SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS
JULY 31, 2026
GREEN BAY, WIS. AT RESCH CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 4,343 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 10,200 spectators when configured for concerts.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Joe Tessitore introduced the show as they showed a aerial view of US Bank Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis. He said there is one more sunset before SummerSlam. Then they cut to a scene of Green Bay, Wisc. followed by backstage shorts of Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton being all chummy, Jade Cargill & B-Fab & Michin, Jia Jax and Lash Legend, Giulia, R-Truth &Damien Priest, and The War Raiders.
(Keller’s Analysis: The “Superstar Arrivals” segment is now officially out of hand. They’re over three minutes into the show at this point.)
-Finn Balor made his entrance. He talked about how he won the World Title but had to relinquish it. Sami Zayn interrupted from the stage. He said while he understands it’s an emotional time for Balor, there are things he has to get off his chest. He said four weeks ago he was WWE Champion. He said he’d love for Cody to regain the WWE Title because he has already beat Cody “clean as a whistle” and he said he knows as a fact he can do it again. He said there’s another part of him that would love for Punk to retain the title. He called him the biggest fraud, hypocrite, and piece of trash. He said he sat on the stage years ago crying because his face wasn’t on the collectible cups. “Congratulations CM Punk, you’ve ascended to the high rank of Corporate Poster Boy number 2.” He said he’d like to take the title from the man who stole it from him to begin with.
Sami told Finn he has a lot of respect for him. Balor told him to grow some balls and come to the ring to say what he has to say to his face. Sami swiftly made his way to the ring. He said everyone who has watched him knows how great he is. He said he should have been a champion four or five times by now. He then said, “Well, maybe two or three times.” He told him that he needs to take the pulse of this moment and understand it. “This moment belong to me,” Sami said. He said he had his time and now it’s his time. “It’s about justice!” he said. “Justice for Sami means…” Balor interrupted and said, “What about justice for Finn?” He said he’s spent the last ten years trying to get back to this moment.
Sami said no disrespect, but if it took ten years and it didn’t happen, maybe take a hint. Balor said it took Sami more than ten years to get a smell of the championship, so maybe he should take a hint. Balor said his title reign ended because he got injured, but Sami’s ended in a matter of days not because he was hurt or got screed, but “simply because you lost.” Fans chanted, “Sami sucks! Sami sucks!”
Sami said, “Those almost sound like fighting words, Finn.” He said if he didn’t respcet hiom so much, he’d drop him right there. He said he won’t because he’s a good guy. He said he’s the last real good guy around there. He said he is going to do the right thing and walk away. He said he’d see him at Summerslam. Gunther snuck into the ring and threw Balor into Sami. He clotheslined Balor and then Sami. Gunther yelled at them. “You’re both a joke,” he said. He declared himself the rightful no. 1 contender.
GM Adam Pearce stepped onto the stage. Gunther said he’s the person he needed to talk to. Gunther asked what he had to do to get what is rightfully his. Gunther approached Pearce and asked if he needs to beat his ass too. Balor charged toward Gunther and attacked him. Sami joined in. Gunther stood and clotheslined both of them. Nick Aldis ran out and punched Gunter and threw him into the ring. Gunther kicked him in the gut, but Aldis took him down and applied a Texas Cloverleaf. Officals joined Pearce in pulling Aldis off of Gunther. Gunther gave Aldis a big boot. Aldis was held back at ringside and yelled at Gunther.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good opening segment. Sami was his usual self in all the good ways a heel should be. Balor made his case for becoming the no. 1 contender in a believable way. Aldis showed good aggression and intensity in going after Gunther.) [c]
(1) TIFFANY STRATTON & CHELSEA GREEN vs. MICHIN & B-FAB (w/Jade Cargill)
The bell rang 23 minutes into the hour. Tiffany and Chelsea have become besties quickly. Tiffany tagged in Green and they danced and skipped together briefly before going on the attack against both heels. Chelsea saluted the fans as they cut to a break at 1:00. [c]
Tiffany leaped off the top rope with a swanton for a two count. (The back of her head barely grazed Michin, and she took all the impact herself on the landing, but whatever.) B-Fab yanked Tiffany to the floor. Jade threw her into the ringside steps. Meanwhile, Chelsea, who blind-tagged in, battled Michin. Chelsea landed a missile dropkick. B-Fab tagged in. Michin illegally kicked Chelsea and then the heel duo gave her their BTA double-faceplant for the win. Barrett said it was basically a mugging of Chelsea and Tiffany.
WINNER: Stratton & Green in 7:00.
-Afterward, Charlotte made her way to the ring to her music. They met center-ring and swung away at each other. Charlotte got the better of Jade, who rolled to ringside.
