WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - May 1st, 2026

https://i.imgur.com/LP8Ezgs.jpeg


Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes kicks off SmackDown

After addressing Randy Orton's vicious punt attack and the aftermath of WrestleMania last week, what will be the next challenge facing Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes? The American Nightmare kicks off SmackDown tonight.


:smackdown:

— SmackDown starts with a recap of the Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu saga.

— Paige & Brie Bella, Lash Legend & Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid), and Sami Zayn are all shown backstage before the show.

— Cody Rhodes' music hits and he opens SmackDown as promised. Rhodes' eye has cleared up a bit but it's bruised AF. Rhodes says he has new information regarding whether he will be medically cleared for action. Rhodes says he has been cleared for action and wonders what is next for Rhodes. Ricky Saints comes out and gets in the ring. Saints says the fans boo what they don't understand and says he's the Absolute Ricky Saints and he's the hottest free agent. Saints talks himself and tells Rhodes that they're not strangers so Rhodes shouldn't be surprised Saints is here. Saints says change is in the air and a revolution is here and he's the leader of this revolution. He coins SmackDown as Friday Night Saints. Rhodes obliges and says it's Friday Night Saints and then asks Saints what's the difference between now and the last time they locked horns. Saints says Rhodes is the difference and Rhodes has been battered and beaten and he's aged 30 years and says he (Saints) is absolute and won NXT titles. Saints tells Rhodes he's here to relieve Rhodes of his championship duties. Rhodes says since he's cleared for action they should go at it tonight. He and Saints shake hands for the match later tonight and Saints starts to leave and turns back around and tells Rhodes he's not here to make a difference, he's here to change who the show is about. Rhodes says he's easy to find.

— Cathy Kelley is backstage with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Kelley asks Flair about her match against Jacy Jayne. Before Flair can speak, Rhea Ripley approaches them and tells them she's willing to put her differences aside to help them against Fatal Influence. Bliss welcomes the help and Flair declines it. Bliss tells Flair that Ripley has a fair point. Flair says three's a crowd and asks Bliss to come with her.

— Jacy Jayne gets on the mic before her match. She thanks the crowd for the warm welcome and calls everyone losers. Jayne says she'll embarrass Charlotte Flair and then she and Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid will take out each legend one at a time starting with Flair.

Charlotte Flair (w/Alexa Bliss) vs. Jacy Jayne (w/Fatal Influence)

Jayne and Flair lock up and Flair gets Jayne in the corner and the hold is broken up by the ref. The two lock up again and Jayne kicks Flair. Flair chops Jayne in the corner and then takes Jayne down with a shoulder tackle. Flair gets knocked on the back of her head and Jayne sends Flair into the turnbuckles and kicks Flair in the corner. Jayne hits a Hurricanrana and Flair comes back with some strikes and gets Jayne on the ground. Flair slams Jayne around using a leg scissors. Jayne clobbers Flair and Flair kicks Jayne. Flair goes for the Figure 8 and Jayne rolls out of the ring. Bliss scares Jayne and we cut to a commercial.

We come back to SmackDown, Jayne has Flair in a headlock and Flair tries to battle out. Jayne gets on Flair's back and Flair rams Jayne into the corner. Jayne jumps at Flair and Flair catches her and slams her down to the mat. Flair punches Jayne several times and then starts chopping her. Flair connects with her walkover clothesline and then climbs the ropes. Flair hits a crossbody and Jayne rolls through and tries to pin Flair. The two trade kicks and Jayne is knocked to the ground. Flair goes for a Moonsault and gently lands on Jayne and Jayne kicks out of the pin at two. Jayne kicks Flair and covers her for a near fall. Jayne goes for Rolling Encore but runs into a big boot by Flair. Flair goes for Figure 8 and locks it in. Henley pulls Flair's arm out from under her. Bliss attacks Henley, Reid attacks Bliss and then gets on the apron and distracts Flair. Jayne hits Rolling Encore and gets the win.

