Lineup for WWE SmackDown Tonight (June 26, 2026) ft. Paige vs Jacy Jayne, Night of Champions build; Cody Rhodes to appear & more
(Courtesy : WWE)
Tonight’s SmackDown is the go-home show for Night of Champions 2026.
With Night of Champions 2026 just one day away, WWE heads to London for the final chapter of its go-home build. The June 26 edition of Friday Night SmackDown was pre-taped on June 23 at the O2 Arena in London, England, following Monday’s Raw at the same venue.
WWE decided to tape the show early to give talent enough time to travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the Night of Champions PLE on June 27.
It is also worth noting that tonight’s SmackDown is the final three-hour edition of the show for the rest of 2026, as WWE plans to revert to the two-hour format after Night of Champions.
What’s in store for tonight’s SmackDown?
Paige competes in her first singles match since her return at WrestleMania 42, taking on Jacy Jayne of Fatal Influence. The match was set up last week after Jayne issued a direct challenge to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. Paige will be accompanied by Brie Bella, while Jayne has Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) at ringside.
Rey Fenix also puts the AAA Cruiserweight Championship on the line against Nathan Frazer in what is expected to be one of the night’s top in-ring contests.
On the storyline front, the MFTs (Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga) officially cut ties with Solo Sikoa in a backstage segment, ending their Bloodline alliance after weeks of mounting tension. LA Knight and Solo Sikoa then collide in a heated in-ring confrontation following Sikoa’s controversial interference on Raw.
The night closes with all five Night of Champions main event participants, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Gunther, Jey Uso, and Oba Femi, sharing the ring one final time before Riyadh, with the segment ending in a brawl.
Giulia and Kiana James also settle their feud in singles action, and Blake Monroe makes her SmackDown main roster debut by attacking Giulia after the match. Meanwhile, the War Raiders issue an official challenge to WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth in a backstage segment.
- Paige (w/ Brie Bella) vs. Jacy Jayne (w/ Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid)
- AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fenix (c) vs. Nathan Frazer
- Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green
- Giulia vs. Kiana James
- Danhausen and Matt Cardona vs. Los Garzas (Angel and Berto)
- Alexa Bliss and Tiffany Stratton vs. Michin and B-Fab
- Trick Williams and Ricky Saints in-ring promo segment
- LA Knight and Solo Sikoa in-ring confrontation
- Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Gunther, Jey Uso, and Oba Femi closing segment
Returns expected on tonight’s show
Brie Bella accompanies Paige to the ringside for her first singles outing since WrestleMania 42, marking another notable appearance from the WWE Hall of Famer on the SmackDown brand.
Beyond that, tonight’s closing segment brings back a familiar dynamic for WWE fans, as Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Gunther, Jey Uso, and Oba Femi all share the ring simultaneously. With Cody Rhodes reportedly dropping Kevin Owens’ name during the segment to taunt Zayn, fans are already speculating about a potential KO return in the weeks following Night of Champions.
Johnny Gargano also appears backstage alongside Candice LeRae in a vignette with Sami Zayn, continuing his low-key presence on SmackDown that has fans wondering when he will return to active competition.
Start time for tonight’s SmackDown in London
- United States, Alaska, Hawaii & Puerto Rico: 08 PM ET, 07 PM CT & 05 PM PT (Friday)
- Canada: 08 PM ET (Friday)
- United Kingdom & Ireland: 1 AM BST (Saturday)
- India: 5:30 AM IST (Saturday)
- Bangladesh: 06 AM BST (Saturday)
- Saudi Arabia: 03 AM AST (Saturday)
- Australia: 10 AM AEST / 11 AM AEDT (Saturday)
- France: 01 AM CEST (Saturday)
- Brazil: 09 PM BRT (Friday)
- Mexico: 06 PM CST (Friday)
- Singapore: 08 AM SGT (Saturday)
- China: 08 AM CST (Saturday)
- Nigeria: 01 AM WAT (Saturday)
- South Africa: 02 AM SAST (Saturday)
- Germany: 01 AM CET (Saturday)
When and where will this week’s edition of SmackDown take place?
The June 26 edition of WWE SmackDown was pre-taped on June 23 at the O2 Arena in London, England. The show will air at 8 PM ET on the USA Network for U.S. fans and on Netflix internationally, excluding select markets.
When and where will Night of Champions 2026 take place?
WWE Night of Champions 2026 is set for June 27, 2026, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.
Blesson Daniel is a sub-editor who spends his days organizing words and managing social media, crafting bursts of creativity designed to make people smile. He occasionally dives into writing as well — whether it’s crafting articles, brainstorming ideas, or finding the perfect caption. Believing that every piece of writing offers an opportunity to tell a story, Blesson brings creativity and thoughtfulness to every project he takes on. When he’s not glued to his laptop, Blesson is likely planning his next travel adventure or losing himself in music. A passionate explorer of new places, sounds, and ideas, he believes in balancing work, play, and a good playlist in the background. Whether he’s editing, writing, or daydreaming about his next trip, Blesson is always chasing that sweet spot where creativity and curiosity collide to create something memorable.