SmackDown SPOILERS for July 3, 2026: WWE Champion Sami Zayn

Key Points:

• WWE adjusted its schedule by airing Monday Night Raw live in Atlantic City on July 3 and taping Friday Night SmackDown afterward, featuring two hours of content with fallout from Night of Champions where Sami Zayn won the WWE Championship.
• Key storyline developments include Sami Zayn addressing fans, Cody Rhodes congratulating Zayn before Jey Uso challenges for the title, leading to a number one contender’s match between Rhodes and Uso for a shot at Zayn’s title on July 6.
• Alexa Bliss questioned Charlotte Flair's vendetta against Jade Cargill, with Flair’s team losing to Cargill’s faction; Rey Fenix defeated El Hijo Del Vikingo in a Cruiserweight title match, continuing AAA's high-energy tradition.
• Backstage tensions rose involving Royce Keys, Jacob Fatu, Jimmy Uso, and Big Jim, while Carmelo Hayes declared himself next for the United States title and set up a future non-title match with Trick Williams.
• Other highlights included Lainey Reid defeating Brie Bella, The Tongas attacking Finn Balor backstage, and Jey Uso potentially suffering an ankle injury during the main event where Cody Rhodes won, setting up a rematch with Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship.