Dirty Dom got a beating after this week’s episode of SmackDown from BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma went off air.

The post-SummerSlam episode of the Blue Branded show followed up on the events coming out of the PLE, with names such as Roman Reigns making their return to the brand.

If that wasn’t enough, the audience in attendance also got to see a bonus match featuring Raw stars Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio after the broadcast ended.

The duo faced the team of Braun Strowman and Kairi Sane in a mixed tag team match and Sane ended up pinning the Women’s World Champion to win the bout for her team:

• Update on LA Knight’s WWE Future Amid Contract Talks

What Happened on SmackDown

The latest episode of the Friday night show was very much centered around the developments that happened during the closing moments of the SummerSlam PPV.

The opening segment featured the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes being interrupted by Solo Sikoa. Sikoa demanded a rematch for the title but Rhodes said that he had no claim over it.

When the Bloodline surrounded Cody, Kevin Owens came out to help him, sending the group retreating. The American Nightmare then offered a title shot to KO instead but he refused, saying that a title match needs to be earned.

The main event of the show again featured The Bloodline with Solo calling out Roman Reigns for costing him the world title match on Saturday. The Head of The Table made his way out and he single handedly took out the faction.

The show also featured names such as the new US Champion LA Knight, Jade Cargill and more. You can check out the full SmackDown results here.

The stars came out for this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown which dealt with the fallout of an explosive WWE SummerSlam 2024 Premium Live Event. At the show in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s BOK Center, actor Lou Ferrigno was spotted in the crowd.

Ferrigno is best known for playing The Hulk in the Incredible Hulk TV series that ran from March 1978 to May 1982. The show marked the first live-action portrayal of the iconic MARVEL Comics character who has since been played by Eric Bana, Eric Norton and Mark Ruffalo.

It was a deal in 1984 between MARVEL and Titan Sports that allowed for Hulk Hogan to use the ‘Hulk’ name that the comic book giant owned. This unique situation was referenced in Marvel Comics Presents #45 (1988) when the Hulk threw a wrestler resembling Hogan off of an arena roof as the wrestler had “picked the wrong name.”

Years after playing the Hulk, Ferrigno would appear in I Love You, Man, where he would break out the Tazmission submission hold.

Triple H Reacts

Ferrigno’s appearance at SmackDown got a loud pop from the crowd while Wade Barrett and Corey Graves fought among themselves to see who’d get the actor’s autograph first. On Twitter, Triple H was pleased that his friend made it to the show in Tulsa.

WWE SmackDown – August 9

Ferrigno had quite the view for a massive episode of SmackDown that dealt with what transpired at WWE SummerSlam. Roman Reigns returned on the show and laid waste to the New Bloodline, while Cody Rhodes rejected Solo Sikoa’s demand for a rematch. Instead, Rhodes shared that he plans to face Kevin Owens at WWE Bash In Berlin with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line. The show will take place from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany and mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event in the European country.

The August 9th episode of WWE SmackDown takes place from the Bok Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is being broadcast on FOX. Follow along with our coverage and enjoy the show!

-Cody Rhodes is out first and begins to cut a promo about what happened at WWE SummerSlam. Before he can get another word out Solo Sikoa, Tanga Loa, and Tama Tonga interrupt, with Solo demanding he get another crack at the title, stating that the only reason he wasn’t champion was Roman Reigns. The Bloodline approaches the ring but Kevin Owens runs out with a chair and stands next to Cody. Solo and company depart.

-Cody then tells Kevin Owens that he wants to defend the title against him at Bash at Berlin. KO is initially reluctant, stating that he doesn’t deserve an opportunity due to his win/loss record over the last year. However, Cody says that KO is deserving for helping him out in his war against The Bloodline, adding that he will speak to Nick Aldis about making the match official.

Match 1: Street Profits defeated A-Town-Down Under in a #1 contender’s qualifier. Dawkins scored the pinfall after the team hit their top-rope blockbuster. They will now face the winner of DIY and Pretty Deadly, who wrestle later tonight.

-Backstage Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes, and Kevin Owens are chatting. Owens tells Aldis the same thing he told Cody, that he doesn’t deserve a shot at the title at Bash at Berlin. Aldis states that he was considering offering the shot to Roman Reigns, which sets Owens off. He goes on a rant stating that Reigns is not deserving, and that if Aldis really needed to find a challenger he need only look in the locker room. Aldis, impressive with KO’s fight, officially gives him the title opportunity for Bash at Berlin.

-After a commercial break, we see Tiffany Stratton planning Nia Jax’s title celebration, which happens next week. Pretty Deadly pops up and ask Stratton if she’ll plan their celebration after they win the tag titles. Stratton walks away, but Chelsea Green and Piper Niven approach Stratton and tell her that they see right through her act, and know that she wants to cash-in on Jax at some point.

Match 2: Jade Cargill defeated Alba Fyre after hitting the Jaded. Blair Davenport and Isla Dawn attacked Cargill after, but Naomi and Bianca Belair evened the odds and the babyfaces stood tall to end the segment.