Winner: Jacy Jayne

— After the match, Jayne, Reid and Henley attack Flair. Bliss comes in and she's beaten up and tossed out of the ring. Henley beats up Bliss outside the ring and Rhea Ripley comes out and kicks Henley. Ripley takes out Reid and goes after Jayne but Jayne escapes. Flair and Ripley shake hands in the ring.

— Brie Bella & Paige watch the last match from the locker room. Byron Saxton asks them how they feel. Paige says karma is real and they'll deal with Fatal Influence later. She says they have to worry about Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Bella says they have resilience and experience and that's how they'll come out on top.

— Axiom, Nathan Frazer, R-Truth & Damian Priest talk backstage. Priest says Fraxiom deserves a title shot and suggests they have a title match tonight. Fraxiom gets excited and leave to ask Nick Aldis about the title shot.

— Kit Wilson and The Miz talk backstage about catching Danhausen. They devised a plan with money and set it out for Danhausen to bite. Danhausen avoids the trap and takes the money. The trap blows up on Wilson and The Miz.

:tagteam:

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. Fraxiom

Axiom and Truth start off. They lock up and Truth gets Axiom in the corner. Truth breaks the hold and then locks Axiom back in a headlock. Truth takes down Axiom and Axiom flies back with a drop kick on Truth. Frazer is tagged in and Truth tags in Priest. Frazer tries to use his quickness but Priest just lifts him up. Frazer flies around the ring and tags in Axiom. Priest tosses Frazer and then clocks Axiom to the mat. Priest goes for Razor's Edge but Axiom counters. Truth comes in and Fraxiom takes out Truth and then they both take out Priest and Truth and we cut to a break.

Back to the tag title match, Axiom kicks Truth and then strikes him against the ropes. Truth punches Axiom back but gets laid out by a dropkick. Axiom covers Truth and Truth kicks out at two. Axiom gets Truth in a sleeperhold. Frazer is tagged in and Truth is double teamed and Frazer covers for a near fall. Axiom is tagged back in and he comes off the top rope and Truth dodges Axiom, kicks him and slams down Axiom. Priest and Frazer are tagged in. Priest takes out both Frazer and Axiom. Priest slams into Frazer and Axiom in the corner and then slams them both down. Priest takes out Axiom and goes to hit South of Heaven on Frazer but he counters. Truth is tagged in and he takes out Frazer with running shoulder tackles and then hits the five knuckle shuffle. Frazer rolls up Truth and he kicks out. Truth rolls out of the ring, Axiom and Frazer take turns flying over the ropes taking out Truth and Priest. Truth is sent back in the ring, Frazer tags in Axiom. Truth is double teamed and covered. Priest kicks Frazer into the pinfall, breaking the pin. Priest is tagged in and he knocks Axiom out of the ring. Frazer is slammed down with The South of Heaven. Priest drags Axiom back in the ring and hits a Razor's Edge on Axiom. Priest gets the pin.

Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: R-Truth & Damian Priest

— After the match, Talla Tonga comes in the ring and takes out Truth and Priest and then batters Axiom and Frazer. Solo Sikoa stands on the apron and barks orders to Tonga.

— We come back from a commercial break, Solo Sikoa is still in the ring with Talla Tonga. Sikoa says last week, Jacob Fatu made a huge mistake by attacking MFT. Sikoa says that Fatu didn't just take out Sikoa's army, he took out his own family. Sikoa tells Fatu that when he shows up at SmackDown, he's a dead man walking. This calls out Jimmy & Jey Uso. Jimmy tells Sikoa that they understand he has issues with Fatu but Sikoa isn't the only one that has issues with Fatu. Jimmy says Roman Reigns has an issue with Fatu and the mistake Fatu made was attacking Reigns and he used the Samoan Claw on Reigns. Jey tells Sikoa that once Reigns is done with Fatu then Sikoa can. Sikoa makes his case and Jey tells Sikoa they're not asking him, they're telling him. Sikoa laughs at his brothers and says he doesn't have time for this and tells Tonga to leave with him. Sikoa walks away and looks back and Tonga and gives him a signal. Tonga beats up Jimmy and Jey. Sikoa tells The Usos to tell Reigns that Reigns isn't his tribal chief and they don't care what Roman wants or needs and Fatu is a deadman regardless.

