WWE Smackdown 7/3/2026

WWE Smackdown 7/3/2026

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2026/06/wwe-smackdown-6262026.html

Note - The show is back to being 2 hours after being 3 hours for half the year.

We are in Atlantic City, NJ. Michael Cole and Corey Graves are on commentary.

Sami Zayn comes out. He says the reactions he got for winning the title has touched him. He says the whole thing is funny though as he's been booed for the last 6 months. Sami says he could be petty and tell everyone to kiss his @ss but he won't because he's a good guy. Sami says he won the title because he never changed. 

He says this is a celebration tonight and says we are celebrating him tonight. He says he forever goes down as one of the all-time greats and will be known forever as Sami Zayn, Wrestlemania Main Eventer, Grand Slam Champion and WWE Champion. He says no amount of hate can take it from him.

Cody Rhodes comes out. Sami asks Cody, "what do you wanna talk about?". Cody says Sami was the first to celebrate with him when he won the title. Cody says he wanted to be the first to tell him congratulations. Cody offers a handshake and they shake hands. Cody goes to leave and Sami asks if that's it. 

Sami tells Cody to just be himself and drop the American Nightmare and Golden Boy. Sami says he has something Cody once has and he knows Cody wants it and is addicted to it. Sami asks him to say why he's really out here.

Jey Uso comes out. Jey and Cody shake hands and bump chests. Jey says he's proud of Sami. He says he earned it and deserved it. He says Sami knows why he's here and it's Bloodline business. Jey says this is Sami's warning shot. He says he needs to bring the gold back to the family. 

Cody asks what year is this? Cody says Jey's been champ since then and asks when Jey reverted to running errands for Roman. Cody says him and Sami were talking about his rematch. Sami says, "oh were we?". Sami says no one was happier for Jey than him. Sami says Cody had his chance and it's his time to be WWE champ. He says Cody told him, "as long as I have this, you never will". He says Jey says the WWE Title needed to come back to the family but Sami says it has returned to the family. Sami says no one is touching this and tells both of them to stay away from him.

Sami goes to leave and Adam Pearce comes out. Adam says he's the acting GM with Nick being out due to his altercation with Gunther. Adam says his first order of business is to find Sami a challenger. Sami says he should have a say as to his opponent at Summerslam. Adam says, who said anything about Summerslam? Adam says Nick might do that, but he's here and we do it his way. Adam says Sami will defend his title on Raw. Adam says we will have a #1 contender when Cody faces Jey tonight.

Thoughts: It was a great segment. I loved seeing Sami spit Cody's words back at him and him saying the title is still with Bloodline essentially was interesting. Adam playing hardball with Sami also added to this. This was very soap opera-esque and it worked out well.

Cathy Kelly interviews Charlotte Flair. Flair says Jade got what she deserved when she interfered in her match. She says she will keep teaching lessons to Jade until she gets the picture. Alexa Bliss walks in. She says she didn't know Flair would be at Night of Champions. She says she wish she had told her. Flair says it wasn't personal and says she saw Bliss with Tiffany. Tiffany Stratton walks in. She says she never needed Flair's help, but thanks. Chelsea Green comes in and says Jade should be worried about "us". Flair tells Tiff she's welcome and says she will see them out there. Green says not before they see her out there in an awkward voice.

Charlotte Flair, Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton vs. B-Fab, Jade Cargill & Michin

Jade and Tiff argue then lock up. Jade pushes her down. Tiff is popped up and dropkicks Jade. Tiff hip attacks Mich on the ropes then cartwheels onto her. Mich sunset flips her for 2. Mich throws her down backwards. Tiff takes a double suplex for 2. 

Tiff superkicks Fab. Flair top rope crossbodies Fab. Flair kicks Fab in the corner then does a fallaway slam on her. Flair chops Fab. Flair cannonballs Mich off the apron then Jade lariats Flair on the floor. We go to break and return. 

Flair takes kicks from the heels. Jade fallaway slams Flair then dances. Jade misses a corner splash. Flair forearms Fab then they double clothesline each other down. 

Green hot tags in. She hits Japanese armdrags on Mich. Green step up enzugiri's her then low sliding rolls her. Green flying leg lariats her for 2. Flair superkicks Jade and is pump kicked down. Mich rolls up Green for 2. Green slaps Mich. Green top rope diving headscissors Mich. 

