A Showcase of the Blue Brand’s Mid-Card
WWE Night of Champions 2026 contains more matches that revolve around SmackDown. The blue brand is a focal point of the PLE, with two of the biggest matches being for SmackDown’s secondary championships. This is a fantastic thing for WWE to do, showcasing the best mid-card talent that they have on SmackDown.
Trick Williams, Ricky Saints, Jade Cargill, and Tiffany Stratton represent how deep the mid-card ranks are on SmackDown. These are four wrestlers who have either held World Championship gold or will be holding it in the future. That type of talent is why SmackDown has been a compelling program for months now, and this Saturday, they get to show off their skills.
The build-up to both United States Championship matches has been great, and WWE has made sure to put a huge spotlight on those championships. The men’s and women’s matches will be fantastic showings and will help build a new aura around the United States Championships.
Queen of the Ring
The Queen of the Ring tournament has been an interesting one, to say the least. IYO SKY’s path was telegraphed, as she is one of the most popular talents on the roster. It’s a deserving spot for her to have, and could lead to some intriguing matchups down the road. Standing opposite Sky in the finals is Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, a finalist that not many predicted, but one who is equally deserving.
Receiving a World Championship match at SummerSlam ups the ante for this match, but it also contains several possibilities. Liv Morgan is already a champion, so does she challenge Rhea Ripley? A woman that she has oodles of history with. Or does she go full heel and challenge no one, threatening to take SummerSlam off?
If IYO SKY were to win the crown, where does WWE go? A match with Rhea Ripley makes sense, but do they do the friends angle, or turn Iyo Sky heel and push the envelope even further? Or does this Queen of the Ring final give us a preview of the World Championship match at the Biggest Party of the Summer? Many questions will be answered when the bell rings.
