SmackDown airs tonight (June 5) with a show (live on Netflix in certain international markets, taped version airing in its normal time slot in the USA) emanating from Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy. This is the first episode of SmackDown during the four week build to Night of Champions, which takes place on June 27.
GUNTHER just isn’t that good in WWE
During last week’s go home promo for their title match at Clash In Italy, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes said this to GUNTHER:
“At Clash In Italy…you’re gonna get this close, and then you’re gonna find
out the worst thing that a pure wrestler, a sporting wrestler like you, could ever find out. And it’s simple; you’re just not that good.
GUNTHER, I am easy to find, hard to beat!”
Cody’s new catchphrase is especially true when the WWE referees don’t see his opponent’s foot under the rope during a pin fall attempt, which is how GUNTHER ended up losing the match. But a win is a win, and for now, that means GUNTHER just isn’t that good.
To his credit, the champ has already said that he will gladly give GUNTHER a rematch due to the controversial finish, so I wouldn’t be surprised if GM Nick Aldis books round two for Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia. But who knows, after GUNTHER lost the first match, perhaps another WWE star will enter the title mix and turn this story into a 3-way or 4-way feud. There is talk about former champ Drew McIntyre returning to WWE very soon, after all, and maybe Randy Orton wants his share of that Saudi money.
Will the Ring General storm down to the ring tonight in anger and demand an extra stipulation for a rematch with Cody, to ensure that WWE’s incompetent referees don’t screw up his next shot at the gold? Or will he be cool, calm, and relaxed, and wait a few weeks before signing a contract to fight Rhodes again? Tune into SmackDown in Italy to find out when (or if) the rematch of Rhodes vs. GUNTHER is happening.
The rest of the card
WWE hasn’t announced any matches for tonight’s 3-hour episode of SmackDown as of this writing at 8:30 am ET, but it’s logical to think one of those opening round 4-way matches in the King of the Ring tournament will take place.
Oba Femi has already advanced in the tournament, while Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints vs. Talla Tonga is scheduled for Raw. That leaves either Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest or Finn Balor vs. Jey Uso vs. LA Knight vs. Royce Keys for tonight. Balor was just traded to SmackDown this week, and the first impression he makes on the blue brand could hinge on how he fares in this match. If it’s instead the Trick Williams match that is booked for tonight, there may be questions on whether Breakker is ready to compete after losing in the main event of Raw.
Similarly, I expect to see a Queen of the Ring opening round 4-way match on SmackDown. IYO SKY has already advanced in the tournament, while Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Chelsea Green vs. Alexa Bliss is scheduled for Raw. That leaves either Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill or Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Kiana James for tonight. The match with Cargill vs. Flair is the big one, but WWE may want to tease it out for another week after Flair helped cost Cargill her match at Clash In Italy, only for Cargill to attack Flair backstage after the show was over.
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley needs someone new to feud with after beating Cargill again at Clash In Italy. Will “The Glamour” Blake Monroe show up on SmackDown and try to make a statement at the champ’s expense?
– Sami Zayn beat that jabroni Matt Cardona last week and maintains that he is the last good guy left in WWE. Which babyface on the blue brand will learn that fact the hard way tonight? Will Sami continue venting his spleen to Johnny Gargano backstage when he is treated unfairly by people like Cody Rhodes and Nick Aldis?
– Is WWE Tag Team Champion R-Truth’s master plan to remain not medically cleared until Royce Keys and Damian Priest figure out how to work together well enough together to beat MFT? Will Shinsuke Nakamura return tonight and be ready to join that cause?
– Speaking of MFT, what do Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga have to say about Jacob Fatu being neutered and falling in line to acknowledge Roman Reigns as his Tribal Chief? Does anybody in MFT think they should follow suit to reunite the family?
– Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green have helped each other defeat The Irresistible Forces in singles match in recent weeks. Does that mean a tag team match is imminent?
– Does Fatal Influence need to beat anyone before Aldis books them in a title match against WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Paige and Brie Bella?
– Giulia was pinned in her Queen of the Ring 4-way match on Raw. Is it Kiana James’ turn to do the same exact thing when she competes in the tournament?
– Ricky Saints has yet to beat anyone in WWE not named Matt Cardona. Can he turn his luck around soon against either Carmelo Hayes or United States Champion Trick Williams?
– It looks like Danhausen is hiding a really large man or monster under a sheet in his science laboratory. Is it really Baron Corbin under there? What about Braun Strowman, Big Cass, or Chad Gable?
– Will there be any follow up for Axiom after he beat The Miz last week, or does WWE creative go back to forgetting about him now that SmackDown isn’t in Spain?
– Kit Wilson didn’t make it past customs last week because he brought too much moisturizer. Will he make a similar travel mistake that keeps him off tonight’s show too?
– Which wrestler was traded from SmackDown in order to get Balor on the blue brand?
– Where the f*** is Ilja Dragunov? He hasn’t wrestled a match since the night before WrestleMania 42 in April.
What will you be looking for on SmackDown?
