SmackDown airs tonight with a live show emanating from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is the second episode of SmackDown during the five week build to SummerSlam, which takes place on the weekend of August 1.
WWE Champion CM Hogan is running wild on Cody Rhodes, brother
After being away for months, CM Punk returned on Raw in Chicago this week to replace Cody Rhodes and win the WWE championship from Sami Zayn. As a result, it looks like Punk is now the top star on the SmackDown brand going forward.
Punk will appear on tonight’s show to cut his first promo as the new champion. I’ll be very interested to see how the live audience reacts to Punk, given the “CM Hogan” jokes that have been made in response to the circumstances behind his championship win. Even if the non-Chicago crowd is totally in CM’s corner tonight, he may have some fun and play into the narrative anyway by putting his hand up to his ear a couple of times.
Sami Zayn is understandably pissed off and will come looking for a rematch, but I think WWE’s real order of business tonight is making Punk vs. Rhodes official for SummerSlam. Ticket sales for the event don’t look so hot with less than one month to go, so I expect this no-brainer main event to be announced ASAP. Will Punk lean into heel talking points when QB1 confronts him about a title match?
If Punk vs. Rhodes is made official for SummerSlam, where does that leave The Last Real Good Guy in WWE? Perhaps that’s not a priority for WWE to figure out. Sami’s shitty championship reign only lasted nine days, after all.
What does the future of SmackDown look like now that CM Hogan is running wild as its champion and usurping Rhodes as the number one star? Tune in tonight to find out.
The rest of the card
The Tongans ambushed Finn Balor backstage last week, so now Balor vs. Tama Tonga is booked on tonight’s show. Balor hasn’t won a match since he was traded to the blue brand over one month ago, mostly because he’s only wrestled one match during that time. Tama could also use a win, given this is his first match since walking out on Solo Sikoa. Which star does WWE think needs the win more? Will Shinsuke Nakamura return to get revenge on the Tongans?
Carmelo Hayes vs. United States Champion Trick Williams is also scheduled for tonight in a non-title match. Hayes may just earn himself a title match at SummerSlam if he finds a way to win. How will Lil Yachty factor into the finish?
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth have agreed to a winner-take-all match against AAA World Tag Team Champions War Raiders. Priest says the match will take place on an episode of SmackDown. I’ve seen at least one reputable outlet say the match is happening tonight. Has acting GM Adam Pearce already made that official?
– Are GUNTHER and Nick Aldis really heading to a match at SummerSlam? Will the Ring General incite violence if both men are in the building tonight?
– SummerSlam is coming up in about three weeks, and WWE has been quiet on the status of Rhea Ripley’s injury. When will WWE have to make a decision on possibly vacating her WWE women’s championship?
– Last week, Blake Monroe made it clear that she is out for herself when she attacked both Giulia and Kiana James. Which one will “The Glamour” fight in her debut match on SmackDown television?
– Royce Keys says he is Jacob Fatu’s real family after showing him loyalty for the last 14 years. “Big Jim” Uso disagrees. The Samoan Werewolf remains quiet about it for now while following orders as Roman Reigns’ lap dog in The Bloodline. Will those orders soon include taking out Keys, or does Jacob first need to deal with Solo Sikoa?
– Charlotte Flair’s obsession with Jade Cargill is rubbing Alexa Bliss the wrong way. Is this the issue that will finally cause a rift in their convenient alliance?
– Does Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton get to have her own story and match for SummerSlam, or is she taking a backseat to Cargill vs. Flair?
– WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Brie Bella lost a very short singles match last week against Lainey Reid, so now Fatal Influence gets to challenge for the belts at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Will WWE give Brie a few more minutes in the ring tonight, or was last week more than enough?
– How are zombie Miz and Kit Wilson doing after The Judgment Day supposedly sabotaged Danhausen’s strange machine? Will Danhausen give any more hints about the identity of the mystery person who is coming in for his match at Saturday Night’s Main Event against JD McDonagh?
– AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix is getting weekly TV time on SmackDown. Will that come to an end soon now that SmackDown is down to two hours?
– WWE’s web site lists free agent King Oba Femi as one of the “featured superstars” for tonight’s SmackDown. Is this a mistake? If not, is he there for a dark match?
– Where the f*** is Ilja Dragunov? He hasn’t wrestled a match since the night before WrestleMania 42 in April.
What will you be looking for on SmackDown?
