Watch WWE SmackDown highlights – 7/31/26 Full Show Results
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[Image: WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 opening segment – alt: “Watch WWE SmackDown highlights opening segment”]
WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 – Introduction
WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 was the final show before SummerSlam – the last WWE TV broadcast before the August pay-per-view event. The atmosphere inside the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, felt heavier than usual. Consequently, several championship plots were coming to a boil, and this episode served a very obvious purpose: get everyone hyped and raise the stakes for the approaching WWE one-night extravaganza.
The program was set for Friday evening at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on USA, with WWE hyping a final confrontation between Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk and Cody Rhodes.
Furthermore, the card also featured a title-for-title encounter between WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth vs. AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders. Meanwhile, Giulia faced Lash Legend for the last spot in the WWE Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match.
If you are a fan looking for the WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 full show highlights, you came to the right show. Therefore, this go-home episode delivered far more than your normal show. Prior feuds became physical, title hopefuls stated their cases, and one huge twist involving Haku and his sons altered the tag team division going into SummerSlam.
[Image: WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 main event action – alt: “Watch WWE SmackDown highlights main event”]
WWE SmackDown July 31 2026 Preview
The question that loomed largest heading into the show was CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes. Those two had been building to the type of personal grudge match you only see on TV, and WWE was promoting their final confrontation before their SummerSlam Undisputed WWE Championship match.
The intensity between these two had been growing for weeks. Therefore, as Punk walked into his final SmackDown as champion, Rhodes was eager and ready to take it away from him. WWE stated that their relationship had “come to a head,” and the final moments of the evening’s show proved to be one of the most eagerly awaited segments of the night.
The tag team division also became a highlight. WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth were slated to square off against AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders in a battle of champion versus champion. Furthermore, the craziness was amplified by the fact that championship gold was going to change hands.
There was another significant match, this time between Giulia and Lash Legend. The victor would obtain the last spot for the WWE Interim Women’s Championship Ladder match at SummerSlam. Meanwhile, Trick Williams was also due to confront Baron Corbin after Corbin’s assault on him the week before.
WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 Match Card
The card of July 31 was centered on various narratives that needed the last push before SummerSlam. The announced card included:
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CM Punk and Cody Rhodes having a pre-match face-off before their title match
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Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. The War Raiders in a title-for-title contest
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Giulia vs. Lash Legend in the final Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match qualifier
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Trick Williams confronting Baron Corbin
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Rey Fenix defending his AAA Cruiserweight Championship against JD McDonagh
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Major developments involving Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, and GUNTHER
WWE’s official preview also validated these matches. Therefore, that combination delivered the show a solid blend of championship stakes, personal rivalries, and the SummerSlam build.
[Image: WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 match card – alt: “Watch WWE SmackDown highlights match card”]
Finn Balor and Sami Zayn Set the Tone
Starting off SmackDown, Finn Balor remembered everything related to the legendary SummerSlam. Balor recalled his first SummerSlam in 2016 where he reached the top by defeating the Universal Champion but had to give it all back due to injury. Furthermore, almost 10 years removed from that victory, Balor proved that he still thinks another world title shot is his.
Sami Zayn cut in and said he should have been involved in the WWE Championship story. Zayn said he needed to be in the title picture with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. Consequently, he pointed out that he had already beaten Cody Rhodes clean and felt he could again.
The conversation swiftly took a turn toward more personal questions.
Balor claimed that he had fought for ten years for a chance like this, but Zayn wondered whether his long wait was proof that the opportunity just wasn’t destined for him.
Things got even more heated when GUNTHER jumped the other guys from behind.
GUNTHER then dropped Balor and Zayn before turning his focus on the bewildered officials trying to get things back on track. Meanwhile, Nick Aldis finally got his hands on GUNTHER once again, and another fight broke out. Aldis managed to get GUNTHER in the Cloverleaf before security finally got involved.
