Tonight’s WWE SmackDown, airing May 22, 2026, promises an action-packed night live from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event go-home show sees Shinsuke Nakamura face MFT’s Talla Tonga in a Singles Match.
The show kicks off at 8:00 PM ET on the USA Network and is available for international fans on streaming platforms like Netflix. Ringside News will provide live, match-by-match updates and highlights throughout the night. Stay tuned to this page, refresh for the latest results as the action unfolds, and join the conversation in the comments below!
Matches & Key Moments Scheduled for WWE SmackDown on May 22, 2026
- Singles Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. MFT’s Talla Tonga
- WWE Women’s United States Championship Open Challenge Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. TBD
- Carmelo Hayes has a message for WWE United States Champion Trick Williams and Lil Yachty
- WWE Women’s Champion “The Eradicator” Rhea Ripley will kick off SmackDown
- What does “The Ring General” GUNTHER have in store for Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
WWE SmackDown Results (5/22/26): Live Match Updates and Highlights
The show opens up with a video package recapping last week’s SmackDown featuring a segment between GUNTHER and Cody Rhodes and The Ring General defeating Royce Keys to punch his ticket to Clash In Italy.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett then welcomes us to the show as we see the arrivals of Cody Rhodes, Shinsuke Nakamura, the MFTs and Tiffany Stratton.
Rhea Ripley’s music then hits and she makes her way down to the ring. Rhea then grabs a mic and she starts off by welcoming the WWE Universe to Friday Night Mami. Rhea then says she had one week off and it seemed like someone missed her. Rhea then says Jade Cargill and her crew tried to send a message, but what they did was piss her off. Rhea then says she is back and wants a fight. Rhea then tells Jade that if she wants her rematch, she will happily beat her again. Rhea then says she will take her on at Clash In Italy for the WWE Women’s Championship.
Charlotte Flair’s music then hits and she makes her way out with Alexa Bliss. Flair says she appreciates that Rhea wants to defend her title, but not to get ahead of herself because they still have a 6-Woman Tag Team Match tomorrow. Bliss then says they have to be on the same page. Flair then says she has to address the elephant in the room. Flair then says they needed Rhea’s help last week and she asks Rhea where she was last week.
Rhea then tells her she went home to go see her family. Flair then says she is happy she went home to see her family, but they needed her help. Flair then says she and Bliss have their own battles to fight. Rhea then says Flair was the one that said she didn’t need her. Flair then says she did say that against Fatal Influence, but now they need Rhea’s help with Rhea’s problem. Rhea then says she is sorry that they got ambushed, but it looked like Bliss took most of it. She then says if Flair can’t have her best friend’s back, how can she trust her with her back. Flair then says Rhea is trying to create a problem that isn’t there and to grow a wedge between her and Bliss.
Fatal Influence then make their way out. Jacy Jayne says she loves this and there isn’t anything she loves more than to see the women’s division unravel in front of her own eyes. Jacy then says this started the second Fatal Influence stepped foot on the scene. Jacy then says they have ascended to the top of the division with ease because when they see an opportunity they take it. Jacy then says they are looking at one right now. Flair then says they love their confidence, but she is not there for the back and forth. She then challenges two of them to a match against her and Bliss tonight. Jacy then says that is all she needed to hear. Flair’s music then hits.
We then take a look at Talla Tonga attacking Shinsuke Nakamura last week for talking to Tama Tonga.
We then head to the back and Cathy Kelley shows up and speaks with Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga. Solo says Talla Tonga is ready for his match against Shinsuke Nakamura and he wants everyone to watch. Solo then looks at Tama Tonga and Solo says he wants everyone to watch what will happen to Nakamura. Royce Keys then shows up and he tells Solo that he cost him a title opportunity last week. Solo then says Keys threw the chair at his face and he is lucky they don’t hit him now. Solo then says if Keys needs someone to watch his back tonight, they can do that and they walk away.
