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5/22 WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: SETTING UP FOR TOMORROW NIGHT, ALEXA IS SNEAKY, TRICK AND HAYES, WHEN DO WE SEE IGOR WITH DANHAUSEN?, AND MORE

By Richard Trionfo on 2026-05-22 23:00:00

Your announcers are Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore.

We take a look at what happened with Gunther last week on Smackdown.

Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring.

Rhea welcomes everyone to the show.  She says she had a week off and it seemed like someone really missed her.  She says Jade and her crew tried to send a message, but all it did was piss her off.  Rhea says she is itching for a fight.  She tells Jade, if she wants her rematch, she will happily beat her again.  You versus me at Clash in Italy.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss make their way to the ring to talk to their partner tomorrow night at Saturday Night's Main Event.

Flair says she appreciates Rhea wanting to defend her title, but they have a tag match against Jade, B-Fab, and Michin.  Alexa says they need to be on the same page.  Flair wants to address the elephant in the room.  They needed Rhea's help last week, but where were you?

Rhea says she is sorry, but she wanted to go home to see her family.  Doesn't she deserve a day off.

Flair says that she is happy that Rhea went to see her family but  they could have used her help.

Rhea asks if Flair said she didn't need her help.

Flair says that was with Fatal Influence, but it is your problem they are dealing with.

Rhea says Alexa was taking most of the damage and if you can't be there for your friend, can she trust Flair?

Flair and Rhea argue about putting a wedge between the team.

Fatal Influence interrupts.

Jacy tells them to keep it going because she loves it.  She loves nothing more than the women's division unraveling before their eyes.  This started when they got to Smackdown.  While you have been at each other's throats, they have ascended to the top and they are talking advantage of the situation.

Flair says they love Jacy's confidence.  Any two of you against her and Alexa, tonight.

We take a look at Talla Tonga attacking Shinsuke Nakamura last week for talking to Tama Tonga.

Cathy stops Solo, Talla, and Tama and she asks Talla about his thoughts for tonight's match.

Solo says he is ready and he wants everybody to watch, and he means everybody to watch (as he looks at Tama).

Royce tells Solo he cost him a title shot last week and he tells him to stay out of his business.

Solo says if you didn't want help, you could have told him to his face but you threw a chair in his face.

Alexa says she is not cleared and Flair says she was okay before.

Alexa says she is fine but she will have to team with Rhea because she is sick of being in the middle of everything.

Match Number One:  Talla Tonga versus Shinsuke Nakamura

They lock up and Talla sends Nakamura into the turnbuckles.  Talla wants a test of strength and Nakamura teases a kick.  Nakamura with a knee and forearms.  Talla with a punch and kick to the back.  Talla with a head butt and a kick in the corner.  Talla with more kicks and he chokes Nakamura.  talla with a punch in the corner.  Talla with a hard Irish whip.   Talla with knee drops and a slam.  Talla with an Irish whip and Talla missesa splash into the corner.  Nakamura with a kick to the back and a jumping knee off the turnbuckles.  Nakamura with a jumping side kick and a clothesline that sends Talla over the top rope but he lands on his feet.  Nakamura with a kick with Talla in the ropes but Talla wit a chop.

Talla sends Nakamura into the ringside barrier.  Talla with a hot shot on the ringside barrier.  Talla with a punch and he sends Nakamura into the ring.  Nakamura with kicks but Talla with a forearm to stop Nakamura.  Talla works on the neck.  Nakamura with punches but Talla with a head butt.  Nakamura with a kick.  Talla catches Nakamura off the turnbuckles and Talla with a short arm clothesline.  Nakamura with elbows from the apron but Talla sends Nakamura back to the floor.  Nakamura with punches and Talla with an uppercut and a leaping elbow drop.  Nakamura blocks a kick and Nakamura with a round kick.  Talla with a power slam.  Nakamura with an arm bar into a triangle.  Talla with a one arm power bomb attempt but Nakamura counters into a guillotine.  Nakamura escapes a suplex and he kicks Talla in the back of the leg and a boot off the turnbuckles.

