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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MAY 22, 2026
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY AT RUPP ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY ERIC CORBRIDGE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: As of Friday morning, WrestleTix reported that 8,579 tickets were distributed headed into the show. The arena has a capacity of 23,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
[HOUR ONE]
– Superstars arrived at the arena including WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Shinsuke Nakamura, the MFT, and United States Champion Tiffany Stratton. The crowd in Lexington erupted for the entrance of WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. Ripley sauntered to the ring and grabbed a microphone. She welcomed everyone to “Friday Night Mami” and said she was itching for a fight. Ripley granted Jade Cargill a rematch for the championship at Clash in Italy, which prompted Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss to come out for a walk and talk.
They reminded Ripley that they have a six-woman tag match against Cargill and her minions at Saturday Night’s Main Event tomorrow night. Bliss reminded them both that they must stay on the same page, but Flair questioned where Ripley was last week when they were being attacked. Ripley said she had a night off and was home with her family. Flair and Ripley argued while Bliss continued to try to be peacemaker (not of the John Cena variety). Fatal Influence decided it was a good time to interrupt and Jacy Jayne said there was nothing she enjoyed more than watching the women’s division unravel. She took credit for it as the fans booed. Flair challenged any two of them to face her and Bliss tonight, to which Jayne gleefully accepted.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: A basic segment to continue the issues between Ripley and Flair with Bliss as the voice of reason, while setting up a match for tonight. Fatal Influence continues to get a surprisingly passionate reaction from the crowd)
– Cathy Kelley asked Talla Tonga in the back if he was ready to take on Shinsuke Nakamura tonight. Solo answered for Talla, saying that he was ready and that everyone needed to pay attention tonight (while looking at Tama Tonga). Royce Keys confronted Solo about costing him a title shot last week and told him to stay out of his business. Solo said that if Keys didn’t want his help he should have said so and reminded Keys that he was the one who threw the chair in Solo’s face. Solo said they should beat his ass but they won’t because they are “family.” [c]
(Corbridge’s Analysis: Solo, made a valid point about Keys being the one that threw the chair at him when he was trying to help last week. Being an effective heel, he left out the fact that he was trying to help Keys cheat, which the babyface Keys rejected.)
– Backstage Bliss tried to pretend she was sick and not cleared to compete tonight. Flair called her on it and Bliss immediately caved but said that Flair would tag with Ripley tonight because they need to learn how to work together. Bliss said, “have fun” and left.
(1) SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. TALLA TONGA (w/Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga)
Nakamura got a decent reaction from the Kentucky crowd. Joe Tessitore mentioned the history between Nakamura and Tama Tonga in Japan. Nakamura tried to outsmart Talla early on but quickly succumbed to Talla’s power who whipped him hard into the corner causing Nakamura to collapse. Talla missed a running corner splash and Nakamura capitalized with a running knee and clothesline over the top rope. Talla landed on his feet on the floor. Talla pulled Nakamura to the floor and launched him into the barricade. [c]
(My feed cut off here for a few minutes because of a thunderstorm.) Talla won by pinfall with a chokeslam after interference from Solo. When my cable came back Solo was in the ring about to strike Nakamura while Talla held him. Tama grabbed Solo’s hand and stopped him. Tama struck him instead. Tama and Talla held Nakamura for Solo to deliver a Samoan Spike but Damian Priest ran out with a chair to drive them off.
WINNER: Talla Tonga by pinfall in 10:00.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: The MFT are united once again as Tama seemingly made his choice between family and his old friend from Japan. But will that last?)
– Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis was talking to Charles Robinson about something in the back. The lights flickered for the second time in the show and Aldis asked Robinson to look into it. It wasn’t clear (yet) whether this was part of the show or just an unfortunate circumstance that Aldis ad-libbed. My guess is it’s probably Danhausen. Cody Rhodes walked up and Aldis pointed out the Gunther’s contract for Clash of Itay to face him was still unsigned by Gunther. Aldis assured Rhodes that he’d make sure it got signed. Sami Zayn walked up and offered Rhodes advice on how to defeat Gunther. Cody said thank, but no thanks and exited stage left. Zayn asked Aldis what he was doing tonight and Aldis said there may not be a spot for him on the show tonight. Zayn asked what he did that was so wrong to get disrespected like this, unlike the “golden boy” Rhodes who always gets whatever he wants. Rhodes was still standing behind him and got mad. Rhodes challenged Zayn to a match tonight.