This gave us our first hint that more than one championship was about to get all torn up in the first part of the show. Therefore, it also served as an early indication of the increasing friction between GUNTHER and Nick Aldis in the run-in to SummerSlam.
Women’s Division Takes Center Stage
The women’s division was represented once again as Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green joined forces against B-FAB and Michin.
It was fast-paced for the most part, with Stratton showing her athletic abilities in the beginning while Green tried to slow the pace down. Consequently, the Baddies came back to take the match and the win over Chelsea Green.
This was significant because the women involved were already part of the bigger SummerSlam stories.
Following the bout, Charlotte Flair made her way to the ring to once again create a tense situation by trying to attack Jade Cargill. However, this time it was Flair who was knocked to the outside while Cargill was victorious.
Every encounter mattered during the Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match. Furthermore, WWE had already announced Stratton, Cargill, Flair, and Green as qualifiers, so the last qualifying spot was up for grabs between Giulia and Lash Legend.
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Haku Returns With a Major Surprise
Most of the surprises during the show were surprises for members of the audience. However, one thing that surprised everyone in the house was while the tag team storyline was occurring.
A video package with the Tongans pointed towards something a lot more drastic happening. Consequently, Haku was on WWE TV with his sons.
The look drew immediate attention – Haku is arguably the most well-known name throughout his family’s wrestling lineage. Furthermore, seeing him come out with his sons signaled an intention to be major players in the tag ranks.
It was appropriate that the event was set to take place as the match between R-Truth and the Champion, Damian Priest, at that point. Therefore, with the identities of his challengers still to be confirmed, Priest was due to defend his WWE Tag Team titles in the main event alongside his partner R-Truth.
Priest and R-Truth Face The War Raiders
Damian Priest and R-Truth had the tag team titles as the night began, and so did Erik and Ivar of AAA.
The fight was advertised as a title versus title affair, which meant that it carried with it a lot more implications than your standard weekly television match. Therefore, both teams had points to make, and the bout quickly turned into a slugfest.
Priest and Erik traded hard-hitting punches in the opening moments before R-Truth injected his chaotic energy into the match. Inside the ring, the War Raiders gained the upper hand, overpowering the champions with their strength.
The match grew even more frenzied as the action crept to the ringside.
As the referee eventually lost control of the fight and called an end to it in a no-contest. Rather than resolving the matter, the finish resulted in an even bigger fight.
Priest and R-Truth kept fighting The War Raiders outside the ring, continuing into the audience. Then, the Sons of Haku came out.
The fresh signings wasted no time jumping on the War Raiders and on the WWE Tag Team Champions. Consequently, what made the end of this segment so memorable was the way Haku’s sons ran roughshod over the end of the segment while also walking away with both sets of belts.
The shock entry changed the entire Tag Team story within a few minutes, hinting that a new grouping might be forced into the title picture.
CM Punk Sends a Message to Cody Rhodes
CM Punk addressed questions of how he is feeling about his upcoming match with Cody Rhodes.
Punk realized at that moment that their friendship was just going to mean nothing once that bell rang. To him, it all boiled down to just one thing: how could he leave SummerSlam still WWE Champion?
Furthermore, he admitted that he found it hard to maintain a friendship with the champion. He also stated he saw their rivalry in terms of competition.
Then Trick Williams got in the face of Punk and spoke to him. Williams told Punk he was coming for the title eventually, despite a setback.
Punk seemed confident as he answered that he would be ready when Williams finally got that championship shot.
It may have only been two comments exchanged, but it was enough to set Punk up as someone who already was looking past Cody Rhodes and toward who he would face next.
Trick Williams and Baron Corbin Escalate
Trick Williams then challenged Baron Corbin to the ring.
Williams ridiculed the fact Corbin was coming back and also appeared to show he had grown impatient of waiting for their SummerSlam bout. Meanwhile, Corbin retaliated by selling himself as the more veteran and the more patient opponent.
