the ropes and hits a gamen giri. Balor up top but Keys crotches him then climbs up top for the Top Choice Royce but Trick breaks up the pin. Keys tosses Trick but Priest lands a head kick on Keys. Keys and Priest fight on the top rope, Keys is able to punch Priest down but Balor shows up to complicate things. Balor calls Priest over, Priest obliges and the old Judgement Day boys team up for a double superplex to Keys. Trick shows up to toss Priest and Balor out of the ring as we come back to broadcast. Trick hits a Book End but Solo puts Keys’ foot on the ropes. That brings out the Usos to make everything worse, Solo gets to brawling but the numbers are too much so of course LA Knight shows up. Knight comes through the crowd and attacks from behind, he and Solo brawl with Jimmy and Jey around the ringside area. Back in the ring Priest with a jump onto the pile of bodies at ringside. Balor rolls up Trick for 2 then hits a Sling Blade. Shotgun dropkick from Balor, he wants the Coup de Grace but Trick dodges and hits the tornado pump kick for a 2 count. In the back Sami watches with depressed Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. The extras brawl to the back now, and Priest shows up to break up a Trick Shot with South of Heaven. Keys breaks up the pin and posts Priest then hits The Ultimate Spinebuster but Jacob Fatu yanks Keys off the cover and assaults him at ringside. Fatu with the hip attack against the barricade, which does not give. Back in the ring Balor hits a Sling Blade to Priest, a shotgun dropkick again, then a Coup de Grace and Balor gets the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Finn Balor won in 12:04

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Good stuff here from everyone, Trick really tends to excel in multi-ma situations as it covers a lot his control weaknesses. Priest and Balor still work well together, Keys felt a little tacked on but held his own and only getting taken out by Fatu was a decent way to protect him. Balor was the obvious winner, everyone else has stuff going on, but that’s not a bad thing. Solid main event.

Balor celebrates the win to end the episode.