– WWE Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Strattong entered for her title defense. [c]
– In the men’s locker room, Tama accused Solo and the “family” of being weak. He told Solo that Solo needed to handle Damian Priest alone for the family to show that they weren’t weak.
– The Irresistible Forces Nia Jax and Lash Legend came out and declared that they would take back the tag team titles tomorrow night. Legend said that tonight she was accepting the Open Challenge and would take the U.S. title too.
(2) TIFFANY STRATTON (c) vs. LASH LEGEND (w/Nia Jax)– United States Championship Open Challenge
Legend dominated early on with her power. Stratton used her gymnastics skills to counter a throw and hit a dropkick. Legend missed a pump kick and Stratton tried to cut Legend down to size by taking her out at the knees. Stratton almost botched a dive to the outside and basically toppled over the ropes onto Legend. Legend chokeslammed her onto the side of the apron. Chelsea Green came down to check on Stratton on the floor. [c]
The fans tried to rally behind Stratton. Legend missed a corner shoulder block and went shoulder first into the ring post. Stratton countered a chokeslam into a jaw breaker and announced that it was Tiffy Time. She hit a springboard stunner and covered for a nearfall. Stratton countered a Styles Clash but Legend dropped her with a powerbomb resulting in a nearfall. Stratton countered a Lash Extension attempt with a crucifix for a one…two…kick out by Legend. Stratton climbed to the top and had to kick Jax off of her before jumping off. Legend dodged and hit a big pump kick. On the outside, Green rammed Jax into the ringpost. Legend grabbed Green by the hair through the ropes, so Stratton rolled her up from behind for the three count.
WINNER: Tiffany Stratton by pinfall in 9:00. Stratton retained the U.S. title.
After the match, Green celebrated with Stratton.
– Trick Williams and Lil Yachty were up next. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
– Nick Aldis walked in the back talking to someone on the phone. He said he needed to figure out what was going on with the power outages. Some nerd that apparently worked there walked up and said the power issues were coming from a room right next to them. Aldis walked in and it was Danhausen’s lab. Danhausen asked Aldis who he was and said he was conducting science experiments. Aldis said he needed to stop because it was causing problems in the arena. Danhausen did something on the computer and caused a spark as the power went out again. Aldis stood in the dark as Danhausen disappeared. Aldis was about to look under the sheet on the stretcher but Danhausen’s voice yelled “don’t touch it.” Aldis jumped.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: We should get a reveal of who is under the sheet soon. Giant-hausen is the obvious guess.)
– Cathy Kelley seemingly read from writing on her hand and asked Miz and Kit Wilson what they thought might be in Danhausen’s laboratory. They didn’t care about that. Miz held up a shirt that said he wasn’t cursed. Wilson said there was a curse but Miz refused to believe it. Fraxiom walked up said they were definitely cursed. Miz, a Cleveland sports fan, was mad that the Knicks were up 2 games to 0 against his Cavaliers in the NBA playoffs, which has been “attributed” to Danhausen “uncursing” the Knicks since they’re on a 9 game winning streak since he did it. Cathy called out Miz for not being courtside at the games but Miz said he was superstitious. Wilson called Fraxiom toxic for embarrassing the locker room leader Miz. Miz challenged Fraxiom to a match next week.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: The coincidence of the Knicks’ winning streak and Danhausen’s uncursing is silly fun and hopefully it lasts a little longer. I’m sure Danhausen is enjoying himself and his good fortune.)
– United States Champion Trick Williams and Lil Yachty entered to a big ovation. They talked about Trick’s win over Miz last week. Trick ran down all of Miz’s career accomplishments but Yachty downplayed them. Former champion Carmelo Hayes came out to confront his old NXT rival. He said “Trick, my boy, let’s talk about it.” Hayes reminded Trick that he screwed him out of the title and while he didn’t want to discredit what Trick’s accomplished but said that there was difference between holding a title and being a champion. He pointed out that he was a champion for eight weeks and asked for a title match tonight. Yachty said that Trick was busy with things like a pedicure and a massage. Hayes said that if his secretary would allow it he should defend his title tonight but also said I guess Trick was always best at playing second fiddle.
