WWE SmackDown Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights After Clash in Italy
Welcome to Bleacher Report's live coverage of WWE SmackDown on June 5.
We're less than a week removed from Clash in Italy, but WWE is already focused on this year's Queen and King of the Ring tournaments.
The quarterfinal round in both brackets is comprised of four Fatal 4-Way matches. So far, Iyo Sky and Oba Femi advanced on Monday.
Whoever wins the crown will get a guaranteed world title shot, so there is more on the line than a decorative hat this time.
Let's take a look at everything that happened on Friday's episode of SmackDown.
Gunther Wants Justice
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SmackDown opened with a recap of Clash in Italy before going live in the arena in Bologna, Italy. As Michael Cole and Wade Barrett were welcoming us to the show, Gunther showed up and started destroying the announce tables.
He grabbed a mic and began ranting about being screwed out of the title at the PLE because his foot was under the rope during the pin.
Cody Rhodes came out to respond and looked as happy as could be as he shook hands and signed autographs for the crowd. The American Nightmare said Gunther was right about his foot being under the rope, but also criticized him for complaining about it instead of being a pro.
Rhodes said he was up for giving Gunther a rematch right then and there, but Sami Zayn came out and said Gunther and Rhodes had both done him wrong.
Gunther ended up coming into the ring and putting Rhodes in the sleeper. Zayn chose to save Rhodes, but a moment later, Rhodes hit Zayn with a suicide dive when Gunther pulled him into the path.
This segment started off strong with Gunther wrecking the ringside area and looking like a crazed beast, but as more people got added, the less interesting it became. A short, energetic promo from Gunther to set up a confrontation later in the show would have served him better.
This was still a decent segment to set up a few potential options. Rhodes having multiple challengers makes the title scene more interesting.
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Kiana James vs. Bayley
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Last time in action: Judgment Day lost to Bayley and Lyra Valkyria (Raw, May 25), Kiana James lost to Jordynne Grace (Main Event, May 29), Fatal Influence lost a six-woman tag match (SD, May 8)
The first match of the night was a Queen of the Ring quarterfinal Fatal 4-Way with Bayley, Raquel Rodriguez, Jazy Jayne and Kiana James.
Liv Morgan, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid did not accompany their allies to the ring, but James insisted that Giulia join her for support. Bayley went after Raquel and clotheslined her out of the ring.
Bayley looked especially strong in the early minutes of the match by fending off all three opponents, but the numbers eventually caught up to her.
The match lasted through two breaks, so there was time for all four women to have moments in control of everyone else.
Giving them enough time so that this didn't feel rushed helped a lot. All four competitors looked great in the ring and made this a fun encounter. Rodriguez ended up scoring the win to advance in the tournament.
James and Giulia had a miscommunication that led to James losing. The Beautiful Madness tried to help her friend to her feet, but James blamed her for the loss. Giulia tried to explain, but when James shoved her, she lost it and attacked her.
Result: Rodriguez defeated Bayley, James and Jayne
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
Royce Keys vs. Talla Tonga
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Last time in action: Royce Keys and Damian Priest lost to The MFTs (SD, May 29)
Two behemoths clashed this week when the giant Talla Tonga took on the powerhouse Royce Keys.
If you come into a match like this expecting technical exchanges and wristlocks, you're going to be disappointed. If you expected two big dudes hitting each other as hard as possible, you probably had a ball.
They did a good job making it feel like neither man had a clear advantage. The match might not have been very exciting, but it was structured in a way that made sense and built toward the finish.
Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga tried to get involved, but Keys fought them off. Talla used the opportunity to hit his chokeslam to get the pin and the win. R-Truth tried to make the save during a post-match attack, but he was beaten down, too.
Damian Priest pulled Truth from the ring, but he left Keys to be taken out.
Result: Talla defeated Keys
Grade: C
Notable Moments and Observations
Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill and Michin
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Rhea Ripley came out in street clothes with a knee brace on her right leg. She bragged about beating Jade Cargill at Clash in Italy, but said it came at a cost. She said Jade and her cronies failed to beat her because she had some unexpected help, which prompted Charlotte Flair to join her in the ring.
