WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Oakland, California, USA, Live on the USA Network, July 24th, 2026 — My Episode Recap:

The Prince of WWE has done it as Finn Bálor, the Leader of the Bálor Club, has won the Fatal-Four Way Match at SummerSlam against Sami Zayn. He'll be in an Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender's Match, as the winner will get a future Undisputed WWE Title Match against either CM Punk or Cody Rhodes. (Image courtesy of WWE)

• Date: Friday, July 24, 2026.

• Location: Oakland Arena in Oakland, California, USA.

• TV: LIVE on the USA Network.

• Streaming: LIVE on Netflix Internationally.

The July 24th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown Official Match Results:

The Opening Match: Brie Bella (with Paige) defeated Lainey Reid (with Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne) in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (05:42)

The 2nd Match: Chelsea Green defeated Kiana James in an Interim WWE Women’s Title Qualifier Match | via Pin-Fall — (03:28)

The 3rd Match: Charlotte Flair defeated Nia Jax in an Interim WWE Women’s Title Qualifier Match | via DQ — (08:13)

The Main Event Match: Finn Bálor defeated Damian Priest and Royce Keys and Trick Williams in a Fatal-Four Way Winner Advances to SummerSlam to Face Sami Zayn in an Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | via Pin-Fall — (12:04)

My Official Thoughts on the July 24th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

My Official Thoughts: I must say in terms of the show quality the in-ring action very below-average, but the segments throughout the show were very strong and enjoyable I did like the opening sgement involving Gunther and Nick Aldis I thought it really hit the nail on the head for the build to be progressed further; it did just that also we got to see Nick Aldis get physical once more. The CM Punk and Cody Rhodes segment is how you sell a match and build a main event-level match that people will want to see because of how deep and personal it’s getting. I loved how they threw digs at each other the fact it’s eating away at Cody Rhodes that everyone stabbed him in the back and he expects CM Punk to do it leads me to believe Cody Rhodes will stab CM Punk in the back before he does it causing Cody Rhodes to run heel which I really want to see as Cody Rhodes is a better heel than face if you saw his Indies Run from 2016-2019 in ROH & NJPW. Nonetheless, great segment. Even the backstage segments were entertaining, like Sami Zayn getting into it with the Interim General Manager of SmackDown, Adam Pearce, which prompted Adam Pearce to announce at SummerSlam that Sami Zayn will take on the Winner of the Fatal-Four Way Match, which was Finn Balor. Finn Balor and Gunther had a very good brief backstage discussion. Solo Sikoa showed personality with LA Knight and Royce Keys backstage. I thought all of those were well-done. Now, the matches I was upset about were the Interim Women’s Qualifying Matches, as Kiana James, whom I thought should’ve won as she’s a young talent and they need to build stars, got basically squashed by Chelsea Green. Charlotte Flair won via DQ thanks to Jade Cargill once again screwing over Nia Jax. I don’t get how they could ruin these matches this badly. Also, Lainey Reid suffered a loss that didn’t need to happen. The only bright side is the Fatal-Four Way was decent, and Finn Balor got the win. Since CM Punk’s arrival to SmackDown, the show is progressively getting better, but more strides need to be made if they want this to be an enjoyable show once again.

My Official Match Ratings for the July 24th WWE Friday Night SmackDown Episode:

The Opening Match: Brie Bella (with Paige) vs. Lainey Reid (with Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne) in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: N/A — After hearing the rumblings of Nikki Bella’s pending return, I even called it happening here. But this match was super quick; it didn’t really develop into a match I expected it to be, but I did think Fatal Influence getting a SummerSlam Match against The Bella Twins & Paige is great because this can elevate them if they win the Six-Woman Tag Team Match. Also, Jacy Jayne eyeing the WWE Women’s United States Title that’s held by Tiffany Stratton is very good. I hope she wins the title soon after SummerSlam.

The 2nd Match: Chelsea Green vs. Kiana James in an Interim WWE Women’s Title Qualifier Match | The Match Rating: N/A — This was basically a squash match as Kiana James was a non-factor in this match which sucks because earlier in the year you could tell WWE Officials were super high on her but now in July she has lost everything that made her start to become a next young star on SmackDown. Chelsea Green got the win as she was the 3rd Official Entry for the Interim WWE Women’s Title Five-Way Ladder Match as she joined Jade Cargill and the WWE Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton, who is her best friend on-screen.

