Tonight’s edition of SmackDown took place at LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines, France, serving as the “go-home” show for tomorrow’s Backlash PLE.
The following are SPOILERS from the show, ahead of its normal broadcast time of 8 p.m. Eastern.
- Rey Mysterio defeated Carlito in a dark match
- SmackDown kicked off with footage of Cody Rhodes, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens arriving to the building.
- Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill defeated Tiffany Stratton & Damage CTRL (Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai)
- Grayson Waller & Austin Theory cut a backstage promo ahead of tonight’s WWE Tag Team Championship match.
- Kayla Braxton interviewed Belair & Cargill regarding their title match against WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka & Kairi Sane at Backlash. With tensions rising during their eight-woman tag match earlier, Belair got flustered when Bayley and Naomi came into the room before Cargill calmed her down.
- Carmelo Hayes was seen backstage, making a statement that he wants to be in the King of the Ring tournament. Bobby Lashley arrived to tell Hayes to call him if he needs anything or if he needs any advice. Hayes said he appreciates Lashley but thinks he has it figured out himself. After a back and forth between the two, Lashley warned Hayes to be careful who he disrespects.
- AOP defeated New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate)
- Paul Heyman met with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, who denied Heyman’s request to cancel the tag match for Backlash pitting Owens & Orton against Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga. Heyman claimed he isn’t responsible for what happens to Owens & Orton, before revealing that he and Roman Reigns haven’t spoken since WrestleMania, and that he pulled the former champion out of the draft. Aldis retorts that if Heyman can do that, he should get Owens & Orton to remove themselves from Backlash.
- Heyman appeared as Owens & Orton’s guest on The RKO Show. They questioned if Heyman was trying to get them to forfeit the Backlash match before a brawl between Owens & Orton and Sikoa & Tonga broke out.
- The Street Profits cut a backstage promo running down A-Town Down Under before tonight’s WWE Tag Team Championship match.
- LA Knight defeated Angel
- After the match, Knight and Santos Escobar declared themselves for the King of the Ring tournament.
- A backstage interview with Carlito was interrupted after Dragon Lee attacked him.
- A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller & Austin Theory) defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship
- Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles had a face-to-face before their title match at Backlash, comparing their past histories before Rhodes teased a Bullet Club “reunion” with Styles…who slapped Rhodes in response.
- Sikoa & Tonga were seen having a wild brawl with Owens & Orton backstage, with security attempting to break things up as the show drew to a close.
Source: F4WOnline