-Backstage, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh confronted Rey Fenix. Dom volunteered JD for a AAA Cruiserweight Title match against Fenix. Lee agreed. JD said he’d go talk to Pearce about. Fenix then turned to chat with Nathan Fraser and Axiom.
-Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga spoke about their decision to leave Solo Sikoa. Tama said it took balls to walk on their way. Haku showed up and told them, “Don’t forget who you are. You are the sons of Haku.” He encouraged them.
-Damien Priest and R-Truth made their entrance. Truth wore a cheese head and Green Bay Packer jersey.
(Keller’s Analysis: Now Truth can’t show his face in Minneapolis in the home stadium the Vikings this weekend!) [c]
-LA Knight said some YouTube Premium subscribers get ESPN Unlimited for no additional charge.
-Tessitore said the pre-show starts on ESPN at 3 ET and then Summerslam itself at 6 ET.
(2) DAMIEN PRIEST & R-TRUTH vs. THE WAR RAIDERS (Erik & Ivar) – WWE Tag Team Titles vs. AAA Tag Team Titles match
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. When Priest leaped off the ringside steps toward the Raiders at ringside at 1:00, the Raiders caught him and rammed him into the barricade. Then Erik threw Ivar into Truth at ringside. He did the same to Priest on the other side of the ring. They cut to a very early double-box break. [c/db]
Priest took over during the break. The Raiders came back with an assisted double-team powerslam. Erik made the cover. Truth interrupted the count. The Raiders shoved the ref out of the corner when he tried to stiop a double-team in the corner. The ref DQ’d them.
WINNERS: Priest & Truth in 6:00 via DQ.
-They brawled into the crowd afterward. Truth leaped off the production staging area onto the Raiders. Fans chanted, “R-Truth! R-Truth!” Tama and Talla attacked both teams at ringside. Tessitore said they were just annihilating the other two teams. Haku joined them in the ring. Tessitore said he is “one of the most respected and feared tough guys in history.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Not a lot to it. If people deeply cared about the match and a potential title change, it’d be more disappointing. I’m not sure if fans have a strong reason to cheer or boo Tama & Talla with Haku since they attacked both teams and they’re framing Haku as a returning legend.)
-Tessitore and Barrett threw to a clip of the house show from last night in Springfield, Ill. where Cody landed a back elbow after their match, but it appeared he didn’t know it was Punk who put his hand on his shoulders. WWE officials got between them as they exchanged heated words.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Punk backstage. She asked how he reconciles facing Cody in an increasingly contentious situation with also being his friend. Punk said they’ve been running from this match for a while, but this is competition. He said Cody isn’t his friend now or when the bell rings. Trick Williams interrupted. Punk seemed slightly irritated with the interruption. Trick said he’s coming for his title some day. Punk said he wanted him to win his qualifier match last week because he craves facing new contenders. He said when they wrestle, “I will whoop that Trick.” [c]
-A video package aired on Punk vs. Cody with JJets pushing $25 tickets for Summerslam. He said it’s “only available for a limited time.” Uh, how limited can it be if the show is tomorrow.
-A video package aired with Nick Aldis saying it has been an honor and a privilege to be Smackdown GM, but his first dream was being a wrestler. He said he wrestled for multiple companies on multiple continents. It showed clips of him against RVD, Kurt Anhgle, AJ Styles, and Jeff Hardy. He said he was okay with leaving it behind to be the best GM he could be, but Gunther pushed him too far. He said he was left with one choice and that was lacing up the boots again.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s great that they showed Aldis wrestling in the past.)
[HOUR TWO]
-A clip airred of Micah Parsons posing with a WWE replica title belt at training camp fro the Green Bay Packers. Then they showed some Packers at ringside including Parsons and his family.
-Trick made his entrance. He said he had a lot on his chest. He addressed “that big, bald-headed Baron Cobin.” He said he came back to WWE just to confront him. He threw some Trick-style insults at him and then called him out so he could Trick-slap him to Minnesota. Corbin walked out and said while he was away, he learned some valuable lessons. He said he learned patience. He said when Trick arrived, they strapped a rocket to him and gave him music that makes him seem bigger than he actually is. He said Sunday at Summerslam, it will feel like he’s in quick sand. He said he will be suffocating and it won’t feel good. He said he’ll wrap his arms around his neck and cut off the oxygen to his brain.
