The road to WWE Backlash continues tonight in “The Sooner State.”
WWE SmackDown is live this evening at 8/7c this evening on USA Network and Netflix from the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK.
‘WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.’ kicks things off as always. We then see fans outside the arena for tonight’s show. We then see footage of Jacob Fatu and Roman Reigns’ face-to-face promo battle.
Cody Rhodes Interrupted By Debuting Ricky Saints
We then see the usual show opening Superstar arrival shots. Back inside the arena, Joe Tessitore welcomes us to the show. We then hear Cody Rhodes’ theme and “The American Nightmare” comes out to kick off the show. Cody asks them what they want to talk about.
He says it is always nice when they can come out and provide them with new information and he has some new information. He says he got to the arena earlier and spoke to the medical staff to see if he was medically cleared for action.
He says that’s exactly what happened because he is cleared for action. Cody asks what is next for Cody Rhodes on SmackDown. We hear Ricky’s music hit and out comes Ricky Saints. He says you boo what you can’t understand and he is absolute Ricky Saints.
He says he is the hottest, newest, fliest, SmackDown new agent standing. He’s young, successful, rich, debonair, suave, he is everything your baby mamma wishes you were. Saints looks at Cody and says it is no surprise to Cody that he is out here.
He says the change in the air is a revolution and when you talk about that, you talk about who is leading that revolution. Ricky says he is leading it, he is the revolution and welcome to Friday night Saints. Cody says he is glad to have him but bold move and he will ask him.
Cody asks Ricky what is different between now and the last time he stepped up to him. Ricky says Cody is different. He says those title reigns have aged Cody 30 years. He may be wrong but one thing he is right about is that he is a former NXT Champion and a former NXT North American Champion.
He says he has stood and congratulated Cody milestone after milestone and he will only hope that Cody keeps that same energy for him because he is here to relieve Cody of his duties. Cody says he came out, he told everyone that he was cleared for action. He says Saints looks like he is game for some action and if he wants a match, to do it.
They shake hands and Saints tells him one more thing. He says he didn’t come out to make a statement, he came out to change who the show is about. Cody tells him that on SmackDown, in WWE, Cody is easy to find, hard to beat. Cody’s music hits and Saints leaves the ring as Cody holds his title high and glares at him.
Charlotte Flair vs. Jacy Jayne
Backstage, we see Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss when Rhea Ripley approaches them. She mentions being ambushed and outnumbered by Fatal Influence. She says she’s willing to put their differences aside for a common goal. Flair and Bliss walk off as Charlotte is up in our first match.
As Flair walks to the ring, accompanied by Bliss, we head to a quick pre-match commercial break. The show returns to confirmation of Rhodes vs. Saints for later tonight. Jacy Jayne comes out accompanied by Fatal Influence. She cuts a basic cheap heat heel promo on the way to the ring.
From there, the bell sounds to get this opening women’s singles showdown officially off-and-running. We see Flair with chops to the chest followed by a head lock. Jayne throws Flair to the ropes but Flair with a shoulder tackle that puts her down.
Flair to the ropes but Jayne with a right hand. Jayne with a hurricanrana. She grabs Flair but Flair with a right hand. She trips Jayne down and goes for the Figure Four but Jayne kicks her away. Jayne rolls to the outside of the ring to recover.
Bliss scares Jayne and we cut to a commercial. We return and see that Jayne has Flair in a headlock and Flair tries to battle out. Jayne gets on Flair’s back and Flair rams Jayne into the corner. Jayne jumps at Flair and Flair catches her and slams her down to the mat.
Flair punches Jayne several times and then starts chopping her. Flair connects with her walkover clothesline and then climbs the ropes. Flair hits a crossbody and Jayne rolls through and tries to pin Flair. The two trade kicks and Jayne is knocked to the ground.
Flair goes for a Moonsault and gently lands on Jayne and Jayne kicks out of the pin at two. Jayne kicks Flair and covers her for a near fall. Jayne goes for Rolling Encore but runs into a big boot by Flair. Flair goes for Figure 8 and locks it in.
Henley pulls Flair’s arm out from under her. Bliss attacks Henley, Reid attacks Bliss and then gets on the apron and distracts Flair. Jayne hits Rolling Encore and gets the win.
