Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight feature appearances from Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley, King and Queen of the Ring tournament matches, Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints, and more.
The June 5 episode of SmackDown emanates live from Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy. While the show will air on tape delay in the United States at 8 p.m. ET, international fans can catch all the action live on Netflix beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
WWE SmackDown Card
- Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
- Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker – King of the Ring Tournament Match
- Bayley vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Kiana James vs. Raquel Rodriguez – Queen of the Ring Tournament Match
- What’s next for Rhea Ripley?
- We’ll hear from Cody Rhodes
WWE SmackDown Results
We get a recap of WWE Clash in Italy, where both Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley retained their world championships at the premium live event.
Michael Cole (who is subbing for Joe Tessitore) welcomes fans to SmackDown as the road to WWE Night of Champions officially kicks off on the blue brand. Cole also runs down the lineup for the King and Queen of the Ring tournament matches scheduled for tonight.
Gunther is pissed
Gunther is out here rearranging furniture. The Ring General is furious after the events of Sunday’s Clash in Italy.
Gunther stands atop the announce desk and demands justice for what happened to him in Italy. He calls himself the greatest professional wrestler in the world and says his ring awareness allowed him to place his foot under the bottom rope, but the referee still counted to three.
Gunther claims Cody Rhodes took what was rightfully his. He then stares into the camera and calls out the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Rhodes soon emerges to a loud ovation, with the crowd in Italy singing along to his entrance theme.
Rematch in Italy?
Cody Rhodes takes his time making his entrance, stopping along the way to sign autographs while Gunther throws a hissy fit atop the announce desk.
Once inside the ring, Rhodes says Gunther is right, but the crowd immediately interrupts with loud “Cody Rhodes” chants, much to The Ring General’s chagrin.
Cody agrees that Gunther’s foot was under the bottom rope and calls him a true professional. However, he questions Gunther’s behavior, pointing to his tantrums and the destruction of the announce desk.
Rhodes says that if Gunther wants a rematch, there’s no better place to do it than right here in Bologna, Italy.
Huge brawl on WWE SmackDown
Sami Zayn interrupts and hypes up the Bologna crowd. He mocks Gunther for complaining about the outcome of the match and calls Cody Rhodes a “golden boy.” Zayn claims both Cody and Gunther did him wrong, referencing their interaction from a previous episode of WWE SmackDown.
Gunther says the world title program doesn’t concern Zayn because he’s never held a world championship. Zayn responds that while he may not have been world champion, he has beaten Gunther in matches for titles.
Cody questions Sami’s actions from a couple of weeks ago. He praises him for beating Matt Cardona but tells Zayn that he’s a bit busy at the moment.
The trash talk continues until Gunther gets into the ring and shoves Cody into Zayn. A huge brawl breaks out. Zayn re-enters the ring and attacks Gunther until both men spill to the outside.
Cody attempts a suicide dive, but Gunther moves out of the way, and Cody accidentally collides with Zayn. Cody says it wasn’t meant for Zayn and offers a handshake, but Zayn simply walks away as the camera cuts to The Miz in a backstage segment.
Fan reaction to the opening segment on WWE SmackDown
Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther vs. Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship seems to be the direction for Night of Champions following tonight’s opening segment. Here is one fan’s take on the segment.
The Miz gets electrocuted
The Miz is on a phone call with Kit Wilson. Miz walks into Danhausen’s lair and finds the eccentric wrestler.
He begins smashing objects inside the lair but ends up getting electrocuted.
Gunther threatens to take the legal route
Raquel Rodriguez makes her way to the ring for the Queen of the Ring tournament.
The camera then cuts to Gunther walking up to WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. Gunther tells Aldis to fix the disrespect he’s been getting since arriving on the blue brand. Aldis blames Gunther for messing things up.
Gunther threatens to get his legal team involved and says he will bury Aldis in so many lawsuits that even his grandchildren will have to deal with them.
On a lighter note, I think David Otunga would make a fitting legal representative for Gunther.
Queen of the Ring Tournament Match ft. Bayley, Jacy Jayne, Raquel Rodriguez, and Kiana James
Which of these four women advances to the next round on WWE SmackDown?
Raquel Rodriguez hits a Bahamas Bomb on Kiana James for the win. As Raquel celebrates on the outside, Giulia helps Kiana James get back to her feet inside the ring. Kiana shoves Giulia, still believing she cost her the match. Kiana shoves Giulia again and yells at her. Giulia responds with a Lou Thesz press, effectively ending her association with Kiana James.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Grade: A-
Great opening match that was overshadowed by Giulia finally standing up to Kiana James. Fans have been clamoring for Giulia to turn babyface, and she did so in front of a packed crowd in Bologna. I’m a fan of both women, and honestly, this could be a fresh start for Giulia on the blue brand.