Trick interrupted and said he won’t do that and he’s sick of him acting like he’s badder now than the last time he was there. He asked if he was there to collect his pension and by a summer house. He said all he’s collecting is a lemon pepper stepper up his ass. Corbin stood on the ring apron, but said they’re not wrestling before Sunday. He said he’s a dumb rookie who doesn’t understand. He hopped to the floor and told Trick it’s all about patience. He said on Sunday, he’s taking the title from him and there’s legitimately nothing in the world he can do to take it from him. Trick told Corbin he won’t take his title. He told fans to let Corbin know what he has coming. Fans chanted, “Whoop that trick.”
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett. Tessitore said Corbin is different than the last time they saw him. He said he has spent a year stacking gold medals in masters level jiu jitsu tournaments. Barrett said he is showing veteran savviness.
-A video package aired on Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi, act III.
-Rey Fenix made his entrance. [c]
(3) REY FENIX vs. JD MCDONAGH (w/Doninik Mysterio) – AAA Cruiserweight Title
The bell rang 18 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break. [c]
Fenix landed a springboard cutter at 7:00. He kipped up and then charged at JD off the ropes, but JD caught him with a Spanish Fly for a two count. Fenix looked ready to finish JD when Dom distracted the ref and then JD knocked Fenix off balance on the top rope. The ref kicked Dom from ringside. Dom threw a fit. Danhausen then came out to his music. The Minihausens attacked Dom. Fenix then rallied against JD with double-knees in the corner and then a Mexican Muscle Buster for the win.
WINNER: Fenix in 10:00 to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Title
-Tessitore plugged WWE Radio is now simulcasting Raw and Smackdown. They showed a Times Square billboard advertising it. [c]
-A clip aired of WWE Summerslam Takeover at the Minneapolis Auditorium.
-A video package aired on Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins. [c]
(4) GIULIA vs. LASH LEGEND – Summerslam Ladder Match Qualifier
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Giulia applied an early guillotine. Lash powered out and headbutted Giulia and then landed her Lash Extension for the win.
WINNER: Lash in 2:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Giulia is basically a jobber at this point.) [c]
-Cody made his entrance. CM Punk’s music interrupted Cody’s music and he walked past Cody to the ring. they faced off mid-ring. Punk said that doesn’t feel great, but that’s where they are. They talked about inadvertent conact. Cody intensely told Punk that he knows him and he sees through him sometimes and he gets his mind games.
Punk turned and asked the fans if it was “great to be alive in Green Bay, Wisconsin or what.” He turned back to Cody and said he knew he was going to ruffle his feathers and hurt his feelings. “Yeah, I was counting on it,” he said. He said he wasn’t going to be a piss-baby complaining about the same four wrestlers always on top or Sami talking like a starter when he’s a bench player. He said he’s showing up and he hopes people get angry about it. He said for over 20 years, he’s ruffled feathers. He said for ten of those years, he was gone, but the mere mention of his name sent shivers down men’s spines. He said they should stop talking about being friends and talk about what it’s about – the championship.
He said it’s up to Cody after tomorrow night if they’re still friends. Punk said he needs to find out who the better wrestler is “for business purposes.” Cody then asked Green Bay what they want to talk about. He got mostly cheers and then a “Cody!” chant broke out. Fans chanted “CM Punk” in answer to his question. Cody said it’s business, but it’s also personal to him. He said holding that title means he is the best in the world. “That is the crown,” he said. “You walk around the king and you call the shots.” Cody told Punk that he wasn’t there to make friends, he was there to make money. Punk clarified he didn’t come back to “make friends,” but he didn’t come to lose friends, either. He said if it comes down to losing a friend or losing a title, tomorrow night won’t be his night.
Cody soaked up the words for a moment, then said there is a word bothering him. He asked Punk if he knew what he was referring to. He said the word is “tomorrow.” He asked Punk what he wants to do about it tonight. (I thought he was going to say he’s upset they’re not wrestling on Sunday.) Punk took off his belt and jacket and bracelet and leaned in and said, “Say when.” He got in a fighting stance. Cody looked away, threw down the mic, unzipped his jacket and tossed it ito the front row. Punk stuck his chin out and invited a punch. Cody stared him down, then threw the first punch. The wildly swung as Tessitore said it has crossed the lin. Cody knocked Punk down with a clothesline and then knocked him over the top rope. He rammed him into the announce desk. They fought around the desk until officials ran out to separate them. They stood on the announce desk and swung wildly at each other. Tessitore said friendship is far in the rear view mirror now. He said they’ll battle for the most prized title of all tomorrow night.
(Keller’s Analysis: How many people backstage were holding their breath when Punk was taking bumps from Cody at the end there, fearing he’d get injured? Or same for Cody, although he wasn’t taking the same type of bumps. Strong closing segment from those two verbally and physically.)
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/b4ehg84s34
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
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