WWE is slated to air a taped episode of SmackDown as they continue the march on to SummerSlam.
This week’s show will feature Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade, an appearance by United States Champion Logan Paul, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes responding to The Bloodline. Paul will defend the title against LA Knight, while Rhodes puts his title on the line against Solo Sikoa at SummerSlam.
PWInsider.com reported that after Friday’s live episode, WWE will also tape the July 26 edition of SmackDown. This is because WWE is slated to run a house show loop in Japan starting on Thursday, July 25, at Edion Arena in Osaka. It will continue with two more shows at Ryogoku Sumo Hall on Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27.
This marks WWE’s first Japan tour since 2019. WWE talent will need to travel to Japan for the shows, thus missing SmackDown should it have been a live episode.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kairi Sane, and Dakota Kai are advertised for the show in addition to Meiko Satomura, who hasn’t wrestled for WWE since March 2023 when she lost to Roxanne Perez on an episode of NXT.