The 3rd Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax in an Interim WWE Women’s Title Qualifier Match | The Match Rating: N/A — I’ve complained about matches ending in DQ for a long time I feel like that’s the laziest way to progress a feud or a story you’re trying to tell as now 2/4 Interim Qualifying Matches have ended in DQ’s as Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill won via DQ screwing out Nia Jax’s in the process which is quite hilaorus but this is not how to book. Now I would’ve just done Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill and given the spots away to someone like Blake Monroe, Giulia, or Jordynne Grace, but this match with Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax was okay wasn’t blowing it out of the water, but it was passable until B-Fab, Jade Cargill & Michin all came and attacked Charlotte Flair, costing this to occur. But not a fan of the ending; could’ve done a better way to tell the story between Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill, not by both of them costing DQ’s for their Qualifying Matches; that’s lazy, provides no true depth you can tell in a story between them because you can create a very fun story between Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill.

The Main Event Match: Finn Bálor vs. Damian Priest vs. Royce Keys vs. Trick Williams in a Fatal-Four Way Winner Advances to SummerSlam to Face Sami Zayn in an Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | The Match Rating: ***.25 — The match of the night, as this is the only match I could actually rate. This was a very fun Fatal-Four Way Match. Coming into this match, I knew chaos would ensue. I knew one way or another either Baron Corbin, The Bloodline, or even I thought The Tongans would insert themselves into this. But we only saw The Bloodline cause havoc as they cost Royce Keys his chance of winning. Trick Williams was okay in this match, but he wasn’t the main factor, which surprised me. Damian Priest and Finn Bálor were going at it throughout this match, really having a solid back-and-forth. Jacob Fatu even came out to attack Royce Keys, which I said earlier, but he took him out as he collided with him on the barricade. But Finn Bálor got the win. This is the most he has been over since returning to the Main Roster in 2021. I think Triple H actually done a great job as since turning face he won his feud against The Judgement Day, and The Tongans now he’s heading to SummerSlam against Sami Zayn to fight for the No. 1 Contendership of the Undisputed WWE Title as whoever wins CM Punk or Cody Rhodes either Finn Bálor or Sami Zayn will be awaiting their shot the Undisputed WWE Title in the pending future this match makes the SummerSlam Card super strong in my eyes.

My Official Match of the Night for the July 24th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown: Finn Bálor vs. Damian Priest vs. Royce Keys vs. Trick Williams in a Fatal-Four Way Winner Advances to SummerSlam to Face Sami Zayn in an Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | The Match Rating: ***.25 — The match of the night, and the only one worth rating, was the Fatal Four-Way main event. It was chaotic and fun, with The Bloodline costing Royce Keys the win while Trick Williams played more of a supporting role. Damian Priest and Finn Bálor had a strong back-and-forth throughout, and Jacob Fatu’s attack on Keys added drama. In the end, Bálor went over, and this is the most momentum he’s had since returning to the main roster in 2021. Triple H has handled his babyface run well: he’s beaten The Judgment Day and The Tongans, and now heads to SummerSlam to face Sami Zayn for the No. 1 contender spot to the Undisputed WWE Title. With either CM Punk or Cody Rhodes waiting on the other side, this match makes the SummerSlam card feel that much stronger.

My Official Highlight of the Show for the July 24th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown: The Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk and Cody Rhodes In-Ring Promo Segment — This was my highlight of the night as this really furthered the point of this becoming Cody Rhodes getting scared of the fact he could have CM Punk stab him in the back. But also, Cody Rhodes explained how much he disliked CM Punk, how he did everything that CM Punk said in the infamous Pipebomb back in 2011 on Monday Night RAW. It was very intense. I liked the back-and-forth. I also think Cody Rhodes will be turning heel on CM Punk as he’ll do it before CM Punk has the chance to do it to him. I love how Cody Rhodes ‘ desperation for the Undisputed WWE Title is eating him away, alienating the people who actually cared about him, with CM Punk now turning him into an enemy in his eyes. Great stuff, and well-written segment; now that’s how you sell a match, and get butt into seats at US Bank Stadium.

My July 24th Official Episode Grade for WWE Friday Night SmackDown: 5.25/10 (C) — The in-ring action was below average, but the show was carried by strong segments and storytelling. Punk–Cody and Gunther–Aldis were standout moments, and the backstage interactions (Sami, Pearce, Solo, LA Knight) really worked. The women’s qualifying matches were badly booked, though, with Kiana James and Lainey Reid taking unnecessary losses. Overall, SmackDown is improving since Punk’s arrival, but it still has a ways to go.

Next Week Announced Appearances, Matches & Segments for the July 31st Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, Live on the USA Network:

1. Giulia vs. Lash Legend in an Interim WWE Women's Title Qualifier Match.