Report: WWE SmackDown to Stay at Three Hours for Now
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WWE SmackDown Results: Review, Grades, Card For May 30

By Lovell Porter

Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Bianca Belair returning, men’s and women’s Money in the Bank triple threat qualifying matches featuring Andrade clashing with Jacob Fatu and Carmelo Hayes, and Jade Cargill battling Nia Jax and Naomi, John Cena & Cody Rhodes facing off. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.

WWE SmackDown Card:

  • John Cena & Cody Rhodes Face-off
  • Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Andrade vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Bianca Belair Returns
  • Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax vs. Naomi

WWE SmackDown Results:

The EST of WWE

Bianca Belair skips to the ring in her hometown of Knoxville. Belair proclaims it is good to be home and leads her town in their fight song. The crowd eats all of this up. Belair waxes poetic about the love and support she gets when she’s back home. With all the turmoil Belair has been going through (losing the tag titles, losing at WrestleMania, losing friends), she had to come home to be in her safe space. Belair welcomes the crowd to SmackDown. Naomi’s music hits. Naomi says finally, Belair is back on SmackDown. Belair says this isn’t the time or place. Naomi says she just wants to talk. The crowd breaks out in a “you suck” chant. Belair asks Naomi what she wants from her. Naomi says she just wants Belair’s forgiveness.

Naomi says she’s been trying to get in touch with Belair for months. Belair shakes her head. Naomi said she even went by Belair’s parents’ house when she landed in Knoxville. Belair is livid. Bianca’s parents are in the crowd, and they both look very confused. Naomi notes that no one was home, so she let herself in. While Naomi was there, she searched Belair’s parents’ stuff and found a photo album. Naomi notes how happy Belair looked in the photos. That’s how happy they were as tag team champions. Naomi wants that back. Belair tells Naomi she is done with her.

If Naomi ever goes near Belair’s family again, what Naomi did to Jade Cargill won’t compare to what Belair will do to her. Naomi is visibly upset. Naomi’s expression changes, and she says it would be a shame for both Belair and Belair’s mother to be in wheelchairs. It would be a shame if something happened to Belair right now. Jade Cargill’s music hits. Cargill and Naomi brawl. Cargill sends Naomi out to the floor. Belair and Cargill have a staredown. Nia Jax‘s music hits, and she walks to the ring.

Grade: B

It was a good opener that led right into the first match of the night. The issues between Cargill, Naomi, and Belair are still quite entertaining, and it’s a good sign that even with Belair out with an injury, they are keeping her involved in the angle. Heel Naomi is the best version of Naomi. This writer is holding out hope that Naomi wins MITB and ends up cashing in on either Belair or Cargill (a lot has to happen for that to happen; walk with me on this one).

Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax vs. Naomi

The match started during the break. Naomi works over Cargill while Jax is laid out. Naomi beats Cargill in the corner. Jax charges in and crushes Cargill with a hip attack. Naomi dives off the top. Cargill catches Naomi and lands a fallaway slam. Jax breaks up the pin. Jax blasts Naomi with a pop-up headbutt. Samoan drop by Jax to Cargill. Jax lands a double leg drop. Jax flattens Naomi with a second rope leg drop. Naomi manages to kick at two. Naomi hilariously screams no while holding on to the bottom rope while Jax tries to pull her back to the middle of the ring. Jax tries a Samoan drop. Naomi reverses it into a crucifix bomb. Jax kicks out.

After the break, Jax and Naomi are double-teaming Cargill. Jax breaks up Naomi’s pin. Cargill fires up and lands a series of corner splashes. Jax accidentally crushes Naomi in the corner with a body block. Naomi lands a split-legged moonsault. Cargill breaks up Naomi’s pin and hits Jaded. Jax breaks up the pin. Jax lands a crossbody (yes, you read that correctly) off the second rope. Naomi kicks out. Jax lands an avalanche Samoan drop. Cargill breaks up the pin with a frog splash! Jax kicks out. Tower of Doom powerbomb by Jax. Jax stacks Cargill on top of Naomi and sets up the Annihilator. Naomi rolls out of the way, and Jax crushes Cargill. Naomi rolls Jax into a pin for the win!

