WWE SmackDown pushes King and Queen of the Ring tournaments forward

The June 5, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown featured the quarterfinal round of both the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. Four Fatal‑4‑Way matches determined the next contenders, with Raquel Rodriguez advancing in the women's bracket after defeating Bayley, Jacy Jayne and Kiana James. The men's quarterfinals saw the continued rivalry between Gunther, Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn, highlighted by Gunther’s abrupt table‑smashing entrance and a brief physical confrontation that ended with Rhodes delivering a suicide dive on Zayn.

A notable storyline development was the surprise return of Chad Gable, whose re‑appearance was highlighted as a potential catalyst for new rivalries. The episode also included a backstage segment with Danhausen and The Miz that added comic relief. Overall, the night emphasized the high stakes of the tournaments, with the eventual winners earning guaranteed world‑title shots.

These events unfolded live from Bologna, Italy, continuing the momentum from the recent Clash in Italy pay‑per‑view and setting the stage for the upcoming premium live events.