WWE SmackDown before Saturday Night's Main Event was a decent show. The episode featured several significant developments heading into SNME and SummerSlam 2026.
The show concluded with a chaotic brawl involving Gunther, Sami Zayn, CM Punk, and Cody Rhodes ahead of their tag team match at Saturday Night's Main Event. In this article, we will discuss five things WWE subtly told us on the final SmackDown before the Madison Square Garden special event.
Nick Aldis was notably absent from SmackDown this week. In his absence, Adam Pearce served as the show's authority figure. It appears that the National Treasure is selling the effects of Gunther's attack on him from last week's episode.
Pearce has already raised the stakes for SNME by announcing that if Gunther and Sami Zayn win their tag team match, they will be added to the Undisputed WWE title match at SummerSlam.
However, Aldis' absence from the show subtly suggests that a clash between the Ring General and Nick Aldis could be on the horizon for the Biggest Party of the Summer.
There is even a possibility that the SmackDown GM could cost Gunther the match at Saturday Night's Main Event.
WWE has announced a major ladder match for SummerSlam 2026 to crown a new interim Women's Champion. The Stamford-based promotion confirmed that Rhea Ripley has been sidelined with an injury.
As a result, the company needs an interim champion unless Mami returns before a new titleholder is crowned. So far, Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill have qualified for this high-profile match.
Usually, WWE strips a champion of the title if they are expected to remain off television for an extended period. The decision to crown an interim Women's Champion instead subtly suggests that The Eradicator could return sooner rather than later.
Damian Priest and CM Punk were involved in an interesting backstage segment on SmackDown. The Archer of Infamy appreciated The Best in the World for mentioning him during last week's promo.
He then said that he hoped the Second City Saint would remain World Champion after SummerSlam, as he might come after the Undisputed title.
In response, The Voice of the Voiceless reminded Priest that he and Cody Rhodes would be teaming together at SNME and joked that they might come after Priest's Tag Team Championships instead. This interaction subtly teased that WWE could be planning a future feud between CM Punk and Damian Priest.
Jacy Jayne and Tiffany Stratton locked horns in an interim Women's Championship Ladder Match qualifying bout. Despite Jacy entering the match as the reigning Women's US Champion, Stratton picked up the victory to secure her spot at SummerSlam.
Earlier reports revealed that WWE had discussed booking Rhea Ripley vs. Jacy Jayne for the Women's title at The Biggest Party of the Summer. However, the Fatal Influence member's loss in the qualifying match could be a subtle hint that the TKO-led promotion may have given up on her.
A few weeks ago, the sports entertainment juggernaut teased Danhausen's mysterious creation angle. Despite that tease, it now appears the company may have scrapped the storyline after the ex-AEW star revealed a stuffed animal.
With no follow-up to the mystery creation angle on SmackDown and the introduction of the stuffed animal storyline instead, WWE has subtly hinted that the Triple H-led promotion may have dropped the original mystery creation angle.
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