We then see Alexa Bliss and she says she is not cleared and Flair says she was okay before. Alexa then says she is finem but she will have to team with Rhea because she is sick of being in the middle of everything.
Talla Tonga then makes his way down to the ring for the first match of the night and he is accompanied by the MFTs and Shinsuke Nakamura follows.
Singles Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. MFT’s Talla Tonga
The match starts off with both men locking up and Talla sends Nakamura into the turnbuckles. Talla then wants a test of strength and Nakamura teases a kick. Nakamura then hits a knee and several forearms. Talla then hits a punch and a kick to the back. Talla then hits a head butt and a kick in the corner. Talla then hits more kicks and he chokes Nakamura. Talla then hits a punch in the corner. Talla then hits a hard Irish whip. Talla then hits several knee drops and a slam. Talla then hits an Irish whip and Talla misses a splash into the corner. Nakamura then hits a kick to the back and a jumping knee off the turnbuckles. Nakamura then hits a jumping side kick and a clothesline that sends Talla over the top rope, but he lands on his feet. Nakamura then hits a kick with Talla in the ropes, but Talla hits a chop.
Talla then sends Nakamura into the ringside barrier. Talla then sends Nakamura face-first to the ringside barrier. Talla then hits a punch and he sends Nakamura into the ring. Nakamura then hits several kicks, but Talla hits a forearm to stop Nakamura. Talla then works on the neck. Nakamura then hits several punches, but Talla hits a head butt. Nakamura then hits a kick. Talla then catches Nakamura off the turnbuckles and Talla hits a short arm clothesline. Nakamura then hits several elbows from the apron, but Talla sends Nakamura back to the floor. Nakamura then hits several punches and Talla hits an uppercut and a leaping elbow drop. Nakamura then blocks a kick and Nakamura hits a round kick.
Talla then hits a power slam. Nakamura then cinches in an arm bar and he transitions into a triangle. Talla then goes for a one arm power bomb, but Nakamura counters into a guillotine. Nakamura then escapes a suplex and he kicks Talla in the back of the leg and a boot off the turnbuckles. Nakamura then hits several kicks to Talla. Talla then hits an Irish whip, but he misses a boot in the corner. Nakamura then kicks the leg and he puts Talla on the turnbuckles for a running knee to the midsection. Nakamura then hits Scorpio Rising for a near fall. Nakamura then sets up for a Kinshasa, but Solo gets on the apron and Nakamura punches him off the apron. Talla then hits a power slam and a choke slam for the win.
The winner of the Singles Match, MFT’s Talla Tonga!
After the match, Solo sets up for a Samoan Spike because Nakamura punches him and Tama stops him. Tama then hits a cutthroat. Solo then sets up for a Samoan Spike, but Damian Priest makes his way out with a chair and that means Solo, Talla and Tama leave the ring. Priest then checks on Nakamura while Solo, Talla and Tama go to the back.
We then get a video package for Tribal Combat.
We then see Nick Aldis and he asks for an update from Charles Robinson and he asks him to check out about the lights. Nick then tells Cody Rhodes that GUNTHER is not here yet so the contract is still unsigned. Cody then tells Nick to give him the contract to get it signed. Nick then says he will handle it and the match is set. Nick then says he will make sure the contract is signed. Sami Zayn then shows up and he tells Cody they have been up and down lately. Sami then says he knows what it means to beat GUNTHER so all Cody has to do is ask. Cody then says thanks, but no thanks.
Sami then rants and he blames Nick for all of this. He then asks Nick what he is doing tonight. Nick then says he might not have a spot for Sami tonight. Sami then asks if he is entitled to respect. He then says he wants to know what he did wrong to be disrespected. He then says Cody would get whatever he wants. Cody then approaches him and Sami starts to apologize. Cody then says Sami deserves time on SmackDown. Cody then suggests a match for Sami and Cody says he will give Sami a match.
