WWE SmackDown (June 26, 2026): Paige returns to singles action in London; Giulia vs Kiana James & more set for next week
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The second spot for both tournaments has been occupied.
The June 19 installment of Friday Night SmackDown concluded at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The show was one of the major shows in the lead-up to Night of Champions, and the promotion announced multiple matches.
What was also confirmed was both the remaining finalists in the King and Queen of the Ring tournament. Jey Uso defeated Je’Von Evans to advance into the finals, where he will face Oba Femi. On the other hand, Liv Morgan defeated Charlotte Flair to secure her spot against Iyo Sky in the finals.
The storyline involving Cody Rhodes, Gunther, and Sami Zayn intensified during the show. Rhodes retained the title after Zayn, serving as special guest referee, made a quick three-count in the rematch against Gunther.
The match was then restarted with a different referee, but chaos erupted when Zayn attacked both men. The events ultimately led to the announcement of a triple threat title match for Night of Champions.
Jacy Jayne vs Paige is official for next week’s SmackDown
During this week’s show, Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) cut a promo, where Jayne called out one-half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Paige, for a match next week. This will be Paige’s first singles match since she returned at WrestleMania 42.
On the other hand, Giulia appeared in a vignette and issued a challenge to her former manager, Kiana James. The alliance came to an end recently, when a miscommunication led to James losing the fatal four-way match in the QOTR tournament. James confronted Giulia after the match, and weeks of tensions boiled over as Giulia attacked James.
The June 26 edition of WWE SmackDown will be pre-taped on June 23 at the O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom, one day after Raw. The show will air as usual on tape delay on Friday at 8 PM ET on the USA Network in the U.S and on Netflix internationally (excluding select markets).
The edition will serve as the go-home show for the 2026 edition of Night of Champions, which is set for June 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Announced for WWE SmackDown next week (June 26, 2026)
- Paige vs Jacy Jayne
- Giulia vs Kiana James
When and where will next week’s edition of SmackDown take place?
The June 26 edition of WWE SmackDown will emanate live from the O2 Arena in London, UK. The show will air at 8 PM ET on the USA Network for U.S fans and on Netflix internationally (excluding select markets).
Will the show be pre-taped?
Yes, WWE will pre-tape next week’s SmackDown. The show will air as usual on tape delay on Friday at 8 PM ET on the USA Network in the U.S and on Netflix internationally (excluding select markets).
When and where will Night of Champions 2026 take place?
Night of Champions 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.