New WWE SmackDown Roster Members Following SummerSlam 2026

WWE

Coming off the heels of WWE SummerSlam 2026, the company could be looking to switch up the Raw and SmackDown rosters a bit.

Over on Friday Night SmackDown, there is some room for new names to start to make their presence felt on the blue brand.

From former champions to highly anticipated NXT prospects, some new roster members could be on their way to SmackDown in the weeks following SummerSlam this year.

Here are seven new WWE SmackDown roster members following SummerSlam 2026.

7. Lola Vice

Since signing with WWE in 2022, Lola Vice has established herself as one of the top stars on the NXT brand.

This led to Vice defeating Jacy Jayne and Kendal Grey to win the NXT Women’s Championship at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2026 earlier this year.

Vice has since lost the title to Grey, but she recently earned an opportunity at a rematch for the top prize in the NXT women’s division, which was confirmed on the July 21 NXT to be an Underground Match .

While she could regain the gold, Vice has more than proven herself to be ready for the main roster limelight and could be heading to Friday nights in the near future.

6. Jaida Parker

At the same time Lola Vice cemented her name among the best in the NXT women’s division, Jaida Parker was making her mark with her attitude and hard-hitting style.

Ms. Parker has formed a strong connection with the NXT fanbase and usually garners some of the loudest reactions from the fans.

Considering how much she has climbed the ladder, Parker seems like she has been prepped for the moment that she was to move to the main roster stage.

Parker moving from NXT to SmackDown could see her become a rising star in the WWE women’s division moving forward.

5. Rusev

After a near-decade long run with WWE, Rusev was released from the company and went on to sign with All Elite Wrestling, spending over four years with the promotion.

“The Bulgarian Brute” has recemented himself as a prominently featured star on Monday Night Raw.

Now one of the mainstays in the Intercontinental Championship picture, Rusev uses his size, power and unbridled rage to make his mark in WWE.

Rusev making the jump from Raw to SmackDown could be just what he needs right now in his career to be presented as a main event level talent.

4. Tony D’Angelo

At WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2026, Tony D’Angelo defeated Joe Hendry, Ricky Saints and Ethan Page to win the NXT Championship.

D’Angelo has spent well over five years with NXT and has accomplished everything that he can on the brand.

After sitting atop of NXT for the past few months, D’Angelo has been surrounded by challengers and despite knocking off Naraku on the July 21 NXT, it seems he will likely be dethroned for the title sooner rather than later.

Tony D losing the title would open the door for his long awaited jump to the WWE main roster where he has what it takes to become a top star on Friday Night SmackDown.

3. Penta

Capturing the WWE Intercontinental Championship in March, Penta has proven himself to be a fighting champion in every possible way.

The masked luchador has successfully defended his title against the likes of Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee and Ethan Page in recent months.

At WWE SummerSlam 2026, Penta is set to defend the IC Title against Chad Gable in his hometown of Minneapolis.

Considering the home field advantage that his opponent will have, Penta could lose the gold, go on to head to SmackDown for the first time in his WWE career and even potentially reunite with his brother Rey Fenix in the tag team scene.

2. Becky Lynch

At WWE Clash In Italy 2026, Sol Ruca defeated Becky Lynch to win the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

Since losing the gold, Lynch has only made one appearance on WWE TV.

Considering her importance as one of WWE’s top stars, Lynch may need a fresh start on a new brand after her failures over the past year.

Heading back to SmackDown, where she previously called home following the 2016 brand split, Becky would immediately become a top contender for the WWE Women’s Champion and garner a considerable amount of the spotlight on Friday Night SmackDown.

1. Mike Santana

After losing the TNA World Title to Nic Nemeth at TNA Slammiversary 2026, reports circulated that Mike Santana was set to leave the promotion after a two-year stint.

Over the course of two runs with the promotion, Santana became a two-time TNA World Champion and a four-time TNA World Tag Team Champion..

Proving himself to be one of the best and most reliable in-ring workers from the company, Santana has been appearing on WWE NXT over the past year, and last night, on the July 21 episode, officially arrived on the brand to confront Tony D’Angelo.

While all signs point towards an NXT run first, WWE could instead have Santana simply pass through the Tuesday night brand, before jumping to SmackDown full-time.

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• wwe
• SummerSlam
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