WWE SmackDown Results & Winners (July 17, 2026) - Cody Rhodes vs Gunther ends in massive brawl before SNME; Interim title match announced for SummerSlam & more

Blake Monroe attacks Candice LeRae; Jade Cargill & Tiffany Stratton qualify & more!

Before the trip to the world’s most famous arena in New York City for Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE arrived in Albany tonight for the July 17 go-home edition of Friday Night SmackDown.

The July 17 edition concluded at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York, featuring the final face-offs for SNME. On the other hand, WWE also continued the build towards SummerSlam, announcing a new match to crown the Interim WWE Women’s Champion. The infamous attack on GM Nick Aldis by Gunther was also addressed on the show.

Continue reading to get the full summary, match-by-match recap, biggest highlights, shocking moments, results, and winners list from this Friday’s 7/17 episode of WWE SmackDown.

WWE SmackDown Results & Winners

• Gunther opened the broadcast by explaining why he had attacked GM Nick Aldis, saying he was frustrated with how Aldis had treated him since his arrival on SmackDown. He also took a shot at Sami Zayn, calling him a bum.
  • Acting GM Adam Pearce arrived and said Gunther would have been fired if the decision had been his, but Aldis insisted that the match at SNME goes as scheduled. Pearce then announced that if Gunther and Sami Zayn defeated CM Punk and Cody Rhodes at SNME, they would be added to the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam.
  • Cody Rhodes interrupted the segment and attacked Gunther, prompting Pearce to make a match between the two official for the main event.

• In a video package, Acting GM Adam Pearce also announced a ladder match for SummerSlam, which will crown the interim WWE Women’s Champion as Rhea Ripley remains out of action due to an injury.

• Finn Balor vs Talla Tonga: Balor defeated Talla after delivering two back-to-back Coup de Grace.
• Backstage, CM Punk caught up with GM Adam Pearce about the stipulation for SNME. Pearce said the decision had already been made. Punk said Gunther was only looking to hurt Cody Rhodes, but Pearce replied that Gunther had asked for a chance to earn his way back and had been given it. Punk then said he was going to speak with Cody.
  • Punk then ran into Damian Priest, who warned that if Punk was still WWE Champion after SummerSlam, he would be coming after the title. Punk fired back by saying that if Priest was still holding the Tag Team titles after SummerSlam, he and Cody might come after those titles instead. As Punk left, R-Truth appeared behind Priest. Killings asked what they had been talking about.

• Jacy Jayne vs Tiffany Stratton -Interim WWE Women’s Championship Qualifying match: Fatal Influence jumped Stratton before the match as Brie Bella and Paige made the save, brawling with Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley to the back. Back in the ring, Stratton defeated Jayne to qualify for the interim title match at SummerSlam.
• Baron Corbin cut a promo sending a stern warning to the roster, stating Trick Williams is the first name on a long, long list, and Carmelo Hayes is just collateral damage. Corbin added that he has his sights set on Williams’ US title.
• Backstage, Trick Williams mocked Baron Corbin for attacking him last week, calling him a “big bald-headed bitch.” Carmelo Hayes interrupted as Williams demanded an apology for what Hayes had done to Lil Yachty the week before. Hayes sarcastically apologized for letting Yachty leave the arena on his own two feet before reminding Trick that he had avoided defending his title.
  • He added that Corbin had an ass-kicking coming but noted that Williams seemed to hold onto his title a little tighter every time he showed up. Williams fired back by claiming Hayes had accomplished nothing on SmackDown and asked Hayes to mind his own business when grown folks are talking.

• Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax – Interim WWE Women’s Championship Qualifying match: Charlotte Flair attacked B-Fab and Michin ringside before going into the ring to attack Cargill. This handed Cargill the win via disqualification as Jax attacked Flair. Cargill hits the Jaded on Falir to end the sequence.

• Backstage, Gunther addressed Cody Rhodes’ attack, calling it a typical move from WWE’s “Golden Boy.” He said Rhodes always acted on emotion and vowed to beat some rationality into him. He also made it clear he didn’t care about Sami Zayn, but said they would still win their tag team match to earn a spot in the WWE Championship match.
• Gunther then came across Johnny Gargano lying motionless on the crate alongside Candice LeRae. LeRae urged him not to do anything reckless that could cost them the opportunity to get Sami into the title match. Gunther dismissed her use of the word “we” before telling her to stay out of his business.
• As Gunther left, Blake Monroe ambushed LeRae, introducing herself as the new girl. Monroe then walked past Gargano, noting that he needed a haircut.

• Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) vs War Raiders (Erik & Ivar): War Raiders picked up the win after delivering the Ragnarok on Axiom.
• Backstage, CM Punk caught up with Cody Rhodes, who asked Punk not to act like he didn’t understand the situation. Punk said that he did understand but didn’t think it was a good idea. Cody agreed but insisted he had to handle things himself. Punk offered to have Rhodes’ back, but Rhodes turned down the offer and added that they could focus on tomorrow’s tag team match afterward.

• In an interview with Jackie Redmond, Danhausen revealed that he has a secret weapon against the Judgment Day and brought out a stuffed black cat in a cage.

• Cody Rhodes vs Gunther: Rhodes attacked Gunther during the walkout. The match began as CM Punk arrived, and the action continued. Sami Zayn then appeared, attacking Punk as Cody came in with a dive through the ropes. As Rhodes climbed the apron, Sami pulled Cody down, causing the match to end in disqualification.
  • Post-match, all four men continued the brawl inside the ring as officials and security rushed in to separate the four men before SNME.

WWE SmackDown 7/17 Results

• Finn Balor defeated Talla Tonga
• Interim Women’s title Qualifying matches:
  • Tiffany Stratton defeated Jacy Jayne
  • Jade Cargill defeated Nia Jax via DQ
• Blake Monroe attacked Candice LeRae
• War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) defeated Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) – Tag Team match
• Gunther vs Cody Rhodes ended in a DQ as a massive brawl erupted before SNME

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