-Footage is played of LA Knight’s huge victory at SummerSlam, where he dethroned Logan Paul to become the new WWE United States Champion. Knight then comes for his title celebration and receives a huge ovation from the WWE Universe, who chant “You deserve it” to the Megastar. The new champ says that now that he has gold he’s a marked man, but that he’s always been a marked man since he joined WWE.

-Santos Escobar interrupts the champ’s celebration and tells him that he deserves to hold the title and has ever since he joined WWE. Knight puts him in his place, then tells Escobar to earn the shot tonight. This brings out Andrade for the #1 contender’s match.

Match 3: Santos Escobar defeated Andrade via roll-up thanks to an assist from Carmelo Hayes. This means that Escobar will now face LA Knight for the WWE U.S. title at a future date.

-Footage shows The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga) winning the tag team titles one week ago from DIY. We cut back to the live show, where DIY makes their entrance for their matchup against Pretty Deadly.

-WWE airs a video package honoring Kevin Sullivan, who recently passed away.

-After a commercial break WWE announces that Blair Davenport will face Naomi and that Nia Jax will have her women’s title celebration. A-Town-Down Under approach Nick Aldis and ask him when are they going to get some respect. Aldis then books Grayson Waller in a singles matchup against Kevin Owens.

Match 4: DIY defeated Pretty Deadly in a #1 contender’s qualifier. DIY will next face the Street Profits, with the winner of that match becoming the new official #1 contender’s for the tag team titles.

-Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Tanga Loa are backstage. Solo says “he will be here,” then makes his entrance into the arena.

-Commentary says that Jacob Fatu is still not there due to the minor injury he suffered at SummerSlam. Solo asks the fans in Tusla to acknowledge him, which prompts tremendous boos. He then calls out Roman Reigns, saying that he is the Tribal Chief now. He invites Reigns out to come and take the back his spot as the head of The Bloodline. Reigns is HERE.

-Solo sends Tama and Tanga out to fight Reigns, but he takes them both out with ease. He and Solo have an intense staredown, with Reigns slowly getting into the ring and circling Solo. Reigns opens up with vicious right hands, then connects with a Superman Punch. The O.T.C. goes for a spear, but Tanga pulls Solo out of the ring. Tama and Tanga then gain the advantage on Reigns and beat him down, but he fights them off, hitting two Superman Punches and a Spear. He then puts Tama through the barricade with a vicious spear. The show ends with Reigns beating Tanga down with a chair as Solo watches from the entrance patch, screaming that he is still The Tribal Chief.

Following a monumental SummerSlam event, tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown looks set to see the return of the ‘Tribal Chief’ Roman Reigns to television. Here is everything that is confirmed to be taking place tonight.

Roman Reigns Returns: The Tribal Chief’s Impact

Roman Reigns’ return to WWE SmackDown is expected to dominate the evening. After being absent for several weeks, the Tribal Chief is back to address the ongoing issues within The Bloodline.

With tensions rising and the Civil War storyline heating up, Reigns’ return couldn’t have come at a more critical time.

WWE SmackDown Preview: Cody Rhodes Appearance

Cody Rhodes is also scheduled to appear on this week’s SmackDown. After his intense rivalry with Solo Sikoa seemingly concluded at SummerSlam, Rhodes is likely to set his sights on new challenges.

L.A. Knight Will Appear

L.A. Knight, one of SmackDown’s hottest stars, is set to make an appearance. Known for his electrifying promos and undeniable charisma, Knight has been on a meteoric rise that continued with his massive win over Logan Paul at SummerSlam for the United States Championship.

A.J. Styles and Nia Jax to Appear

A.J. Styles is also scheduled for this week’s show. As one of WWE’s most consistent performers, Styles’ match or segment is always a highlight.

Additionally, Nia Jax will be celebrating her recent championship victory over Bayley at SummerSlam.

Confirmed Segments this week

Here are all of the segments that have already been confirmed:

• Roman Reigns will return
• Cody Rhodes is set to appear
• L.A. Knight is set to appear
• A.J. Styles is set to appear
• Nia Jax is set to appear for a Championship Celebration

What happened last week?

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:

Fans will get to see plenty of Roman Reigns on SmackDown following the Original Tribal Chief’s return at WWE SummerSlam in Cleveland. Reigns is already set to appear at this Friday’s show and PW Insider now adds that he is being locally advertised for the September 16, edition of SmackDown in Orlando, Florida.

Reigns is also being promoted for the first episode of SmackDown on the USA Network. That show will take place on September 13, from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, and will serve as the launch of SmackDown on USA following five years with FOX.

Reigns returned to WWE programming at SummerSlam in his first appearance since WrestleMania 40. At the Biggest Party of the Summer, Reigns attacked Solo Sikoa, who had made a series of disparaging remarks about Reigns in the weeks leading up to the show.

Reigns’ Spear and Superman Punch combo ended up benefitting Cody Rhodes, the man who dethroned Reigns as Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania 40. After attacking Sikoa, Reigns stared down the American Nightmare who is ready for a rematch with the Original Tribal Chief.

WWE SmackDown – August 9

Reigns isn’t the only massive name being promoted for tonight’s SmackDown from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. LA Knight and Nia Jax, who won the United States title and WWE Women’s title at SummerSlam respectively, are also being promoted for the show, as is Cody Rhodes. AJ Styles is also reportedly set to make his return in what will be his first appearance on WWE TV since Clash at the Castle: Scotland.

