WWE Friday Night SmackDown is back! Tonight’s show aired live from San Antonio, Texas. The action heated up as SummerSlam approaches next month. Last weekend was huge as Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution shook things up. John Cena and Cody Rhodes will sign the contract for their SummerSlam match. The fate of the Men’s SmackDown Tag Team and the women’s tag team will also be decided today. The road to SummerSlam is officially on. Let’s break down everything in the WWE SmackDown July 18 results, winners, grades, and analysis.
Charlotte Flair vs Raquel Rodriguez
Charlotte Flair and Raquel Rodriguez started their match by exchanging moves in the ring. They traded standing switches, with neither gaining an early advantage. Rodriguez showed strength with shoulder blocks, but Flair responded with a hurricanrana, followed by a clothesline and crossbody to the outside. During the match, Kiana James was seen talking to Giulia, and Roxanne Perez attempted to interfere, but Alexa Bliss stopped her.
Back from the commercial break, Rodriguez had Flair in a modified torture rack, but Flair managed to escape. Rodriguez remained in control with stomps and strikes, hitting a twisting Vader Bomb. Flair fought back with her signature chops and a somersault clothesline, followed by a German suplex. She climbed to the top for a crossbody, but Rodriguez countered with a tornado powerslam, nearly getting a pinfall.
Flair countered Rodriguez’s Tejano Bomb attempt with a big boot. Roxanne Perez tried to distract Flair, but Alexa Bliss used the opportunity to strike Rodriguez with a pompom. Flair took advantage of the distraction, rolling Rodriguez up for the pin and the win. Charlotte Flair defeated Raquel Rodriguez by pinfall.
Winner: Charlotte
Grade C+
Analysis
It was a good match, but not an outstanding one that both these competitors can deliver. The result is that Charlotte and Bliss will get another title shot at WWE Summerslam after losing the opportunity at WWE Evolution. Their friendship has been building for the past month or so. It looks like they will win the tag team belts, and Judgment Day will move to their internal affairs after Morgan’s return.
Backstage on WWE SmackDown July 18 Results
Backstage, police officers approach Adam Pearce for help finding Jacob Fatu after the car crash involving MFT. Pearce tracks him down, and after a tense moment, Fatu agrees to go with the officers. After a video package promoting Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill for the Women’s title at SummerSlam, the commentary team discusses recent events in the Ron Killings/Damian Priest/Aleister Black storyline. They show footage of Priest being confronted by Carmelo Hayes, leading Priest to question Hayes’ role in the situation and eventually announcing a match between them. Before the match, there’s a video about Cody Rhodes and the upcoming Naked Gun reboot.
Damian Priest vs Carmelo Hayes
Before the bell even rings, Carmelo Hayes starts attacking Damian Priest with right hands to his back. Once the match officially begins, Priest quickly counters with a big boot. Hayes comes back with a sharp knee to the face, but Priest lands a forearm and tries to throw Hayes into the ring post. Hayes escapes and sends Priest crashing into the post instead. Inside the ring, Hayes targets Priest’s legs with a chop block, but Priest fights back with a back elbow and a shoulder tackle.
Hayes tries to escape to the outside, but Priest follows, only to be hit by a jawbreaker and a springboard clothesline from Hayes. Hayes attempts to fly again, but Priest catches him and sets up for a Razor’s Edge. Hayes escapes, climbs to the top, and hits The First 48, followed by a Frog Splash.
Just as the match intensifies, Priest slams Hayes face-first into the announce desk and prepares for Old School. However, Aleister Black suddenly appears, trips Priest, and crotches him on the top rope. Black delivers a Black Mass, and Hayes wisely takes his leave. The interference from Black leads to the disqualification, with Priest winning the match via DQ.
Winner: Damien Priest via DQ
Grade C+
Analysis
The match was going great before it was called off due to a disqualification. Black solidified his heel turn by attacking Priest for the 2nd week in a row. Their match at WWE Summerslam will be epic. Both these wrestlers can give a 5-star classic. Melo staying away from Black means he will move in another direction in the coming weeks.
Solo Sikoa Addresses Car Accident
Men’s U.S. Champion Solo Sikoa, along with his MFT crew, takes the mic to discuss the car accident they were involved in earlier. Sikoa criticizes Jacob Fatu, calling him reckless, selfish, and out of control without him. He recalls bringing Fatu to WWE, making him a star, and making him the U.S. Champion. Sikoa claims Fatu repaid his kindness by betraying the family that made him. Just as Sikoa finishes, Jimmy Uso appears on the Titan Tron, revealing that Fatu has been cleared of suspicion after the car accident. Fatu storms the ring, and chaos ensues as he and Jimmy attack the MFT crew.
Talla Tonga tries to take down both men with a double chokeslam through the announce desk, but Fatu and Jimmy stop him with superkicks. Fatu helps Jimmy land a crossbody on Talla, then attacks Sikoa with a barrage of punches. He wraps a chair around Sikoa’s neck, but MFT members JC Mateo and Tama Tonga try to intervene. Jimmy Uso hits a Uso Splash on Tama, and Fatu delivers a moonsault to Mateo.
Fatu grabs a chair and assaults both men, but Adam Pearce interrupts, announcing that at SummerSlam, Sikoa will defend his U.S. Championship against Fatu in a Steel Cage Match. Pearce also calls the cops to arrest Sikoa for staging the car crash, leaving Fatu and Jimmy standing in the ring as the MFT are escorted out.
Grade B
Analysis
Solo Sikoa tried to be smart but was caught soon. WWE is protecting Talla in the same manner they did for Fatu during his earlier days. Solo already beat Jimmy at the Saturday Night Main Event. The steel cage match will be a fun match at Summerslam. Still, MFTs can interfere in the match, and we can also see a return for Tama Tonga. His return will change a few things for Solo, too, because he was the main player before getting injured.
