WWE SmackDown LIVE Highlights and Results: Sanity Debuts; Rusev Becomes No. 1 Contender for WWE Championship
After the match, AJ Styles confronted Rusev in the ring. Both AJ Styles and Rusev shared staredowns as SmackDown LIVE went off-air!
The latest episode of SmackDown LIVE took place at Ohio, in the United States. The weekly show by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) began with SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige in the opening segment. Paige talked about the brand’s performance at the Money In The Bank 2018 Pay-Per-View. She also mentioned the main event – a Gauntlet Match – which will determine the contender number 1 for WWE Champion AJ Styles. Here's what you missed at this week's episode of SmackDown LIVE!
Carmella, SmackDown LIVE Women’s Champion, headed to the ring and bragged about her win at the MITB 2018, without needing anyone’s help. She went on bragging about her achievements and how she has defeated Charlotte Flair twice. Carmella continued her blabber; however, she was interrupted by the music and out came Asuka, much to the crowd’s delight.
Alas, it was James Ellsworth and not Asuka. The duo went more about it; however, this time the real Asuka turns up. They trade blows and it is Asuka, eventually, who outpowers the duo as they retreat backstage!
The recent episode of SmackDown LIVE also saw the debut of SAnitY – a tag team from WWE NXT show – make its first appearance at the WWE weekly show. There was a list of other matches that took places in the night, much to the crowd’s appreciation.
List of all matches that took place at SmackDown LIVE Episode on June 19:
| Sr. No. | Matches | Stipulation | Winner |
| 1 | Billie Kay vs. Becky Lynch | Singles Match | Becky Lynch |
| 2 | SAnitY vs. The Usos | Tag-Team Match | No Result |
| 3 | Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. The Bludgeon Brothers | SmackDown Tag Team Title Match | The Bludgeon Brothers |
| 4 | Daniel Bryan, Big E, Rusev, Samoa Joe, and The Miz | Gauntlet Match to Crown a New #1 Contender | Rusev |
The main event saw Daniel Bryan, Big E, Rusev, Samoa Joe, and The Miz participate in the Gauntlet match to determine AJ Style’s opponent for the Extreme Rules PPV. Bryan entered as the first entrant competing with The New Day’s Big E Langston. After a lot of to and fro, Bryan pinned Langston in the ring for the win. Next up was Samoa Joe.
The Samoan Fighting Machine, then, began his duel with a tiresome Bryan. However, it was Bryan whose resilience and quick reflexes helped him secure another win. Just after he defeated Joe, The Bludgeon Brothers entered the ring and hit Bryan with their finishing move, as the crowd booed. The Miz entered the ring next and took full advantage of the situation. He hit Bryan with his finishing move, Skull Crushing Finale, and pinned him for the win!
It was Rusev who entered next. The crowd started duelling chants as Rusev walked towards the ring. After a gruesome battle between him and the Miz, it was Rusev who won the match. Eventually, he also became the number one contender to AJ Style’s WWE Championship title.
After the match, AJ Styles confronted Rusev in the ring. Rusev’s side-kick Aiden English seemed to get physical with Styles. The WWE Champion responded in his own style as he tossed English out of the ring. Both AJ Styles and Rusev shared staredowns as SmackDown LIVE went off-air.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 20, 2018 04:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).