Corbin’s statement was simple: he wanted to surprise the world with two things – 1) that he was ready and 2) that Williams was pushed up too early and that SummerSlam would show them the mountain of difference.
Williams didn’t relent.
Corbin decided not to turn the brief segment into a lengthy brawl unlike earlier in the night. Instead, Corbin decided to leave the ring. Williams challenged Corbin to give the crowd a little taste of what was to come at SummerSlam.
Green Bay fans gave him the welcome he was hoping for.
The segment reinforced the fact that the United States Championship match is more than just a bout for a title. Consequently, it is also about the challenge for Trick Williams to compete for a spot against a veteran who is convinced he has seen it all before.
Rey Fenix Defends the AAA Cruiserweight Title
There was also an important match on the show where Rey Fenix defended the AAA Cruiserweight Championship against JD McDonagh.
The match was brought to a different level compared to the usual broadcast performance. Fenix brought his aerial-based offense using his speed, while on the contrary McDonagh worked to take down the reigning champion.
The match began with counters, arm drags, quick pin attempts, and several hot sequences. Meanwhile, Dominik Mysterio turned up from the back, adding another problem for Fenix to worry about.
In spite of the disruption, Fenix fought relentlessly.
The match was another step in WWE and AAA’s expanding relationship. Furthermore, it was a reminder of the attention surrounding Dom and the faction.
[Image: WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 Rey Fenix title defense – alt: “Watch WWE SmackDown highlights Cruiserweight title match”]
Why the July 31 Show Matters
It wasn’t just about the results of the matches on SmackDown July 31. Consequently, it was about creating the ultimate emotional and wrestling showdown just prior to SummerSlam.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes came into the evening leading the charge in the title story. Meanwhile, Trick Williams and Baron Corbin’s heated personal battle took another step in the right direction. The women’s division bolstered its ladder match field, and the tag team division unexpectedly gained an enormous new challenge in the form of Haku and his progeny.
While these events added more heat to the situation, it was Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, GUNTHER, and Nick Aldis pulling back the curtain that could have the most impact on post-SummerSlam weekend.
If you want to catch the biggest WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 full show highlights, the show was a success as an authentic go-home show. Consequently, just about every prominent segment stoked a feud, raised a new question, or both.
With just one SmackDown before SummerSlam, the show could have been used to push up some of the open storylines. However, we were left with some open questions. Can CM Punk outlast Cody Rhodes? How will the tag team titles be sorted after an unexpected no-contest? Where will Haku fit into the expanding wrestling tag division?
Within those questions lay the answer to the next grand WWE event.
WWE SmackDown July 31 2026 Results
WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 gave its final push leading into SummerSlam. The show, originating in Green Bay, Wisconsin, had several matches and segments that directly contributed to the stories for titles over the SummerSlam weekend.
The best news came in the women’s division where Lash Legend beat Giulia to fill the last spot in the Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match. Consequently, the outcome finished the draw for the SummerSlam ladder match after WWE had already set up the other highest potential players.
The tag team match had an entirely different result. WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth defended their titles successfully against AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders, with the match ending as a non-title affair. After the finish, The War Raiders along with Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga – the most startling part of the culmination was the involvement of the latter’s father Haku.
Rey Fenix, meanwhile, fought off tough opposition to keep hold of the AAA Cruiserweight Championship, defeating JD McDonagh after a match including outside interference and revenge from Danhausen and the Minihausens.
The best final encounter of all was between the two competitors who are fighting on the most prestigious PPV, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. Their last confrontation before SummerSlam was also physical.
Location, Date, And Time For SmackDown
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Resch Center |
| City | Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Date | July 31, 2026 |
| Broadcast Time | 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT |
| Network | USA Network |
The July 31, 2026 airing of WWE SmackDown was held at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was the last SmackDown airing prior to SummerSlam, meaning it was the last major stop of the company before the pay-per-view.
