The road to Clash in Italy rolls through Lexington, Kentucky, on tonight’s WWE SmackDown with a week to go until the event in Turin, Italy.
A confrontation between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and impending title challenger Gunther is being promised after Rhodes took out the “Ring General” last week.
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will open the show by answering Jade Cargill’s challenge for a rematch at next weekend’s PLE.
Reigning WWE Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton will hold an open challenge.
After defeating Ricky Saints last week in his return, former WWE United States Champion Carmelo Hayes will share some thoughts on reigning champion Trick Williams and his running mate, Lil’ Yachty.
Drew McIntyre will return on the show in his first appearance since losing to Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42.
The only match announced thus far features Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga.
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Rhea Ripley kicks off SmackDown
The reigning WWE Women’s Champion got our night going as she made her way to the ring. We got a recap of Jade Cargill’s return from two weeks ago and how the former champion and her Baddies put a beating on Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss.
“Welcme to Friday Night Mami”, Ripley opened in her usual manner. She talked about how she had one week off and everyone missed her. All Jade Cargill and her crew did was manage to piss Ripley off. She said that if Cargill wanted it so badly, she’d beat her again at Clash in Italy for the WWE Women’s Championship. As Ripley raised her belt high, her uneasy allies Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss interrupted.
Flair said that she appreciated Ripley wanting to defend her title, but she and Charlexa had their six-woman tag match tomorrow night at Saturday Night’s Main Event to look forward to. Flair wondered where Ripley was last week when Cargill and her Baddies laid her and Bliss out. Ripley said that she went home to see her family. Ripley got mad at Flair’s accusations, stating that Bliss got the most of the brunt and that if Flair couldn’t have the back of her own partner, how can she count of Flair’s help.
Fatal Influence, the trio making waves on SmackDown as of late, interrupted the proceedings. Jacy Jayne said that her group was making an impact and that Ripley, Bliss and Flair were at each other’s throats since Fatal Influence arrived. Flair didn’t have time for this as she offered any two of Fatal Influence to face her and Bliss in tag team action later tonight.
This was a good opener to establish the situation of “can they co-exist” with Ripley and Bliss/Flair.
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– Backstage, Alexa Bliss gave the bad news to Charlotte Flair that she wasn’t going to team up with her tonight against Fatal Influence. Instead, Flair will have to team up with Rhea Ripley, because Bliss wants the two to get their acts together and stop bickering already.
Talla Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Talla used his strength to push Nakamura away to start off, but the King of Strong Style briefly dodged a strike from the big man. Talla took over with a clubbing strike to the chest as he then stomped at his smaller foe in the corner. Talla threw Nakamura hard into the opposite corner, which left him down and out. That was followed by a scoop slam to the mat. Just as Talla charged into the corner, Nakamura dodged and began trying to hit him with kicks to the chest. As Talla staggered back against the ropes, Nakamura clotheslined him out of the ring.
That advantage was all but fleeting, as Nakamura got taken out and thrown into the barricade as we took a commercial timeout.
As we returned from commercial, Nakamura was slammed again by Talla. A chokeslam attempt by Talla was turned into a triangle choke by Nakamura, who transitioned it into a guillotine choke. Nakamura escaped the grasp of Talla as he battered him with a strike to the back of the big man’s knee. Nakamura again avoided a running attack from Talla, which left his foe trapped in the corner. On a kneeling Talla, Nakamura connected with the Scorpio Rising kick for the near-fall. Nakamura had Talla lined up for Kinshasa, but Solo SIkoa got on the apron to create enough of a distraction. This led to a running powerslam and a chokeslam by Talla for the three.
After the match, Sikoa and Talla looked like they were gonna finish Nakamura off, but Tama Tonga interrupted. After some hesitation, Tama hit Nakamura with the dulled, not-so-hidden blade of the Cutthroat. Just as Sikoa was going to hit the Samoan Spike, Damian Priest ran down with a chair in hand. The M.F.T.s backed off.
Talla Tonga def. Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall
I can’t say that I’m excited about the M.F.T. drama being a continued thing, but this match was okay. I’m not fully on board on the Talla Tonga train.
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– As Nick Aldis was chatting with Charles Robinson, the lights flickered briefly. Aldis told Robinson to look into it. Cody Rhodes interrupted and wondered when Gunther was coming. Aldis said that he was going to make sure that the Clash in Italy contract would be signed. Sami walked into the room and offered to help Rhodes against Gunther. “Thanks, but no thanks,” said Rhodes as he left the room.
