WWE SmackDown’s Tag Team Gauntlet
WWE SmackDown advertised a Tag Team Gauntlet, with Jacob Fatu replacing Tama Tonga, LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar and Frenemies Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax vs. Bayley and Michin.
Last week’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown garnered 2.313 million viewers.
WWE SmackDown Results On July 26, 2024
- LA Knight def. Santos Escobar
- The Bloodline wins Tag Team Gauntlet
- Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax vs. Bayley and Michin
WWE SmackDown Ratings
- July 19, 2024 | 2.313 million
- July 12, 2024 | 2.355 million
- July 5, 2024 | 2.256 million
- June 28, 2024 | 2.256 million
- June 21, 2024 | 2.336 million
WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales
- WWE SmackDown Venue (Pre-Taped): DCU Center (Worcester, Mass.)
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 9378
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Available: 275
WWE SmackDown Winners And Grades
LA Knight Def. Santos Escobar
Before the show, The bloodline (Jacob Fatu and Tanga Loa) were announced as part of a tag team gauntlet to decide the No. 1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Expect a title change next week on the go-home SmackDown for SummerSlam, similar to the SmackDown before Money in the Bank when DIY won the titles.
LA Knight cut a one-camera-shot promo on his way to the ring, and wrestled a highly competitive match against Santos Escobar. Wade Barrett did a good job talking him up, but also noted he may have overlooked Santos Escobar.
Just as Barrett said “there’s nothing Elektra Lopez can do” to help Santos Escobar, she interfered.
Logan Paul missed a right hand on LA Knight. Knight clotheslined Paul and hit a BFT on Escobar.
In a clear edit, Logan Paul pounced on LA Knight after the match. Knight’s comeback was cut off by Escobar as the two beat down Knight. Paul finished him off with a Frog Splash.
LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar Grade: B
Bianca Belair And Jade Cargill Call Out The Unholy Union
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill called out The Unholy Union, who attacked the duo from behind but got beat up for their troubles. If and when Bianca and Jade win theWWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, WWE needs to go out of its way to make them dominant champions because that still hasn’t happened yet.
Backstage, Montez Ford was talking to Terrence Crawford and said “from one Ford to another…” it took me a bit to figure out what he meant because Terrence’s last name isn’t Ford, but technically, it is “Crawford.”
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill-Unholy Union Grade: C
The Bloodline Wins Tag Team Gauntlet
There was a great stereo somersault dive to the outside by Apollo Crews and Montez Ford to their opponents. Even with a crowd that had been there for no less than three hours, it elicited a “this is awesome” chant.
I was thinking WWE was really going to put over The Bloodline, particularly Jacob Fatu, by having him run the gauntlet. But they weren’t even the third team in.
The story of this gauntlet was The Street Profits getting massively over by running the gauntlet until they ran into a Bloodline buzzsaw.
At one point during a heated comeback, Montez Ford hit a flying DDT on Jacob Fatu, and of course, Fatu no-sold it. Fatu then hit a double springboard moonsault for the win.
Tag Team Gauntlet Grade: B+
Terrence Crawford Knocks Out Austin Theory
Grayson Waller called out Terrence Crawford and challenged him to a fight. He then said that Austin Theory would knock Crawford out.
Once again thrown to the wolves, Theory was knocked out by Crawford.
Terrence Crawford-Austin Theory Grade: B-
Tiffany Stratton And Nia Jax Def. Bayley And Michin
Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax jumped Bayley before the match, turning it into a handicap match.
Stratton’s briefcase was destroyed last week, and Nia Jax vowed to make her a new briefcase—which will likely be pink. This, after Stratton herself already said she was working on a new, more fashionable, briefcase.
The announcers were acting like Bayley had just entered herself into a Blood and Guts match. They couldn’t stop talking about how much danger Bayley was putting herself into ahead of a world title defense. Sounds like they’re setting up an excuse for if (and when) Bayley loses.
Michin blew one hell of a comeback, but after Stratton laid out Bayley with the Money in the Bank briefcase, Jax finished Bayley off with the Annihilator.