{"id":99315,"date":"2020-06-19T16:14:03","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T21:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=99315"},"modified":"2020-06-19T16:14:03","modified_gmt":"2020-06-19T21:14:03","slug":"wwe-smackdown-primer-6-19-continued-backlash-fallout-firefly-funhouse-returns-phenomenal-championship-celebration-miz-welcomes-a-peachy-guest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/wwe-smackdown-primer-6-19-continued-backlash-fallout-firefly-funhouse-returns-phenomenal-championship-celebration-miz-welcomes-a-peachy-guest\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 6\/19:\u00a0Continued Backlash Fallout, Firefly Funhouse Returns, Phenomenal Championship Celebration, Miz Welcomes a Peachy Guest"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1093757325\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER<br \/>\nJUNE 19, 2020<br \/>\nORLANDO, FLA. AT THE WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER<br \/>\nAIRS ON FOX NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EDT<br \/>\nBY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH SPECIALIST<\/h3>\n<p><em>Announcers: Michael Cole, Corey Graves<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Top 10 Moments from Last Week<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Top 10 Friday Night SmackDown moments: WWE Top 10, June 12, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/olJiVidRfi0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Backlash Results Pertinent to Smackdown<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Smackdown Women\u2019s Champion Bayley &amp; Sasha Banks defeated Alexa Bliss &amp; Nikki Cross and the IIconics (Billie Kay &amp; Peyton Royce) to retain the WWE Women\u2019s Tag Team Championship.<\/li>\n<li>Sheamus defeated Jeff Hardy<\/li>\n<li>Braun Strowman defeated the Miz &amp; John Morrison to retain the Universal Championship<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Items Advertised by WWE<\/h3>\n<p>We moved past Backlash and turn our attention towards Extreme Rules, which we learned will take place on Sunday, July 19. Things remained status quo in terms of champions at Backlash and we\u2019ll likely move in new directions because of what\u2019s advertised tonight. Speaking of which, here\u2019s what\u2019s on tap for tonight:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bray Wyatt and \u201cFirefly Funhouse\u201d to make ominous return<\/li>\n<li>A.J. Styles rolling out red carpet for Intercontinental Championship presentation<\/li>\n<li>Mandy Rose set to address broken relationship with Sonya Deville on \u201cMizTV\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Note: Advertising of Matt Riddle&#8217;s debut has been pulled, most likely related to the #SpeakingOut sexual assault allegations that WWE is investigating regarding him. Details below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Firefly Funhouse Returns<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re really glad that you\u2019re our friend\u2026.and this is the friendship that\u2019ll never ever end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I couldn\u2019t help it there. Anyway, we learned that Bray Wyatt and the Firefly Funhouse would return to Smackdown tonight. Bray was last seen on WWE TV during Money in the Bank where he unsuccessfully challenged Braun Strowman, his former Wyatt Family member. As you may recall, Strowman teased re-joining Bray during the match, but it was ultimately a rouse. Following the match, we saw Bray sitting in the corner and images of his alter-ego, the Fiend, come onto our screen.<\/p>\n<p>Strowman retained the Universal Championship this past Sunday at Backlash. It is possible Bray is coming back to pursue the title once again he lost back in February to Goldberg at Super Showdown. Whatever the case may be, we are all invited to the Firefly Funhouse.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: If they set up Strowman vs. Bray again for the Universal Championship, it could be an Extreme Rules match. If I remember correctly, and no I don\u2019t have the desire to look it up, I think they do one for Raw and one for Smackdown. There are a few options for Raw. There\u2019s not much for Smackdown. Anyway, it\u2019s always interesting when we get the Funhouse.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>A Phenomenal Celebration for New Intercontinental Champion A.J. Styles<\/h3>\n<p>Last week in a compelling 40+ minute match, A.J. Styles defeated Daniel Bryan to win his first Intercontinental Championship in WWE. He defeated Shinsuke Nakamura and was set to face Elias in the semi-finals, but Elias was taken out before the show and A.J. earned a bye into the finals. He has now held the WWE Championship twice, the U.S. Championship three times, and the now the Intercontinental gold. Bryan and A.J. feuded over the WWE Championship in late 2018-early 2019 where Bryan turned heel and took the championship after initially coming up short.