Well this is going to be interesting…
It’s time for our live coverage of tonight’s SmackDown, but things are feeling a little bit different today.
Following the allegations against him that became public this week, Vince McMahon will be appearing on SmackDown, and will reportedly address those allegations, but will do so in his Mr McMahon character. That’s gonna be quite something if that is indeed how it plays out.
Also set for tonight’s show:
- Roman Reigns (c) vs. Riddle – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
- Max Dupri reveals his first client in Maximum Male Models
- Madcap Moss vs. Happy Corbin – Last Laugh Match
Follow along with our live coverage below for updates, results and reactions to tonight’s show!
Riddle vs. Roman Reigns
Roman hits Riddle with a Rock Bottom which Pat fully names and says, “If you smell what I’m cookin'” (after which Michael Cole corrects to the proper name) which we’ve seen before (notably against Big E) but still a fun shout.
Roman lays out Riddle with Orton’s table spot and then mugs for the camera, literally addressing Randy Orton “Where you at Randy? You got a little back problem?” into a commercial break for an added emotional touch.
In the final third of the match, Riddle trying to set up Roman for a draping DDT but Roman escapes to the outside and Riddle lays Roman out with the aforementioned Orton-style table drop spot and the crowd is not only on fire and is chanting “Randy!” Riddle reverses a Superman punch run into an RKO and he somehow kicks out, Riddle is on fire but Roman finally hits a mid-air spear after Riddle is flying off the top rope.
Roman Reigns wins via pinfall to retain the undisputed championship – then there are seven minutes left and I’m confused – but then quickly am not as COWBOY BROCK IS BACK!
👀@BrockLesnar @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/v2OCEgj6o9
— WWE (@WWE) June 18, 2022
Gunther backstage
Seems they’re going full foreign heel with Gunther as his mouthpiece Kaiser Ludwig describes that the Intercontinental Championship has seen legendary champs from around the world – and Ricochet is just like America, all flash and no substance! Gunther will prevail!
Later in the episode, it is revealed that next week on SmackDown “representing America, our former champ, Ricochet” lol. Pat McAfee is a WWE treasure.
.@KingRicochet gets a chance to take back his #ICTitle as he goes up against @Gunther_AUT, NEXT WEEK on #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/iLfb1L13q0
— WWE (@WWE) June 18, 2022
Max DuPRI!
In my favorite SmackDown storyline, Max Du-PRI! is here and he is NOT pleased with Adam Pearce – the debut of Maximum Male Models will be delayed until ADAM PEARCE gets his act together and provides the elite acoustics and top of the line lighting that Max Du-PRI! requires for his hardbodies.
Then in the best thing, I have seen on weekly WWE television in a very long time, as they come back from the clip Pat says, “He just wants to titillate people’s stuff, dude.”
No elite acoustics? No top-of-the-line lighting? NO MAXIMUM MALE MODELS.#SmackDown @MaxDupri @ScrapDaddyAP pic.twitter.com/P0sACGE12D
— WWE (@WWE) June 18, 2022
Raquel Gonzalez vs. Shayna Baszler
Lacey Evans on commentary where she repeats her “Wake up, Work, Win” catchphrase numerous times. Shayna Baszler gets to show off some offense before losing to Gonzalez who secures her slot in the women’s Money in the Bank match.
.@RaquelWWE is going to #MITB! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FH5mLFSZzi
— WWE (@WWE) June 18, 2022