WWE SmackDown 7/24 Results: Finn Balor to face Sami Zayn in No. 1 contender’s match at SummerSlam, more names added to Interim Women’s Title ladder match

July 24, 2026 Jason Ounpraseuth NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

Oakland Arena — Oakland, California

Results

  • Brie Bella def. Lainey Reid (5:41)
  • Interim Women’s Championship qualifying match: Chelsea Green def. Kiana James (3:27)
  • Interim Women’s Championship qualifying match: Charlotte Flair def. Nia Jax via DQ (8:13)
  • Finn Balor def. Damian Priest, Royce Keys and Trick Williams (12:03) (will face Sami Zayn at SummerSlam in a No. 1 contender’s match)

The show started with a recap of the Gunther-Nick Aldis feud so far, with Aldis and Adam Pearce in the ring preparing for a contract signing.

Gunther vs. Nick Aldis officially official

Pearce informed Aldis that once he signed the contract, he’d relinquish his duties as SmackDown general manager, which Pearce would assume. He also told Aldis that this was a hold-harmless agreement, meaning WWE is not responsible for what Gunther does to Aldis at SummerSlam.

Aldis knew what he was signing up for and told Gunther that he didn’t want this, but he pushed him to his breaking point. Gunther’s mic was cutting out, but he told Aldis that SummerSlam would be his greatest moment. He added that this match was beneath him. He should be fighting for the WWE Championship, but he’s not because Aldis doesn’t know how to do his job. He noted that Aldis hasn’t liked him since he arrived on SmackDown, and he thinks it’s because Aldis is jealous of him. He pointed out that Aldis is a former NWA Worlds Champion, but he never “made it”; he never became a WWE superstar. However, Gunther has gotten everything in WWE. He told Aldis that he will make him a legend and join the list of Goldberg, AJ Styles, and John Cena of men who stepped to the Ring General, chasing one more moment.

Aldis wondered why Gunther keeps repeating himself. He said it’s because he wanted him to believe what he’s saying. Aldis believes that Gunther didn’t think it would end up this way, and he saw it at Saturday Night’s Main Event. At SummerSlam, he’ll turn the career killer into someone who was made a bitch by his boss. Gunther didn’t like that, and he and Aldis started to brawl, with Pearce trying to break it up. It seemed like they messed up a spot because Gunther pushed Aldis into Pearce twice, so that he could give him a low blow and a powerbomb through the table.

One last chance

Cathy Kelly was in front of the trainer’s room until Sami Zayn interrupted. Sami ranted about how he finally won the world title only to defend it days later, at first against the “golden boy” Cody Rhodes and then “corporate poster boy No. 2” CM Punk. He crashed out on a water bottle, as he noted that the “powers that be” got their Punk-Cody match, and Gunther and Aldis have a match at SummerSlam, but he’s on the sidelines. Pearce came out of the trainer’s room, and Sami told him to fix it and that Aldis deserved to be in there because he cost him a shot at a title match at SummerSlam. Pearce eventually told Sami to shut up and wouldn’t entertain a three-way. He said that there would be a four-way match between Damian Priest, Royce Keys, Finn Balor and Trick Williams, and the winner would face Sami at SummerSlam in a No. 1 contender’s match. Sami wasn’t happy because all it took for those guys to get an opportunity was to be mentioned by Punk; Cody can just ask for opportunities and Punk can get one even after sitting on a couch for months. Pearce told him to take it or leave, and Sami agreed under the promise that there wouldn’t be any shenanigans.

Lainey Reid vs. Brie Bella

Fatal Influence cut a promo before the match about how Saturday Night’s Main Event was more memorable for Paige and Brie and how they’ve already taken out two legends. This match followed a similar finish to the others between these teams, with Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne failing to interfere. Reid countered a sunset flip pin into a pinning sequence of her own, while holding on the ropes. The ref caught it this time, and Brie countered back into a sunset flip pin for the win. Fatal Influence attacked Brie and Paige after the match, and Nikki came in for the save and took out Jacy with a Rack Attack 2.0. She got on the mic and called out the “bitches” who tried to sneak up from the “minor leagues” to steal from her sisters. She said they why they’re here and challenged them to a six-woman tag at SummerSlam.

Cathy was backstage with Finn Balor, who called back to his 2016 SummerSlam match and how he’s been clawing and scratching his way back for 10 years. Gunther informed Finn that he’s next in line, and he’ll take what’s his.

After a Raw recap, we saw Royce Keys getting prepped for his match. Solo was hyping him up, and Royce noted that he’s only focused on this match in his hometown and not The Bloodline. LA Knight wished Keys luck but reminded him that he shouldn’t overlook The Bloodline. Solo then gave a speech about how ready he is for their match at SummerSlam.

Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green were backstage, with the former rooting for the latter. Chelsea hoped to win so they could be BFFFLs (Best Friends Forever Fighting on Ladders). She thought it would be so cute if she won the ladder match because Tiffany already has a belt, but Tiffany thought it would be so cute if she was Tiffy Two Belts. Blake Monroe confronted Tiffany and admitted that she actually likes her but warned her that there will be a lot of people going after her title.

