WWE Smackdown 5/22/2026

WWE Smackdown 5/22/2026

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2026/05/wwe-smackdown-5152026.html

We are in Lexington, KY. Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are on commentary.

We see various wrestlers arrive. 

Rhea Ripley comes out. She says she had a week off and says it seemed like Jade's crew missed her. She says all they did is p!ss her off. She says she's itching for a fight and will give Jade her rematch. She challenges her for Clash in Italy.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss come out. Flair says they have a 6-woman tag tomorrow and need to be on the same page for it. Flair asks Rhea where she was last week. Rhea says she wanted to go home and see her family. Rhea says didn't Flair say she didn't need her. Flair says she did say that with Fatal Influence but needs help with Rhea's problem. Rhea says Bliss took most of it and says if she can't help her partner, how can she have her back? Bliss tries to play peacemaker as they argue.

Fatal Influence come out. Jacy says she loves this and there's nothing more she loves than watching the women's division unravel. She says this started as soon as they stepped foot on the scene. Jacy says while they are at each other's throats, they ascended to the top of the division with ease. Jacy says they see an opportunity right now. Flair says 2 of Fatal Influence should face her and Bliss. Jacy says that's perfect. 

The MFT's are interviewed. Solo talks for Talla and says he's ready for Shinsuke Nakamura. Solo says he wants everyone to watch what will happen to Shinsuke Nakamura. Royce Keys comes in. He says Solo cost him a title shot and if it's an issue he wants, it's an issue he will get so stay out of his business. Solo says if Keys didn't need help, he should have said so. Solo says Keys need someone to watch his back and says who better than them?

Bliss and Flair talk in the back. Bliss says she's not cleared but admits she's lying. She says she's sick of Flair and Rhea arguing and says they will team up tonight.

Talla Tonga vs Shinsuke Nakamura

TT pushes him off the lock up. SN leg kicks him. SN hits forearms and TT uppercuts him. TT stomps him and headbutts him. TT boots him in the corner. TT throws him hard into the buckles and SN goes down. TT slams him. TT misses a corner charge and SN 2nd rope flying knees him. SN flying kicks him then lariats him over the top. TT lands on his feet. TT lariats him from behind then sends him into the rails. We go to break and return. 

There's WWE Made in America documentary next Friday at 11PM after SD. We return and TT tilt-a-whirl slams SN. SN armbars him. TT lifts him and SN guillotines him. SN leg kicks him and 2nd rope flying knees him from behind. SN kind of hits a shining wizard.

TT misses a corner facekick. SN flying knees him in the gut as he lays up top. SN shining axe kicks him for 2. Solo gets on the apron and SN high kicks him down. TT powerslams him. TT chokeslams SN and pins him.

Thoughts: It was acceptable but nothing too great. Tama didn't show a whole lot here and just did basic giant offense. It was one of the lowest ranked opponents Nakamura has lost to so far.

Solo goes to samoan spike SN. Tama Tonga stops him and grabs the arm. Solo yells at him. Tama back elbows SN. Damian Priest comes out with a chair and the heels run.

Nick Aldis talks to Charles Robinson. The lights go out (they went out earlier too). Cody Rhodes comes in. Nick says Gunther isn't here and the contract for Clash in Italy is unsigned. Nick says the contract is signed in his mind already and he will make sure it's officially signed.

Sami Zayn comes in. He says if anyone knows what it takes to beat Gunther, it's him. He says if he needs anything, just ask. Cody says thanks but no thanks. Sami talks to Nick. Nick says he doesn't have a spot for him. Sami says he's one of the top talents and deserves some respect. Sami asks what he did to get this disrespect.

Sami says Cody Rhodes would get the time if he asked for it because he's the golden boy and he gets anything he asks. Cody then walks up behind Sami. Sami sees him. Sami says he's sorry as Cody gets mad. Cody says Sami has a good point. Cody says he's healthy and says he should have a match. Cody says if Sami wants a match, let's do it tonight and he'll see him later.

Thoughts: Sami did prove Nick is a hypocrite. Cody wanted something and he got it when Sami couldn't get it himself.

The MFT's talk in the back. Tama says everyone thinks they are weak and that's why they are coming for them. Tama says Solo needs to handle Priest on his own and show that their family isn't weak, for the family. Solo shakes on it and says, "for the family".

Lash Legend and Nia Jax come out. Nia says they will end the Brie and Paige nostalgia tour tomorrow. Lash says she will beat on Tiff tonight and she accepts her open challenge.

WWE Women's United States Title - Tiffany Stratton (c) vs Lash Legend

This is an open challenge.  

They lock up and Tiff is pushed down. Lash throws her off the waistlock then does a normal throw. Tiff high kicks her. Tiff is popped up and dropkicks her. Lash shoulders her over. Tiff basement dropkicks her then hits a bad slingshot plancha outside. Lash chokeslams her on the apron. Chelsea Green comes down to check on Tiff.

We go to break and return. Lash hits corner spears on Tiff. Tiff sunset flips her for 2. Lash forearms her down for 2. Lash sleepers her. Lash misses a corner spear. Tiff hits lariats. Lash gets stunnered off a chokeslam attempt. Tiff handspring backflip back elbows her then handspring stunners her. 

