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From Sheamus and Jeff Hardy's controversial opening segment to AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan's hyped-up match for the Intercontinental Championship, this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown featured many contrasting moments.
This particular episode was WWE's final stop before this Sunday's Backlash pay-per-view. It was certainly a short and enjoyable episode, but there were some faults and controversial moments based on subjective opinions.
Thankfully, AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan's bout made this an important show as a whole.
Which show did you like better this week, RAW or SmackDown? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Here are the five biggest news stories from this week's episode of WWE SmackDown (June 12, 2020).
#5: Sasha Banks & Bayley's title celebration was interrupted by Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross and The IIconics
Sasha Banks and Bayley became the new Women's Tag Team Champions on last week's episode of WWE SmackDown.
After getting laid out by The IIconics on the latest episode of WWE RAW, Bayley & Sasha were on the receiving end of a beating at the hands of Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross last night.
The IIconics appeared on the screen before Bliss & Cross got to make a statement against the Women's Tag Team Champions.
All three teams will wrestle it out for those titles at WWE Backlash.
It's been quite apparent that the Women's Tag Team Division has become more newsworthy than the Men's Tag Team Division on SmackDown, and that hit everyone's radar especially since Sasha & Bayley became the new Women's Tag Team Champions last week.
Bayley vs. Sasha seems to be the ultimate endgame here, so there's no telling when exactly both of them will be dethroned from the top of the Women's Tag Team Division, and that is why there is a reasonable chance they could lose those titles at WWE Backlash.
#4: Sheamus got drenched in Jeff Hardy's "urine sample"
WWE SmackDown opened with a contract signing segment between Sheamus and Jeff Hardy.
This whole feud is centred around WWE's fictional exploitation of Jeff Hardy's real-life substance abuse issues, and with that being said, it's no surprise that people have subjective opinions about it.
But it can't be denied that Sheamus and Hardy's feud has gained a lot of exposure for its very nature.
During the contract signing segment, Sheamus ordered an impromptu urine test to shame Hardy in front of everyone. As expected, the "test" came back negative later, thus proving Hardy's innocence.
As weird as it sounds, Sheamus getting splashed with a urine sample was the highlight of this segment, and it also led to a backstage brawl between the two men a few moments later.
But where this entire arc failed in logic was that The Celtic Warrior was surprised upon hearing that Hardy had passed the urine test. Why would Sheamus be surprised if he's the one who framed Jeff Hardy in the first place?
Whether this WWE feud has been morally correct or not is an entirely different conversation. But as a whole, it was certainly a newsworthy arc just several hours before WWE Backlash, where Jeff Hardy and Sheamus are scheduled for a one-on-one contest.
#3: Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro picked up a surprise victory against the SmackDown Tag Team Champions
Out of each and every program on WWE SmackDown, the Tag Team scenario hasn't been on anyone's radar for quite a while now.
You could argue that the titles would have been far more relevant if The Miz & John Morrison were still the SmackDown Tag Team Champions. But Kofi & Big E are on top of the Tag Team Division on WWE's Blue brand, and there hasn't been anything noteworthy from them in recent memory.
However, Cesaro & Sheamus are in line for a chance to dethrone Kofi & Big E from their current reign.
The former duo defeated New Day in a non-title match this week.
This was probably done to ensure a legitimate tag team contest between male competitors at WWE Backlash, which isn't official yet, but an announcement should be made sooner than later.
After all, The Street Profits and Viking Raiders have made their rivalry as friendly as possible on Monday Night RAW, so WWE officials are left with The New Day as their only option for a match in a couple of days.
#2: AJ Styles defeated Daniel Bryan to become the new Intercontinental Champion
WWE SmackDown peaked during the final round of the Intercontinental Championship tournament between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles.
Both men wrestled in a highly technical bout that became more gruelling as time went forward.
You could say that the match was lengthy, but it certainly helped in establishing better in-ring storytelling as a result.
Styles and Bryan made good use of the TV time they were provided with. WWE SmackDown is often known for putting entertainment over in-ring product these days, but you have Superstars like Bryan and Styles that restore the faith of hardcore fans on a periodic basis.
At the end of the day, AJ Styles is the new Intercontinental Champion, and judging by the way how all of this came about, the IC title might just be the most prestigious accolade on SmackDown right now.
The Phenomenal One has found his new calling after a popular feud with The Undertaker, and WWE fans can't wait to see who will be the first challenger to AJ Styles' IC title reign.
#1: King Corbin tried to bring conflict between Mandy Rose and Otis in the main event
The main event of this week's WWE SmackDown saw Heavy Machinery and Braun Strowman taking on Dolph Ziggler, The Miz & John Morrison.
A six-man tag team match was in no way going to top Styles and Bryan's classic earlier in the night, but for what it's worth, the main event did a good job in establishing another conflict for Otis to conquer.
King Corbin approached Mandy Rose backstage and tried to woo her from Otis based on what happened last week.
Otis left the match mid-way to rescue his "peach" and succeeded in doing so as well.
He even returned to ensure that the babyfaces would pick up the victory two nights before WWE Backlash.
A Corbin-Otis feud builds support for Otis as he tries to cash-in the MITB briefcase against a babyface champion like Braun Strowman.
However, nothing changed for the Universal Championship match this Sunday, since we knew that the odds of Miz & Morrison winning were unlikely, and Braun Strowman looked stronger than ever heading into WWE Backlash 2020.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