WWE has announced yet another shake-up to their commentary teams and confirmed that Michael Cole will be leaving Raw for SmackDown in the near future.

The company had announced earlier last month that famed ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore will be joining their ranks this Summer.

The newest WWE broadcast signee made an appearance on the Countdown to WWE SummerSlam pre-show and spoke with Michael Cole.

The longtime WWE announcer welcomed Tessitore, before confirming that the ESPN personality would be starting with the company on September 2 and be part of the Raw crew from Denver Colorado.

Cole then confirmed that he would be leaving his current position at the Red Branded Show at the same time and moving to the SmackDown booth instead.

Joe Tessitore currently appears on ABC and ESPN as a broadcaster for college football and Top Rank boxing. He is expected to continue his current roles alongside his new WWE duties.

• Michael Cole Inks New Contract With WWE

The belief is that the current SmackDown broadcast team of Corey Graves and Wade Barrett will be moving to Raw to join Tessitore.

As for Michael Cole, his partnership with Pat McAfee will likely continue with this change. Though the former NFL star’s move to the Blue Branded Show has not been confirmed officially.

These commentary shake-ups come in light of WWE new TV deals. The new deals will see SmackDown returning to the USA Network on September 13, while Raw moves to Netflix in an unprecedented change at the start of next year.

• WWE SummerSlam Results: Multiple Title Changes

The Yeet Party continued after the SummerSlam go-home episode of SmackDown from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio went off air.

There were two dark matches that took place after the broadcast ended. The first bout saw Braun Strowman picking up a victory over Chad Gable in a singles match.

The second dark match of the night featured the team of Rey Mysterio, Jey Uso, The Miz and R Truth taking on The Judgement Day in an 8 men tag team bout.

The babyfaces had a lot of fun in this match and they all danced to Uso’s theme song for an extended period. They even got the World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest to do the Yeet at one point.

The ending of the match saw Rey Mysterio doing 619 on all four JD members. He then pinned Dominik to pick up the win for his team and the faces continued to celebrate long after:

What Happened On SmackDown

This week’s episode of the Blue Branded Show saw the final build for some top SummerSlam matches. The show opened with a confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa before their encounter on Sunday which has now been made a Bloodline rules match.

We also saw a promo battle between US Champion Logan Paul and LA Knight before their title match. A Women’s Tag Team Championship match between The Unholy Union and Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair ended in a disqualification.

The main event of the show was DIY defending their Tag Team Titles against Jacob Fatu and Tonga Loa. The Bloodline won this match and the show ended with the faction standing tall.

The penultimate episode of WWE SmackDown ahead of SummerSlam had some intriguing moments, which were pre-taped following last week’s episode of the show. The Bloodline managed to secure a big Tag Team Championship match at the PLE and LA Knight managed to get one up on Logan Paul ahead of their US Title match before Santos Escobar got involved, among other highlights.

WWE has now uploaded all of the video highlights for the show to their official YouTube channel, which we have compiled in an easy to view format on one page below.

WWE SmackDown Full Highlights This Week

If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show in full, you can see a Full Recap of WWE SmackDown this week via the video below:

WWE SmackDown Segments This Week

Here are all of the individual Video Highlights that WWE has released this week after SmackDown:

LA Knight addresses the WWE Universe en route to his imminent Santos Escobar match and his SummerSlam title showdown against United States Champion Logan Paul.

LA Knight takes out an interfering Logan Paul before overcoming Santos Escobar en route to the highly anticipated United States Championship Match at SummerSlam.

Seconds after LA Knight thwarts Logan Paul’s interference attempt during his match against Santos Escobar, the United States Champion and The Emperor of Lucha Libre execute a post-match attack on the outspoken Superstar.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill turn the tables on a sneak attack by WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn and throw them out of the ring.

Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews take on Angel and Berto and The Street Profits in back-to-back matchups during the first part of the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders Gauntlet Match.

Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins overcome Kit Wilson and Elton Prince as well as Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in a WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders Gauntlet Match.

The Bloodline vs The Street Profits

Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga conquer Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins to win the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders Gauntlet Match.

With Randy Orton and Kevin Owens taken out of action by The Bloodline, The American Nightmare prepares to battle the self-appointed Tribal Chief without backup at The Biggest Event of the Summer.

Grayson Waller demands an apology from undefeated two-time undisputed boxing champion Terence Crawford and ends up getting his partner Austin Theory knocked out.

Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax vs Michin and Bayley

Prior to their tag team match against Bayley and Michin, Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax launch an attack on the partner of the WWE Women’s Champion.

Nia Jax joins Ms. Money in the Bank in a controversial win over Bayley and Michin en route to The Role Model’s WWE Women’s Title Match against The Irresistible Force at SummerSlam.

WWE SmackDown returns to FOX tonight at 8/7c. It’s a rare taped episode, filmed after last week’s show from Ohama, Nebraska at the CHI Health Center.

(Check out what happened after last week’s SmackDown tapings with Cody Rhodes.)

Why is SmackDown taped this week?

