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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MAY 29, 2026
BARCELONA, SPAIN AT OLIMPIC ARENA
AVAILABLE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 5,692 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 13,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by ProWrestling.net’s Jake Barnett to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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[HOUR ONE]
-The opened with an aerial view of Barcelona as Joe Tessitore introduced the show. They showed cheering fans outside the arena, singing and jumping. They showed Cody Rhodes arriving, then Gunther, as Tessitore plugged their face-to-face. They showed a split-screen of Ricky Saints and Carmelo Hayes arriving earlier. Then they showed Chelsea Green strutting in, blowing kisses and smiling. They showed Nia Jax with Lash Legend.
-They cut to the arena where the camera panned the crowd and then the announcers at ringside. Tessitore introduced the Spanish announce team, Alvaro Carrera and Miguel Perez. Tessitore said Clash in Italy has a line-up that is WrestleMania-level.
-After clips from Saturday Night’s Main Event, Jade Cargill, Michin, and B -Fab made their entrance. When Jade’s music stopped, fans erupted in boos. Jade smiled. Fans loudly chanted, “Rhea! Rhea!” Jade said she’s so confused because it sounds like the fans think she has something to prove. Ripley told Jade when they wrestled one-on-one, she beat her and she’ll do it again. She said on Sunday, she’ll be looking up at her real champion.
Jade asked if she realizes how stupid she sounds. She asked if she really believes the Women’s Division revolves around her. She said B-Fab and Michin are with her because they like her, whereas with Rhea, the people she hangs out with don’t even like her.
Charlotte and Alexa Bliss came out. Charlotte said Jae has been in WWE for five minutes, yet she’s acting like she’s a Hall of Famer. Charlotte said she has had some success, but she shouldn’t believe her hype. B-Fab took issue with Charlotte. Charlotte said she didn’t want to hear from one of Jade’s “accessories.” Jade said she won’t be talked down to by someone who is Charlotte’s rag doll. Alexa said she has schooled wrestlers on the mic for years and she can embarrass Jade if she’s not careful.
G.M. Nick Aldis walked out and booked a singles match between them. [c]
(1) JADE CARGILL (w/B-Fab, Michin) vs. ALEXA BLISS (w/Charlotte, Ripley)
The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 3:00 after Jade powerbombed her on the ringside barricade. [c]
Everyone at ringside brawled to the back. Jade smiled and applauded. Bliss leaped off the toprope with Twisted Bliss, but Jade lifted her knees and Bliss crashed. Jade then landed a pump kick and Jaded for the win.
WINNER: Jade 9:00.
-Jade brought a chair into the ring after the match. She gave Bliss a Jaded onto the chair. Jade and Charlotte ran back to the ring. Jade fled.
-A clip aired of Cody beating Sami Zayn last week with a Crossroads, followed by Gunther attacking Cody.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Cody backstage. She asked how he was feeling after what transpired last week. Cans sang “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” Sami cut in and asked Cody if he had something to say to him. Cody said, “I have nothing to say to you.” Sami said maybe he should. Sami said maybe he should start by saying he was sorry. Sami said he didn’t ask to fight his friend. He said he had his back when Gunther choked him and he tried to help him, but Cody then hit him with Crossroads.
Cody said he did something within the confines of a wrestling match. He got angry as he told Sami he stood by and watched Gunther’s post-match attack. Sami said he wanted to help, because he’s wired to be a good guy. He said it took everything he had to not help him, but he realized the right thing to do was leave him there so he could learn a lesson. Cody said, “The last real good guy teaching me a lesson?” He said when he’s done with Gunther tonight, he might teach him a lesson, too.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Sami did a good job making his decisions last week seem like they’d make sense to him, but Cody rebutted them effectively.)
-Aldis told Danhausen that he had to check on Alexa, but he said he shouldn’t be doing any more experiments so it worked out well that his lab equipment was held up in customs. Danhausen asked what he should do instead. Aldis said he’s employed to wrestle. Danhausen left an began to improvise a new lab in the background as Miz chatted with Aldis about his match later. [c]
(2) THE MIZ vs. AXIOM (w/Nathan Fraser)
The bell rang 43 minutes into the hour. As Miz teased leaving at 3:00, Nathan Fraser blocked him. Miz jerked the middle rope into Axiom’s crotch as they cut to a break. [c]
The lights flickered during the match, implying Danhausen was up to something backstage again. Axiom eventually finished Miz with a top rope Spanish Fly and a Golden Ratio. Barrett blamed Danhausen for custong Miz the match.
WINNER: Axiom in 10:00.
-R-Truth told Damien Priest he isn’t medically cleared, so he got him a tag partner. Royce Keys showed up. Priest said he doesn’t trust Keys because he seems to go way back with Solo Sikoa. Truth talked them into teaming.
-Sami complained about Cody to Candice LeRae. He said she seems to be the only one who understands him. She was touched, but Sami said he actually meant Johnny Gargano. Gargano was passed out on the stairs. Matt Cardona walked in and asked why he was talking to a wall. Sami asked if Cody sent him. Sami said Cardona knows his history and he was feeling disrespected. He said he can’t let it stand. Cardona said he’d go talk to Aldis about a match later.
