Sami Zayn Kills Gingerbread Man, Funeral Set For Next Week's SmackDown

Next week's episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown will be a time of mourning as WWE pays tribute to The Gingerbread Man with a funeral service.

Sami Zayn is understandably baffled over this silly idea, having "killed" The Gingerbread Man on tonight's episode by low-blowing him and pulling apart the costume. Trick Williams will defend the WWE Men's United States Championship against Zayn at the upcoming WWE Backlash event on May 9th in Tampa.

The Women's United States Championship will be on the line not at Backlash, but on next week's Friday Night SmackDown on May 8th. Tiffany Stratton announced that she wants to have an open challenge, which Chelsea Green tried to volunteer herself for, standing up and saying she can walk and would win the belt for the fourth time. Giulia and Kiana James then approached and requested a match, to which Stratton agreed, but for James to get the shot, rather than The Beautiful Madness. Giulia seemed annoyed at James, who Stratton asked to see what she can do when she's "not being held back."

Gunther will be there live on SmackDown next week, too. He will be following up on why he attacked Cody Rhodes on this week's episode, jumping him from behind after The American Nightmare defeated Ricky Saints.

There will also be a six-woman tag team match with Fatal Influence going up against the unlikely unit of Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and Rhea Ripley. The Eradicator approached Bliss and Flair backstage tonight to say she was willing to let her differences with Flair go so they can team up. Flair wasn't interested in the idea, even with Bliss trying to convince her to agree. However, after Jacy Jayne defeated Flair and was attacked by Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley, Ripley came out to make the save, fighting alongside Flair and Bliss, with The Queen eventually offering Ripley a handshake as a sign of respect to this alliance.

To recap, here is the lineup for next week's edition of Friday Night SmackDown:

• WWE Women’s United States Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Kiana James
• 6-Woman Tag Team Match: Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair vs. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, & Lainey Reid)
• The funeral for The Gingerbread Man.
• GUNTHER will appear live.

What do you think will go down on next week's episode of SmackDown? Drop your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!