Grab a cold beer, throw a plate of wings on the tab, and let's talk about the absolute madness that went down at the O2 Arena in London. WWE pre-taped Friday Night SmackDown on June 23, 2026, to save the roster from the brutal jet lag before heading over to Riyadh. The result was a go-home show that felt less like a standard broadcast and more like a high-velocity car crash where everyone walked away smiling.

The main event scene is a tangled web of personal grudges, championship ambitions, and guys who just want to watch the world burn. Let's break down why this show was a masterclass in building tension and why one particular faction is officially dead.

The champion is showing his teeth in the London fog

Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, and the shadow of Kevin Owens

The in-ring confrontation between Cody Rhodes, Gunther, and Sami Zayn was the absolute highlight of the night. Cody is usually the smiling babyface who hands out weight belts, but in London, he decided to play psychological chess.

Cody went straight for Sami Zayn's throat, dragging their mutual friend Kevin Owens into the conversation. He told Sami that Owens is a killer who would have "stabbed him in the front" to get what he wanted.

He also made sure to remind Sami that Owens has actually held a world championship, a jab that clearly struck a nerve. Sami looked like he wanted to jump out of his skin, screaming at Cody to keep Owens's name out of his mouth.

This is the kind of character development that makes wrestling feel alive. Cody isn't just defending a title; he is actively trying to break Sami's spirit before they even step into the ring.

By pointing out that Sami lacks the killer instinct of his best friend, Cody is playing a dangerous game. Gunther just stood there like a stone statue, looking like a man who knows he is about to pick up the pieces of a broken relationship.

Oba Femi and Jey Uso crash the party

Just when you thought the talking was over, the King of the Ring finalists crashed the party. Jey Uso walked out to a massive ovation from the O2 crowd. But the real shocker was Oba Femi, the NXT powerhouse who has been treated like a human wrecking ball on the main roster.

Oba Femi standing in the same ring as Cody Rhodes and Gunther is a visual that should terrify the entire WWE locker room. He didn't say much, but his presence alone screams future world champion. The segment quickly dissolved into a chaotic five-man brawl that had the O2 Arena shaking.

This segment achieved multiple goals at once. It hyped the Triple Threat match, put the spotlight on the King of the Ring finalists, and gave us a preview of the war in Riyadh. If you aren't excited for this title match, check your pulse.

The slow-motion train wreck of Solo Sikoa's fake Bloodline

Tama and Talla walk away from the clown show

Let's talk about the absolute disaster that is Solo Sikoa's leadership of the Bloodline. Backstage, the faction officially collapsed when Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga confronted Sikoa and told him they were done. Tama told Solo that they "heard from the elders" and were walking away from his personal war with Roman Reigns.

They pointed out that Solo's constant interference cost them their recent tag team title match against Damian Priest and R-Truth. When Solo tried to pull rank, Tama gave the coolest line of the night: "We just did." The MFT faction is officially dissolved, leaving Solo standing alone like a guy whose credit card just got declined.

This split was a long time coming. Solo has been trying to play the big bad Tribal Chief, but he has none of the charisma Roman Reigns commands.

He is a midcard heel elevated to a position he wasn't ready for, and now his own family has realized he is a liability. Watching his empire crumble backstage was pure gold.

To make matters worse, Solo tried to salvage his night by offering an alliance to LA Knight. Knight did what any sane person would do: he laughed in Solo's face and walked away. Solo is now a chief without a tribe, destined to get destroyed when Roman Reigns shows up.

Trick Williams, Lil Yachty, and the wedding crasher

Speaking of midcard drama, the show opened with United States Champion Trick Williams and Lil Yachty. Trick has been away for a week, and he revealed it was because he got married to Lash Legend in Jamaica. Yachty was hyping up the wedding as the biggest party of the year, which is exactly the kind of fun segment London loves.

Then Ricky Saints ruined the party, mocking Trick's life choices and hitting Lil Yachty in the face. When Trick checked on his friend, Saints hit a cheap shot from behind and bailed. It was a classic heel move proving Saints is a complete coward who is going to get his head kicked in at Night of Champions.

Undercard gems, hometown laziness, and a monster debut

Fenix and Frazer show everyone how it is done

While the main event scene was busy talking, Rey Fenix and Nathan Frazer were busy tearing the house down. Fenix defended his AAA Cruiserweight Championship in a match that was a complete breath of fresh air. The pace of this match was absolutely blistering from the opening bell.

Frazer hit a ridiculous somersault over the top rope to the floor that looked like a video game glitch. Fenix responded with a stunner and a neckbreaker that almost folded Frazer in half.

Fenix secured the pinfall after hitting his signature Mexican Muscle Buster in a match that went 12 minutes of pure adrenaline. The post-match hug showed their mutual respect, reminding everyone how good wrestling is when you just let athletes work.

Paige gets her moment, but the booking gets lazy

Now for the negative side of the ledger. Paige returned to England, accompanied by Brie Bella, to face Jacy Jayne.

The crowd was absolutely electric for Paige's homecoming, singing her name and ready to see a classic. What did we get instead? A roll-up victory after a distraction from the outside.

This is lazy booking. Paige is a legend in her home country, and fans deserved to see her hit a proper finisher for a clean win.

Instead, we got the classic distraction-roll-up finish we have seen a thousand times. Jacy Jayne did her job, but the match itself felt like a missed opportunity for a memorable homecoming moment.

Giulia's victory cut short by a debuting monster

The women's division also featured Giulia taking on Kiana James in a solid contest. Giulia won the match after hitting the Arrivederci knee followed by a Northern Lights Bomb. The match itself was good, but the post-match angle was what really mattered.

As Giulia was celebrating, Blake Monroe made her main roster debut. After weeks of diary-themed vignettes, Monroe bypassed the squash matches and went straight for the top.

She laid out Giulia with a brutal Neutralizer, establishing herself as a major threat. It was a perfect debut that set up an exciting feud and proved Monroe is here to make a statement.

Overall, SmackDown was a wild ride that set the table for a massive night in Riyadh. The Triple Threat is going to be a war, the Bloodline is in shambles, and the undercard is hungry. Pour another drink, because the next show is going to be absolute chaos.