-Priest made his ring entrance.
[HOUR TWO]
[c] -They showed Charlotte tending to Bliss backstage. The camera followed Charlotte walking away as a medic took over. She happened to bump into Ripley. Ripley asked how Bliss was doing. Charlotte said she’s hurting and pissed. Ripley said she’d take care of Jade. Charlotte said if Ripley doesn’t, she’ll do it because Jade has a receipt coming.
(3) DAMIEN PRIEST & ROYCE KEYS vs. TAMA TOONGA & TALLA TONGA (w/Solo Sikoa)
Keys made his entrance. Then Solo and the MFTs made their entrance. The bell rang 8 minutes into the hour. When Keys tagged himself in a minute in, Priest was upset. They cut to a break when Keys and Priest tossed Talla over the top rope at 2:00. [c]
Fans taunted Solo with an “OTC!” chant. Solo took a cheap shot at Priest, so Truth ran out. Keys stopped Solo from hitting Truth. That left Keys open to Tama hitting Keys from behind. Talla then gave Priest the T-Bomb chokeslam for the win.
WINNERS: Talla & Tama in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Viewers can look at Priest’s perspective and Key’s perspective and sympathize with both of their points of view.)
-Miz complained to Aldis about the lights flickering. Aldis agreed with Miz that it was likely Danhausen. They walked into an area where Danhausen had set up his lab. He sprayed Miz with a fire extinguisher and then warned Aldis not to mess with the body under a sheet. [c]
-A video package aired on the Roman Reigns-Jacob Fatu rivalry.
-Tessitore and Barrett hyped the Clash in Italy line-up.
-Green walked up to Tiffany Stratton and said she is flattered she got her message to dress the same. Stratton said she was always planning to wear that. Tiffany told Green she wasn’t going to team with him. She said despite some friendliness last week, she doesn’t feel it’s that deep. Green was sad.
(Keller’s Analysis: Tiffany’s acting remains really rough.)
-Sami made his entrance. [c]
(4) SAMI ZAYN vs. MATT CORDONA
Cardona was a strange shade of burnt orange. The bell rang 37 minutes into the hour. Sami chopped Caronda in the corner at 2:00. Cardona made a comeback and landed a dropkick off the second rope. They cut to a break. [c]
Sami took over during the break and settled into a chinlock. Caronda fired back with some running clotheslines and then he slammed Sami’s head into the canvas. Cardona blocked a Blue Thunder Bomb and then landed a double-underhook powerbomb for a two count.
Cardona avoided a Helluva Kick and landed a Rough Ryder for a near fall, with Sami draping his boot on the bottom rope before three. Sami punched away at Cardona and then delivered an Xploder suplex. He followed with a Helluva Kick for the win. Tessitore said Cardona was “very game and spirited.” Barrett said it was a gutsy effort from both.
WINNER: Sami in 10:00.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett who talked about the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. Barrett framed it as a chance to give a career extra momentum.
-A video package, narrated by Barrett, on the history of King and Queen tournaments.
-Backstage, Lil’ Yachty knocked on Trick Williams’s locker room, then Trick walked out. (Wy don’t they hang out in the locker room together?)
-Tessitore plugged the “Made in America” special on USA Network after Smackdown. [c]
-Tessitore got in some plugs.
-Backstage, Aldis asked Gunther to “please keep it civilized.” Gunther asked Aldis if he thinks he’s an animal. Gunther promised to be civilized. He said he’ll attack Cody verbally. Gunther told Aldis to go to Madrid next time they go to Spain. The Barcelona fans booed.
-Trick made his entrance with Lil’ Yachty.
[HOUR THREE]
-Trick touted himself as the sexiest and most entertaining superstar. Fans sang Olé. He said he’s been holding down the brand. Yachty said if they keep writing checks, they don’t care who’s next. He declared himself for the King of the Ring tournament. Carmelo Hayes’s music interrupted and Hayes walked out.
Hayes said Trick is King of the Microphone and King of the Entrance, but not King of the Ring. He said he’s too little for that. Fans “ohh’d.” Hayes said tonight, he’s going to take care of Ricky Saints and then he’s coming after his U.S. Title.
Trick said Melo is being a bit too melodramatic. Trick said if Melo could grow an inch for everytime he made an excuse, he’d be able to see him face to face. Saints’s music interrupted them and made his entrance.
Saints said nobody wants to see “this telanovela stuff.” He said last week, he suckerpunched him. He said after he beats Hayes, he’s coming after the U.S. Title. Trick said he is lying and he makes him sick. He told him to shut the hell up. He said when they figure out whose better between Hayes and Saints, then he’ll prove he’s the king. “Let’s talk about it,” he said.
