# WWE 2026 Night of Champions, MFT split & ratings swing > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/wwe-smackdown-continues-its-traveling-schedule-advancing-the-rhodesgunther-feud-and-title-matches > Updated: 2026-07-31T01:23:35.000Z. Sources: 53. Developments: 16. Night of Champions in Riyadh capped the June tour with Tiffany Stratton regaining the Women’s United States Championship and Cody Rhodes defeating Gunther for the Undisputed WWE Championship, while the MFT faction fractured as Tama and Talla Tonga left under Bloodline orders. The spring European swing saw SmackDown stop in Fort Worth (April 24) and Lexington (May 22), where Shinsuke Nakamura’s attempt to lure Tama Tonga away from the MFT intensified and Rhodes‑Gunther tensions built toward the Clash in Italy pay‑per‑view. Barcelona’s May 29 go‑home show previewed the Turin event, which delivered Rhodes’s title win, a Roman Reigns vs Jacob Fatu bout and a women’s title showdown. Post‑Clash fallout unfolded in Bologna (June 5) with King and Queen of the Ring qualifiers, the surprise return of Chad Gable and Gunther’s demand for justice. Providence (June 12) added a non‑title Women’s Tag match (Brie Bella & Paige vs Fatal Influence), further King/Queen qualifiers and the historic AAA Cruiserweight title defense by Rey Fénix inside a WWE ring. Ratings swung sharply: a sub‑million SmackDown audience on June 17 (down 5 % amid a FIFA World Cup match) was followed by a rebound to 1.191 million on June 25, the highest in over a month. July 3 saw Lainey Reid upset Brie Bella, ending Bella’s eight‑year singles streak and setting a new tag‑team challenge. NXT climbed to 691 k on July 7, then fell to 531 k on July 17 when the MLB All‑Star Game aired, before recovering to 690 k on July 21 and 680 k on July 31. SmackDown rebounded to 1.243 million on July 17, rose to 1.379 million on July 31 and reached 1.38 million on August 6, repeatedly topping the Friday night cable demo despite overall year‑over‑year declines. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-31: WWE NXT draws 680,000 viewers on The CW, down 1.5% from prior week WWE NXT averaged 680,000 viewers on The CW, a 1.5% dip from the prior week but a rise in the 18‑49 demo to a 0.10 rating. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-nxt-draws-680000-viewers-on-the-cw-down-15-from-prior-week ### 2026-07-22: WWE Viewership Rises on SmackDown and NXT in July 2026 WWE SmackDown drew 1.24 M viewers (share 0.21) on July 17, 2026, a modest rise, while WWE NXT attracted 690 K viewers (share 0.09) on July 21, 2026, up from the prior week. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-viewership-rises-on-smackdown-and-nxt-in-july-2026 ### 2026-07-17: WWE NXT ratings plunge as MLB All-Star Game dominates TV WWE NXT's CW broadcast fell to 531,000 viewers and a 0.05 18‑49 rating—a 23% and 58% drop—as the MLB All‑Star Game drew over 8.6 million viewers. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-nxt-ratings-plunge-as-mlb-all-star-game-dominates-tv ### 2026-07-10: WWE NXT viewership climbs to 691,000, rating hits 0.12 on July 7, 2026 WWE NXT attracted 691,000 viewers with a 0.12 rating on July 7, 2026, while AEW Dynamite drew 773,000 viewers and the same rating the next day. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-ratings-dip-on-smackdown-rise-on-nxt-in-july-2026 ### 2026-07-04: Lainey Reid Defeats Brie Bella on WWE SmackDown, Targets Tag Title Lainey Reid defeated Brie Bella on WWE SmackDown after interference, ending Bella’s eight‑year singles streak and positioning Reid and Fallon Henley to challenge Bella and Paige for the Women’s Tag Team titles 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lainey-reid-defeats-brie-bella-on-wwe-smackdown-targets-tag-title ### 2026-06-25: WWE SmackDown draws 1.19 million viewers, highest ratings in over a month WWE SmackDown averaged 1.19 million viewers (0.25 18‑49 rating) on June 19, its best audience in over a month, up 15% week‑over‑week despite long‑term declines. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-draws-119-million-viewers-highest-ratings-in-over-a-month ### 2026-06-20: WWE Raw London June 22 2026: Women's Tag Title Defense and Valkyria’s Betrayal WWE Raw in London saw Paige & Brie Bella retain the Women’s Tag titles, Lyra Valkyria betray Bayley, Dragon Lee lose to Ethan Page, and Bayley share a pigeon‑related social‑media post. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-star-bayley-shares-pigeon-mishap-and-teases-possible-nxt-comeback ### 2026-06-17: WWE SmackDown sees sub‑million audience and rolls out June 19 card ahead of Saudi Night of Champions WWE SmackDown's June 12 show fell below 1 million viewers; the June 19 episode in Kansas City will feature a Rhodes‑Gunther title clash and other key matches ahead of the Riyadh Night of Champions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-sees-submillion-audience-and-rolls-out-june-19-card-ahead-of-saudi-night-of-champions ### 2026-06-12: WWE SmackDown (June 12, 2026) features first AAA Cruiserweight title defense in WWE ring June 12 WWE SmackDown in Providence hosted King/Queen of the Ring semifinals, Gunther set his rematch condition with Cody Rhodes, and Rey Fenix made the first AAA Cruiserweight title defense in a WWE ring. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-june-12-highlights-title-match-preview-and-womens-division-results ### 2026-06-11: WWE SmackDown June 12, 2026 in Providence features King and Queen of the Ring qualifiers WWE SmackDown aired live from Providence on June 12, 2026, with King of the Ring (Uso wins) and Queen of the Ring (Flair advances) qualifiers, plus an AAA Cruiserweight title bout and storyline segments for the 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-june-12-heads-to-providence-for-king-and-queen-of-the-ring-bouts ### 2026-06-11: WWE SmackDown adds non‑title tag match with Brie Bella and Paige in Providence WWE SmackDown on June 12 in Providence will host a non‑title tag match with champions Brie Bella & Paige vs. Fatal Influence, plus King/Queen of the Ring bouts and Gunther's stipulation reveal. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-adds-nontitle-tag-match-with-brie-bella-and-paige-in-providence ### 2026-06-05: WWE SmackDown pushes King and Queen of the Ring tournaments forward WWE SmackDown’s June 5 episode advanced King and Queen of the Ring quarterfinals, saw Raquel Rodriguez move on, featured Gunther’s table‑smashing promo, and marked Chad Gable’s return. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-pushes-king-and-queen-of-the-ring-tournaments-forward ### 2026-06-05: WWE SmackDown broadcasts live from Bologna, Italy on June 5 2026 WWE SmackDown aired live from Bologna’s Unipol Arena on June 5 2026, featuring fallout from Clash in Italy, championship disputes and first‑round King/Queen of the Ring matches. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-live-from-bologna-sees-tony-dangelo-retain-nxt-title-and-roman-reigns-highlight-global ### 2026-05-28: WWE SmackDown heads to Barcelona ahead of Clash in Italy WWE SmackDown aired from Barcelona on 29 May 2026, featuring Axiom vs The Miz and setting up Clash in Italy, but faced low ticket sales and a technical audio glitch. 31 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-to-take-place-at-barcelonas-olmpic-arena-on-may-29-2026 ### 2026-05-21: WWE SmackDown May 22, 2026 Highlights Nakamura‑Tonga Match and Rhodes‑Gunther Rivalry WWE SmackDown on May 22, 2026 in Kentucky showcased Nakamura vs. Tama Tonga, extended the Rhodes‑Gunther feud, and previewed the women’s title change at Clash in Italy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-may-22-2026-highlights-nakamuratonga-match-and-rhodesgunther-rivalry ### 2026-04-24: WWE SmackDown in Fort Worth to host major title match and preview Fort Worth SmackDown (April 24, 2026): Rhodes, Bloodline updates, and a major title match reportedly set. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wwe-smackdown-in-fort-worth-to-host-major-title-match-and-preview --- Cite as: WWE 2026 Night of Champions, MFT split & ratings swing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/wwe-smackdown-continues-its-traveling-schedule-advancing-the-rhodesgunther-feud-and-title-matches