WWE SMACKDOWN SPOILERS: Cody Rhodes Clutches Title Shot, Massive SNME Match Set (July 3, 2026)
SPOILER ALERT: Due to the upcoming July 4th holiday weekend, WWE is pulling double duty tonight at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The blue brand taped the Friday, July 3rd episode of SmackDown immediately following the live broadcast of today’s Monday Night Raw. Adding to the intrigue, this taped episode officially marks SmackDown's highly anticipated return to a focused two-hour television runtime on USA Network.
If you want to know how the SD fallout from Night of Champions continues to reshape the SummerSlam card before Friday night arrives, read on for full taping results.
SmackDown 7/3/26 Spoilers
Opening Segment: The Champion’s New Attitude
New Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn kicked off the show to celebrate his monumental title victory. However, the celebration took a sharp turn when Zayn put the WWE Universe on blast, heavily criticizing the fans who doubted he could ever win the big one.
The tense moment was cut short by Cody Rhodes and "Main Event" Jey Uso, who both made their intentions clear: they want a shot at Zayn's gold. General Manager Adam Pearce arrived to restore order, booking a massive main event for later in the evening: Cody Rhodes vs. Jey Uso, with the winner earning a shot at Sami Zayn on next week's Monday Night Raw in Chicago.
Match Results & Segment Breakdowns
Match 1: Trios Action
Jade Cargill, Michin, & B-Fab def. Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton, & Chelsea Green
Backstage: Chaos in the Women's Division
A backstage segment featuring Giulia, Kiana James, and Blake Monroe took an unexpected turn. The segment collapsed into chaos when Monroe turned and brutally attacked both Giulia and James.
Match 2: AAA Cruiserweight Championship
Rey Fenix (c) def. El Hijo Del Vikingo
Note: Fenix successfully retains his title in a high-flying showcase.
Backstage: Standard Strategy
Champion Sami Zayn was seen backstage, engaging in a private segment with DIY’s Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae.
Backstage: Hunting for Solo
Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso cornered Royce Keys backstage, aggressively questioning him regarding the whereabouts of the absent Solo Sikoa.
In-Ring Promo: Former Rivals Collide
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes met face-to-face in the center of the ring. After a tense verbal exchange, the two officialized a high-stakes match set for the July 10th episode of SmackDown.
Match 3: Women's Singles Showcase
Lainey Reid def. Brie Bella
Backstage: SNME Match Official
In a backstage segment with Matt Cardona, Danhausen revealed a major piece of news: he will officially be facing The Judgment Day's JD McDonagh at the upcoming Saturday Night's Main Event.
Backstage: Bloodline Violence
The locker room area turned into a war zone when Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga blindsided and brutally attacked Finn Bálor.
Main Event: Number One Contender's Match
Cody Rhodes def. "Main Event" Jey Uso
The Fallout: In a grueling, hard-hitting main event, Cody Rhodes managed to secure the victory over his ally Jey Uso.
With this win, Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship is officially locked in for next week's episode of Monday Night Raw in Chicago.
Source: facebook.com/four3four