Look who just showed up on WWE SmackDown!
Sami Zayn finds Johnny Gargano backstage and complains about how things went down earlier tonight on WWE SmackDown. Nick Aldis appears and tells Sami he needs to stay away from Cody Rhodes and Gunther’s business. Aldis says he’s more important things to attend to as Chad Gable appears to a huge pop from the crowd.
Royce Keys vs. Talla Tonga
Screengrabs from Talla Tonga and Royce Keys’ entrances on WWE SmackDown.
Keys hits a powerslam and sets up for his finisher, but Tama Tonga and Solo Sikoa cause a distraction. Tama goes for an attack, but Keys retaliates with a strike. Keys gets back into the ring, where Talla hits him with a clothesline and chokeslam combo for the win.
Winner: Talla Tonga
Solo Sikoa orders Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga to attack Royce Keys. R-Truth emerges but is taken care of as well. Damian Priest drags Truth out of the ring and takes him away. Back in the ring, Tama Tonga caps off the assault with a running elbow strike.
Grade: B-
These two put on a decent match, but the highlight was Truth trying to make the save and Damian trying to talk some sense into his tag team partner. Solo still trying to recruit Keys after literally watching him get flattened by the MFTs was hilarious.
Finn Balor vignette on WWE SmackDown
We see a new Finn Bálor video package after reports indicated he was traded to SmackDown for a fresh start.
Tension in the Judgment Day?
Judgment Day celebrates Raquel Rodriguez’s victory, but the mood quickly shifts when Liv Morgan hints that she will win the Queen of the Ring tournament instead of Raquel.
R-Truth has an older brother
Damian Priest is trying to talk sense into R-Truth, who says he just wants to check up on Royce Keys. Priest questions what Truth is going to do if Keys is hurt, since he isn’t a doctor. Truth claims his older brother is. Priest says Truth doesn’t have an older brother. Truth says, “How dare you,” and claims his older brother is the Doctor of Thuganomics, as the crowd pops big time. AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders appear and tease a title vs. title match. Truth claims he doesn’t know who they are as we move on to the next segment.
Rhea Ripley injured?
Rhea Ripley appears. Mami says she is “banged up” following her match against Jade Cargill at WWE Clash in Italy but is happy that chapter is behind her. Ripley says Jade tried to stack the odds against her, but she had a little help from a friend as Charlotte Flair’s music hits.
Flair says she knows Ripley didn’t need her help at Clash in Italy. She then brings up the Queen of the Ring tournament before reminding everyone of her accolades. Flair says that while she had fun aiding Ripley, she is going to be her opponent for the Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.
Tiffany Stratton interrupts. The WWE Women’s United States Champion talks about her history with Charlotte Flair. Flair asks if Stratton is here to apologize to her. Stratton says she is not here for Flair, but for Ripley, and she wouldn’t mind reclaiming the Women’s Championship.
Jade Cargill’s music hits and she shows up with B-Fab and Michin. Cargill tells them they look stupid. She references Flair helping Ripley retain the world title. Cargill calls Alexa Bliss stupid, angering Flair. She does a bit more trash talk and starts approaching the ring.
Nick Aldis shows up and tells Jade to hold her horses. Aldis says Rhea is not cleared to compete. Flair proposes a tag team match between herself and Tiffany against Jade and one of her “backup dancers.” Aldis agrees, and the match is up next.
Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill & Michin
Tiffany sets up Jade for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Jade reverses the momentum before hitting Jaded for the win.
Winners: Jade Cargill and Michin
Grade: B+
Solid tag team action on WWE SmackDown. Michin’s shoutout to AJ Styles was a nice touch. I like that instead of having Charlotte kick out o the iconic move, they let Tiffany make the save. Jade pinning Stratton seems to suggest a Women’s United States Title program between the former rivals is looming.
What’s next for Fatal Influence on WWE SmackDown?
Jacy Jayne doesn’t want to answer Cathy Kelley’s question about her first big loss on WWE SmackDown. Fallon Henley directs Jayne’s attention to what’s happening in front of them. The camera pans to Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige having their photoshoot. Jayne distracts them so Henley and Lainey Reid can attack them. The segment ends with Fallon and Lainey picking up the tag team titles, teasing a potential tag team title program.
