WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, Live on the USA Network, June 19th, 2026 — The Episode Recap:
- robbyplaha
- Jun 20
- 9 min read
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026.
Location: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
TV: LIVE on the USA Network.
Streaming: LIVE on Netflix Internationally.
The June 19th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown Official Match Results:
The Opening Match: Cody Rhodes (c) defeated Gunther in an Undisputed WWE Title Match with Sami Zayn as the Special Guest Referee | via Pin-Fall — (11:20)
The 2nd Match: Gunther defeated Cody Rhodes (c) in an Undisputed WWE Title Match | via DQ — (01:10)
The 3rd Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) defeated The MFTs (Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga) (with Solo Sikoa) in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | via Pin-Fall — (10:12)
The 4th Match: Ricky Saints defeated Carmelo Hayes in a WWE United States Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | via Pin-Fall — (14:25)
The 5th Match: Jey Uso defeated Je’Von Evans in a King of the Ring Semi-Final Round Match | via Pin-Fall — (17:55)
The Main Event Match: Liv Morgan defeated Charlotte Flair in a Queen of the Ring Semi-Final Round Match | via Submission — (18:58)
My Official Thoughts on the June 19th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:
My Official Thoughts: This episode, after giving it actual thought and not letting my emotions run rampant, was an actual decent episode of Friday Night SmackDown. I wasn't happy with the results of the Semi-Final Round Matches of the King & Queen of the Ring Tournament. But there were some good matches, I have to say, because Jey Uso, even though I bashed him in my Match Rating area, this was his best singles match in some time, even though the majority of that was because Je'Von Evans is great. Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan had an amazing match. Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints had a very enjoyable match. I really thought this episode, with all my emotions down, was very solid. While the creative direction is still a major problem that holds the product back, the in-ring work on this show proved that the roster can still deliver when they’re given time. If WWE can ever match this level of effort in the ring with smarter, fresher storytelling, episodes like this could go from merely decent to genuinely every week.
My Official Match Ratings for the June 19th WWE Friday Night SmackDown Episode:
The Opening Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther in an Undisputed WWE Title Match with Sami Zayn as the Special Guest Referee | The Match Rating: ***.25 — I thought this match was very good & disaapotining at the same time I don’t know what it’s with WWE and not just having a generic clean wrestling match they always need to find a way to protect someone which doesn’t make any sense because why can’t you just have Gunther win, Cody Rhodes doesn’t need the WWE Title for maybe one to two years because it’s a Cody Rhodes Fatigue everyone is going through at this moment. It’s the same formula for every Cody Rhodes feud; we are finally reaching deep into the Codyverse. Now the match had some great moments because these are two great wrestlers, but the main target of this match was Sami Zayn, who played the Special Guest Referee of this match. He was calling it down the middle, got a little handsy with Cody Rhodes and Gunther, but Gunther had enough and simply Powerbombed Sami Zayn. Gunther was closing in on the win, and wouldn’t you know Sami Zayn pulled the referee out, then screwed Gunther with a fast-count win for Cody Rhodes. This was just typical WWE Creative ruining momentum for Gunther and not wanting a proper match. This is just another reason why for WWE’s decline, with how WWE Creative thinks everything needs to be overly complicated. When in reality, just have them wrestle, have Gunther win. Cody Rhodes is rumored to feud with CM Punk, which, in my opinion, doesn’t need a World Title involved. Have Gunther feud with Sami Zayn for the World Title or someone else. WWE just doesn’t know how to book or make a proper wrestling story. They have to do over-the-top antics. This is why the product as a whole declined in ratings and attendance. You give people slop; they don’t want to enjoy the slop anymore with the expensive ticket prices they have now. Why would anyone with sense want to subject themselves to this garbage?
The 2nd Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther in an Undisputed WWE Title Match | The Match Rating: DUD — This made no sense. I was kinda happy, like, okay, this can be an actual match. They were trading sleeper holds right away as both men were trying to take one another out slowly. As the match started to progress, I heard the crowd booing as Sami Zayn hit a Helluva Kick on Gunther to cause this match to end in a DQ. Now, Sami Zayn did a Fast-Count in the match as the Special Guest Referee, screwing over Gunther. Then screws Gunther once more with this. Cody Rhodes was blasted with the belt by accident by Sami Zayn, who, enraged by his actions, left the ring irate and frustrated as the crowd roared a chorus of boo’s to Sami Zayn. This is very disappointing, as this whole feud has made Gunther look like a joke after he retired AJ Styles and John Cena./ WWE seemingly not captializing Gunther momentum shows the in-depth issue within WWE Creative. Now at WWE Night of Champions, it’s a Triple Threat Undisputed Title Match, as it was made official later in the night.
The 3rd Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. The MFTs (Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga) (with Solo Sikoa) in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | The Match Rating: ** — This was simply just a match to add to the fuel of the Bloodline story. Before this match, we saw the interaction of Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa. The MFTs genuinely have been one of the worst stables in recent WWE History because they haven’t gotten over or had a match that’s memorable or a memorable feud. They've been feuding with Damian Priest and R-Truth for a while now, as they wanted to regain their lost WWE Tag Team Titles. The match was nothing notable, just the highlight. I don’t know if I can say it was a highlight, but the fact that Solo Sikoa came out, which cost the MFTs, as they became distracted, helped Damian Priest & R-Truth retain. After the match, Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga were extremely frustrated as they walked off without Solo Sikoa. Now we know where this’ll head, as I see Solo Sikoa rejoining the outdated Bloodline Stable that is like the equivalent of the 1999 Version of nWo, which, new-flash, didn’t end up being well-received when they reunited when WCW was going downhill. The Bloodline has been a massive stain on WWE, as they have been a part of why WWE is declining.