After the match, Jayne, Reid and Henley attack Flair. Bliss comes in and she’s beaten up and tossed out of the ring. Henley beats up Bliss outside the ring and Rhea Ripley comes out and kicks Henley. Ripley takes out Reid and goes after Jayne but Jayne escapes. Flair and Ripley shake hands in the ring.
Winner: Jacy Jayne
Backstage With Paige & Brie Bella
Brie Bella & Paige watches the last match from the locker room. Byron Saxton asks them how they feel. Paige says karma is real and they’ll deal with Fatal Influence later.
She says they have to worry about Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Bella says they have resilience and experience and that’s how they’ll come out on top.
Backstage With FrAxiom, R-Truth, Damian Priest & Nick Aldis
Axiom, Nathan Frazer, R-Truth & Damian Priest talk backstage. Priest says Fraxiom deserves a title shot and suggests they have a title match tonight. Fraxiom gets excited and leave to ask Nick Aldis about the title shot.
Backstage With The Miz & Kit Wilson
Kit Wilson and The Miz talk backstage about catching Danhausen. They devised a plan with money and set it out for Danhausen to bite. Danhausen avoids the trap and takes the money. The trap blows up on Wilson and The Miz.
WWE Tag Team Championship
Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. FrAxiom
Axiom and Truth start off. They lock up and Truth gets Axiom in the corner. Truth breaks the hold and then locks Axiom back in a headlock. Truth takes down Axiom and Axiom flies back with a drop kick on Truth. Frazer is tagged in and Truth tags in Priest.
Frazer tries to use his quickness but Priest just lifts him up. Frazer flies around the ring and tags in Axiom. Priest tosses Frazer and then clocks Axiom to the mat. Priest goes for Razor’s Edge but Axiom counters. Truth comes in and Fraxiom takes out Truth and then they both take out Priest and Truth.
On that note, we shift gears and settle into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues in this tag-team title tilt. When the show returns, we see the action still in progress, with things starting to pick up.
Axiom kicks Truth and then strikes him against the ropes. Truth punches Axiom back but gets laid out by a dropkick. Axiom covers Truth and Truth kicks out at two. Axiom gets Truth in a sleeperhold. Frazer is tagged in and Truth is double teamed and Frazer covers for a near fall.
Axiom is tagged back in and he comes off the top rope and Truth dodges Axiom, kicks him and slams down Axiom. Priest and Frazer are tagged in. Priest takes out both Frazer and Axiom. Priest slams into Frazer and Axiom in the corner and then slams them both down.
Priest takes out Axiom and goes to hit South of Heaven on Frazer but he counters. Truth is tagged in and he takes out Frazer with running shoulder tackles and then hits the five knuckle shuffle. Frazer rolls up Truth and he kicks out. Truth rolls out of the ring, Axiom and Frazer take turns flying over the ropes taking out Truth and Priest.
Truth is sent back in the ring, Frazer tags in Axiom. Truth is double teamed and covered. Priest kicks Frazer into the pinfall, breaking the pin. Priest is tagged in and he knocks Axiom out of the ring. Frazer is slammed down with The South of Heaven. Priest drags Axiom back in the ring and hits a Razor’s Edge on Axiom. Priest gets the pin.
Once the match wraps up, Talla Tonga comes in the ring and takes out Truth and Priest and then batters Axiom and Frazer. Solo Sikoa stands on the apron and barks orders to Tonga
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: R-Truth & Damian Priest
The MFT’s And The Usos
We come back from a commercial break, Solo Sikoa is still in the ring with Talla Tonga. Sikoa says last week, Jacob Fatu made a huge mistake by attacking MFT. Sikoa says that Fatu didn’t just take out Sikoa’s army, he took out his own family. Sikoa tells Fatu that when he shows up at SmackDown, he’s a dead man walking.
This calls out Jimmy & Jey Uso. Jimmy tells Sikoa that they understand he has issues with Fatu but Sikoa isn’t the only one that has issues with Fatu. Jimmy says Roman Reigns has an issue with Fatu and the mistake Fatu made was attacking Reigns and he used the Samoan Claw on Reigns.
Jey tells Sikoa that once Reigns is done with Fatu then Sikoa can. Sikoa makes his case and Jey tells Sikoa they’re not asking him, they’re telling him. Sikoa laughs at his brothers and says he doesn’t have time for this and tells Tonga to leave with him.
