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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JUNE 19, 2026
KANSAS CITY, MO. AT T-MOBILE CENTER
TELECAST ON DELAY ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 6,362 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 19,252 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Eric Corbridge to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened the show with a scene from Kansas City. Joe Tessitore introduced the show as they showed split-screens of Jey Uso and Je’Von Evans and of Charlotte Flair & Liv Morgan and of Cody Rhodes, Gunther, and Sami Zayn. Tessitore noted it was episode 1,400 of Smackdown.
(1a) CODY RHODES vs. GUNTHER – WWE Undisputed Title match with Sami Zayn as special referee
Tessitore touted the commercial-free World Title match to open the show. He talked about the backstory of Sami becoming referee and they showed a video of the ref missing Gunther’s boot under the bottom rope. Tessitore said on the first Smackdown ever, Triple H beat The Rock for the World Title with Shawn Michaels as special referee.
Sami enforced a clean break for Cody. Gunther snuck in a cheap shot that Sami didn’t see. Later, when Cody had Gunther pinned, Sami noticed his boot was under the bottom rope. Cody didn’t know why Sami stopped his count.
Gunther eventually got upset with Sami and took him out with a big boot and a powerbomb. A second ref ran out. Cody landed a CrossRhodes for a near fall. When Gunther had Cody covered a short time later, Sami yanked the replacement ref out of the ring as Gunther had Cody covered, upset with Gunther. When Cody went for a sunset flip, Gunther held onto the top rope to resist. Sami kicked Gunther’s hands off the top rope and then made a fast three-count.
WINNER: Cody to retain the WWE Title in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Going “commercial-free” in a 12 minute match isn’t quite the brag they were marketing. The match was just a set-up for a Triple Threat, which isn’t surprising, but it really felt like they saved almost everything for another match.)
-G.M. Nick Aldis yelled at Sami and as Gunther stormed to the back for a sudden abrupt break. [c]
-The announcers commented on a recap of the controversial finish. Then they cut backstage to Aldis, Cody, and Gunther arguing over what happened. Aldis restarted the match. Gunther threw Sami into a wall when he protested the restart. Cody ran back to the ring and said he wanted a new ref and the match to be restarted. Fans cheered.
(1b) CODY RHODES vs. GUNTHER – WWE Undisputed Title match
Gunther ran out to the ring with a new referee following behind. Cody put Gunther in a sleeper, but Gunther reversed it. They exchanged sleepers again. Sami the ran into the ring and charged at Cody and Gunther. Sami hit Gunther with a Helluva Kick and the ref called for the bell.
WINNER: No contest in 3:00.
-Sami hit the referee with the belt afterward. When Cody approached Sami from behind, Sami hit Cody with the title belt. Sami expressed regret, as if he didn’t know it was Cody. Fans chanted “Sami Sucks!”
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin backstage. They complained about Tiffany Stratton costing Jade the four-way Queen of the Ring opening round match. Jade said at least she injured Rhea Ripley, then challenged Tiffany to defend her U.S. Title against her at Night of Champions. [c]
-The announcers commented on a recap of the WWE Title match.
-Gunther yelled at Aldis backstage that he was screwed twice and blamed him for not being champion. Aldis said he selected Sami and that didn’t go well. Gunther told Aldis to give him a title match at NOC.
-A recap aired of Jey Uso advancing last week in the King of the Ring tournament.
-Solo Sikoa was sitting in his dressing room when Jacob Fatu arrived. Solo stood and asked what he wanted. Solo told him to tell Roman Reigns the answer is no. Fatu told him to make the right choice because he was running out of time. Solo asked what that meant. Tama and Talla asked what that was about and Solo shifted to telling him they need to focus on the tag team titles. Tama told Solo not to go out there later because his family business is starting to affect their business. He said who knows who will follow him out.
-Damien Priest and R-Truth made their entrance. [c]
-A Blake Monroe vignette aired where she talked about meeting Giulia once before in Japan. She said she’ll soon pass by Giulia and Giulia shouldn’t cry. Barrett said they could all do with more glamour in their lives.
