3 Things Triple H Got Right on WWE SmackDown Before SummerSlam 2026

”
], { type: “text/html” }
);
const iframe = document.createElement(“iframe”);
iframe.src = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
iframe.style.cssText = “width:100%;height:100%;border:0;”;
container.appendChild(iframe);
attachIframeMessageListener(iframe);
}
const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, obs) => {
const entry = entries[0];
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
obs.unobserve(entry.target);
requestIdleCallback(() => {
initWidget(entry.target);
}, {
timeout: 200
});
}
}, {
root: null,
rootMargin: “300px 0px”,
threshold: 0.01
});
requestIdleCallback(() => {
$all(“.nl-inline-form-container”).forEach((c) => {
observer.observe(c);
});
});
})();

SmackDown featured two massive title matches this week. Wepa Up took on The War Raiders in a match for the AAA World and WWE Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile, Rey Fenix put his AAA World Cruiserweight Championship on the line against The Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh.

The show featured top names, such as Gunther, CM Punk, Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes, and Finn Balor, in fiery segments. A new faction also seemingly emerged following the unexpected return of a WWE Hall of Famer. In this article, we will discuss three things Triple H got right on the SmackDown before SummerSlam 2026.

#3. Pairing Haku With Tama Tonga And Talla Tonga

After months of teasers, Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga recently parted ways with Solo Sikoa on SmackDown, marking the end of MFT. Earlier this year, the faction lost Tonga Loa and JC Mateo to budget cuts. With Sikoa portraying a babyface gimmick, it was unclear what the creative team had in store for the Tongans.

Tama and Talla engaged in a brief feud with Finn Balor on SmackDown. The duo was unable to take down the former Bullet Club leader. This past Friday, the Tongan duo were featured in a backstage segment with their father, Haku.

The WWE Hall of Famer was known for his toughness and hard-hitting wrestling style during his active career. Following his return to the company’s programming, Haku ordered his sons to assert their dominance on SmackDown and take their family’s legacy to new heights.

Later in the show, The Good Bad Guy and Talla destroyed Wepa Up and The War Raiders. They launched a brutal attack on the champions and sent a warning to SmackDown’s tag team division. The Tongan duo posed with Haku in the ring following the beatdown, marking the emergence of a new stable.

Tama and Talla desperately need a fresh creative direction following their exit from MFT. Their alliance with Haku seems like the right move. The legend could elevate the careers of his sons and help them win tag team gold in the coming months.

#2. Portraying Nick Aldis as a Credible Threat to Gunther Before SummerSlam 2026

Former SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis is set to compete in his first-ever WWE match at SummerSlam 2026. He will battle the dominant Gunther in singles competition after weeks of animosity between the duo.

Aldie is a world-class pro wrestling veteran and a former world champion. Although The National Treasure has had a legendary career inside the squared circle, many WWE fans are unaware of his pedigree and skill set.

Gunther has had a remarkable year in WWE, retiring legends like John Cena and AJ Styles. Therefore, some fans are unsure about Aldis’ chances against The Ring General at SummerSlam. In the buildup to the contest, the Austrian superstar has, unsurprisingly, had the upper hand. However, the tables turned this week.

The National Treasure launched an attack on Gunther after the latter interrupted a segment involving Finn Balor and Sami Zayn. He landed some solid blows on The Career Killer and seemed prepared for his upcoming WWE debut.

Aldis even locked Gunther in a Texas Cloverleaf before WWE officials separated them. The angle further intensified the rivalry and proved that the British superstar belongs in the big leagues. It was the right decision by Triple H to portray Aldis as a credible threat to The Ring General ahead of SummerSlam 2026.

#1. Teasing Trick Williams’ Entry Into the Undisputed WWE Championship Picture on SmackDown

Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk is gearing up to square off against Cody Rhodes in a main event title match at SummerSlam 2026. It is a dream bout for many fans and one of the biggest attractions of the upcoming show in Minneapolis. However, the buildup to the contest has been lackluster.

Punk’s segment with Cody Rhodes on this week’s SmackDown did little to build hype for their championship contest at The Biggest Party of the Summer. They engaged in a brawl after exchanging insults on the microphone.

The Best in the World was also featured in a backstage segment with United States Champion Trick Williams on SmackDown. During the exchange, Williams said he would come after the Undisputed WWE Championship sooner rather than later. In response, Punk said he was seeking new challengers and promised to take down The Anointed One.

Williams’ interaction with Punk seemed exciting. Fans wish to see new faces in the world title scene on SmackDown. The Lemon Pepper Stepper is among the fastest-rising talents on the current roster. Hence, he appears to be a solid candidate to feud with a veteran like Punk.

`;
if (index == 3 && isOpera) {
storyHTML += `

`;
}
recommendedArticlesContainer.innerHTML += storyHTML;
});
}
}
function getStoryActionHTML(story, storyTitle, permalink) {
if (shouldHidePostActions) return “”;
return `

`;
}
function recommendedArticles() {
var baseUrl = “https://cf-gotham.sportskeeda.com/recommendations/post/3-things-triple-h-got-right-wwe-smackdown-before-summerslam-2026?lang=en&category=wwe”;
pureJSAjaxGet(baseUrl, function(data) {
renderRecommendedArticles(data);
if (isOpera) {
renderOperaFeedAd();
}
}, function() {}, false);
}
var options = {
root: null,
rootMargin: “0px 0px 70% 0px”,
threshold: 0.1
};
var observer = new IntersectionObserver(function (entries) {
entries.forEach(function (entry) {
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
recommendedArticles();
observer.unobserve(entry.target);
}
});
}, options);
var targetElement;
if (showAlsoReadSection && !showAlsoReadSectionV2) {
targetElement = document.querySelector(‘.also-read-articles-container’);
} else {
targetElement = document.querySelector(‘.recommended-posts’);
}
if (targetElement) {
observer.observe(targetElement);
}
function renderOperaFeedAd() {
var operaFeedArticleAd = $(“.opera-article-feed-ad”);
if (!operaFeedArticleAd) {
return;
}
var firstScript= document.createElement(‘script’);
firstScript.setAttribute(“type”, “text/javascript”);
firstScript.setAttribute(“src”, “https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1883810847636355”);
firstScript.setAttribute(“async”, true);
firstScript.setAttribute(“crossorigin”, “anonymous”);
operaFeedArticleAd.appendChild(firstScript);
operaFeedArticleAd.innerHTML += `

`;
var secondScript = document.createElement(‘script’);
var secondScriptCode=””;
try {
secondScript.appendChild(document.createTextNode(secondScriptCode));
operaFeedArticleAd.appendChild(secondScript);
} catch (e) {
console.error(e);
}
}
})();

Fetching more content…