WWE SmackDown: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for June 12

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Rusev (w/ Aiden English) vs. Samoa Joe; Special Guest Referee: The Miz

Result: Rusev defeated Samoa Joe via pinfall

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

If there’s one thing I love, it’s hoss fights. Maybe it’s because I share a physical appearance with the hoss. Well, at least the hosses in this match. Throw some big guys out in the ring and let them beat the bag out of each other, and I will cheer it like no tomorrow.

Anyway, Samoa Joe has a new haircut, and somehow it makes him look both more silly and more tough. That’s a fine line to walk — like, Joe is out there looking like he’s the baddest man in Miss Knight’s seventh grade math class. But don’t tell him I said that, because he may literally kill me.

Without question, the wrinkle in this match between MITB participants is the third man in the match — special guest ref The Miz. He played it cool and down the middle early, but the odds of him somehow causing trouble were insanely high. Sure enough, Miz got distracted while Joe had the Coquina Clutch locked in, and eventually took an inadvertent running charge from Joe.

Joe then attempted a pin, but Miz refused to count due to the discomfort in his ribs. Understandable. Joe looked like he was about to snap Miz’s finger off, but Rusev connected with a Machka Kick and scored the upset. Per Graham Matthews, Rusev joins Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Brock Lesnar as the only superstars to pin Samoa Joe in singles matches on the main roster. Wow.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1006705003296219138

After the match, there’s shenanigans with the ladder, and Miz grabs the briefcase to retrieve the contract early, even though it doesn’t work like that. But there’s no paper — just pancakes, because New Day are such wacky pranksters! Look at them sharing one shirt and laughing maniacally!