Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for July 24, 2026

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis are in the ring for Aldis' match with Gunther at SummerSlam to start tonight's show. Aldis is already in the ring, and Gunther is introduced. Pearce dictates that Aldis cannot compete as a WWE Superstar while General Manager, and that when he signs the contract, he relinquishes his position as SmackDown General Manager to Pearce. There is also a hold harmless agreement, which means that Aldis is voluntarily returning to action and that WWE is not responsible for what happens when the bell rings in the match. Aldis says he knows what he is signing up for and knows what he is giving up, even though he never wanted any of this, saying that Gunther has found his breaking point before signing the contract. Gunther says this match will be the greatest moment of Aldis' career, and says that all of this is beneath him and that he should be preparing to become champion, but cannot because Aldis cannot do his job. He says that Aldis had an issue with him and that he chalked it up to jealousy, and says that Aldis dreamed of being a WWE Superstar and never had it happen while he walked in and got it all. Gunther says that Aldis had to be honest with himself and tell himself he was not good enough to be a WWE Superstar, then says he will give him that dream, sign the contract, which he does, and make him a legend. He says that Aldis will be yet another legend like Goldberg and AJ Styles who got retired by him while looking for one more moment, and says he will end Aldis' career before it properly starts. After Gunther throws the contract at Aldis, Aldis says that Gunther keeps saying this only to get him to believe something, as Gunther thought it would never come to this, and knows Gunther wants none of this. Aldis says that Gunther has put his career in jeopardy and has put himself in a situation he cannot get out of, and at SummerSlam, Gunther will go from a career killer to a man made into a bitch by his boss. Gunther swings at Aldis, and Aldis blocks and hits back, starting a brawl. Gunther shoves Aldis into Pearce, then kicks Aldis in the groin and powerbombs him through the signing table as Pearce calls for assistance. Officials have to escort Gunther out of the ring.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley is interrupted by Sami Zayn, who says that he won the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions and that it became crystal clear as soon as he won it that he was not wanted as champion when he had to defend against Cody Rhodes. He then says that when Cody was taken out, "Corporate Poster Boy #2" CM Punk showed up and took it from him, and says that while CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes looks good on a poster and everyone is happy, he has to ride the bench. General Manager Adam Pearce shows up, and Sami says that Aldis deserves to be in the trainer's room because Aldis screwed him, too. Sami demands that Pearce make the WWE Championship match a Triple Threat. Pearce says that he cannot do that, then tells Sami that there is a Fatal Four-Way Match tonight with Damien Priest, Royce Keys, Finn Balor, and Trick Williams, and the winner faces Sami. Sami hates the option, but Pearce says "Take it or leave it." Sami has no choice but to take it, but he wants no shenanigans or funny business.

Before the next match, Lainey Reid says it is funny how Saturday Night's Main Event was supposed to be the most important night of Fatal Influence's (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid) career, yet Brie Bella and Paige will be the ones remembering it forever. Fallon says they took out two legends, which he admits could keep her up at night. Jacy Jayne says that if she had gold around her waist, Fatal Influence would be the perfect pacakge, but thanks to Brie Bella and Paige, she is not in the WWE Women's Championship ladder match. Jacy then says she has the perfect solution: taking the WWE United States Women's Championship from Tiffany Stratton. She then says that tonight, Lainey will embarrass Brie and put her out of her misery once and for all.

Brie Bella beats Lainey Reid after Paige pulls Jacy Jayne off the ring apron and Brie counters with a Sunset Flip after Lainey Reid gets caught by the referee using the ropes for leverage. After the match, Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid) attack Brie and Paige, but Nikki Bella - who is now medically clear following a foot injury - comes back and makes the save. Nikki says that Fatal Influence will not steal from her sisters and that they are the reason they are here. Nikki then challenges Fatal Influence to a six-woman tag match at SummerSlam.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Finn Balor. Finn says he thinks about 2016 when he thinks about SummerSlam, when he had the best and worst night of his career. It has been ten years since he started clawing back to those heights, and he is close. Gunther shows up and says Finn Balor has great plans, but he is next in line, and he will take back what is his regardless of who he has to face.

