WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Live Coverage - July 18th, 2026

[Kemo]

CM Punk & Cody Rhodes to battle Gunther & Sami Zayn





Date:
Saturday, July 18, 2026 8:00 pm EST

Location:
Madison Square Garden -- New York

Available on:
Peacock, YouTube (International)


Card

Sami Zayn & Gunther vs. CM Punk & Cody Rhodes

Women's Tag Team Championship Match:
Paige & Brie Bella (c) vs. Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley

No Disqualification Match:
Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh

Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

— We are live on the Countdown to Saturday Night's Main Event Pre-Show! Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet audiences at home as Laredo Kid makes his way to the ring. Trick Williams follows.

Trick Williams vs. Laredo Kid

The bell rings and Williams shoves Kid. He rips off part of Kid's mask, but Kid responds by shoving Williams. Williams shoves Kid, but Kid ascends to the top rope and delivers a missile dropkick to Williams off the ropes. Williams levels Kid with a leg lariat and whips him into the corner, then goes for a pin but Kid kicks out.

Williams delivers a vertical suplex to Kid and rains down right hands on him in the corner, but Kid delivers a Phoenix Splash to Williams out of the corner and clinches in a Half Boston Crab on Williams. Williams fights his way out of it and lands a neckbreaker on Kid, then follows it up with a flapjack and levels him with a chop.

Williams fires off stomps on Kid, then delivers a bodyslam to Kid. Kid rolls up Williams, but Williams kicks out and Kid low bridges him out of the ring over the top rope. He dumps him back in the ring and sets up for a Tornillo on Williams off the top rope, but Williams catches up with a Trick Shot for the win.

Winner: Trick Williams

— Footage is shown of highlights from Fanatics Fest in NYC, as well as the Danhausen Uncursing Parade from NYC in the rain earlier today. We see Danhausen walking the streets of NYC with R-Truth and some umbrellas.

— Back live, Stephanie McMahon is in the ring and she introduces "The Ruler" Oba Femi. Oba Femi them makes his way to the ring. McMahon asks Femi how he's feeling heading into his SummerSlam Hell in a Cell Match against Brock Lesnar, and Femi says Lesnar is the one who's been hiding instead of him. He says the tides are changing so fast that he's not locked into Hell in a Cell with Lesnar, but Lesnar is locked in there with him.

— We are live on the main show! Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet audiences at home once again as Fatal Influence makes their way to the ring. Paige and Brie Bella follow.

WWE Women's Tag-Team Championship Match: Paige & Brie Bella (c) vs. Fatal Influence

Fallon Henley looks to attack Paige, but Paige sees her coming and dumps her out of the ring over the top rope. The bell rings and Paige delivers a Thesz Press to Lainey Reid. She rains down right hands on her, but Brie and Henley tag in. Henley rocks Brie with a forearm, but Paige and Reid tag back in.

Reid delivers a leg drop to Paige and lands a back elbow on the back of her neck, but Henley tags in and rocks Paige with a forearm in the corner. She fires off stomps on her in the corner and tags out to Reid.

Reid wears down Paige with a submission hold, but Paige powers up to her feet. Henley tags in, but Paige manages to escape Henley and Reid to tag in Brie. Brie delivers a Russian Leg Sweep to Henley and fires off the Yes Kicks on her, then ascends to the top rope and lands a missile dropkick on Henley.

Brie cinches in the Yes Lock on Henley, but Henley gets her foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Henley then lands a jawbreaker on Brie and tags out to Paige, but Jayne hops up on the apron. Paige sends Jayne crashing onto the floor with a right hand and fires off a right hand on Paige's spine, but Reid tags in.

Brie sends Henley crashing into one of the barricades, and Reid looks to deliver a springboard moonsault to Paige. Brie pulls Paige out of the ring, but Paige sends Reid crashing into the corner shoulder first. Henley holds onto Reid to help Paige from levelling her, but Brie flies off the ring steps to level Henley on the outside. Paige rolls up Reid, but Jayne helps Reid reverse the fall on Paige from the ring apron to get the win as Reid holds onto Paige's trunks.

Winners and NEW WWE Women's Tag-Team Champions: Fatal Influence

— Backstage, Cathey Kelley talks with Sami Zayn. She wants to know if Sami has something to say now after Gunther had some not so nice words about him. Sami says he will choose his words wisely, because he doesn’t want to say he is a victim. Zayn says that he had to bash his head against the glass ceiling for 13 years just to hold the World Title.

But CM Punk and Cody Rhodes just say when and they’re in the title picture. He was told by Gunther that he wasn’t on his level, but here is Gunther himself. He tells Sami Zayn to stay out of his way and don’t ruin SummerSlam for him.

