The John Report: WWE SmackDown 07/17/26 Review
This is WWE SmackDown, featuring a Cody Rhodes-Gunther main event.
This week’s SmackDown is taking place one night before Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City. SummerSlam is two weeks away on August 1 and 2.
I had a rare Friday night off from reviewing SmackDown due to a family commitment. A close family member is getting married on Saturday, so I won’t see Saturday Night’s Main Event live. I’ll get that SNME review done on Sunday, most likely. It could be Monday.
From the MVP Arena in Albany, New York, this is SmackDown for episode #1404. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
The opening video package featured highlights from last week’s show. WWE Champion CM Punk was confronted by Cody Rhodes, which led to their SummerSlam match being made. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis also booked Gunther in a Saturday Night’s Main Event tag team match with Sami Zayn against Punk & Rhodes. After the announcement, Gunther beat up Aldis and applied the Sleeper hold multiple times.
Let’s Hear from Gunther
Gunther made his entrance to boos for the show opening promo. At Saturday Night’s Main Event, Gunther will team with Sami Zayn against Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. The fans chanted “you suck” at Gunther before he spoke.
Gunther said he prides himself on being a professional. Gunther claimed he had been mistreated on SmackDown. Gunther claimed Nick Aldis is jealous, while Gunther added he should be WWE Champion right now. Gunther complained about Aldis preventing him from being WWE Champion, and Nick made things personal. Gunther mentioned the SNME tag team match. Gunther trashed Zayn by calling him a bum, and putting him in this position is unacceptable.
Adam Pearce showed up as the acting SmackDown General Manager. Pearce said that when it comes to Nick Aldis, Gunther should say thank you. Pearce said you should thank Nick for saving Gunther’s job. Pearce recapped Gunther’s recent actions and said if it were up to him, Gunther would be fired. Pearce said that the bosses decided not to fire Gunther. Pearce mentioned Aldis petitioned for the SNME tag team match to remain.
Pearce said if Gunther had waited before he choked Nick out, Nick would have told him the stipulation. Pearce said that if Gunther and Zayn win at Saturday Night’s Main Event, then the SummerSlam match for the WWE Title will be CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther vs. Sami Zayn in a Fatal 4-Way match. Gunther seemed happy about that.
Analysis: That stipulation makes the SNME tag team match more interesting, so I like it. It was just a regular tag team match otherwise, but adding a WWE Title stipulation certainly adds to it.
Cody Rhodes made his entrance wearing a tracksuit and tank top to show he was in fighting mode, instead of suit-wearing mode. Cody ran down to the ring and tackled Gunther. Cody punched Gunther out of the ring, and then Cody remained in the ring.
Cody Rhodes complained about Gunther being handed another stipulation. Cody said that Gunther kicked Cody’s head into the car and said that he was there to whip his ass on sight. Cody told Gunther he won’t make it to Saturday Night’s Main Event. Cody said it’s Friday night, the lights are bright and the road to SNME runs through Albany. Cody challenged Gunther to a match tonight.
Adan Pearce made it official: Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther on SmackDown. The fans cheered.
Analysis: Gunther did the cheap attack on Cody Rhodes last week on Raw, so it was certainly logical for Cody to want revenge on him. Putting them in a main event match also makes sense based on the story. Good promo work by everybody involved.
The SmackDown commentary team was Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett. Mark Nash was the ring announcer.
Raw GM Adam Pearce was featured in a video saying that WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley was close to returning, but she is unable to compete at SummerSlam. Pearce said that they will crown an Interim WWE Women’s Champion at SummerSlam in a 5-Woman Ladder Match. There will be qualifying matches to determine who is in the Ladder Match. And when Ripley is healthy, they will find out who the true champion is.
Analysis: WWE doesn’t usually do the Interim Champion thing. That’s more of a UFC thing, and even AEW has done it before. I don’t mind it that much. What’s interesting is that Ripley won’t be able to defend, so they are taking these actions, yet Liv Morgan didn’t defend the Women’s World Title for the past three months, and nothing was done about that, even though she was healthy. It’s just very inconsistent work by the creative team.
