SummerSlam is almost here, but before the WWE Superstars could take over MetLife Stadium, Friday Night SmackDown aired from inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, not too far from The Biggest Party of the Summer’s host city of East Rutherford.
The Women’s United States Championship match between the champion Giulia, flanked by her new legal representative Kiana James, and challenger Zelina Vega, would be the first and only women’s match of the night.
The two started with quick drags as Giulia looked to finish Vega in quick fashion, throwing a series of punches at her opponent. Vega would hit a Meteora on The Beautiful Madness, laying her out on the floor before taking her back into the ring at the start of the commercial break. Vega would drag Giulia to the turnbuckle area, hitting her with a series of kicks, but Giulia would regain her footing, and the show returned from the break with her holding Vega into a submission hold targeting her oxygen. Vega would not fade and hit several clotheslines and a running knee into Giulia, additionally executing a German suplex off the top turnbuckle; unfortunately, the high-risk move could not put Giulia away as she only fought harder, hitting a double underhook suplex; combined with a match-ending Arriverderci knee and a northern lights bomb, it was to the surprise of Giulia, James, and the live crowd that Vega kicked out at 2.
The “This is awesome” chants were loud as Vega struggled to get to position and climb up the turnbuckle for a moonsault that was blocked by Giulia’s knees. Giulia would hit a final northern lights bomb to win the match and retain her title.
Despite a match that was both fast-paced and hard-fought, it appeared that Vega hadn’t gained Giulia’s respect as The Beautiful Madness put her boot into a motionless Vega’s face afterwards.
The WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was strolling down the hallway backstage when she ran into her SummerSlam opponent, Jade Cargill. Cargill was quick to mention to the champ that she didn’t need her help last week from being beaten down by The Secret Hervice. Stratton however, said that she wasn’t going to have Cargill walking into their SummerSlam match limping, and besides, when she beats her tomorrow, she doesn’t want there to be any excuses. Cargill says there won’t be, as she was the first woman to step to her after WrestleMania; now, there’s no distractions or cash-ins to worry about, and nothing is in her way. She lastly warns the Buff Barbie that she is going to finish what she started by winning the Women’s Championship, motioning her finger to the belt as a final reminder before walking away.
Lastly, Cathy Kelley spoke to Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair; the two will be challenging Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez tomorrow night for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Asking the two if their partnership was becoming more than just a tag team, Flair says that if she were honest, she didn’t have tagging with Bliss on her 2025 bingo card, since they’re both so different, but she’s had her back, she’s shown up for her, and she has to say that she respects Bliss, even though she’s super annoying. Bliss asks her if that was a compliment, to which Flair says “take it or leave it”. Bliss also says that Flair hasn’t been half-bad and she’s had her back when she’s needed it. Kelley then brings up how their playful jabs and witty insults sound like friendship to her. Flair says “definitely not”, but seemingly unsure, adds a “maybe?”. Bliss says she doesn’t like using “the F-word” (friends) but Flair exclaims that they should focus on winning the Women’s Tag Team Championships before putting a label on their partnership. Bliss ends the interview remarking, “but she says i’m the annoying one”, and the two walk off.
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. The forecast calls for almost every women’s championship on the line with a high chance of great matches. Here’s what is set to take place this weekend:
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
Following SummerSlam, the post-show edition of Friday Night SmackDown will air next Friday from inside the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
As always, make sure to share your thoughts on this week’s episode of SmackDown, plus your predictions on SummerSlam, in the comments below.
