The Big Picture
The July 24, 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown delivered a high-stakes, chaotic build toward SummerSlam. With two massive matches added to the card and tension boiling over across multiple divisions, the blue brand produced both legendary segments and head-scratching booking calls. Here is the definitive breakdown ranking the top moments and major missteps from Friday night.
10. The Opening Segment Pace
SmackDown kicked off with immediate urgency as Cody Rhodes and CM Punk traded verbal jabs before devolving into a brawl. While the promo set the tone for the night, the pacing felt rushed, cutting off Punk before he could land his signature sharp mic work. It established the intense rivalry, but leaving money on the table in an opening segment keeps this at the bottom of our list.
9. Tag Division Turbulence
The tag team division saw solid action, but repetitive spot sequences dragged down the middle of the show. While the athleticism remains top-tier, the booking structure felt painfully copy-pasted from prior weeks. It kept the crowd engaged, but lacks the narrative weight to rank any higher.
8. Women’s Division Escalation
Brie and Reid locked horns in a physical confrontation that finally injected much-needed personal animosity into their feud. The strike exchanges were stiff, and the crowd rallied hard behind the action. However, a messy finishing sequence protected both women at the expense of a clean, satisfying narrative outcome.
7. Mid-Card Title Contendership
The ladder match qualifiers continued to add bodies to an already stacked SummerSlam lineup. High-risk spots highlighted the match, including a brutal apron powerbomb that left the crowd chanting for more. It served its purpose perfectly by building anticipation for the upcoming premium live event.
6. The Main Event Chaos
The main event brawl descended into pure anarchy, bringing half the locker room out to separate the competitors. Seeing security guards launched like ragdolls never gets old, providing a classic end-of-show visual. Still, the predictable authority-figure interruption took a bit of the sting out of the final cliffhanger.
5. Two Massive SummerSlam Additions
Management officially booked two high-profile bouts for SummerSlam during the broadcast, shifting the entire pay-per-view landscape. Announcing these matches on free television gave the episode massive news value. As Wrestling Inc noted in their review, the additions instantly elevated the stakes for next month's event.
4. Cody Rhodes Takes a Darker Turn
Cody Rhodes showed rare edge on Friday night, snapping during an interview segment and delivering a scathing attack. Breaking out of his polished babyface persona added fresh dimensions to his character. It was arguably his best microphone work since May, proving he can pivot when the story demands real heat.
3. The Ladder Gets More Crowded
The high-flying qualifiers stole the workrate showcase of the night, adding another star to the crowded SummerSlam ladder match. The bout featured a terrifying top-rope counter into a mid-air spear that nearly blew the roof off the arena. PWInsider reported on the escalating line-up as the match officially became a six-way clash.
2. Brie vs. Reid Delivers Brutal Stiff Work
The singles showdown between Brie and Reid lived up to the hype, bringing stiff strikes and genuine animosity. Leaving the gloss at the door, both competitors traded heavy forearms and relentless ground-and-pound action. It stood out as the absolute peak of in-ring action on the broadcast.
1. CM Punk's Masterclass Mic Segment
The undisputed crown jewel of the night arrived when CM Punk sat center-ring to dismantle his opponent's legacy line by line. Combining razor-sharp psychology with raw emotion, Punk held the audience in the palm of his hand for 12 minutes straight. It was a masterclass in professional wrestling storytelling that single-handedly sold thousands of SummerSlam tickets.
Honorable Mentions
The backstage video packages produced by WWE's digital team added great flair to the broadcast, as highlighted in the PWInsider video round-up. Additionally, a quick comedy vignette provided light relief amidst a very heavy, action-packed show.