A very petulant Zayn whined about how Cody Rhodes always going to get what he wants, unaware that Rhodes was standing behind him. This led to a match between Zayn and Rhodes to be made for later tonight.
– The M.F.T.s were in conversation backstage, as Tama Tonga said the reason everyone was coming to get them, was that everyone thinks they’re weak. He said that Sikoa had to face Damian Priest on his own, for the sake of “The Family”.
WWE Women’s U.S. Title Open Challenge: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Lash Legend
Nia Jax and Lash Legend came out, and had some words to say, as we learned that Legend was going to face Stratton for the Open Challenge.
Legend shoved down Stratton as the bell rang, and she used her size to effortlessly throw Stratton around. Another Biel throw was turned into a somersault dodge by Stratton, but Legend’s running shoulder tackle knocked her down afterwards. Stratton got back on it with a dropkick that sent her rolling out of the ring. That was followed by a vaulting press over the ropes onto Legend. An apron chokeslam by Legend left Stratton out cold as Chelsea Geen ran down to look after Stratton. That was our cue to take a break in the action.
Our match continued from the commercial break as Stratton was still under siege against the offense of Legend. In the corner, Legend attempted a move from the corner, but Stratton countered it into an Aloha Arn Sunset Flip pin attempt. Legend kicked out and then applied a resthold on Stratton. A jawbreaker from the Women’s U.S. Champ broke the hold. Legend ran right into the corner post, which allowed Stratton to hit another jawbreaker, followed by an athletic springboard stunner for the near-fall. Legend attempted a powerbomb, but Stratton countered that by sending her into the corner. Stratton went for her cartwheel Alabama Slam, but Legend caught that into a powerbomb for a close near-fall.
Legend went for the Lash Extension, but Stratton reversed it into a crucifix. Chelsea Green pushed Nia Jax into the corner, as Legend grabbed a hold of her from the ring. Stratton snuck up and got the rollup pin to retain the Women’s U.S. Title.
Tiffany Stratton def. Lash Legend via pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s U.S. Championship
That was not at all a good match. Both Stratton and Legend seemed like they were moving in molasses for the bulk of it. The only interesting aspect was Chelsea Green giving Stratton unwanted help to advance their story.
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– Nick Aldis was told of the power issues as he was directed to an unmarked room. In the room, we saw Danhausen was gain trying to reanimate the corpse from last week. Aldis told Danhausen to stop messing around, as the lights went out.
– Elsewhere, The Miz & Kit Wilson were interviewed, as Miz insisted that there was no curse. He complained about the Cleveland Cavaliers being cursed by Danhausen as Fraxiom rolled up. This led to a tag match between Wilson and Miz versus Fraxiom to be made for next week in Barcelona.
Trick Williams enters the scene
The United States Champion, flanked by his good friend Li’l Yachty, walked down to the ring with the crowd’s adulation for him as big as ever.
Williams and Yachty talked about what they did last week before Carmelo Hayes walked down to interrupt his old friend. The former U.S. Champion talked about how both he and Williams knew that this day was going to come. Hayes talked about how if it weren’t for Williams, he would’ve still be the U.S. Champion. However, Hayes wasn’t here to discredit Williams’ achievements as of late. But, Hayes pointed out how there’s a difference between holding a championship and carrying it. He discussed how he won the crowd over with his blood, sweat, and tears. That’s why Hayes wanted Williams to do the right thing and give the crowd what they want: Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes for the United States Championship.
Yachty responded, stating that Williams had a schedule to keep, but Hayes butted in. He said that he and Williams go way back and that the old Trick Williams would never let anyone tell him what to do. Then again, Williams must be used to playing second fiddle.
Williams pointed out that we would indeed see him face Hayes right here and right now.
I enjoyed this segment. It played off of Hayes and Williams’ history and was a great way to get this match going.
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Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
This match kicked off after the commercial break. Williams had the early advantage with a shoulder block and a scoop slam. Hayes got back on his feet and used his agility to dodge the U.S. Champion. In the corner, Hayes chopped at the chest of Williams, which forced his foe to scurry to another corner. That didn’t leave him any peace from the chops. Williams blocked Hayes’ last chop and then delivered a hard slap that left him down and out.
Hard Irish whip by Williams was followed by the spinning kick to the face of Hayes. Standing suplex from Williams kept momentum firmly in the U.S. Champion’s side. Williams dropped Hayes throat-first onto the top rope as he sized him up for a side kick. Hayes avoided it and sent Williams over the top rope. He made a run for the ropes and looked for a big diving attack, but Li’l Yachty got in the way to protect Williams, which halted Hayes’ advance in the ring. This led to a break in the action.