Sikoa walks away and looks back and Tonga and gives him a signal. Tonga beats up Jimmy and Jey. Sikoa tells The Usos to tell Reigns that Reigns isn’t his tribal chief and they don’t care what Roman wants or needs and Fatu is a deadman regardless.
Backstage With Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes
Sami Zayn complains to Cody Rhodes backstage. Zayn is whining that Rhodes called him sarcastic because Zayn called him a Golden Boy. Zayn says they have to stick together and that they’re a dying breed. They’re the last real good guys and Zayn says they’re the same. Rhodes tells him they’re not the same and leaves.
Cody Rhodes vs. Ricky Saints
Now it’s time for the match that was set up in the opener tonight, as Cody Rhodes goes one-on-one against Ricky Saints. The bell sounds and off we go. Saints knocks Rhodes after a quick hand shake.
Saints tosses Rhodes around for a bit and they go to lock up again. Rhodes kicks Saints and punches Saints out of the ring. Saints is tossed back in the ring but he kicks Rhodes and then clotheslines Rhodes over the top rope to the outside and we cut to a break.
The show returns and Saints charges into Rhodes in the corner and drives his knee into Rhodes’ face and covers him for a near fall. Rhodes elbows Saints and Saints drops Rhodes. Rhodes is chopped and he chops Saints back. Saints kicks Rhodes to the mat and hits a basement dropkick and covers Rhodes for a near fall.
Saints gets Rhodes in a headlock and Rhodes powers out of the hold. Saints kicks and chops Rhodes and Rhodes takes down Saints with a shoulder tackle. Saints attacks Rhodes’ eye and hits a neckbreaker. Saints knees Rhodes in the face and covers Rhodes, Rhodes kicks out at two. Saints walks the ropes and hammers down onto Rhodes’ shoulder.
Rhodes hits a snap powerslam out of nowhere on Saints and follows that up with a Disaster Kick. Rhodes hits a Cody Cutter and goes to slam Saints in the corner but Saints counters and hits a spinning neckbreaker and covers Rhodes for a near fall. Saints rolls up Rhodes, Rhodes reverses and both fail at getting the pin.
Saints hits The Revolution DDT and covers Rhodes who kicks out at two. Saints sets up for Rochambeau and Rhodes reverses it to Cross Roads and gets the win.
Once the match wraps up, Gunther runs in and knocks Rhodes out with a sleeperhold. Gunther lets go of the hold after knocking out Rhodes and then puts Rhodes back in a sleeperhold. Refs and officials break the hold and Gunther poses with the Undisputed Championship as Rhodes is checked on.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Danhausen Confronted By The Miz & Kit Wilson
Danhausen is out next and he comes out in his Hausenmobile. Danhausen drives the mobile and parks in front of the announce desk. He grabs a mic and gets in the ring. Danhausen is out here to give out Danhausen merchandise from the money he just got from the trap The Miz and Kit Wilson set up for him.
The Miz comes out – he tells Danhausen that since Danhausen has showed up, The Miz has only come across bad luck. The Miz admits he is cursed and tells Danhausen that he will be his mentor: Mizhausen. The Miz agrees and they’re about to shake hands and Kit Wilson comes out objecting to this union. Wilson asks if The Miz has lost his mind and says he’s supposed to be Wilson’s mentor.
The Miz tells Wilson to calm down and says Danhausen has mastered how to to curse and that Danhausen has the ability to zone in and become a WWE Superstar. The Miz tells Wilson that Wilson isn’t even in the same league as The Miz to be mentored. Danhausen and The Miz go to shake hands again and Wilson stops them and recites a poem.
Danhausen tells The Miz to shake his hand to seal the deal. Wilson puts his hand out too and The Miz goes back and forth between the two to cheers and boos. The Miz shakes Danhausen’s hand to a huge ovation. The Miz tells Danhausen to curse Wilson and The Miz then attacks Danhausen.
We then see Wilson and The Miz take out Danhausen and The Miz hits The Skull Crushing Finale and Wilson hits The Men Cry Too elbow on Danhausen. That’s how this wild segment wraps up. From there, the show moves on.
Blake Monroe Burns Bright
Royce Keys warms up backstage ahead of his match against Angel. From there, we see a vignette for Blake Monroe. Monroe says nothing burns brighter than her. She’s coming soon to SmackDown.
Royce Keys vs. Angel
We get the bell, Angel throws his pants at Keys. Angel punches Keys and Keys tosses Angel to the corner and he rolls out of the ring. Berto distracts Keys and Angel attacks him. Keys corners Angel and then clotheslines him to the mat.
Keys slams into Angel in the corner and knocks Berto off the apron. Keys catches Angel and plants him on the top turnbuckle. Keys climbs up with Angel and hits a spinning powerslam off the middle rope. Angel is spinebustered and pinned. And that’s that.
Winner: Royce Keys
Backstage With Tiffany Stratton, Kiana James, Giulia & Chelsea Green
Cathy Kelley talks to Tiffany Stratton backstage. Kelley asks Stratton what’s next for her. Stratton says she’ll have an open challenge. Chelsea Green comes by and tells Stratton she planned her a surprise party but Nick Aldis didn’t let her.
Kiana James & Giulia come in and James says Giulia needs her rematch. Stratton tells James she’ll fight her next week and leaves. Green chases after her now that she’s healed from her ankle injury.
Backstage With Royce Keys & Jacob Fatu
Royce Keys talks on the phone backstage. Jacob Fatu approaches him and they shake hands and talk about how they’ve known each other for 15 years and says he’ll still run with Fatu. Keys tells Fatu that Roman Reigns and The Usos are on top.
He says he wants Fatu to be the man on top and werewolf his ass to the top. Keys says people like them take everything they want and is worried the WWE has made him forget the streets. Talla Tonga runs in and takes out Keys. Solo Sikoa and Tonga then beat up Fatu until officials come by to break everything up.
Latest From Gingerbread Man, Sami Zayn & Trick Williams
Back at ringside, the Gingerbread Man is waiting in the ring and then Sami Zayn’s music hits and Zayn comes out to the ring. Zayn says he loves coming to Tulsa, OK and that he’s a huge Bob Dylan fan. He talks about what happened when Bob Dylan turned to an electric guitar… everyone boo’d him.
Zayn talks about how he’s getting boo’d and he has no idea what he did to get the boos. Zayn says it doesn’t bother him, though, because he knows his ride or die fans are here for him. Zayn says he can deal with that a lot of things except disrespect. Zayn says Trick Williams disrespected him. Zayn talks about the gingerbread man and says it’s easy to do what Williams does and that Zayn can do all Williams does in his sleep.
He says what’s hard is the grind like he’s been doing for years. Zayn says Williams isn’t taking him seriously, and he doesn’t see Williams taking anything seriously and he sees all this as disrespect. Zayn goes to fight the Gingerbread Man costume and says he’s sorry because he was going to he a mascot costume. Zayn then lowbows the costume and then mounts the costume and starts ripping the mascot costume apart.
Trick Williams runs out and starts punching Zayn. Williams knocks Zayn to the mat and he rolls out of the ring to boos. Zayn retreats through the crowd as Williams stands on the middle turnbuckle to “whoop that trick” chants. Williams then consoles the fallen costume and signals for the X as if the costume is a person and it’s hurt.
Backstage With The Irresistible Forces
Byron Saxton talks to Lash Legend and Nia Jax backstage. Jax says they were never pinned and Legend says they just weren’t prepared for Paige. Jax says this one on one tag match and they’ll send Brie Bella and Paige to the couch with Nikki Bella.
WWE Women’s Tag-Team Championships
Paige & Brie Bella (c) vs. The Irresistible Forces
We head to a commercial break, and when the show returns, we head to the ring for our second tag team title tilt of the evening. This time, it’s the women. Paige and Brie Bella defend against former champions The Irresistible Forces.
Legend and Paige start off. The two lock up and Legend tosses Paige to the mat. Paige kicks Legend and Jax distracts Paige. Legend clobbers Paige to the mat and then mounts her and punches her. Legend hits a Lash Splash and covers Paige for a near fall.
Jax is tagged in and punches Paige. Paige counters a slam and tags in Brie. Brie hits a missile drop kick on Jax and then kicks Jax in the gut. Brie trips Jax and hits a Brie Mode knee. Legend is kicked off the apron and Jax then puts Brie on the apron.