Green rolls up Jade off a jade end attempt. Green htis Fab on the apron and is hit with a jade end. Jade pins Green.

Thoughts: It was fine. Jade's team kind of had to win here to get Jade some kind of win to move forward and Green was a good choice to take the fall. 

We see clips of the Aldis/Gunther situation. we are told Aldis is on leave and Adam Pearce is running the show for the time being.

Adam Pearce is on the phone with Nick Aldis. Sami Zayn comes up to Adam. He says he doesn't belong on Raw as a SD star. Adam says Sami can show the world he can be a great Undisputed champ. Adam says congratulations and he will see him Monday. Sami talks more but Adam leaves.

Sami goes to hit a water bottle and does. He then spots Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano. Sami tells Johnny he did it and shows him the title. Sami says he doesn't know if he could have done this without him. He says Johnny is his rock. Sami says you gotta stay true to yourself to win titles. Sami then asks LeRae to take a photo of him and Johnny. 

AAA World Cruiserweight Title Match - Rey Fenix (c) vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

Vikingo was out and injured so he couldn't be on NXT this week, but he's here as this was taped a day prior.

Vik rolls up Rey for 2. Vik corkscrew headscissors him. Vik spin kicks him in the gut and pele kicks him. Rey superkicks him out of the corner and double jump crossbodies him for 2. Rey handspring cutters Vik for 2. Rey slides out, Vik traps him in the ring skirt and clubs on him. Vik dropkicks him there. Vik seated moonsaults him outside then poses on the commentary table.

We go to break and return. Vik misses a corner splash. Rey rope walk kicks Vik. Rey top rope splashes him for 2. Vik enzugiri's Rey in the corner. Vik corner meteora's Rey. Vik top rope inverted 450 hurricanrana's him for 2.  Vik 2nd rope diving poisonrana's Rey for 2. 

Vik misses a springboard 450. Rey flying double knees him in the corner. Rey mexican muscle busters him and pins him.

Thoughts: It was what I expected - an indy no-sell fest where they just do cool stuff until it ends and that's what happened. That 2nd rope poisonrana should have totally ended this. I'm just glad it didn't go too long as it would have gotten worse.

Cathy Kelly interviews Giulia about Blake Monroe. Giulia says she doesn't back down from any fight. she says she put Kiana behind her. She says she will fight Blake anytime and anywhere. Kiana James comes in. She says it would be like Giulia to bite the hand that feeds her. She says she got lucky. Blake then grabs Giulia and throws her into a box. She says she's Blake Monroe and it's good to see her. She then bangs her face off the floor. Kiana says not to forget who is in control here to Giulia and Blake bangs Kiana's head off the same box.

Jimmy Uso, Fatu and Royce Keys talk. Keys says Roman tells Jacob who his partners are now. Jimmy says Roman sent them on a mission to find Solo. Jimmy asks if he knows where he is. Keys says blood doesn't make you family, but loyalty does. Keys says he's been Fatu's Day 1 for the last 14 years and says he's Fatu's family. Jimmy says, "not no more" and says, "right Jacob?". Fatu shrugs, says nothing and goes with Jimmy.

Trick Williams and Lil' Yacthy come out. Carmelo Hayes comes out before anything is said. Melo says they need to run it back if Trick is bout it, bout it. Melo says everything Trick does is larger than life and says he's unstoppable. He says that's because he hasn't decided to stop him yet. Melo says he made the championship a championship and Trick made it an accessory. He says he will get him a discount code on WWE Shop if he needs an accessory. Melo says Trick has the workhorse and match of the night title. He says Trick walks around like he has had too much to eat.

Melo tells Trick to prove him wrong and put the title against someone who knows him better than anyone. Melo says he doesn't buy that Trick will be one of the greatest champs of all time. He says Trick has 2 left feet and a mouth full of marbles when he faces him. Yachty stands up for Trick and says he's not the same guy he was in NXT. He says Trick has been nothing short of greatness on the main roster. 

Yachty asks the crowd if Melo should get a match. The crowd seems to approve. Yachty says Melo has a match next week but it's not for the title. He says Melo had a chance, blew it and failed and they won't give up titles. 

