WWE Friday Night SmackDown comes to Columbia, South Carolina tonight with a show that is light on advertised matches but heavy on storyline consequence. That is not always a bad thing. Sometimes the most important episode is not about how many matches are listed ahead of time, but whether WWE can make the next premium live event feel real. Tonight, the blue brand officially pushes deeper into the road to Clash in Italy, and the biggest question is centered on Gunther. Last week, Paul Heyman fulfilled his favor to Gunther by setting up a contract that would put The Ring General in line to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Now Gunther has to decide whether he is officially moving to SmackDown to make that challenge happen. On top of that, Trick Williams returns to the University of South Carolina for a special celebration after successfully defending the United States Championship against Sami Zayn at Backlash. That gives tonight’s show two very different focal points: one built around a world title power move, and one built around a homecoming moment that could either be a celebration or the start of the next problem.
Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show
- Gunther must decide whether to join SmackDown to challenge Cody Rhodes
- Trick Williams returns to the University of South Carolina for a special celebration
The biggest story heading into tonight is Gunther’s decision. WWE has done a smart job making this feel like more than a basic challenger-of-the-month setup. Gunther does not just want Cody Rhodes’ championship. He may have to change brands to get to him. That gives the story an extra layer because it forces Gunther to make a public commitment. If he signs on and moves to SmackDown, it says he is not just chasing another accolade. It says he is planting himself directly in Cody’s world and daring the champion to survive him.
That is the kind of challenger Cody needs right now. Cody’s reign works best when the title feels like a prize worth hunting, and Gunther instantly makes it feel dangerous. He does not need to talk in circles, beg for attention or rely on cheap tricks. His whole presentation is built around violence, discipline and control. Cody, on the other hand, is the emotional champion who carries the company banner and fights like every defense is personal. That contrast is strong enough to headline Clash in Italy if WWE keeps it sharp. Tonight should not just be about whether Gunther signs. It should be about making the audience feel like Cody’s title reign just entered one of its most punishing chapters.
Paul Heyman’s involvement also cannot be ignored. Heyman fulfilling his favor to Gunther already gives this story a political edge. Anytime Heyman is involved around a world championship situation, it feels like there is another move coming. That is where WWE has to be careful, though. Cody vs. Gunther is already strong on its own. It does not need to become overcomplicated. Heyman can add danger and manipulation, but the heart of the feud should stay simple: Gunther wants the top championship, Cody is standing in his way, and Clash in Italy should feel like a fight between two men who both believe WWE should be built around them.
The other major advertised segment is Trick Williams’ homecoming celebration at the University of South Carolina. That is a perfect setting for Trick because he is coming off a successful United States Championship defense against Sami Zayn at Backlash, and WWE clearly knows the crowd connection is there. Trick walking back into South Carolina with the U.S. Title should feel big. It should feel loud. It should feel like a star being celebrated in front of people who want to claim him as one of their own.
But this is WWE, so a celebration rarely stays clean. That is what makes the segment worth watching. Trick can have his moment, but the bigger question is what comes after it. Does Sami Zayn still have business with him? Does a new challenger step up? Does someone ruin the celebration and immediately give Trick his next direction? The United States Championship needs momentum, and Trick is the kind of champion who can give it that if WWE keeps him active. Backlash gave him the defense. Tonight should give him the next story.
Jade Cargill being advertised also matters because her return has completely changed the feeling around the women’s division. SmackDown already had moving pieces with Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Fatal Influence, Michin and B-Fab. Jade walking back in adds star power, but it also creates a traffic jam if WWE does not define her direction quickly. The easy play is putting Jade back into the title orbit, but the better play might be letting the division breathe and using her presence to raise the stakes around everyone else.
That is especially important with Tiffany Stratton also advertised. Tiffany successfully defended the Women’s United States Championship against Kiana James last week, but the win came with the Kiana and Giulia tension hanging over it. That gives WWE something to build from. Tiffany needs more than just successful defenses. She needs a real championship identity. Is she a fighting champion? Is she opportunistic? Is she still growing into the responsibility of carrying a title? Tonight should help answer that because the Women’s United States Championship cannot just exist in the background while the bigger names dominate the division.
Randy Orton being advertised raises another question. Orton has been too important to Cody’s wider story to just appear randomly. If he is on tonight’s show, WWE should address where he stands. Is he still circling Cody? Is he moving into something new? Is he being positioned for a role at Clash in Italy? Orton does not need much to feel dangerous, but he does need purpose. A stare, an RKO or one well-placed promo can completely shift SmackDown’s direction if WWE uses him correctly.
Drew McIntyre is in a similar spot. He is too big to just be listed as a name on the poster. Drew works best when he has a clear target and a reason to be angry. If SmackDown is using tonight to set the table for the next few weeks, Drew should leave the show with something concrete. He does not need to be forced into the Cody/Gunther story, but he does need a lane. The roster is too loaded for major names to float with no purpose.
The road to Clash in Italy is the real pressure point of tonight’s episode. WWE has a short runway, which means the show cannot afford to waste time. Gunther’s decision has to move the world title picture forward. Trick’s celebration has to either elevate him or set up his next challenger. Jade and Tiffany need direction in a crowded women’s scene. Orton and Drew need to be more than advertised attractions. This is where weekly television either sharpens the premium live event build or exposes that WWE is still figuring things out on the fly.
Final thoughts
Tonight’s SmackDown is not built around a long list of announced matches. It is built around decisions, direction and momentum. Gunther deciding whether to officially join SmackDown to challenge Cody Rhodes is the hook that should drive the show, and if WWE handles it right, Cody vs. Gunther can immediately feel like one of the strongest matches on the Clash in Italy card. Trick Williams’ South Carolina homecoming should give the U.S. Champion a major spotlight, but it also needs to lead somewhere because Trick is too hot to simply stand still.
The key tonight is movement. SmackDown cannot just remind fans that Clash in Italy is coming. It has to make the road there feel important. If WWE gives Gunther and Cody weight, gives Trick a strong next step, and gives the women’s division some clarity, tonight can be a strong reset episode for the blue brand. If not, it risks feeling like another show with big names advertised and not enough urgency behind them.
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I’m the quiet one until the bell rings then I’ve got takes. I live for WWE NXT and TNA, I want every promotion to succeed, and I will absolutely roast the bad decisions on sight (because someone has to). Anime taught me to respect long-term storytelling; wrestling taught me that sometimes the plan is “we panicked” and called it “unpredictable.” The Miz got me into all of this, so yeah I appreciate confidence, commitment, and the art of talking like you’re already the main event. Now I bring that same energy to the page as the main writer for Late Night Crew Wrestling because if you’re not here to be must-see and tell the truth, why are you here?!