Only one week away from WWE Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, this week’s WWE SmackDown preview will cover the stacked lineup for the June 19, 2026, episode. The T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, will be on for an absolute night, as this week’s SmackDown features two title matches and a Queen of the Ring semifinal dream match.
The WWE Universe in Kansas will have the biggest bang for their buck come Friday night. Now that you all know what’s going on, here’s a WWE SmackDown preview for June 19, 2026. Let’s run it down.
One Step Away from the Finals
Liv Morgan is on a mission, and that’s to be a double champion by the end of SummerSlam in Minneapolis, Minnesota. So much so that she invoked her right to be a participant in the Queen of the Ring tournament. Of course, nobody was really surprised that Morgan advanced to the next round, considering she’s the top dog on WWE Raw as the Women’s World Champion.
Unfortunately for her, she’s going up against a “living legend” in the form of Charlotte Flair. The “Queen” has been working her way back up since returning last year at the Royal Rumble. It’s been four long years for Flair since she was WWE Women’s Champion, and now, she’s only a few steps away from earning a shot and reclaiming her throne.
We call this a dream match because Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan have indeed faced off against one another before. That said, this is a very different Liv Morgan, one who’s dominated the scene over the last three years. Surprisingly, Flair is on the backfoot on this one. With all that said, never count out the 14-time world champion, as she’s also the best she’s ever been.
A Special Enforcer
Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes got extremely real last week on WWE SmackDown, with the two getting physical and airing out their pent-up grievances towards one another. But behind the scenes, Gunther was lying and waiting for the opportunity to pounce, and that he did. Gunther felt cheated at Clash in Italy and demanded a rematch, which he got, but he wanted it on his own terms.
The conditions surrounding this Undisputed WWE Title Match favor Gunther heavily, and it seems like we’ll have a new champion by the end of the night in Kansas. Why is that? Because the very man Cody Rhodes viciously talked down on, Sami Zayn, was named by the “Ring General” as the man in the middle, acting as special guest referee for this title match.
Cody Rhodes couldn’t believe it and even asked SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis if this was really happening, and it is. Backstage, Rhodes confronted Zayn, asking if they’re “good.” Zayn wouldn’t address him and wished him luck.
WWE Universe, if we had to put our house on it, Gunther is more than likely walking out of Kansas as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Sami Zayn has this absolute disdain for Cody Rhodes, even if he hates to admit it. On the flip side, Zayn may call it down the middle, as he’s been desperate to get his hands on Rhodes and the Undisputed WWE Title for the better part of six months now.
Regardless, this is a big-time matchup; Cody Rhodes and Gunther for the Undisputed WWE Title, with Sami Zayn overseeing the proceedings. It’s a match you shouldn’t miss!
WWE SmackDown Preview – Match Card (6/19/26):
- Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther (w/ Special Guest Referee: Sami Zayn)
- Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints – “Winner Earns United States Championship Match at WWE Night of Champions.”
- WWE Tag Team Championship Match: R-Truth & Damian Priest (c) vs. MFT (Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga)
- Queen of the Ring Tournament – Semifinals: Charlotte Flair vs. Liv Morgan
*Card subject to change