Tiff hurricanrana's her into the buckles. Lash powerbombs her for 2. Tiff crucifixes her for 2. Nia tries to trip Tiff up top. Lash pump kicks Tiff. Chelsea Green sends Nia into the post. Lash grabs Green and Tiff rolls up Lash to win.

Thoughts: The match was average but this was more about Green helping Tiff to victory. Where that goes, we will have to see. Lash took a bad sunset flip here where she took forever to get down. 

Lil Yachty knocks on Trick Williams' door and they head to the ring.

Nick Aldis is told the power issue is coming from Danhausen's cloning machine. Nick goes up to him and asks what he's doing. Nick says Dan's cloning machine is causing the issue. The device shoots off sparks. Dan says he's doing experiments and knocks the lights out. Dan then disappears. Nick finds a body under a sheet and Dan tells him not to touch it.

The Miz and Kit Wilson are interviewed. Miz says he doesn't care what's in Dan's lab. Miz is asked about the Cleveland Cavaliers going 0-2. Miz says he's not cursed and says there isn't one. Fraxiom walks in. Ax says Dan has cursed Miz. Miz says not to say his name. The interviewer asks why Miz isn't at courtside for the Cav's game. Kit says disrespecting The Miz is toxic. Miz challenges them for next week in Ax's hometown. Ax then says something in Spanish. 

Trick Williams and Lil Yachty come out. Trick says the people love him here. Carmelo Hayes comes out. Melo says they knew the day would come. Melo says Trick needs to do the right thing and says Trick screwed him out of the title. Melo says he'd still be US champ if it wasn't for him. Melo says there's a difference between carrying a title and being a champ. Melo says he was a champ for 8 weeks and defended it night in and night out. Melo says to give him Trick vs Melo for the US Title right now. 

Yachty talks about Trick's schedule. Melo tells him to defend his title between appointments if his secretary will allow it. Melo says the old Trick Williams wouldn't let others tell him what to do but he says Trick was always better at playing second fiddle. Trick says he doesn't play with leftovers. Trick agrees to the match but says the open challenges are done. He says Melo will get his match but the @ss whooping is on the house. Trick says to get the refs out.

WWE United States Title - Trick Williams (c) vs Carmelo Hayes

TW side headlocks him then shoulders him over. TW slams him. Melo rolls over his back and dropkicks him. Melo chops him. Melo chops him. TW backhands him. TW stomps him in the corner. Melo chops him. TW does jumping side kicks. TW uranage's him for 2.

TW spinning high kicks him for 2. TW suplexes him. TW drops Melo throat firs on the top rope. TW misses a jumping side kick and is sent out. Melo goes for a dive but Lil Yachty is in the way. 

We go to PiP break and return. TW chinlocks him. Melo jawbreakers him. They trade shots. TW jumping neckbreakers him. Ricky Saints comes down. Melo armdrags him and lariats him. Melo springboard twisting lariats him. Melo la mistica drops him for 2. 

Melo hits superkicks. TW spinning facekicks him for 2. TW runs at him and Melo hits a first 48 for 2. Saints distracts Melo on the ropes. TW knocks Melo down to the floor. Saints talks trash and TW shoves him away. Saints distracts TW. Melo rolls up TW but the ref is distracted. TW flying pumping knees him and wins.

Thoughts: Saints getting involved was unexpected but Melo did lose as expected. It was alright but Melo did most of the work here. Trick may be charismatic on the mic but he doesn't have a lot of fire during matches and combined with his limitations, it hurts his matches.

Sami knocks over water bottles in the back and almost slaps Gargano. He says he's glad to see him and says Gargano actually understands him. Sami says Cody is his friend and says he said some bad things but Cody is ready to fight him. Sami says he was always there for him and happy for him. Sami says he's the last good guy left and says you never change who you are. Sami leaves and Gargano knocks a water bottle over.

Ricky Saints walks in the back and he is going to be interviewed. Melo hits him from the side and tells him to stay out of his business. 

Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair vs Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid)

CF lariats Fallon and headscissors rolls her. Rhea comes in and hits kicks on Reid. She drops her face first on the mat and low dropkicks her. LR is caught off the 2nd rope and RR fallaway slams her. CF facekicks Jacy off the apron. Fallon bangs CF's head off the commentary table and apron. Fallon lariats Flair on the floor.

We go to PiP break and return. CF fights off her opponents. LR superkicks her. CF boots LR from the apron then Jacy sweeps CF on the apron. LR bangs CF's head off the mat with her feet and twisting suplexes her. Fallon running boots CF for 2.

CF boots Fallon off the 2nd rope. CF rolls up LR for 1. CF and LR double clothesline each other. RR comes in and hits lariats on the heels. RR dropkicks Fallon then forearms LR. RR germans Fallon then up kicks LR. RR low flying kicks LR for 2. CF cannonballs her opponents off the apron. LR totally misses a superkick on CF.

RR headbutts LR then hits riptide on her. CF tags herself in and hits natural selection on LR for the pin.

