Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for May 2, 2025

Backstage, Damian Priest picks a fight with Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, telling Jacob he is coming for him and his title. Meanwhile, LA Knight walks past them and everyone trying to defuse the situation and heads to the ring to start tonight's show. LA Knight says he has stated that he has wanted his United States Championship, and that when he got it, things did not go his way due to Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu's actions. He says that this is all due to Damian Priest, who he has a match with tonight. As Knight tells Priest that he has no problem with him and that Priest got in his business, Priest shows up and says they are cool and that it was all about Drew McIntyre, who he just wanted to shut up. Knight says he has no problem with that, but says he picked the wrong time. Priest tells Knight he saved him from a Claymore, but Knight tells him not to put that on him and to let his own failures be his. Priest says this is all because Knight lost the United States Championship, but Knight states that he has made it clear that he would fight for it, but now he is not #1 contender because of Priest. Priest says all of Knight's frustrations are his fault and that Knight would still be champion if his head was not up his ass. Knight tells Priest that if this keeps up, they will have a problem. Priest then says there is no reason why they or the fans should wait for their match later tonight, and that they might as well get a referee out here right now. A referee shows up, and that match starts.

LA Knight vs. Damian Priest ends with Solo Sikoa attacking Priest on the outside. After the match, Solo also attacks Knight before going for the Samoan Spike on him. Priest stops the spike and punches Solo in the face, and Solo soon receives a BFT. Knight and Priest stare at each other, then at Solo. Priest clears the announce table, but Jacob Fatu shows up. Jacob hits Priest with a tope suicida, then Knight goes after Jacob only to be Samoan Dropped into the announce table. Jacob then hits Priest with a running hip attack into the barricade before he and Solo celebrate.

Byron Saxton interviews Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom). Frazer says they are excited to face Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) tonight, and Axiom says SmackDown has the best tag team division on the planet. Pretty Deadly shows up and congratulates Fraxiom on their debut, then wants to know how good Fraxiom is. Frazer tells Pretty Deadly to be careful whta they wish for.

UFC announcer Michael Bisping is seen in the crowd.

Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) beat Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince).

Backstage, B-Fab and "Michin" Mia Yim meet with General Manager Nick Aldis regarding the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile, The Secret Hervice (Piper Niven and Alba Fyre) and Chelsea Green show up, with Chelsea dressed for a funeral. Chelsea says she was robbed of the WWE Women's United States Championship and wants a rematch. Aldis says that will have to wait, as Piper Niven is facing Zelina Vega tonight. He then says that if Piper wins, she will be first in line for a title shot and Chelsea could be Secret Hervice, which causes Chelsea to faint.

Nia Jax heads to the ring. Nia says that she was sitting at home refocusing on taking back what is hers - the WWE Women's Championship - while Tiffany Stratton ran around like a chicken with its head cut off. Tiffany shows up and says she is not the same woman that Nia bullied around and that cashing in on her was the greatest thing she ever did for her career, and she would do it again. She mentions beating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania and says that if they ever locked up again, she would beat Nia, too. Nia takes this as a rematch, and Tiffany says that while she does not make the matches, she does not back down from a fight. Suddenly, Naomi shows up. Naomi mentions both Nia and Tiffany making her life hell, but she is the one who has changed, not Tiffany, and she is not done hunting for championship gold and she will put Tiffany not just through a car, but under one. Jade Cargill shows up, and Jade and Tiffany quickly clean house. General Manager Nick Aldis turns the brawl into an official tag team match.

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes tells The Miz that they will show Aleister Black tonight. The Miz says he has outlasted many "next big things" in his career and that Aleister only woke him up. Miz says that if Aleister wants to make a statement, then he will be part of his.

Aleister Black beats The Miz despite the distractions from Carmelo Hayes. After the match, Aleister and Carmelo have a brief staredown.

Backstage, Santos Escobar meets with Rey Fenix. He admits he was disappointed with his loss to El Grande Americano and says Fenix blew it, then says that Rey Mysterio is gone - hopefully forever - and that he will be taking his place. Fenix tells Escobar to stay out of his business, and that he does not trust him. He then says he will see Escobar in the ring tonight if he has a problem with him.

Four-time NFL Pro Bowler Deon Dawkins is seen in the crowd.

Zelina Vega beats Piper Niven after Piper inadvertently knocks Chelsea Green off the ring apron.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu regarding their recent interference in matches. Jacob finds out he will be defending the WWE United States Championship against LA Knight and Damian Priest at Backlash, but upon being reminded that Drew McIntyre won last week, the match becomes a Fatal 4-Way Match with McIntyre added. Jacob Fatu says that no matter who is in front of him, he will dog walk them. Jacob leaves, and when Solo accuses Aldis of screwing Jacob over, Aldis simply says "No. You are."

Randy Orton heads to the ring. Orton says that while the whole world could not John Cena, he could, and while it took the fans twenty years to figure it out, he knew from day one that Cena was arrogant, selfish, and an entitled brat who gets whatever he wants. He says that Cena is the "ultimate shiny new toy to be played with by the ultimate puppetmaster," and that Cena was able to take advantage of "the PG era" and become a walking, talking cartoon character while he stayed true to himself. He says that Cena never cared about the boys in the back and only cared about his bottom line, and it gave him fame and fortune and mainstream exposure. Orton says that the only thing Cena has raised is the price of his merchandise, and that Cena has sold his soul for twenty years. He credits Cena's hustle, but asks where the loyalty and respect went. He addresses Cena proclaiming that he will erase his family legacy, then declares that Cena will not do this over his dead body because he is the latest legend that he has to put down. Orton boasts that he will punt Cena's "Lego-shaped head" so hard that it will fly over the Gateway Arch, but not before giving him an RKO.

Backstage, Nia Jax tells Naomi that they need to get on the same page and tells her to figure out what to do with Jade Cargill. Naomi says "Sure," then walks away.

Backstage, Randy Orton is met by R-Truth, who says that his childhood hero John Cena will beat Randy Orton. Jimmy Uso shows up and says he will talk sense into Truth, and when Orton leaves, Jimmy says Orton will punch his head clean off his shoulders. At this point, it is obvious that R-Truth that has become pro-Cena.

Rey Fenix beats Santos Escobar.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill. Tiffany and Jade want each other to stay out of their way as they deal with their respective targets, then Jade says she has gotten with General Manager Nick Aldis and will face Nia Jax in a #1 contender's match for the WWE Women's Championship next week. Tiffany tells Jade she can go ahead and beat Nia Jax so that they can do this all over again.

Backstage, Santos Escobar gets angry with Angel and Berto when Andrade shows up and confronts Escobar, saying he does not like him and that while has legacy, he does not have respect or honor. Angel and Escobar leave, and Berto leaves afterwards after some hesitation thanks to Andrade.

Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton beat Nia Jax and Naomi. After the match, Jade Cargill takes the WWE Women's Championship, then seemingly hands it to Tiffany and teases a tug of war. Naomi attacks Jade from behind, then lifts up the WWE Women's Championship to end the show.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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