Kiana James vs. Chelsea Green

Kiana had her entrance skipped. This also was the case with Brie. The crowd was into Chelsea, and this went quickly, with Chelsea pulling off a Rough Ryder and winning with the Un-Pretty-Her.

Priest was getting ready for his match, but R-Truth was confused, thinking Priest forgot that their tag team match against the War Raiders was this week, but it’s next week. Cody came in and teased taking the tag titles from Priest and Truth. Priest said that he respects Cody and Punk, but he and the boys are sick and tired of seeing the same people be the face of the brand, and he’ll be the next champion. Cody guaranteed he would win at SummerSlam and told Priest, as someone who used to be one of the boys, that he respected Priest’s attitude.

A Justin Jefferson SummerSlam promo played, and we also got a Cody-Punk recap.

Finish the Story 2.0

After both men made their entrances, there was a mishap where the mic was dropped when Cody tried to hand one over to Punk, who chose to be handed one rather than pick it up off the ground. He noted how sad it was that he had to do that with a friend and how he’s not the only one who’s paranoid. Cody insisted it was an accident and told Punk not to use the word paranoid. He noted he had another reason he wanted to win the title that matters. He called back to the Pipe Bomb and how he followed that to a T and dropped a nuke on the industry, and he’s done apologizing for what he’s done. However, he’s well aware that everyone wished that it was Punk who did what Cody did. He thanked Nick Khan and Triple H for building the best roster in the wrestling industry, but he doesn’t sweat any of them, except Punk, and the only way to end their story is for him to win at SummerSlam.

Punk asked Cody if he doesn’t like him or if he doesn’t like that he’s champion. He knows that he casts a large shadow that very few people can get out of underneath. He thinks most of those people are jealous, but he considers Cody a brother, and brothers fight. He noted it’s for the fans to decide who did it better between them, and he also noted that in 2022, he learned from Cody. They’ve been chasing each other, but that ends at SummerSlam. He told Cody that he’s lying to himself. He can’t just have an athletic contest against a friend; he needs to make himself a victim. Kevin Owens, Randy Orton and John Cena were enemies, but Punk is Cody’s only friend, and he’ll break his heart at SummerSlam.

The two continued to jaw at each other, and Punk ended by saying that he’s the best in the world, and no one can touch him, not even Dusty’s kid. Cody cut off “Cult of Personality” and said to play his music because that’s what he’ll hear when he’s staring at the lights when he wins the WWE Championship.

We got a recap of last Friday where Charlotte Flair interfered in Jade Cargill’s match. Charlotte admitted to Cathy that she wasn’t thinking about anything else except for the fact that she’s here and Alexa Bliss is not. However, she’ll get a chance to get after Jade at SummerSlam because “payback’s a — you know the rest of that sentence.” (I suppose they ran through their “bitch” quota for the night.

We got a Benn-Garcia video and a recap of the celebrities at Fanatics Fest and SNME.

Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax

Nia’s entrance was skipped because we really needed those other videos. After the ad break, Charlotte countered the Annihilator and picked up Nia for a powerbomb to get a nearfall. Charlotte was going for the moonsault, but Jade’s music played, and she came out with the Baddies. Nia told Jade to mind her business, as Charlotte took out the Baddies. Charlotte knocked Jade off the apron, as she countered a Samoan Drop into a Queen’s boot. Jade attacked Charlotte to force a DQ, and she laid her out with Jaded. Charlotte qualified for the ladder match, and Nia crashed out on the announce desk.

Trick Williams vs. Finn Balor vs. Royce Keys vs. Damian Priest

Despite this being Keys’ hometown, his entrance wasn’t shown on the USA broadcast. He did clean house to start the match, which led into a picture-in-picture ad break, where there was more of a back-and-forth. Each man had their chance to be the lone man standing for the fans to cheer for, and when it was Finn’s turn, Solo Sikoa came out, which led to another PiP ad break. The biggest moment was Priest, Balor and Trick teaming up to superplex Keys. Trick took everyone to pin Keys, but Solo put his foot on the rope. The Usos’ music played, and LA Knight came out to help out Solo. Priest went Old School and hit The Usos, Sikoa and Knight with a crossbody for some reason. Finn took advantage but missed the Coup De Grace. Trick got a nearfall after a Cyclone Kick, and we got a shot of Sami, Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano watching backstage. Priest hit Trick with South of Heaven, but Keys broke up the pin and landed the Ultimate Spinebuster, but Jacob Fatu dragged Keys outside and knocked him out. Finn caught Priest with a slingblade and a shotgun dropkick. He landed the Coup De Grace for the win.

About Jason Ounpraseuth 168 Articles
Jason Ounpraseuth is a journalist from Massachusetts. He writes and reports about New England and Boston sports and professional wrestling.
Website LinkedIn