WWE Friday Night SmackDown 06 19 2020

WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
June 19, 2020
Orlando, Florida (WWE Performance Center)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.

A video highlighting the Intercontinental Championship match between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles is shown. Styles defeated Bryan to win the vacant championship.

The SmackDown video plays. Tonight we’ll see the return of the Firefly Fun house, as well as an episode of Miz TV with Mandy Rose.

Renee Young is in the ring with the WWE Intercontinental Championship. She introduces new Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles to the ring. Much of the SmackDown roster is around the ringside area. Styles likes her introduction for him. Styles says he is an accolade machine and wants everyone around the ring because this is as close as they’ll get to the championship.

As much as Styles likes Young, he wants someone else to present the championship to him. Styles points to Daniel Bryan at ringside. Styles defeated Bryan for the title last week. Styles tells Bryan to put the title around his waist and congratulate him. A “NO” chant picks up. Bryan reluctantly picks up the title. Styles asks what is his problem. Styles tells him to be a man about it. Bryan still won’t move. Styles asks if he’s a coward, so Bryan goes up and puts the title around his waist. Bryan quietly says, “Congratulations.” Styles isn’t happy about that. Bryan enthusiastically says, “Congratulations, AJ Styles. Last week you were the better man. Though we disagree about a lot of things – a lot of things – I infinitely respect your abilities in the ring.” Bryan says Styles has the opportunity to be the greatest Intercontinental Champion in history… if he defends the title every week against the amazing superstars standing around this ring. Imagine Styles’ legacy if he defended the title against Shorty G, Gran Metalik, or Big E.

Styles regrets asks Bryan to say some words. A select few will have an opportunity at the title. The person will have to be at his level. Bryan is at the back of the line. Bryan says if Styles is so worried about people earning things, he’ll defend the title against Drew Gulak since he pinned Styles two weeks ago. Gulak earned it. Styles says he is not Daniel Bryan giving handouts. If you want an opportunity for the title, you’ll have to earn it by being the #1 Contender. That is that. The next person that wants to stand up and run their mouth will have to deal with the consequences.

Matt Riddle’s music hits, and he comes out to the ring. Riddle introduces himself. Styles says he knows who he is — Riddle is the talk of the town. Riddle is here to give Styles some advice. He hears that Styles is the face that runs the place, but he’s the bro that’s gonna run the show. Styles removes the Intercontinental Championship and punches Riddle a few times. Riddle punches back and kicks Styles out of the ring. Styles is furious.

-Commercial Break-

The ring announcer goes to say this match is for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, but Styles cuts him off and says it is a non-title match.

WWE Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles vs. Matt Riddle

They circle the ring, and Riddle immediately blocks a kick before giving him a German Suplex on his neck. Riddle follows up with a gutwrench suplex before powering him up for a second one. Riddle picks up a two count. Riddle kicks him, but Styles comes back with a jawbreaker. Styles tries to whip him, but Riddle holds the ropes. Styles ducks a kick and backs him to the corner. Styles elbows him in the face, but Riddle responds with a vicious kick to the face for a near fall. Riddle hits the Broton for another two count.

Riddle goes to a chin lock before going after the arm. Styles fights up and backs him to the corner before shouldering him and chopping the chest. Riddle angrily punches away at him in the corner and gets pumped up. Styles responds with a dropkick to take him down. Styles punches away at him, but Riddle fights back. Styles hits a throat thrust and clotheslines him to the apron. Styles pulls him up by the hair, but Riddle punches him back. Styles kicks Riddle into King Corbin. Riddle and Corbin argue at ringside.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Styles grounding Riddle. During the break, Styles wiped him out with a baseball slide. Back to live action, Styles hits a backbreaker and starts kicks the chest. They start trading punches until Styles rakes the eyes on the ropes. Styles hits a jumping knee drop, but Riddle makes a comeback with some kicks. Styles quickly blocks one and hits a dragon screw.