They showed some superstars getting ready, including Jade Cargill with Michin & B-Fab, Nia Jax with Lash Legend, Tiffany Stratton, and Jacy Jayne with Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid.
Finn Balor made his entrance for the opening match.
(Commercial)
Talla Tonga (w/Tama Tonga) vs. Finn Balor
Balor beat Tama last week, so now he gets Talla, who has a huge size advantage. Talla knocked down Balor with a shoulder tackle and sent Balor into the turnbuckle. Balor sent Talla out of the ring. Talla was on the apron, Balor elbowed him and Talla sent Balor into the turnbuckle. Talla hit a lariat as the show went to break with Talla in full control. The action continued with Talla sending Balor face first into the commentary table. Tama nailed Balor with a clothesline on the floor while the referee was looking at Talla. Back in the ring, Talla sent Balor hard into the turnbuckle. Talla choked Balor against the middle rope. Talla grabbed Balor’s trapezius muscles to ground him.
The match continued with Talla hitting a running powerslam for two. Balor got some offense going with a running dropkick to the left leg and a reverse DDT for two. Talla picked up Balor and hit a Samoan Drop to put Balor down. Balor was on the apron, he hit a jumping kick to the face and then went up top, but Talla was back up. Talla tried a slam, but Balor countered with a DDT. Balor punched Tama off the apron. Talla hit a boot to the face for two. Talla went for a running boot, Balor avoided it and Talla was crotched on the top, so Balor shook the ropes to hurt him more. Balor hit a Slingblade on Tama on the floor. Balor dropkicked Talla into the turnbuckle. Balor went up top and hit the Coup de Grace double foot stomp. No pin attempt. Balor went up top a second time for a second Coup de Grace for the pinfall win after 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Finn Balor
Analysis: *** A good match that was even most of the way, with Talla controlling most of it, and then Balor made the comeback to get the win. I also think that Balor needing to do the Coup de Grace twice makes logical sense, since Talla is a bigger guy, and it puts over Talla as somebody who is tough to beat. I’m glad to see Finn Balor winning a match like this because he should. I’m not sure what the plan is for the Tonga guys or if there even is a plan because they haven’t done well since leaving their alliance with Solo Sikoa. I hope Balor gets a meaningful storyline soon.
CM Punk was backstage with Raw GM Adam Pearce. Punk recapped what Pearce mentioned earlier. Punk said he didn’t like it because he prefers 1-on-1. Pearce said he didn’t love it, but it was the decision, and that’s what they are doing. Pearce said Cody wants his receipt on Gunther, so he’ll go for it tonight. Punk said he’ll go talk to Cody.
Damian Priest approached CM Punk, saying he appreciated the shoutout last week. Priest said if Punk is still champ after SummerSlam, Priest will be here waiting for it. Punk said maybe he and Cody will come after Priest’s Tag Team Titles. Priest said fair enough and wished Punk good luck. Punk left. R-Truth showed up behind Priest and wondered who he was talking about. Priest asked if he was here the whole time. That was it.
Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Jacy Jayne and Tiffany Stratton were featured in a video talking about their upcoming matches to qualify for the WWE Women’s Title Ladder Match.
The Women’s United States Champion, Tiffany Stratton, made her entrance for singles action.
(Commercial)
A video was shown of Cody Rhodes on WWE Unreal as he checked out some classic WWE items at the company’s warehouse.
Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne (w/Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)
The trio of Jayne, Henley, and Reid attacked Stratton before the bell rang. Brie Bella and Paige made the save for Stratton by taking out Henley and Reid. That led to the Stratton-Jayne match.
Stratton nailed Jayne with a forearm smash to start the match. Stratton tripped up Jayne against the ropes, leading to a splash to the back and a running dropkick. They went on a break there. Jayne was able to take control for the next three minutes.