Saints said Trick is a King of Delusion and a one-trick tony. When Saints told Trick to take his Lemon Pepper Steppers out of the ring, Trick backhanded him and knocked him down. Saints rolled to the floor and regrouped. Hayes took a step toward Trick. Yachty pulled Trick away. Trick and Hayes left to Trick’s theme. [c]
(5) RICKY SAINTS vs. CARMELO HAYES
The bell rang 10 minutes into the hour after the break. Saints took control at ringside at 3:00 and then struck a pose in the ring. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Saints lifted Hayes onto the top rope after the break. Hayes knocked him down and went for a frog splash. Saints lifted. his knees and then landed a Northern Light’s suplex into a bridge for a near fall. They traded two counts afterward. Hayes countered a revolution DDT. Both were down and slow to get up.
Hayes springboarded off the middle rope with a forearm and then landed a Dirty Diana for a two count at 10:00. Saints took Hayes down with a twisting DDT for a near fall. Hayes ducked a charging Saints and then landed a running flip dive onto Saints at ringside. Saints threw Hayes over the ringside barricade. Hayes leaped off the barricade and clotheslined Saints. They were both counted out as Hayes threw Saints into the ringside steps.
WINNER: Double countout in 12:00.
-Hayes tried to say he beat the count. Saints went after Hayes in the ring, but Hayes countered with a First 48.
(Keller’s Analysis: The set-up was nice for this with the implication being the winner got a U.S. Title match, but a Triple Threat match felt like it was most likely going to happen, so the double countout wasn’t surprising. The action with Saints and Hayes was good.)
-They went to Barrett and Tessitore at ringside who talked about Lesnar retiring and then returning.
-A video package aired on that match and frames Lesnar’s return as “Resurrection.”
-Jax and Lash walked up to Tiffany backstage and told her it was a good idea for her not be at ringside for Chelsea.
(Keller’s Analysis: I don’t think words can sufficiently convey how bad Tiffany’s acting is. I did like the camera showed Jax and Lash walking up to Tiffany instead of showing Tiffany for no ostensible reason and then Jax and Lash walking up to her.) [c]
(6) CHELSEA GREEN vs. NIA JAX (w/Lash Legend)
The bell rang 35 minutes into the hour. Green tried to run, but Jax grabbed her. Green side-stepped a charging Jax and then dove through the ropes an tackled her as they cut to a very early break. [c]
Green charged Jax, but Jax lifted her and powerbombed her for a two count. Green avoided a Jax legdrop. Green landed a Zig Zag for a two count. Green avoided a charging Jax, who went shoulder-first into the ringpost. Green set up an Unprettier, but Lash intervened. Jax then gave Green a Samoan Drop. She dragged her to the corner, but then Tiffany’s music played to throw Jax off her plans to land an Annhilator. Tiffany came from the other direction and whacked Jax with a belt. Green then scored a three count.
WINNER: Green in 7:00.
-Kelley interviewed Brie Bella and Paige backstage. As Paige said they’re on a role, Fatal Influence interrupted. Jacy Jayne said she’s declaring herself for Queen of the Ring. [c]
-Cody made his ring entrance. Then Gunther walked out. Gunther said he wanted to tell Cody exactly what he thinks about him. He said he’s new to Smackdown, but he has realized this show has to be about Cody and if it’s not, he finds a way. He said he’s a product of the culture he grew up in including nepotism an egotism and narcissism is rewarded. He said he’s the symbol of the crumbling American dream. Gunther said he has earned the position he is in, whereas for Cody, “everything was just one phone call away, wasn’t it?”
Gunther said he wanted to be a wrestler, it was one phone call. He wanted a WWE job, it was one phone call. He wanted to come back after he left, it was one call. He said that makes him an entitled brat. “We’re nothing alike,” he said. He said Cody has to fuel his ego. He said all that matters to him is being the best pro wrestler in the company and protect the sacred sport from people like him. He said all that Cody cares about is Cody. He said Cody’s biggest fan is Cody. He said he’s not a champion, he’s “a mark for himself.”
Cody said Gunther is a liar. He said every kid dreams of becoming a pro wrestler. He asked Gunther if he actually doesn’t want what he has, which is fans singing every word of his song. Fans sang “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” Cody said, “I know that you want it.” He said that’s because otherwise he’d be talking to a 330 pound version of him in front of a few hundred fans at an indy show. He said Paul Heyman tried to intimidate him with all the things that would go into being the centerpiece star. He said Heyman didn’t tell him that the WWE Title is addictive, “and you are just as sick as I am.” He said he’ll find out at Clash in Italy how close he is to getting what he wants, but then he’ll find out that he’s just not that good. Cody said, “Gunther, I am easy to find, hard to beat.”
Cody dropped the mic and turned to leave. Gunther spun him around and they went nose-to-nose. Gunther asked Cody if he thinks he’s a liar. He talked about promising to take out Goldberg, A.J. Styles, and John Cena “and I did.” He promised to choke out Cody and take his precious prize with him. Tessitore said the talking is done,
(Keller’s Analysis: Nice segment!)
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by ProWrestling.net’s Jake Barnett to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
LINK TO BE A CALLER: https://streamyard.com/hr6rqg59bs
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
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