WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event live tonight at 8/7c on Peacock from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Match Card
Tag Team Match: Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk & Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther & Sami Zayn (If Gunther and Zayn win they will be added to WWE Title match at SummerSlam)
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Scream Mode (Brie Bella & Paige) (c) vs. Fatal Influence
No Disqualification Match: Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh
Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson to join World Champion Roman Reigns
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will not be competing at SummerSlam, forcing WWE to make a major change to the championship picture heading into one of the company’s biggest events of the year.
Ahead of Friday night’s SmackDown, WWE announced that Ripley remains sidelined as she continues recovering from a torn meniscus. As a result, an interim WWE Women’s Champion will be crowned at SummerSlam in a high-stakes ladder match.
The announcement was made by WWE official Adam Pearce in a video shared on social media. While Pearce noted that Ripley has been making significant progress and is working closely with WWE’s medical team, he explained that the nature of the injury has prevented her from being medically cleared in time for the premium live event.
According to Pearce, Ripley’s return timetable remains uncertain, leading WWE to establish an interim champion until the reigning titleholder is able to return to competition.
To determine who will compete for the interim championship, WWE will hold a series of qualifying matches beginning on SmackDown and continuing over the next two weeks. Five women will earn spots in the SummerSlam ladder match, where they will battle for the right to carry the interim championship.
Pearce also confirmed that the situation will eventually be resolved when Ripley is cleared to return. At that point, the interim champion and Ripley will meet to determine the undisputed WWE Women’s Champion.
Ripley’s absence is a significant setback for WWE, as she has remained one of the company’s most prominent stars and a centerpiece of the women’s division. Despite the injury, Pearce emphasized that the champion has been working hard behind the scenes and appears to be nearing a return.
For now, though, the focus shifts to the upcoming qualifying matches and the ladder match at SummerSlam, where a new champion will be crowned while Ripley continues her recovery.
With one of WWE’s top titles now up for grabs, the race to become interim Women’s Champion is set to become one of the biggest storylines heading into SummerSlam.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
Due to Rhea Ripley’s injury, Adam Pearce announces that an interim WWE Women's Champion will be crowned in a Ladder Match at #SummerSlam. pic.twitter.com/HtX9k8WYab
Tiffany Stratton And Jade Cargill Advance To Interim Women’s Title Ladder Match At SummerSlam
Two spots in WWE’s upcoming Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match at SummerSlam have officially been filled.
During Friday night’s SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill secured victories in qualifying matches to earn their places in the high-profile bout that will determine an interim champion while Rhea Ripley remains sidelined with injury.
Tiffany Stratton Overcomes Chaos To Qualify
Stratton’s path to SummerSlam wasn’t without obstacles.
Before her match against Jacy Jayne even got underway, members of Fatal Influence attempted to gain an advantage by attacking Stratton. However, the situation quickly escalated when Paige and Brie Bella rushed to ringside and went after Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley, leading to a wild brawl that spilled away from the ring.
Once the match officially began, Stratton quickly established control. She punished Jayne with a series of strikes and showcased her athleticism throughout the contest. After connecting with an Alabama Slam, Stratton maintained momentum despite a brief comeback from Jayne, who landed a swinging neckbreaker.
Jayne attempted to finish the match with her Rolling Encore, but Stratton countered the move and followed up with a rolling senton before delivering her signature Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the victory.
The win officially punched Stratton’s ticket to the SummerSlam ladder match.
Jade Cargill Advances Following Charlotte Flair Interference
The second qualifier of the night featured Jade Cargill taking on Nia Jax, with plenty of drama unfolding both inside and outside the ring.
Cargill entered the match accompanied by Michin and B-Fab, but outside interference ultimately played a major role in the outcome. After an evenly contested battle that saw Jax connect with a Samoan Drop and Cargill answer with a powerful spinebuster, Charlotte Flair became involved.
Flair attacked Michin at ringside before entering the ring and striking Cargill with a dropkick. The interference immediately brought the match to an end, resulting in Cargill being awarded the victory via disqualification.