WWE taped tonight’s SmackDown due to the ongoing live events tour of Japan. The ‘SuperShow Summer Tour’ visits Tokyo’sRy?goku Kokugikan on Friday and Saturday night.

SmackDown Matches & Segments

Here are the matches and segments we’ll see tonight:

• Tag Team Gauntlet Match: The winners will become the #1 contenders to DIY’s World Tag Team Championships. Participating teams include: The Street Profits, Legado Del Fantasma, The Bloodline, The OC , Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews and Pretty Deadly.
• Tag Team Match: Tiffany Stratton & Nia Jax vs. Bayley & Michin
• Singles Match: LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar

Plus, A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) will host a segment with undefeated boxing champion Terrence Crawford. Crawford Crawford got physically involved on SmackDown last week by handing Cody Rhodes a chair, which he later used on Theory & Waller. No spoilers, but .. “could things get physical again?”

What happened last week?

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:

This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown continued the road towards SummerSlam, with some pretty interesting moments taking place on the night. One of these included one of boxing’s biggest modern-day stars, Terence Crawford, coming to the aid of WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, and Logan Paul would get into it with LA Knight ahead of their match at the ‘Biggest Party of the Summer.’

WWE has now uploaded all of the video highlights for the show to their official YouTube channel, which we have compiled in an easy to view format on one page below.

Read More – WWE SmackDown Results (7/19)

WWE SmackDown Full Highlights This Week

If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show in full, you can see a Full Recap of WWE SmackDown this week via the video below:

WWE SmackDown Segments This Week

Here are all of the individual Video Highlights that WWE has released this week after SmackDown:

Champion boxer Terence Crawford helps Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes exact payback on A-Town Down Under.

2024 Queen of the Ring Nia Jax delivers an ominous warning to WWE Women’s Champion Bayley before they clash at SummerSlam.

Andrade vs Carmelo Hayes

Andrade and Carmelo Hayes square off to see who the better Superstar is. Andrade shows ‘HIM’ respect backstage after the bout.

Bianca Belair vs Chelsea Green

“The EST” Bianca Belair clashes with Chelsea Green.

United States Champion Logan Paul and LA Knight must be separated after signing a contract for their title match at SummerSlam.

WWE Women’s Champion Bayley costs Tiffany Stratton a win against Michin and destroys the Money in the Bank briefcase.

2024 Money in the Bank winner Tiffany Stratton is ready to usher in “Tiffy Time.”

WWE SmackDown Full Match: Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens vs Austin Theory and Grayson Waller

The Bloodline brutalize their competition after Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes teams up with Kevin Owens to battle Austin Theory and Grayson Waller.

Cody Rhodes Kicks Off SmackDown

Cody Rhodes opens the show, expressing gratitude to Randy Orton, calling him a friend and mentor. Rhodes credits Orton for helping him on his journey to become Undisputed WWE Champion. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller interrupt, accusing Cody of causing their issues with The Bloodline. A brawl ensues, but professional boxer Terence Crawford assists Rhodes by handing him a steel chair to even the odds. Backstage, Nick Aldis informs Cody he must find a partner to face Theory and Waller by the end of the night.

#1. Andrade El Idolo vs. Carmelo Hayes – Winner: Andrade El Idolo

Nia Jax and Bayley Interview

Nia Jax and Bayley engage in a split-screen interview, exchanging harsh words. Jax vows to defeat Bayley and take her title at SummerSlam. Bayley retaliates by calling Jax clumsy and reckless.

#2. Bianca Belair (w/ Jade Cargill) vs. Chelsea Green (w/ Piper Niven) – Winner: Bianca Belair

After the match, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn appear on the tron, indicating their interest in challenging Belair and Cargill for the titles.

United States Championship Contract Signing

Nick Aldis oversees the contract signing for the United States Championship. LA Knight and Logan Paul exchange heated words, with Knight mocking Paul’s accomplishments and Paul questioning Knight’s relevance. Tensions rise, culminating in Paul blindsiding Knight, but Knight manages to outsmart him, forcing Paul to backtrack.

#3. Michin vs. Tiffany Stratton (w/ Nia Jax) – Winner: Michin

Tiffany Stratton is distracted by Bayley, who destroys her Money In The Bank briefcase, allowing Michin to secure the victory.

The Bloodline’s Warning

Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline issue a stern warning to anyone who might team up with Cody Rhodes, promising severe consequences.

#4. Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller – Winners: Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens

Post-match, The Bloodline assaults Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes, delivering brutal attacks that leave both men incapacitated. Owens suffers multiple hip attacks and a headbutt, while Rhodes is put through the announce table before being rammed into the ring post with a steel chair.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for all your WWE SmackDown coverage and check out our WWE News section for more updates.

Undefeated boxing champion Terrence Crawford was ringside for Friday’s WWE SmackDown from Omaha, Nebraska and helped Cody Rhodes even the odds in a 2-on-1 fight against A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller).

After Rhodes was thrown outside the ring, Crawford, an Omaha native, handed him a steel chair. Rhodes used the hardware to even the odds and ended the segment standing victorious while the heels ran off in retreat.