The Queen said she has had more fun teaming with Ripley than expected, but she still has her eye on the WWE title. They were soon joined by Tiffany Straton, Cargill, Michin and B-Fab.
Flair suggested Jade and one of her allies face her and Tiffy since Rhea isn't cleared to compete. Nick Aldis loved the idea and called for it to start as soon as the show returned from a break.
This match had isolated moments that were good, but as a whole, it felt a little clunky, which is unfortunate because we know all four of these Superstars are more talented than what we saw on Friday.
Cargill was able to get the win for her team when she hit Stratton with Jaded. Flair had been taken out by B-Fab at ringside to prevent her from breaking it up.
Result: Cargill and Michin defeated Stratton and Flair
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
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Last time in action: Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints ended in a double countout (SD, May 29)
Last week, Ricky Saints and Carmelo Hayes fought to a double countout decision, so they were hoping to have a clear winner in their rematch on Friday.
As soon as Hayes was done posing, Saints jumped him. The ref called for the bell, and he continued his assault before Hayes could even get his jacket off. He ended up sending Ricky out of the ring and hitting a dive, followed by a huge frosh splash for a two-count, all with his leather jacket still on.
They did a great job making this feel like more of a personal battle than their last match. They were taking little shots at each other between bigger spots, and it added to the intensity nicely.
Saints almost won by countout, but Hayes made it back in time. It ended up not being enough to win because Saints had him rolled up with a handful of tights a moment later to steal the win.
This was a good match, but they were holding back. You can tell they are building toward a final encounter, and that should be the best in their series.
Result: Saints defeated Hayes
Grade: B+
Notable Moments and Observations
Lash Legend vs. Chelsea Green
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Last time in action: Lash Legend lost to Iyo Sky (Raw, June 1), Chelsea Green defeated Nia Jax (SD, May 29)
After beating Nia Jax last week, Chelsea Green was hoping to continue building momentum this week against Lash Legend.
Green is not a short woman, but she was dwarfed by Legend when they squared up. Green got the first shot in and then ran away from her until she was able to bait her into the ring for a codebreaker.
Legend quickly recovered and took control. Jax attacked Green while the ref was distracted, but it wasn't enough to take her out of the fight.
Green put up a good fight, but Legend and Jax were too much for her to overcome in the end. This match wasn't bad, but it felt like they never quite found their groove. It also felt a bit on the quick side, which didn't help.
The one thing this did effectively was position Green as more of a babyface. She can be a popular star if booked right.
Result: Legend defeated Green
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
Dominik Mysterio vs. Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams vs. Bron Breakker
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Last time in action: Priest and Keys lost to MFTs (SD, May 29), Dominik Mysterio defeated El Grande Americano (Raw, May 11), Trick Williams defeated Carmelo Hayes (SD, May 22), Bron Breakker lost to Seth Rollins (Raw, June 1)
This week's main event was the men's quarterfinal Fatal 4-Way match in the King of the Ring tournament with Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Bron Breakker and Trick Williams.
Coming into this match, Breakker and Williams seemed like the safest bets to win, especially with Breakker looking so dominant in the first half.
However, with four people involved, Bron didn't have to be part of the final decision to lose, and that is exactly what ended up happening.
Morgan prevented Priest from pinning Dom by distracting the ref, and it looked like Breakker would take advantage of the situation, but more shenanigans ensued.
After Breakker took himself and Williams out with a flying clothesline into the announce table, Morgan hit a low blow that helped Dirty Dom hit the 619 and get the win.
Result: Mysterio defeated Breakker, Williams and Priest
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
The Final Word
8 of 8This week's SmackDown wasn't a bad show, but it wasn't necessarily a good show either. It just kind of exists.
Hayes and Saints had the match of the night, but both of the Fatal 4-Ways provided some highlights, too.
It might seem weird, but the most enjoyable thing on the show, aside from Saints and Hayes, was Danhausen's quick backstage segment with The Miz.
Whoever is working with Danhausen to write these segments clearly understands the gimmick, and if they play their cards right, he could be so much more than just a comedy character.
Grade: C+
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