Winner- Naomi

Grade: B-

This one started slow. Too slow. Things picked up once Cargill went on offense. This match got a LOT of time, which generally would be a bad thing, but this match benefited from having time to develop and build to the finish. It’s hard not to be impressed by some of the swings all three women took during this match. For both Cargill and Jax to fly multiple times during a match, you know they are out there trying to prove a point. Sans the slow start, they accomplished their mission. With that, we are officially on the Naomi for WWE Women’s Champion path. What a time to be alive.

R-Truth vs. JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa

Mateo drives Truth into the corner and lays in a few shoulder block. Mateo misses a corner splash. Truth lands a few strikes. Mateo flattens Truth while countering a suplex. Standing moonsault by Mateo. Mateo misses a senton. Truth attempts an AA, but can’t get Mateo up. Mateo hits Tour of the Islands for the win.

Winner- JC Mateo

After the match, Sikoa and Mateo beat down Truth. Jimmy Uso hits the ring with a chair. Sikoa begs off. Mateo attacks Jimmy from behind. Sikoa stops Mateo. Sikoa wants Jimmy back in the Bloodline. Mateo and Sikoa walk off.

Grade: C

This was designed to highlight Mateo, which it did, but something was missing here. Truth needed to get a bit more offense in. Considering Truth went toe-to-toe with the Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena a few days ago, it’s odd this match was such a squash. It would have added a ton to this contest, even if it was the offense that Mateo ran through or shrugged off. In fact, it would make Mateo look even more bad @$$.

The Street Profits are up

Montez Ford puts over the SmackDown tag team division. Ford proclaims The Street Profits are leading the charge. They will defend the tag titles against anyone. Fraxiom interrupts. Frazer says they want another shot since they didn’t get a fair shake last week. Ford says that until Wyatt Sicks got involved, they had Fraxiom smoked. Frazer wants to run it back. Motor City Machine Guns are out next. They want a shot. Next out is #DIY. They want a shot as well. The lights go out, and when they return, the Wyatt Sicks surround the ring. The Wyatt Sicks destroy everyone.

Grade: C-

The Street Profits cut good promos. Frazer and Axiom… not so much. This was your standard “everyone wants a title shot” thing, a trope that modern wrestling should avoid. It happens too often and is just a crutch to kill time on TV. The inclusion of the Wyatt Sicks in the tag team division makes zero sense. Why would they care about championships?

Rey Fenix and Je’Von Evans vs. Los Garza w/Santos Escobar

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is at the commentary desk for the match. Fenix and Berto trade strikes. Evans tags in and lands a springboard rana. Angel eats a cutter from Evans. Berto dives off the top into stereo superkicks from Fenix and Evans. After the break, Berto and Angel are working over Evans. Evans manages to tag in Fenix. Fenix clears the ring. Berto breaks up Fenix’s pin after a double jump moonsault. Spider kick by Fenix. Springboard clothesline by Evans. Berto blasts Evans with a springboard enziguri. Evans and Angel trade chops.

Evans tries another springboard rana, but Angel reverses it into a sit-out powerbomb. Kick out by Evans. Berto and Angel set up an avalanche of Spanish fly. Fenix breaks it up with a shoten. Evans lands a dive, taking everyone out. Page gets in Fenix and Evans’ faces. Page attacks Evans and Fenix. Evans superkicks Page. Evans sets up his finish. Page pushes Evans off the top while the referee is distracted. Angel and Berto hit their finish on Evans for the win.

Winners- Los Garza

Grade: B

This match was a fun watch. Evans shined in his SmackDown debut with his impressive high-flying offense. Having Page cost Fenix and Evans the match makes sense since he will be defending against both men at World’s Collide, but having Evans eat the pin in his debut is questionable at best. It seems Evans is always the one who eats the pin in these situations. At some point, the Young OG needs to win a damn match.

Women’s United States Champion Zelina Vega vs. Alba Fyre w/Piper Niven and Chelsea Green

Fyre takes control early. Vega counters a sidewalk slam into a rana. Fyre kicks out. Vega tries the corner 10 punches, but Fyre keeps pushing her away. Fyre slams Vega into the corner. Boot by Vega. Diving rana by Vega. Fyre rolls out of the ring—Pendulum Bull Hammer by Fyre. After a distractions from Green and Niven, Fyre superkicks Vega.

After the break, Vega fires up and gets a near fall after a top rope meteora. Fyre kicks out. Fyre avoids a moonsault from Vega. Fyre lands a swanton. Vega kicks out. Green takes off her protective face mask and tries to hit Vega with it. Vega ducks and Green nails Niven. Vega hits the Code Red for the win.

