​Trick Williams made a bold statement on SmackDown by unveiling a new design for the United States Championship, a customized belt that suits his flashy persona. During the July 10 episode, Williams received the updated title as a special gift from Lil Yachty, who surprised him backstage after a moment of concern when the belt went missing. Williams initially suspected Ricky Saints of sneaking into the locker room to steal the championship, but the truth emerged: Lil Yachty had arranged a surprise modification, after speaking with WWE higher-ups. The belt features Mink fur on the straps, echoing Williams’ iconic Mink fur coat, and was dubbed the “Legacy Edition” of the United States Championship. This makes Williams the first wrestler to wear a Mink fur-coated US title, though the concept of a “Legacy Edition” isn’t entirely new to WWE.
In fact, John Cena had his own version of the United States Championship in the early 2000s. Debuting in 2004 during Cena’s Word Life era, the Legacy Edition US title sported a spinner emblem. While it didn’t achieve the lasting popularity of the spinner WWE Championship belt introduced in 2005, Cena’s version offered a playful alternative while the US title rotated through the roster. Edge, too, carried a Legacy Edition title, featuring his Rated-R logo at the center. However, even beyond the fanfare, Adam Copeland has admitted that the design didn’t hold his full enthusiasm. Yet for Trick Williams, the Legacy Edition US title seems tailor-made, aligning perfectly with his luxurious, larger-than-life persona since his NXT days. The mink-fur strap elevates the overall presentation, turning Williams’ title into a striking symbol of his character.
The July 10 episode didn’t stop at a dazzling belt reveal. The SmackDown roster also received a major boost when current WWE Champion CM Punk announced that he would be a fighting champion on SmackDown, signaling his intent to defend against top competitors. In a high-profile opening segment, Punk declared his commitment to defending the title on a regular basis. Cody Rhodes quickly stepped forward, challenging Punk to a title match at SummerSlam, arguing that a clash between them had been building for years. Punk acknowledged the history between them, even suggesting that they could meet in a big main event at WrestleMania. Nonetheless, Rhodes pressed ahead, issuing a challenge for a SummerSlam title bout, insisting that the time to settle their longstanding feud had arrived. The showdown at SummerSlam would pit Rhodes against Punk for the WWE Championship, a match that fans had been anticipating as a centerpiece of the summer programming. The combination of Williams’ eye-catching Legacy Edition title and the Punk-Rhodes rivalry created a memorable episode of SmackDown, underscoring both the visual appeal of new championship designs and the high-stakes storytelling driving WWE television.