WWE SmackDown 7/31 Results: Lash Legend advances to ladder match, CM Punk and Cody close out go-home to SummerSlam

July 31, 2026 Jason Ounpraseuth NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

Resch Center — Green Bay, Wisconsin

Results

  • B-Fab & Michin def. Tiffany Stratton & Chelsea Green (6:51)
  • WWE/AAA Tag Team Championship: War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) def. Damian Priest & R-Truth via DQ (6:06)
  • AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fenix (c) def. JD McDonagh (10:31)
  • Interim Women’s Championship Qualifying Match: Lash Legend def. Giulia (2:00)

Potential No. 1 contenders face off

Finn Balor started the show, bringing up SummerSlam 2016 and winning the title, only to relinquish it due to injury. It was both the greatest night of his life and the worst. He noted that he’s been clawing and scratching his way back to the top for 10 years to get back the glory of that night.

Sami Zayn interrupted, wearing a “Justice For Sami” shirt. Standing on the ramp, he understood Finn’s emotions, but he needed to get something off his chest. He said he shouldn’t be in a No. 1 contender’s match; he should be in the main event with Cody Rhodes and CM Punk for the WWE Championship that he lost weeks ago. However, everyone’s happy with the current main event, and he admitted he’d love to see Cody win because he beat Cody to win the WWE Title. He noticed a fan’s CM Punk sign and noted that he wouldn’t mind seeing Punk retain. He then called Punk the biggest fraud, biggest hypocrite and piece of trash in the company. He mocked the Pipe Bomb and Punk’s complaining about not being on the face of collector cups. Now, he’s become corporate poster boy No. 2, so it’d be great to win the title off someone who stole it from him.

Finn took issue when Sami said he respected him. He told him to grow some balls and get in the ring to tell him what he wanted to say in person. Sami told Finn that he probably should have been WWE Champion at least four or five times before taking that back and saying two or three times, but he he addeed that Finn should see the moment. He said Finn should know it’s his time because his winning the WWE Championship back is bigger than both of them; it’s for justice; Justice For Sami Zayn. Finn scoffed at that and said it was his time to win the title. Sami told Finn that, no disrespect, but if it took him 10 years and he hasn’t come close, maybe he should take the hint. Finn retorted back that he lost the title after one day due to injury, but Sami lost the title in nine days, not because of an injury or because he got screwed, but because he lost. There were “Sami sucks” chants from the crowd, and Sami admitted that if he didn’t respect Finn, then he’d drop him now, but he won’t because he’s a good guy, the last real good guy, so he’ll walk away and see Finn at SummerSlam.

Gunther then came in and attacked both men. He said the only No. 1 contender is him. Adam Pearce and security were standing near the entrance. Gunther threatened to kick Pearce’s ass, but Finn and Sami brawled with Gunther and each other. Nick Aldis then ran in, wearing his normal GM clothes. They both eventually got in the ring, where Aldis locked in a Texas Cloverleaf, forcing Pearce and security to break the hold. Gunther got in a boot on Aldis, as Pearce and security separated both men. Fans chanted, “Let’s go Aldis” to close out the opening segment.

B-Fab & Michin vs. Tiffany Stratton & Chelsea Green

Stratton and Green were wearing matching blue and yellow gear and worked together well to start. After an ad break, B-Fab and Michin were in control of Green in their corner. She eventually got the hot tag to Stratton, which culminated with a Swanton Bomb on Michin for a nearfall. Chelsea blind-tagged herself in, and while B-Fab and Stratton were fighting on the outside, Jade Cargill surprised Stratton. B-Fab and Michin won with BTA.

After the match, Charlotte Flair came out in all black to counter Jade’s white outfit. The faces and heels brawled, and Charlotte stood tall in the ring.

Fraxiom and Rey Fenix were talking backstage. JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio walked past them, and Axiom wondered what they were doing on SmackDown. Dom said they were looking for Danhausen and asked Fenix why he’s been hiding in Mexico. Fenix said he wasn’t hiding; he’s been training. Dom said the Judgement Day are after all the gold and challenged Fenix to put the AAA Cruiserweight Title on the line against JD. Fenix replied in Spanish, accepting the challenge.

Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga were in a promo vignette, where Tama admitted that they’ve forgotten who they are and why they’re here, but leaving Solo Sikoa was the right move. Talla added that they were busy fighting Solo’s battles and lost sight of gold. Tama said it took balls to walk away on their own. Talla said they’d put their family first. Haku then emerged from the shadows and told his kids in Tongan to not forget who they are. He added in English that they are the sons of Haku and motherfucking Tongan and to go and make them fear us again.

AAA/WWE Tag Team Championship: War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (c) vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth

Priest got the jump on the War Raiders to start the match, but action later went to the outside, where Erik hit a huge knee strike on Truth. The War Raiders caught a Priest splash and dumped him on the barricade. Ivar hit running crossbodies on Priest and Truth while they were sitting on the barricade. The War Raiders were holding down Truth until Ivar ran into the corner turnbuckle and Truth dumped out Erik. Priest got the hot tag, taking on the War Raiders himself. Both teams got nearfalls, as the War Raiders ganged up on Truth. They pushed the referee aside, as Priest came in to save, and he also pushed the ref aside, forcing a DQ. Both teams continued to fight throughout the arena, and Truth got in a big splash. Priest dumped the War Raiders near the ring, where they were attacked by Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga. They took out the War Raiders, Priest and Truth, ending in a Cutthroat on Erik and a chokeslam on Priest. Haku came into the ring, and his sons, who Joe Tessitore still referred to as MFT, held both sets of titles up high.

