3 Heel turns you won’t see coming tonight on WWE SmackDown (August 7, 2026)

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That said, in this article, we look at three heel turns fans probably won’t see coming on tonight’s edition of SmackDown.

#3. Finn Balor snaps on Kevin Owens after another heartbreaking loss

Kevin Owens’ shocking return at SummerSlam instantly changed the landscape of the Undisputed WWE Championship picture. Unfortunately for Finn Balor, it also ended his hopes of earning a massive victory at The Biggest Party of the Summer.

Balor has spent much of 2026 rebuilding himself after leaving The Judgment Day. Thus, earning back the respect of the WWE Universe. However, every major setback pushes even the strongest competitors closer to their breaking point.

Instead of accepting defeat, The Prince could decide that Owens robbed him of the spotlight he worked so hard to regain. That frustration could boil over during tonight’s SmackDown when KO appears in the ring during his advertised segment with CM Punk.

A sudden attack would immediately turn Finn Balor back into one of the company’s most dangerous villains while giving him a compelling personal rivalry. Rather than chasing championships right away, he would be fueled by revenge and bitterness against the man who derailed his comeback story.

Also, it would give Kevin Owens another meaningful feud if his title pursuit is delayed. Thus allowing the company to tell a deeply personal story before eventually revisiting the championship picture.

#2. Owens attacks CM Punk instead

If Finn Balor keeps his composure, Triple H could go in the opposite direction by having Kevin Owens embrace his darker side.

Owens returned to a thunderous ovation at SummerSlam and immediately inserted himself into the championship conversation. Now the company has announced that he will confront CM Punk on tonight’s SmackDown.

Although most fans expect a tense verbal exchange, KO could skip the talking altogether. The Prizefighter has always been at his most dangerous when he believes an opportunity is slipping away. If Punk refuses to give him the respect he thinks he deserves, Owens could launch a brutal assault before any official match is even announced.

That would instantly establish Kevin as one of SmackDown’s top heels while giving their inevitable title clash significantly higher stakes. More importantly, it would fit his long-established character. Throughout his WWE career, he has never hesitated to stab allies in the back or attack opponents without warning whenever he believes it benefits him.

Rather than waiting weeks for the rivalry to heat up, the company could use one shocking attack tonight to make CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens feel like must-see television heading toward the next premium live event.

#1. Cody Rhodes lashes out at the WWE Universe after Randy Orton costs him at SummerSlam

If there is one heel turn that could completely reshape SmackDown, perhaps it belongs to Cody Rhodes.

At SummerSlam, Rhodes came within touching distance of reclaiming the Undisputed WWE Championship before Randy Orton made his shocking return and cost him the match against CM Punk. The Viper’s actions stunned fans and left Rhodes devastated after weeks of emotional build-up.

Most people expect Rhodes to direct all of his anger toward Orton. Instead, Triple H could take a far more surprising route. The American Nightmare could walk to the ring believing the fans have never truly appreciated everything he sacrificed to become the company’s franchise player. Rather than blaming only Orton, he could claim the WWE Universe abandoned him the moment things became difficult.

That frustration could evolve into a passionate promo where Cody Rhodes rejects the cheers that have followed him for years. A darker Rhodes would instantly freshen one of the company’s biggest stars. His rivalry with Orton would become even more layered because it would no longer be about simple revenge. Instead, it would become the story of a broken hero who finally stopped trying to please everyone else.

The timing also feels ideal. Cody has already experienced the heartbreak of losing the championship again. His friendship with Punk has fractured, and Orton’s return added another emotional wound. Thus, a heel turn would allow him to channel all of that disappointment into a completely different version of The American Nightmare.

If Triple H wants SmackDown to end with fans talking all weekend, having Cody Rhodes reject the WWE Universe after everything that happened at SummerSlam may be the most shocking and effective creative decision of the night.