Rhodes and Zayn trade slaps as Gunther names his special referee for title rematch

Rhodes and Zayn trade slaps as Gunther names his special referee for title rematch

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and former ally Sami Zayn exchanged open-handed slaps on the June 13, 2026, edition of Friday Night SmackDown at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, in a confrontation that exposed a deepening fracture between the two. Hours later, intercontinental champion and number-one contender Gunther named Zayn as the special guest referee for his upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship rematch against Rhodes - a stipulation approved by SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis against his evident objections.

The Zayn-Rhodes segment turned on a direct exchange that began when Zayn sought acknowledgment for a series of incidents he characterized as accidents. Rhodes declined to offer it. "You're whining. You're crying. You're not the Sami Zayn they fell in love with," Rhodes told Zayn before a Providence crowd audibly chanting against the challenger. "Let's not pretend that it's about anything between you and I other than the WWE Championship. I'm sorry that I have this, and that means you never will." Zayn responded by slapping Rhodes across the face. Rhodes returned the slap and Zayn retreated from the ring, chair in hand, before setting it down and walking away. The championship match between Rhodes and Gunther, with Zayn as referee, is scheduled for next week's SmackDown.

Gunther's appointment of Zayn follows the Austrian's defeat at Clash in Italy on May 31, 2026, a result Gunther has attributed in part to a referee error. In his conversation with Aldis, Gunther framed Zayn's selection as a measure of technical credibility, citing a need for someone with substantive knowledge of professional wrestling rules while also acknowledging the need to account for "the human factor." Given Zayn's fractured relationship with Rhodes, the appointment carries obvious strategic weight for the challenger.

The evening's dominant thread remained the ongoing fragmentation of The Bloodline. Jacob Fatu arrived at SmackDown and located Solo Sikoa in the locker room, delivering a message from Roman Reigns requesting that Sikoa - who broke from Reigns to form his own faction, identified in the draft as the MFT - return to the fold. Sikoa rejected the overture in unambiguous terms. "Tell Roman he can go to hell," Sikoa said. Fatu acknowledged the sentiment but stated that if Reigns directed him to retrieve Sikoa, he would act on that order. The exchange sets a collision course between the two men. Fatu also appeared earlier in the evening to speak with Jey Uso ahead of a King of the Ring quarterfinal match, while Rhodes separately offered Uso encouragement before the bout. Uso told Rhodes he intended to pursue the WWE Championship at SummerSlam if he advances - "just business," Uso said.

In the King of the Ring quarterfinal, Jey Uso defeated LA Knight, Royce Keys and Finn Balor to advance to the semifinals. The finish was influenced by outside interference: Sikoa, positioned in Keys' corner, delivered a Samoan Spike to Knight while referee Charles Robinson's attention was elsewhere; Keys followed with a spinebuster, and Uso connected with a frog splash from the top rope to secure the pin. Uso will face Je'Von Evans in the semifinals. The opposing semifinal will feature Oba Femi against Dominik Mysterio. In the Queen of the Ring bracket, Charlotte Flair submitted Lyra Valkyria with the Figure Eight Leglock in a four-way match also involving Jade Cargill and Sol Ruca, and will meet Liv Morgan in the semifinals. Iyo Sky faces Raquel Rodriguez in the other semifinal, with both winners set to compete at Night of Champions.

SmackDown broadcaster Wade Barrett provided an injury update on Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley, who sustained a knee injury at Clash in Italy on May 31. "Based on how that knee responds to treatment, it should give us a better idea on the ETA for the return of Rhea Ripley," Barrett said, adding that her status remains under evaluation. Ripley has not competed since the injury. Jade Cargill, who defeated Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton alongside Michin last week, stated on Friday that she expects Ripley's eventual return and is prepared for it.

Full SmackDown results, June 13, 2026: Charlotte Flair defeated Lyra Valkyria, Jade Cargill and Sol Ruca (Queen of the Ring quarterfinal); Paige and Brie Bella defeated Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid; Rey Fenix defeated Axiom to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Championship; Michin and B-Fab defeated Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green; Jey Uso defeated LA Knight, Royce Keys and Finn Balor (King of the Ring quarterfinal).