WWE SmackDown (22 May 2026) Results and Highlights: On May 22 WWE SmackDown provided a number of huge storylines leading into Saturday Night’s Main Event and Clash in Italy, seeing Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Tiffany Stratton, and Solo Sikoa all involved in wild segments from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The show was the last event before WWE’s next big event on Saturday in Italy and was filled with shocking betrayals, group disputes, and title challenges all night long.
WWE SmackDown: Cody Rhodes vs Sami Zayn ends with Gunther’s attack
In the headline act, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defeated Sami Zayn in a hard-fought contest, with Rhodes celebrating only briefly as Gunther launched a brutal post-match assault on the American Nightmare. The moment took an interesting turn when Zayn seemingly looked to step aside as the attack happened, leaving fans speculating whether the two would be allies or be involved in a developing feud ahead of their champion clash at Clash in Italy later this month.
WWE SmackDown (May 22): Tiffany Stratton retains Women’s United States Championship
Tiffany Stratton successfully defended her Women’s United States Championship in her open challenge against Lash Legend. The contest got out of control due to a distraction by Nia Jax at ringside, but Chelsea Green unexpectedly came to the face of Tiffany Stratton’s rescue by eliminating Jax from ringside. Stratton took advantage of the situation and was able to pin Lash Legend using a roll-up pinfall to retain her title. The post-match segment indicated possible future teaming between Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton, although the champion didn’t seem too sure about it.
WWE: Solo Sikoa and The MFTs continue to dominate
The continuing storyline of Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Talla Tonga ruled SmackDown. Talla Tonga defeated Shinsuke Nakamura after Solo Sikoa got involved, and Tama Tonga came out and turned on Nakamura. Later on in the evening, Solo Sikoa managed to secure an important victory over Damian Priest in yet another match involving interference. This downward spiral for the faction continued after Priest was encountered by Royce Keys in a harsh confrontation.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown: Charlotte Flair teams up with Rhea Ripley
In a frantic women’s tag team match, Charlotte Flair teamed with Rhea Ripley and Alexa Bliss to face off against Fatal Influence. Although trash was flying within the trio, Charlotte scored the pinfall before Jade Cargill’s team intervened. After the match, the three attacked all the competitors in the ring to close the segment in style. The recent SmackDown episode built the excitement level for Saturday Night’s Main Event and carried on the development for WWE Clash in Italy, WWE’s first exclusive premium live event in Italy.
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Pragun is a passionate cricket follower and writer who deeply loves the game. Having completed his education with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has an experience of almost two years in diverse fields. He is known for his statistical and analytical articles. Pragun tries to bring life to his articles by adding a layer of enthusiasm from the perspective of a hardcore fan. Apart from writing cricket articles, he sometimes appears on YouTube videos on a friend’s podcast.