Trick says with the history they had, he knows Melo like the back of his hand. Trick then backhands him down and says to mind your business while grown folks are talking. Trick goes to walk out and Melo tope con hilos him. 

Danhausen is in his lair with Miz and Kit acting weird. Matt Cardona comes in. Dan says he has a match with "the guy with the head who follows around Dominik Mysterio". Dan says he will wrestle that guy at MSG. Matt says to let him know if he needs back up. Dan says he has a guy in NYC who has given him back up. Dan tells Matt to twist a dial to try out a new experiment. It smokes and its and Miz start shaking. Dan says Judgment Day must have sabotaged them. Miz and Kit make sounds like they are being electrocuted.

Brie Bella vs Lainey Reid

BB thesz presses her and hits mounted punches. LR hits a hard punch to the face. BB flying lariats her then tornado ddt's her for 2. LR backdrops her. LR misses an elbow drop. Brie sends LR shoulder first into the buckles. BB takes a corner spear and a step up enzugiri. 

BB top rope dropkicks LR. BB kicks LR while she's on her knees. BB throws down LR by the hair and puts a crossface on her. Fallon tries to push the rope closer to LR. Paige stops her but then Fallon drops her with a shot. Brie then sends Fallon into the rails. LR running knees Brie and pins her.

Thoughts: The match wasn't much as expected. Brie still can't do her own offense that great after all of this. Brie was dumb for letting the crossface go when she had Fallon trapped.

R-Truth and Nathan Frazer are having a hot dog eating contest. Truth says the US beat England and chants USA. NF says he feels sick. Axiom referees this. The War Raiders come in. They ask if they are taking their offer or just shoving food in their faces. Ivar takes Truth's hot dog and eats it. Truth then challenges them to a hot dog eating contest for tag titles. DP accepts a title vs title match but says it's happening on SD. Truth says Ivar will lose his mask and luchador status. Erik asks Ivar why he ate the hot dog and Ivar says he doesn't know. 

Finn Balor and Cody Rhodes talk in the back. Cody welcomes him to SD. Finn says he came to SD to face him. He says he hoped it would be for the title and tells him to go get it back. 

Tama Tonga comes up to Finn. He says he went to the elders for guidance on what to do next. Talla Tonga then grabs Finn, throws him into a box and chokes him. Tama says he's closing the books on everything in his past and Finn is next.

Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contendership Match - Cody Rhodes vs. Jey Uso

They lock up and let go. Jey snapmares him and they stare down. Cody knees him in the gut and clubs his back. Cody punches him in the head. Cody is sent out and Jey topes him. We go to break and return. 

They each hit punches. Cody drop down punches him. Jey enzugiri's him. Cody hits a cody cutter for 2. Jey samoan drops Cody. Cody throws Jey over the commentary table. Cody is swept on the table. Jey hits him on the table.

Jey goes for a dive and Cody forearms him. Cody throws him over the rail and plancha's him off the rail. Jey and Cody double lariat each other down. We go to break and return again. They fight on the buckles and Cody is knocked down. Jey top rope splashes Cody for 2. Jey runs into a Cody kick. Cody walks up the buckles and cody cutters him for 2. 

Cody springboards and is superkicked in mid-air. Jey spears him for 2. Cody hits a spear then hits cross rhodes for 2. Cody top rope splashes but Jey gets his knees up. Jey cradles him for 2. 

Jey and Cody trade shots on their knees. Cody hits punches. Jey sleepers him. Jey backrolls him. Jey misses a lariat and Cody hits cross rhodes. Cody pins him.

Thoughts: I think they got told they needed to go home near the end as it ended a bit suddenly for the pace they were at. The match was fine. The two have worked together and know what to do against each other. Cody was definitely the favorite to win and pulled it off. Him vs Sami should be interesting.

Overall thoughts: It was a better show at 2 hours. They didn't waste as much time and the segments got to the point better. The opening segment was good. The women's trios match was acceptable. I hated Fenix/Vikingo. Brie/Reid wasn't that good and the main was an alright bout. I also found the R-Truth segment funny. I'd give this a 6 out of 10 and thought it was an okay show overall.