WWE SmackDown Preview: July 31, 2026 Title vs Title Match!
Get ready for an explosive Friday night as WWE SmackDown heads to the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin!
With the final pieces falling into place ahead of SummerSlam, we've got a powerhouse match card lined up, featuring high-stakes tournament action, a massive champion vs. champion title clash, and a blockbuster Raw crossover.
Check out the official lineup below, along with my match-by-match predictions and brief thoughts.
7/30 Update
Undisputed WWE Championship Final Face-to-Face
Segment: Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes will come face-to-face one final time before their blockbuster title clash this weekend at SummerSlam.
With weeks of simmering tension, paranoia, and accidental belt strikes hanging over their heads, this final summit is guaranteed to explode before they step into the ring in Minneapolis.
Prediction: Cody and Punk end up shaking hands.
Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match Qualifier
Giulia vs. Lash Legend
The Breakdown: It all comes down to this. The final qualifying spot for the high-stakes SummerSlam ladder match is up for grabs, pitting the fierce international striking of Giulia against the overwhelming power and athleticism of Lash Legend.
Prediction: Giulia. Expect a chaotic battle with plenty of external tension, but Giulia's relentless pace will punch her ticket to Minneapolis.
Winner-Take-All Champion vs. Champion Match
Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar)
The Breakdown: The War Raiders have returned to SmackDown to lay down the ultimate challenge, putting their AAA gold on the line against Damian Priest and R-Truth's WWE Tag Team Championships in a massive Winner-Take-All showdown. Pride, momentum, and cross-brand supremacy are all on the line as both sets of titles hang in the balance.
Prediction: R-Truth and Damien Priest become double champions
Intercontinental Championship Special Attraction (Venue-Announced Match)
Penta (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio
The Breakdown: Local venue advertising has blown the lid off a massive cross-brand showdown straight from Monday Night Raw. Intercontinental Champion Penta steps across brand lines to put his target on the line against the ever-opportunistic Dirty Dom.
My Picks: Dominik, who will use every underhanded trick in the book, and end up with the W.
Featured Superstars Scheduled to Appear
CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, Sami Zayn, Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, Gunther, and more!
Extra SmackDown Predictions
Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez attacks Rhea Ripley backstage
Number 1 Contender's Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship: The Usos defeats Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga
Liv Morgan creates her demonic gimmick on her way to WWE SummerSlam 2026 PPV match against Iyo Sky on the video vignette promo.
Nick Aldis defeats Austin Theory
WWE SmackDown is one of WWE's flagship weekly programs, showcasing the biggest Superstars on the SmackDown brand in explosive matches, heated rivalries, intense promos, and major storyline advancements that shape the future of WWE.
SD airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on the USA Network (in the US), with episodes also available on demand shortly after the live broadcast on Peacock (in the US) and on WWE Network or Netflix internationally (depending on the region).
