Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for July 31, 2026

Finn Balor heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Finn says that he cannot help but think about 2016 when he thinks about SummerSlam, when he had the best and worst night of his career when he went from winning the WWE Universal Championship only to relinquish it due to injury. He says he has been scratching and clawing for the last ten years to regain the glory of that night, and as he says that he has the fans behind him and he is close to getting back to where he was, Sami Zayn shows up. Sami says that while this is an emotional time for Finn, he has something to get off his chest. Sami says he should be in the WWE Championship match, and says he would love to see "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes as champion again as he already beat him to become champion and he can do it again. Sami also admits that a part of him would like CM Punk to retain before calling Punk "the biggest fraud and the biggest piece of garbage," then says that Punk has since become "Corporate Poster Boy #2." After stating that he wants to take the title back from the man who stole it from him, Sami says he has respect for Finn, and Finn dares Sami to come to the ring and say what he has to say to him to his face. Sami says he has respect for Finn and that everyone knows how great Finn is, stating he should have been a world champion several times over. He tells Finn to take a pulse of this moment, and recognize that is belongs to him. He says that Finn had his time, and now it is his time, and says that taking the WWE Championship back is bigger than the both of them and that it is about "justice for Sami." Finn asks where the justice for him, saying that this is his moment. Sami says that if Finn took ten years to get to this point, he should take the hint. Finn reminds Sami that he was world champion longer than him and that he lost the title because he lost the match. Sami says that "almost sounds like fighting words," and if he did not respect Finn, he would have dropped him where he stood. He then says he will not do that, as he is "a good guy" and "the last real good guy left around here." He tells Finn he will walk away and see him at SummerSlam. Before Finn can answer back, both men are suddenly attacked by Gunther, who declares himself the rightful #1 contender to the WWE Championship. General Manager Adam Pearce shows up with security, and Gunther wants to know what he has to do to get what he considers his, and asks if he has to beat Pearce's ass as well. Gunther is attacked from behind by Finn, and Sami shows up and fights with Finn over Gunther. Gunther attacks both men again, then Nick Aldis shows up and brawls with Gunther. Security has to separate both men as Aldis puts Gunther in a Texas Cloverleaf, and Gunther hits Aldis with a big boot.

"Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab beat Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green after Jade Cargill attacks Tiffany Stratton on the outside behind the referee's back. After the match, Charlotte Flair shows up. Tiffany and Chelsea pull Michin and B-Fab out of the ring and brawl with them, then Charlotte gets in the ring and brawls with Cargill. Charlotte soon comes out on top.

Fraxiom and Rey Fenix are met by "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh, who are looking for Danhausen. Fenix says he has not, and Dominik accuses Fenix of hiding in Mexico before saying that The Judgment Day are looking for more gold and that the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship would look good on McDonagh. Fenix accepts the challenge.

We hear from Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga. Tama says they have forgotten who they are, and leaving Solo Sikoa was the right move. Talla says they lost sight of chasing gold, and Tama says that it took guts to strike out on their own. Talla says that from now, they take care of family first. Haku shows up and says these are the sons that he needs, and tells them not to forget who they are, for they are the sons of Haku. He tells them to go and "make them fear us again."

Damian Priest and R-Truth beat The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) in a title-for-title match by disqualification after The War Raiders shove referee Charles Robinson to get to Damian Priest and R-Truth. Damian Priest and R-Truth retain the WWE Tag Team Championships, and The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) retain the AAA World Tag Team Championships. After the match, both teams continue to brawl until they are both attacked by Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, who are soon joined by Haku.

We see house show footage from last night in Springfield, Illinois where "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and CM Punk get physical with each other post-match.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews CM Punk, who says that this is competition and that he and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes are running away from their match and the fact that they do not need to be friends. He says that he takes on all comers and he will still walk out champion against Cody. Suddenly, Trick Williams shows up and says Punk should be glad he lost, and that sooner or later, he will come for the WWE Championship. Punk likes Trick's confidence and says he wanted him to win, and tells him that he does make it to the title match, he will whoop that trick.

We hear from Nick Aldis, who says that while it was an honor to be SmackDown General Manager, he wanted to make it to WWE as a wrestler. He says he was happy about being a General Manager, however, until Gunther put his hands on him and pushed him too far.He says that Gunther left him no choice but to lace up his boots and face Gunther like a man.

Members of the Green Bay Packers are seen in the front row.

Trick Williams heads to the ring. Trick gets straight to business and talks about Baron Corbin attacking him last week, calling him "a big-ass Tommy Pickles" before calling him out. Corbin shows up and says Trick loves to hear the sound of his own voice, and that while he was away, he learned some valuable lessons about patience, which Trick knows nothing about, then says that Trick's self-importance will be his downfall when he wraps his arms around his neck. Trick says that Baron Corbin is no badder than he was the first time around and that all he is collecting is a foot up his ass. Corbin teases the both of them going at it right now, then says that Trick is "a dumb rookie who doesn't understand." He then proclaims that on Sunday, he is taking the United States Championship, and there is nothing in the world that Trick Williams can do about it. Trick tells Corbin there will be no title taking as the fans chant "Whoop that trick."

We see a video package chronicling the feud between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi leading up to their Hell in a Cell Match.

Rey Fenix retains the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship against JD McDonagh after Danhausen and the Minihausens show up and attack "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio before chasing him to the back.

We see a video package briefly chronicling the history between Seth "Freakin'" Rollins and Roman Reigns.

Lash Legend beats Giulia in an Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match qualifier.

We see "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes grab a pair of dog chains before we hear Guile's theme from Street Fighter II followed by the Street Fighter II announcer saying "Fight!"

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. As Cody does his usual stage theatrics on the stage, Punk's theme hits, and Punk pats Cody on the head on the way to the ring. Punk asks Cody how it feels, and Cody says that he can see through him and that they are way past the point that they are running towards each other. Punk says that he hopes he has ruffled feathers, because when he gets a title shot in his hometown, he is going to take it, and that he knew this would set them on a path. He says that he does not have to be Cody's friend tonight or tomorrow and that it is up to Cody if they are still friends, and Punk wants to know who is the better man between them "for business purposes." Cody says that this has become personal not just to Punk, but to everyone who has not held the WWE Championship, which makes Punk the best in the world, and mentions his "I didn't come back to make friends; I came back to make money" line. Punk says he did not come back to make friends, but he did not come back to lose friends, and that tomorrow is not looking good for Cody. Cody says that Punk is prepared for what will happen tomorrow, and asks what Punk will do about it tonight. Punk lays the WWE Championship between them and takes off his jacket and his friendship bracelet before saying "Say when." Cody does the same, tossing his jacket into the crowd as Punk dares Cody to punch him in the jaw. Cody punches Punk, and both men brawl. Cody clotheslines Punk out of the ring before they brawl on the outside where officials rush in to separate both men. Punk and Cody punch at each other on the announce table until they are both pulled off, and they soon brawl again as the show ends.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments fom tonight's show!