(2) DAMIEN PRIEST & R-TRUTH vs. TAMA & TALLA TONGA – WWE Tag Team Title match
Talla and Tama made their entrance. Solo did not come out with them. They showed The Viking Raiders watching backstage.
[HOUR TWO]
Solo came to ringside at 9:00. Talla asked what he was doing, losing focus on the match. Priest dove toward Talla, but Solo pushed him out of the way. Priest hit Solo instead. Priest went to chokeslam Talla, but Priest avoided a charging Talla leading to Talla hitting the ringpost. R-Truth then rolled up a distracted Tama for the win.
WINNERS: Priest & Truth in 10:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
-Talla and Tama were upset with Solo afterward.
-Sami talked to Johnny Gargano backstage, lamenting his bad luck and said he is the last real good guy. Aldis showed up and said he was upset with Sami for the fast count earlier. Sami said he called it down the middle until Gunther powerbombed him. Aldis said he shouldn’t have put his hands on Gunther. Sami said Cody should be thanking him. He said he’s not done with this situation. [c]
-Tessitore got in some plugs.
-Jey Uso cut a promo about his match, predicting victory. Je’Von Evans walked up to Jey and called him “Unc.” Jey said he’s goign to make him his son when he slaps the confidence out of it.
(3) RICKY SAINTS vs. CARMELO HAYES – U.S. Title No. 1 Contendership match
The bell rang 17 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break as Hayes rallied and had some words aimed at Trick Williams. [c]
The ref caught Saints using a hand full of tights on a cover. Late in the match, Hayes hit his First 48. Saints kicked out and sent Hayes into an exposed turnbuckle leading to Saints getting the win.
WINNER: Saints in 14:00 to earn a U.S. Title match
-Backstage, Cody confronted Aldis as he was on a phone call. Aldis said he was working on a solution. Cody said Sami can be “a lot,” and there was only one way to solve this. He said wanted to face both Gunther and Sami. Aldis agreed and booked it for Night of Champions.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Charlotte Flair. She said it’s been a few years since she held a world title. She said she’s a queen with or without a crow, but beating Liv Morgan would put her back on top for the 15th time. [c]
-A clip aired of Danhausen getting media coverage after the New York Knicks win.
-Danhausen was in his lap with Miz and Kit Wilson hooked up to some contraption. They were pretending Miz and Kit were still electrocuted a week later. Angel and Berto showed up and complained at Danhausen for not cursing the Knicks. They said they lost money on a bet. Danhausen was going to curse them when Matt Cardona showedup. Danhausen called him Zack Ryder. Cardona corrected him. Danhausen told Ryder that Miz and Kit were better than ever, but Cardona inadvertently caused a power surge. Cardona sold getting zapped.
-Finn Balor confronted Finn Balor backstage for his win last week. Truth said Priest just beat “The Wild Smaoans” and now they need to work on getting Balor a title. Balor said he didn’t need Truth’s help. Truth said that once you’re in The Judgment Day, you’re in it for life. Priest showed up and was fed up again. He said he doesn’t trust Balor.
-Jey made his entrance. [c]
Backstage, they showed highlights of the Cody-Gunther-Sami developments.
(4) JEY USO vs. JE’VON EVANS – King of the Ring semi-final
Evans’ entrance aired. The bell rang 54 minutes into the hour. They cut to a very early break after Evans dropkicked Jey who rolled to ringside followed by Evans landing a top rope dive. [c]
[HOUR THREE]
They went into rapid-fire back and forth action, then. cut to a double-box break after Jey shoved Evans into the barricade. [c/db]
When Evans went for an OG Cutter, Jey popped up and knocked him off balance. He hit a spear and then an Uso Splash off the top rope for the win. Barrett touted Evans’ toughness. Jey and Evans shook hands afterward. Jey pointed at Evans and raised his arm in a show of respect.
WINNER: Evans in 16:00.
-A vignette aired with Guilia saying they’ll find out next week who’s better between her and Kiana James.