Trick, against Yachty’s wishes, accepted the title match. He clarified that the open challenge was still done but that this ass whooping was on the house. Trick called for a referee. [c]
(Corbridge’s Analysis: Melo needs to do a better job of making a point and letting it settle in with the crowd. He methodically spit out all his lines and delivered them well, but it came across as robotic. Side note- I always feel bad for whoever was scheduled to wrestle and just got bumped for an impromptu match resulting from a scheduled talking segment. I’ll assume this was going to be Bastion Booger’s comeback match versus a rejuvenated Barry Horowitz.)
(3) CARMELO HAYES vs. TRICK WILLIAMS (c) (w/Lil Yachty) – United States Championship
They exchanged standing switches early on and showed great chemistry. Trick missed a chop in the corner and Hayes chopped him a couple times. Trick fled to another corner and it was rinse, repeat when he missed again and Hayes hit two more. They went for a third corner but this time Trick caught his hand an gave him an uppercut and stomps in rhythm with the crowd’s chants. Hayes caught a stomp and delivered an enziguri that sent Trick into the ropes. Trick countered with two spin kicks. Hayes went for a springboard but Trick caught him with a Bookend and covered for a two-count. Trick got some payback a big chop and whipped Hayes into the corner. Trick got another two-count after a spin kick. A suplex by Trick followed by dropping Hayes throat first across the top rope. Trick went for yet another spin kick but Hayes was playing possum and ducked. Trick fell to the floor. Hayes wanted to somersault over the top to the floor but Yachty got in the way so he halted. They went to a split screen. [c]
Trick slowed things down with a chinlock as some of the crowd rallied behind Hayes. To be fair, many of the same fans chanting “Let’s go Melo” were probably also yelling “Whoop that Trick” because well… you know if you’re reading this because you’re an actual smart fan and they…aren’t. The grapplers traded blows and then Trick hit a jumping neckbreaker and kipped up. Ricky Saints came to ringside. Hayes hit his springboard clothesline and a Dirty Diana. Hayes covered for a two-count and then looked over at Saints. Saints told him to focus on the match. Trick turned Hayes upside down with another spin kick and covered for a nearfall. Trick called for the Trick Shot but Hayes countered with a First 48 codebreaker and covered for the one…two…Trick kicked out.
Saints distracted Hayes which allowed Trick to knock him to the floor. Trick confronted Saints and pushed him down, then rolled Hayes back into the ring. Saints jumped up on the apron which distracted the referee while Hayes had Trick rolled up for more than a three count. Hayes punched Saints off the apron but then of course turned back around and got hit with the Trick Shot. Trick covered for the pin and the win.
WINNER: Trick Williams via pinfall in 13:00. Williams retained the U.S. title.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: A tried tired & true ending to a match that WWE has leaned on for many, many years. Oh, what I wouldn’t give for some creativity. Saints will likely get a title match soon because he is belligerent and forcing his way into the title picture despite having only beating listless Matt Cardona since his main roster debut.)
– Sami Zayn was having a fit and blindsiding every water bottle in sight until he almost slapped the ever-comatose Johnny Gargano. Zayn said he was glad to see him. Zayn vented about Rhodes being his friend and how he’d been there for him so many times because that’s what friends do. Zayn said he was the last real good guy left and that you never let anyone change who you are. Gargano just laid there staring at a water bottle. After Zayn left Gargano moved his fingers to tip over the bottle. [c]
(Corbridge’s Analysis: Zayn is incredibly compelling and I look forward to his segments every week. I truly don’t know where it is all going and I love it. Gargano should keep doing this planking thing for like six more months. If he does, the reaction when he FINALLY does something else will be huge.)
(Quick plug: I created a comedy-drama comic series called BadWill about a thrift store that only sells the emotional leftovers of failed relationships. Think Goodwill but for breakups. It’s got well thought out stories & character development, so if you’re curious you can grab a print copy of Episode 1 for $7.99 plus shipping or go digital for $4.99 at https://badwillcomic.com.