She then knocks her off after some interference from Legend and we get a break. We return to the match, Jax slams into Brie and then beats her in the corner. Legend is tagged in and she slams her shoulder into Brie’s gut. Jax is tagged back and she does the same to Brie.
Legend is tagged back in and she slams Brie head to the mat and tags in Jax. Jax slams Brie into the mat over and over again. Jax slams into the ringpost and tags in Legend. Legend stops Brie from tagging out and knees her. Legend goes for a powerbomb and Brie counters and tags in Paige.
Paige punches Legend several times and kicks her to the mat. Paige kicks Legend from the apron and then climbs the ropes and jumps at Legend. Legend catches Paige and Paige counters out and tags in Brie. Paige hits PaigeTurner on Legend.
Bella hits a BellaBuster and Legend is covered. Jax breaks the pin. Jax tosses Paige out of the ring and Jax is tagged in. Jax squishes Brie in the corner and sets up for Annihilator and Paige kicks Jax off the turnbuckles. Brie rolls up Jax and gets the win.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: Paige & Brie Bella
RIP Gingerbread Man
A graphic for The Gingerbread Man is shown in memoriam for his death and a funeral will be held for him. Sami Zayn watches this from the backstage area with Nick Aldis.
Zayn is pissed The Gingerbread Man is getting TV time even when he’s dead. Aldis agrees to a match for them at BackLash. Danhausen comes in and asks for a match against The Miz and Kit Wilson and Aldis agrees and tells Danhausen to find a partner.
The Usos vs. The MFTs
Tonga and Jey lock up and Tonga sends Jey into the corner. Jey punches and kicks Tonga. Tonga fires back with a clothesline and slams down onto Jey. Sikoa is tagged in and he headbutts Jey and strikes him with a spike. Jey kicks Sikoa back and slams into him in the corner.
Jimmy is tagged in and Sikoa is double teamed. Jimmy chops Sikoa and kicks him from the corner. Jimmy comes off the middle rope and Sikoa catches him and hits a Spinning Solo Slam. Sikoa then hits a running hip attack on Jimmy and we cut to a break.
When the show returns, Tonga clotheslines Jimmy outside the ring. Tonga sends Jimmy back in the ring and tags in Sikoa. Sikoa strikes Jimmy with a spike and chokes Jimmy against the ropes. Jimmy kicks Sikoa and Tonga takes Jimmy down as the ref checks on Sikoa.
Tonga is tagged in and he hits a leg drop on Jimmy. Tonga attacks Jimmy’s neck and Jimmy tries to punch out for the hold. Tonga lifts Jimmy onto his shoulders and Samoan Drops him and covers for a near fall. Tonga knocks Jey off the apron and Sikoa is tagged in.
Tonga holds Jimmy and Jimmy breaks free and Sikoa runs at Jimmy and Sikoa is sent out of the ring. Tonga is tossed out of the ring as well and Jimmy tags out to Jey. Jey flies out onto Tonga and then kicks Sikoa in the ring. Jey comes off the top rope and splashes onto Sikoa.
Sikoa gets punched several times and Sikoa goes for Spinning Solo but Uso counters and spears Sikoa and covers him until Tonga breaks the pin. Jimmy and Jey superkick Tonga and clothesline Tonga over the ropes to the outside. Jimmy goes out to attack Tonga but gets punched. Jey goes out too and gets thrown into the barricades.
Tonga sends Jimmy into the steel steps and then takes apart the announce desk. Jacob Fatu comes out of nowhere and punches Tonga. The ref calls for the bell. Fatu starts slamming Tonga into the ring post and then uses the steel steps and nails Tonga. Fatu gets in the ring and Fatu puts Sikoa in a Tongan/Samoan Death Grip.
Fatu goes to attack Tonga but Tonga catches him. Fatu counters and hits a Samoan Drop on Tonga through the announce desk. Fatu gets back in the ring, and stands face to face with Jimmy and Jey. Fatu walks right through and past The Usos and starts to head to the back. Fatu gets on the mic and tells Jimmy and Jey to tell Roman Reigns that he will dog walk Reigns’ ass and then end credits roll.
Winners via Disqualification: The MFTs