We got a highlight of a SummerSlam house show, where Cody walked out on Punk in a tag match. Cathy Kelly was backstage with Punk and asked him how he could reconcile facing his best friend amid their tensions. Punk said it was competition, and they’re running from their friendship, but he’s the champion and still will be after SummerSlam. Trick Williams interrupted and wanted to talk to him man-to-man. He said he shouldn’t sweat that he lost last week because sooner or later, he’s coming for Punk’s title. Punk said he appreciated the confidence and told Trick he was being greedy for wanting to hold two belts. Punk admitted that he was upset that Trick lost and that he wanted him to win because he needed new faces and new challengers, and when Trick does win a No. 1 contender’s match and reaches the mountain, he’s gonna whoop that trick.

Whoop That Nomad

Trick Williams came out alone without Lil Yachty and got straight to business. He mocked Baron Corbin’s big, bald head and called him Tommy Pickles. The crowd loved Trick but was still giving him the “what” chant. Trick said it made him sick that Baron is hating on him, and he told him to come out. Baron obliged, and while walking to the ring, he said that while he was away, he learned a valuable lesson: Patience. He claimed that Trick was given everything when he came to SmackDown: A championship and an entrance that makes people believe he’s bigger than he is. He talked about what he would do to Trick at SummerSlam before Trick told him to shut up. He called out Baron for acting badder than he was before. He wondered why he was back. A paycheck for a summer house in Barcelona? He’ll collect a lemon pepper stepper up his ass. Baron goated Trick and the crowd into a fight, but he said he didn’t care what anyone wanted. He called Trick a dumb rookie and stepped off the apron, while preaching patience. He told Trick that he’ll win the title, and there’s “legitimately” nothing he could do about it. Trick got in the last word, saying that the only thing that will happen Sunday is that he’s gonna whoop that trick.

AAA Cruiserweight Championship: JD McDonagh vs. Rey Fenix (c)

There was a technical start to the match, with both men hanging onto wrist control until Fenix broke free and showed off some high-flying moves to get the crowd into it. Dominik Mysterio got an early distraction, but Fenix halted it. He feinted a tope, but JD countered with an Asai Moonsault to gain control and slow the match. Fenix mounted his comeback and landed a Death Valley Driver for a two-count. Fenix caught JD with a pair of superkicks, followed up by a springboard cutter. JD then countered with a standing Spanish Fly for a nearfall. Fenix caught JD with a whip-around heel kick. He went to the top rope, but Dom stood on the apron to distract him. JD cut him off, but the referee ejected Dom. Danhausen then confronted Dom, but before he could curse him, he took him out. The “Little-hausens” then took out Dom from behind and carried him to the back. Fenix caught JD with a running kick on the ropes. He hit a double knee strike in the corner and won with the Mexican Muscle Buster (MMB).

https://x.com/WWE/status/2083365124362899755

Interim Women’s Championship Qualifying Match: Giulia vs. Lash Legend

Giulia ducked a big boot and hit a series of hamstring kicks on Lash. She cut off Giulia, who locked in an Octopus Hold. Lash powered Giulia’s head onto the ropes and side slammed her way out, but Giulia locked in a Regal Stretch. Again, Lash escaped, and Giulia landed Ariverdeci for a nearfall. Giulia tried a Northern Lights Bomb but couldn’t get Lash up. Giulia caught Lash in a guillotine, and Lash powered out again. She hit the Lash Extension for the win.

One Final Face-To-Face

Cody came out first, but before the pyro, CM Punk interrupted and told Cody that it doesn’t feel good, calling back to Cody undercutting him. Cody said he sees through Punk’s mind games, and he should know they were on this path. Punk knew he would ruffle some feathers and hurt some feelings, but he wasn’t going to cry about how the same four people are champion or be like Sami Zayn, talking like a starter when he’s a bench player. He asked if he should have declined the title match like these other bums. No, because he’s CM Punk, and he’ll show up to Chicago for title shots. He’s CM Punk, and he ruffles feathers because it’s what he’s done for 20-plus years in WWE, and for 10 of those years, he was gone. The mere mention of his name sent shivers down men’s spines like the boogeyman. He told Cody to stop talking like friends and talk about the championship, and it’s up to Cody if they’ll still be friends after SummerSlam. He told Cody that he needs to know who is the best for “business purposes.”

Cody mirrored Punk and did his welcome message to the crowd, who were receptive to him, but chanted “CM Punk” after he asked what they wanted to talk about. He called out the “business purposes” line and said it sounded like “CM Punk double talk.” He said this was not business. This is personal. He knew how personal it was to everyone who ever won and hasn’t won the WWE Championship because that title means you are the best in the world. It is the crown; you are the king who calls the shots. He called out Punk’s friends line and pointed out that he said that he’s not here to make friends; he’s here to make money.

Punk clarified that he wasn’t here to make friends. He didn’t come to lose friends, but if it came down to losing a friend or a title, then tomorrow won’t be Cody’s night. Cody admitted that the word “tomorrow” bothers him. Cody asked Punk what he wanted to do about it tonight. Punk tossed the title to the ground and took off his jacket and bracelet. He squared up, and Cody took off his jacket. Punk tried to goad Cody into punching him, as the crowd chanted for Punk. Both men started to brawl, and Cody dumped Punk outside. Cody cleared the announcer’s desk, but Punk tossed him over it. Both men dumped the other on the announcer’s desk, as security broke them up. There were back-and-forth spots where they each broke free and continued to fight to close the show.

About Jason Ounpraseuth 171 Articles
Jason Ounpraseuth is a journalist from Massachusetts. He writes and reports about New England and Boston sports and professional wrestling.
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