Riddle tries to punch back, but Styles keeps him grounded. Riddle stuns him with a knee and punches back, but Styles punches down. Riddle hits a fisherman’s suplex, and both men are down. The SmackDown roster is banging on the mat. Styles gets to his feet and misses an avalanche. Riddle hits a running forearm followed by an exploder. Riddle goes for a moonsault, but lands on his feet when Styles moves. Riddle hits a Broton for a near fall. Riddle goes to the Bromission, but Styles lays on top of him to cover for a near fall. Styles takes him down for the Calf Crusher and locks it in. Riddle gets to the bottom rope to break the hold.

Styles goes outside the ring and shoves Daniel Bryan before getting in the ring. Other wrestlers hold Bryan back. Styles goes to get in the ring, but he gets out and gets in Bryan’s face. Styles gets on the apron and goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Riddle catches him and hits the Bro Derek for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Matt Riddle

The SmackDown roster celebrates with Riddle in the ring. Riddle dances around and poses.

Jeff Hardy is shown backstage staring into the distance. We’ll have an interview with him, next.

-Commercial Break-

Video Package: Jeff Hardy gets arrested after Sheamus stages a drunk driving accident

Renee Young asks Jeff Hardy how he’s doing. Hardy says he’s been trying to turn his life around. His life has been great, but the bad times haunt him. Just when he extinguishes one fire, he turns around and there’s another one. The struggle is real. Young says the rivalry with Sheamus is uncomfortable as Sheamus goes after Hardy’s addictions. How is Hardy dealing with the loss to Sheamus at Backlash. Hardy says he’s lost a lot of matches and will lose many more, but Sheamus is a constant reminder of what he doesn’t like about himself. It creates a negative thought that if he beats Sheamus down that he’ll be resilient and still great. The other thought comes and makes him wonder if he’s a good performer, father, and person. Hardy has to catch himself before that spiral of thinking gets out of control.

The truth is he is a junkie. He’s been an adrenaline junkie since he was a kid. He is an alcoholic. Hardy has overcome bigger obstacles in his life. Sheamus is just another sickening obstacle in his way on the road to redemption. Sheamus is just a miserable, insecure bully.

Shorty G is interviewed. It doesn’t matter how tall or big you are… Mojo Rawley comes up behind him, so G punches him down.

-Commercial Break-

Shorty G vs. Mojo Rawley

Rawley immediately powers G to the corner and attacks. Rawley talks trash and whips him hard into the corner. G fights back and hits a northern lights suplex. G hits the ropes, but Rawley drops him on the top rope. Rawley follows up with a devastating tackle for a two count. Rawley talks some trash before punching away at him. Rawley applies a modified chin lock, but G fights up. Rawley goes for a slam, but G applies a sleeper hold. Rawley gets out, but misses an avalanche. Rawley gets in the ring and splashes him in the corner. Rawley sidesteps an avalanche and hits a German Suplex. G goes for a cross-body block, but Rawley catches him. G quickly counters into an inside cradle for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Shorty G

The Miz and John Morrison are talking backstage. Mandy Rose will be a guest on Miz TV, next.

-Commercial Break-

The Miz and John Morrison are in the ring when we return from the break. They’re complaining about how the rules were changed at the last moment. They should both be Universal Champion. They also had to worry about that canned ham covered in body hair, Otis. Their focus was divided. They then introduce Mandy Rose to the ring.

Miz welcomes her to the show. Before they get to her “relationship,” they want to talk about her best friend. Rose corrects and says it’s her ex-best friend. Rose says they were friends for five years. They ask if she ever realized she was upstaging Sonya Deville. Rose says she’s not here to be insulted and goes to leave, but they tell her they have a surprise.

Sonya Deville comes out to the stage. Rose asks why they’re still on this. She can understand that Deville is mad, but Deville is the one that went behind her back to try and sabotage her career and lift. Rose is done. Deville gets in the ring and says she can’t be done. Week after week, Rose gets the spotlight. If it weren’t for Miz and Morrison, she’d be in catering twiddling her thumbs. The promotion for the show said, “Mandy Rose on Miz TV.” Where was Deville? Rose hasn’t won any matches, said anything of value, but she has made out with Otis at poolside. 2020 is looking like a great year for Rose. Rose asks what Deville wants from her. She doesn’t get it. Deville can hurt her physically, but she’s still standing here. You can try to hurt her emotionally, but she has people by her side. Otis has been there for her and loyal since day one. What is it that Deville has besides being a fighter she’s alone. How long will she hold onto the petty resentments.