We then see Tama Tonga and he says Solo Sikoa is weak. Tama then says everyone is coming at them because they think Solo is weak and the family is weak. He then says you will handle Priest on your own. He then says you have to show that the family is not weak. Solo then says he will talk to Aldis.
Tiffany Stratton then makes her way down to the ring for the next match of the night as she will put her Women’s United States Championship on the line and Lash Legend follows as she is accompanied by Nia Jax. Nia says they are going to end the nostalgia tour of Brie Bella and Paige when they take back their tag titles. Lash then says gold looks good on them and she is going to take the title from Tiffany.
WWE Women’s United States Championship Open Challenge Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. The Irresistible Forces’ “The Boujee Bully” Lash Legend
The match starts off with both women locking up and Lash sends Tiffany to the mat. Tiffany then cinches in a waist lock and Lash tosses her to the mat. Lash then hits a biel. Lash then runs into a boot and Lash tries to biel Tiffany, but Tiffany does a cartwheel and she hits a drop kick. Lash then hits a shoulder tackle. Lash then misses a bicycle kick and Tiffany clips Lash a few times. Tiffany then hits a drop kick and Lash goes to the floor. Tiffany then hits a pescado onto Lash. Lash then hits a chop and a choke slam onto the apron. Lash and Nia then pose, but Chelsea Green makes her way down to the ring to check on Tiffany. Lash then hits an elbow drop to the back for a near fall.
Lash then has Tiffany in the ropes and she hits several forearms. Lash then hits several shoulders in the corner. Lash then hits a hard Irish whip. Lash then hits another Irish whip, but Tiffany hits a boot when Lash charges. Tiffany then hits a back elbow and Lash catches Tiffany on a cross body attempt. Lash then hits a Snake Eyes. Lash then bounces Tiffany’s head between the top and middle ropes. She then does it a second time. Lash then hits a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Lash then hits a forearm and several shoulders in the corner. Lash then hits a short arm clothesline. Lash then puts Tiffany in the corner and she hits more shoulders. Lash then puts Tiffany on the turnbuckles, but Tiffany hits a sunset flip for a near fall. Lash then hits a forearm for a near fall.
Tiffany then hits a jaw breaker and Lash goes gingerly over the top rope when Tiffany drops down. Lash then misses a shoulder in the corner and she hits the ring post. Tiffany then hits a clothesline, but Lash stays on her feet and goes for a choke slam and Tiffany hits a jaw breaker. Tiffany then hits a handspring back elbow in the corner followed by a handspring cutter for a near fall. Tiffany then misses a double stomp and Lash gets a rollup for a near fall.
Tiffany then counters a power bomb into a rana. Tiffany then goes for an Alabama Slam, but Lash counters with a power bomb for a near fall. Tiffany then counters a Lash Extension into a Crucifix Bomb for a near fall. Tiffany then goes up top and Nia gets on the apron and Tiffany kicks her away. Tiffany then misses a move off the turnbuckles and rolls through. Lash then hits a bicycle kick to Tiffany. Green then sends Nia into the ring post and Lash decides to grab Green by the hair instead of winning the match. Tiffany then gets a rollup for the win.
The winner of the Open Challenge Match and still the WWE Women’s United States Champion, Tiffany Stratton!
We then see Lil Yachty knock on Trick Williams’ door and they walk down the hallway.
We then see Nick Aldis walking and he says he needs to deal with the power issue. Nick is then told it is coming from a room and Nick enters Danhausen’s lab. Danhausen then says he is doing a science experiment. Danhausen then says everything is up to code. Danhausen then once again says he is doing a science experiment. Nick then sees the body under the sheet, but he is told not to look under it.