Nakamura with kicks to Talla.  Talla with an Irish whip but he misses a boot in the corner.  Nakamura kicks the leg and he puts Talla on the turnbuckles for a running knee to the midsection.  Nakamura with Scorpio Rising for a near fall.  Nakamura sets for Knishasa but Solo gets on the apron and Nakamura punches him off the apron.  Talla with a power slam and a choke slam for the three count.

WInner:  Talla Tonga

After the match, Solo sets for a Samoan Spike because Nakamura punched him but Tama stops him.  Tama with cutthroat.  Solo sets for the Samoan Spike but Damian Priest comes out with a chair and that means Solo, Talla, and Tama leave the ring.  

Priest checks on Nakamura while Solo, Talla, and Tama go to the back.

We have a video package for Tribal Combat.

Nick asks for an update from Charles Robinson and he asks him to check out about the lights.

Nick tells Cody that Gunther is not here yet so the contract is still unsigned.  

Cody tells Nick to give him the contract to get it signed.  

Nick says he will handle it and the match is set.  He will make sure the contract is signed.

Sami shows up and he tells Cody they have been up and down lately.  Sami says he knows what it means to beat Gunther so all Cody has to do is ask.

Cody says thanks, but no thanks.

Sami then rants and he blames Nick for all of this.  He asks Nick what he is doing tonight.

Nick says he might not have a spot for Sami tonight.

Sami asks if he is entitled to respect.  He wants to know what he did wrong to be disrespected.  He says Cody would get whatever he wants.

Cody shows up and Sami starts to apologize.

Cody says that Sami deserves time on Smackdown.  Cody suggests a match for Sami and Cody says he will give Sami a match.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Tama tells Solo is weak.  Everyone is coming at them because they think you are weak and that the family is weak.  You will handle Priest on your own.  You have to show that the family is not weak.

Solo says he will talk to Aldis.

Nia Jax says they are going to end the nostalgia tour of Brie and Paige when they take back their tag titles.  Lash says gold looks good on them and she is going to take the title from Tiffany.

Match Number Two:  Tiffany Stratton versus Lash Legend for the Women's United States Championship

They lock up and Lash sends Tiffany to the mat.  Tiffany with a waist lock and Lash tosses her to the mat.  Lash with a biel.  Lash runs into a boot and Lash tries to biel Tiffany but Tiffany with a cartwheel and a drop kick.  Lash with a shoulder tackle.  Lash misses a bicycle kick and Tiffany clips Lash a few times.  Tiffany with a drop kick and Lash goes to the floor.  Tiffany with a pescado onto Lash. Lash with a chop and a choke slam onto the apron.  Lash and Nia pose but Chelsea Green comes to ringside to check on her 'friend' Tiffany.  Lash with an elbow drop to the back for a near fall.  Lash has Tiffany in the ropes and she connects with forearms.  Lash with shoulders in the corner.  Lash with a hard Irish whip.  Lash with another Irish whip but Tiffany with a boot when Lash charges.  Tiffany with a back elbow and Lash catches Tiffany on a cross body attempt.

Lash with Snake Eyes.  Lash bounces Tiffany's head between the top and middle ropes.  She does it a second time.  Lash with a short arm clothesline for a near fall.  Lash with a forearm and shoulders in the corner.  Lash with a short arm clothesline.  Lash puts Tiffany in the corner and connects with more shoulders.  Lash puts Tiffany on the turnbuckles but Tiffany with a sunset flip for a near fall.  Lash with a forearm for a near fall.  Tiffany with a jaw breaker and Lash goes gingerly over the top rope when Tiffany drops down.  Lash misses a shoulder in the corner and hits the ring post.  Tiffany with a clothesline but Lash stays on her feet and goes for a choke slam but Tiffany with a jaw breaker.  Tiffany with a handspring back elbow in the corner followed by a handspring cutter for a near fall.  Tiffany misses a double stomp and Lash with a rollup for a near fall.

