WWE continued the build to SummerSlam 2025 as Friday Night SmackDown headed to the Frost Bank Arena in San Antonio, Texas in a show that had multiple positives and we things we loved – so let’s take a look!
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On the back of Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution last weekend, the July 18 edition of the blue brand had plenty to build from ahead of SummerSlam – which is fast approaching, taking place in just two weeks time. SmackDown featured number one contenders being determined, a big contract signing, and more, and we’ll assess all the strong points from this week’s show.
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WWE SmackDown July 18 Results |
Notes |
|---|---|
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Charlotte Flair defeated Raquel Rodriguez |
Singles Match |
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Damian Priest defeated Carmelo Hayes via DQ |
Singles Match |
|
Stephanie Vaquer defeated Alba Fyre |
Singles Match |
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Andrade & Rey Fenix defeated Fraxiom, DIY & Motor City Machine Guns |
Fatal Four Way Number One Contenders Match |
Andrade & Rey Fenix Win A Fun Four Way
- Fenix & Andrade are new number contenders for the tag titles
- They won the best match of the night on Friday Night SmackDown
- The SmackDown tag team division is one fire
Andrade and Rey Fenix have developed some strong chemistry over the last month or so, becoming an important part of the SmackDown tag team division. On SmackDown, Andrade and Fenix had their biggest night yet, taking on DIY (Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano), Fraxiom (Axiom and Nathan Frazer), and The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) in a wild, chaotic, and super-fun fatal four way to determine the new number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships.
After a hard-fought, back-and-forth contest, Andrade and Fenix emerged victorious. It will be a tough task ahead of them, as new WWE Tag Team Champions The Wyatt Sicks will be waiting for them. This was undoubtedly the match of the night on SmackDown, and another example of why the SmackDown tag team division is one of the highlights of WWE right now.
A Street Fight & Steel Cage Match At SummerSlam
- A Steel Cage match was announced for Jacob Fatu & Solo Sikoa
- Cody Rhodes and John Cena will have a Street Fight at SummerSlam
- WWE set up both these stipulations on SmackDown
The way that WWE got to their stipulation announcements was pretty convoluted, but it was good to see some big gimmick matches made official for SummerSlam 2025 regardless. Solo Sikoa staged a hit-and-run to try and get Jacob Fatu arrested, only for him to be released by police later on in the night. This led to a Steel Cage match being announced for SummerSlam between Siko and Fatu for the United States Championship, keeping with the “locked up” theme.
Later in the night, John Cena tried to back out of SummerSlam, claiming to be overworked and having too busy a schedule. Cody Rhodes would then lay him out, putting the pen in his unconscious hand and making him write out his signature on the contract for their SummerSlam match – something that would negate the legitimacy of any contract ever. Rhodes then told Cena to read the fine print – their match is a Street Fight. The segment might’ve been ridiculous, but at least we’re guaranteed a fun main event full of weaponry.
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss Continue To Grow As A Team
- Flair and Bliss developed even more chemistry on SmackDown
- They were given a women’s tag title shot for SummerSlam
- Bliss helped Flair win her match on SmackDown
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss would not likely have been on anyone’s lips as having seamless chemistry as a babyface tag team, but their segments and interactions have continued to work very well on WWE programming, and it has led to their increased support from fans each and every week. On SmackDown, Flair and Bliss were announced as having a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match at SummerSlam.
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Flair would take on Raquel Rodriguez in a decent match on SmackDown, ending when Bliss interfered to allow Flair to score a win with a roll-up. Having Flair and Bliss be good guys with an edge and not being scared to cheat is great, and it makes them stand out. WWE has built up their relationship well in recent months, and SmackDown continued this.
Cody Rhodes Won’t Flinch Against John Cena
- Rhodes spoke on his WrestleMania 41 loss
- He noted that his one hesitation cost him his title against Cena
- Rhodes vowed to not make the same mistake at SummerSlam
Cody Rhodes cut a strong promo on SmackDown before his contract signing with John Cena, discussing his journey ever since returning to WWE, not flinching when he came back at WrestleMania, not flinching with a muscle torn off his body inside Hell in a Cell, not flinching when he won two Royal Rumbles back-to-back, and so on and so forth. However, he did flinch at WrestleMania 41, and it cost him everything – but he won’t do the same at SummerSlam.
To see Rhodes address this was great, and this led to him flipping a switch to become more focused and aggressive, not flinching when he attacked Cena and hit him with the WWE Title on SmackDown.
