WWE SmackDown on Friday, 22 May 2026, delivered a very compelling episode leading to Clash.
Held at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, the show built towards Clash in Italy while producing a main event that nobody expected. And the ending shifted the entire dynamic around the Undisputed WWE Championship picture. Gunther did not arrive to sign a contract. He arrived to send a message. He succeeded.
This episode centred on Cody Rhodes and everything threatening to destabilise his title reign before Clash in Italy. Sami Zayn’s frustration with Rhodes boiled over in public, leading to an impromptu match between two men who were supposed to be allies.
That match ended with Zayn making a significant decision in his recent career: he backed down when Gunther challenged him to act. Gunther choked Rhodes unconscious while Zayn watched and did nothing.
Meanwhile, the women’s divisions were just as active. Rhea Ripley accepted Jade Cargill’s rematch challenge for Clash in Italy and then teamed with Charlotte Flair in a tag match that exposed just how fragile the alliance between those two really is.
Meanwhile, Trick Williams retained the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes in a match that added yet another layer to one of SmackDown’s most watchable rivalries. A lot was happening in Lexington. Here is all of it.
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Quick Results: WWE SmackDown, May 22, 2026
- Talla Tonga defeated Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall (Chokeslam)
- Tiffany Stratton (c) defeated Lash Legend via pinfall (Women’s United States Championship Open Challenge)
- Trick Williams (c) defeated Carmelo Hayes via pinfall (United States Championship)
- Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley defeated Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid via pinfall
- Solo Sikoa defeated Damian Priest via pinfall (Samoan Spike)
- Cody Rhodes defeated Sami Zayn via pinfall (Cross Rhodes)
The Main Event: Zayn Backs Down, Gunther Stands Tall
The story of the night unfolded across multiple backstage segments before it ever reached the ring. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis confirmed to Rhodes that the Gunther match at Clash in Italy was already official, no contract signing required. Zayn, standing nearby, offered his help. Rhodes brushed him off. That decision had consequences.
Later, Rhodes told the cameras backstage that he no longer recognises the version of Zayn he is dealing with. That comment stung. Zayn spent time alone, knocking water bottles off tables and speaking to Johnny Gargano about feeling overlooked. That slow burn was building to something.
Rhodes and Zayn opened with handshakes, traded holds, and produced a competitive 13-minute bout that had the Lexington crowd fully invested. Rhodes hit a super Cody Cutter and survived a Blue Thunder Bomb and a figure four leg lock targeting his already injured left knee. Then Gunther climbed the apron.
With the referee distracted, Gunther locked Rhodes in a sleeper hold. Zayn ran over, looked set to intervene, and pulled back the moment Gunther glared at him. Rhodes escaped accidentally when Zayn’s misdirected Helluva Kick knocked Gunther off the apron instead. Rhodes hit the Cross Rhodes and got the pin. Then Gunther returned, applied the sleeper again, and choked Rhodes unconscious while Zayn stood in the ring and watched.
Gunther lifted the Undisputed WWE Championship above his head and left. Zayn left too. Neither offered a word of explanation.
This story is now considerably more interesting than a straightforward title match. Zayn’s slow-burn heel turn has found its defining moment.
Ripley and Flair: Uneasy Allies
Rhea Ripley opened the show by accepting Jade Cargill’s request for a Women’s Championship rematch at Clash in Italy. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss joined her immediately, reminding her of their six-woman tag match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The cracks between Ripley and Flair were visible from the first exchange.
Bliss eventually revealed she was not medically cleared, forcing Flair to tag with Ripley against Fatal Influence’s Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley. And the match produced exactly the tension the storyline needed. Flair tagged herself in just as Ripley was hitting the Riptide, stole the pinfall with Natural Selection, and celebrated as if nothing had happened.
Moments later, Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab stormed the ring. Fatal Influence attacked from behind simultaneously. The chaos concluded with Cargill hitting Jaded on Ripley. The visual was clear: heading into Clash in Italy, the champion is outnumbered and surrounded.
The Rest of the Night
Three other results shaped the episode’s landscape:
Talla Tonga defeated Shinsuke Nakamura cleanly with a Chokeslam, with Solo Sikoa’s attempted post-match Samoan Spike stopped by Tama Tonga.
Damian Priest arrived with a steel chair, leading directly to Priest vs Sikoa later in the night. Sikoa won with the Samoan Spike after consistent MFT interference throughout. Royce Keys made the save post-match, only for Priest to instinctively grab him by the throat. The friction between those two is building.
Tiffany Stratton retained the Women’s United States Championship against Lash Legend after Chelsea Green neutralised Nia Jax at ringside, allowing Stratton to roll up Legend for the quick pin.
Trick Williams retained the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes after Ricky Saints’ interference at ringside backfired on Hayes twice in the closing moments. Williams hit the Trick Shot for the decisive pinfall. Hayes confronted Saints immediately after, making clear he wants no involvement from anyone in his business.
Clash in Italy: What Is Confirmed So Far
- The card is taking shape quickly. Here is what has been officially set up heading into the Premium Live Event:
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther
- WWE Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Jade Cargill
- World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu (Tribal Combat)
- Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi (rematch)
- Six-Woman Tag Team Match: Ripley, Flair, and Bliss vs. Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab (confirmed for Saturday Night’s Main Event but feeding into the Clash storyline).
Italy Awaits, and Nobody Is Safe
Saturday Night’s Main Event airs this weekend, with Becky Lynch defending the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Sol Ruca, Penta defending the Intercontinental Championship against Ethan Page, and the six-woman tag headline match confirmed. For Nigerian fans specifically, the Oba Femi vs Lesnar rematch at Clash in Italy remains the most anticipated match on the card. After what Lesnar did on Raw last Monday, Femi will be walking into Italy with a score to settle.
SmackDown made one thing abundantly clear on Friday night. Heading into Clash in Italy, nobody’s alliances are safe, nobody’s title reign is secure, and Gunther is already operating like a champion. Cody Rhodes has a serious problem. He just does not know how serious yet.