WWE Shop has released a limited edition Terrence Crawford Undefeated t-shirt to coincide with the SmackDown appearance.

Terence Crawford’s upcoming fight against Israil Madrimov goes down August 3, 2024 (the same day as WWE SummerSlam) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

Catch a new episode of WWE SmackDown tonight at 8pm ET on FOX, live from Omaha, Nebraska at the CHI Health Center.

Summerslam weekend is just two weeks away. As the excitement builds for pro wrestling’s Biggest Party of the Summer, the rivalries are heating up and the card is taking shape.

Tonight’s July 19, 2024 edition of WWE SmackDown will feature:

• Singles Match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade
• Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes responds to The Bloodline’s attack last week
• Logan Paul responds to LA Knight’s U.S title challenge

Stay tuned to SEScoops for our continued coverage of WWE SmackDown and check out our WWE News section for more.

What Happened Last Week on SmackDown?

Get caught up on last week’s happenings with this WWE video running down the Top 10 Moments from WWE SmackDown (July 12, 2024):

The post-Money in the Bank WWE SmackDown show fallout was certainly busy, with several big moments occurring on the programme.

WWE has now uploaded all of the video highlights for the show to their official YouTube channel, which we have compiled in an easy to view format on one page below.

WWE SmackDown Full Highlights This Week

If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show in full, you can see a Full Recap of WWE SmackDown this week via the video below:

WWE SmackDown Segments This Week

Here are all of the individual Video Highlights that WWE has released this week after SmackDown:

As “Ms. Money in the Bank” Tiffany Stratton celebrates her victory, WWE Women’s Champion Bayley questions the alliance between Nia Jax and Stratton.

After WWE Women’s Champion Bayley tries to stop Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton’s assault on Michin, she gets beaten down herself, leading to The Center of the Universe almost cashing in.

Following their victory at WWE Money in the Bank, Solo Sikoa vows to stay on top and demands acknowledgement.

Queen Nia Jax smites Michin in a royal conquest.

LA Knight is officially granted a contract to face Logan Paul at SummerSlam but needs The Maverick’s signature.

Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews combine to take on Angel and Berto of Legado del Fantasma.

Naomi takes on the up-and-coming Blair Davenport in a fierce contest.

Even after losing to The Bloodline at Money in the Bank, Randy Orton informs Cody Rhodes that he still has his back.

#DIY defend their WWE Tag Team Title against A-Town Down Under.

Despite coming up on the losing end to Nia Jax, Michin states she is not done with the Queen of the Ring Winner, offering her services to Bayley.

The Bloodline dismantle Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, making The American Nightmare watch as they eradicate The Viper.

The excitement didn’t stop at this week’s SmackDown from Worcester’s DCU Center after the latest episode of the blue brand went off the air.

The July 12, edition of WWE SmackDown saw the road to SummerSlam stretch on with matches set for the Biggest Party of the Summer. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa agreed to a showdown this August in Cleveland. LA Knight also has a contract for a U.S. title match with Logan Paul for SummerSlam but needs Paul to sign the paperwork to make it official.

After WWE SmackDown

The closing moments of this week’s SmackDown saw Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton be laid out by Solo Sikoa and the Bloodline. Rhodes was forced to watch on as Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu delivered a triple powerbomb to Orton through the announce table. After the show, Rhodes, alongside WWE officials (including Jamie Noble and Hurricane Helms) helped Orton to the back.

SmackDown Dark Matches

Fans who stuck around in the DCU Center after SmackDown got to see much more than Orton be helped to the back. In a dark match, Braun Strowman made quick work of honorary Judgment Day member Carlito.

The fans were also treated to a rematch from WWE Backlash: France as World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest took on Jey Uso. Despite a valiant effort by Main Event Jey, it was Priest who once again left with the gold.

Priest will now have to turn his attention to SummerSlam where he will defend against WWE King of the Ring GUNTHER. The 37th annual SummerSlam will take place on August 3, from the Cleveland Brown Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

WWE has announced 15 new WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown live events spanning October-December 2024. Tickets for these these just-announced TV tapings go on sale Friday, July 26 at 10 am local time at Ticketmaster.

The schedule features a mix of major markets, such as New York City, Boston and Philadelphia, along with less-populated secondary markets, shows WWE’s commitment to reach fans across a all regions.

October 2024

• Friday, October 4: Nashville, TN – Friday Night SmackDown at the Bridgestone Arena
• Friday, October 11: Greenville, SC – Friday Night SmackDown at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena
• Friday, October 18: Columbia, SC – Friday Night SmackDown at the Colonial Life Arena
• Monday, October 21: Philadelphia, PA – Monday Night RAW at the Wells Fargo Center
• Friday, October 25: Brooklyn, NY – Friday Night SmackDown at the Barclays Center

November 2024

• Friday, November 8: Buffalo, NY – Friday Night SmackDown at the KeyBank Center
• Monday, November 11: Grand Rapids, MI – Monday Night RAW at the Van Andel Arena
• Friday, November 15: Milwaukee, WI – Friday Night SmackDown at the Fiserv Forum
• Friday, November 22: Salt Lake City, UT – Friday Night SmackDown at the Delta Center
• Monday, November 25: Glendale, AZ – Monday Night RAW at the Desert Diamond Arena

December 2024

• Monday, December 2: Everett, WA – Monday Night RAW at the Angel of the Winds Arena
• Friday, December 6: Minneapolis, MN – Friday Night SmackDown at the Target Center
• Monday, December 9: Wichita, KS – Monday Night RAW at the INTRUST Bank Arena
• Friday, December 13: Hartford, CT – Friday Night SmackDown at the XL Center
• Monday, December 16: Boston, MA – Monday Night RAW at the TD Garden

The road to WWE SummerSlam 2024 will continue with tonight’s episode of SmackDown which will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. The show will also deal with the fall-out of last week’s Money in the Bank PLE in Toronto Canada.

