WWE SmackDown Tonight (6/19/26): Start Time, Match Card, How To Watch & Live Stream
WWE SmackDown Tonight (6/19/26): Start Time, Match Card, How To Watch & Live Stream
Cody Rhodes will defend the WWE Championship against Gunther Friday night on WWE SmackDown, and Sami Zayn will be the special guest referee. Rick Ucchino|
Night of Champions is just over a week away, but the top prize in the entire company will be up for grabs tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
Cody Rhodes was able to escape Clash in Italy with the WWE Championship still in his possession, but it may have been a different story had the referee spotted Gunther's foot underneath the bottom rope on the decisive pinfall.
In light of the controversial finish, The Ring General was granted a rematch and his legal team was able to negotiate a special stipulation. Gunther felt he could no longer trust the decision-making of WWE officials and appointed the last real good guy left in WWE to make sure this match is called right down the middle. None other than Cody Rhodes' good friend Sami Zayn.
The tables have turned. @SamiZayn now holds the power over @CodyRhodes... 😬 pic.twitter.com/mT217clONA
— WWE (@WWE) June 13, 2026
That match will air in its entirety, commercial-free, on The USA Network. A grand finale to one of the more high-stakes episodes of Friday Night SmackDown in recent memory.
Three spots on the Night of Champions card will be up for grabs as the King and Queen of the Ring semifinals rounds conclude. Being the Women's World Champion isn't enough for Liv Morgan. She also wants the WWE Women's Championship and she'll earn her shot at dethroning long-time rival Rhea Ripley if she can win the crown. Morgan will look to advance to the finals against IYO SKY tonight when she takes on Charlotte Flair.
Oba Femi is awaiting the winner of tonight's men's semifinals match-up. The Ruler will take on either Jey Uso or Je'Von Evans at Night of Champions, with a shot at either the World Heavyweight or WWE Championship at SummerSlam on the line.
Trick Williams needs a challenger for the Men's United States Championship in Saudi Arabia. He's agreed to defend his gold against either Carmelo Hayes or Ricky Saints, and they'll decide who that will be in a No. 1 Contender's Match later this evening.
Damian Priest & R-Truth will also be putting the WWE Tag Team Championship on the line, while WWE Women's Champion Rhea Ripley — despite her knee injury — and WWE Women's United States Champion Tiffany Stratton are being advertised for the show.
Here's everything we know about tonight's SmackDown in Kansas City, Missouri. Make sure to check back for updates as more matches and segments may be announced ahead of the broadcast going live on the air.
WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther with Special Guest Referee Sami Zayn
The friendship of Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn has become increasingly strained over the past several weeks. It's clear that neither man fully trusts the other at this point in time, which is why it was such a genius move for Gunther to make Zayn the special guest referee for tonight's big title fight.
Rhodes has proclaimed that Sami will never be WWE Champion as long as he holds the belt. Could those words come back to haunt him in Kansas City?
Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Women's World Champion Liv Morgan vs. Charlotte Flair
The Judgment Day had three opportunities to win the crown at the start of the Queen of the Ring Tournament, but now the group's hopes of earning a guaranteed WWE Women's Title shot at SummerSlam rest solely on the shoulders of Women's World Champion Liv Morgan.
If Morgan is going to advance to face IYO SKY in the finals at Night of Champions, she'll have to do something she's never done before — beat Charlotte Flair.
King of the Ring Semifinals: Jey Uso vs. Je'Von Evans
Jey Uso has been tasked by his Tribal Chief with winning the King of the Ring Tournament and returning the WWE Championship to The Bloodline at SummerSlam. Jey was able to advance out of a stacked opening round fatal 4-way thanks to a Samoan Spike from Solo Sikoa that was intended to help Royce Keys.
He'll have his hands full tonight against young Je'Von Evans, who is as hungry as he is talented to prove that he can win big-time matches.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. Tama Tonga & Talla Tonga
Damian Priest and R-Truth have had their hands full with the MFT's for the past several weeks. Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga have been making life very difficult for the WWE Tag Team Champions as Priest has battled trust issues with Royce Keys, and now, old friend and rival Finn Balor calls the Blue Brand home.
Balor and Tama Tonga were two of the founding members of the Bullet Club in NJPW. Will Priest and Truth be able to overcome all these distractions and retain their gold tonight?
Men's United States Championship No. 1 Contender's Match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
Trick Williams will be putting his Men's United States Championship on the line at Night of Champions, but will it be against his old running buddy, Carmelo Hayes, or will it be against Absolute Ricky Saints? After trading wins over one another, both Hayes and Saints have laid claim to being the No. 1 Contender. They'll settle the score once and for all later tonight when they meet in the ring on Friday Night SmackDown.
How to watch WWE SmackDown tonight:
Watch: USA Network
WWE SmackDown time:
Time: 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST)
WWE SmackDown location:
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
WWE Smackdown card (Announced):
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther for the WWE Championship with Special Guest Referee Sami Zayn
- Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Women's World Champion Liv Morgan vs. Charlotte Flair
- King of the Ring Semifinals: Jey Uso vs. Je'Von Evans
- Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. Tama Tonga & Talla Tonga for the WWE Tag Team Championship
- Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints, winner advances to challenge Trick Williams for the Men's United States Championship at Night of Champions
Published Jun 19, 2026 | Modified Jun 19, 2026
RICK UCCHINORick Ucchino is the Assistant Editor & Content Coordinator for The Takedown on SI. He also works full-time for 700WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio as a local news and sports anchor, in addition to his time covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sirius XM. Rick has been on the professional wrestling beat since 2019, having provided coverage for a number of outlets, including Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network. With an educational background in theater, creative writing and journalism, Rick focuses primarily on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle himself. He had the privilege of training with former WWE & WCW cruiserweight Jimmy Wang Yang for nearly two years and retired early due to back issues with a perfect 1-0 record in singles competition. Rick is a married father of two incredibly adorable children, who are budding pro wrestling fans themselves. Much to the chagrin of their mother. You can reach Rick at [email protected]
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