Flair’s involvement didn’t stop there. Following the bell, she grabbed a steel chair and appeared ready to continue the assault, but Michin and B-Fab stepped in to even the odds. Moments later, Nia Jax attacked Flair before leaving the ring, creating another twist in the ongoing rivalry.
With Flair laid out, Cargill capitalized by planting her with Jaded and standing tall to close the segment.
Another Qualifier Set For Next Week
Following the match, WWE official Adam Pearce addressed the situation and announced that Nia Jax will receive another opportunity to qualify for the SummerSlam ladder match. Next week, Jax will face Charlotte Flair in a new qualifying bout, with the winner advancing to the championship contest.
With Stratton and Cargill now officially qualified, the field for the Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match is beginning to take shape. Additional qualifying matches are expected over the coming weeks as WWE builds toward SummerSlam and the crowning of a temporary titleholder during Rhea Ripley’s absence.
WWE and AEW will go head-to-head on September 26, as WWE has officially scheduled its next WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event for the same day as AEW’s annual All Out pay-per-view.
The date was revealed as part of a WWE press release announcing multiple upcoming event locations and schedules. According to the announcement, Worlds Collide will take place on Saturday, September 26, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
The announcement is notable because AEW had already confirmed that All Out will be held that same day at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The two venues are located less than 30 minutes apart, setting up a rare situation where WWE and AEW will be running major events in the same market on the same night.
At this time, WWE has not announced a start time for Worlds Collide. AEW’s schedule for All Out is already in place, with the Buy In pre-show set to begin at 7 p.m. ET and the main pay-per-view card scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start.
The decision creates an interesting dynamic for wrestling fans in the Chicago area, particularly those hoping to attend both events. Depending on WWE’s eventual start time, fans could be forced to choose between the two shows if there is significant overlap.
The upcoming Worlds Collide event will continue WWE’s partnership with AAA following WWE’s acquisition of the legendary Mexican promotion earlier this year. Previous Worlds Collide events have showcased talent from both companies, blending WWE’s global reach with AAA’s rich lucha libre tradition.
Meanwhile, All Out remains one of AEW’s signature annual pay-per-views and has historically been closely associated with the Chicago market, which has served as one of the promotion’s strongest fan bases since its launch.
With both companies now scheduled to run major events just miles apart on the same day, September 26 is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about dates on the wrestling calendar.
NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Zaria (c) vs. TBA
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Varsity Project (c) vs. Dorian Van Dux & Sean Legacy
NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contenders Match: Kali Armstrong vs. Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan
Naraku vs. Tate Wilder
Robert Stone took to social media on Monday evening to announce the unfortunate news that Diggs was injured at an “NXT” live event over the weekend. A new Number One contender will be named and a match will take place tonight
WWE Raw live tonight at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on Netflix from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
WWE Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contenders Gauntlet: Dragon Lee vs. Chad Gable vs. Joe Hendry vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Rusev
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins contract signing for the World Heavyweight Title Match at SummerSlam
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley has confirmed that she is currently recovering from a knee injury that has kept her out of in-ring action for more than a month.
Speaking with Nina Drama during the July 10 Power Slap event, Ripley disclosed that she suffered a slight meniscus tear and is still working through the recovery process. While she noted that her knee has improved since the injury occurred, she admitted that it continues to limit her mobility.
According to Ripley, the injury has made it difficult to fully bend her knee, and certain movements still cause discomfort. She explained that the tear occurred in an unusual area, making it difficult to predict exactly how long recovery will take.
The reigning WWE Women’s Champion said she has been sidelined for approximately six weeks and is gradually regaining strength, though lingering pain and stiffness remain concerns. Ripley also noted that crouching, bending down, and moving laterally can still be challenging due to the injury.
Ripley’s most recent match took place at a WWE live event in Portugal on June 3. During that bout, she teamed with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton in a victory over Fatal Influence. Footage from the event showed Ripley competing while wearing a knee sleeve, the same protective gear fans recently noticed during her appearance on SmackDown.
Despite not wrestling in recent weeks, Ripley has remained a prominent figure on WWE programming. Her latest appearance saw her confront several potential challengers, signaling that the women’s championship scene continues to revolve around her even while she recovers.
