Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for June 18, 2019

The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) show up to start tonight's show. Xavier Woods begins by talking about Kofi Kingston's WWE Championship defense in a steel cage match against Dolph Ziggler at Stomping Grounds, then says it will only happen if Ziggler wins later tonight. Big E proposes "The Freaky Hour" for the last hour of Raw - which involves a slip 'n slide - before Ziggler shows up. Ziggler calls this typical behavior of The New Day made to distract from what everybody knows: that Kofi does not deserve to be WWE Champion. He goes on to say that Kofi would be nothing without The New Day, who will not be able to have his back at Stomping Grounds to the point that Kofi will return to Ghana as part of an apology tour. Ziggler then says that at Stomping Grounds, it will be him slamming Kofi's body into the unforgiving steel, rubbing him against the cage wall, kicking ass and taking names and becoming WWE Champion. Kofi reminds Ziggler that this all started in a different cage - the Elimination Chamber - and that he is fully aware of the dangers of the steel cage and that he is okay with it. He then says that regardless of how it happens, he will beat Ziggler at Stomping Grounds and remain WWE Champion. Kofi then says that Xavier Woods has been waiting to get his hands on Ziggler since Super ShowDown and will have his chance tonight. Ziggler says he would be WWE Champion had it not been for Woods. Ziggler then states that after tonight, Woods will never be able to help Kofi again, and at Stomping Grounds, all the positivity and the comedy will come crumbling down when Kofi is locked in a steel cage with him. He promises that Kofi will not be WWE Champion after Sunday, because it should have been him.

Dolph Ziggler beats Xavier Woods. During the match, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn show up and attack Big E and Kofi Kingston. Owens and Sami are ejected, as are Kofi and Big E, but not before Xavier Woods wipes Owens and Sami out with a top rope cross body to the outside.

Backstage, Bo Dallas and Curtis Alex want to be the referee for the Universal Championship match at Stomping Grounds, but Shelton Benjamin says Baron Corbin will use anyone to win a title and doesn't mind using him for a change. Matt Hardy is then seen walking out of a door, telling Shelton he is next to be interviewed.

It's time for A Moment Of Bliss with special guest Bayley. Alexa is about to introduce Bayley when she realizes her coffee is not here. Bayley shows up drinking Alexa's coffee, then tells Nikki that Alexa is not really her friend and that she is just using her. Alexa is about to introduce Bayley when she realizes her coffee is not here. Bayley shows up drinking Alexa's coffee, then tells Nikki that Alexa is not really her friend and that she is just using her. Bayley says Alexa is making up scenarios that didn't exist, and that Alexa is just "an entitled little princess who doesn't deserve a damn thing" who is using Nikki like she did Nia Jax. Alexa says she is and has always been better than Bayley, but Bayley says she has never needed to latch on to people to get ahead in order to become champion. Alexa calls Bayley "a placeholder" who peaked in NXT and says that she is living out the career that Bayley always wanted. Bayley and Alexa brawl, and Nikki Cross has to pry Bayley off of Alexa. Alexa then attacks Bayley from behind as Bayley is yelling at Nikki Cross.

Backstage, Apollo Crews meets with Zelina Vega as he is looking for Andrade. Suddenly, Andrade rushes up and attacks Apollo from behind. Chad Gable is then seen taking notes in the distance.

"The New" Daniel Bryan and Rowan guest on commentary for the next match.

Heavy Machinery (Tucker and Otis) beat The B-Team (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel). After the match, Seth Rollins shows up and attacks The B-Team with a steel chair.

Shane McMahon is seen exiting a limousine outside of the arena. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn shows up and alert Shane to Seth Rollins' attack on The B-Team (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel), and say that something needs to be done, as only "bad people" do what Seth Rollins is doing. Shane proposes they take on Kofi Kingston and Rollins in a two-out-of-three falls match to "take care of the bad people."

We hear from Aleister Black, who asks what it takes to change the essence of a man. He says he understands why nobody has picked a fight with him: he can hear the whispers of those who pass by. He says that these whispers state that he would amount to nothing, but this is a "woe is his opponents" story, not a "woe is me" one, for when someone picks a fight with him, he will change the essence of that man.

Shane McMahon shows up with Elias and Drew McIntyre. Shane states it is time to place a spotlight exactly where it should be: Drew McIntyre, who will defeat Roman Reigns at Stomping Grounds. Drew prays that Roman is listening to him tonight, because Shane asked him not to end his career, for "they are better than that." He talks about Roman's assault on them in the VIP Lounge last night, and says that he wants Roman at 100% on Sunday. Suddenly, The Miz shows up and and shows the video of Roman Reigns' attack at the VIP Lounge from last night, then shows slow-motion footage of Shane running away from Roman and Shane getting beaten up by Roman Reigns. After reminding Shane that he's "the boss' son," he states that he will fill Miz TV with highlights of Roman Reigns knocking Drew McIntyre out. Miz says that Shane McMahon made SmackDown Live "the land of opportunities," but now all the opportunities go to Shane to feed his ego and everyone is tired of it. He then feels that he has created a monster when he got injured at the World Cup, and states that Shane is his responsibility, for he started Shane on his current path and it is time for him to end it. Shane says he had to take care of things himself, since Miz could not get the job done, then proposes that Miz face Elias and Drew McIntyre in a tag team match with a partner of his choosing, should he find a partner in the next ten seconds. Suddenly, R-Truth pops out from underneath the ring, and The Miz notices him. He declares R-Truth to be his partner, and that Awesome Truth is back. Shane then makes the match a tag team elimination match, and announces that the match is up next.

We look back on the life and career of Mr. Fuji, courtesy of Progressive Auto Insurance.

The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce) meet AOP (Akam and Rezar) before meeting Paige and The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane), who challenges them for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships before telling them that they have been given a match against them in Tokyo, Japan. Should The Kabuki Warriors beat them, they get a match for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.

Drew McIntyre and Elias beat Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) in a tag team elimination match. After R-Truth is eliminated following the involvement of Shane McMahon, the 205 Live roster and Shelton Benjamin run around the ring, with Shelton holding the WWE 24/7 Championship. When Shelton is told by a referee that he has to pin R-Truth, R-Truth takes the WWE 24/7 Championship back and runs away through the crowd. After the match, Drew McIntyre hits The Miz with two more Claymore Kicks.

Backstage, Ember Moon is looking for Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose as Carmella looks for R-Truth. Carmella reminds Ember Moon that she has unfinished business with them. She finally finds Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville eating donuts, confronts them, and when told they were just giving her a healthier outlet for her time, knocks the donuts out of their hands and starts a brawl that referees have to break up.

Backstage, R-Truth is looking for Carmella when he runs into a referee as well as Drake Maverick, who ditches his Carmella disguise and pins R-Truth to win the WWE 24/7 Championship before stealing the referee's car.

Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a two-out-of-three falls tag team match. The first fall happens at the beginning of the match when Kofi hits Sami with Trouble In Paradise and Rollins knocks Owens off the apron. The second fall happens after Rollins hits The Stomp on Owens.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!