text: Joe returned from injury in April 2018 following WrestleMania 34. At the Greatest Royal Rumble that month, he unsuccessfully challenged Seth Rollins for the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match also involving Finn Bálor and The Miz. At Backlash in May 2018, Joe lost to Roman Reigns. At Money in the Bank in June 2018, Joe competed in the titular Money in the Bank ladder match, which was won by Braun Strowman. Joe unsuccessfully challenged WWE Champion AJ Styles at SummerSlam in August 2018, at Hell in a Cell in September 2018, a third time at Super Show-Down in October 2018, and a fourth time at Crown Jewel in November 2018. At Survivor Series later that month, Joe teamed with Jeff Hardy, The Miz, Rey Mysterio, and Shane McMahon (as "Team SmackDown") in a loss to Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, and Finn Bálor (as "Team Raw"). In January 2019, Joe competed in the Royal Rumble but was eliminated by Mustafa Ali. At Elimination Chamber in February 2019, Joe unsuccessfully challenged Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match that also included AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Kofi Kingston, and Randy Orton.
  United States Champion; color commentator (2019–2021)
  On the March 5, 2019 episode of SmackDown Live, Joe defeated R-Truth, Rey Mysterio, and Andrade in a fatal four way match to win the WWE United States Championship. At Fastlane later that month, Joe successfully defended the title in a rematch. At WrestleMania 35 in April 2019, Joe successfully defended the title against Mysterio in a singles match lasting under one minute. At Money in the Bank in May 2019, Joe lost the title to Mysterio. On the June 3 episode of Raw, Mysterio was forced to relinquish the WWE United States Championship due to a separated shoulder, and surrendered the title to Joe. At Stomping Grounds later that month, Joe lost the WWE United States Championship to Ricochet.