WWE SmackDown Preview: Cody Rhodes may be dethroned, Rhea Ripley stripped of her title? (6/19/2026)

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Here’s a full preview of the June 19 episode of Friday Night SmackDown:

#5. Jey Uso takes on Je’Von Evans in the KOTR semifinal

This week on RAW, Oba Femi has bulldozed his way to the finals of the King of the Ring tournament. Tonight, his ultimate challenger will be decided as Jey Uso and Je’Von Evans will battle it out in the semifinal of the contest. Both superstars want to punch their tickets to their first-ever King of the Ring finals. It is expected to be an exciting clash with several hard-hitting sequences.

There is a strong possibility that Jey Uso will emerge victorious in this bout. The YEET Master is likely to secure his spot in the King of the Ring finals at Night of Champions to face Oba Femi. Jey has been riding on a red-hot momentum since joining Roman Reigns and he is also one of the biggest names on the roster. Therefore, WWE is expected to push him to keep him in the spotlight.

#4. WWE Tag Team Championship will be on the line

Damian Priest and R-Truth have been reigning as the WWE Tag Team Champions on SmackDown for the past few weeks. They have barely defended their gold since then. However, Priest and Truth face a huge challenge tonight as they put their championship on the line against the MFT. They are set to battle Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga in a huge tag team match.

WWE may pull off a big surprise by booking a title change in this bout. The SmackDown tag team division has gotten quite monotonous of late and fans have been seeking a change. Damian Priest and R-Truth have failed to deliver anything significant with the WWE Tag Team Championship. Meanwhile, MFT has been in the spotlight lately and therefore, Solo Sikoa’s boys can dethrone the champs tonight.

#3. Rhea Ripley to vacate her title on SmackDown?

Friday Night SmackDown could see a shocking segment tonight, which may leave the arena in somber silence. The wrestling world has been buzzing lately as there have been interesting developments with Rhea Ripley in the past 24 hours. Recent reports suggest that The Eradicator would be sidelined for a significant period due to her knee injury and it forced WWE to make a major shift in plans.

The rumor mill has been spinning since then, with various speculations making the rounds. There is a possibility that Rhea Ripley could be forced to vacate her WWE Women’s Championship tonight if she is set to take a long hiatus for her recovery. Mami could appear in the ring on SmackDown and address her ongoing situation and all the rumors, shedding light on her future.

#2. Charlotte Flair battles Liv Morgan in the QOTR semifinal

The Queen of the Ring tournament will see its last semifinal match tonight as Charlotte Flair goes up against Liv Morgan in a blockbuster match. The two women will battle each other, looking to punch their ticket to Night of Champions, where IYO SKY is waiting to face one of them for the coveted crown. It is expected to be an exciting clash that may keep fans hooked to their screens.

But if anyone’s heading for the crown, it’s likely to be Charlotte Flair. The Queen is expected to defeat Liv Morgan tonight on SmackDown and head to Night of Champions. Flair and SKY are currently the two big favorites to win this year’s Queen of the Ring tournament. Therefore, WWE might pit them against each other in a high-profile tournament final in Saudi Arabia.

#1. Cody Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship

The biggest highlight of this week’s SmackDown is the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Gunther. The American Nightmare will defend his gold against The Ring General in a rematch where Sami Zayn will serve as the Special Guest Referee. This stipulation makes this bout quite interesting, as Zayn has been at loggerheads with both superstars.

The prospect of a title change cannot be ruled out, as Sami Zayn may end up robbing Cody Rhodes to seek revenge. However, the chances of it happening are comparatively low at this point. This match could see a maelstrom of chaos and therefore end in a controversial fashion. It could eventually lead to a multi-person match at the upcoming premium live event, Night of Champions.