3 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE SmackDown (12 June - Results & Review)
1. Real Talk Between Splintered Friends
The segment between Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes was excellent.
One of the best things about this pair is that they converse like actual human beings instead of scripted WWE stars, and it’s working. Sami’s desperation to claim that he’s still a good guy whilst looking on jealously at Cody is fab, and Rhodes being able to see right through it is atypical of WWE babyfaces. Zayn slapping Cody when the WWE Champ said Sami never would be the man then immediately regretting it was another highlight. This is all just a masterclass in turning someone rogue and sustaining Cody’s face status.
Rather unbelievably, there’s criticism for it online. OK, so social media is hardly a measuring stick for balanced debate, but this is one of the best stories in wrestling right now. It’s intense, believable, and it's going places. There's a new wrinkle every other week. On Friday, stony facial expressions between these fractured friends? Top class. Now, Sami will be the ref for Rhodes vs. Gunther on the next edition.
That's going to be a lot of fun to witness, especially when Zayn shows off more tortured 'will I/won't I?!' facials when agonising over whether or not to screw Cody out of his title due to sheer spite. He doesn't have time for Gunther either though, so there's a lot of nuance at play. That's why the storyline remains so, so watchable.
Honestly, duelling promos like this one are what Triple H and WWE want The Bloodline-meets-MFTs stuff to be in 2026.
What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more wrestling, check out 10 Most INSANE Promises Wrestling Promoters Made To Wrestlers and 10 Wrestling Jobbers So BIZARRE They Feel Made Up!