<\/p>\n<p>This past Sunday at Backlash, he said he wanted to have the greatest championship presentation (again with this greatest nonsense) because he is the greatest champion ever (just pour it on thick there A.J.). He said that Bryan should be there to learn how to become a champion. Here\u2019s A.J. posing with his new title in a WWE exclusive and a tweet talking about winning:<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2911485429\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AJ Styles looking phenomenal with the Intercontinental Title: SmackDown Exclusive, June 12, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_gk2vPzIEzU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I know what this title means. <br \/>I know what I have to do. <br \/>What a match with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Wwedanielbryan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WWEDanielBryan<\/a>, now it\u2019s about making this title <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/phenomenal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#phenomenal<\/a>. I\u2019m watching&#8230;and waiting. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Smackdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Smackdown<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WWEBacklash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WWEBacklash<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cANXaBDq4n\">https:\/\/t.co\/cANXaBDq4n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AJStylesOrg\/status\/1271805989365387265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 13, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: I love seeing that A.J. wants to take the title seriously, and he\u2019s a guy that make it seem important. It\u2019s a matter of WWE getting behind it and allowing it to happen. I\u2019m not super confident as the title has typically been passed around and treated in a low-rent way. If they can build up some babyface opponents for him, such as Shorty G, Jeff Hardy, Drew Gulak, etc. then it can work. As far as the \u201ccelebration,\u201d we know it\u2019s going to lead to Bryan interrupting or somebody stepping in.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Miz TV: Guest Mandy Rose<\/h3>\n<p>Mandy Rose is several months into her relationship with 2020 Money in the Bank winner Otis of Heavy Machinery. She\u2019s also had matches, both individual and mixed tag, with her former best friend Sonya Deville. It was Sonya that corroborated with Dolph Ziggler to try and keep Mandy and Otis from getting together.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Heavy Machinery (Otis &amp; Tucker) and Universal Champion Braun Strowman defeated Ziggler and Miz &amp; John Morrison. The match wasn\u2019t without its antics, as King Corbin confronted Mandy in the back regarding Otis stealing his crown a week earlier. He told her she was fantasizing about a man with power and respect, like himself. Otis left the match and went after Corbin. Later, he would return to hit his signature Caterpillar Elbow on Ziggler to score the win.<\/p>\n<p>Tonight, Mandy joins Miz on an episode of MizTV. She will address her relationship with Sonya. John Morrison is likely to be there and I\u2019m certain Otis will accompany Mandy, his \u201cpeach.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: I don\u2019t hate all of this, but I don\u2019t really care either. It\u2019s comic relief, and some people want to see that on their wrestling show. None of this is the worst thing in the world, so it\u2019s fine. Otis holding Money in the Bank is not doing it for me. I think I want to see King Corbin beat him for the briefcase at this point. Did I type that? Yes, I did.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Matt Riddle Debut<\/h3>\n<p>WWE at one point advertised on their website and on TV that Matt Riddle would make his debut tonight. That said, WWN wrestler and valet Candy Cartwright came out and accused Riddle of sexual assault. Below are links to PWTorch columnist Sean Radican\u2019s articles regarding the allegation:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ekhzbwodQr\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/matt-riddle-accused-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-evolve-valet-details-experience-in-van-with-riddle-w-radicans-analysis\/\">Matt Riddle accused of rape and sexual assault, Evolve valet details experience in van with Riddle<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Matt Riddle accused of rape and sexual assault, Evolve valet details experience in van with