For fans watching from elsewhere, the biggest benefit of the event being a live Friday night broadcast was that it was a live Friday night broadcast – not a tape delay. Therefore, everything about the Punk-Rhodes finish and the rest of the SummerSlam card was instant impact.
The fact that the show was in Green Bay further added to the live event feel. Consequently, SummerSlam was just a few days away, and the crowd knew that they were watching a televised broadcast that was meant to provide some answers while intentionally posing others.
Lash Legend Wins The Final Ladder Match Spot
Lash Legend secured one of the biggest wins of the night when she defeated Giulia in their Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match qualifier.
The stakes were sky high coming into the match – it was to determine the last name in the ladder match at SummerSlam. Giulia had already been involved in a number of other high-profile women’s division feuds, so her loss here was a major blow.
Lash Legend, on the other hand, dominated the match and was able to get the win. Consequently, the win meant five women were finalized for the fight for the interim championship.
Another thing about the match’s story is significant. Rhea Ripley was not capable of defending the WWE Women’s Championship due to injury. Therefore, WWE created an interim championship instead of simply leaving the title situation unopposed. That move provided a once-in-a-lifetime SummerSlam opportunity for the hopeful wrestlers.
Lash Legend has momentum behind her now as she competes in a ladder match with an opportunity to stake her claim to a shot at championship gold at one of WWE’s grandest stages.
Priest And Truth Keep Their Titles
Damian Priest and R-Truth competed for the WWE Tag Team Championships. The War Raiders also carried the AAA Tag Team Championships into the match – a very rare winner-take-all scenario across different brands in the wrestling world.
The match looked sure to decide which side would carry both titles home.
However, the competition disintegrated.
Things got more aggressive on both sides, and the referee had lost control altogether. Consequently, the referee threw the match out without either title changing hands. That meant that Priest and Truth were still the WWE Tag Team Champions, and the War Raiders still held their AAA titles.
The last-minute return created a sense of disappointment. The stakes of the game had been built up to turn the game into a symbolic end of the championship, but the ending was obviously meant to build up a greater story.
Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga emerged and beat up the other wrestlers, with Haku joining the fracas. Suddenly, the tag team division took a new course.
Instead of just choosing which champions were a better selection, a new menace was revealed that could someday encounter the two championship squads.
This explains why that failed winner-take-all match is so much more important to the storyline.
Haku And His Sons Change The Tag Team Picture
One of the highlights of the 7/31 episode was definitely the unexpected presence of Haku and his kids.
Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga responded to the chaos following the breakdown of the title match by running in and attacking the teams, making an instant statement. Furthermore, an added gravitas was earned by the presence of their father Haku due to his notoriety and pedigree.
The timing could not have been more fitting.
A little over a month ago, WWE provided a head-to-head between WWE and AAA tag team titles. Instead of letting the match settle which team was best, WWE added a new family to make it competitive.
Therefore, the division of tags can go in various directions.
Priest and R-Truth could double down on defending the WWE Tag Team Championships against the new challengers. Perhaps both War Raiders and the Tonga family would look to make a move and win the WWE titles again after such an aggressive start.
This was by far the most surprising storyline development of the night for any SmackDown viewers hoping to see a new twist.
Rey Fenix Retains The AAA Cruiserweight Title
Rey Fenix held onto the AAA Cruiserweight Championship by defeating JD McDonagh.
Definitely one of the more athletic contests of the night, Fenix used his speed and high-flying offense to keep McDonagh occupied as McDonagh attempted to keep pace with Fenix.
Having Dominik Mysterio around only added to the thorn in the champion’s side. The outside interference looked as if it was about to turn the match in favor of McDonagh but was unexpectedly assisted by Fenix.
Furthermore, thanks to Danhausen and the Minihausens, the interference was stopped and Fenix could concentrate on the match. Fenix finally managed to get the win and remains AAA Cruiserweight Champion.
The result leaves the highly-ranked Fenix in an important position as WWE continues to bring in AAA championship-level talents on their shows.
