Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for May 3, 2024

We are introduced to the French commentary team of Phillipe Chérau and Christophe Agius.

Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill beat Tiffany Stratton and Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane) in an eight-woman tag match.

Backstage, we hear from Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. Theory says Lyon, France gets a surprise in the form of their first-ever title defense. Suddenly, Waller smells something, then says it is smoke and that they will prove to The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) that they are "the smoke."

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. Jade and Bianca are both ready for Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane), especially Bianca, who wants to be done with Damage CTRL once and for all. As she says this, she looks angrily towards Bayley, who leaves the room.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with Carmelo Hayes and tells him that he has what it takes to be on SmackDown. Carmelo then says that he is declaring for the King of the Ring Tournament. Bobby Lashley shows up and congratulates Carmelo for last week, and tells him to call him if he needs anything. Carmelo says he appreciates the offer. Bobby then mentions Carmelo's match loss with Cody Rhodes. When Carmelo asks Bobby when the last time he took his shot was, Bobby stops him and tells him to be careful about who he disrespects in the blue brand.

The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) beat New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne) after Scarlett gets on the apron, which allows Karrion Kross to lay out Tyler Bate on the outside.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis is met by Paul Heyman, who asks if he has gotten his memo. Aldis says he did, then says "Request denied," saying that he will not pull Kevin Owens and Randy Orton out of their match tomorrow night. Heyman then says that that whatever happens to Owens and Orton will be on Aldis' conscience, not his. When Aldis asks Heyman if he is in charge, Heyman says there is a difference between being in change and being in control and that he has not spoken to Roman Reigns since WrestleMania. Aldis asks about Roman pulling out of the Draft, Heyman says he did it, not Roman, as he cannot subject Roman to the drama in The Bloodline right now just like how Aldis cannot subject Owens and Orton to what will happen to them tomorrow night. Aldis says that if Heyman can pull Roman out of the Draft, he can try pulling Owens and Orton out of their match on The RKO Show, which is coming up next.

It's time for The RKO Show. Kevin Owens admits that tonight's show was not intended to have a guest and that he and Randy Orton would just have fun with the crowd, but he kept getting call after call from Paul Heyman, who finally wore him down at 4 AM, saying he had something important to tell him and Orton. Paul Heyman shows up and introduces himself before Orton has a chance to do so, and says he comes with respect, admiration and wisdom. He refuses to step into the ring with Orton makes it known he wants to RKO him. Heyman stays on the ring apron as the crowd chants "We want Roman," to which Heyman responds "More than you'll even know, I want Roman, too," then says that he has respect for Owens and Orton for their matches with Roman Reigns. He also says that Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga play by different rules than Roman, and tells them to back out of tomorrow night's match, but Owens and Orton find this almost laughable given the current state of everything happening around Heyman. When Orton asks Heyman who the real Tribal Chief is, Heyman says there is only one Tribal Chief before Owens and Orton are attacked from behind by Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga, which leads to a brawl. Security shows up, but they get decimated.

Backstage, we hear from The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), who say that they will put a whupping on Grayson Waller and Austin Theory and walking out WWE Tag Team Champions.

LA Knight beats Angel. After the match, LA Knight says it is the same song all over the world, but instead of saying this is his ring, he will make the ring his, as he is declaring for the King of the Ring Tournament. Santos Escobar interrupts, saying LA Knight keeps talking and running his mouth, and says that while LA Knight keeps running his mouth, he will keep winning. LA Knight says that when he stops talking, that will be when he stomps out Escobar, leaving him wondering what he was thinking and realizing it is his game.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Carlito, who says that he has been away from WWE for many years and that he wanted a WrestleMania moment, but instead, Rey Mysterio chose Dragon Lee instead of him. This soon leads to Dragon Lee attacking Carlito.

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory retain the WWE Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford).

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles heads to the ring. After the commercial break, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes also heads to the ring. Styles accuses Cody of being unfocused and says that he is still in his prime when Cody says that he grew up watching him, and that they took different paths to WWE with Cody being welcomed with open arms while he was not. He then says that Cody left the company when things got rough and he could not handle it, and says that he was kept out of WWE for years and had to prove himself on his own after he was not welcomed with open arms. Styles says Cody had Hall of Famers watching his back so he could finish the story, then says he has beaten them all before in the same way he will beat Cody, and that he will remind everyone that he is phenomenal. Cody tells Styles that his reputation is unmatched, but that he needs not disrespect his accomplishments, and while Styles will always be seen as phenomenal, he will look at him tomorrow at his foe, and that is just too sweet. When both men go for the "Too Sweet" hand signal, Styles smacks Cody and leaves the ring. Shortly after this, it is revealed that The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga) is brawling with Kevin Owens and Randy Orton to end the show.

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