WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event
July 18, 2026
New York City, New York (Madison Square Garden)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
Video: A video kicks off with WWE highlighting their history at Madison Square Garden.
Joe Tessitore and Stephanie McMahon welcome us to the show. Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is in attendance. Danhausen, JD McDonagh, Bayley Lyra Valkyria, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Paige and Brie Bella, Fatal Influence, Gunther, Sami Zayn, Cody Rhodes, and Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk are all in Madison Square Garden tonight.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) w/ Jacy Jayne vs. Brie Bella and Paige (c’s)
Referee: Jessika Carr
Paige will start the match against Lainey Reid. Fallon Henley charges, but Paige sends her out of the ring. Reid takes her down, but Paige fires back with a Lou Thesz Press, followed by some right hands. Brie Bella tags in, and they hit Reid with a double-team codebreaker. Reid tags in, and Bella takes her down with a dropkick. Paige soon tags in, but Fatal Influence gets the better of her. With frequent tags, they keep Paige in their corner. Reid applies a rear chin lock, but Paige fights up and hits a jawbreaker. Reid quickly grabs Paige and stops her from tagging Bella. Henley tags in and whips Reid into Paige, but Paige elbows her back. Paige knocks Henley back, ducks Fatal Influence, and tags Bella in.
Bella comes in off the hot tag and takes it to Henley. She slips on the turnbuckle, but she recovers. Bella starts the YES Kicks on Henley before kicking Reid down. Reid and Henley are against the ropes, so Bella shouts, “Brie Mode!” Bella hits running knees to them before hitting a missile dropkick on Henley for a two-count. Bella applies a YES Lock, but Henley gets a foot on the bottom rope to save herself. Henley kicks Bella back and hits a cutter. Paige tags in, so Henley sends her to the apron. Paige grabs Henley and knees her in the face several times. Jacy Jayne gets on the apron, so Paige punches her off. Henley attacks Paige and puts her on the ropes for a sliding German Suplex. Bella sends Henley into the barricade. Reid has to wait forever for Bella to move Paige. Reid misses a dive, and Paige picks up a two-count. Henley is bleeding from the mouth as she breaks up the pin. Paige soon kicks Reid in the face. Jayne distracts the referee, and Henley clotheslines Paige down. Reid charges, but Paige sends her into the ring post shoulder-first. Henley stops a roll-up, so Bella knocks her away. Paige rolls Reid up, but Jayne pushes her over. Reid grabs the tights for the win.
Winners by Pinfall and new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Fatal Influence
Fallon Henley is bleeding quite a bit from her mouth. Fatal Influence celebrates with the titles as pyrotechnics go off. Paige and Brie Bella are upset.
Backstage Segment
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Sami Zayn, who is pacing nearby. Does he have any thoughts about what Gunther had to say? Zayn doesn’t want to paint himself as a victim, but everything that has happened to him since he won the WWE Championship is egregious. CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are walking into a SummerSlam main event, and all they had to do was say “when.” Zayn smashed his face off the glass ceiling for ten years, but Rhodes and Punk get everything handed to them. Gunther walks up and warns Zayn to stay out of his way and not ruin SummerSlam for him tonight.
Undefeated former boxer Terence Crawford is at ringside. Streamer N3on and O’Shea Jackson, Jr. are also in attendance. WWE United States Champion Trick Williams, who defeated Laredo Kid earlier, is at ringside.
Video: A Danhausen-produced video highlighting his feud with JD McDonagh is shown. It’s titled “The Cursefather.”
Gorilla Position Interview
JD McDonagh is with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and AAA Mega Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. McDonagh says he’s ready for whatever Danhausen has in store for him. There won’t be any more games. Danhausen is going to get it tonight.
Danhausen makes his way to the ring in gear with New York Knicks colors.
No Disqualification Match
JD McDonagh w/ AAA Mega Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. Danhausen
Referee: Shawn Bennett
The bell rings, and Danhausen goes to curse JD McDonagh, but he ducks out of the ring. Mysterio gets on the apron, and McDonagh attacks Danhausen from behind before kicking him out of the ring. McDonagh sends Danhausen twice into the barricade before whipping him off the ring post. McDonagh bounces him off the commentary table. Danhausen tries to fight back, but McDonagh cuts him off. Mysterio joins in and bounces Danhausen off the table several times. McDonagh puts Danhausen in the ring before hitting a snap suplex. McDonagh takes him down for a two-count. Mysterio wipes his shoe with the New York Knicks jersey to loud boos. McDonagh whips Danhausen hard into the corner. McDonagh takes it to Danhausen for a few moments before Danhausen fights back. Danhausen does the ten punches in the corner, but McDonagh sweeps his feet and smashes his face on the top turnbuckle. McDonagh connects with a brainbuster for a near fall.