Riddle&#8221; &#8212; \" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/matt-riddle-accused-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-evolve-valet-details-experience-in-van-with-riddle-w-radicans-analysis\/embed\/#?secret=9ocnbTiuOL#?secret=ekhzbwodQr\" data-secret=\"ekhzbwodQr\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"u7AlH0XvuI\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/riddle-challenges-credibility-of-accuser-in-dm-to-interviewer-says-wwe-is-going-to-press-charges-w-radicans-analysis\/\">Riddle challenges credibility of accuser in DM to interviewer, says WWE is going to press charges<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Riddle challenges credibility of accuser in DM to interviewer, says WWE is going to press charges&#8221; &#8212; \" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/riddle-challenges-credibility-of-accuser-in-dm-to-interviewer-says-wwe-is-going-to-press-charges-w-radicans-analysis\/embed\/#?secret=VFlwyd5UnZ#?secret=u7AlH0XvuI\" data-secret=\"u7AlH0XvuI\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Considering the allegation, I\u2019m not offering any analysis nor will I hype his debut as I would typically do in my primers. Tonight\u2019s episode has already been recorded, so I don\u2019t know how they can edit him out if they want to understandably hold off on his debut. Here\u2019s the latest from Sean who communicated with WWE:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"xr39S8bcpa\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/wwe-issues-statement-on-riddle-sexual-assault-and-rape-accusations-says-they-are-investigating-the-matter\/\">WWE issues statement on Riddle sexual assault and rape accusations, says they are investigating the matter, no longer being hyped for tonight&#8217;s TV show<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;WWE issues statement on Riddle sexual assault and rape accusations, says they are investigating the matter, no longer being hyped for tonight&#8217;s TV show&#8221; &#8212; \" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/wwe-issues-statement-on-riddle-sexual-assault-and-rape-accusations-says-they-are-investigating-the-matter\/embed\/#?secret=03mgBn5r1g#?secret=xr39S8bcpa\" data-secret=\"xr39S8bcpa\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Other Match Results and News Items from Last Week:<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-943549610\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Sheamus made Jeff Hardy take a drug test at their contract signing ahead of their Backlash match. As someone who is subject to random drug tests, that\u2019s NOT how it\u2019s done.<\/li>\n<li>Cesaro &amp; Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Smackdown Tag Team Champions New Day (Big E &amp; Kofi Kingston) in a non-title match. What, you expected something else?<\/li>\n<li>Smackdown Women\u2019s Champion Bayley &amp; Sasha Banks celebrated their winning the WWE Women\u2019s Tag Team Championship. They got into a confrontation with their Backlash opponents the IIconics (Billie Kay &amp; Peyton Royce), and Alexa Bliss &amp; Nikki Cross.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>Despite uninspired storylines there are some things to which we can look forward tonight. I\u2019m curious if Bray gets into it with Strowman. I want to see what\u2019s next for the Intercontinental Championship. The good thing about Smackdown is that it goes quick, so there\u2019s that!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Follow Frank on Twitter @FrankPeteani. Questions and discussion are welcome. Thank you for reading!<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-4258287491\"><div id=\"pwtor-3840970380\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER JUNE 19, 2020 ORLANDO, FLA. AT THE WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER AIRS ON FOX NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EDT BY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH SPECIALIST Announcers: Michael Cole, Corey Graves Top 10 Moments from <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/06\/19\/wwe-smackdown-primer-6-19-continued-backlash-fallout-firefly-funhouse-returns-phenomenal-championship-celebration-miz-welcomes-a-peachy-guest\/\" title=\"WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 6\/19:\u00a0Continued Backlash Fallout, Firefly Funhouse Returns, Phenomenal Championship Celebration, Miz Welcomes a Peachy Guest\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,52,4403,27,5893,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prowrestlingnews","category-opnionandanalysis","category-smackdown-primer","category-specialists","category-tvprimers","category-news_wwe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-06-19-at-4.07.20-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99315"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99323,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99315\/revisions\/99323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}