It also leaves the feuding with Fenix, McDonagh, and Dominik Mysterio unresolved here instead of bowing the story to an end.
Finn Balor And Sami Zayn Clash With GUNTHER
Yet another development came from the title race remaining solidified between Finn Balor and Sami Zayn.
The two wrestlers were showing signs of displeasure about where they sat in the WWE title scene. However, the war was broken up when GUNTHER ran to the ring and attacked both combatants, leading to a brawl.
Up next was Nick Aldis, where the love-hate relationship between SmackDown General Manager and GUNTHER persisted.
The segment helped build further intrigue for the lead-up to SummerSlam. Furthermore, it also helped to maintain Balor and Zayn as part of the overall significance of the championship.
The significance of GUNTHER’s actions cannot be overstated, as his feud with Aldis is already one of the most physical in the history of SmackDown.
WWE’s last show had GUNTHER hitting Aldis through the table after their contract signing. Consequently, the July 31 confrontation was another chapter added to a feud that is approaching SummerSlam.
CM Punk And Cody Rhodes End SmackDown
The most natural conclusion to the show was when CM Punk finally came face-to-face with Cody Rhodes – the final face-to-face meeting between the two before the biggest show of the year.
The pair both entered the one-on-one bout confident there would be no further televised talk before the biggest show of the year.
The standoff erupted into a fierce battle.
Punk carried his title run with a built-in reason for him to remain champion. Furthermore, he made a clear statement that he would be a challenger for SummerSlam with the belt and leave SummerSlam with it. Rhodes had been full of himself in response to this.
Both men were unwilling to allow the other to gain any advantage.
They fought, people tried to break up the fight, fights erupted around ringside, and the referee and security tried to break up the fight, but it was too late.
The closing shots of the show highlighted the intimate side of the championship fight.
That was the perfect ending for WWE’s last SmackDown before SummerSlam. Instead of a non-concluding talk, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes earned themselves a head-to-head ahead of their match.
What Comes Next After SmackDown
Then, the next big event for these stories will be SummerSlam.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are going into the Undisputed WWE Championship match at their most personal and heated. Consequently, the fight on July 31 escalated things so that every single bit of animosity will be in the ring when they are fighting for the title.
The Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match is all over now as Lash Legend defeated Giulia. The five-woman field provides WWE with a huge title match with the title being up for grabs for whoever gets to the ladder first.
However, the tag team division is more uncertain.
Priest and R-Truth are still WWE Tag Team Champions, and The War Raiders still hold All-World titles after the winner-take-all match ended in a draw. Furthermore, the arrival of Talla Tonga, Tama Tonga, and Haku introduces an unpredictable new force to contend with.
Rey Fenix advances as AAA Cruiserweight Champion by besting JD McDonagh.
In the meantime, Trick Williams and Baron Corbin continue to stare each other down, while GUNTHER’s rivalry with Nick Aldis is still in full force – another feud added to the already overflowing table of SummerSlam.
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WWE SmackDown 7/31/26 Final Takeaway
The July 31, 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown served as a great SummerSlam go-home show for what was needed. It didn’t try to take care of every story in the coming month. Instead, it took the top feuds to their conclusion and left fans with new things to think about over the weekend.
Lash Legend added herself to the list of women in the Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match. Rey Fenix kept his AAA Cruiserweight Championship. Damian Priest & R-Truth were still WWE Tag Team Champions after their brawl with The War Raiders. Haku and his sons showed up and offered a brand new direction for the Tag Team Division.
The two most vital closing moments were CM Punk and Cody Rhodes.
Their final exchange of words led to a fight and not a handshake, showing us that their SummerSlam title match is no longer just about who is the best wrestler. Consequently, it is now about a contest between two competitors who are not willing to give the other an inch.
Finally, as SmackDown has concluded, the attention now turns to SummerSlam. We shall see if the title feuds and rivalries of the month of July make it through to the culmination.
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