Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for May 22, 2026

Rhea Ripley heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Rhea mentions Jade Cargill and her crew attacking her to send a message only to piss her off, and now that she is back, she is itching for a fight. Rhea tells Cargill that if she wants her rematch, she will happily beat her again at Clash in Italy for the WWE Women's Championship. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss show up, and Charlotte tells Rhea not to get ahead of herself as they all still have a six-woman tag team match, and Alexa says they need to be on the same page. Charlotte also wants to know where Rhea was when they were attacked last week. Rhea says she was with family in Australia. Charlotte says she needed her help, but Rhea mentions that Charlotte told her she did not need her help. Rhea asks Charlotte how she can trust her to have her back if she cannot have Alexa's, and Charlotte takes this as Rhea drawing a wedge between her and Alexa. Suddenly, Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid) shows up. Jacy Jayne is entertained by Charlotte and Rhea arguing, which she says all started when Fatal Influence stepped onto the scene. She also says that while they have been at each others' throats, Fatal Influence have ascended to the top. She says that when there is an opportunity, Fatal Influence takes it. Charlotte challenges Fatal Influence to a tag team match later tonight. Jacy says that is all she needed to hear.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews The MFT's (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga). Solo Sikoa says Talla Tonga is more than ready and that he wants everyone, including Tama Tonga, to watch what Talla does to Shinsuke Nakamura tonight. Royce Keys shows up and confronts Solo Sikoa for costing him a title match, and tells Solo to stay out of his business. Solo says that if Royce did not need his help, all he had to do was say so. He just says that Royce needs somebody to watch his back, and asks who better to do it than family.

Backstage, Charlotte Flair meets with Alexa Bliss. Alexa tells Charlotte that she is sick and tired of Charlotte and Rhea bickering and that they will be the ones teaming up tonight out of the three of them.

Talla Tonga beats Shinsuke Nakamura following the distraction and interference attempt by Solo Sikoa. After the match, Solo Sikoa goes for the Samoan Spike as Talla Tonga holds Nakamura down. Tama Tonga stops Solo, then attacks Nakamura himself. Solo goes for a Samoan Spike again, but Damian Priest shows up with a metal folding chair. Solo, Talla and Tama leave the ring.

We see a video package for Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat at Clash in Italy.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with referee Charles Robinson regarding the power outage, then meets with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. He asks Cody to let him handle Gunther and make sure the contract gets signed. Cody agrees, then runs into Sami Zayn, who tells Cody that if he needs help, all he has to do is ask. Cody says "Thanks, but no thanks" and leaves. Sami then meets with Aldis, and is told that time is tight. Sami says that he is owed a little respect and cannot get a match, even though Cody can get time to address his fans while he cannot. Cody shows up, having overheard everything, makes himself Sami's opponent tonight.

Backstage, The MFT's (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga) meet in the locker room. Tama Tonga says that everyone thinks they are weak, and says that Solo Sikoa has to handle Damian Priest and show that they are not weak, and that he must do this on his own for the family. Solo agrees, and tells Tama to get the match made.

Before the next match, The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) show up. Nia says that tomorrow night she and Lash will end Paige and Brie Bella's nostalgia tour and take the women's tag titles back, and Lash says that taking Tiffany Stratton's title will be the perfect beginning to a golden weekend.

Tiffany Stratton retains the WWE Women's United States Championship against Lash Legend in an open challenge match. During the match, Chelsea Green shows up to support Tiffany Stratton from ringside. Near the end of the match, Nia Jax grabs at Tiffany as Tiffany is at the top rope, but Tiffany kicks her away. Chelsea soon sends Nia into the ring post, and when Lash grabs at Chelsea, Tiffany gets the schoolkid pin and the win to retain.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis finds out that the power issue in the arena is being caused by Danhausen working with his cloning machine. Danhausen disappears when he presses a button and the power goes out in the room.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews The Miz and Kit Wilson. The Miz insists that he is not cursed by Danhausen, despite what has happened to them as of late, then Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) shows up. Axiom says that Danhausen has cursed The Miz, and Kit Wilson calls this disrespectful and toxic. The Miz then challenges Axiom to a match next week in his hometown, to which Axiom agrees.

