SmackDown is set to air tonight, July 14, with a live show from PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. This episode of SmackDown is the second in a five-week build towards the highly anticipated SummerSlam event, which is scheduled to take place early next month.
One wrestler who has been garnering a lot of attention lately is LA Knight. Despite his recent setback at Money in the Bank, where he failed to win the Money in the Bank contract, there were arguments made to defend WWE’s booking of Knight in that match. Some believed that it made sense to keep the contract away from the current champion, Roman Reigns. Others speculated that Knight was being lined up for a match against YouTuber Logan Paul at SummerSlam. However, those speculations were quickly debunked when Logan Paul was paired up with Ricochet for the event.
Following Money in the Bank, LA Knight was noticeably absent from television last week and only appeared in a dark segment with Hit Row at Madison Square Garden. This lack of screen time after gaining popularity among live audiences is confusing and frustrating for fans who want to see more of Knight. WWE needs to prioritize and capitalize on Knight’s current popularity and find a suitable role for him on SmackDown.
With SummerSlam approaching and the card filling up fast, there might not be many spots left for new matches. However, the United States Champion, Austin Theory, still has an open spot on his schedule for the event. One suggestion is to have Knight challenge Theory for the title, potentially ending Theory’s lackluster run with the gold. This is just one example of how WWE can utilize LA Knight’s popularity and make him a bigger part of the SmackDown roster.
In addition to LA Knight’s situation, there are other title matches and storylines to keep an eye on during tonight’s episode of SmackDown. WWE Women’s Champion Asuka will defend her title against former champion Bianca Belair. This match is likely to be filled with shenanigans, as both Charlotte Flair and Money in the Bank contract holder IYO SKY could potentially interfere.
Jey Uso issued a challenge to WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns last week, looking to end Reigns’ reign as the Tribal Chief. However, Reigns, who is a part-timer and not advertised for tonight’s show, might have his advocate Paul Heyman accept or decline the challenge on his behalf.
WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are still in search of a SummerSlam match, assuming there is an available spot for them. With Pretty Deadly potentially out of the picture, teams like the Street Profits, the O.C., or the LWO could step up to challenge Owens and Zayn.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez are currently dealing with challenges from Chelsea Green, Sonya Deville, and Rhea Ripley, all of whom are on Raw.
There are also several other storylines to keep an eye on during tonight’s episode of SmackDown. Edge made his return last week and defeated Grayson Waller, setting up potential future feuds or matches for the Rated R Superstar. AJ Styles defeated Karrion Kross last week, leaving fans wondering if this feud is now over or if Kross will seek revenge. The status of Shotzi, who was attacked by Damage CTRL and had her hair cut a few weeks ago, is also uncertain. Bob Lashley, who hasn’t been seen on TV for two months, is listed in WWE’s advertising for tonight’s show, leaving fans curious about his status leading up to SummerSlam. Baron Corbin’s move to NXT raises questions about the future of his feud with Cameron Grimes, and the Brawling Brutes could potentially face Pretty Deadly again after their interference helped Austin Theory defeat Sheamus last week. Lastly, fans have been eagerly awaiting the rumored return of Carlito to WWE TV, and tonight