McDonagh grabs the New York Knicks Danhausen jersey and puts it on him. McDonagh goes to the top rope and goes for a moonsault, but Danhausen moves. Danhausen puts the Knicks jersey on and absorbs some punches from McDonagh. Danhausen punches him and hits an inverted atomic drop, followed by a clothesline. Mysterio runs in, but Danhausen takes him down with a northern lights suplex. Danhausen grabs McDonagh, but McDonagh rolls him up for a two-count. Danhausen counters a suplex with a stunner for a near fall. Danhausen grabs McDonagh, but Mysterio attacks him from behind. McDonagh and Mysterio double-team Danhausen before McDonagh stuns him with a pair of headbutts. McDonagh then rips Danhausen’s custom Knicks jersey off to boos from the crowd.
Mysterio and McDonagh go under the ring and pull out a table, but a Minihausen is on top of it. Three Minihausens attack Mysterio and McDonagh, but they soon cut them off. They send one Minihausen into the barricade and another into the ring steps. Danhausen takes his stuffed cat and puts it in the Cloning Machine. Mysterio rolls a table into the ring and sets it up as McDonagh elbow drops another Minihausen.
McDonagh sets up to powerbomb the Minihausen through a table, but the Cloning Machine starts to make noise. Karl-Anthony Towns, also known as KAT, emerges from the box and heads to the ring to a huge ovation. Danhausen curses Mysterio and McDonagh. KAT grabs McDonagh by the throat and hits a Slam Dunk Chokeslam! KAT grabs Mysterio and hits him with a Chokeslam through the table! KAT curses McDonagh, and Danhausen hits McDonagh with a Triple D (Danhausen Death Drop) for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Danhausen
Danhausen, KAT, and the Minihausens celebrate in the ring.
Backstage Segment
Cathy Kelley approaches a very psychotic looking Lyra Valkyria. Valkyria says she wanted to make it to the top and be proud, but here we are. She can’t stop thinking about who she might have been if Bayley were who she needed her to be. After tonight, Bayley will be out of her head forever.
Coming up next, Bayley battles Lyra Valkyria.
-Commercial Break-
Video: Highlights from Fanatics Fest in New York City.
The Fanatics CEO is at ringside. Lin-Manuel Miranda is at ringside, as is Jeff Ross, the comedian. Cooper DeJean, the Eagles’ cornerback, is shown, and he gets booed.
Backstage Segment
Jackie Redmond catches up with Bayley. Bayley says she’ll end Lyra Valkyria before she even gets started.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Bayley
Referee: Danilo Anfibio
The bell rings, and they quickly lock up. Bayley powers her into the corner, and Valkyria shoves her back. Bayley slaps her in the face and takes her down with a front facelock before clubbing away at her. Valkryia quickly pulls her down by the hair. Bayley sweeps Valkyria’s feet and punches her. Valkyria slides away and goes to the apron. Bayley goes outside the ring and attacks Valkyria, pulling her to the floor. Bayley clubs Valkyria, and there is a huge pool of blood on the floor. Valkyria must have her nose busted. Bayley suplexes her off the apron.
The referee pauses the match to help control Valkyria’s bleeding. Valkyria wipes her face and attacks Bayley. Bayley quickly cuts her off and smashes her face off the apron. Bayley gets her in the ring, but she puts her on the apron. Bayley goes to snap her off the middle rope, but Valkyria shoves her off. Valkyria grabs her arm and snaps her off the ropes. Valkyria is bleeding profusely from the nose as she slams Bayley’s head off the mat. Slow-motion replays show that Bayley crushed her nose with a forearm moments ago. The referee tries to stop Valkyria, but she shoves him off. Bayley whips Valkyria hard into the corner, and Valkyria flies over the turnbuckles to the floor. The ringside doctor checks on Valkyria. Bayley hits her with a suicide dive and gets her in the ring for a near fall. Valkyria reverses a whip into the ropes and hits a hip toss. Valkyria connects with a snapmare and drops a knee. Bayley reverses a whip into the corner, but she runs into a strike. Valkyria stands on Bayley’s face until the referee forces a break.
Bayley attacks Valkyria and sends her into the ropes for a back body drop. Valkyria reverses a whip to the corner, but Bayley counters with a roll-up. 1… 2… Valkyria kicks out, so Bayley applies a Boston Crab. Valkyria manages to twist out and pulls on Bayley’s hair before punching her back. Bayley snaps Valkyria off the middle rope and heads to the top rope. Valkyria quickly pops up and sweeps Bayley’s feet. Valkyria hits a neckbreaker over the turnbuckle bracket. Valkyria kicks Bayley in the face several times and hangs her over the second rope. Valkyria goes to the top rope and hits a diving leg drop to the back of Bayley’s neck. Valkyria covers for a near fall. Valkyria cannot believe it. Valkyria pulls Bayley up, and they exchange strikes. Valkyria goes for a spin kick, but Bayley hits a swinging back suplex. Bayley follows up with a sunset flip bomb into the turnbuckles. Bayley goes for a Rose Plant, but Valkyria shoves her off. Bayley quickly takes her down with a crossface, pulling back on the seemingly broken nose of Valkyria. Valkyria rolls out and goes for Nightwing, but Bayley fights it. Valkyria drives Bayley throat-first into the top rope to take her down.
The referee checks on Bayley, but she shoves him away. Bayley challenges Valkyria and goes for Bayley-to-Belly, but Valkyria gets out. Valkyria hits an inverted headlock takeover and applies the Captain’s Hook! The referee checks on Bayley and finds her unconscious.
Winner by Technical Submission: Lyra Valkyria
Valkyria isn’t done with Bayley as she attacks her at ringside by sending her into the ring post. Valkyria takes her down and applies the Captain’s Hook again. Valkyria removes the top part of the steel steps and grabs Bayley before hitting Nightwing onto the steps! Valkyria psychotically walks off.
Video: A WrestleMania watch party will take place at the Theater in Madison Square Garden in April 2027. NXT Stand and Deliver and WWE AAA Eternal Glory will also happen after each showing of WrestleMania.
Video: CM Punk and Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn and Gunther
The main event is next.
-Commercial Break-
Some boxers from Zuffa Boxing are shown at ringside. The Roman family got an Arby’s seat upgrade.
Gorilla Position Interview
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. How motivated are they to keep the SummerSlam a one-on-one match? Rhodes is surprised she didn’t ask if they could coexist. They’ve waited for this match for years. Rhodes doesn’t want to give Punk any excuses when he wins number four. Punk says Rhodes has been a brother, but at SummerSlam, he’s his opponent. They’re at the top of their craft. Punk has to watch Rhodes’ back so he has no excuses when he beats him at SummerSlam. Rhodes asks who is going first. Punk says he mentioned he’d go out with him, but the champ usually goes second.
Tag Team Match
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk vs. “The Ring General” Gunther and Sami Zayn
Referee: Charles Robinson
If Gunther and Sami Zayn are victorious, they will be added to the Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam, making it a Fatal 4-Way Match.
CM Punk and Sami Zayn start brawling as soon as Zayn gets in the ring. Cody Rhodes and Gunther go at it. Order is quickly restored. Rhodes hits Zayn with a kitchen sink knee to the midsection. Punk soon tags in and takes it to Zayn. Gunther tags in and viciously strikes away at Punk, knocking the Undisputed WWE Champion out of the ring. Zayn distracts the referee as Gunther crushes Punk with a back suplex onto the barricade. Rhodes runs over and checks on Punk. Rhodes rolls Punk into the ring, and Zayn mounts him, delivering punches and talking trash. Zayn chops Punk and shoves him into the corner. Punk appears to be bleeding from the nose. Zayn puts Punk on the top rope, but Punk punches and shoves him off. Punk hits a diving crossbody block.
Rhodes and Gunther tag in. Rhodes punches away at Gunther before hitting a running strike. Rhodes slingshots over him and hits a snap powerslam. Rhodes follows up with a Disaster Kick. Zayn runs in, but Rhodes hits some jabs, followed by a Bionic Elbow. Gunther grabs Rhodes, but Rhodes drops him with a Cody Cutter. Rhodes hits the ropes and hits Zayn with a suicide dive. Rhodes punches Gunther back and comes off the top rope. Gunther grabs him and goes for a short-arm clothesline, but Rhodes ducks it, scales the ropes, and hits a top rope Cody Cutter. 1… 2… Gunther kicks out! Rhodes sets up for Cross Rhodes, but Gunther counters with a snapmare. Zayn tags in and knocks Punk off the apron. Zayn goes for a Blue Thunder Bomb on Rhodes, but Rhodes gets out. Rhodes goes for a Cross Rhodes, but Zayn drops down and rolls him up for a two-count. Zayn follows up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Zayn sees Rhodes getting up in the corner, so he charges for a Helluva Kick, but Rhodes avoids it.
Punk tags in and hits Zayn with a diving clothesline. Punk follows up with a swinging neckbreaker, followed by a high knee in the corner and a bulldog. Punk gets the crowd going. Punk goes to the top rope and smiles as blood trickles down the bridge of his nose. Punk hits a diving elbow drop on Zayn for a near fall. Punk immediately transitions into an Anaconda Vice. Gunther runs in, but Rhodes cuts him off. Rhodes gets out of a Powerbomb and applies a Figure Four Leglock. Gunther yells in pain and quickly leans over to rake Punk’s eyes. Zayn then knocks Rhodes off Gunther. A blinded Punk approaches Zayn, and Zayn hits him with an exploder into the turnbuckles. Zayn hits the Undisputed WWE Champion with a Helluva Kick! Rhodes then grabs Zayn and hits Cross Rhodes. Gunther charges over and hits Rhodes with a stiff lariat. Gunther grabs Punk, but Punk stuns him with a Go to Sleep!
Everyone is down as the crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Gunther soon tags in and applies a Sleeper Hold to Punk. Punk fights it, so Gunther shoves Punk into Rhodes, knocking him off the apron. Gunther then takes Punk down with a Sleeper Hold! Punk manages to fight up and lifts Gunther for a GTS, but Gunther elbows out. Punk reaches back and tags Rhodes. Rhodes hits Gunther with a Cross Rhodes! 1… 2… Zayn tackles Punk onto them to break up the pin! The referee was taken out during the moment, so Zayn starts punching away at Punk and Rhodes. Punk quickly grabs Zayn and knocks him out of the ring with a GTS. Rhodes and Punk go back and forth, punching and chopping Gunther around the ring. Rhodes goes for a Disaster Kick, but he hits Punk when Gunther ducks. Gunther then big boots Rhodes down.
Gunther goes to the ringside and grabs the WWE Championship. Gunther smashes Rhodes in the face with the championship and pulls his unconscious body up for a VICIOUS Powerbomb. Referee Danilo Anfibio runs down to make the count, but SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis pulls him out of the ring! Gunther shouts at Aldis, so Aldis hits him in the face with the championship! Punk hits a stunned Gunther with a GTS and puts Rhodes on top of him. Aldis puts Robinson in the ring. 1… 2… 3!
Winners by Pinfall: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk
The Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam will remain a one-on-one match with CM Punk defending against Cody Rhodes.
The SummerSlam Kickoff takes place tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, live from Fanatics Fest.
Joe Tessitore and Stephanie McMahon talk about what has happened on tonight’s episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event. They then run through the SummerSlam card.
Coming up next, World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and 2026 NBA Champion Jalen Brunson will be in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Pittsburgh Steelers legend James Harrison is at ringside. Cade Cunningham of the NBA is there. Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills is shown. “The Ruler” Oba Femi is shown and receives a great ovation.
Video: Footage of all the legendary sporting highlights from the teams from New York City is shown.
A blimp saying “WWE congratulates the New York Knicks” lowers in the ring.
2026 NBA Champion Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is introduced. He’s shown in the locker room and gets up to head toward the ring. Brunson has a brace on his left wrist after surgery following the NBA Finals. Brunson walks by several pictures of WWE highlights at Madison Square Garden. Highlights from Brunson’s run with the New York Knicks that led to the NBA Finals are also shown. Brunson walks amidst the Madison Square Garden crew and fans and embraces Karl-Anthony Towns. World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns greets him.
Roman Reigns and Jalen Brunson appear together
World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and 2026 NBA Champion Jalen Brunson make their entrance together. After an extended entrance, a massive “Jalen Brunson” chant picks up. The entire crowd in Madison Square Garden is on its feet. Reigns says this is something you don’t see every day. Some might be wondering what they’re doing out here right now. This is rare air. This is where greatness acknowledges greatness. It’s no secret. This city is the home of WWE. Reigns won’t lie. Every time he comes here, they make The Tribal Chief feel at home. An “OTC” chant picks up. Reigns says 53 years was way too long. Basketball is a team sport. It took everyone on the roster, but there’s only one Tribal Chief and one Captain: The Finals MVP, NBA Champion, and the King of New York! An “MVP” chant fires up.
Reigns says in the WWE, every champion… he’s interrupted by a Jalen Brunson chant. Reigns says every champion in WWE needs a title, so the Tribal Chief made some moves. A WWE Championship with New York Knicks-themed colors is handed to Reigns, who then gives it to Brunson. A “You deserve it” chant picks up. Reigns says not only does Brunson deserve it, but he’s also earned it. Now, it’s complete and time. Reigns says, “Madison Square Garden… New York City… acknowledge us!” The crowd roars. Reigns and Brunson hold up their titles.
“BURN IT DOWN!”
Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers comes out with a steel chair. Seth Rollins attacks Reigns from behind and threatens Brunson as Haliburton slides the chair to him. Rollins says this is the end for Reigns and puts his head on the steel chair. Rollins prepares for a Stomp, but Brunson stands in his way. Rollins and Brunson argue before Reigns stuns Rollins with a Superman Punch. Reigns hits Rollins with a Spear. Rollins and Haliburton retreat up the aisleway.
The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is put in the ring. Reigns gives Brunson his World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Knicks Belt. Reigns holds up the O’Brien Trophy as Brunson holds up the World Heavyweight Championship. Pyrotechnics hit as they pose in the ring, and the show comes to an end.