Top storylines to watch on WWE SmackDown tonight (June 12, 2026): Cody Rhodes vs Gunther 2; LA Knight & Jey Uso's collision & more
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
Storylines & feuds heat up on SmackDown ahead of the Night of Champions!
Live from the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, the June 12 edition of Friday Night SmackDown will feature the final first-round matches of the 2026 King and Queen of the Ring tournament. WWE has returned to the United States after this week’s Raw and will head back to Europe ahead of the Night of Champions PLE later this month.
The return to the U.S. means that SmackDown will return to it’s origiunal time slot for international fans. Apart from the first two rounds of the King and Queen of the Ring tournament, the show is expected to continue the build towards Night of Champions.
On the other hand, as announced by General Manager Nick Aldis, Gunther will reveal his condition for the Clash in Italy title rematch against Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. Let us take a look at the top four storylines that are likely to unravel on this week’s WWE SmackDown.
4. WWE Women’s Tag Team titles
During last week’s show, Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley) in a backstage segment crashed the Women’s Tag Team Champions Paige and Brie Bella’s photoshoot and attacked them.
This attack was a statement from the newcomers from NXT and WWE will likely continue this storyline, likely leading in a title showdown at the upcoming PLE or event next month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in MSG, New York.
3. Giulia – Kiana James
After a miscommunication that led to Kiana James losing in the first-round match of the Queen of the Ring tournament, James confronted Giulia and started berating her. However, Giulia was in no mood to listen to the taunts of her manager.
The former Women’s US Champion snapped and attacked James, marking the end of their alliance. What lies next for the former associates will likely be addressed on this week’s show.
2. LA Knight & Jey Uso collide in KOTR
During this past Monday’s Raw, LA Knight and Jey Uso faced off in a segment, hyping up the final King of the Ring tournament first-round match, which also involves Royce Keys and Finn Balor.
While both argued about winning the first-round match and challenging Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, respectively, at SummerSlam, the underlying tensions regarding Knight‘s disapproval of Roman Reigns’ reviving the Bloodline, while Jey has warned him of bad-mouthing his family. Knight, though, has refused to back down, and now fans are waiting to see what transpires in the upcoming clash.
1. Cody Rhodes vs Gunther 2
Last week, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis asked Cody Rhodes whether his rematch offer to Gunther is still on the table. Cody said yes, and Aldis then revealed that Gunther was prepared to accept the challenge, but only on one condition, which he would disclose that condition on the June 12 edition of SmackDown.
Cody stated that if they have to wait till next, it means they should do the tile rematch in Kansas City (June 19), and made it clear that he doesn’t want to wait any further. Fans are now waiting to see what Gunther‘s conditions for the rematch would be, and what role Sami Zayn will play, especially since his involvement in the segment last week.
When and where will the June 12 edition of WWE SmackDown take place?
The June 12 edition of WWE SmackDown will air live from the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.
Will the show have an early start time?
No, the show will have its usual start time of 8 PM ET worldwide as the promotion returns to the United States next week.
What is the next PLE after Clash in Italy?
Night of Champions is the next Premium Live Event after Clash in Italy. The show is set for June 27, 2026, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.