WWE SmackDown Notes: Hulk Hogan Tribute Videos Airs, The Miz Makes Surprise Return, Kiana James Makes Surprise Appearance & Revealed as Giulia’s New “Official Representation”, WWE Tag Titles TLC Match Set for SummerSlam 2025, 8/1 Show Card

Jul 25, 2025

Hulk Hogan Tribute Videos Airs

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio featured WWE holding a tribute to the late WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan.

At the start of the show, a tribute was held on the stage featuring members of the SmackDown roster, WWE officials, and WWE Hall of Famers and Legends standing for a speech by WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque that was followed by a ten bell salute.

Tonight, WWE remembers the legendary Hulk Hogan with a 10-bell salute. pic.twitter.com/66vGLZv7bH
— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2025

In a follow-up segment, a tribute video aired paying tribute to Hogan’s life and legendary wrestling career.

Take a look back at the career of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, narrated by Triple H. pic.twitter.com/YyxNaMzdSU
— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2025

In a follow-up segment, a video aired featuring Hogan’s victory over The Iron Sheik for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden in 1984.

We get a look back at Hulk Hogan and The Iron Sheik’s 1984 clash where Hogan won his first WWF Title. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/iNQY0aexxj
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) July 26, 2025

In another follow-up segment, a video aired featuring Hogan’s iconic body slam of Andre The Giant to become the new WWE World Champion at WrestleMania III.

Remembering Hulk Hogan : 1987 : Hulk Hogan defeat André The Giant and become champion #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Alw9TTA1Nu
— FabiShow (@fabien_fichaux) July 26, 2025

The Miz Makes Surprise Return on Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured The Miz making his surprise return.

During the show, Jacob Fatu was seen backstage and gave a firey promo about his bad blood issues with Solo Sikoa and Sikoa trying to frame him with a fake car accident to put him in jail. This led to The Miz showing up to interrupt and gave his own firey promo directed at Fatu and what he did to him taking him out weeks ago. After some more words, Miz challanged Fatu to a match right now and slapped him in the face before walking away.

The Miz just SLAPPED Jacob Fatu 😱@mikethemiz, have you lost your mind?! pic.twitter.com/luSNEMZCGu
— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2025

Kiana James Makes Surprise Appearance & Revealed as Giulia’s New “Official Representation

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Kiana James making a surprise appearance and revealing herself as Giulia’s new “official representation.”

During the show, Zelina Vega confronted WWE Women’s United States Champion Giulia backstage. This quickly led to James showing up and telling Vega that if she wants to talk to Giulia, then she has to talk to her since she is her “official representation.” Vega responded stating that she knows that no one has challenged Giulia but she wants a rematch for her Women’s United States Championship. James responded back stating that she had spoke to Nick Aldis and Vega will have her match next week. Vega then responded telling Giulia that she will see her next week.

Clipboard Karen?! @ZelinaVegaWWE, that was wild 😬 pic.twitter.com/ApWt50cQUk
— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2025

WWE Tag Titles TLC Match Announced for WWE SummerSlam 2025

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured one new match announced for the card of SummerSlam 2025, which takes place on August 2-3 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

This new match announced was a WWE Tag Team Championship TLC match of Andrade & Rey Fénix vs. #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) (c).

This match was initially setup over recent weeks shows over the bad blood issues within the SmackDown Tag Team division and the Wyatt Sicks. During tonight’s show, Nikki Cross interefered during the WWE Tag Team Championship match between Andrade & Rey Fenix and the Wyatt Sicks leading to the referee calling for the bell. This resulted in Fraxiom, MCMG, Street Profits, and DIY all coming out and engaging in a mass brawl that was paused by an angry SmackDown GM Nick Aldis who after some angry words, announced that the titles would be on the line in a TLC match at SummerSlam with all of the teams out here. This then led to the brawl resuming as the show went to a close.

Thank you, @RealNickAldis!

We’re getting a WWE Tag Team Championship TLC Match at SummerSlam!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/52UabyN9bB
— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2025

Current card for Night 1 of WWE SummerSlam 2025:

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Judgement Day (Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez) (c)
WWE World Heavyweight Championship – CM Punk vs. Gunther (c)
Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul
Roman Reigns & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
WWE Women’s Championship – Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton (c)
Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

Current card for Night 2 of WWE SummerSlam 2025:

WWE Intercontinental Championship – AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio (c)
Undisputed WWE Championship Street Fight match – Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena (c)
WWE United States Championship Steel Cage match – Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa (c)
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship No Count Outs, No DQs match – Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch (c)
WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat match – Rhea Ripley vs. IYO SKY vs. Naomi (c)

Remaining matches for night not specified:

WWE Tag Team Championship TLC match – Andrade & Rey Fénix vs. #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) (c)

Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured two new matches announced for the card of next week’s show on August 1st at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

These matches were setup following promos, storyline angles, and match card graphics throughout the show.

Current card for August 1st WWE SmackDown show: