Tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown (May 22, 2026) emanates out of the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky and will air at 8 p.m. ET on the USA Network.
This post here will be updated frequently throughout the night to reflect live coverage of Friday Night SmackDown, including all the match results, rundowns of the promos, and any other interesting or noteworthy things that take place. Keep refreshing for updates to find out all the winners and more!
Preview & Predictions for WWE SmackDown:
On tap for tonight's episode, the only match currently announced as this is being published is Talla Tonga against Shinsuke Nakamura. Given the size difference, how well Talla Tonga has been protected, how Nakamura is very much in a supporting role instead of a priority spot, and how something bad happening to Nakamura could force Tama Tonga to step in and tell Talla Tonga to stop beating down on him or something, I'm very much more leaning toward Tonga winning. Everything is so messy right now with crossovers between those three, Solo Sikoa, Damian Priest, R-Truth, Royce Keys, and now even Keys with Gunther and Cody Rhodes, so all hell could break down.
Since this is the go-home show prior to Saturday Night's Main Event, we'll see at least one (if not 3-5, depending on how much time WWE wants to kill) segments revolving around Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin opposing Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair. Is it just going to be a generic 3-on-3 fight to try to hype up their six-woman tag team match, and a generic "Flair and Ripley don't trust each other" repeat segment, or will it involve anything more?
For that matter, what's the next stage in Giulia and Kiana James arguing with one another? Are they going to properly split, or will this factor into Tiffany Stratton's Women's United States Championship in a different way? I'm hoping for a Triple Threat to be announced for either Saturday Night's Main Event or WWE Clash in Italy.
Sami Zayn will assuredly continue to lose his mind, we'll see what Danhausen's been up to with his life's work, and best believe Trick Williams is going to have his lemon pepper steppers on.
Here are your results for WWE SmackDown - May 22, 2026:
- The show opened with Rhea Ripley hashing some things out with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, because Flair and Ripley still have issues. Fatal Influence interrupted and a challenge was made for a tag team match. Later, Bliss said she wants Flair and Ripley to team, rather than herself with Flair, so that they can get on the same page.
- Talla Tonga defeated Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall.
- Backstage, Sami Zayn tried to offer some advice to Cody Rhodes about how to beat Gunther and got upset when Rhodes didn't take it, and that he wasn't booked on the show, so Rhodes then challenged him to a match.
- Tiffany Stratton retained the Women's United States Championship in an open challenge over Lash Legend with some help from Chelsea Green.
- Danhausen's cloning machine was messing with the lights in the arena. When asked about it in an interview, The Miz and Kit Wilson talked some trash about the curse idea and were interrupted by Fraxiom, leading to The Miz challenging Axiom to a match next week.
- Carmelo Hayes challenged Trick Williams to a United States Championship match, but failed to win the title due to some interference from Ricky Saints.
- Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley vs Fatal Influence's Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid by pinfall. The three babyfaces were then attacked by all six members of Fatal Influence and Jade Cargill's crew.
- Solo Sikoa defeated Damian Priest by pinfall. Royce Keys tried to help Priest fight off the MFTs and Priest accidentally grabbed Royce's throat, leading to an argument backstage.
- Blake Monroe blew off Chelsea Green backstage. Green was then attacked by The Irresistible Forces.
- Cody Rhodes defeated Sami Zayn by pinfall. Gunther went after Rhodes and Zayn just allowed it to happen and walked away.
What are your thoughts on tonight's episode of Friday Night SmackDown? Drop your reactions in the comments below and spark a discussion!