In Bologna, Italy, WWE's SmackDown turned the page on a contested pay-per-view finish and looked ahead, using its King and Queen of the Ring tournaments to remind audiences that ambition and grievance are the twin engines of competition. Raquel Rodriguez and Oba Femi advanced through Fatal 4-Way quarterfinals, each step forward carrying the weight of a guaranteed world title shot. Meanwhile, Gunther's fury over a disputed pin against Cody Rhodes opened a crowded field of challengers, illustrating how in sport — as in life — the line between injustice and opportunity is often drawn by those wil
WWE SmackDown: Rhodes Faces Multiple Challengers as King/Queen of Ring Quarterfinals Continue
A crown is nice, but a guaranteed world title match is real leverage.
Mark
Why does it matter that the winners get a title shot? Isn't that just how tournaments work?
Mimi
Because it changes what you're watching. A crown is nice, but a guaranteed world title match is real leverage. It means every wrestler in those Fatal 4-Ways is fighting for something concrete, not just a trophy to hold up.
Mark
Fair point. So what was the deal with Gunther destroying the announce table? That seemed like a lot of anger over a foot position.
Mimi
It was. His foot was under the rope during the pin, which technically means the pin shouldn't have counted. He's right to be upset, but Rhodes called him out for complaining instead of just asking for the rematch. It's a tension between being a professional and being human about it.
Mark
And then Sami Zayn showed up. Why did he care?
Mimi
Because both Rhodes and Gunther had apparently wronged him at some point. He wasn't just inserting himself—he had a legitimate grievance. It muddied the waters in a way that actually made the title picture more interesting. Now Rhodes has options instead of just one obvious challenger.
Mark
What about the tournament matches themselves? Did anyone stand out?
Mimi
Rodriguez looked strong winning her Fatal 4-Way, and the match gave all four women time to work. But the real story was what happened after—Kiana James turned on Giulia because she blamed her for the loss. That's the kind of personal conflict that can carry a feud forward.
Mark
Hayes and Saints seemed to be the highlight.
Mimi
They were. The first match ended in a double countout, so this was their chance to settle it. Saints won, but you could tell both of them were holding back. They're building toward a third match that will probably be the real one.
El Pulso
- Gunther arrived in a rage, dismantling the ringside area over a foot-under-the-ropes finish that he believes robbed him of the title — a grievance that is legitimate, but risks consuming him.
- Cody Rhodes acknowledged the controversy yet drew a sharp line: champions move forward, they do not sulk, and his offer of an immediate rematch was as much a test of character as a sporting gesture.
- Sami Zayn's interruption fractured the confrontation further, turning a two-man dispute into a three-way collision of egos and claims, with a chaotic brawl leaving no clean resolution.
- Raquel Rodriguez cut through a competitive Fatal 4-Way to advance in the Queen of the Ring, while post-match tension between Kiana James and Giulia cracked an alliance wide open.
- Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints delivered the night's sharpest work — a rematch of barely contained intensity that ended in a tainted rollup, signaling a third chapter is inevitable.
- The tournament structure gave the evening its spine: with title shots on the line, every quarterfinal result carried consequence, pulling the show forward even when individual segments lost momentum.
In Bologna, Italy, WWE's SmackDown turned the page on a contested pay-per-view finish and looked ahead, using its King and Queen of the Ring tournaments to remind audiences that ambition and grievance are the twin engines of competition. Raquel Rodriguez and Oba Femi advanced through Fatal 4-Way quarterfinals, each step forward carrying the weight of a guaranteed world title shot. Meanwhile, Gunther's fury over a disputed pin against Cody Rhodes opened a crowded field of challengers, illustrating how in sport — as in life — the line between injustice and opportunity is often drawn by those willing to act rather than complain.
WWE's SmackDown arrived in Bologna, Italy, just days after the Clash in Italy pay-per-view, and wasted little time establishing its next chapter. The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments were underway, with quarterfinal Fatal 4-Ways determining who would advance — and with guaranteed world title shots attached to each crown, the stakes were anything but ceremonial.
The evening opened with Gunther storming the announce table, furious over a disputed finish that cost him the title against Cody Rhodes. His foot had been beneath the ropes during the decisive pin, and he made his anger physical, tearing apart the ringside area. Rhodes emerged to acknowledge the grievance but challenged Gunther to move forward rather than dwell — then offered an immediate rematch. Sami Zayn interrupted to stake his own claim, and the segment dissolved into a brawl, with Gunther applying a sleeper hold to Rhodes before Zayn intervened and Rhodes accidentally sent Zayn into Gunther's path. The chaos effectively surrounded the title with multiple challengers, though the segment grew unwieldy as it expanded.
The first quarterfinal saw Raquel Rodriguez advance through a Fatal 4-Way that also featured Bayley, Jacy Jayne, and Kiana James. Bayley controlled the early action before the match opened up, giving all four competitors meaningful moments. Rodriguez secured the win, but the more telling development came afterward — Kiana James blamed Giulia for a miscommunication, shoved her when Giulia offered a hand, and received a swift physical response. An alliance had fractured.