Tiffany counters a power bomb into a rana.  Tiffany goes for an Alabama Slam but Lash counters with a power bomb for a near fall.  Tiffany counters Lash Extension into a Crucifix Bomb for a near fall.  Tiffany goes up top and Nia gets on the apron and Tiffany kicks her away.  Tiffany misses a move off the turnbuckles and rolls through.  Lash iwth a bicycle kick to Tiffany.  Green sends Nia into the ring post and Lash decides to grab Green by the hair instead of WINNING THE MATCH.  Tiffany with a rollup for the three count.

Winner:  Tiffany Stratton (retains championship)

Lil Yachty gets to be Trick's Doug Dillinger to knock on Trick's door and they walk down the hallway.

We go to commercial.

Nick is walking and he says he needs to deal with the power issue.

Nick is told it is coming from a room and Nick enters Danhausen's lab.

Danhausen says he is doing a science experiment.  He says everything is up to code.  He says he is doing a science experiment.

Nick sees the body under the sheet but he is told not to look under it.

Cathy is with Miz and Kit Wilosn and she asks what is in Danhausen's lab.

Miz insults Danhausen.

Cahty brings up that the Cavs are down 2-0 and Miz says there is no curse.

Frazer and Axiom show up and he says there is a curse.

Cathy asks Miz why isn't he court side for the Cavs.

Kit says disrespecting the locker room leader is toxic.  

Miz says he will embarrass Axiom in his home town next week.

Axiom responds in Spanish.

Trick Williams makes his way to the ring with Lil Yachty.

Trick asks Yachty if he knows what he thinks.  He says the people love him and Yachty.

Yachty says after what happened last week.

Trick says Miz is a future Hall of Famer and Yachty says it is debatable.  He runs through what Miz has done and Yachty doubts it.  

Carmelo Hayes interrupts when Yachty brings up what might happen if someone interrupts Trick again.

Hayes wants to talk about it.  They knew this day would come.  Hayes says he is here and he tells Trick he needs to do the right thing.  They both know that Trick screwed him out of the US Title and Hayes says he would still be champion.  He is not here to discredit Trick because he did it.  He took over Smackdown.  Hayes says he always believed in Trick, but there is a huge difference between carrying a title and being champion.

Hayes says he defended the title night in and night out and he won over the crowd.  He asks Trick to give him what he wants and give him a match.

Yachty says the people would love to see the match, but when you are a champion like Trick, he has a schedule.  

Hayes wants to know if anyone can understand what Yachty is saying.  He tells Trick to find time to defend the title, if your secretary will allow it.  Hayes says they go way back and the old Trick Williams would never let anyone tell him what to do.  Maybe you were always best at being second fiddle.

Trick says he doesn't play with his leftovers.  Since they are in Lexington and the people want to see them, let's do the match.

Tick says the open challenges ended when he won the title, but the ass whooping is on the house.

Match Number Three:  Trick Williams versus Carmelo Hayes  in a Non Title Match

They lock up and Trick with a side head lock.  Trick with a shoulder tackle.  Hayes and Trick with standing switches and Hayes with a drop kick.  Trick sends Hayes into the turnbuckles but misses a chop.  Hayes with chops.  Trick misses wildly and Hayes with chops.  Trick blocks a chop and Trick with and uppercut and a back hand slap.  Trick with kicks in the corner.  Hayes blocks a kick and Hayes with an enzuigiri.  Hayes with a chop against the ropes.  Trick with a jumping side kick and a spinning heel kick.  Hayes with a sunset flip for a near fall.  Hayes goes for a springboard clothesline but Trick moves and Trick with a uranage for a near fall.  Trick with a chop.

