WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
May 20, 2022
Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI.
Commentary: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WWE SmackDown kicks off with Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman and The Usos walking down to the ring. Roman tells Grand Rapids to acknowledge him. Roman says tonight is a special night because you are not only acknowledging the tribal chief but his cousins The Usos. Roan says tonight you acknowledge the Bloodline. Roman tells Heyman to tell everyone why.
Heyman welcomes everyone to the single biggest night in the history of tag team wrestling. Heyman says on the island of relevancy is the moment of truth. Roman Reigns is the GOAT, undisputed, the greatest of all time. You can take your Bruno, your Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Brock Lesnar and John Cena. You can stack them all up and that’s what would happen if they all stepped into the ring at the same time. They would be stacked and pinned by the undisputed GOAT, Roman Reigns.
He says it’s the best tag team from SmackDown against the best tag team on Raw. But The Usos have to earn their spot, they have to be relevant, they can’t be yesterday’s news. It’s not enough to be the cousins of the tribal chief. Tonight, the Usos will come home as the undisputed Tag Team champions or they won’t come home to the island of relevancy at all. Heyman says The Usos will beat RK-Bro, they will become the greatest tag team of all time, they will be the undisputed tag team champions. And that’s not just a prediction, that’s a spoiler.
Roman tells The Usos that they know what he wants. And he expects them to deliver. The only reason he has these expectations is because he loves them. All three guys hug.
Sami Zayn is backstage watching wearing a Bloodline shirt.
-Commercial Break-
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn
The bell rings and we are under way. Zayn with a head lock on Nakamura followed by an arm bar. Nakamura reverses it into an arm bar. A head lock by Nakamura as he runs to the ropes and a shoulder block onto Zayn. Nakamura to the ropes and a kick onto Zayn. Nakamura with kicks onto Zayn followed by a kick to the neck.
Nakamura stomps on Zayn in the corner. A snap mare by Nakamura followed by a knee to the face. He goes for the cover but Zayn kicks out. Nakamura tries to send Zayn to the ropes but Zayn grabs Nakamura and slams him onto the mat. Right hands by Zayn. A right hand by Zayn as he sends Nakamura to the ropes and a clothesline. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out. Zayn climbs the top rope but Nakamura with a right hand. Nakamura climbs the second rope but Zayn with a right hand but Nakamura trips Zayn up on the ropes. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa but Zayn moves out of the way. Nakamura climbs the top rope but Zayn pushes him to the outside.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, a head lock by Zayn in the middle of the ring. Nakamura gets to his feet and he runs to the ropes. Nakamura with a flying kick to the face. A forearm and kicks by Nakamura and Zayn in the corner. Nakamura places Zayn on the second rope and a release German suplex by Nakamura. He climbs the second rope and a kick to the side of Zayn’s head. He goes for the cover but Zayn kicks out. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa but Zayn rolls to the outside of the ring. Nakamura runs on the outside but Zayn hits him with the Michinoku driver. Zayn rolls into the ring. The referee counts to nine but Nakamura gets back in the ring. Zayn kicks Nakamura back to the outside of the ring. He goes to throw Nakamura into the ring post but Nakamura reverses it and face first goes Zayn. Nakamura throws Zayn over the barricade. The referee counts to nine but Zayn gets in the ring. Nakamura hits him with the Kinshasa. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
-Commercial Break-
Happy Talk with Happy Corbin
Happy Corbin is standing outside of the ring with the Andre the Giant Memorial trophy. He says no one understand how good it is to be him. He is tall, handsome, he is wearing a 12,000$ hat and a 70,000$ watch. And he rid the WWE of Madcap Moss. And he has a souvenir to put in his trophy case to go with the one he has.
We see a clip of Corbin attacking Madcap last week. He says he got fined a lot of money for that, well a lot of money to most people. But you can’t put a price on art and that was a work of art. And just like amazing piece of art, you appreciate it more the second time around. They air the clip a second time.
Corbin is in the ring and says everyone should appreciate all the things you have. You should show your boss total respect. You should never try to improve your station in life. Madcap Moss had it good. He was his protege, he flew on private jets and Corbin paid for it all. And now if Madcap wants to eat a steak, his nurse has to chew it for him first.
He wanted to get to the top of WWE. He was a big shot. He didn’t appreciate every great thing that Corbin did for him. He thought he can be the butt of all of his jokes. He called Corbin the big bald wolf. Corbin asks who is laughing now. Maybe he is the big bald wolf because he huffed and he puffed and he put Madcap Moss in an ambulance. Corbin grabs the trophy and throws it into the ring steps, breaking it.
-Commercial Break-
Gunther with Ludwig Kaiser vs. Drew Gulak
Back from commercial and the match is already under way. Gulak with a right hand and a chop to the chest but Gunther with a kick followed by an arm bar. Gunther with a chop to the chest. Another chop to the chest by Gunther. A powerbomb by Gunther. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Gunther
A Boston crab by Gunther and out comes Ricochet. He gets in the ring as Gunther leaves the ring.
We cut backstage and Max Dupri, LA Knight of NXT, enters Adam Pearce’s office. He says he is the CEO of Maximum Male Models and tonight, the discovery begins for superstars that can headline Paris Fashion Week and WrestleMania.
Pearce says it’s the first time he hears of him. Dupri tells him Sonya Deville called him in. Pearce says Sonya was relieved of her duties weeks ago. Dupri says his agency and his have a signed contract. Pearce says he will speak with his lawyers.
-Commercial Break-
RK-Bro are backstage with Kayla. Riddle says he heard the Usos and they are trying to convince themselves that they can beat RK-Bro. He has been beating the Usos one on one every week. He says he is confident because RK-Bro 420 says they just smoked them.