-Kelley interviewed Tiffany about Jade’s challenge. Tiffany said she’ll be at NOC and she won’t need any sidekicks. Chelsea Green then interrupted and showed support and said they are equals, unlike Jade and her sidekicks. Green told Tiffany is mapping out a road to stardom. Tiffany called her for calling her Tacky Time before. Green said it was a term of endearment. Tiffany said she doesn’t need her help and she can do it on her own. [c]
-A vignette aired on Liv Morgan and her NXT origin story. Tessitore then plugged NXT Great American Bash next week on The CW.
-A video package aired on Brie Bella & Paige and Fatal Influence.
-Fatal Influence them cut a promo backstage and called Paige & Brie “a nostalgia act” and “pathetic.” She said she’s going to demand a match against Paige in London next week on Raw.
-Cody congratulated Jey for his win and said “one to go.” Cody told him he’s not hard to find if wins and chooses him, but he needs to focus on Oba now. Cody walked away and Sami showed up. He asked Jey how he was doing. Sami said he wasn’t doing great, but Sami said he thought Jey was going to win KOTR and then wrestle the WWE Champion. He said he thinks the champion by then will be him, though. Jey said if so, he’ll do what he has to do. Sami nodded and told him to “say hi to the family for him.”
-They cut to Tessitore and Barrett. Tessitore said that exchange sums up the type of evening they’ve had. They plugged NOC’s matches.
-Jade, Michin, and B-Fab confronted Charlotte. The segment was poorly mic’d, but Charlotte told Jade that Tiffany is not her friend. Charlotte told Jade she needs friends who are more effective and told her she can try to be Queen of the Ring next year. Jade, B-Fab, and Michin turned to leave, but then attacked Charlotte from behind and attacked her left knee. [c]
-Charlotte was being tended to backstage by Bliss and a medic. Liv laughed on her way to the ring. Barrett said Charlotte won’t have time for a full thorough medical evaluation. Aldis tried to stop Charlotte, but she insisted they play her music and then headed to the ring. As Charlotte stepped onto the ring apron, Liv charged and clipped her knee. Charlotte dropped to the floor as medics ran to the ring to evaluate her. Charlotte didn’t want them near her. Aldis ran out. Charlotte yelled at Aldis, “You know how much this mean to me!” Aldis said she’s hurt and she shouldn’t go through with this. She entered he ring and the ref called for the bell.
(5) CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. LIV MORGAN – Queen of the Ring semi-final
Tessitore called Charlotte “courageous.” The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. Liv went on the attack at the start and shoved Charlotte to ringside and then into the ringside steps. They cut to a very early break. [c]
Liv wrapped Charlotte’s leg around the ringpost. Charlotte eventually made a comeback and landed a crossbody press for a two count. Charlotte threw some chops. Liv reverse-whipped Charlotte and Charlotte collapsed under her own weight due to the injured knee. Charlotte caught a charging Liv with a boot to the face for a two count. Charlotte lifted Liv, but her leg gave out. Charlotte managed to catch Liv with a big boot. (That seems like a move you wouldn’t do if you were selling a badly injured leg.) Charlotte went for a top rope moonsault, but her leg gave out. Liv gave Charlotte a nasty powerbomb for a near fall at 7:00. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Charlotte landed a second rope Natural Selection for a two count. Charlotte then applied a figure-four leglock and then slapped Liv. Charlotte bridged into a Figure-Eight. Tessitore complimented Charlotte’s grit and heart. Liv rolled over to reverse the pressure. Charlotte rolled through and then Liv grabbed the bottom rope.
Liv applied a half Boston Crab. Charlotte crawled to the bottom rope to force a break. Charlotte sat at ringside as the medical team and Bliss checked on her. Charlotte looked determined and told Bliss “you get me.” Liv grabbed Charlotte from behind. Liv then landed Oblivion for a near fall. Liv went to a single-leg Boston Crab again and Charlotte finally tapped out.
WINNER: Morgan in 15:00 to advance to the QOTR Final.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Eric Corbridge to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
LINK TO BE A CALLER: https://streamyard.com/x6vmsrubk8
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
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