Backstage segment ft. Royce Keys & R-Truth
Truth tries to convince Keys they need to work together alongside Priest to take care of the MFTs. Truth cracks an innuendo. Keys tells him they are good, but it’s Damian Priest he has a problem with.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
Carmelo goes for a pin, but Saints reverses with a pin of his own, grabbing the tights as the referee counts to three.
Winner: Ricky Saints
Michael Cole notes on commentary that both men have a win over each other, teasing a grudge match.
We hear from Trick Williams
Cathy Kelley is standing by with Trick Williams. Williams says he isn’t concerned about the outcome of Melo vs. Saints. He then hypes up his upcoming King of the Ring tournament match. Williams drops a couple of his catchphrases until Bron Breakker walks into the frame to have a staring contest with the United States Champion.
Chelsea Green tells Tiffany Stratton that she would have just asked her to be her tag team partner on SmackDown. Green insists that they become a tag team and asks Tiffany to accompany her for her match against Lash Legend later tonight. Tiffany tells her she has to go to the trainers but is sure that Chelsea will do well tonight.
Blake Monroe vignette
Blake Monroe says Tiffy Time is running on Monroe Minutes as she puts the WWE Women’s United States Champion on notice.
Watch the full vignette here.
Lash Legend vs. Chelsea Green
Lash picks up the win with a Lash Extension. The match also featured a top-rope botch, which may get edited when SmackDown airs in the USA. Lash also pulled off an impressive reversal to the Unprettier.
Solo Sikoa still wants Royce Keys to join The MFTs
Solo Sikoa confronts Royce Keys, who tells him that he doesn’t want to fall in line after all the work he’s put in to get to where he is today. Sikoa tells Royce nobody reached out to him — not The Usos, not Jacob, not Reigns — but he did. He tells Royce to make his decision, or Solo will make it for him.
You are cursed!
Danhausen appears during the commercial break. He has an assistant giving away all the merch. One fan points out how the assistant looks like Ricochet, and I’m laughing. Danhausen encourages the crowd to boo Wade Barrett and cheer Michael Cole. We then see Danhausen break into his running routine as the lights go off and on.
Rey Fenix is backstage with Fraxiom. Chad Gable shows up and asks for a moment with Fenix. Gable apologizes to Fenix for wrestling him under a false pretense at WrestleMania last year. Fenix accepts the apology but tells Gable he isn’t the only one Gable offended with the El Grande Americano shtick.
Nick Aldis tells Cody Rhodes that Gunther wants him to wait until next week to learn the stipulation for their Undisputed WWE Championship rematch. Rhodes says he doesn’t want to wait until the SmackDown after next week, which is in Kansas, and that’s where he’ll give Gunther his rematch for the title. Aldis agrees, and the two shake hands.
Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker – King of the Ring Tournament Match
All four men in this match are reigning champions, which is a cool little piece of trivia I thought was worth sharing.
Trick Williams is a star!
Look at the speed!
Dom lands awkwardly on his shoulder during a spot also involving Breakker. Hopefully, it’s not an injury. Breakker botches another press slam, this time failing to fully lift Damian Priest.
Breakker takes out Williams with a jumping clothesline onto the announce table. JD McDonagh tries to attack Priest, who retaliates with a South of Heaven Chokeslam. Liv Morgan provides an assist by hitting Priest with a low blow, allowing Dominik to pick up the win with the 619.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
Grade: B-
I did not like this Fatal 4-Way match despite the internet praising it as great. Priest isn’t good at leading a match, and Bron Breakker was far from his A-game tonight. Those botches involving Dom and Priest looked terrible. As for the outcome, I cannot wait for Oba Femi vs. Dominik Mysterio, and I’m curious to see how that interaction plays out.
Overall Grade: B-
The crowd was the best part of the show. That’s undeniable. The women outshone the men tonight on WWE SmackDown. Kiana was awesome in the Queen of the Ring qualifier, and the post-match Giulia babyface turn looked great.
The Miz getting electrocuted was another fun part of the show. I also liked the tag team outing featuring Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton against Jade Cargill and Michin. But the moment I popped for the most was Chad Gable making his return to WWE television. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Master Gable after an incredible Mascara vs. Mascara match in Lucha Libre AAA.
The men’s Fatal 4-Way disappointed, especially Bron Breakker’s performance. WWE SmackDown will air later tonight in the USA at 8 p.m., so expect some edits.
That’s it for tonight, and this writer will return with more coverage next week.
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How would you rate this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown on a scale of 1 to 10? Let us know in the comments!
