Nick Aldis made sure Gunther’s shot at the SummerSlam main event vanished at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden, securing a CM Punk versus Cody Rhodes showdown instead. Talk about a gut punch. This SNME show was setting the stage for the biggest event of the summer, and that specific move just threw a wrench into an epic matchup.
Fatal Influence Grabs Gold and Shakes Up the Women’s Division
The Women’s Tag Team Championships changed hands, and it was a moment Fatal Influence desperately needed. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid, with help from Jacy Jayne, snatched the titles from Paige and Brie Bella. These veterans, honestly, have looked outmatched since WrestleMania 42, closer to washed up than top champions. Their team synergy? Gone. Reid, 27, and Henley, 31, outplayed them despite the veterans’ decade of experience.
Fatal Influence had surprising heat on SmackDown, but frequent losses for Jayne, Henley, and Reid were killing momentum. This title win in Madison Square Garden was their last chance, and they delivered. They’ve got the talent to run this division, no doubt. But you gotta wonder if this is just a setup for Nikki Bella to return and yank those titles right back. That would be a massive waste of Fatal Influence’s potential as top SmackDown heels, don’t you think?
Judgment Day Hits a Wall as Lyra Valkyria Unleashes Chaos
On the flip side, Judgment Day is looking like a serious loser. JD McDonagh couldn’t get the job done against Danhausen, who’s been a consistent winner. And come on, when NBA star Karl Anthony-Towns is helping your opponent completely overwhelm you and Dominik Mysterio? That’s not a good look. This group, honestly, feels like it’s passed its expiration date. Outside of Liv Morgan’s disappointing Women’s World Championship reign, they hardly look relevant. Dirty Dom has major long-term potential, but it might only shine through once he and Liv finally break away from that Judgment Day name.
But let’s talk about a certified winner: Lyra Valkyria. Her match with Bayley was personal, physical, and a major statement. Valkyria was there to introduce us to a new, brutal heel. We saw a bloodied nose early on, highlighting the sheer physicality. She didn’t just win by referee stoppage with her new Bulldog Choke, she laid out Bayley with a Nightwing on the steps after the match. That’s a clear message. She’s the next big heel threat on Raw, and it’s looking like a SummerSlam rematch with Bayley is next. She’s on a clear path to singles gold, no doubt.
So, what’s next? SummerSlam is shaping up to be wild. Fatal Influence needs to prove they can hold onto those titles. Lyra Valkyria is absolutely going to dominate if she keeps this up. And with Gunther out of the main event picture, that CM Punk versus Cody Rhodes match just got a whole lot more intense. Get ready, because these stories are just heating up for the biggest show of the summer!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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