The 4th Match: Ricky Saints vs. Carmelo Hayes in a WWE United States Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | The Match Rating: ***.75 — This feud has been super enjoyable on SmacDown now this match was very fun, knowing that the United States Title Shot is at stake this match was important to both men as the winner heads to WWE Night of Champions to face Trick Williams for the title. Ricky Saints has already made an impressive impact on the Main Roster since debuting in May. Carmelo Hayes is looking to redirect back to the title he lost in March, and he wants it back to further the importance of the man he once had as a sidekick, then turned on, having the title, so it’s much deeper for Carmelo Hayes. The in-ring material WWE was given was enjoyable, fast-paced, and really delivered for me as a viewer. There weren’t any negatives. I genuinely thought, knowing how WWE Creative is wired, we would’ve gotten a No Contest, then a Triple Threat Match at WWE Night of Champions. Ricky Saints had the Turnbuckle Metal exposed, so that’s when I knew something was going to happen. In fact, that played a big factor in how Ricky Saints won, as Carmelo Hayes hit a First-48, then he got reeled back into that exposed turnbuckle, which helped Ricky Saints win. Now he’ll wrestle his 1st Main Roster PLE as he will challenge for the WWE United States Title at WWE Night of Champions and for Carmelo Hayes, another roadblock in his pursuit of the WWE United States Title.
The 5th Match: Jey Uso vs. Je’Von Evans in a King of the Ring Semi-Final Round Match | The Match Rating: **** — Before I go in-depth, this was a good match, Jey Uso's best singles match since his Semi-Final Round Match against Cody Rhodes last year. No words, simply unbelievable that WWE had a chance to start a rivalry between two of their best young male talents who have a notable history in NXT and have Main Evented Many NXT PLEs against each other. Jey Uso is someone who isn’t good at what he does; he has regressed tremendously in every area of wrestling. He didn’t even look good in this match; it was just how talented Je’Von Evans is, so he carried this match with his awesome aerial offense and great agility. Je’Von Evans, I feel so bad for you because it’s like WWE can’t stop booking The Bloodline in the way they do it. It isn’t 2022 anymore. Why can’t we have Je’Von Evans vs. Oba Femi? Why does it have to be this wrestler who says “YEET” after every sentence because he knows when he actually tries to cugt? Promo today, he sucks at doing it. Je’Von Evans should’ve won it’s an easy layup. He has so much potenial to be a generational talent in wrestling alone, but WWE Creative shows why they are outdated, can’t create new rivalries or new stars, and why other places lapped them. WWE’s own destruction is the egos of the WWE Creative Team that are WWE’s downfall. Unbelievable that they didn’t allow us fans who wanted Je’Von Evans vs. Oba Femi to be subjected to Jey Uso vs. Oba Femi, and we can’t even tell if Oba Femi is going to win, knowing he has one more match left with Brock Lesnar. Like, this is such a mess, and why is WWE in decline in every aspect? It’s not TKO; it’s WWE Creative. They don’t know how to write or produce good stories or anything with substance.
The Main Event Match: Liv Morgan vs. Charlotte Flair in a Queen of the Ring Semi-Final Round Match | The Match Rating: ****.50 — Before the match, we saw B-Fab, Jade Cargill & Michin beat down on Charlotte flair injuring her knee in the process the medical team insisted to not partake in this match buit to make it worse Liv Morgan did a sneak blow to the injured leg, which had Nick Aldis insist against not to wrestle in this match but Charlotte Flair did went on to take on Liv Morgan stating, "This match is too important to her." I thought this match wasn't that bad whatsoever. Charlotte Flair, with a kayfabe hurt leg, had a gutsy performance against the WWE Women's World Champion, Liv Morgan. This match was very good, I thought this was one of the best SmackDown Main Events of this year. Am I happy with the winner? No, but I can't deny the fact that this was one hell of a match between these two women. Now Liv Morgan is looking to head to WWE Night of Champions to fight in the Final Round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament. In the end, we saw Liv Morgan win this match, so now it'll be IYO SKY vs. Liv Morgan in the Final Round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament. This match will be held at WWE Night of Champions.
My Official Match of the Night for the June 19th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown: Liv Morgan vs. Charlotte Flair in a Queen of the Ring Semi-Final Round Match | The Match Rating: ****.50 — Before the match, B-Fab, Jade Cargill, and Michin attacked Charlotte Flair and injured her knee. Despite the medical team and Nick Aldis insisting she shouldn’t compete—and Liv Morgan targeting the leg with a cheap shot—Charlotte refused to back out, saying the match was too important to her. Working with a kayfabe injured leg, she delivered a gutsy performance against WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan in this Queen of the Ring Semi-Final. In the end, Liv scored the win, advancing to face IYO SKY in the Final at WWE Night of Champions.
My June 19th Official Episode Grade for WWE Friday Night SmackDown: 7/10 (B-) — This episode, after giving it actual thought and not letting my emotions run rampant, was an actual decent episode of Friday Night SmackDown. I wasn't happy with the results of the Semi-Final Round Matches of the King & Queen of the Ring Tournament. But there were some good matches, I have to say, because Jey Uso, even though I bashed him in my Match Rating area, this was his best singles match in some time, even though the majority of that was because Je'Von Evans is great. Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan had an amazing match. Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints had a very enjoyable match. I really thought this episode, with all my emotions down, was very solid.
Next Week Announced Appearances, Matches & Segments for the June 26th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown in London, England, United Kingdom, Three-Day Tape Delay on the USA Network:
Giulia vs. Kiana James in a Singles Match.
Jacy Jayne (with Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) vs. Paige (with Brie Bella) in a Singles Match.
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