– Ricky Saints was bragging to Cathy Kelley in the back. Carmelo Hayes attacked him and told him to stay out of his business.
– Charlotte Flair entered for her upcoming tag team match, accompanied by her bestie (but not partner tonight) Alexa Bliss. [c]
– Rhea Ripley entered for the match followed by Fatal Influence. It was Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley in action.
(4) CHARLOTTE FLAIR & RHEA RIPLEY vs. FATAL INFLUENCE (Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid, w/Jacy Jayne)
As the match started, Henley mocked her strut, so Flair clotheslined her. Flair hit her trifecta of Devil’s Kiss-inspired head scissors and then Ripley tagged in. Flair didn’t like that but Ripley came in and took down Reid with a dropkick. Reid went for a cross body but Riley caught her with a fallaway slam. Flair patted Ripley on the head to tag in which Ripley didn’t appreciate. Flair gave Jayne a big boot on the apron (which she shouldn’t have been on) and knocked her to the floor. Reid used that distraction to level Flair with a big left hand and tagged in Henley. Henley beat Flair up on the outside and screamed like a banshee. [c]
Fatal Influence was in control as the match was building to a Flair hot tag. Jayne took Flair’s feet out from under her while she was on the apron to keep her team in control. Reid hit a twisting suplex and tagged in Henley who covered for a two-count. Flair desperately reached for a tag but couldn’t quite make it to an outstretched Ripley. Flair finally kicked off the heels and was about to make the tag but Reid chop blocked her. Reid taunted Ripley and almost got rolled up for a three count because of it. Both women were down. Flair crawled and kicked Reid off to finally make the tag. Ripley took out both heel grapplettes. She hit a German suplex on Henley and a Razor’s Edge on Reid. Then she followed with a Kinshasha and covered but Henley saved her partner.
Flair with a big boot on Henley and then somersaulted on Henley and Jayne on the floor. Back in the ring, Ripley hit the Riptide on Reid but Flair made a blind tag. Flair came in and hit the Natural Selection and covered for the win.
WINNERS: Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley by pinfall in 11:00.
After the match, Bliss came down to raise both women’s hands. Suddenly Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab appeared and beat them down. Cargill gave Ripley her Jaded finishing move.
[HOUR THREE]
– Cathy Kelley talked to a forlorn Cody Rhodes, presumably in his own lounge or something. Rhodes said he was having a hard time recognizing his friend Sami Zayn anymore. Rhodes said that tonight he was going to make Zayn be accountable for his actions lately.
– The Cargill gang were walking backstage and told Cathy Kelley (a busy woman tonight) that they are the dominant team in the WWE. Cargill said she was going to regain her title at Clash in Italy. [c]
– One half of the Tag Team Champions, Damian Priest entered for a match.
(5) DAMIAN PRIEST vs. SOLO SIKOA (w/Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga)
As Solo was getting in the ring, Priest clotheslined him back to the floor. The bell rang. Priest threw Solo into the ring steps which dislodged them. Back in the ring, Solo smacked him in the mouth. Priest bounced back with a flying back elbow and a spin kick from the apron. Priest got distracted by Talla and Solo gave him a Samoan drop back into the ring. [c]
Priest tried to mount a comeback while dealing with the numbers game. They were perched on the top rope and Priest hit a superplex. The crowd came alive for Priest and the men slugged it out in the middle of the ring, with Priest coming out on top with a two running shoulders in the corner and a Broken Arrow that led to a two-count. Priest got decked by Talla leading to a Solo spinning slam and another two-count. Solo set up for his running hip attack but Priest exploded out of the corner with a couple spin kicks and a big lariat. Priest called for the chokeslam so Tama got up on the apron. Priest knocked him off, ducked a Samoan Spike attempt and dropped Solo. Talla got up on the apron and Priest sensed it so he gave him a spin kick. It didn’t knock Talla off the apron. Priest hit another and it still didn’t. He ran the ropes to go for a third but Solo caught him with the Samoan Spike and hooked the leg for the one…two…three.
WINNERS: Solo Sikoa by pinfall in 10:00.