Thoughts: It wasn't that great and Flair's team won as expected. There were quite a few shots that didn't hit here and there was nothing too special about it.

Flair, Bliss and Rhea get jumped by Jade Cargill and friends after. Fatal Influence help out. Jade facekicks Rhea. Jade hits a jade end on Rhea.

Cody Rhodes is interviewed by Cathy in the back. He says he hasn't recognized Sami so much lately. He says Sami's mindset gets to be too much after a while. Cody says he started holding himself accountable. He says Gunther can come out, but Gunther will be facing him at Clash in Italy.

Cathy interviews Jade Cargill's crew. Michin says the attack wasn't a message but the truth. Michin says all these girls wants to know who the best is but the best just left them laying. Mich says they will prove who the best is. Fab threatens Rhea's team and tells them just not to show up. Jade says let's do the work and get the title back.

Damian Priest vs Solo Sikoa

DP lariats Solo over the top as soon as he gets in. DP jumps off the steps and double axe handles him. DP sends Solo into the steps. Solo uppercuts him in the ring. DP's head is banged off the buckles. DP flying back elbows him.

DP high kicks Solo from the apron. DP gets on the ropes and is distracted by Solo. Solo yanks him and samoan drops him. We go to break and return.

DP superplexes Solo down. DP fires up. Solo and DP trade shots. Solo superkicks him and DP hits kicks. DP spinning forearms him then flying forearms him. DP flying back elbows Solo in the corner. Solo misses a corner splash and hits his head off the post. DP throws him on a suplex.

Talla Tonga cheapshots DP outside. Solo spinning uranage's DP for 2. DP spinning high kicks Solo then rebound lariats him.  

DP lifting flatliners Solo. DP facekicks Tama then high kicks him. Solo samoan spikes DP for the win.

Thoughts: Solo winning was kind of an upset here. It was mostly strike trading and interference and it wasn't bad. I swear Joe Tessitore was reading my site as some of the moves he called out are the exact way I call those moves.

Tama, Talla and Solo pound on DP after. Royce Keys comes out. Keys clears off Talla and Tama. Keys faces off with Solo and Solo just walks away. DP grabs Keys by the throat on accident and Keys knocks his hand away. Keys says he was trying to help him. Solo tells DP not to trust him.  

Paige and Brie Bella do a promo. They say they have been fighting champs and put everything into keeping their titles. Brie says Nia and Lash are used to walking over everyone to get everything they want. Brie says their opponents won't know what they hit them.

Chelsea Green and Blake Monroe meet in the back. They introduce themselves and Blake says she wish she hadn't seen her out there. Nia and Lash then jump Green and say all she's doing is making memories. 

Royce Keys goes up to Damian Priest in the back. Keys asks why DP grabbed him by the throat. He says Truth called him to make sure he had DP's back. DP says Keys got involved in his business. DP says he doesn't know what his partner did and doesn't know him. He says he doesn't know if he's with The MFT's. DP asks him what he would have done if he was in the same shoes. Keys says if it's an issue he wants, it's an issue he can get and says anyone can get it. 

Cody Rhodes vs Sami Zayn

Cody side headlocks him. Sami armdrags him. They shake hands and Cody kind of lets go hard. Cody side headlocks Sami. Cody does a drop down uppercut on Sami then gordbusters him. Cody then offers a handshake and Sami tells him to come on and fight. Sami side headlocks him. 

Sami hits chops then Cody chops back. Cody powerslams Sami. Cody walks up the buckles and is tripped. We go to PiP break and return. 

Sami hits forearms and Cody suplexes him. Cody hits punches on Sami then hits a bionic elbow. Cody hits a cody cutter for 2. Sami pushes Cody off the apron and Cody lands on the commentary table. Cody gets back in, walks up the buckles and hits another cody cutter for 2. Sami blue thunders him for 2. 

Sami figure fours him. Cody turns it over. Sami ropebreaks. Cody and Sami trade shots. Cody hits a disaster kick. Gunther grabs Cody from behind and sleepers him. Sami runs at them and nails Gunther when Cody moves. Cody hits a cross rhodes on Sami and pins him.

Thoughts: I liked the ending but I thought they could have played up on the story more. Sami could have been one-upped a bit more and gotten mad and this could have gotten a little dirty. I'm interested to see how they go with the finish from here as Sami could claim he was trying to help Cody. Cody again has shown that he will take the advantage when given a chance and I'm sure Sami will harp on it.

Cody beats up on Gunther after. Gunther lariats him and powerbombs him. Sami gets in the ring and stares down at Gunther. Sami watches as Gunther grounded sleepers Cody. Sami then walks off.  Gunther holds the title up after.

Overall thoughts: Talla/Nakamura was acceptable. Tiffany/Lash was average. Trick/Melo was alright. The women's tag wasn't that good. Solo/Priest was also acceptable. The main was okay but it didn't get to be anything great. The finish to it was very interesting though. A lot of the stars were missing here and the show is just not that hot right now. The failed pushes of Priest, Aleister Black and The MFT's wasted a lot of precious time over the last year and left them short of stars. I'd give this a higher 5 out of 10 as it was okay overall but nothing great.