We then see Cathy Kelley with The Miz and Kit Wilson. Miz says he is not cursed and he doesn’t care what is going on with Danhausen. Cathy then says the Cavaliers are losing and Miz says there is no curse. Fraxiom then shows up and say The Miz is cursed. Miz then says Danhausen is causing his Cavaliers playoff matches. Cathy then asks Miz if he is such a big fan, why isn’t he courtside. Miz then says he is superstitious. Miz then challenges Axiom to a match next week in his home town. Axiom then speaks in Spanish and walks away. The Miz then asks Cathy if she understand Spanish and Cathy says “un pocito”.
Trick Williams’ music then hits and he makes his way down to the ring with Lil Yachty. Trick then grabs a mic and starts off by saying he thinks the WWE Universe loves some Trick and Yachty. Yachty then gloats about beating The Miz last week. Trick then says he is a future Hall of Famer. Lil Yachty then says it’s debatable.
Carmelo Hayes then makes his way out to interrupt Trick Williams. Carmela says they both knew this day would come. Carmelo then tells Trick to do the right thing. He then accuses Trick of screwing him out of the United States Championship. Carmelo then says he would still be the champion if it weren’t for Trick. Carmelo then says he’s not trying to discredit Trick. Carmelo then says he has always believed in him, but there’s a huge difference in carrying the title and being a champion. Carmelo then says he defended the title night in and night out. Carmelo then says he wants a shot at the United States Championship. Yachty then says Trick would love to give him a match, but he’s got a busy schedule.
Carmelo then calls Yachty a secretary. Carmelo then says he thinks the old Trick wouldn’t have let somebody tell him what to do and when to do it. Carmelo then says he thinks Trick Williams is better at playing second fiddle. Trick then tells Carmelo to mind his own business. Trick then accepts Carmelo’s challenge, but says the open challenge was done the moment he won the United States Championship. Trick then says because he likes Carmelo and he respects what they did, he will get his match tonight but the a** whooping is on the house. Trick then asks for a referee.
Non-Title Match: WWE United States Champion Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
The match starts off with both men locking up and Trick cinches in a side head lock. Trick then hits a shoulder tackle. Trick then slams Carmelo down to the mat. Carmelo then hits a dropkick. Carmelo then hits Trick with a chop in the corner. Trick then denies it this time and hits an upper cut followed by a Trick Slap. Carmelo then hits a kick to the head of Trick. Carmelo then hits another chop. Trick then takes Carmelo out with a series of spinning heel kicks. Trick then hits Carmelo with a Uranage for a near fall. Trick then hits another spinning heel kick for a two count. Trick then hits a snap suplex. Trick then hits Carmelo into the ropes. Carmelo then sends Trick over the top rope. Lil Yachty then checks on Trick.
The fight then spills to the outside. Carmelo then sends Trick into the steel steps. Carmelo then smashes Trick head-first into the steel steps. Carmelo then hits a series of chops. Back in the ring, Carmelo hits several punches on Trick. Trick then hits a series of right hands, but he runs into a superkick. The fight then spills to the outside again. Trick then slams Carmelo’s head right into the top of the announce desk. Trick then hits with a series of chops. Back in the ring, Trick applies a side headlock. Both men then trade strikes. Trick then hits a jumping neckbreaker and we see Ricky Saints at the ringside area. Carmelo then hits a flying clothesline. Carmelo then hits Trick with a Dirty Diana for a near fall.
Trick then hits a pop-up uppercut. Both men then exchange kicks. Trick then hits another kick for a near fall. Carmelo then hits Trick with a First 48 for a near fall. Carmelo then heads to the top rope, but Trick nails him with a right hand. Trick then shoves Ricky Saints on the outside. Ricky is now up on the apron. Carmelo then drops Ricky on the apron. Trick then hits Carmelo with a Trick Shot for the win.
The winner of the Non-Title Match, WWE United States Champion Trick Williams!
We then see Sami Zayn in the back and he is hitting some inanimate objects, but he does not hit Johnny Gargano. Sami says Cody is his friend and he might have said some things, but now Cody wants to fight him. Sami then says he was always there for Cody and he did the right thing. Sami then says Johnny is the last real good guy. Sami then says he doesn’t let anybody change who he is. Sami then walks away and Johnny Gargano knocks over a water bottle.