Trick with a hard Irish whip.  Trick with a spinning back heel kick for a near fall.  Trick with a suplex.  Trick hot shots Hayes.  Trick misses a jumping side kick and gets caught on the ropes.  Hayes sends Trick to the floor and then Hayes goes for a dive but Yachty gets in the way.  Hayes goes to the floor and sends Trick into the ring steps.  The referee tells Yachty not to get involved.  Hayes sends Trick into the steps and he chops Trick a few times.  Hayes goes to the turnbuckles and he punches Trick many times.  Hayes doesn't do the kicks like Trick, but then figures 'screw it'.  Trick blocks a kick and connects with punches.  Hayes with a thrust kick for a near fall.  

Hayes goes for a springboard move and Trick pushes Hayes over the top rope.  Trick chops Hayes and sends Hayes into the announce table.  Trick with chops but Hayes chops back.  Trick with a reverse chin lock.  Hayes with a jaw breaker.  Trick with a punch and Hayes punches back.  They go back and forth.  Hayes with a knee to the midsection and Trick with a jumping neck breaker.  

Ricky Saints is at ringside.

Hayes counters a uranage into an arm drag.  Trick avoids First 48.  Hayes avoids the jumping side kick and Hayes with a springboard clothesline.  Hayes with La Mistica and he gets a near fall.  Trick with a counter of a suplex into an uppercut.  Hayes with a jumping thrust kick and then he kicks Trick when Trick flinches and covers up.  Trick with a cyclone kick for a near fall.   Trick sets for the running knee but Hayes counters with First 48 for a near fall.  Hayes goes up top for Nothin But Net and Saints comes to the apron and Trick uses the distraction to punch Hayes off the turnbuckles.  Trick pushes Ricky away and they return to the ring.  Saints gets on the apron and Hayes with a rollup but the referee is with Saints.  Hayes knocks Ricky off the apron and Trick hits the running knee for the three count.

Winner:  Trick Williams

Sami is in the back and he strikes inanimate objects, but he does not hit Johnny Gargano.  

Sami says that Cody is his friend and he might have said some things, but now Cody wants to fight him?  Sami says he was always there for Cody and he did the right thing.  Sami says Johnny is the last real good guy.  He doesn't let anybody change who he is.

Sami walks away and Johnny Gargano knocks over a water bottle.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Ricky is talking to himself and Cathy asks him why was he out there.

Ricky says he is not a rookie and he starts to talk about Hayes until . . . 

Hayes punches him in the face and tells him to stay out of his business.

We take a look at the Return of the Brocki.

Match Number Four:  Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley versus Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley

Fallon and Flair start things off.  Flair with a clothesline and she knocks Reid off the apron.  Fallon with a waist lock and she avoids an elbow.  Flair with a drop toe hold and a figure four head scissors and she rolls Fallon around the ring.  Flair with a chop and Rhea tags in.  Flair sends Fallon to the mat and Rhea has some words for Flair, which allows Reid to tag in.  Rhea with a back heel kick and she sends Reid face first to the mat.  Rhea with a drop kick and she misses a splash.  Reid misses a splash and she comes off the turnbuckles but Rhea catches her and hits a fallaway slam.  Flair tags herself in.

Flair kicks Jacy off the apron and Reid with a chop.  Fallon tags in and she sends Flair into the announce table and apron.  Fallon sends Flair into the announce table again and follows with a clothesline.  They return to the ring and Fallon with a punch.  Flair with punches but Fallon with a clothesline.  Fallon sends Flair into the turnbuckles and tags in Reid.  Reid with a splash and a bulldog.  Fallon with a kick and Reid gets a near fall.  Reid kicks Flair.  Reid with a reverse chin lock.  Flair with punches and then she floats over.  Raid with a back elbow and she gets a near fall.  Reid with punches and shoulders in the corner.  Fallon tags in and she punches Flair.  Reid tags in and Flair kicks Fallon and connects with a forearm on Reid.  Flair with chops to Fallon.  Reid blocks a thrust kick but Reid connects the second time.  

