WWE Smackdown 7/17/2026

WWE Smackdown 7/17/2026

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/wwe-smackdown-7102026.html

We are in Albany, NY. Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore are on commentary. 

Gunther comes out. He says he prides himself with being an outstanding professional but he has been mistreated since he came to SD. He says Nick Aldis might be jealous as he's the greatest wrestler in WWE. Gun says he should be champ and the fans know it. He says Aldis is the only one preventing him from being champ. He says Aldis made this personal. He says him being put in this position is unacceptable and he won't stand for it.

Adam Pearce comes out. He says Gun should thank Nick Aldis for saving his job. He talks about Gun attacking Cody and Aldis. He says Gun would be fired if it's up to him. He says Aldis is making sure his match at SNME is going on as planned. Adam says there's a stipulation and says Sami and Gunther are added to the WWE Title match at Summerslam if they win. Gun is happy.

Cody Rhodes comes out. He runs to the ring and beats up on Gun. He sends Gun out. Cody asks where the logic is with Gun. He says he kicked his head into the car door and doesn't expect to get hit on sight. Cody says Gun won't make it to SNME. Cody says they are both ready and challenges Gun tonight. Cody says he needs Adam to say okay. Adam tells him the match is official.

Thoughts: I can understand Sami maybe getting another crack at the title, but Gunther? Absolutely not. He has lost so many times.

Adam Pearce does a video. He says Rhea Ripley has been recovering from an injury. He says she will not be able to compete at Summerslam. Adam says they will crown an interim Women's champ through a ladder match at Summerslam. Adam says there will be qualifiers for it. Adam says we will find out who the real WWE Women's champ is when Rhea return.

We see various wrestlers arrive and hang out.

Finn Balor vs Talla Tonga

TT offers a high test of strength. TT misses a shot and Finn hits him in the corner. Finn chops him and hits leg kicks. TT shoulders him over. TT stomps him and sends him chest first into the buckles. TT sits on his neck on the ropes. Finn hits punches. 

TT is pulled over the top. Finn's head is banged off the buckles and TT lariats him from the apron. We go to break and return. 

TT corner lariats Finn. TT blocks an up and over and powerslams Finn for 2. Finn hits leg kicks and punches. Finn dropkicks him in the knee. Finn final cuts him for 2. TT samoan drops Finn.

TT goes for a chokeslam and is ddt'd. TT hits a big boot for 2. TT headbutts Finn. Tama Tonga gets in the ring and Finn pulls the ropes up and down on Talla's crotch. Finn slingblades Tama on the floor. Finn john woo's TT. Finn top rope double stomps TT twice and pins him.

Thoughts: I didn't love the interference at the end but it wasn't bad otherwise. They did what they were supposed to. I don't love Talla losing to such a smaller guy though.

CM Punk asks Adam Pearce about Gunther and Sami having a chance to make Summerslam a 4-way. Adam says he doesn't like it but that's the decision. They talk about Cody. Adam says Cody wants his receipt and he can get it tonight. Punk says he will talk to Cody.

Punk then runs into Damian Priest. DP says they are good but says he will be waiting for him if he's still champ after SS. Punk says he and Cody might come after DP's tag title. 

R-Truth pops up behind Priest and asks what he talked about with Punk. DP asks if he was here the whole time.

Jade Cargill does a video. She is happy about having a clear shot at the time. She says the women and her aren't cut from the same cloth. She says she will take her title her. Nia Jax says she feels no pressure and the other girls should instead. Nia says everyone will call her the new champ.

Jacy says Fatal Influence shook the table when they arrived but the girls are getting too comfortable. She says she will put Tiffany out of her misery and win the title at SS. Tiffany Stratton says she will beat Jacy and Minnesota will have a front row seat to history.

Women's Ladder Match Qualifier - Tiffany Stratton vs Jacy Jayne

Fatal Influence all jump Tiff before the match. Brie Bella and Paige come out to help Tiff. The other 4 fight to the back and Tiff and JJ fight.

The bell rings. JJ's head is banged off the buckles. Tiff chops her. JJ is tripped into the ropes then Tiff hip attacks her on the ropes. Tiff basement dropkicks her for 2. We go to break and return.

JJ gets a 2 count on Tiff. JJ clubs on her and they crossbody each other at the same time. They trade shots. JJ hits kicks and a step up enzugiri. Tiff hits lariats on her and spinning back elbows her. Tiff alabama slams her. Tiff is crotched up top.

JJ bridging twisting suplexes her for 2. Tiff handspring stunners her. Tiff finlay rolls her then hits a prettiest moonsault ever to win.

Thoughts: It was acceptable. I didn't like the pre-match interference because if you can do that, you can win the match before the bell. Tiff won as expected as Summerslam will be in her home.

We get a Baron Corbin video. He says he sees people running around who think they are tough. He says their reality is about to come crashing down. He says he's the real deal. He says Trick Williams is the first name on a long list and Carmelo Hayes was just collateral damage. He tells Trick to smile why he can and enjoy what he has as he is coming for it all.

Trick Williams is interviewed. He says Baron dialed 1-800-WHOOP@SS. He says Baron is a bald headed b!tch. He says Baron is mad as he has a title on it with more hair than Baron has on his head. Carmelo Hayes comes in. He says Trick found a loophole to not defend against him. He says he sees Trick's hesitation. He says they both know Trick isn't better than him. Trick asks how long Melo has been on SD and says he has done nothing. Trick says Melo needs to take notes and pull out his notebook then write down, "I will mind my business while grown men talk".

