Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for May 21, 2019

Backstage, Shane McMahon is on the phone when Elias shows up. Elias apologizes for what happened at Money In The Bank, saying he lost focus due to external forces. He feels he let Shane down and wants to be in his corner at Super Showdown, but Shane feels that is not necessary. However, he will be in his corner when he faces Roman Reigns tonight.

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods show up to start tonight's show. Kofi says tonight is a very special night, and Xavier Woods announces that after six long, hard, cold weeks, tonight is the return of Big E. Kofi introduces Big E as Xavier Woods brings him out in a cloak, then the cloak is uncovered to reveal a different man with ashy knees. Kofi and Xavier tell him to get out and take the cloak with him. They then bring out the real Big E, who shows up. Big E - who is not yet medically cleared - admits he has missed Kofi and Xavier as well as the fans, and after Big E's recent Twitter antics are briefly mentioned, Kofi talks about Brock Lesnar becoming Mr. Money In The Bank. Woods also reminds everyone that Kofi retained the WWE Championship against Kevin Owens that night, but Kofi reminds everyone that tonight is about Big E. However, it is not long before Owens shows up. Owens does not show up alone, as Sami Zayn shows up soon afterwards. Sami asks Owens if he believes the "absolute nonsense" going on in the ring, as Big E was gone for only six weeks and got a celebration while he never got anything after nine months on the shelf. Big E says he has a gift for him that is the same thing Owens got on Sunday: nothing. Owens hands his microphone to Sami and leaves, and Sami says the only reason Owens didn't beat Kofi in five minutes flat is because he himself didn't get to become Mr. Money In The Bank, and calls the current celebration in the ring "disgusting." He states that The New Day should not be placating to the "toxic" fans and should stop immediately, but Xavier Woods repeatedly interrupts him with Francesca II. Sami tells The New Day that their night will not end in fun, as he will beat Kofi Kingston tonight and make it so he will be lucky to be able to walk out at all. Kofi tells Sami not to let their image fool him, for when they throw down, they throw down. He promises to not only leave on his own two feet, but also walk through Sami Zayn.

Backstage, Carmella is seen looking for R-Truth...and finds him in a blonde wig. Carmella tells him his disguise will not work and that everyone is coming after him. R-Truth seems to not understand what "24/7" means, and tells Carmella he needs his help. Carmella then tears up one of the posters looking for R-Truth that has been passed around by Drake Maverick off the wall.

Ali gets an upset win on Andrade with an inside cradle.

Backstage, Carmella gives R-Truth a makeover to improve his disguise.

Carmella vs. Mandy Rose ends when WWE Superstars chase R-Truth - and Carmella - through the crowd in pursuit of the WWE 24/7 Championship.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Bayley, who says she would do what she did on Sunday all over again after creating her own opportunity and silencing the doubters. She says she has moved past the hug, and tells the women's locker room to bring their best.

Carmella and R-Truth run away from members of the locker room backstage, while Sami Zayn stares in awe before heading to the ring for the next match.

Backstage, Elias is seen playing guitar as he waits for Roman Reigns.

Before the next match, it is revealed that Big E has been attacked and that his knee was targeted during the attack. Kofi heads to the ring as Xavier Woods and two referees check on Big E.

Kofi Kingston beats Sami Zayn. During the match, it is announced that Big E has been taken to a local medical facility. After the match, Paul Heyman shows up with the Money In The Bank Briefcase. He says that it looks like the perfect time now as he teases opening it, but Kofi is attacked from behind not by Brock Lesnar, but by Dolph Ziggler, who has not been seen in some time. After a continuous attack on Kofi, Ziggler wraps a steel chair around Kofi's head and slams it into the commentary table before stomping on the chair as referees demand that he stop. After Ziggler leaves, medical staff shows up to put Kofi on a gurney. When the gurney makes it to the stage, Kofi ends up getting up from the gurney and walking out under his own power against the medical staff's and officials' advice.

It is announced that Kofi Kingston is currently in the trainers' room and that nobody is being allowed in.

Roman Reigns shows up at the arena, but he is soon welcomed by Elias, who plays guitar and sings about him on top of an 18-wheeler, saying he is as dumb as the people in Providence, Rhode Island. He calls Roman "jealous" and says it is time to take "The Big Dog" for a walk. Roman walks away afterwards.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Becky Lynch. Becky reluctantly admits that if someone were to walk around with the SmackDown Women's title without beating her, she's glad it's Bayley. The two of them agree they should definitely have a match for Bayley's title.

Becky Lynch and Bayley beat Lacey Evans and Charlotte Flair following surprise cradle from Bayley to Charlotte.

Backstage, R-Truth and Carmella barely escape an attack from Jinder Mahal. As they continue to run, R-Truth is suddenly attacked from behind by The B-Team (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel). Fortunately for R-Truth, Bo and Axel fight over who will win the WWE 24/7 Championship, and R-Truth is able to escape with Carmella again.

We look back on Goldberg's career, courtesy of Golden Corral.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Dolph Ziggler, who announces that he will explain his reasoning for attacking Kofi Kingston in the ring. Ziggler then makes his way to the stage with no music, who says that Kofi Kingston's opportunity at the WWE Championship should have been his. He talks about how Kofi Kingston ran the gauntlet and jumped through hoops to win the WWE title, all the while saying that it should have been him instead. Since then, Kofi has outperformed every single champion and has earned everything that has come with being the WWE Champion, all the while saying it should have been him. Ziggler says he had no other choice, and at Super Showdown, he will beat Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship because he has to, saying the fans will honor, respect and love him like they did Kofi when he does. All the while, Ziggler is absolutely livid.

We see a video package chronicling Randy Orton's rivalry with Triple H from Evolution (Triple H, Batista, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Orton) to the present day for Super Showdown's match between Triple H and Randy Orton.

Shane McMahon shows up and introduces Elias. Shane - figuratively and literally - walks with Elias to the ring before the next match.

Roman Reigns beats Elias despite the distraction and introduction of a guitar as weapon by Shane McMahon. After the match, Shane attacks Roman, then tries to hit Roman with a guitar shot only to eat a Superman Punch. Roman then grabs the guitar to use it as a weapon, but Drew McIntyre gets in the ring and hits Roman with a Claymore.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!