We’re all in on Samara Weaving, divided on SummerSlam, and wondering what the hell is taking Paramount so long.

This week on The Infamous Podcast, we’re talking Paramount and Warner Bros. merger delays, celebrating Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and breaking down a very 50/50 SummerSlam 2026. Then we head into the home stretch with X-Men ’97 Season 2, Episode 8 before returning to Westeros for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 7. Hot Frost, lukewarm slams, corporate cold feet, mutants, wrestling, and dragons. Just another perfectly normal week around here.

Episode Index

Intro: 0:07 News Bites: 9:23 SummerSlam 2026: 24:44 X-Men ’97 Season 2 Episode 8: 44:00 House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7: 55:05

News Bites

Paramount merger delay https://deadline.com/2026/08/regal-cinemas-ceo-paramount-warner-bros-merger-1237027050/ https://variety.com/2026/film/global/uk-paramount-warner-bros-merger-1236828958/

X-Men Casting News https://deadline.com/2026/08/kit-connor-cyclops-x-men-movie-marvel-studios-1237018735/ https://variety.com/2026/film/news/x-men-movie-cast-samara-weaving-emma-frost-1236825209/

SummerSlam (WWE)

WWE SummerSlam 2026

Dates: August 1–2, 2026Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Format: Two-night Premium Live Event WWE

Night 1 – Saturday, August 1

Liv Morgan (c) vs. IYO SKY – Women’s World Championship Winner: Liv Morgan LA Knight, Solo Sikoa & Royce Keys vs. Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & Jacob Fatu – Six-Man Tag Winner: LA Knight, Solo Sikoa & Royce Keys Gunther vs. Nick Aldis Winner: Gunther Fatal Influence vs. The Bella Twins & Paige – Six-Woman Tag Winner: Fatal Influence CM Punk (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Undisputed WWE Championship Winner: CM Punk Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar – Hell in a Cell Winner: Oba Femi

The big Night 1 developments: Punk retains after Randy Orton returns and hits Cody with an RKO, while Oba Femi defeats Brock Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell and gets Lesnar’s endorsement afterward. Official Night 1 results

Night 2 – Sunday, August 2

Kevin Owens vs. Gunther vs. Finn Bálor vs. Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender Winner: Kevin Owens Trick Williams (c) vs. Baron Corbin – United States Championship Winner: Baron Corbin – NEW CHAMPION Chelsea Green vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill vs. Lash Legend – Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match Winner: Chelsea Green – NEW CHAMPION Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio – Human Monies on a Pole Match Winner: Danhausen Penta (c) vs. Chad Gable – Intercontinental Championship Winner: Chad Gable – NEW CHAMPION Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins – World Heavyweight Championship Winner: Roman Reigns

Night 2 brings Kevin Owens’ surprise return and No. 1 contender win, Chelsea Green finally capturing a world championship, Chad Gable winning the IC title, Baron Corbin taking the U.S. title, and Roman finally defeating Seth Rollins in the main event. Official Night 2 results

Rating out of 5, Enough With the 2-Night Events Brian: 2.2/5 Darryl: 2/5

X-Men ’97 (Disney+)

Season: 2 Episode: 8 Episode Title: “The Dead Man’s Hand” Release Date: August 5, 2026 Studio: Marvel Studios Animation Genre: Animation, Superhero, Action, Sci-Fi Head Writer: Beau DeMayo Supervising Director: Jake Castorena Based On: Marvel Comics’ X-Men and X-Men: The Animated Series Main Voice Cast: Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, Alison Sealy-Smith, George Buza, JP Karliak, Ross Marquand, Chris Potter, Holly Chou, Isaac Robinson-Smith Episode Synopsis: The penultimate episode brings the X-Men face-to-face with a ghost from their past as the threat of Apocalypse moves closer to the endgame and long-simmering emotional conflicts come to the surface.

Rating Out of 5, A Lady Pulls a Dude Out of Another Dude Brian: 4.33/5 Darryl: 4.3/5

House of the Dragon (HBOMax)

Season: 3 Episode: 7 Episode Title: “The Dragon in Winter” Release Date: August 2, 2026 Genre: Fantasy, Drama Created By: Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin Based On: Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin Directed By: Nina Lopez-Corrado Written By: Philippa Goslett & Zenzele Price Main Cast: Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Steve Toussaint, Matthew Needham, Sonoya Mizuno, Phia Saban, James Norton, Freddie Fox Episode Synopsis: Torn between Mysaria and Daemon’s visions for her reign, Rhaenyra grows increasingly desperate for a sign that she will prevail as the Dance of the Dragons approaches its Season 3 endgame.

Rating Out of 5, Targaryens Have Weird Ideas About What Is Appropriate Brian: 3.89/5 Darryl: 3.89/5

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The Infamous Podcast is hosted by Brian Tudor and Darryl Jasper, is recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show is produced and edited by Brian Tudor.

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