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The next iteration of The Bloodline story infiltrated the throes of “Friday Night SmackDown” in Providence, Rhode Island, as Jacob Fatu appeared in the locker room as Jey Uso prepared for his King of the Ring Tournament match with his brother, Jimmy.
There appeared to be a number of moving parts. Fatu said he was on SmackDown to talk to Solo Sikoa – who split from Roman Reigns and formed MFT. Meanwhile, Jey Uso also received a pep talk from Cody Rhodes.
“When I do, I’m going for that WWE Championship at SummerSlam,” Uso told Rhodes before the match. “Just business, Uce. Just business.”
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Jey Uso makes his entrance during SmackDown at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island on June 12, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Rhodes said he hoped Uso would come after the undisputed WWE Championship. He added that he hoped it was his decision and not because Roman Reigns told him to.
Palace intrigue was at an all-time high.
Fatu finds Sikoa in the locker room. He said he had a message from Reigns and that the “original tribal leader” wanted Sikoa to “come home.” Sikoa, a former prominent member of Bloodline, laughed.
“Home? He wants me to come home? Is that what your ‘tribal leader’ said? This is not my home, Jacob,” Sikoa said. “He’s a doghouse, and you’re his pet dog. You know what? I don’t understand this. What happened to you? You were a killer. A man everyone was afraid of. The ‘Samoan werewolf’. A man who was so close to beating Roman. What now? You’re just his past. And you know I’m right because I’m still here and you’ve done nothing but come here and deliver a message from Who? Your “tribe leader”?
“Listen to me, Roman has done nothing but embarrass you, humiliate you, and make you kneel like a dog in front of the whole world and our family, Jacob. And that’s not how you treat someone you love. But he wants me back? I’m not going back. So tell Roman he can go to hell.”
Fatu said he understood where Sikoa was coming from but he had already made up his mind and if Reigns wanted him to go for him then he was coming for Sikoa.
Sikoa said if Reigns wanted him to come home, “then he can come get me.”
The Bloodline’s tentacles don’t stop there. While Jey Uso prepared for the match, Sikoa was in Royce Keys’ ear. Uso, Keys, LA Knight and Finn Balor met during the King of the Ring tournament. Sikoa said he didn’t want Keys to be a “casualty” in Reigns’ war.
Knight took a victory lap, showing that he was right about the involvement of The Bloodline and his little proxies in the King of the Ring match. He didn’t know how involved they would get. As Knight and Keys headed outside the ring, Jimmy Uso and Sikoa appeared.
Balor was in control towards the end of the match, landing his finishing move on Jimmy Uso. Keys was distracted by Sikoa and Knight took control. It looked like Knight was going to get the victory.
Keys was hit with a big boot, causing referee Charles Robinson to check on him. Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike on Knight while his back was turned. Keys hit a spinebuster on Knight as Jey Uso went to the top rope for the frog splash. Uso pinned Knight to steal the victory.
It looked like Sikoa was trying to help Keys, but instead he gave The Bloodline a victory. Uso will face Je’Von Evans in the semi-finals. Oba Femi and Dominik Mysterio will meet in the other semi-final.
The confrontation of Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes speaks to the crowd with Sami Zayn during SmackDown at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI on June 12, 2026. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Sami Zayn wanted to let the Providence crowd know that he was, in fact, the “last real good guy” in wrestling. He was a little surprised by the reaction in the city and noted how his “ride or die” fans showed up “in force” for him in Europe.
Zayn called Rhodes, and “American Nightmare” agreed. Zayn was hoping to clear things up with Rhodes after weeks of unfortunate accidents. He rehashed the series of incidents, including last week’s suicide dive from Rhodes that was aimed at Gunther. Zayn asked Rhodes for the “truth,” while fans chanted “Sami sucks.”
Rhodes recalled the moment Zayn was in the ring celebrating winning the championship at WrestleMania 40. Zayn asked Rhodes what names he called out – CM Punk, Kevin Owens, John Cena, Randy Orton – how many of those guys were still his friend and if Rhodes was the problem? Rhodes said he didn’t need to be “honest” with them like he needed to be honest with Zayn. Zayn then begged Rhodes for honesty.
“You want me to be honest with you? You want me to be honest? That’s what I’m standing here for. I’m taking all this fire listening to this BS,” Rhodes said. Here’s to be honest with you: they (the fans) boo you. They chant: “Sami sucks! » And the reason is because lately, you’re terrible. You whine. You cry.
“You’re not the Sami Zayn they fell in love with. You’re not the Sami Zayn they took a ride with. You’re not my Sami Zayn. You’re something else. If anything, you’re desperate. Let’s not pretend this is anything between you and me other than the WWE Championship. And I owe you an apology, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I have this and that means you won’t get it never.”
Zayn slapped Rhodes after those harsh words. Zayn began to apologize as Rhodes’ anger began to build.
Rhodes then slapped Zayn in the face.
“Are we okay?” Rhodes yelled at Zayn, who ran out of the ring and grabbed a chair. Zayn threw him away and walked away.
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Gunther sets stipulations for WWE Undisputed Championship rematch
Gunther got what he wanted in order to secure a rematch against Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He told SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis that he would choose the referee for the match, after a mistake cost him the title at The Clash in Italy.
Gunther later explained to Aldis that he had to choose someone with a good knowledge of the rules of professional wrestling, but that he also had to take the “human factor” into consideration.
He chose Zayn as the special guest referee – much to Aldis’s chagrin.
So next week it will be Rhodes defending his title against Gunther with Zayn in charge.
Rhea Ripley Injury Update
Rhea Ripley enters the ring during Clash in Italy at Inalpi Arena in Turin di Sangro, Italy on May 31, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Rhea Ripley appeared on “SmackDown” last week with a brace around her knee and it didn’t look like she was ready to compete in any matches. Jade Cargill and Michin ended up defeating Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton.
SmackDown broadcaster Wade Barrett shed some light on Ripley’s recovery.
“The knee injury happened in Italy last week,” Barrett said. “Now, we’re evaluating the knee injury as we speak and depending on how that knee responds to treatment, that should give us a better idea of the ETA for Rhea ‘Bloody’ Ripley’s return. Obviously, we’re all keeping our fingers crossed for a quick return from the champ.”
Cargill said she hoped Ripley was resting because she was going to get her “lick” back.
Queen of the Ring tournament advances
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair head to the ring during SmackDown at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio on July 25, 2025. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
The final semi-finalist of the Queen of the Ring tournament was revealed Friday night as Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria battled for a spot in the next round.
Cargill had hoped that winning the Queen of the Ring title for a second year in a row would return her to the top of the women’s division. However, it was the savvy veteran Flair who took advantage of the younger field.
Valkyria tried to corner Flair but as she was in shock, Flair took advantage. Ruca hit Valkyria with a kick as she was going to put Nightwing on Flair. She then gave Ruca a big boot and locked Valkyria in the Figure Eight Leglock. Valkyria tapped and Flair raised her hand.
Flair will face Liv Morgan in the semi-finals. Iyo Sky will face Raquel Rodriguez in the other semifinal match. The winners will face each other during the Night of Champions.
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SmackDown match results:
United States Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton makes her entrance during SmackDown at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island on June 12, 2026. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Charlotte Flair def. Lyra Valkyria, Jade Cargill and Sol Ruca will advance in the Queen of the Ring tournament.
Paige and Brie Bella def. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid.
Rey Fenix def. Axiom to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Championship.
Michin and B-Fab def. Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green.
Jey Uso def. LA Knight, Royce Keys and Finn Balor will advance in the King of the Ring tournament.
