The July 4th edition of WWE SmackDown was taped right after a WWE Raw episode at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. SmackDown will return to a two-hour format and will air this Friday at 8 p.m. on the USA Network, with international viewers able to stream it on Netflix.
Cody Rhodes opened SmackDown but was interrupted by Randy Orton, who vowed to defeat John Cena at SummerSlam. Drew McIntyre, just returning from injury, mocked both but was ambushed by an RKO. Nick Aldis offered Charlotte Flair a spot in the women’s tag team No. 1 contender match, which she accepted. Later, Drew McIntyre met with Nick Aldis, and a main event match between McIntyre and Orton was set for Saturday night.
In matches, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair triumphed over Michin & B-Fab and The Secret Service to become the No. 1 contenders for the women’s tag team titles. Wyatt Sids won against Belts, Johnny Gargano, Montesford, and Chris Sabin. Tiffany Stratton talked about her upcoming SummerSlam bout with Jade Cargill but revealed her focus was on defending the title with WWE Evolution, until Jade announced her next opponent would actually be Trish Stratus. Trish appeared and accepted the match challenge.
Andrade and Rey Fenix defeated Fraxiom, while Jacob Head and Jimmy Uso overcame Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo. The finish was clean, but in response, Sea, Hikileo, and Tonga Loa teamed up and caused disruption.
Fan Take: This SmackDown episode delivered exciting developments that set the stage for intense battles at SummerSlam, keeping fans eagerly anticipating the showdowns. The blend of fresh rivalries and returning stars promises to elevate WWE’s storytelling and in-ring action, crucial for maintaining fan engagement and the sport’s popularity.
