The pre-taped July 4 edition of WWE SmackDown confirmed the returns of two major stars, setting the stage for significant matches at upcoming WWE events. After a two-month hiatus, Drew McIntyre re-emerged to confront Randy Orton, while WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus secured a championship match at Evolution.
McIntyre made his presence felt during the show’s opening segment, interrupting an in-ring exchange between King of the Ring winner Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. After mocking their display of sportsmanship, McIntyre’s attempt to stir dissension was cut short by an RKO from Orton. The Scottish competitor had not been seen on television since losing to Damian Priest in a Hell in a Cell match back in May.
Following the physical confrontation, a backstage segment with General Manager Nick Aldis resulted in an official match being scheduled. McIntyre is now set to face Orton at Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12 in Atlanta. Reports before the taping indicated McIntyre’s presence backstage was not concealed, signaling his return was imminent despite earlier suggestions that creative plans for him were not in place.
Later in the broadcast, a new match was established for the all-women’s premium live event, Evolution. During a promo segment, Tiffany Stratton, while looking ahead to her SummerSlam bout with Jade Cargill, declared her intention to also compete at the July 13 event against a specific opponent.
Stratton called out Trish Stratus, which prompted the WWE Hall of Famer to appear. After a tense exchange between the two, the title match was made official. This will be the first time Stratus has competed in a singles match for a championship since her 2006 retirement bout against Lita. Backstage information from late June noted that Stratus’s return was planned to coincide with Evolution, with WWE’s interest in the seven-time champion reportedly increasing after an injury to Liv Morgan necessitated a star attraction for the card.
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