Tonight’s advertised SmackDown card features these matches:

• Michin vs. Nia Jax
• Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews vs. Angel Garza & Humberto Carillo

An appearance from Miss Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton has also been confirmed for the show. Stratton captured the covered briefcase at last week’s event and now has a golden opportunity in her hands.

WWE is also advertising that “Solo Sikoa’s Rise to Power Continues” on tonight’s edition of SmackDown. At Money in the Bank, Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga, defeated Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens.

What Happened Last Week?

Last week’s WWE SmackDown (July 5, 2024) saw the WWE Tag Team Titles change hands as DIY captured the gold from A-Town Down Under. Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa made clear that he has his sights set on the Undisputed WWE Championship in a warning to Cody Rhodes. Sikoa went even further, as he dared Roman Reigns to try and take his place as the new Tribal Chief.

This is just scratching the surface of what went down. Check out this video from WWE looking at the Top 10 Moments from the show:

Sami Zayn made an appearance after the Money In The Bank go home episode of SmackDown from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada went off air.

There were two dark matches that took place after the broadcast of the Blue Branded Show ended. The first match featured IYO SKY defeating Naomi.

The second dark match of the night saw Sami Zayn defending the Intercontinental Championship against Chad Gable. Gable got the Kurt Angle treatment from the crowd during his entrance.

The former Olympian had locked in Zayn into an ankle lock towards the end of the bout but the IC Champion reversed it into a powerbomb. He finally delivered a Helluva kick to pick up the victory.

After the match, Sami Zayn cut a short promo. Zayn who is billed from Montreal, mentioned how the Toronto crowd always makes him feel like he is in his hometown. He then hyped-up Saturday’s Money In The Bank PPV:

What Happened On SmackDown

The SmackDown episode was largely built around the upcoming PPV. The opening segment saw all the competitors of the Men’s Money In The Bank match coming face to face before the bout.

Apart from this, the show featured matches such as Pretty Deadly vs. The Street Profits and Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair vs. Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae.

The latest WWE event also featured a big title change in the main event of the show. You can check out more about it here.

WWE descends upon Toronto, ON tonight to kick off a big weekend of wrestling at the Scotiabank Arena. WWE SmackDown marks the start of three consecutive nights at the venue, with Money in the Bank following on Saturday and NXT Heatwave on Sunday.

Tonight’s advertised SmackDown card features these matches:

• DIY will challenge A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championships
• The Street Profits take on Pretty Deadly
• Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair face Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae

As the final WWE television show before Saturday’s PLE, we can also expect a hard-sell for the two high-stakes ladder matches that will headline Money in the Bank.

SEScoops is your go-to source for WWE news all weekend, including our coverage of WWE SmackDown, Money in the Bank and NXT Heatwave.

What Happened Last Week?

Last week’s WWE SmackDown (June 28, 2024) from Madison Square Garden ended in explosive fashion. The Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony descended into chaos when Paul Heyman refused to recognize Solo Sikoa as his new Tribal Chief. This led to Heyman’s forceful removal from the group and subsequent hospitalization, leaving fans wondering what’s next for The Bloodline.

However, this is just scratching the surface of what went down. Check out this video from WWE looking at the Top 10 Moments from the show:

In May 2001, Triple H suffered one of the most devastating injuries that a professional athlete could experience: a complete tear of his left quadriceps muscle. The damage occurred half through a World Tag Team Championship match, with The Game continuing the match despite excruciating pain. After an over 8-month hiatus to have surgery and rehab, Triple H would return to WWE inside The World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden.

The King of King’s triumphant return to MSG has etched its place in history as one of the greatest returns in professional wrestling history, as the WWE Universe welcomed Triple H back like a conquering hero. The moment has been referenced, reflected, and spoken about in countless mediums, with AEW’s MJF even referencing it in his return to All Elite Wrestling this past May.

This past Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown saw Triple H return to Madison Square Garden again, this time in a much different capacity, as the company’s Chief Content Officer. Despite the turn taking place over 20 years ago, the moment’s significance still sticks with The Game, as he spoke about in a recent post on X.

In the short clip, WWE’s CCO recalled his grueling road to recovery, his anxiety about the fans’ reaction to him, and some wise words he received from WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

“I remember being two segments out, from me coming out, and [Steve] Austin came up to me…’I know what this is like. You’re thinking no one is going to give a sh*t right?’ and I said ‘that has crossed my mind’ and he said ‘yeah man, I went through the same thing. You know, when I broke my neck…what if your music hits and it’s crickets’. He talked to me about it.”