Orton says the Usos ere sweating bullets because tonight after all the smoke clears and the dust settles, Roman will look down at the Usos in shame and disappointment. And they will look up at Roman and tell him they got hit with the three most devastating letters in all of sports entertainment, RK-Bro.
Shotzi is backstage and in comes Aliah. She tells Shotzi she should have been up against Ronda last week but she got locked in her locker room. In comes Raquel Rodriguez. Shotzi tells her she has all the physical tools but she is weak, soft and too night. She is a disappointment and she will make Rodriguez pay for stealing her moment in their match.
Rodriguez tells her “estas muerta”, you are dead.
-Commercial Break-
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shotzi
The bell rings and we are under way. Rodriguez lifts Shotzi up with one arm and drops her. Rodriguez with a shoulder block as she slams Shotzi’s arm into the mat. Shotzi gets up and a right hand by Shotzi followed by a kick to the face. Rodriguez lifts Shotzi up and throws her into the corner. A kick by Shotzi as she climbs the second rope. Shotzi gets on Raquel’s shoulders but Rodriguez slams her into the corner. Shotzi with a kick followed by a right hand and a knee to the face but Raquel with a headbutt. Shotzi kicks her away and climbs the second rope. Shotzi jumps off the second rope, Raquel catches her and a fall away slam.
Raquel with another fall away slam.Raquel climbs the second rope and a corkscrew splash onto Shotzi. She lifts Shotzi up and hits her with the Chingona Bomb. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Kayla is backstage with Xavier Woods. He tells her he wants to know if Butch will always need Sheamus and Holland in his corner. He says Kofi is not there tonight and he challenges Butch to a match where Butch is alone.
-Commercial Break-
Xavier Woods vs. Butch
The bell rings and we are under way. Woods with a forearm and Butch to the outsie of the ring. Woods with a baseball slide. He grabs Butch and throws him into the ring. Butch stomps on Xavier’s hands as he is getting in the ring. Forearms by Butch as he places his boot on Xavier’s head.
Butch with a modified arm bar. A head lock by Butch follwoed by right hands. He runs towards Woods but Woods with a kick to the face. Woods with a clothesline. He goes for the cover but Butch kicks out. Woods with a chop to the chest followed by a right hand.
Woods lifts Butch but Butch with a right hand followed by a kick. Woods on the ring apron. Butch with kicks to the head. Butch climbs the second rope as he goes for a kick but Woods moves out of the way. Woods with a kick. He gets in the ring but a right hand by Butch. He goes for another right hand but Woods rolls him up and gets the pin.
Winner: Xavier Woods
Butch leaves the ring and jumps through the crowd. Woods gets on the stage and celebrates. Sheamus and Ridge stand behind Woods as Woods turns around. Butch attacks Woods from behind as Sheamus and Ridge hold him back.
-Commercial Break-
Woods tells Megan that Kofi is back next week and he has someone in mind for a six man tag team match next week.
Michael Cole talks about last Monday on Raw when Sasha Banks and Naomi disappointed millions of WWE fans and their fellow WWE superstars when they left the arena. Because of what they did, they have been suspended indefinitely. And there will be a tournament to determine the new Women’s Tag Team champions.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Tag Team Unification match – RK-Bro (Raw tag team champions) vs. The Usos (SmackDown tag team champions)
Paul Heyman is on commentary. The bell rings and we are under way. Riddle and Jimmy are in the ring. Riddle with a leg take down as Jimmy reaches the ropes. Riddle with a take down and Orton is tagged in. They double team Jimmy and a knee to the face by Orton. He stomps on Jimmy’s arm and Riddle is tagged in. Riddle goes for the cover but Jimmy kicks out. A chop to the chest by Riddle in the corner.
Riddle tries to throw Jimmy into the turnbuckle but Jimmy reverses it and Riddle slams into the turnbuckle. Right hands by Jimmy followed by a head lock. He slams Riddle’s head into the mat as the referee stops the match and WWE officials get in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, the Usos double team Riddle. Jey stomps on Riddle’s lower back. Jimmy is tagged in and they double team Riddle’s injured hip. A waist lock by Jimmy but Riddle with an elbow to the face and Jimmy with a back suplex. Jey is tagged in. He stomps on Riddle.
Jey goes for a right hand but Riddle with a knee to the face. Jimmy is tagged in and Orton is tagged in. A clothesline by Orton followed by a slam. Jey gets in the ring and Orton with a slam. Jimmy on the ring apron and Orton with a DDT off the second rope. Orton hits him with the RKO. He goes for the cover but Jey breaks it up. Jey is tagged in. Orton goes for the RKO, Jey pushes him into the corner, Riddle is tagged in, Jey with a super kick on Orton. Riddle with around house kick.
Riddle with a forearm on Jey. A fisherman’s suplex by Riddle. He goes for a splash but Jey gets his knees up. A pop up neck breaker. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out. Jey pushes Riddle in the corner but Riddle with an elbow. Riddle climbs the top rope but Jey trips him up. Jey climbs the top rope but Riddle jumps to the top rope. Riddle goes for an RKO as Heyman gets in the ring and distracts the referee. Roman Reigns grabs Riddle’s leg off the top rope and Riddle falls to the mat. Jey with the Uso splash. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: New Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, The Usos
Roman Reigns with right hands on Riddle after the match. The Usos hit Orton with a double super kick. Roman throws Riddle to the outside. The Usos hit Orton with the steel steps. Roman with the guillotine on Riddle and Riddle is on the announce table. Jey climbs the top rope and he lands the Uso splash onto Riddle through the table. Roman with the guillotine on Orton.
Reigns, The Usos and Paul Heyman pose in the ring with the championships.