After the match, the MFT attacked Priest. Royce Keys came out to make the save, including clotheslining Talla over the top rope. Keys was ready to face off with Solo but Solo bailed, much to the crowd’s dismay. Keys helped Priest to his feet but Priest grabbed him by the throat. Keys got free and yelled “I was trying to help you.” From the floor, Solo yelled at Priest that Keys was trying to attack him. [c]
(Corbridge’s Analysis: I thought that was a well-paced, well executed match between two of the bigger guys in WWE. Both are underrated in all facets in my eyes. Priest’s unwillingness to trust Keys is interesting too.)
– The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige were shown in a pre-taped video talking about how they won the titles and have defended them without cheating. They said they were legends and would retain their titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
– The announcers recapped the matches for Saturday Night’s Main Event.
– In the back, Blake Monroe showed up and introduced herself to Chelsea Green. She said she saw her out there in the ring and wished she hadn’t. She left. Nia Jax and Lash Legend attacked Green for interfering in the match earlier.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: It was a “blink and you might miss it” faux-debut for Monroe. If there was any doubt…there wasn’t…she’s going to be a cocky heel. And if it also wasn’t made crystal clear over the last few weeks, Green is clearly a babyface now.)
– Sami Zayn entered for the main event of the evening. [c]
– Keys and Priest argued in the back. Priest said he didn’t care if his partner (R-Truth) called him because he didn’t know him and he didn’t trust that Keys wasn’t working with the MFTs. Priest said he grabbed Keys because he’d been jumped from behind and didn’t know what happened. Keys said he understood but that if Priest wanted an issue he’d get one.
– The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes came out to a strong reaction.
(6) SAMI ZAYN vs. CODY RHODES – Non-Title Match
Zayn offered his hand and Rhodes shook it. They felt each other out early as Zayn hit an armdrag. The crowd booed. Zayn offered his hand again and again Rhodes shook it but more begrudgingly this time. They felt each other out again but this time Rhodes came out ahead with a face-first suplex. Rhodes mockingly offered his hand again but Zayn wouldn’t do it. The aggression escalated with a Rhodes powerslam. Rhodes ran up the ropes to the top buckle but Zayn knocked him off as they went to a picture in picture break. [c]
Zayn targeted Rhodes’s leg during the break. Rhodes reversed a suplex to buy himself some time. Rhodes sold the leg while throwing his patented (his dad’s patented) left jabs and a Cody Cutter, resulting in a nearfall. Rhodes clutched at his left knee again. Zayn pushed Rhodes off the apron rib-first into the announce desk. Zayn watched as the referee counted. Rhodes crawled back to the ring and made it in at nine. Zayn nodded as if he knew what he had to do next. He lined up for the Helluva kick and charged. Rhodes dodged and hit the Super Cody Cutter. Rhodes covered for the one…two…kick out by Zayn at 2 ¾. Rhodes stalked Zayn while limping. He went for the Cross Rhodes but Zayn dropped down in pinning predicament for a nearfall. Rhodes went for another move but Zayn countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb for another two-count.
Zayn locked in a figure-four leglock. Rhodes screamed in agony as his left knee (and shin) were in immense pain. Rhodes managed to reverse it, thus reversing the pressure onto Zayn. Zayn broke the hold. They traded yay/boo right hands. Rhodes hit a Disaster Kick and called for the Cross Rhodes. Gunther showed up and tried to put Rhodes in a sleeper hold from the apron. Zayn charged at Rhodes who escaped the sleeper, and Zayn accidentally knocked Gunther to the floor. Rhodes hit the Cross Rhodes
WINNER: Cody Rhodes by pinfall in 12:00.
After the match, Gunther powerbombed Rhodes. He was about to put him in a sleeper hold again but Zayn ran in the ring to stop it. Then Zayn stopped and just let it happen. Gunther locked in the sleeper hold. Zayn momentarily paused on the apron, but then dropped off and started to head back up stage. The crowd heavily booed Zayn. He got halfway and paused again to look back. Gunther finally let go and posed with the WWE title. The crowd loudly booed again.
(Corbridge’s Analysis: A strong main event between two main event pros. I’d like to see them get ten more minutes in a huge setting to see what they could do. It was also a great way to show that Zayn may still be conflicted but he is making conscious choices to not do the “right thing” anymore.)
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