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin suffered a significant injury during SummerSlam 1997 when Austin took on Owen Hart for the Intercontinental Championship when a miscalculated piledriver caused Austin to become temporarily paralyzed. Austin would be plagued with neck issues for the entirety of his full-time WWE run, eventually leading him to retire at 38 years old from in-ring competition.

Triple H would later describe how it felt to hear the crowd’s reaction when his music hit. Stating how that moment was “10x more than anything I could have ever dreamed of. If all of it had been for that one moment, it would have been worth it.”

WWE SmackDoxwn (6/28) Saw The Bloodline Kick Out Paul Heyman

In a shocking turn of events, The Bloodline’s Acknowledgment ceremony turned into a vicious beatdown, as Solo Sikoa ordered the rest of the group to attack The Wise Man Paul Heyman. The New York native found himself being smashed through an announce table as the show closed out.

Heyman refused to acknowledge Solo Sikoa as the true Tribal Chief, sparking a brutal assault on The Godfather of Extreme. Later, Paul Heyman was taken out of MSG in an ambulance, leaving the WWE Universe wondering what comes next for the self-proclaimed tribal chief and the rest of The Bloodline.

Kayla Braxton received a special farewell after this week’s episode of SmackDown from Madison Square Garden went off air.

The WWE broadcaster worked her final show at the world’s most famous arena after announcing her departure from the company last week.

After the show went off air, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made an appearance to honor his dad, Dusty Rhodes, in the same arena where Dusty briefly held the WWWF title before it was taken away from him.

Before his promo, however, Cody mentioned how one member of the WWE family was leaving them after tonight, and brought her out for a final acknowledgment.

Kayla got emotional on receiving a huge applause from the audience. She cut a short promo, thanking the fans for accepting an outsider like her into the business 8 years ago when she first joined the promotion:

What’s Next For Kayla Braxton

Kayla Braxton posted a photo on her Twitter from the arena after the show. She said that she is overwhelmed with emotions and will miss everyone:

I love my WWE family. Thank you guys so much. I’m overwhelmed. I will miss you all but we will see eachother again. ?? pic.twitter.com/41gQipSLsi

— Kayla Becker (@kaylabecker_tv) June 29, 2024

It’s been reported that the company was in talks with the female star for a contract renewal but she ultimately chose not to renew her deal.

While Kayla has not revealed plans for her post-WWE career, she did confirm that she will be leaving the wrestling business altogether, instead of joining a rival promotion like AEW.

The experience of working in a live TV environment in a global brand like WWE would surely help Braxton in her next adventure. We wish that she will find success in whatever she chooses to do next.

Cody Rhodes honored his father Dusty Rhodes in a unique way after this week’s episode of SmackDown from Madison Square Garden went off air.

This was an emotional night for The American Nightmare. It was his first appearance as a World Champion, in the same arena where his father briefly held the WWWF Heavyweight Championship before it was taken away from him.

The SmackDown star addressed the crowd after the show went off the air. He mentioned how MSG is where it all began when Dusty Rhodes first traveled to New York from Texas.

The Undisputed WWE Champion went on to cut a short promo about his family’s history before he surprised the fans by bringing out the belt that his father had failed to capture all the decades prior:

Dusty Rhodes challenged Superstar Billy Graham for the WWWF Championship on September 27, 1977. He defeated Graham via a count out and celebrated with the title for a while. It was then announced, however, that the belt could only change hands via pinfall or submission, and the title was returned to Graham.

What Happened On SmackDown

Cody Rhodes was involved in the broadcast of the show. He along with Kevin Owens and Randy Orton attacked The Bloodline led by Solo Sikoa in the opening segment of the night. This came after Jacob Fatu made his debut and took out all three during last week’s SmackDown.

The babyface trio was escorted out of the arena by security and police so they could not interfere in the Bloodline Acknowledgement ceremony in the main event.

During the ceremony, Paul Heyman was brutally attacked by Solo and his cousins after the wiseman refused to acknowledge him as the new Tribal Chief. You can check out what happened with Paul Heyman after this segment here.

WWE returned to their home turf in Madison Square Garden, NYC for the latest episode of SmackDown with the new Bloodline being in front and center of the show.

The opening segment of tonight’s show saw Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton attacking The Bloodline after Jacob Fatu took them out in his debut last week. Nick Aldis had to bring in a lot of security to break things up and the babyface trio were then escorted out of the arena.

The main event of the show was the announced Bloodline Acknowledgement ceremony, where Solo Sikoa first introduced his enforcer Jacob Fatu and then demanded that the MSG crowd acknowledge him.

Sikoa then asked each member of the group to acknowledge him separately and they all obliged. Finally, he placed a lei in Heyman’s hands to officially declare him the new Tribal Chief.

However, Heyman was attacked brutally when he refused to do so. The show ended with Fatu putting the lei on Sikoa and the Bloodline standing tall.

WWE has since released a video of Heyman being escorted out of the arena in a stretcher after this week’s SmackDown went off air:

Apart from the Bloodline chaos, tonight’s show only featured three triple-threat matches in which, Naomi, LA Knight, and Tiffany Stratton all qualified for their respective Money In The Bank matches.