With SummerSlam now just weeks away, Ripley’s condition has become a major topic of discussion. Previous reports suggested WWE had already begun considering creative alternatives in case the champion’s recovery timeline extends longer than expected.
At this stage, WWE has not officially announced whether Ripley will be cleared to compete at the two-night premium live event. For now, fans will have to wait and see whether “Mami” can return to action in time for one of WWE’s biggest shows of the year.
As Ripley continues her rehabilitation, the status of the WWE Women’s Championship picture heading into SummerSlam remains one of the company’s biggest question marks.
A familiar face made an unexpected return to WWE television during this week’s episode of SmackDown as Baron Corbin resurfaced for the first time in two years and immediately inserted himself into the United States Championship picture.
The surprise appearance came during a non-title matchup between reigning United States Champion Trick Williams and longtime rival Carmelo Hayes. With the two former NXT standouts renewing their rivalry, Hayes had an opportunity to earn a future championship match by defeating Williams.
After a competitive back-and-forth contest, Hayes appeared to be closing in on victory. He climbed to the top rope looking to connect with his signature Nothing But Net finisher, but the match took an unexpected turn when Corbin appeared on the ring apron.
Corbin locked eyes with Hayes before shoving him off the top rope, causing the referee to call for a disqualification. The interference abruptly ended the match and denied fans a definitive winner.
The former United States Champion wasn’t finished there. After the bell, Corbin attacked both Hayes and Williams, leaving the champion laid out in the ring. To punctuate his return, Corbin picked up the United States Championship and stood tall with the title as the segment came to a close.
Corbin’s actions strongly suggest that he has his sights set on the championship he once held. His lone singles title reign on WWE’s main roster came with the United States Championship in 2017, a run that lasted 70 days.
While Corbin’s career has included several notable accomplishments—including winning the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2017 and capturing the NXT Tag Team Championship alongside Bron Breakker in 2024—he has yet to add another singles championship to his résumé.
Now back on SmackDown, Corbin has immediately made his intentions clear. With Trick Williams holding the gold and Carmelo Hayes still looking for his own title opportunity, Corbin’s return could shake up the United States Championship scene in a major way over the coming weeks.
CM Punk’s shocking Undisputed WWE Championship victory on Monday’s episode of Raw was reportedly about much more than giving the Chicago crowd a memorable hometown moment.
Punk returned to WWE television for the first time since WrestleMania 42 and stepped into the main event after Cody Rhodes was ruled unable to compete. Earlier in the night, Rhodes was attacked by GUNTHER and later deemed medically unfit to challenge champion Sami Zayn. That opened the door for Punk, who capitalized on the opportunity and defeated Zayn to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship.
While the title change came as a surprise to many fans, a new report from PWInsider Elite indicates that WWE’s creative team has been building toward a major summer program involving Punk for quite some time.
According to the report, the expectation backstage following Raw was that Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Rhodes at SummerSlam. The match is said to have been part of WWE’s long-term plans, with the company reportedly considering the showdown for months.
The seeds for the rivalry were planted shortly after WrestleMania 42 when Punk and Rhodes shared a tense face-to-face confrontation on the first episode of Raw following the event. At one point, there were reportedly discussions about saving the match for WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, WWE ultimately shifted direction and is now expected to present the highly anticipated clash at SummerSlam instead.
Punk’s championship victory also brings a quick end to Sami Zayn’s first world title reign in WWE. Zayn captured the championship just nine days earlier at Night of Champions, achieving one of the biggest milestones of his career before dropping the title to Punk in Chicago.
As SummerSlam approaches, several major matches appear to be taking shape. Along with the expected Punk vs. Rhodes championship bout, Roman Reigns is reportedly set to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins. Meanwhile, GUNTHER is rumored to be heading into a feud with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis.
With the WWE title picture rapidly changing, questions now turn to what’s next for Zayn after his brief reign came to an end and whether he’ll be able to work his way back into championship contention heading into one of WWE’s biggest events of the year.
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