Women's Ladder Match Qualifier - Nia Jax vs Jade Cargill

Jade misses a pump kick and Nia samoan drops her. Nia leg drops her. Nia misses a 2nd rope leg drop and Jade spinebusters her. Charlotte Flair comes out and beats up Jade's buddies outside. Flair facekicks Jade and gets Nia DQ'd.

Thoughts: Wow, this was stupid. Flair hates Jade so much that she just got her a title shot.

Flair tries to pillmanize Jade's arm after but Jade's buddies save her. Nia is upset and corner splashes Flair from behind. Jade then hits a jade end on Flair.

Gunther is interviewed. He says he will beat rationale into Cody. Candice LeRae wheels Johnny Gargano in. LeRae says Sami is Gun's partner tomorrow and says if they win, they go to Summerslam. LaRae tells him not to do anything stupid as he needs his win tomorrow. Gun says to tell Sami to show up, shut up and don't get in the way. Blake Monroe then attacks LaRae from behind, sending her into production boxes. She says she's Blake Monroe and the new girl. She says she will see her around. She then says Johnny Gargano needs a haircut.

Lash Legend and Nia Jax talk to Adam Pearce in the back. Lash says they expect consequences and Nia says Flair ruined her match. Adam says Nia will have another chance to win her way into the ladder match against Charlotte Flair next week. Nia says finally Adam is doing something.

Fraxiom (Axiom and Nathan Frazer) vs The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik)

Erik waistlock takedowns NF. NF goes up and over then rolls up Erik for 2. Erik forearms him over. Ivar corne pslashes NF and Erik corner forearms NF. Ivar hits elbows on NF in the corner. 

NF takes a knee to the gut from Erik. NF enzugiri's Erik then ddt's him. NF's tope is caught outside. Ax tope rope moonsaults his opponents outside. We go to PiP break and return.

Erik flying knees NF. Ivar spinning slams Ax. Ivar butt drops NF out of the corner. Ax is put on NF and Ivar misses a top rope moonsault on both. Ax PK's Ivar. NF springboard 450's Ivar for 2. Ax is caught coming off the top by Ivar and Ivar spinning heel kicks him. Erik rams Ivar's butt into Ax. Erik uranage's Ax for 2. 

Ax dropkicks Ivar. NF misses a tope on Ivar and goes into the commentary table. Ax topes Ivar. NF tope con hilos Erik. Ivar facekicks Ax. Ivar takes a double superplex. NF pheonix splashes Ivar. Erik and Ax trade shots. Erik knees Ax in the back of the head. NF is popped up into a powerslam from Ivar. Ax takes a double powerbomb and is pinned.

Thoughts: It looked good on paper and I liked what we got here.  The little guys flew and the big guys threw them around. Fraxiom didn't get to do too much here and they kept it moving. The Raiders are AAA tag champs and thankfully they won here.

We see clips of LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys talking from Fanatics Fest. La Knight makes fun of The Uso's and Fatu. We also see clips of Tom Brady slapping Logan Paul there.

CM Punk talks to Cody Rhodes in the back. Punk asks if facing Gunther is a good idea and Cody says it's not. Punk says he will watch Cody's back tonight. 

Jackie Redmond goes into Danhausen's lair. Dan asks who JD McDonaugh is. Dan is not worried about getting outnumbered. He says he has a secret weapon and shows a toy cat in a cage. Jackie says it's a toy and he says it's not. Dan says you don't cross paths with a cat as you are cursed. Dan's pc then shoots sparks out and they both run.

Cody Rhodes vs Gunther

Cody attacks Gun as he comes out. Gun is sent into the rails. Gun's head is banged off the steps. Gun is sent into the rails and Cody pounds on him more. Gun's head is banged off the commentary table. Cody drop down punches Gun then hits mounted shots. 

Cody goes to springboard and Gun pushes him out. We go to break and return. Gun knees Cody in the gut and chops him down. Cody hits a cody cutter on Gun. Cody running forearms Gun and powerslams him. 

Cody tries a disaster kick on Gun. Cody does a cody cutter on Gun. Gun chops Cody and kicks him in the leg. Cody's leg is banged off the post. CM Punk comes out. Gun and Cody flying lariat each other. We go to PiP break and return.

Gun powerbombs Cody for 2 then half crabs him. Cody boots Gun away. Gun misses a corner facekick and is kicked in the leg. Cody dragon screws him. Cody figure fours him. Sami Zayn comes out and beats up Punk. Sami throws Punk over the commentary table. Cody topes Sami outside. Sami sends Cody into the post and this goes to a no contest.

Thoughts: I liked what we got, but we didn't get all that much of it. They were definitely rushing through things and keeping things moving. No one lost here so nobody comes off bad from this.

Punk jumps off the commentary table onto Gun. Cody punches Sami on the commentary table. All 4 men fight. Officials come to break it up and the show ends up with everyone fighting. The brawl was nice here and added something to the SNME match.

Overall thoughts: The wrestling wasn't bad here but the show didn't do it for me as a whole. There was a lot of outside interference all night long here. Them throwing in Sami and Gun possibly getting Summerslam title shots last minute isn't exactly right I doubt they will end up getting added to the match. The main didn't get a lot of time and didn't have an actual finish. I mostly did like Finn/Talla and I liked The War Raiders vs Fraxiom. I'd give this a higher 5 out of 10 as it was acceptable overall but could have been better.