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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JUNE 5, 2026
BOLOGNA, ITALY AT UNIPOL ARENA
TELECAST ON DELAY ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 8,956 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 20,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-A video package aired on Clash in Italy. Then they showed fans excited outside the arena earlier.
-They cut to the arena where Michael Cole introduced and previewed the show. They did a quad screen image of the wrestlers in the men’s King of the Ring tournament Fatal Four-way and then the women’s.
-Gunther crashed the ringside introduction and knocked over the Italian announce table. He raged that he has unmatched ring awareness and when he put his boot under the bottom rope, the pinfall cannot be counted. He said the referee and Cody Rhodes know that. He said Cody took advantage of that and cheated. Cody’s music played as Gunther continue to rant.
Cody shook hands on the way to the ring and then told Gunther, “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but you’re right.” Fans hijacked the segment with the annoying “Cody… Cody Rhodes!” song. He said his foot was under the rope, but he asked if as a 20 year pro he’s never had a controversial ending that shorted him before. He mocked him for his tantrum. He suggested they have a rematch tonight. Sami Zayn’s music then played.
Sami walked out as fans sang his song. He told the fans that’s the kind of respected he’s been looking for. He told Gunther he knows how it feels to be robbed of a title opportunity. He then called Cody “the Golden Boy.” He said they are both ignoring that they both did him wrong. Gunther said, “You know what, Sami, this is WWE Championship business; this doesn’t involve you. Do me a favor and shut up and get out of my ring.”
Sami said it’s true he has never held the World Title, but he knows a thing or two about beating him for championships. Cody asked which Sami is in front of him right now. Cody said he’s a little busy right now. Sami said he’s always blowing him off and looking to the next “threat” to his championship. He said the biggest threat to his championship is looking right at him. Cody asked if that’s so. Sami said he was going to beat Gunther and teach him a lesson, so now that’s beat Gunther, when does he want to teach him that lesson.
Gunther charged in and shoved Cody into Sami, then put Cody in a sleeper. Sami charged back into the ring and ranked Gunther’s eyes and broke up the sleeper. Gunther threw Sami out of the ring. Cody tackled Gunther and punched away at him. Sami yanked Gunther to ringside. Cody leaped through the ropes. Gunther shoved Sami into Cody’s path. Cole said that was inadvertent. Gunther left and then Cody offered to help Sami up. Sami glared at him and stood and left.
-Miz was on the phone with Kit Wilson and then walked into Danhausen’s lab. Miz knocked stuff over. Danhausen asked him not to do that. He told Miz for sure not to grab a cable. Miz did and got electrocuted. Danhausen found a sandwich on the floor that he said he was looking all over for. He took a bite and left. The camera panned down to the dead Miz on the ground with Kit still on facetime on his phone yelling “Miz! Miz!”
-Raquel Rodriguez made her ring entrance. [c]
-Gunther was yelling at GM Nick Aldis backstage. He said since arriving at Smackdown, instead of being treated like the gift he is, he’s been disrespected. Aldis said he’s just returning the disrespect he has shown him. Gunther told Aldis to fix it or he’d get his legal team involved and he’d “drown” him in lawsuits.
(1) RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ vs. BAYLEY vs. JACY JAYNE vs. KIANA JAMES – Queen of the Ring Round One match
The bell rang 27 minutes into the hour. Bayley blew kisses after knocking Raquel out of the ring. Bayley then gave Jayne a Bayley to Belly for a near fall at minute in. Raquel returned to the ring and took all three opponents down with a crossbody.They cut to a break at 2:00 as Cole said Raquel just showed why he believes she is the favorite tonight. [c]
Raquel chokeslammed Bayley and Jayne and covered them. The ref counted. James landed on the back of Raquel and the ref stopped her count even though she easily could have counted to three before any shoulder was lifted. They cut another break at 9:00. [c]
Bayley landed a top rope elbow on James after the break. James broke up the cover, but once again clearly Bayley still had Jayne’s shoulders down for long enough for the ref to finish the count. (Am I the only who sees how stupid this looks and what a high percentage of pin break-ups are too late to justify the ref stopping their count, or don’t do anything to actually break up the cover or lead to the person on their back lifting their shoulders?) James came right back with a Deal Breaker and a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Jayne then covered Bayley with her boots on the second rope. Bayley shoved her boots off the middle rope. (Bayley’s shoulders were still down for a full three seconds.) James yelled at Giulia at ringside, blaming her. “I was about to win!” James shouted. Bayley then gave James a Rose Plant. Raquel entered and gave James the Tejana Bomb for the win. Cole noted that this sets up Raquel vs. Sky in one of the semi-finals.
WINNER: Raquel in 15:00.
-Giulia helped James up afterward. James told her to get off of her and said it’s all her fault. She said she is sick of her. Giulia heard enough and attacked James. James rolled out of the ring.
-Backstage, Sami knocked over some water bottles in a rage and asked, “Where is he? Where is he?” He then found Johnny Gargano lying on his chest on a rolling crate. He told Gargano he did the right thing, but Cody still found a way to leave him lying. He said guys like them get the short end of the stick. He saw Aldis and asked if he wanted to see him. Aldis told Sami to stay out of the business of Cody and Gunther. He said he took a bad situation and made it worse. Aldis said he had an important meeting with someone else. Sami said once again he was getting blown off. He asked who is so important. He turned and there stood Chad Gable. Fans popped. Aldis shook Gable’s hand and they went into his office. [c]
(2) TALLA TONGA (w/Solo Sikoa) vs. ROYCE KEYS
Barrett noted that Solo had been trying to recruit Keys in recent weeks after referencing them having a history “from their independent days and even prior to that.” He said Keys has made it clear he wants to do things on his own. The bell rang 54 minutes into the hour. They collided a few times and neither went down. Talla then knocked Keys down, but Keys popped right back up. Keys tried to slam Talla, but Talla resisted and broke free. He forearmed Keys across his back. Kayes clotheslined Talla over the top rope. Talla landed on his feet and they cut to a break at 2:00. [c/db]
[HOUR TWO]
Talla took over offense during the break, but Keys made a comeback right after the break.
Advertised Matches & Appearances
- Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Kiana James – Queen of the Ring Tournament match
- Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams vs. Bron Breakker vs. Dominik Mysterio – King of the Ring Tournament match
- Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
- Cody Rhodes returns to Smackdown
- Rhea Ripley to appear
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