Flair with a Flair flip and kick on the apron.  Jacy pulls Flair off the apron and Reid with a kick.  Reid with a twisting suplex and Fallon with a kick for a near fall.  Fallon with a rear chin lock.  Fallon blocks a kick and Flair with a forearm.  Fallon keeps Flair from making the tag.  Fallon with a kick to the knee and an Irish whip but Flair with a forearm to knock Reid off the apron.  Flair kicks Fallon off the turnbuckles.  Reid clips Flair but Flair with a rollup for a near fall.  Both women with clotheslines at the same time and both are down.  Rhea tags in and he clotheslines Reid and Fallon.  Rhea with a forearm to Reid and she floats over and kicks Reid.  Rhea with a German suplex to Fallon when Fallon stops short of her partner in the corner.  Rhea with a kick and she gets Reid up for the Razor's Edge and hits it.  Rhea with a kick for a near fall. 

Flair kicks Fallon after Fallon breaks up the cover.  Flair with a cannonball off the apron onto Jacy and Fallon.  Rhea tries for Razor's Edge again.  Rhea kicks Reid into the corner and Flair gets knocked off the apron.  Flair makes the blind tag and Rhea with RipTide.  Flair with Natural Selection for the three count.

Winners:  Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley

After the match, Flair, Rhea, and Alexa are attacked by Jade, Michin, and B-Fab.

Fatal Influence also attack Flair and Bliss.  

Jade and Rhea remain in the ring and Rhea with a head butt.  Jade with a bicycle kick.  Jade with Jaded.  

Cody is in his locker room and Cathy enters.

She asks about his match and if it is any different than his match next week against Gunther.

Cody says Sami and him are friends.  He understands the anger and passive aggressive attitude.  Cody says he felt this same way 10 years.  He says he looked in the mirror and he became accountable.  Cody tells Gunther he can show up and watch the match.

We look at Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu.

We go to commercial.

Jade, B-Fab, and MIchin are asked by Cathy about the message they sent.

Michin says that wasn't a message, it was the truth.  They will prove they are the dominant team.  Fab says they will save everything else for tomorrow.  Jade says everyone is talking too much.  Jade says they are all that matters in the company and she is all that matters being on top.  She is going to get her title back.

Match Number Five:  Solo Sikoa versus Damian Priest

Solo enters the ring and Priest clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor.  Priest comes off the steps with a clothesline and then he sends Solo into the ring steps.  Solo with an uppercut  Solo sends Priest into the turnbuckles.  Priest with a jumping back elbow.  Priest goes to the apron and he kicks Solo.  Tama grabs Priest's leg when he gets back into the ring.  Solo catches Priest and hits a Samoan drop.  Solo with a forearm to the back of the head.  Tama with a punch when Solo takes away the attention of the referee.  Priest with punches.  Priest gets a near fall.  Solo with punches in the corner.  Solo takes the attention of the referee again and Tama chokes Priest.  Solo monologs and Priest slaps Solo.  Solo with more punches.  Solo with a running hip in the corner.

Solo goes up top and Priest with a forearm and punches.  Priest with forearms from the turnbuckles and Solo with head butts.  Priest boxes the ears and he hits a superplex.  Priest and Solo collide in the center of the ring.  They exchange punches, forearms, and kicks but both stay on their feet.  Priest with a flying shoulder tackle and an elbow into the corner.  Priest with another shoulder into the corner.  Solo misses a splash and hits the ring post.  Priest with a Broken Arrow for a near fall.  Priest signals for the rebound clothesline.but Tama distracts Priest.  Talla with a punch and Solo with a uranage for a near fall.  Solo charges into a boot and a cyclone kick.  Priest with a rebound clothesline.  Tama gets on the apron and Priest knocks him off.  Priest avoids a Samoan Spike and Priest with a leaping flatliner.  Priest kicks Talla on the apron but he stays on the apron.

