WWE SmackDown Notes: Nick Aldis Temp. Relinquishes SD GM Job for Gunther Match, Nikki Bella Returns, 6-Woman Tag and Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor in Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contender Matches Set for SummerSlam, Chelsea Green & Charlotte Flair Qualifies for Interim WWE Women’s Title Ladder Match, 7/31 Show Card

WWE
Jul 24, 2026

Nick Aldis Temporarily Relinquishes His SmackDown GM Job For Gunther Match

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California featured Nick Aldis temporarily relinquishing his official role as the SmackDown General Manager to become an active competitor.

During the show, RAW GM Adam Pearce, Aldis, and Gunther were seen in the ring for the match contract signing between Aldis and Gunther to make their match official for SummerSlam. Pearce stated that the terms of this match contract stipulates that Aldis must temporarily relinquish his job as the SmackDown GM and WWE will be held harmless over anything that happens to him during his match against Gunther. Pearce also stated that he will also take over as the new GM of SmackDown.

After some words, Aldis agreed to the terms and signed the contract.

Gunther responded with some insults and disparaging words directed at Aldis before he also signed the contract to make the match official.

This led to Aldis responding back with his own insults towards Gunther and how it is Gunther and not him who put his career in jeopardy and how he has nothing to lose since he hasn’t wrestled in three years. After Aldis told Gunther that he will make him look like someone who got made to look like a bitch by their boss, a brawl broke out that ended with Gunther powerbombing Aldis through the table.

Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor in Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contender Match Set for WWE SummerSlam 2026

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured the first of two new matches announced for the card of SummerSlam 2026, which takes place on August 1-2 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This new match was setup following a backstage segment involving Zayn and acting SmackDown GM Adam Pearce. After Zayn’s rant about how he has been treated by the powers to be claming they didn’t want him to be Undisputed WWE Champion going into SummerSlam, he demanded Pearce to insert him into the title match at SummerSlam. Pearce responded refusing his demands and stated that Zayn will be in a #1 Contender’s match at SummerSlam against the winner of a Fatal Four-way match between Damian Priest, Trick Williams, Royce Keys, and Finn Balor.

In a follow-up, Balor defeated Priest, Williams, and Keys to secure his spot against Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender match at SummerSlam.

Nikki Bella Makes Surprise Return, Bella Twins & Paige vs. Fatal Influence Set for WWE SummerSlam 2026

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured the second of two new matches announced for the card of SummerSlam 2026, which takes place on August 1-2 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This new match announced was a Six-Woman Tag Team match of The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie Bella) & Paige vs. Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid, Fallon Henley, & Jacy Jayne).

This new match was initially setup over recent weeks shows over Fatal Influence’s bad blood issues with Scream Mode. Following Brie’s victory over Reid in a singles match, Henley and Jayne attacked leading to a brawl breaking out with Paige and a surprise returning Nikki joining in. After the Bellas and Paige cleared the ring of Fatal Influence, Nikki got on a match and stated that they will be facing off against Fatal Influence in a Six-Woman Tag Team match at SummerSlam.

This was Nikki’s first appearance in WWE since this past March due to a broken ankle injury and surgery.

Current card for WWE SummerSlam 2026:

  • Undisputed WWE Championship – Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk (c)
  • WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns (c)
  • Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder match – Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green vs. Charlotte Flair vs. TBA
  • WWE Women’s World Championship – IYO SKY vs. Liv Morgan (c)
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship – Chad Gable vs. Penta (c)
  • Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender match – Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor
  • Hell in a Cell match – Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
  • Six-Man Tag Team match – LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, & Royce Keys vs. The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu & The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso))
  • Six-Woman Tag Team match – The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie Bella) & Paige vs. Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid, Fallon Henley, & Jacy Jayne)
  • Nick Aldis vs. Gunther
  • Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio

Chelsea Green & Charlotte Flair Qualifies for Interim WWE Women’s Title Ladder Match at WWE SummerSlam 2026

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show featured two qualifying matches for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder match at SummerSlam 2026.

The first match was Chelsea Green defeating Kiana James.

The second match was Charlotte Flair defeating Nia Jax.

As a result of their victories, Green and Flair joins Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill as those who have qualified for the Interim Women’s Championship Ladder match at SummerSlam 2026.

Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured one new match announced for the card of next week’s show on July 31 at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Current card for July 31st WWE SmackDown show:

  • AAA World Tag Team Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship, Title vs. Title match – War Raiders (Ivar & Erik) (AAA) vs. R-Truth & Damian Priest (WWE)
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