No Disqualification Match: Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh

The bell rings and Danhausen looks to curse McDonagh. McDonagh slides out of the ring, but Dominik distracts Danhausen and McDonagh blindsides Danhausen from behind. McDonagh sends Danhausen crashing into two of the barricades and repeatedly into the announce desk, then dumps him back in the ring and delivers a suplex to Danhausen.

McDonagh flies off the middle rope as Dominik whips his shoe onto Danhausen's custom New York Knicks' NBA jersey. McDonagh whips Danhausen into the corner spine first, but Danhausen rains down right hands on McDonagh. McDonagh lands a Brainbuster on Danhausen and takes Danhausen's custom New York Knicks' NBA jersey from Dominik. He looks to land a moonsault on Danhausen off the ropes after draping Danhausen's custom New York Knicks' NBA jersey across his chest, but Danhausen moves out of the way and levels McDonagh.

Danhausen delivers a Saito suplex on Dominik, but Dominik and McDonagh fires off stomps on Danhausen. McDonagh rips Danhausen's custom New York Knicks' NBA jersey off him once Danhausen has put it on, but McDonagh and Dominik pull a chair from under the ring. Dominik and McDonagh encounter three Minihausens, but quickly take them out.

Dominik and McDonagh sets a table up in the corner, but Danhausen's cloning machine break open to reveal Karl Anthony Towns inside. Danhausen curses Dominik and McDonagh in the ring, and Towns chokeslams McDonagh. He chokeslams Dominik through the table before Towns curses McDonagh and Danhausen follows it up with a Danhausen Death Drop for the win.

Winner: Danhausen

— Backstage, Cathy Kelley is joined by a disheveled Lyra Valkyria, who says "You know what’s funny?" She says the last time she was in this building, she was competing for the Women’s tag team champions. Now, she doesn’t know if she can be the person that she used to be. Lyra says that she will get Bayley out of her head once and for all.

— Lyra Valkyria makes her way to the ring. Bayley follows.

Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

Lyra charges Bayley at the bell, and we get a struggle between both ladies. Bayley charges Lyra to the corner and slaps her, causing Valkyria to tackle her to the mat.

Bayley counters, Lyra gets to her feet, and Bayley tackles her to the mat and lands wild punches. The fight ends up on the floor, where Bayley sets up Lyra on the apron and hits a straight right hand and a suplex to the floor. The ref backs off Bayley so he can check on Lyra, who may have nee busted open.

She is bleeding pretty good. Bayley shoves the ref, and Lyra attacks Bayley like a wild woman. Bayley ends up back in the ring with Lyra on the apron, and Lyra shoves her away and then rams Bayley’s face off the top rope. Lyra proceeds to slam Bayley’s head off the apron for a bit.

The ref tries to hand her the towel, but Bayley whips Lyra into the corner so hard that she hits the apron and hits the floor. The ref again tries to back off Bayley, but she eventually takes out Lyra with a Tope Suicida. Back in the ring, and Bayley gets a two on the pin. Lyra changes levels with a hip toss, a Snapmare, and a knee drop to the mouth of Bayley.

Lyra catches a charging Bayley with a boot and then stands on her head in the corner. Bayley is back on the attack with right hands and a back body drop. Bayley counters Lyra in the corner with a Sunset Flip for a two. Bayley cinches in the Boston Crab, but Lyra rolls to her back and grabs Bayley by the hair and kicks her across the ring.

Bayley to the top, but Lyra cuts her off. Lyra with a neck breaker to Bayley over the top turnbuckle. Cole says that Lyra is talking to “himself”, but she heads to the top rope and hits a leg drop to the prone head of Bayley for a two. Lyra stalks Bayley before picking her up.

This leads to more hands bring traded, Bayley cuts off a spin kick from Lyra and plants her with a back suplex. Sunset Bomb by Bayley, she looks for the Rose Plant, but Lyra avoids it. She can’t avoid the Cross-Face, however, as she wrenches back on Lyra’s face. Bayley kicks off the ropes to keep the hold, but Lyra escapes and she drops Bayley on the top rope throat first.

Bayley shoves the ref away as Lyra stalks her. Bayley keeps telling Lyra to come on. Belly-to-Bayley, but Lyra counters it with a Bulldog Choke! Bayley doesn’t tap, but she does pass out.

Winner: Lyra Valkyria

— After the match, Valkyria sends Bayley crashing into the ring post and cinches in the Bulldog Choke on Bayley outside of the ring. She delivers Night Wing to Bayley on one of the ring steps.