Williams had Hayes in a resthold as we returned from break. The former U.S. Champ broke the hold and began to fight back. Williams and Hayes traded blows until the former hit a jumping neckbreaker as he then kipped up to his feet. Meanwhile, Ricky Saints appeared at ringside in the midst of this. Hayes recovered and hit the springboard clothesline and then followed it with Dirty Diana for a close two-count. Saints yelled at Hayes to focus on the match. Williams hit a pop-up uppercut on Hayes, but got hit with a series of superkicks from his opponent. Williams roared back with his spinning kick for the near-fall. Williams targeted Hayes for the Trick Shot, but was intercepted with First 48. One, two….. 2.99999!!!!!!!!! Hayes took notice and headed up top, perhaps looking for Nothin’ But Net. Ricky Saints provided a distraction, which didn’t seem to sit well with Williams. Saints argued with the referee as Hayes rolled up Williams to no avail. Hayes punched Saints off the apron, but that opened him up to Williams’ Trick Shot as he ended up looking up at the lights at the end of it all.
Trick Williams def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall
That was a really good match, and I do like this U.S. Title picture opening up with Hayes and Saints being a key part of it. Hope to see more of this in the coming weeks.
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– Ricky Saints was badmouthing Carmelo Hayes backstage, but he got socked in the jaw for his troubles. Hayes warned Saints to stay away from his business.
– A recap of Brock Lesnar’s return on Raw was shown.
Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley vs. Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid
Flair and Henley started off this tag match, as the latter kicked it off hot with the head scissor takedown. Flair dragged Henley to her corner as Ripley blindtagged. Reid entered the match for Fatal Influence and had Ripley trapped in the corner for a bit. A leap from the middle rope was turned from a crossbody to a fallaway slam by Ripley. Flair tagged herself in by patting Ripley on the head. Outside the ring, Reid and Henley isolated Flair as Fatal Influence was in control as we headed to commercial.
We returned from the break with Flair trying to fend off Reid and Henley with chops. However, Reid’s well-placed superkicked folded Flair up like an accordion. Irish whip to the corner was turned into a leap over the corner by Flair. A boot for Henley, but Jacy Jayne tripped up Flair while Reid distracted the referee. Henley kept Flair grounded with a chinlock, but that got broken up. Flair attempted to reach out to Ripley as she used elbow strikes to create some distance. However, Henley prevented it. Henley was thrown out of the ring, which seemingly gave Flair the opening to tag, but Reid stopped it with a clip of the leg. Flair hit a neckbreaker on Reid, which finally gave Ripley the hot tag.
Ripley ran through Reid and Henley with a superkick in the corner, followed by a German suplex on the latter. Capoeira kick by Ripley led to the Razor’s Edge and the Shining Wizard to Reid. Henley broke the count, but Flair took her out, and then Jayne with a dive to the corner.
In the corner, Flair took the superkick from Reid, as Ripley hoisted her up for Riptide. Meanwhile, Flair blindtagged into the match and finished off Reid with Natural Selection.
Post-match, Jade Cargill and the Baddies attacked Charlexa and Ripley, as Fatal Influence joined in the attack. In the ring, Cargill took out Ripley with Jaded.
Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley def. Fatal Influence via pinfall
This was an alright match, but not really feeling Jade Cargill in the title picture at the moment.
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– Jade Cargill and the Baddies bragged about their handiwork as they also took shots at Fatal Influence in the process. Cargill promised to take her WWE Women’s Title back at Clash in Italy.
Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
Priest went after Sikoa right away by taking him out as he reached the apron. The leap from stairs and a takedown from Priest, who then followed that with a hard throw to the steel steps. In the ring, Sikoa bounced back with a throat strike to Priest. However, fought back witha jumping elbow strike. On the apron, Priest was distracted by Talla Tonga, which allowed Sikoa to grab him for the scoop slam into the ring as we took a break in the action.
We returned from the break as Priest and Sikoa dueled on the top rope with trading strikes. A bell clap from Priest stunned Sikoa long enough for the superplex. Priest rose to his feet and began battering Sikoa with his strikes of the punch and kick variety. That was followed by leaping shoulder charges onto Sikoa into the corner, followed by a Broken Arrow for the near-fall. Priest charged his elbow up, as Tama Tonga created a distraction while the ref was focused on Sikoa. Talla Tonga struck Priest, who stumbled into Sikoa’s Spinning Solo. Priest kicked out and then hit Sikoa with the rebound lariat. Tama Tonga again got on the apron but got dropped to the ground. Talla Tonga got on the apron and got teed up for the kicks, but Sikoa intercepted Priest with the Samoan Spike for the win.
