The John Report: WWE SmackDown 06/19/26 Review

This is WWE SmackDown, featuring Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Title against Gunther, King & Queen of the Ring Semifinal Matches, and more.

It feels like a bigger-than-usual episode of SmackDown this week with the Cody Rhodes-Gunther match for the WWE Title with Sami Zayn as the referee, Damian Priest & R-Truth defending the WWE Tag Team Titles against MFTs, King and Queen of the Ring Semifinals, and then the Ricky Saints-Carmelo Hayes match for a shot at the US Title. That’s five matches where something is on the line. It’s better than random matches.

Also, the three-hour SmackDown episodes are ending next week, which I don’t mind at all. That episode will be taped on Tuesday in London, England, and air on Friday as usual. From July through December, it will be a two-hour show again.

From the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, this is SmackDown for episode #1400. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

It’s the 1400th episode of SmackDown as we saw superstar pre-show walking of Jey Uso, Je’Von Evans, Charlotte Flair with Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Gunther, Sami Zayn, and Cody Rhodes.

The commentary team of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcomed us to the show.

There was a video package to set up the Cody Rhodes-Gunther match with Sami Zayn as the referee.

Sami Zayn was up first as the special guest referee, wearing a traditional referee striped shirt. “The Ring General” Gunther was up next, looking ready to go as usual. Gunther shook hands with Zayn in the ring, even though Zayn was hesitant to shake hands with his former rival. The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was last with the fans singing along with “Kingdom” as usual. The ring announcer Mark Nash did the championship introductions.

Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther – Sami Zayn is the special guest referee

This match is being presented commercial-free. Gunther hit a chop and an armbar. Cody pushed Gunther to the turnbuckle and Zayn stopped Cody from doing more. Cody hit his duck down punch, but Gunter came back with a chop. Gunther chopped Cody a few times until Cody came back with punches. Zayn pulled Cody off Gunther and Gunther hit a boot to the face. The fans booed Zayn’s refereeing. Gunther continued the attack with another chop for a two count. Gunther tried a lift, Cody got out of it and Cody jumped off the ropes with a Cody Cutter. Cody hit a forearm, along with a powerslam. Gunther trapped the left leg against the ropes and Gunther kicked the left knee twice. Gunther applied a Figure Four Leglock and held onto the ropes for leverage, but Zayn didn’t see it right away. Zayn saw it after a few seconds, so he made Gunther let go. Cody rolled up Gunther for two. Gunther hit another big boot to the face. Gunther hit a running lariat for two. Cody countered a Gunther move and hit a Cross Rhodes, but Gunther’s right foot was under the bottom rope. That was what we saw at Clash in Italy, but Zayn saw the foot under the bottom rope and it was the right call.

Cody argued with Zayn after the two count even though Zayn made the right call. Cody pushed Zayn’s hand away, so then Zayn shoved Cody into Gunther, who applied the Sleeper on the mat. Zayn felt awful about it because he pushed Cody. Cody got the ropes while in the Sleeper. Cody pulled Gunther off, so Gunther shoved Zayn. After Zayn argued with Gunther, Gunther shoved him in the face. Zayn slapped Gunther, so Gunther kicked Zayn and hit a Powerbomb. Cody got back into it with the Dusty combo with the elbow. Cody jumped off the top with a Super Cody Cutter. Cody hit a Cross Rhodes again and called for a referee, so referee Adrian Butler ran in to count for one…two…no. Gunther got his shoulder up. Cody went up top, Gunther went after him there and Cody managed to break free. Gunther hit a shotgun dropkick and a Powerbomb for two because Zayn pulled referee Adrian Butler out of the ring to stop the count. Gunther argued with Zayn about it. Cody went for a pin attempt, Gunther had his hands on the ropes, Cody kicked Gunther’s hand, and Cody got a sunset flip pin for the Zayn fast count 1…2…3. Cody wins thanks to the fast count. It went about 12 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Cody Rhodes

Analysis: ***1/4 I would have loved a 20+ minute Rhodes/Gunther match for the WWE Title that would have been a classic, but this was more about the refereeing of Zayn and his perceived issues with Rhodes, which led to the problems with Gunther throughout the match. That two count after Gunther’s Powerbomb and Zayn pulling referee Butler out of the ring was a clever spot. They put the match on first because the angle is going to continue later in the show. I figured there was going to be some controversial ending to this match. There’s going to be more to this story.

After the match, Gunther complained to Zayn about the fast count. Cody reacted like he was frustrated as well. The SmackDown GM, Nick Aldis, walked out to argue with Zayn, and they went to the back. Gunther left to the back as well.

Analysis: It’s good to have Aldis out there to get in Zayn’s face since Zayn did a poor job of refereeing.

(Commercial)

There were replays of the WWE Title match that ended in controversy.

They showed Nick Aldis arguing with Gunther about what happened. Cody Rhodes was there too, but then Cody went to the ring to talk. Sami Zayn argued with Aldis and Gunther.

Cody Rhodes went to the ring and called for a referee to come to the ring to restart the match. Zayn said no because he’s the referee, so Gunther punched Zayn and threw him into a wall. Aldis said to restart the match, so Gunther went to the ring with referee Adrian Butler.

Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther

Gunther trapped Cody with a Sleeper hold right away, but Cody broke free. Cody tried a Sleeper of his own, Gunther got out of it, and applied another Sleeper. Sami Zayn went into the ring and hit a Helluva Kick on Gunther. That’s a DQ. It was under two minutes.

Winner by disqualification: Gunther (Cody Rhodes remains WWE Champion)

Analysis: It was too short to rate. This was another way of advancing the story.

After the match, Zayn grabbed the WWE Title from Butler. Zayn punched Butler, who is a former wrestler. Cody went over to Zayn, so Zayn hit Cody with the WWE Title to knock him down. The fans chanted, “Sami sucks.” Zayn left to boos and even ripped a fan’s sign. Cody and Gunther were down in the ring. Cody was seated in the ring with the WWE Title around his waist.

Analysis: It sure seems like a triple threat match is coming, but it’s not official yet. This was also an effective way of getting more heat on Zayn, even though he “accidentally” hit Rhodes with the WWE Title.

Jade Cargill was with Michin and B-Fab for an interview with Cathy Kelley. Jade trashed Tiffany Stratton for getting involved in their business. B-Fab and Michin spoke up, supporting Jade as usual. Jade said that since she took out Rhea Ripley, Night of Champions needs some of her star power. Jade challenged Stratton to a Women’s US Title match.

(Commercial)

There was a replay of the second WWE Title match of the night, and how it ended in chaos.

Gunther argued with GM Nick Aldis backstage. Gunther said that Aldis screwed him twice. Aldis said that Gunther picked Zayn to be the referee. Gunther said he wants another championship match at Night of Champions and told him to get it done.

Analysis: Aldis is right to say that Gunther was the one who picked Zayn to be the referee. Anyway, Gunther calling for another match at Night of Champions makes sense.

Solo Sikoa was approached by Jacob Fatu. Solo wondered if Fatu was there with a message from Roman Reigns again. Fatu said he was there to make sure nobody gets involved in Jey Uso’s match tonight. Fatu told Solo he’s running out of time to make the right choice. Solo wondered what that meant. Fatu said it’s up to Jey. Fatu left. Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga approached Solo, who said he would be out there with them tonight. Tama said no because if he is out there, then you don’t know who will get involved. Talla said that The Bloodline is not their problem, but the Tag Team Titles are. The Tonga brothers left.

Damian Priest and R-Truth made their entrance as the WWE Tag Team Champions. Truth was injured for a few weeks, but he’s ready to go now.

(Commercial)