— Backstage, Cathy Kelley talks to Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. Rhodes says he has been waiting for this Dream Match with CM Punk and he will win number four, but tonight they are best friends. Punk says that he considers Cody his best friend, he will watch his back tonight, but at SummerSlam, Cody will be on his back. They bicker over who will go out first, and Punk says the Champions always goes out last.

— CM Punk and Cody Rhodes make their way to the ring. Sami Zayn and GUNTHER follow.

CM Punk and Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn and GUNTHER

Punk wastes no time firing off right hands on Zayn as Zayn poses on the ring rope and Rhodes goes after GUNTHER. The bell rings and Rhodes tags in. Punk holds him in place for Rhodes to land a double ax handle on Zayn off the middle rope, but Punk tags back in.

GUNTHER tags in on his side and fires off chops on Punk, but Zayn tags in and fires off right hands and left hands on Punk. Punk responds with a crossbody to Zayn off the top rope, but Rhodes and GUNTHER both tag in.

GUNTHER and Rhodes exchange right hands with one another, but Rhodes delivers a scoop powerslam to GUNTHER and delivers a Disaster Kick to him. He delivers the Bionic Elbow to Punk, then sends Zayn crashing into the announce desk on the outside.

Rhodes sets up for Cross-Rhodes on GUNTHER, but GUNTHER escapes. Zayn rolls up Rhodes, but Rhodes kicks out and Zayn catches him with a Blue Thunder Bomb. He sets up for a Helluva Kick, but Rhodes moves out of the way and tags out to Punk. Punk ascends to the top rope and cinches in the Anaconda Vice on Zayn as Rhodes locks in the Figure Four Leg Lock on GUNTHER.

GUNTHER rakes Punk's eye to break the Anaconda Vice that Punk has locked in on Zayn, and Zayn helps GUNTHER escape the Figure Four Leg Lock. He catches Punk with a Helluva Kick in the corner, but Rhodes delivers a Cross-Rhodes to Zayn. GUNTHER levels Rhodes with a lariat, but Punk delivers a GTS to GUNTHER and looks to tag out to Rhodes only to find Rhodes is down on the floor.

GUNTHER looks to cinch in a sleeper on Punk, but Punk catches GUNTHER with a sleeper of his own. Punk accidentally sends Rhodes crashing off the ring apron and GUNTHER catches him in a sleeper, but Rhodes tags in and delivers Cross-Rhodes to GUNTHER. He goes for a pin, but Zayn sends himself and GUNTHER crashing into Punk and Rhodes to break the fall.

Zayn fires off right hands on Rhodes and Punk, but Punk delivers a GTS to send Zayn crashing out of the ring. Punk and Rhodes fire off right hands on GUNTHER, and Punk holds GUNTHER in place for Rhodes to land a Cody Cutter on him. GUNTHER moves out of the way and Rhodes delivers the Cody Cutter to Punk.

GUNTHER grabs the Undisputed WWE Championship belt and hits Rhodes with it while the referee is down, then delivers a powerbomb to Rhodes and goes for a pin. Nick Aldis pulls the referee out of the ring to break the fall, and Aldis then hits GUNTHER with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt. This opens the door for Punk to deliver a GTS to GUNTHER and place Rhodes on top of him to pin him for the win.

Winners: CM Punk and Cody Rhodes

— After a quick check-in again with Stephanie McMahon and Joe Tessitore at the podium, we head to a commercial break. The show returns to some SummerSlam promotion and then another look at various celebrities in MSG for tonight's show.

— A New York sports video package airs ending with kudos for Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. We then see a blimp saying “WWE congratulates the New York Knicks” lowering into the ring. From there, 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. The 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 he says.

He continues and says 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. Before anything else can happen, however, we hear the familiar sounds of Seth Rollins' entrance theme. Out comes "The Visionary" and the SummerSlam title challenger of Roman Reigns.

Tyrese Halliburton comes out with a chair. Seth comes from the crowd and attacks Roman from behind with a forearm and then he kicks Roman. Tyrese gives Seth the chair and he hits a thrust kick. Seth sets for Black Out on the chair.

However, Jalen stands in the way. Seth takes off his jacket and he has some words for Jalen. Jalen tells Seth this is "his house mother f***er." Roman with a Superman punch and a big spear from another loud roar from the MSG crowd. Reigns and Brunson pose with the title and Larry O'Brien trophy as fireworks go off to end the show.

[LionDen]

Added: WWE Countdown Show:
- Non Title Match: Trick Williams vs. Laredo Kid.

NOTE: If Gunther and Sami Zayn win, Gunther and Zayn will be added to the Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk WWE Undisputed Championship Match at SummerSlam in a Fatal 4-way Match.

[LionDen]

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