Backstage, Royce Keys is met by Solo Sikoa, who looks forward to Royce Keys having two matches at SummerSlam. Royce Keys says he is focused more on tonight and becoming #1 contender and not to worry about The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, "Main Event" Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Jacob Fatu), then LA Knight shows up. He tells Royce he should always be worried about The Bloodline, but Royce says he is taking it all tonight. Solo tells both men to calm down, as they are all on the same team and The Bloodline have found an ass-whipping instead of a weakness.

Backstage, Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green are looking forward to SummerSlam. When Chelsea leaves, Blake Monroe shows up and says she actually likes Tiffany, saying she likes the finer things in life like her. Blake says that Tiffany would worry more about her championship than Chelsea, as the more she climbs, the more people look up at what she has.

Chelsea Green beats Kiana James in an Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match qualifier.

Backstage, R-Truth catches up with Damian Priest as Priest gets ready for his match. "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up, and Cody is thinking about holding the WWE Tag Team Championships with CM Punk. R-Truth leaves confusedly, then says that Cody looks forward to the Fatal 4-Way tonight after what Punk said about Priest. Priest says he has respect for Punk and Cody, but he and the boys in the back are tired of the same people being the face of SmackDown, and says that whoever is champion after SummerSlam is going to get dropped. Cody says that he likes that attitude, and wishes Priest good luck.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring, then introduces CM Punk. Cody hands Punk a microphone only to accidentally drop it, much to Punk's chagrin, and Cody says it was an accident. Punk takes one from the side of the ring, then says it is a shame that they are at this point and that he cannot trust Cody. Cody says that Punk smacking him with the strap of the WWE Championship was an accident, then says he has to beat Punk for himself. Punk says there should be no other reason and that the title should not come between them. He then tells Cody that if he has another explanation, he should explain it. Cody says that he respects Punk, but he does not like him, as he says that he was inspired by Punk's "pipe bomb" promo, but while he dropped a nuke on the business, the fans wished it was Punk. He also mentions Damian Priest's comment of everyone being tired of the same people being the face of SmackDown, then mentions that he does not sweat anyone in the greatest locker room in wresting except for Punk. Cody says he can love and respect Punk, but he does not like him, and that it is only fair to say that he has to beat him at SummerSlam. Punk asks Cody if he does not like him or the fact that he is the champ, and says he casts a shadow few people can get out of. He says that brothers fight and that this is not one-way traffic, then asks Cody if did what he learned from better before stating that it is up to the fans and the history books to decide. Punk says he was learning from Cody in 2022 and that he learned that there was a way back, then tells Cody that he is lying to himself about how he feels about him. Punk says he cannot handle the pressure of taking the WWE Championship from someone that he cares about and rising to the occasion in an athletic competition with someone who is his equal, and that he has to make everyone his enemy. He says that if everyone else was Cody's enemy, then he is his only friend, and that he will stab him in the front and break his heart at SummerSlam. Cody loosens his tie and says that the both of them have said all that needs to be said, and that their upcoming tag team matches will be an apology for beating Punk at SummerSlam. Punk says he will beat Cody at SummerSlam, and that Cody will learn that not even he can touch him. Cody stops Punk, saying he will be winning the WWE Championship for a fourth time.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Charlotte Flair. Charlotte does not regret her actions from last week and that all she thought about is that she is here and that her best friend is not, and while Jade Cargill can come after her all she wants, she will not go after Alexa Bliss. Charlotte says that if she has to go through Nia Jax to prove that point, then so be it.

Charlotte Flair beats Nia Jax in an Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match qualifier by disqualification after Jade Cargill, "Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab show up and cause havoc around the ring before Cargill punches Charlotte in full view of the referee.

Finn Balor beats Damian Priest, Trick Williams and Royce Keys in an Undisputed WWE Championship #1 contender's match and will be facing Sami Zayn to decide a true #1 contender at SummerSlam. During the match, Solo Sikoa shows up, and soon, so do The Usos (Jimmy and "Main Event" Jey Uso). The Usos attack Solo, but LA Knight shows up from out of the crowd to back Solo up, and their brawl eventually goes into the crowd as the match continues to go on while Sami Zayn and Candice LeRae watch from backstage. At one point, Royce Keys nearly gets the win, but he is pulled out of the pinfall attempt by Jacob Fatu, who sends Royce Keys into the ring post. After that, Finn is able to hit Priest with the Coup de Grace for the win.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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