Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso faced off in the main event of Friday Night SmackDown on July 3 to earn a future title shot [1, 2].
The match serves as a critical pivot for the Undisputed WWE Championship landscape. The winner of this contest secures a guaranteed opportunity to challenge the current champion, Sami Zayn, for the top prize in the company [1, 5].
The contest between Rhodes and Uso served as the focal point of the broadcast, which aired across several platforms including the USA Network and Netflix in the U.S. [2, 4]. According to a Bleacher Report liveblog, "Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso delivered a thrilling main event that had the crowd on its feet" [1].
Beyond the main event, the episode focused on establishing new directions for several top stars. Charlotte Flair appeared in a segment to advance her current narrative. KHELNow staff said, "Charlotte Flair cut a fiery promo that set up next week's storyline" [2].
The broadcast also addressed the current state of the championship. A pre-taped segment featuring the Undisputed WWE Championship drew mixed reactions from critics. The MSN Sports editorial team said, "The pre-taped segment left fans queasy about the new champion's direction" [3].
Rhodes and Uso have remained central figures in the brand's programming as the company builds toward its next major event. The stakes of the July 3 match ensure that the victor enters the championship conversation with significant momentum, a necessity for anyone attempting to unseat Zayn [1, 5].
“"Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso delivered a thrilling main event that had the crowd on its feet."”
This episode signals a shift in the Undisputed WWE Championship hierarchy. By pitting two of the most popular stars against each other for a title shot, WWE is creating a high-value challenger for Sami Zayn while simultaneously utilizing Charlotte Flair to maintain secondary plot momentum. The critical reaction to the champion's direction suggests a period of character transition for Zayn.