Deville will break this down really simply so Rose can understand. Deville is just confursed and wonders what she has to do to get the Mandy Rose treatment. She looks at them and says Rose’s body is the reason she gets the opportunity when Deville is superior in every single way. Deville says she’s done. She’ll take the only thing Rose likes: she’s going to rip her apart until she’s as hideous as she is inside.

Rose and Deville brawl as Miz and Morrison gleefully watch on. Rose punches Deville down, and Miz gets in Rose’s way. Miz smiles at her, so Rose slaps him in the face. Deville angrily runs off.

The return of the Firefly Fun House takes place later tonight.

Video Package: Sasha Banks and Bayley win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship two weeks ago on SmackDown

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Bayley will be on commentary for the next match.

-Commercial Break-

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Lucha House Party

Kofi Kingston and Lince Dorado get into a stalemate to start the match. Big E hits some belly-to-belly side suplexes and slams Kingston on them. Big E then gives Dorado a belly-to-belly suplex over the top rope. Dorado then hits a springboard cross-body block to the floor.

-Commercial Break-

Big E sends Dorado to the corner, but Dorado knocks him back. Big E catches him and hits a back elbow. Big E hits the ropes and hits a big splash for a near fall. Big E applies an abdominal stretch, but Dorado elbows out. Dorado hits a handspring stunner.

Kingston and Metalik tag in. Kingston hits a springboard club and chops him down. Kingston connects with a dropkick, but Metalik soon kicks him. Kingston reverses a whip, but Metalik comes back with a bulldog. Metalik goes for a springboard kick, but Kingston dropkicks him out of mid-air. Kingston goes for Trouble in Paradise, but Metalik catches him. Dorado tags in and hits Big E with a hurricanrana. Metalik hits a Michinoku Driver, and Dorado follows up with a big splash. Big E breaks it up. Big E cuts off a Lucha House Party double-team, and Kingston hits the Cave In on Dorado. They hit the Midnight Hour for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day

Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro attack Kingston and Big E. Cesaro finishes Big E off with a Neutralizer. Cesaro then hits a Cesaro Swing on Kingston before throwing him into a kick from Nakamura. They high five Banks and Bayley at ringside. Cesaro says they’re sick and tired of being overlooked.

The Firefly Fun House is still to come.

Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, and Tamina are talking about being overlooked. They wonder where Nikki Cross is.

-Commercial Break-

Sheamus says lines have been crossed in his feud with Jeff Hardy. When Hardy called him a bully, it really made him think… he is a bully. Sheamus enjoyed beating up Hardy at Backlash. The only regret is he didn’t crush his voice box so we didn’t have to hear him whine out of his junkie mouth. Sheamus says Hardy doesn’t really believe it. If Hardy can’t lift himself up, he’ll do it for him. Sheamus wants everyone to raise a glass because next week he’ll toast the one and only Jeff Hardy.

Bayley and Sasha Banks are still on commentary. They want to party. Nikki Cross all of a sudden attacks them from behind. Cross beats them down. Alexa Bliss runs down and pulls Cross off the Tag Team Champions. Cross challenges Banks to a match and wants some action. Bayley accepts on behalf of Banks. Banks doesn’t look happy.

-Commercial Break-

Sasha Banks w/ Bayley vs. Nikki Cross w/ Alexa Bliss

We join this match in progress to see Banks stomping Cross down. Cross comes back with a dropkick, but Banks begs her off. Banks then pulls her out of the ring. Cross counters a baseball slide by wrapping Banks up in the apron and clubbing away at her. Cross gets Banks in the ring and goes to the top rope. Banks rolls out of the ring, so Cross gets down and hits a cross-body block off the apron.