The match returned with Jayne working over Stratton with elbows. They each ran the ropes and did a cross body block collision spot. Jayne came back with an enziguri kick. Stratton got back up with a clothesline, an elbow, and an Alabama Slam. Jayne hit a neckbreaker off the turnbuckle for a two count. Stratton avoided a move and did a cartwheel Stunner. Stratton hit a rolling senton. Stratton hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever off the top for the pinfall win after 8 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Tiffany Stratton
Analysis: **3/4 A solid TV match with Stratton winning clean. I think it could have used some more nearfalls to build up the excitement a bit. I think Stratton winning was the right call here, even though I like Jayne.
A video aired about Baron Corbin talking about how he has been watching the shows, seeing these guys talking about how they think they are tough. Corbin said he’s the real deal. Corbin mentioned Trick Williams, saying he’s the first name on a long list, and Carmelo Hayes was collateral damage. Corbin said if you get in his way, you get run over. Corbin told Trick to smile while he can and enjoy what he has because he’s Baron Corbin and is coming for it all.
Analysis: It makes Baron Corbin look like a threat. I like seeing him presented like that.
Trick Williams, the United States Champion, was interviewed by Jackie Redmond, saying that Baron Corbin was a bald-headed bitch. Carmelo Hayes walked up to Trick, who mentioned Melo needs to apologize for what he did to Lil Yachty. Melo didn’t seem interested in that and trashed Baron Corbin as well. Melo told Trick that Trick knows he’s not better than him. Trick claimed Melo has done nothing on SmackDown, even though Melo was the US Champion last year. Trick told Melo to mind his business while grown folks were talking.
The Jade Cargill-Nia Jax match was next.
(Commercial)
A video package aired about the Brock Lesnar-Oba Femi Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam.
Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Nia Jax vs. Jade Cargill (w/Michin & B-Fab)
There were replays of last week when Jade Cargill injured Alexa Bliss’ left arm.
This is a heel-heel match where the fans don’t like either woman. Jax hit a Samoan Drop and a leg drop for two. Jax went to the turnbuckle, jumped off with a leg drop attempt, Jade avoided it, and Jade hit a spinebuster. Charlotte Flair showed up at ringside to send B-Fab into the steel steps and send Michin over the barricade. Flair went into the ring and hit Jade with a boot to the face. That means Jade wins after 1 minute.
Winner by disqualification: Jade Cargill
Analysis: 1/2* It was an angle more than a match with Charlotte Flair wanting revenge on Jade Cargill for what Jade did to Alexa Bliss last week.
After the match, Flair wanted to step on a chair on Jade’s arm, but Michin and B-Fab saved Jade. Jax was furious, so she splashed Flair against the turnbuckle. After Jax left, Jade hit Jaded on Flair and laughed about it.
Analysis: The Flair-Cargill rivalry continues.
Gunther was interviewed by Jackie Redmond backstage. Gunther trashed Cody Rhodes for forcing himself in his business. Gunther said he’ll beat Cody. Gunther trashed Sami Zayn too. Candice LeRae was rolling an equipment case with Johnny Gargano on it. Candice claimed that “we” needed this win. Gunther told Candice to tell Sami to not get in his way. After Gunther left, Blake Monroe attacked Candice LeRae backstage and threw her into some equipment cases. Blake introduced herself as the new girl and she’ll see Candice. Blake walked up to Gargano and said he needed a haircut.
Analysis: I don’t mind Blake Monroe attacking everybody, but it’s time to put her in a match. I also don’t know why this Gargano “lying on boxes” gimmick has lasted so long. Is there going to be a payoff to it? It’s weird.
A video aired about upcoming WWE events.
(Commercial)
There was a commercial for SummerSlam on August 1 & 2.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend complained to Adam Pearce about what happened in Jax’s match. Pearce said he saw what happened, so Jax will have another opportunity to win her way into the Ladder Match next week against Charlotte Flair.
War Raiders – Erik & Ivar vs. Fraxiom – Axiom & Nathan Frazer
The War Raiders are the AAA Tag Team Champions. The SmackDown tag team division hasn’t been featured much of late, so at least they get a match this week.
