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That said, this will be a busy night in the office for acting Friday Night SmackDown General Manager Adam Pearce, as there’s a lot to unfold on the show, besides adding a few more SummerSlam matches.
Pearce would also have to take care that he keeps things under control, with several heated rivalries swirling around the blue brand. There’s the Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk and Nick Aldis vs. Gunther feuds to worry about, not to mention qualifying rounds to determine the rest of the contenders for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship ladder match that will take place at The Biggest Party of the Summer.
In this listicle, we take a look at three potential endings to WWE Friday Night SmackDown tonight (July 24):
#3. Things between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes turn personal
The Best in the World and The American Nightmare are babyfaces heading into their Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam. This rarely happens as an ideal rivalry is between a face and a heel.
Punk and Rhodes have been good friends; they even sealed a big tag team win over Gunther and Sami Zayn at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLV on July 18. However, tensions have started to build between them since then, with The Prodigal Son accusing The Best in the World of intentionally hitting him in the eye with his title while leaving the ring.
They even confronted each other backstage, with Rhodes going off on Punk. Things escalated at the SummerSlam Kickoff show, where CM Punk first apologized, saying that he didn’t hit him purposely. Then he shoved Rhodes in the face, telling him that that was intentional. A scuffle almost broke out between them, but CCO Triple H, who was on stage with them, managed to get things under control.
Tonight, SmackDown could end with Rhodes confronting Punk for being disrespectful. The segment could once again get physical, making things more intense going into their Undisputed Championship match at SummerSlam.
#2. Former WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion returns
Former Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee has been away from action since losing her title to Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 42. Since then, fans have been waiting for her to return.
CM Punk, Lee’s husband, made his comeback on the July 6 edition of the blue brand and immediately won the Undisputed title, beating Sami Zayn. Now that he is part of the SmackDown roster as its top champion, this could open the way for Lee to join him there.
In a shocking turn of events, Lee may return and somehow insert herself into the qualifiers for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship ladder match. She could even end up punching her ticket to SummerSlam, adding more star power to the match.
#1. Cody Rhodes issues a serious warning to CM Punk
The American Nightmare has had bitter experiences with friendships, as everyone he has ever trusted has backstabbed him, from John Cena to Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens to Sami Zayn, among others.
On tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Cody Rhodes could confront CM Punk in the main event and warn him that if he tries to use any unfair tactics at the SummerSlam 2026 Premium Live Event, he would see an entirely different side of Rhodes, who would unleash all the wrath that has been building inside him after being betrayed by so many people he thought of as friends.
In response, The Second City Saint could fire back at Rhodes, saying that he had been fair since his return to the Stamford-based promotion, and had become a World Heavyweight and Undisputed champion without the need to use underhanded means.
The two men could then agree to keep the fight fair. They could shake hands as the show goes off-air, with the two promising fans a blockbuster fight.
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