We then see Ricky Saints talking to himself and Cathy Kelley asks him why was he out there. Ricky says he is not a rookie and he starts to talk about Carmelo Hayes until Carmelo punches him in the face and tells him to stay out of his business.
We then take a look at the return of Brock Lesnar.
Charlotte Flair then makes her way down to the ring for the next match of the night and she is accompanied by Alexa Bliss and Rhea Ripley follows. Fatal Influence then make their way down to the ring next.
Tag Team Match: “The Queen” Charlotte Flair and WWE Women’s Champion “The Eradicator” Rhea Ripley vs. Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley)
The match starts off with Charlotte Flair and Fallon Henley and Flair hits a clothesline. Flair then drops Lainey Reid off the apron. Henley then applies a waist lock. Rhea Ripley then comes in and she hits a kick to Reid. Ripley then sends Reid to the mat and she follows it up with a dropkick. Reid then hits a right hand and Ripley runs into a boot. Reid then goes for a Crossbody, but Ripley catches her mid-air and hits a fallaway slam. Flair then hits a big boot to Jacy Jayne. The fight then spills to the outside. Henley then slams Flair head-first into the announce desk and she follows it up with a clothesline.
Back in the ring, Henley continues the beatdown on Flair. Reid then enters the fray and she drives her elbow across the chest of her opponent. Reid then applies a side headlock. Flair then tries to fight back, but Reid puts her down again. Reid then drives her shoulder into the midsection of Flair. Henley then comes in and she lays a beatdown on her opponent. Flair then hits her signature chops to Fatal Influence. Flair then hits a big boot to Henley. Jayne then trips her up behind the referee’s back. Back in the ring, Reid hits a Twisting Suplex. Henley is now the legal woman. Flair then tries to fight back with a series of forearms.
Henley then drops her to her knees. Flair then takes out Reid. She then knocks Henley out and Reid cuts her leg down. Both women are now down following a collision. Ripley then comes in and she hits a clothesline to Reid and Henley. Ripley then hits a forearm to Reid and she follows it up with a superkick. Ripley then hits a German Suplex to Henley and she follows it up with a kick right to the temple of Reid. Ripley then hits a Razor’s Edge and she goes for a pin, but Henley breaks the fall. Flair then hits a big boot and she follows it up with a cannonball to Fatal Influence. Back in the ring, Reid superkicks Flair. Ripley then hits Reid with a Riptide. Flair then hits a Natural Selection for the win.
The winners of the Tag Team Match, “The Queen” Charlotte Flair and WWE Women’s Champion “The Eradicator” Rhea Ripley!
After the match, Flair, Ripley and Alexa Bliss are attacked by Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab. Fatal Influence also attack Flair and Bliss. Cargill and Ripley then remain in the ring and Ripley hits a head butt. Cargill then hits a bicycle kick and a Jaded.
We then see Cody Rhodes in his locker room and Cathy Kelley enters. Cathy asks about his match and if it is any different than his match next week against GUNTHER. Cody says Sami and him are friends. Cody then says he understands the anger and passive aggressive attitude. Cody then says he felt this same way 10 years. Cody then says he looked in the mirror and he became accountable. Cody then tells GUNTHER he can show up and watch the match.
We then look at Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu.
We then head to the back and Jade Cargill, B-Fab and MIchin are asked by Cathy Kelley about the message they sent. Michin says that wasn’t a message, it was the truth. She then says they will prove they are the dominant team. Fab then says they will save everything else for tomorrow. Jade then says everyone is talking too much. Jade then says they are all that matters in the company and she is all that matters being on top. She then says she is going to get her title back.
Damian Priest then makes his way down to the ring for the next match of the night and Solo Sikoa follows with the MFTs.
Singles Match: MFT’s Solo Sikoa vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Damian Priest
The match starts off with