Elsewhere on the card, Talla Tonga defeated Royce Keys in a power-heavy contest, with Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga's interference ultimately working in Talla's favor via a chokeslam finish. Damian Priest pulled R-Truth to safety post-match but left Keys to absorb the beating. In tag action, Jade Cargill and Michin defeated Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton after Rhea Ripley appeared in street clothes to address her Clash in Italy victory — and its physical cost. B-Fab removed Flair from ringside, and Cargill finished Stratton with Jaded.
The night's best match belonged to Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints, a rematch after their previous double countout. Saints attacked before Hayes had even removed his jacket, and the urgency never faded. Hayes nearly lost by countout before making it back in time, and Saints ultimately stole the win with a rollup and a handful of tights. Both men seemed to be holding something in reserve, pointing toward a third encounter with higher stakes.
Chelsea Green's match against Lash Legend was brief and one-sided, with Legend and Nia Jax proving too much — though Green's resilience suggested a useful underdog role if the booking commits to it. A backstage exchange between Danhausen and The Miz provided the evening's most genuine laughs. The show moved efficiently without ever quite igniting, but with Rodriguez and Femi advanced and the remaining quarterfinals ahead, the tournament's path toward championship gold remained the clearest thread running through it all.
WWE's SmackDown broadcast on June 5 opened in Bologna, Italy, just days after the Clash in Italy pay-per-view, with the company already pivoting toward its annual King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. The quarterfinal rounds were structured as Fatal 4-Way matches, and the stakes were unmistakable: whoever claimed either crown would receive a guaranteed world title shot. This wasn't ceremonial—it was a direct path to championship gold.
The show began with Gunther storming the announce table, visibly furious over what he believed was a botched finish at Clash in Italy. His foot had been under the ropes during the pin that cost him the title against Cody Rhodes, and he made his displeasure known by destroying the ringside area. When Rhodes emerged to respond, he acknowledged Gunther's grievance but criticized him for complaining rather than moving forward like a professional. Rhodes then offered an immediate rematch, only to have Sami Zayn interrupt, claiming both men had wronged him. The segment escalated when Gunther applied a sleeper hold to Rhodes, Zayn saved him, and Rhodes responded by launching a suicide dive that inadvertently sent Zayn into Gunther's path. It was a chaotic opening that effectively positioned Rhodes with multiple challengers circling the title, though the segment lost some of its punch as more bodies entered the fray.
The first match of the evening was a Queen of the Ring quarterfinal featuring Raquel Rodriguez, Bayley, Jacy Jayne, and Kiana James. Bayley controlled the early moments, but the numbers game eventually overwhelmed her. All four competitors received meaningful time to shine, and the match never felt rushed. Rodriguez ultimately secured the victory and advanced in the tournament. The finish was notable for what happened after: Kiana James blamed Giulia for a miscommunication that led to her loss, and when Giulia tried to help her to her feet, James shoved her. Giulia's response was swift and physical, turning on her ally in frustration.
The card also featured Talla Tonga defeating Royce Keys in a match built around two powerhouses trading heavy strikes rather than technical exchanges. Keys held his own until Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga tried to interfere, but Talla capitalized on the distraction to hit a chokeslam for the pin. The post-match assault continued until Damian Priest pulled R-Truth to safety, though he left Keys to absorb the beating.
In tag team action, Jade Cargill and Michin defeated Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton after Rhea Ripley, wearing a knee brace and street clothes, appeared to explain her Clash in Italy victory came at a cost. Ripley had aligned with Flair, but when Flair suggested a tag match with Stratton as her partner, Cargill seized the opportunity. B-Fab removed Flair from ringside, allowing Cargill to hit Jaded on Stratton for the win.
Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints delivered the night's strongest match in their rematch after the previous week ended in a double countout. Saints attacked immediately as Hayes was still removing his jacket, and the intensity never relented. Hayes nearly won by countout but made it back to the ring in time. Saints ultimately stole the victory with a rollup, grabbing a handful of tights to secure the pin. The match suggested a third encounter was coming, and both men appeared to be holding back, building toward something bigger.
Chelsea Green faced Lash Legend in a bout that never quite found its rhythm. Green, despite her size, was dwarfed by Legend, and while she showed resilience, Legend and Nia Jax proved too much. The match was brief and left Green positioned as more of an underdog babyface—a role that could serve her well if the booking continues in that direction.
Overall, the show was competent but unremarkable. The Hayes-Saints match stood out, and both Fatal 4-Ways provided moments worth watching. A brief backstage segment between Danhausen and The Miz generated genuine laughs, suggesting the character work around Danhausen could elevate him beyond pure comedy if handled carefully. The tournament structure kept the evening moving, and with Rodriguez and Femi already advanced, the remaining quarterfinal matches promised to clarify the path to the crowns—and the title shots that came with them.
Citas Notables
Gunther's foot was under the rope during the pin that cost him the title, and he made his displeasure known by destroying the ringside area— Gunther's actions at the start of SmackDown
Rhodes acknowledged Gunther's grievance but criticized him for complaining rather than moving forward like a professional— Cody Rhodes in response to Gunther
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