WWE also paid tribute to Hall of Famer Sika Anoa’i, who passed away earlier this week. You can check out more details on it here.

Joe Hendry Reveals How Cody Rhodes Helped Advance His Career

Many considered this past Friday’s SmackDown episode to be one of the brand’s strongest episodes of some time. The event featured significant moments such as Drew McIntyre’s vicious beatdown of CM Punk in his hometown, Chelsea Green receiving a massive ovation from the WWE Universe as she qualified for Money In the Bank, and the shocking debut of Jacob Fatu as a new member of The Bloodline. 

Fans may have credited the episode’s quality to WWE putting in extra work this week to deliver strong content, especially following highly praised episodes of RAW and NXT. However, there might be more to it than just that.

According to a new report from Fightful Select, the blue brand has a new head writer at the helm. The outlet reports that John Swikata has been promoted to the lead writer position, replacing Ryan Callahan who Fightful Select noted has conversely parted ways with the company. 

Some may remember Callahan after he was named in Britney Abrahams’ wrongful termination lawsuit last year. Abrahams claimed that she was let go from the company as retaliation for her objection to “several offensive creative pitches.” In the lawsuit, Abrahams alleged that Ryan Callahan had once suggested a storyline where then WWE Superstar Mansoor, who is Saudi Arabian, would have been revealed as the culprit behind 9/11. Abrahams Voluntarily Dismissed the suit in August of 2023.

Fightful Select reports that Swikata has been with the company for “years”, with sources close to WWE stating that he has already made a “huge impact” on the SmacDown product. 

It was recently reported that those within WWE had considered the June 21st edition of SmackDown to be one of the “biggest” SmackDown since WrestleMania season, and it is certainly hard to argue with that.  

Cody Rhodes reveals injury after SmackDown

During a WWE live event in Bloomington, Illinois, WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes revealed to the WWE Universe in attendance that he suffered “two broken ribs” at the hands of The Bloodline and Jacob Fatu on SmackDown. 

“A little scoop for you Bloomington, last night I did break two of my ribs. And the thought [backstage] was ‘Well, you can take off Bloomington, you can take off Kalamazoo. You can even take off next Friday where the story began in 1978, New York City’ And my answer to that was emphatically, 100% ‘Hell No!'”

Cody Rhodes and the new self-proclaimed Tribal Chief Solo Sikoa seem to be set on a collision course, as fans should expect an epic showdown between the two men this summer. Whether WWE books the match for next month’s Money In The Bank PLE in Toronto or for Summer Slam in August is yet to be determined. 

It is the opinion of this writer that WWE may look to use both events as part of this Cody Rhodes vs The Bloodline 2.0 rivalry. Much like last year, WWE used MITB to host a “Bloodline Civil War” tag team match between The Usos and Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, with a Tribal Combat match between Jey Uso and Roman Reigns set the following month. This time around, we could see a multi-person tag match involving Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens taking on some combination of The Bloodline. 

Unlike a Paul Heyman spolier, this is just some fun fan predictions.

Pro wrestling is going through a booming period, and let’s take a look at some of the biggest players in their advertising game.

EDO, a TV advertising analytics company, has profiled WWE and AEW, giving strong marks to both. Wrestling remains a major draw for TV advertisers due to its large, engaged audience.

WWE’s Monday Night Raw, the longest-running weekly episodic program, will move to Netflix in January 2025. This transition signifies a major shift in the platform for WWE’s flagship show. Meanwhile, AEW has established itself as a strong competitor in the wrestling world. Its Dynamite show frequently tops cable ratings on Wednesday nights, demonstrating its popularity among viewers.

WWE’s rise is thanks to Endeavor merging the company with the UFC and Vince McMahon departed from the company, leaving things to Triple H and Nick Khan’s vision. That momentum has been noticed all over.

AEW’s ad effectiveness has seen notable growth, particularly on its Rampage program. Brands such as Bud Light and Crest have experienced increased engagement through their advertising on AEW shows.

WWE’s programs, including Raw and SmackDown, also show significant ad engagement. Top advertisers like Credible and Purple have reported impressive results from their campaigns on these shows. Advertisers benefit from the high engagement rates of these programs, making them effective platforms for brand promotion.

Top 10 AEW Advertisers

Here are the top 10 most effective advertisers on AEW programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024:

• Innovation Refunds (+284% more effective than the average AEW advertiser)
• Just for Men (+201%)
• Pampers (+195%)
• Ferrero Rocher (+182%)
• Bud Light (+169%)
• Crest (+108%)
• Miller Lite (+102%)
• Schwarzkopf (+97%)
• Applebee’s (+93%)
• Diet Coke (+93%)

Top 10 WWE Advertisers

The top 10 most effective advertisers on WWE programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024, include:

• Credible (+2,978% more effective than the average WWE advertiser)
• Purple (+490%)
• Dawn (+224%)
• Depend (+215%)
• Hot Pockets (+200%)
• NyQuil (+194%)
• Mattel (+190%)
• Puffs (+180%)
• Miller Lite (+177%)
• Mr. Clean (+177%)