The speedy Frazer got a pin attempt early, so Erik stopped that with a forearm. Ivar splashed Frazer against the turnbuckle and Erik hit another forearm. Ivar worked over Frazer with repeated elbow smashes. Axiom got the tag as Frazer hit a DDT and they cleared the ring. Frazer tried a suicide dive, but the Raiders got him. Axiom jumped off the corner ring post with a moonsault onto the Raiders. They went on a break there and the Raiders took control. Erik grounded Axiom for a while with a guillotine choke. Axiom managed to break free and bring in Frazer, who hit a running forearm. Frazer hit a running knee.
The match continued as Frazer tried for a Phoenix Splash, Erik avoided it and Ivar tagged in with some power moves, including a seated senton on Frazer. Ivar stacked Axiom on Frazer and went for a moonsault, but Fraxiom moved. Axiom hit a running kick on Ivar. Frazer tagged in and hit a springboard 450 Splash for a two count on Ivar. Ivar clotheslined Frazer and Ivar hit a spin kick on Axiom. Erik tagged in and slammed Ivar onto Frazer against the turnbuckle. Erik hit a spinebuster on Axiom, but Frazer jumped off the top with the save. Axiom hit a jumping knee. Frazer tagged in with a suicide dive on Ivar and Axiom hit a suicide dive on Ivar too. Frazer hit a somersault dive over the top onto Erik. Ivar superkicked Axiom in the ring. Ivar went up top, Axiom stopped him with a kick and Frazer tagged back in. Fraxiom hit a double superplex on Ivar off the top. Frazer went up top and hit a Phoenix Splash on Ivar for two because Erik hit Frazer with a knee. Erik hit Axiom with a forearm and then a slam onto the knee. Ivar tagged in and hit a popup powerslam on Frazer. War Raiders hit a double Chokeslam (Ragnarok) on Axiom, and Ivar pinned Axiom for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: War Raiders
Analysis: ***1/2 I enjoyed that match, and it’s nice to see the tag team division featured on the show. We know Fraxiom is an amazing team, while the War Raiders can certainly put on great matches when they get a chance. I liked how it looked like the War Raiders were going to get the win a few times, then Fraxiom kept coming back and managed to get some nearfalls. That’s what I mean when it’s important to get some nearfalls and build up the excitement.
A clip was shown of LA Knight with Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys at Fanatics Fest. Knight trashed The Usos and Jacob Fatu since they are in a tag team match at SummerSlam.
They showed some WWE superstars hanging out at Fanatics Fest in New York City. Tom Brady said he’d get in there for one match, and then Brady slapped Logan Paul, so perhaps that’s the plan.
Cody Rhodes was shown in the locker room when CM Punk approached him. Punk wasn’t sure about Rhodes facing Gunther on SmackDown. Rhodes admitted it wasn’t a good idea, but he knows Punk would do the same thing. Punk claimed that he is going to watch Rhodes’ back. Rhodes told Punk to watch on a monitor. Punk claimed he would see him out there. Rhodes wanted Punk to stay in the back, but Punk insisted he’ll be out there.
(Commercial)
A video package aired about the Roman Reigns-Seth Rollins match at SummerSlam.
The announcers did a rundown of the Saturday Night’s Main Event card.
* Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk & Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther & Sami Zayn
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Paige & Brie Bella vs. Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley
* No Disqualification Match: Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh
* Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria
* New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson to join Roman Reigns
Danhausen was in his lab when Jackie Redmond showed up for an interview. Jackie mentioned Danhausen’s opponent at Saturday Night’s Main Event, JD McDonagh, probably will have help in the form of Dominik Mysterio, yet Danhausen refused help from Matt Cardona. Danhausen had a stuffed animal cat in a cage. Danhausen said if you cross paths with a cat, then you are cursed. There were some sparks that went off in the room, so Danhausen told Jackie to run, and Danhausen took the cat in the cage and left.
Analysis: I think the build for Saturday Night’s Main Event is weak and the JD-Danhausen match doesn’t have much of a story.
Gunther made his entrance, so Cody Rhodes attacked him in the aisle. Cody sent Gunther into the barricade at ringside. Cody sent Gunther into the commentary table. Cody sent Gunther in the ring, so the referee called for the bell.
Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther
Cody hit Gunther with some punches. Gunther countered a move off the ropes by shoving Cody over the top to the floor. The match continued for those of us on Netflix as Gunther gave Cody a belly-to-back slam on the ring apron. Back in the ring, Gunther sent Cody into the turnbuckle for a sternum bump. Gunther hit Cody with a forearm to the back to remain in control. Gunther choked Cody across the ropes. When Cody went for a body slam, Gunther fell on top because Cody was selling a back/hip injury. Gunther sent Cody into the ropes and hit a back elbow.
The match continued with Gunther in full control. Gunther smacked Cody with a chop to the chest. Cody countered a move and hit a Cody Cutter off the ropes. Cody hit the patented scoop powerslam. Cody jumped off the ropes with a Disaster Kick and another Cody Cutter off the ropes. Gunther chopped Cody and delivered a kick while Cody’s leg was against the ropes. Gunther kicked Cody in the back of the leg. Gunther rammed Cody’s left leg against the ring apron. CM Punk’s music hit as the Undisputed WWE Champion made his way down to the ring to support Cody. Gunther teased a GTS, but Cody got out of it and they did a double lariat. They went on another break for some fans as the match continued. Gunther and Cody exchanged strikes until Gunther kicked Cody down.
The third part of the match returned from a break with over four minutes left. Gunther hit a Powerbomb for two and then a half crab submission. Gunther let go, Cody hit him with some kicks to the head and broke free. Gunther went for a running kick, Cody moved to avoid it and Gunther hit the turnbuckle. Cody hit a dragon screw leg whip. Cody applied the Figure Four Leglock and that was the cue for Sami Zayn to show up and attack Punk at ringside with punches. Zayn tossed Punk over the commentary table. Zayn was wearing a “Justice For Sami” shirt. Cody saw what Zayn was doing, so Cody hit a suicide dive on Zayn on the floor. Cody punched Gunther, so Zayn tripped up Cody and sent him into the ring post, which caused the DQ finish. It went about 13 minutes.
Winner by disqualification: Cody Rhodes
Analysis: *** It was a solid match that was given time, but you could tell WWE didn’t want either of these guys losing before the SNME match. They weren’t out there trying to have some amazing match or something. It was more like a house show match. I figured Zayn had to show up to cause some chaos, and there he was to take out Punk and go after Cody.
Post match, Zayn cleared off the commentary table. Gunther wanted a Powerbomb, but Punk was back up to take out Gunther, and Punk tackled Zayn as well. Cody and Zayn exchanged punches. Punk and Gunther were fighting on the other side. The four guys all went into the ring and got into a brawl, while WWE Officials were in there to try to break it up. Joe was pushing the story that the entire SummerSlam dynamic could shift because of the Saturday Night’s Main Event tag team match. Anyway, the brawling kept on going and that was the end of the show.
Analysis: They did a nice job of building the SNME tag team match throughout the show. I just don’t think it’s that big of a match. Yes, if Zayn and Gunther win then SummerSlam is a 4-way match between Punk-Cody-Zayn-Gunther instead of just Punk-Cody. Ending the show with a chaotic brawl is fine in terms of building up the SNME tag.
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Three Stars of the Show
- War Raiders
- Cody Rhodes
- Finn Balor
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The Scoreboard
7.25 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2026 Average: 7.00
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Final Thoughts on WWE SmackDown
It felt like a usual SmackDown episode in this era. There were good matches, and then the tag team match with the War Raiders beating Fraxiom was clearly the match of the night. The Cody Rhodes-Gunther match was really just an angle to build to Saturday Night’s Main Event, which is fine.
I don’t think the lineup for SNME is that strong as I have mentioned, but at least they tried to build some of the matches. SummerSlam looks pretty good.
The next WWE PLE is SummerSlam on August 1 & 2 from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here’s the lineup so far:
* WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins
* Undisputed WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
* Hell in a Cell Match: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
* Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky
* Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. Chad Gable
* LA Knight, Royce Keys & Solo Sikoa vs. The Usos – Jimmy & Jey Uso and Jacob Fatu
* Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. three other women
You can watch SummerSlam, a special two-night event, STREAMING LIVE on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan in the United States and on Netflix internationally.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport