Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 5/5/2023 edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX.
We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here's what is set for the show.
Preview.
SmackDown (5/5/2023).
- Cody Rhodes Speaks.
- Bad Bunny Speaks.
- The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson) vs Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar).
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross.
- Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair Speaks.
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
Live Coverage.
- Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning to the opening segment.
- The LWO (Rey Mysterio, Zelina Vega, Santos Escobar, Cruz del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) came to the ring to open the show with a promo for the Puerto Rico crowd. Rey said that it was an honor to represent all the Latinos with the LWO and said that they were looking forward to seeing Bad Bunny break Damian Priest's face. Zelina Vega was serenaded by the Puerto Rico crowd but was immediately interrupted by Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & SmackDown Women's Champion Rhea Ripley of the Judgement Day.
Dominik tore apart a Puerto Rico-themed LWO Shirt, which led to the loud anger of the crowd as they chanted at him "Chinga tu madre (Fuck your Mother)". Dominik said that Rey was more a parent to Vega than he ever was to him, but Rey told him to not be "mamon (dickhead)" and told him to put on his big boy pants and get a rematch from WrestleMania tonight. Rhea Ripley got in front of Rey and instead challenged Rey to a match. Vega confronted Ripley before Dominik challenged Rey & Vega to a Mixed Tag Match for later in the night, which Rey accepted. Dominik caught Rey with a slap before Judgement Day ran out of the ring.
The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson) (w/ AJ Styles & "Michin" Mia Yim of The OC) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (w/ Valhalla).
Styles joined the broadcast team for the match. Anderson & Erik began the match loving up before both Erik & Ivar laid in a series of strikes on Anderson. Erik laid in a series of body shots on Anderson, but Anderson hit three chops and a sliding kick on Erik's knee. Gallows & Ivar tagged in and stared daggers before Ivar hit a series of elbow strikes and an Irish Whip on Gallows. Gallows hit an uppercut, an elbow strike, and a series of body shots on Ivar before Anderson & Gallows hit the Brother Me Softly (Big Boot/ Russian Leg Sweep Combo) on Ivar for a near fall. Anderson climbed to the top rope, but Valhalla distracted the Machine Gun before Ivar sent Anderson crashing as Yim & Valhalla exchanged words before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Anderson leaped over Erik and tagged in Gallows. Gallows laid out everyone before he hit three lariats, a corner splash, and a diving shoulder tackle on Erik before hitting a Chokebomb on Ivar for a near fall. Erik tagged back in and exchanged strikes with Gallows before hitting a single-hand bomb on Gallows, setting up Ivar to hit a Splash on Gallows, but the Machine Gun broke the pin. Anderson hit a forearm strike on Erik, but was greeted with a senton by Ivar. Gallows was distracted by Valhalla, but Yim caught her with a claymore. Anderson hit an uppercut on Erik before he & Gallows hit the Magic Killer on Ivar for the pinfall win.
Winners: The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson).
- There was a recap of the tournament to crown the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion and a description of how the tournament would go down.
- Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair came to the ring to cut a promo after being drafted to SmackDown. Belair said that she was hyped to return to SmackDown and to be in Puerto Rico. Belair reflected on her upcoming match against Iyo Sky, saying that she looked forward to facing Sky for the belt to become the longest reigning Women's Champion of the modern era, but was interrupted by Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai). Bayley ran down on Belair by saying that she made Belair on SmackDown before telling her that she should be focused on Iyo Sky, who could end her title reign on WWE Backlash. Bayley declared that she & Kai are looking forward to winning the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles. Belair was surrounded by Damage CTRL before she laid out Bayley & Kai. Sky & Belair locked eyes before Sky hit a springboard shotgun dropkick on Belair. Damage CTRL continued to attack Bealir, but WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan came to the ring to make the save for Belair.
- Karrion Kross & Scarlett cut a promo backstage ahead of Kross's match against Shinsuke Nakamura. Kross promised to beat Nakamura before asking how much is his honor worth to him.
- There was a video package of the WWE Tag Team Championship Match between the team of Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens defeating The Usos, with Matt Riddle laying out Solo Sikoa.
- Backstage, Solo Sikoa was wrapping his thumb as The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) talked about them being with it for the Trios Match against Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Matt Riddle. Sikoa said that he would do his part tomorrow and that The Usso better do their job too.
Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. IMPERIUM (Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) (w/ WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER).
Kaiser & Vinci attacked Ford & Dawkins to begin the match before Kaiser hit an uppercut and an enziguri kick on Ford. Vinci hit a double springboard dive on Ford & Vinci before getting Ford back in the ring and catching him with a moonsault for a near fall. Kaiser tagged back in and caught him with an enziguri kick in the corner, an uppercut, and a Butterfly Suplex on Ford for a near fall. Ford fired away with chops before hitting a Sheer Drop Back Suplex on Kaiser. Dawkins tagged in before laying out Vinci & Kaiser. Dawkins hit a corner splash, an enziguri kick, and a Spinebuster on Vinci before Ford tagged in and hit a Frog Splash for the pinfall win.
Winners: Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins).
- There was a video package recapping the feud between Brock Lesnar & Cody Rhodes ahead of their match on WWE Backlash.
- After that video package, Cody Rhodes came to the ring to cut a promo. Rhodes asked the crowd "De que quieren hablar? ("What do you guys want to talk about?" in Spanish)". Rhodes called Lesnar a gatekeeper for trying to keep the kingdom for his own. Rhodes said that he did not have the time to fear Brock Lesnar and promised Lesnar to bring the pain, promising to defeat Lesnar and make his way to finish the story for once and for all.
- Shinsuke Nakamura was interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton. Nakamura only had one thing to say to Kross: "COME ON!".
- Matt Riddle talked with eh Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zyan & Kevin Owens ahead of their match against The bloodline. Riddle had a lot to say, but Zayn told Riddle that they had enough to say because it was time to end it.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett).
Kross caught Nakamura with a knee lift to begin the match. Nakamura laid his boot on Kross in the corner, but Kross responded with a forearm strike. Nakamura ran out of the corner and hit a knee strike on Kross to send him to the outside. Nakamura tried to chase down Kross on the outside, but Kross caught him with a knee lift before he hit a powerbomb on him into the ring post before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Kross hit a headbutt on Nakamura, but Nakamura responded with a running kick. Nakamura hit a series of strikes, an enziguri kick in the corner, and a hanging knee strike off the top rope on Kross for a near fall. Scarlett tried to distract Nakamura, which allowed Kross to hit a T-Bone Suplex on Nakamura for a near fall. Kross went for the Kross Jacket, but Nakamura rolled him over and locked in the Juji Gatame on Kross Kross lifted Nakamura to break the hold, but Nakamura got him with a Guillotine Choke before hitting him with a Spinning Heel Kick & a German Suplex on Kross. Nakamura went for the Kinshasa, but Kross caught him with a lariat on Nakamura for a near fall. Kross got back up and went for a Saito Suplex, but Nakamura reversed it with a pin. Kross got Nakamura with a knee strike before connecting a Saito Suplex on Nakamura, but Nakamura kicked out at two. Kross went for the Kross-hammer on Nakamura, but Nakamura caught him with a Gamonguri, a roundhouse kick, and connected the Kinshasa on Kross for the pinfall win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura.
- There was a video recap showcasing the NXT Call-Ups coming to SmackDown. The video highlighted The Unholy Union (Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre), Cameron Grimes, Grayson Waller, Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) & Grayson Waller.
- Grayson Waller was with Adam Pearce backstage, with Grimes saying he looks forward to showing what he was all about. Baron Corbin confronted Grimes and touted himself being a "free agent" before running down on Grimes. Grimes challenged Corbin to a match next week, which Adam Pearce made official.
LWO (Rey Mysterio & Zelina Vega) (w/ Finn Balor) vs. Judgement Day (Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio).
Vega evaded Ripely's lariat and hit a series of kicks and a slap before hitting going for a Wheelbarrow pin, but Ripley broke the hold. Vega evaded Ripley before hitting a Diving Hurricanrana on Ripley before Dominik & Rey tagged in. Rey flipped around and kicked Dominik with a toe kick, but Ripley kicked Rey in the back. Vega hit a Hurricanrana on Dominik before going for a 619, but Ripley tagged in and caught Vega with a boot kick to send her to the outside before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Ripley tossed Vega into the ropes before catching her with two consecutive forearm strikes to the back, but Vega responded with a forearm strike of her own and a Crucifix Bomb for a near fall. Vega tried to tag Rey in, but Dominik pulled Rey off the apron. Ripley got Vega in a headlock before slamming her onto the mat. Ripley went for a Powerbomb on Vega, but Vega caught her with a chin breaker before leaping over Ripley off a back suplex. Ripley went for a corner spear on Vega, but Vega side-stepped to send Ripley crashing before tagging in Rey. Rey hit a series of punches on Dominik before hitting. springboard crossbody, Tijeras into the corner, and jabs on Dominik while in the Electric Chair Position, but Dominik slammed Rey into the turnbuckle before hitting a Michinoku Driver on Rey for a near fall. Rey got Dominik into the ropes and hit the 619 on Dominik. Rey hit a back elbow on Balor on the apron, but that allowed Dominik to hit a forearm strike and hit Two Amigos on Rey, but Rey tuned the second amigo and got an inside cradle on Dominik for the pinfall win.
Winners: LWO (Zelina Vega & Rey Mysterio).
- Balor & Dominik attacked Rey after the match before Damian Priest came to the ring. Bad Bunny & The LWO (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) came to the ring to make the save. LWO laid out Balor & Dominik, allowing Benito & Priest to confront each other with a Kendo Stick. Benito laid in the kendo stick shots on Dominik before Judgement Day ran out of the ring. Bad Bunny put on an LWO T-Shirt and stood tall with the LWO to end the broadcast.
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.