Stephanie Vaquer vs Alba Fyre
The match starts with both women charging at each other. Alba Fyre sends Stephanie Vaquer to the apron and kicks her with a thrust just as Vaquer attempts to spring back in. Fyre follows up with a dive to the outside, taking Vaquer down and rolling her back into the ring. Vaquer quickly recovers and hits Fyre with the Devil’s Kiss, then sets up for the package backbreaker. Fyre escapes the first attempt, but Vaquer successfully lands it the second time, securing the pin for the win.
After the match, Piper Niven ambushes Vaquer, hitting her with a running senton. Niven climbs the ropes for more damage, but Vaquer pushes her off, sending Niven crashing to the outside. Vaquer follows with a kick that knocks Niven to the floor. As Niven tries to re-enter the ring, her Secret Service partner stops her, holding her back and preventing Niven from getting back inside.
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer
Grade C+
Analysis
WWE is building Stephanie Vaquer slowly, which is a good thing. Green is such an entertainer, so she must be involved in this segment. Vaquer got the win and ultimately gained the upper hand. The story is still ongoing, culminating in a single match between Chelsea Green and Stephanie Vaquer.
#DIY vs Rey Fenix & Andrade vs Fraxiom vs Motor City Machine Guns
Sabin and Frazer began the match with impressive counters and high-flying acrobatics, showcasing their athleticism. However, the action quickly escalated when #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) interfered and attacked both Sabin and Frazer. This brought Andrade and Rey Fenix into the fray, and the match became chaotic. Frazer and Axiom, also known as Fraxiom, managed to cut off Andrade and Fenix’s dive attempts with superkicks. Still, the Motor City Machine Guns pulled them out of the ring and hit their dives on Gargano and Ciampa just as the match went to commercial.
After the break, Sabin and Shelley from the Motor City Machine Guns kept the momentum going against #DIY, but Axiom tagged himself in and changed the pace. Axiom and Frazer lit up the ring with a series of dives and a modified Total Elimination that almost earned them the win. However, Andrade tagged himself into the match, and he and Fenix quickly regained control, working together like a well-oiled machine. Fenix hit Axiom with a spinning corner kick and followed up with the Three Amigos on Frazer. He finished the sequence with a frog splash, but the Machine Guns broke up the pin just in time. As chaos broke out, all four teams started brawling in the ring.
Back from another commercial break, Ciampa and Axiom exchanged stiff chops, but it was Andrade who tagged in and climbed to the top rope. Axiom met him up there, setting up for something big, just as Frazer tagged himself in. Axiom hit a Spanish Fly on Andrade, and Frazer followed with a Phoenix Splash. Axiom went for the pin, but Ciampa interrupted and tried to pin Andrade himself. After a series of kickouts and a mishap where Gargano accidentally superkicked Ciampa, Andrade took advantage of the confusion to hit The Message on Ciampa and secure the win. As a result, Andrade and Rey Fenix became the new #1 contenders for the WWE Tag Team titles.
Winner: Andrade and Fenix
Grade A-
Analysis
All four teams have done a solid job in this match. Fenix and Andrade will face Wyatt Sicks at WWE SummerSlam. WWE must go with a solid tag team as the first opponent for the Wyatts. Andrade and Fenix are both talented individuals, but they are finding their footing as a tag team. All other teams have already established their names, making them a better option. Still, the match at Summerlsam will be outstanding.
John Cena and Cody Rhodes Contract Signing
Adam Pearce hits the stage and introduces Cody Rhodes, who receives a huge pop from the crowd as he makes his way to the ring. Without hesitation, Rhodes signs the SummerSlam contract and addresses the San Antonio crowd, sharing how the love he feels from them makes him feel like an outlaw, just like his father and brother, AEW’s new TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes, once did.
Cody reflects on his past achievements, including winning back-to-back Royal Rumbles and facing The Rock. He admits, however, that the one time he flinched was when he stood across from John Cena at WrestleMania 41, realizing how hard it would be to take the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cena. He then invites Pearce to bring out the champion.
Pearce obliges, and John Cena walks to the ring, leading to a huge moment with both men under the same roof. Cena grabs the mic and drops the bombshell that he won’t be at SummerSlam due to his commitments in New York City for a Netflix film. He explains that he’s emotionally drained and can’t sign the contract, knowing he won’t be able to attend. Cena offers Rhodes a future rematch in places like Paris or Perth, but insists stepping aside this time is what’s best for business. As Cena begins to leave, Cody charges up the ramp and attacks him from behind, throwing wild right hands and slamming Cena’s face into the apron.
The brawl intensifies as Cena tosses Rhodes shoulder-first into the steel steps and slams his head off them. Cena grabs his championship belt, looking to use it as a weapon, but Rhodes fights back, ripping the belt from Cena and smashing him with it. Rhodes climbs to the top rope and delivers a massive Frog Splash, driving Cena through the announce table. With Cena laid out, Cody forces Cena to sign the SummerSlam contract, making it official. He leans in and reveals that their match at SummerSlam will now be a Street Fight. Cody holds up Cena’s championship belt high as the show fades to Black.
Grade B
Analysis
This promo of Cody Rhodes is nothing new for WWE fans. John Cena plays his heel cards well here and tries to avoid the match at Summerslam. However, a brawl broke out, and Cena was forced to sign the contract. SmackDown concludes with Rhodes standing tall, holding the belt in his hand. It was all from WWE SmackDown July 18 Results, Winners, Grades, and Analysis.
