Friday Night SmackDown aired this week from inside the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio for another night of action as we inch closer and closer to this year’s SummerSlam.
Alexa Bliss and Roxanne Perez had the first match of the night. Bliss began by quickly rolling up Perez four times, each attempt being unsuccessful. Perez would target her opponent during the commercial break, bringing an aggressive flair to her in-ring offense. Once the show returned, Bliss was starting to regain her momentum, setting up Perez for a Sister Abigail, which backfired when Perez raked Bliss in the eyes while Raquel Rodriguez did the same, prompting her partner Charlotte Flair – who played the role of “cheerleader” tonight – to send the taller half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions into the timekeeper’s area. Bliss prepared for Twisted Bliss, but Rodriguez got up and attacked Flair, with Bliss deciding to instead perform the move onto the outside; once she got back into the ring, Perez took advantage to roll her up for the win.
Cathy Kelley was backstage to interview Jade Cargill and asked her about how she was feeling in regards to facing Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton in one week’s time at SummerSlam. Cargill said that she fought through something that was supposed to take her out, and here she is as Queen of the Ring. Next week, she’s setting out to show everyone why she’s a natural born champion. Cargill walked off, and as Kelley stated that she was radiating confidence, in came Chelsea Green with The Secret Hervice. Ordering Alba Fyre and Piper Niven to go get her some coffee, Green told Team Blue’s roving reporter that she was screwed out of the Queen of the Ring tournament, and that she should have been at SummerSlam wrestling Tiffany Stratton, but “crown-stealing Cargill” is a mean word – stupid? slow? useless? Green couldn’t find the right word.
Kelley would subtly remind her that Cargill was standing right behind her, and once Green realized, Cargill was ready to exchange blows, punching her in the face, chasing her into Gorilla position, and carrying her on her back as she walked out to the stage. Cargill threw Green into the ring, and since a referee was present, the bell was rung. Cargill immediately hit a punt kick that sent Green to the outside. The Secret Hervice ran out before the commercial break to tend to their friend.
After the break, Cargill remained in control, executing a fallaway slam and a kip-up to Green. Fyre tried to distract Cargill, setting her up for an Unprettier, but Cargill was quick to reverse it into Jaded, which easily got her a victory.
Much like what they did to Nikki Bella and Stephanie Vaquer after their respective matches last week, Fyre and Niven ganged up on Cargill and gave her a beatdown. This time, the woman coming to the rescue was Tiffany Stratton, who teamed up with her SummerSlam opponent to send the trio running off. Cargill would grab the Buff Barbie’s Women’s Championship belt, but would gently lend it to Stratton as a reminder of what’s to come her way at The Biggest Party of the Summer.
Now backstage, Alexa Bliss had the lower part of her face covered in dry blood. Charlotte Flair sat down with her and apologized for her nose getting busted, but that can’t happen at SummerSlam. Bliss thanks her for being cool about it, but Flair doesn’t know why she wouldn’t, since they are tag team partners after all. As for being friends? Flair will think about that once they become Women’s Tag Team Champions at The Biggest Party of the Summer.
Cathy Kelley was at it again, this time with The Street Profits and B-Fab, asking them for their thoughts on Andrade and Rey Fenix challenging The Wyatt Sicks for the WWE Tag Team Championship. The Fab Female said that the Wyatts are a different kind of enemy and need to be dealt with in a different kind of way. Just like last week, #DIY confronted them to once again remind them that they blew their chance, with Candice LeRae lastly reminding the trio to stay out of #DIY’s way.
Zelina Vega walked up to the Women’s United States Champion, Giulia, poised to confront her, but in walked the returning Kiana James, who introduced herself as the legal representative of The Beautiful Madness. James would remind Vega that if she wants to speak to Giulia, she’ll have to go through the proper channels – which would be her. Calling her “Clipboard Karen”, Vega didn’t care and continued to speak to Giulia anyways. Vega knows that she thinks she has no competition because no one’s had the balls to step to her, but she wants to talk to her about the rematch she hasn’t had since losing the title. James says that since she’s always one step ahead, she’s already spoken to Nick Aldis, with the rematch being granted and set for next week. When Giulia beats her again, Vega will be nothing but another name in her portfolio. Vega gets angrier and tells Giulia to look at her when she’s talking, but when The Beautiful Madness says she likes a little fire, warns her to not get too comfortable, because tragedy lures, with fortune first – a reference to X-Men ’97.
SummerSlam airs from inside the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, August 2nd, and Sunday, August 3rd, starting at 6 p.m. Eastern / 3 p.m. Pacific on Peacock in the United States. Here’s what is set to take place on both nights:
Saturday, August 2nd:
- Women’s Tag Team Championship: Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair
- Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
Sunday, August 3rd:
- Women’s World Championship: Naomi (c) vs. IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria
Friday Night SmackDown will air next week from inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, but no matches or segments are currently advertised at the moment.
As always, make sure to share your comments on this week’s edition of SmackDown in the comments below.