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The next iteration of The Bloodline’s storyline seeped into “Friday Night SmackDown” in Providence, Rhode Island when Jacob Fatu showed up in the locker room as Jey Uso was preparing for his King of the Ring tournament with his brother, Jimmy.
There seemed to be a number of moving parts. Fatu said he was on SmackDown to talk to Solo Sikoa – who broke away from Roman Reigns and formed the MFT. Meanwhile, Jey Uso also received a pep talk from Cody Rhodes.
“When I do it, I’m going after that WWE Championship at SummerSlam,” Uso told Rhodes before the match. “Just business, Uce. Just business.”
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Jey Uso makes his SmackDown debut at the 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 found Sikoa in the dressing room. He said he had a message from Reigns and that the “Original Tribal Chief” wanted Sikoa to “come home.” Sikoa, a former prominent member of Bloodline, laughed.
“Home? He wants me to come home? That’s what your ‘Tribal Chief’ said? It’s not home, Jacob,” Sikoa said. “It’s a doghouse and you’re his lap dog. You know what? I don’t understand. What the hell happened to you? You used to be a killer. A man everyone was afraid of. “The Samoan Werewolf.” A man who came so close to beating Roman. And now? You’re just his background. And you know I’m right because I’m still standing here and you’ve done nothing but come here and deliver a message from who? Your ‘Tribal Chief?’
“Listen to me, Roman has done nothing but embarrass you, humiliate you and make you kneel down like a dog in front of the whole world and in front of our family, Jacob. And that’s exactly how you don’t treat someone you love. But he wants me to come back? I’m not going back there. So tell Roman he can go to hell.”
Fatu said he understood where Sikoa was coming from, but he’s already made up his mind and if Reigns wants him to get him, then he came after Sikoa.
Sikoa said that if Reigns wanted him home, “then he can come get me.”
The tentacles of The Bloodline didn’t end there. While Jey Uso was getting ready for the match, Sikoa was in Royce Keys’ ear. Uso, Keys, LA Knight and Finn Balor faced off in the King of the Ring tournament. Sikoa said he didn’t want Keys to be a “casual” in Reigns’ war.
Knight took a victory lap and proved himself right about The Bloodline and its little proxies getting involved in the King of the Ring match. He didn’t know how involved they would become. As Knight and Keys went to the outside of the ring, Jimmy Uso and Sikoa appeared.
Balor was in control towards the end of the match, nailing his finisher on Jimmy Uso. Keys was distracted by Sikoa and Knight took control. It looked like Knight was going to win.
Keys was hit with a big boot, prompting referee Charles Robinson to check on him. Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike on Knight as his back was turned. Keys hit a spinebuster on Knight as Jey Uso went to the top for the frog splash. Uso pinned Knight to steal the win.
It looked like Sikoa was trying to help Keys, but instead he gave The Bloodline a win. Uso takes on Je’Von Evans in the semi-finals. Oba Femi and Dominik Mysterio meet in the other semi-final.
Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes’ confrontation
WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes addresses the crowd with Sami Zayn during SmackDown at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI on June 12, 2026. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Sami Zayn wanted to let the crowd in Providence know that he was indeed the “last real good guy” in wrestling. He was a little surprised by the reaction in the city, noting how his “ride or die” fans showed up in “full force” for him in Europe.
Zayn called out Rhodes and the “American Nightmare” obliged. Zayn was hoping to clear the air with Rhodes after weeks of unfortunate accidents. He resumed the series of events, including last week’s suicide dive from Rhodes, which was intended for Gunther. Zayn asked Rhodes for “the truth” as fans chanted, “Sami stinks.”
Rhodes flashed back to the moment Zayn was in the ring celebrating the championship win at WrestleMania 40. Zayn asked Rhodes about the names he mentioned – CM Punk, Kevin Owens, John Cena, Randy Orton – how many of those guys were still his friends and if Rhodes was the problem? Rhodes said he didn’t have to be “honest” with them, the same way he had to be honest with Zayn. Zayn therefore asked for Rhodes’ honesty.
“You want me to be honest with you? You want me to be honest? I stand out here for this. I take all this fire and listen to this BS,” Rhodes said. I’ll be honest with you here: They (the fans) boo you. They shout, ‘Sami stinks!’ And the reason is because lately you suck. You whine. You cry.
“You’re not the Sami Zayn they fell in love with. You’re not the Sami Zayn they took for a ride. You’re not my Sami Zayn. You’re something else. If anything, you’re desperate. Let’s not pretend it’s about anything between you and me other than the WWE Championship. And I owe you an apology, I’m sorry I never want this.”
Zayn slapped Rhodes after the sharp words. Zayn began to apologize as anger began to build in Rhodes.
Rhodes then punched Zayn in the face.
“Are we good?” Rhodes yelled at Zayn, who left the ring and grabbed a chair. Zayn threw it and walked away.
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Gunther sets his condition for an undisputed WWE Championship rematch
Gunther got what he wanted to get a rematch against Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He told SmackDown GM Nick Aldis that he will choose the referee for the match after a mistake cost him the title at Clash in Italy.
Gunther later explained to Aldis that he had to choose someone with the proper knowledge of pro wrestling rules, but also had to take the “human factor into consideration.”
He chose Zayn as his special guest judge – much to the chagrin of Aldis.
So next week it’s Rhodes defending his title against Gunther, with Zayn standing in for the goal.
Rhea Ripley injury update
Rhea Ripley enters the ring during Clash of Italy at the Inalpi Arena in Torino di Sangro, Italy on May 31, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Rhea Ripley appeared on last week’s “SmackDown” 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. “We are now evaluating the knee injury as we speak and based on how that knee responds to treatment should give us a better idea of the ETA for the return of Rhea ‘Bloody’ Ripley. Obviously we are all crossing our fingers for a speedy return for the champion.”
Cargill said she hoped Ripley was resting because she wanted her “candy back.”
The Queen of the Ring tournament is moving along
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair walk to the ring during SmackDown at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio on July 25, 2025. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
The latest semifinalist for the Queen of the Rings tournament was revealed on Friday night as Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria battled it out for a spot in the next round.
Cargill had hoped that winning the Queen of the Ring for the second year in a row would have returned her to the top of the women’s division. However, it was the savvy veteran in Flair who took advantage of the younger field.
Valkyria tried to pin Flair, but when she was in shock, Flair took advantage. Ruca hit Valkyria with a jab as she went to pin Nightwing on Flair. She then gave Ruca a big boot and got Valkyria locked in the figure eight leg lock. Valkyria tapped out and Flair got his hand raised.
Flair takes on Liv Morgan in the semi-finals. Iyo Sky takes on Raquel Rodriguez in the other semi-final match. The winners are announced at the Night of Champions.
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SmackDown Match Results:
United States Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton makes her SmackDown debut at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island on June 12, 2026. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Charlotte Flair def. Lyra Valkyria, Jade Cargill and Sol Ruca advance in the Queen of the Rings 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 to advance in the King of the Ring tournament.