Priest runs into a Samoan Spike for the three count.

Winner:  Solo Sikoa

After the match, Talla and Tama attack Priest.  

Royce Keys' music plays and he makes his way to the ring.

Keys with a forearm to Tama and he sends Tall over the top rope when he drops down.  

Solo and Keys stand in the center of the ring and Solo leaves the ring.

Keys checks on Priest and Priest grabs him by the throat.

Keys wants to know why he did that since he was trying to help him.

We go to commercial.

Paige says when they won the titles, they wanted to be fighting champions.  She says they aren't taking things for granted.  Brie says Nia and Lash walk over everyone and they make excuses.  Brie says they used survival tactics.  Paige says Lash and Nia can underestimate them.  Brie says Lash and NIa won't know what hits them.

Chelsea Green walks in the back and Blake Monroe stops her.  Blake introduces herself.

Blake tells Chelsea out there but wishes she didn't.

Nia and Lash attack Green.

Royce Keys wants to know why Priest did what he did.  He says Truth asked him to have his back.

Priest says he does not know or trust Keys because he might be working with Solo.  He asks Keys what would he have done in his situation.  

Match Number Six:  Sami Zayn versus Cody Rhodes in a non Title Match

Sami has some words for Cody and they shake hands.  They lock up and Cody with a side head lock.  Sami with an arm drag.  Sami wants another hand shake and Cody does it.  They lock up and Cody with a side head lock.  Cody with a kick and a drop down punch.  Cody with a gourdbuster and he offers his hand to Sami.  Sami refuses the hand shake.  They lock up and Sami with a side head lock.  Sami with chops.  Cody with a shoulder tackle and he goes for the double jump Cody Cutter but Sami trips Cody on the turnbuckles.  The referee checks on Cody outside the ring.  We see Cody limping around the ringside area.  Sami goes to the floor and clips Cody.  Sami kicks Cody in the back of the leg.  

Sami continues to kick the leg.  Sami puts the leg in the ropes and stretches it.  Sami with chops.  Sami goes to the turnbuckles but Cody drops Sami on the turnbuckles.  Sami with clotheslines and a slam.  Sami with a spinning toe hold and knee drop.  Cody with punches to Sami and Cody gets free.  Sami goes for a suplex but Cody blocks it.  Sami with forearms.  Cody with a suplex.  Cody with punches and jabs.  Cody with a Bionic Elbow.  Cody with a Cody Cutter for a near fall.   Cody sets for CrossRhodes but Sami with a snap mare and he sends Cody over the top rope to the apron.  Sami with a running shoulder tackle that sends Cody off the apron onto the announce table.  

Cody beats the referee's count and Sami is angered.  Sami sets for a Helluva Kick.  Cody avoids it and Sami goes into the turnbuckles.  Cody with a double jump Cody Cutter for a near fall.  Cody sets for CrossRhodes but Sami counters with a rollup for a near fall.  Sami with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.  Sami kicks the hamstring and he goes for a figure four leg lock.  Cody rolls over to reverse the hold.  Sami gets to the ropes to reverse the hold.  Cody and Sami go back and forth with punches.  Cody with Beautiful Disaster.

Gunther gets on the apron and applies a sleeper but the referee does not see it.  Sami goes for a Helluva Kick but he hits Gunther.  Cody with CrossRhodes for the three count.

Winner:  Cody Rhodes

After the match, Gunther attacks Cody with a clothesline and a power bomb.  Sami gets in the ring and Gunther looks at Sami and applies a sleeper on Cody.  Sami leaves the ring and goes to the apron.  Sami starts to walk to the back.  

Sami looks back to the ring and Gunther releases the hold.

Gunther holds the title belt over his head.

We go to credits.

 

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