— Sami Zayn complains to Cody Rhodes backstage. Zayn is whining that Rhodes called him sarcastic because Zayn called him a Golden Boy. Zayn says they have to stick together and that they're a dying breed. They're the last real good guys and Zayn says they're the same. Rhodes tells him they're not the same and leaves.

Cody Rhodes vs. Ricky Saints

Saints knocks Rhodes after a quick hand shake. Saints tosses Rhodes around for a bit and they go to lock up again. Rhodes kicks Saints and punches Saints out of the ring. Saints is tossed back in the ring but he kicks Rhodes and then clotheslines Rhodes over the top rope to the outside and we cut to a break.

We're back and Saints charges into Rhodes in the corner and drives his knee into Rhodes' face and covers him for a near fall. Rhodes elbows Saints and Saints drops Rhodes. Rhodes is chopped and he chops Saints back. Saints kicks Rhodes to the mat and hits a basement dropkick and covers Rhodes for a near fall. Saints gets Rhodes in a headlock and Rhodes powers out of the hold. Saints kicks and chops Rhodes and Rhodes takes down Saints with a shoulder tackle. Saints attacks Rhodes' eye and hits a neckbreaker. Saints knees Rhodes in the face and covers Rhodes, Rhodes kicks out at two. Saints walks the ropes and hammers down onto Rhodes' shoulder. Rhodes hits a snap powerslam out of nowhere on Saints and follows that up with a Disaster Kick. Rhodes hits a Cody Cutter and goes to slam Saints in the corner but Saints counters and hits a spinning neckbreaker and covers Rhodes for a near fall. Saints rolls up Rhodes, Rhodes reverses and both fail at getting the pin. Saints hits The Revolution DDT and covers Rhodes who kicks out at two. Saints sets up for Rochambeau and Rhodes reverses it to Cross Roads and gets the win.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

— After the match, Gunther runs in and knocks Rhodes out with a sleeperhold. Gunther lets go of the hold after knocking out Rhodes and then puts Rhodes back in a sleeperhold. Refs and officials break the hold and Gunther poses with the Undisputed Championship as Rhodes is being tended to.

— Danhausen is out next and he comes out in his Hausenmobile. Danhausen drives the mobile and parks in front of the announce desk. He grabs a mic and gets in the ring. Danhausen is out here to give out Danhausen merchandise from the money he just got from the trap The Miz and Kit Wilson set up for him. The Miz comes out - he tells Danhausen that since Danhausen has showed up, The Miz has only come across bad luck. The Miz admits he is cursed and tells Danhausen that he will be his mentor: Mizhausen. The Miz agrees and they're about to shake hands and Kit Wilson comes out objecting to this union. Wilson asks if The Miz has lost his mind and says he's supposed to be Wilson's mentor. The Miz tells Wilson to calm down and says Danhausen has mastered how to to curse and that Danhausen has the ability to zone in and become a WWE Superstar. The Miz tells Wilson that Wilson isn't even in the same league as The Miz to be mentored. Danhausen and The Miz go to shake hands again and Wilson stops them and recites a poem. Danhausen tells The Miz to shake his hand to seal the deal. Wilson puts his hand out too and The Miz goes back and forth between the two to cheers and boos. The Miz shakes Danhausen's hand to a huge ovation. The Miz tells Danhausen to curse Wilson and The Miz then attacks Danhausen. What a doublecrosshausen. Wilson and The Miz take out Danhausen and The Miz hits The Skull Crushing Finale and Wilson hits The Men Cry Too elbow on Danhausen.

— Royce Keys warms up backstage ahead of his match against Angel.

— We get a vignette for Blake Monroe. Monroe says nothing burns brighter than her.

Royce Keys vs. Angel (w/Berto)

We get the bell, Angel throws his pants at Keys. Angel punches Keys and Keys tosses Angel to the corner and he rolls out of the ring. Berto distracts Keys and Angel attacks him. Keys corners Angel and then clotheslines him to the mat. Keys slams into Angel in the corner and knocks Berto off the apron. Keys catches Angel and plants him on the top turnbuckle. Keys climbs up with Angel and hits a spinning powerslam off the middle rope. Angel is spinebustered and pinned.

Winner: Royce Keys

— Cathy Kelley talks to Tiffany Stratton backstage. Kelley asks Stratton what's next for her. Stratton says she'll have an open challenge. Chelsea Green comes by and tells Stratton she planned her a surprise party but Nick Aldis didn't let her. Kiana James & Giulia come in and James says Giulia needs her rematch. Stratton tells James she'll fight her next week and leaves. Green chases after her now that she's healed from her ankle injury.

— Royce Keys talks on the phone backstage. Jacob Fatu approaches him and they shake hands and talk about how they've known each other for 15 years and says he'll still run with Fatu. Keys tells Fatu that Roman Reigns and The Usos are on top and he wants Fatu to be the man on top and werewolf his ass to the top. Keys says people like them take everything they want and is worried the WWE has made him forget the streets. Talla Tonga runs in and takes out Keys. Solo Sikoa and Tonga then beat up Fatu until officials come by to break everything up.

— Back at ringside, the Gingerbread Man is waiting in the ring and then Sami Zayn's music hits and Zayn comes out to the ring. Zayn says he loves coming to Tulsa, OK and that he's a huge Bob Dylan fan. He talks about what happened when Bob Dylan turned to an electric guitar... everyone boo'd him. Zayn talks about how he's getting boo'd and he has no idea what he did to get the boos. Zayn says it doesn't bother him, though, because he knows his ride or die fans are here for him. Zayn says he can deal with that a lot of things except disrespect. Zayn says Trick Williams disrespected him. Zayn talks about the gingerbread man and says it's easy to do what Williams does and that Zayn can do all Williams does in his sleep. He says what's hard is the grind like he's been doing for years. Zayn says Williams isn't taking him seriously, and he doesn't see Williams taking anything seriously and he sees all this as disrespect. Zayn goes to fight the Gingerbread Man costume and says he's sorry because he was going to he a mascot costume. Zayn then lowbows the costume and then mounts the costume and starts ripping the mascot costume apart. Trick Williams runs out and starts punching Zayn. Williams knocks Zayn to the mat and he rolls out of the ring to boos. Zayn retreats through the crowd as Williams stands on the middle turnbuckle to "whoop that trick" chants. Williams then consoles the fallen costume and signals for the X as if the costume is a person and it's hurt.

— Byron Saxton talks to Lash Legend and Nia Jax backstage. Jax says they were never pinned and Legend says they just weren't prepared for Paige. Jax says this one on one tag match and they'll send Brie Bella and Paige to the couch with Nikki Bella.

— Cathy Kelley talks to Trick Williams backstage by the medical room. Williams says Sami Zayn took out Little Yachty last week and this week he took out The Gingerbread Man. Williams says he wants Zayn at Backlash and that Zayn better pray The Gingerbread Man is ok. The doctor comes out and says The Gingerbread Man has died. Williams tells Zayn at Backlash, he'll whoop that trick.

:womenstag:

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Brie Bella & Paige (c) vs. The Irresistible Forces

Legend and Paige start off. The two lock up and Legend tosses Paige to the mat. Paige kicks Legend and Jax distracts Paige. Legend clobbers Paige to the mat and then mounts her and punches her. Legend hits a Lash Splash and covers Paige for a near fall. Jax is tagged in and punches Paige. Paige counters a slam and tags in Brie. Brie hits a missile drop kick on Jax and then kicks Jax in the gut. Brie trips Jax and hits a Brie Mode knee. Legend is kicked off the apron and Jax then puts Brie on the apron and knocks her off after some interference from Legend and we get a break.

We return to the match, Jax slams into Brie and then beats her in the corner. Legend is tagged in and she slams her shoulder into Brie's gut. Jax is tagged back and she does the same to Brie. Legend is tagged back in and she slams Brie head to the mat and tags in Jax. Jax slams Brie into the mat over and over again. Jax slams into the ringpost and tags in Legend. Legend stops Brie from tagging out and knees her. Legend goes for a powerbomb and Brie counters and tags in Paige. Paige punches Legend several times and kicks her to the mat. Paige kicks Legend from the apron and then climbs the ropes and jumps at Legend. Legend catches Paige and Paige counters out and tags in Brie. Paige hits PaigeTurner on Legend and Bella hits a BellaBuster and Legend is covered. Jax breaks the pin. Jax tosses Paige out of the ring and Jax is tagged in. Jax squishes Brie in the corner and sets up for Annihilator and Paige kicks Jax off the turnbuckles. Brie rolls up Jax and gets the win.

Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: Brie Bella & Paige

— A graphic for The Gingerbread Man is shown in memoriam for his death and a funeral will be held for him. Sami Zayn watches this from the backstage area with Nick Aldis. Zayn is pissed The Gingerbread Man is getting TV time even when he's dead. Aldis agrees to a match for them at BackLash. Danhausen comes in and asks for a match against The Miz and Kit Wilson and Aldis agrees and tells Danhausen to find a partner.

The Usos vs. MFT (Solo Sikoa & Talla Tonga)

Tonga and Jey lock up and Tonga sends Jey into the corner. Jey punches and kicks Tonga. Tonga fires back with a clothesline and slams down onto Jey. Sikoa is tagged in and he headbutts Jey and strikes him with a spike. Jey kicks Sikoa back and slams into him in the corner. Jimmy is tagged in and Sikoa is double teamed. Jimmy chops Sikoa and kicks him from the corner. Jimmy comes off the middle rope and Sikoa catches him and hits a Spinning Solo Slam. Sikoa then hits a running hip attack on Jimmy and we cut to a break.

Back to our Main Event, Tonga clotheslines Jimmy outside the ring. Tonga sends Jimmy back in the ring and tags in Sikoa. Sikoa strikes Jimmy with a spike and chokes Jimmy against the ropes. Jimmy kicks Sikoa and Tonga takes Jimmy down as the ref checks on Sikoa. Tonga is tagged in and he hits a leg drop on Jimmy. Tonga attacks Jimmy's neck and Jimmy tries to punch out for the hold. Tonga lifts Jimmy onto his shoulders and Samoan Drops him and covers for a near fall. Tonga knocks Jey off the apron and Sikoa is tagged in. Tonga holds Jimmy and Jimmy breaks free and Sikoa runs at Jimmy and Sikoa is sent out of the ring. Tonga is tossed out of the ring as well and Jimmy tags out to Jey. Jey flies out onto Tonga and then kicks Sikoa in the ring. Jey comes off the top rope and splashes onto Sikoa. Sikoa gets punched several times and Sikoa goes for Spinning Solo but Uso counters and spears Sikoa and covers him until Tonga breaks the pin. Jimmy and Jey superkick Tonga and clothesline Tonga over the ropes to the outside. Jimmy goes out to attack Tonga but gets punched. Jey goes out too and gets thrown into the barricades. Tonga sends Jimmy into the steel steps and then takes apart the announce desk. Jacob Fatu comes out of nowhere and punches Tonga. The ref calls for the bell.

Winners by Disqualification: MFT

— Fatu starts slamming Tonga into the ring post and then uses the steel steps and nails Tonga. Fatu gets in the ring and Fatu puts Sikoa in a Tongan/Samoan Death Grip. Fatu goes to attack Tonga but Tonga catches him. Fatu counters and hits a Samoan Drop on Tonga through the announce desk. Fatu gets back in the ring, and stands face to face with Jimmy and Jey. Fatu walks right through and past The Usos and starts to head to the back. Fatu gets on the mic and tells Jimmy and Jey to tell Roman Reigns that he will dog walk Reigns' ass and then end credits roll.