The June 12 episode of Friday Night SmackDown will build towards the Night of Champions Premium Live Event. That’s exactly why WWE has put together a solid lineup to keep fans entertained from start to finish. Tonight’s WWE SmackDown promises to deliver high drama and storylines that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. With appearances from Cody Rhodes and more, it’s bound to be a show you won’t want to miss. WWE SmackDown will air from the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, starting at 8 PM ET. Last week, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis revealed that Gunther was willing to accept Cody Rhodes’ rematch challenge, but only if a specific condition was met. Rather than reveal it immediately, Aldis announced that Gunther would reveal it on this week’s show. So we’ll have to see what the condition will be in the end. The men’s King of the Ring tournament continues with one final first-round showdown as Jey Uso, LA Knight, Royce Keys, and Finn Balor face off in a high-stakes Fatal Four-Way match. The final first-round match in the Queen of the Ring tournament will also take place on SmackDown as Sol Ruca, Lyra Valkyria, Charlotte Flair, and Jade Cargill battle for the final semifinal spot. The King and Queen of the Ring 2026 tournaments began hot and heavy, with a couple of Fatal 4-Way Matches, which saw The Judgment Day reign supreme on their qualifiers last week on WWE SmackDown. This week, we’ll see another former Judgment Day member take the stage, as Finn Balor makes his SmackDown debut, taking on Jey Uso, LA Knight, and Royce Keys. All four men have a chip on their shoulder, as winning this tournament means they can get a boost in their respective careers with a guaranteed main event slot and championship match at SummerSlam 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The same goes for the ladies in the Queen of the Ring tournament, as #AndNEW Women’s Intercontinental Champion Sol Ruca looks to add another notch in her belt as she takes on Lyra Valkria, Charlotte Flair, and Jade Cargill. These competitors blend a mix of the present and future, and will be a massive showcase of what the WWE women’s division is all about. Ruca recently had her crowning achievement, thus far, in her burgeoning career. Valkyria, on the other hand, is looking for a direction as she looks to kickstart her dominance once again if she wins Queen of the Ring. On this past week’s SmackDown in Italy, Gunther went absolutely haywire with rage after his controversial loss to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, demanding the champion grant him a “much-deserved” shot. Rhodes agreed, saying that if he wants it, he has it, and they can do it then and there in Italy. Unfortunately for Rhodes, Gunther is now more careful than ever, with his legal team even reaching out to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis. The “Ring General” wants to name the stipulation for their title match in Kansas City, ensuring there would be no shady ending to their impending rematch. QB1 was more than forthcoming to the request, saying Gunther can name any stipulation he wants, and Cody Rhodes wants him to bring it. Bring it, he shall. Gunther will be back on WWE SmackDown this Friday night to lay down the law.