It’s Friday, and that means it’s nearly the weekend, but before we get there, there are a couple more shows to get through, and the first of those is WWE SmackDown!
Tonight’s show has a championship match and Money in the Bank qualifying matches, so at least it seems like it’ll be pretty newsworthy.
Here’s the announced card for tonight:
- Ricochet (c) vs. Gunther – Intercontinental Championship
- Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus – Money in the Bank qualifier
- Lacey Evans vs. Xia Li – Money in the Bank qualifier
- Max Dupri to reveal the first members of Maximum Male Models
All that and more in store, so be sure to follow along with our live coverage below for updates, results, and reactions to tonight’s show.
It's time for the Main Event!
After the pre-match hoopla, we finally get Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle. Next week, we’re getting The Last Laugh Match between Moss and Corbin. We’re also going to get Max Dupri and the Maximum Male Models.
In this main event, if Riddle loses, then he is banned from SmackDown. If he wins, he gets a shot at Roman Reigns. If Sami wins, Heyman will recommend him for The Bloodline. If Zayn loses, he doesn’t want to find out what will happen.
Heyman joins commentary. I miss when Heyman did regular commentary. So far, Riddle is on the offense, but Zayn fights back at every turn.
Sami Zayn tries to get Riddle counted out, but Riddle gets back in. Riddle hits a beautiful knee strike and almost wins. What a near fall. Sami Zayn channels his inner Randy Orton. He hits the draping DDT. Instead of going for the cover, he sets up for the RKO. Riddle hits the Final Flash instead. Zayn goes to the outside. Floating Bro.
Back inside, Riddle hits the Snap Slam. He hits his own Draping DDT. Riddle then goes for the RKO. NO!!! Sami hits the Blue Thunder Bomb. Heyman is losing his mind.
Zayn tries to stay on top. He goes for the Helluva Kick, but Riddle drills him with an RKO. Riddle gets a win. He’ll go on to face Roman next week.
After the match, The Usos attack. They think they have him down and celebrate. Riddle flies in with a Kendo Stick and takes out both Usos.
.@HeymanHustle does not approve of this Floating Bro by @SuperKingofBros. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/l2yL5FCDCH
— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2022
The mat is sacred!!!
It’s my favorite time on Fridays. Gunther is about to cave some chests in. In this case, it will be Ricochet. Poor guy.
Before the match, we get a Riddle promo. He talks about Randy. If he wins against Sami Zayn, then he gets a title shot against Roman Reigns next week.
The first chop. Ouch. Then Gunther puts him on the top rope and tries to push his head off with his boot. Gunther is a vicious fellow.
He has to win this one right? You can’t have him lose to Ricochet.
At one point, Ricochet is in full gear when Gunther hits a lariat that turned him inside out. Gunther almost decapitated him.
Ricochet goes on a roll. He hits a few flying moves, but he goes for the 630 and misses. Gunther hits the shotgun dropkick. The big powerbomb and Gunther wins. Gunther is the new Intercontinental Champion. I think the IC title is about to get a lot more interesting. It appears WWE is behind Gunther.
Sami Zayn is joined backstage by Paul Heyman. Heyman tells Sami if he wins Heyman will go to Roman and say he belongs in the Bloodline. He threatens him if he loses. That match is next.
.@Gunther_AUT sent @KingRicochet FLYING. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/xdyOaHY0cW
— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2022
Championship Contender's Match
Shotzi and Ronda are having a match. Theoretically, Shotzi will get a future title match if she can beat Ronda. Ronda goes for ankle lock after ankle lock. Shotzi just uses striking to get back.
Shotzi is really getting a ton of offense in this one. She drills Ronda with a really nice kick to the head. It looked like it landed hard. Rousey is trying to get in some submissions. Shotzi is able to get out time and time again.
Shotzi hits a combination until she misses on the last one. Ronda catches her. Shotzi just keeps slapping her in the face over and over. Instead of being hurt, it fires Ronda up. She hits Piper’s Pit. She hits the Armbar. That’s it. Ronda wins.
Nattie attacks immediately after the match. She locks in the Sharpshooter. The refs have to break it up.
And just like that @RondaRousey takes back the momentum. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/up058VhsZo
— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2022
Rousey is here to talk
Rousey is here to talk some trash. She starts running down Nattie. She says her Armbar is better than Natalya’s Sharpshooter. For some reason, Shotzi is here.
Shotzi wants a Title Shotzi. I wish I could take credit for that incredible play on words, but alas, it was Ronda Rousey. So, we’re getting a contender’s match for Shotzi next.
Before that exchange, both Drew and Sheamus want in the ladder match and berate Adam Pearce. Pearce is shaken, but we have no decision thus far.
.@RondaRousey thinks her armbar is better than @NatbyNature's Sharpshooter.
What do you think? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/55TSpbedfu
— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2022