The July 4 episode of WWE SmackDown delivered a night of intense confrontations and anticipated showdowns featuring key stars such as Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Aleister Black, and Jade Cargill, alongside the shocking return of Drew McIntyre. The show began with a heated parking lot clash between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, setting a brutally intense tone for the evening’s battles and storyline developments.
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton’s Heated Exchange in the Ring
Cody Rhodes entered the arena proudly wearing his King of the Ring crown and reflected on its significance, emphasizing the personal sacrifices and journey it represents. Before Rhodes could elaborate, Randy Orton interrupted, acknowledging Rhodes’s determined action that earned Orton’s respect after their recent encounters. Orton urged Rhodes to ensure John Cena’s downfall. The tension escalated when Drew McIntyre interrupted, labeling Orton and Rhodes as betas while declaring himself the alpha. McIntyre criticized Orton for hesitation while expressing his desire to claim the championship from Rhodes. This confrontation reached a dramatic peak as Orton unexpectedly delivered an RKO to McIntyre, abruptly ending the encounter.
New Tag Team Alliances Form Ahead of Evolution
Backstage, Charlotte Flair and Nick Aldis discussed potential tag team strategies for the upcoming Evolution event. Aldis proposed that Flair join forces with Alexa Bliss to compete in the tag team tournament. Despite their strained relationship, Bliss reached out to Flair, highlighting the need for alliance given both wrestlers’ recent challenges. Though reluctant due to her typically dominant spotlight presence, Flair agreed to the partnership. This set the stage for further cooperation between two of WWE’s top female talents.
Backstage Tensions and Tag Team Pairings
Drew McIntyre later approached Nick Aldis expressing his intentions to confront Orton; however, Aldis informed McIntyre that Orton had already left the building but scheduled a match against him at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Subsequently, Jacob Fatu appeared, sparking tension as Aldis offered him the chance to challenge Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo if he found a tag partner. Jimmy Uso intervened, volunteering to team with Fatu, setting the stage for an intense tag team rivalry.
Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair Outsmart The Secret Service in Challenging Tag Match
The tag team confrontation began with Michin, Bliss, and Piper Niven squaring off. Flair immediately tagged herself in, engaging with Niven and quickly asserting dominance. The match turned chaotic outside the ring as Michin, Niven, and Alba Fyre of The Secret Service launched a combined assault on Flair. Despite multiple aggressive attacks, Flair and Bliss managed to regain control. The climax saw Flair delivering a moonsault onto Fyre, transitioning the legal competitor to Bliss, who successfully executed the Twisted Bliss finisher, securing the win.
Winners: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
Following the victory, Flair and Bliss celebrated with smiles and hugs, a rare moment of camaraderie amidst fierce competition.
Wyatt Sicks Triumph Over Johnny Gargano’s Team in Grueling Tag Bout
Nick Aldis organized a high-stakes tag team match featuring The Wyatt Sicks against Johnny Gargano, Chris Sabin, Berto, and Montez Ford. Early action saw Berto and Gacy exchange blows with strong moves like springboard crossbodies and spears. Lumis tagged in and dominated with powerful slams against team members. The match grew increasingly chaotic as multiple confrontations emerged simultaneously.
Despite valiant efforts from Gargano’s team, internal conflicts became evident as Gargano hesitated to face Rowan directly, avoiding a needed tag. This cost them as The Wyatt Sicks capitalized, with Rowan delivering the decisive Iron Claw Slam to Sabin for the win.
Winners: The Wyatt Sicks
Rising Star Giulia’s Fiery Promo Suggests Ruthless Ambitions
A striking video promo spotlighted Giulia, who symbolized a blue flame that burns fiercely without flickering, signaling her relentless determination and impending impact within WWE’s competitive landscape.
Tiffany Stratton Chooses Evolution Opponent; Trish Stratus Challenge Creates Buzz
In a self-assured segment dubbed “Tiffy Time,” Tiffany Stratton addressed her reign as champion, highlighting the pressures and challenges, including her upcoming SummerSlam match against Jade Cargill. Stratton announced that she would pick her Evolution opponent and was soon interrupted by Cargill holding her Queen of the Ring crown. Cargill expressed respect for Stratton but confidently declared her intention to seize Stratton’s title.
Unexpectedly, Trish Stratus appeared, and Stratton extended a challenge for Evolution. Stratus acknowledged the opportunity as a chance to showcase championship glory to her kids, emphasizing that times have drastically changed since her own era of dominance. Cargill dismissed the stakes, claiming her eventual SummerSlam victory would overshadow the Evolution outcome.
Solo Sikoa Introduces New Bloodline Member Tala Tonga
Solo Sikoa cut a strong video promo introducing Tala Tonga as the newest addition to the Bloodline faction, intensifying the group’s presence heading into forthcoming matches and storylines.
Backstage Conflict Flares Between Jade Cargill and Naomi
After Evolution challenges were set, Jade Cargill encountered Trish Stratus backstage, reaffirming their SummerSlam confrontation. Following this, Naomi surprised Cargill with a sudden attack, warning her to proceed cautiously moving forward. Concerned, Nick Aldis checked on Cargill and advised her to seek medical evaluation before continuing her intense schedule.
Intense Tag Match Sees Andrade and Rey Fenix Secure Victory Over Fraxiom
Andrade and Rey Fenix clashed with Nathan Frazer and Axiom, collectively known as Fraxiom, in a high-octane tag team battle. The match opened with quick counters and tag maneuvers, escalating with all competitors exchanging strikes and aerial assaults. Fraxiom’s teamwork was thoroughly tested as Andrade and Fenix applied submission holds and high-impact moves like Andrade’s Three Amigos and Fenix’s Frog Splash.
The contest reached a thrilling climax when Andrade executed a running double knee and an impactful double moonsault, while Fenix landed his finishing move, Adios Amigos, on Axiom. The duo secured the win after a final pin fall on Frazer.
Winners: Rey Fenix & Andrade
Damian Priest and Aleister Black Backstage Tension Builds Ahead of Matches
Damian Priest confronted Aleister Black backstage, attempting to convince Black about the unpredictability and ruthlessness of R-Truth. Black shrugged off the warnings, signaling his readiness, even as Priest expressed doubts about Black’s chances of victory against Truth.
Jacob Fatu & Jimmy Uso Defeat Solo Sikoa & JC Mateo After Grueling Main Event
The closing match featured the heated rivalry between Jacob Fatu & Jimmy Uso against Solo Sikoa & JC Mateo. Early exchanges saw the competitors battling intensely both inside and outside the ring, with headbutts, slams, and hard strikes driving the momentum.
Struggles between Fatu and Sikoa were central to the contest, with Fatu enduring multiple punches but retaliating fiercely with body checks, hip attacks, and a dramatic Swanton Bomb. Teammates traded superkicks, suicide dives, and stunners throughout. A notable moment occurred when Gargano avoided tagging Sabin to escape conflict, fracturing team cohesion.
Fatu eventually sealed the victory by countering a Samoan Spike into an impaler DDT followed by a moonsault pin.
Winners: Jacob Fatu & Jimmy Uso
Post-Match Chaos Amplifies Bloodline Hostilities
After the main event, chaos erupted as Fatu attacked Sikoa, delivering brutal blows and setting up a powerbomb through the announce table thanks to the interference from Tala Tonga and Tonga Loa. The three Bloodline members turned on Uso, delivering a vicious beatdown. The segment concluded with Sikoa and his allies standing dominantly over Fatu’s battered form, signaling deeper fractures and tensions within the faction as the night ended on a somber, brooding note.