Trick Williams and Lil Yachty head to the ring. As Trick Williams and Lil Yachty talk about The Miz interrupting them, Carmelo Hayes suddenly shows up and tells Trick to do the right thing, as Trick screwed him out of his championship opportunity. He also says that if it were not for Trick, he would still be United States Championship. Carmelo says that he is not here to discredit Trick and that he has always believed in him, then says there is a difference between carrying a title and being a champion. He says that he won the fans over with his hard work and his blood, sweat and tears, and tells Trick to give what both him and the fans want: a match for the WWE United States Championship right here, right now. Lil Yachty says that Trick Williams has a tight schedule, Carmelo tells Trick to make time for a title defense if his secretary allows for it, as the old Trick Williams would not have anyone telling him what to do. After Carmelo says that Trick was always good at playing second fiddle, Trick says that he does not eat dirty rice or chew his cabbage twice, and says that while he ended the open challenge, Carmelo will get his match tonight, and the ass-whupping is on the house. Trick Williams then calls for a referee for this impromptu title match.

Trick Williams beats Carmelo Hayes. During the match, Ricky Saints shows up to watch the match from ringside. Near the end of the match, Saints mouths off at Carmelo at ringside only to be shoved out of the way by authority at ringside, and when Saints' argument with referee Charles Robinson costs Carmelo the win, Carmelo knocks Saints off the ring apron. That allows Trick to hit the Trick Shot for the win.

Backstage, Sami Zayn is angry with himself again when he notices Johnny Gargano lying on a road crate. He tells Gargano what is going on, saying he knows what is going on around here and that Gargano is "the last good guy left" for letting nobody change who he is. When Sami leaves, Gargano knocks over the water bottle near his own head in reference to the two other water bottles that Sami has just angrily smacked around.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Ricky Saints, who is then immediately punched in the face by Carmelo Hayes. Carmelo then tells Saints to stay out of his business.

Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley beat Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) after Charlotte gets a revenge-filled hot tag and hits Lainey Reid with Natural Selection following Rhea's Riptide in response to Lainey Reid hitting her with a superkick meant for Rhea. After the match, Rhea, Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are attacked by Jade Cargill, "Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab. Cargill and Rhea are the only ones left near the ring, and Cargill hits Rhea with a pump kick followed by Jaded.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody says he and Sami Zayn are friends, but he does not recognize Sami so much and says that his change in attitude has become too much. He hopes to make Sami Zayn look in the mirror and become accountable, then says than Gunther can do whatever he wants, as he cannot change the fact that he is facing him.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Jade Cargill, "Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab. Michin says that the women's division is lying about who is the best when they are the best, and that they will prove they are the best again. B-Fab says it is best their opponents not just show up. Jade Cargill says it is time to do the work and get her title back.

Solo Sikoa beats Damian Priest after Priest ends off Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga only for Solo to hit him with the Samoan Spike for the win. After the match, The MFTs (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga) attack Damian Priest before Royce Keys shows up and makes quick work of Tama and Talla before confronting Solo, who just walks away. Royce helps Priest up, and Priest almost choke slams Royce before realizing who he is.

Backstage, we hear from Brie Bella and Paige. Brie and Paige have talked about their successful women's tag team title reign and state that there is more to staying champion than brute strength. They state that when they step into the ring at Saturday Night's Main Event, The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) will not know what hit them.

Backstage, Chelsea Green runs into Blake Monroe. They both introduce themselves to each other, then Blake Monroe says she saw Chelsea earlier and wishes she didn't. Blake leaves, then The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) rush out and smack her into some road crates.

Backstage, Royce Keys confronts Damian Priest, asking him what his problem is and telling him that R-Truth told him to have Priest's back tonight. Priest says he does not know or trust him, and says that Royce would have done the same thing in his shoes. Royce says that if it is an issue Priest wants, it is an issue Priest will get.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Sami Zayn after Gunther suddenly shows up and puts Cody in a sleeper hold from the apron. When this happens, Sami charges at Cody, but Cody dodges and Sami nails Gunther instead. Cody then hits Sami with the Cross Rhodes for the win. After the match, Cody and Gunther brawl, and Gunther powerbombs Cody. Sami confronts Gunther before Gunther can put Cody in a sleeper hold, but Sami backs down and lets Gunther put Cody in a sleeper anyway. Sami has second thoughts about leaving Cody to Gunther as he leaves, and Gunther ultimately makes Cody pass out before holding up the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Here are the highlights for tonight's show!

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