The M.F.T.s tried to attack Priest some more, but Royce Keys ran down and took out Talla and Tama Tonga. He sized up Sikoa to fight him, but Sikoa backed up. A delirious Priest grabbed Keys by the throat, thinking he was a threat.
Solo Sikoa def. Damian Priest via pinfall
This match was alright, I supposed. The finish being more M.F.T. interference stuff and the Sikoa/Tama tension being really wishy-washy didn’t help matters either.
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Saturday Night’s Main Event (5/23/26) Card:
- World Tag Team Championship: Logan Paul & Austin Theory (c) vs. The Street Profits
- Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. “All Ego” Ethan Page
- Becky Lynch vs. Sol Ruca
- Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, & Alexa Bliss vs. The Baddies (Jade Cargill, B-Fab, & Michin)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Paige & Brie Bella vs. The Irresistable Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend)
– Chelsea Green ran into Blake Monroe, who remarked that she saw Green and that now she wish that she didn’t. After Monroe left, Nia Jax literally ran into Green as payback for earlier. The crack team of road agents got Jax and Legend to back off, with the damage already done to Green.
– Royce Keys was still angry about being grabbed by the throat, stating that R-Truth called him to help Damian Priest out. Priest seemed angry as he didn’t ask for Keys’ help and that for all he knew, he could be working for the M.F.T.s. Keys responded, flatly stating that if it was an issue that Priest wants, then it may very well be an issue he’s going to get if he’s not careful.
Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn offered a handshake to Rhodes, who accepted as our main event got underway. Armdrag by Zayn was followed by another handshake, but Rhodes seemed annoyed by it. Rhodes slid under a Zayn dropkick as he then hit him with the drop-down uppercut. Standing suplex was followed by Rhodes now offering a handshake of his own. Zayn refused it as the two traded chops to the chest in the corner. Zayn ran Rhodes and got hit with the powerslam. Rhodes tried to go for maybe a Cody Cutter, but Zayn tripped him up as we took our final commercial break of the evening.
Our main event returned from the break as Zayn tried to lift Rhodes up for a suplex, but he found himself taking a ride for a Rhodes suplex instead. Rhodes hit Zayn with the Dusty punches, followed by the Cody Cutter for the near-fall as the champ favored his hurt leg. Rhodes set Zayn up for Cross Rhodes, but that was reversed as he got sent over the top rope onto the apron. Rhodes then was sent crashing over the announce table by a Zayn charging attack. By the closest of margins, Rhodes made it before the count of ten on one leg. Zayn smelled blood and had Rhodes lined up for the Helluva Kick, but struck out on the swing. Rhodes hit the “Super” Cody Cutter off the corner, but Zayn just managed to kick out a two.
Zayn rolled up Rhodes but couldn’t get the win. The Blue Thunder Bomb from Zayn had similar results. Zayn went after Rhodes’ damaged leg and applied the Figure Four leglock right in the centre of the ring. Rhodes fought through the pain and managed to reverse it to put the pressure on Zayn’s knee. A rope break managed to force Rhodes to release the hold. As both Zayn and Rhodes got back to their feet, the two exchanged strikes until a Disaster Kick knocked Zayn loopy. As Rhodes had Zayn at his mercy, Gunther snuck up and applied the sleeper hold. However, Zayn completely missed the Helluva Kick That opened him up for Cross Rhodes and the win.
Post match, the mecurial Austrian put Rhodes to sleep as Zayn just left.
Cody Rhodes def. Sami Zayn via pinfall
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A good main event to a middle of the road edition of SmackDown. The Gunther/Rhodes feud is good stuff and is probably one of the only good things about SmackDown as of late, which has felt just kind of there.
I will say that the U.S. Title scene is at least heating up and I do like Trick Williams, Carmelo Hayes, and Ricky Saints. It’s a lot more preferrable to the Gingerbread Man antics of the last few weeks. It’s something I’ll be keeping an eye on in the coming weeks.
Not so good was the M.F.T.s stuff because I’m still not a fan of it, especially with the group whittled down to just three guys. I dunno, I’m just not a fan.
All in all, just an okay show with nothing really exciting to write home about, but thankfully nothing really awful to complain about.