Winner- Zelina Vega

Grade: C+

Fyre gets points for wrestling in a suit. Hitman Low-ki would be proud. This match would have been better served if it was shorter. Much shorter. Vega having long competitive matches is ok here and there, but if her entire deal is winning out of nowhere, she should win out of nowhere. Quick wins over Green’s security detail wouldn’t hurt anyone.

All Rise…

Damian Priest says he can breathe fresh air now that he’s defeated Drew McIntyre. They went to war in a steel cage. Priest gave McIntyre a conchairto and walked out of the cage; McIntyre is in the past. Championships are next for Priest. Priest lost out on Money in the Bank, but he still has his eyes set on the most badass champion in WWE: Jacob Fatu. The crowd goes cheers. Priest puts over Fatu, but he doesn’t respect the crew Fatu follows. Priest wants a piece of Fatu. Priest leaves. As Priest walks up the ramp, Fatu’s music hits. Fatu and Priest have a staredown.

Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Andrade vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Carmelo Hayes w/The Miz

Miz tries to distract Fatu. Fatu and Andrade beat down Hayes. Fatu clears the ring. Miz grabs Fatu’s foot while he tries a dive. Hayes superkicks Fatu out of the ring. Fatu launches Miz into the barricade. Fatu’s running hip attack into the barricade lays Miz out cold. After the break, Hayes and Andrade avoid a hip attack from Fatu. Andrade lands a bullet train attack to Fatu. Hayes surprises Andrade with La Mistica. Andrade cuts Hayes off mid-springboard. Reverse Spanish fly by Andrade. Fatu surprises Andrade with a senton. Hayes eats a senton from Fatu as well. Fatu sets up his finish. Andrade tosses Fatu off the top and lands a feint moonsault. Hayes breaks up the pin. A three men trade strikes. Hayes lands a springboard double DDT.

First 48 by Hayes to Fatu. Andrade immediately lands a poison rana. The fight spills out of the ring. Fatu puts himself through the barricade after Hayes and Andrade push each other out of the way while Fatu charged. After the break, Andrade sets Hayes up on top. Fatu pushes both men off the top. Swanton by Fatu. Andrade breaks up the pin. Andrade breaks up the pin. Fatu picks up Hayes for a Samoan drop. Andrade floors Fatu with a feint elbow. Hayes spikes Fatu with a crucifix bomb. Andrade hops on Fatu while Hayes is pinning him.

Fatu kicks out of the double pin. Solo Sikoa and Jc Mateo walk down to ringside. Fatu misses his moonsault Hayes catches Fatu with Nothing but Net. Andrade breaks up the pin. A strike exchange between Andrade and Hayes ends with a feint elbow by Andrade. Fatu implant DDTs Andrade. Fatu hip attacks Hayes. Fatu lands his double jump moonsault. Sikoa and Mateo hop up on the apron. Sikoa orders Fatu to do another moonsault. Jimmy Uso appears and Superkicks Mateo. In the confusion, Andrade hits the Message on Hayes for the win.

Winner- Andrade

Fatu argues with Sikoa and Mateo.

Grade: B

This triple-threat match was a high-octane contest with big bumps and convincing near falls. The finish stunk. Having Andrade in the MITB is a wasted spot. Andrade’s mother doesn’t believe he has a shot at winning MITB.

Cody Rhodes Returns

Rhodes asks Knoxville what they want to talk about. Rhodes talks about the doubtful moment he had after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes asked a friend if he was a good champion. That friend says he was a good champion despite all the challenges Rhodes faced. Rhodes talks about his last year in WWE and the many challenges he’s faced. Rhodes mentions John Cena and his hesitation to use a weapon at WrestleMania. The crowd cheers as Rhdoes talks about burning Cena’s ass up.

Rhodes asks Knoxville what they want to talk about. Rhodes talks about the doubtful moment he had after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes asked a friend if he was a good champion. That friend says he was a good champion despite all the challenges Rhodes faced. Rhodes talks about his last year in WWE and the many challenges he’s faced. Rhodes mentions John Cena and his hesitation to use a weapon at WrestleMania. The crowd cheers as Rhdoes talks about burning Cena’s ass up. Rhodes says he has a surprise. Rhodes introduces his MITB tag team partner, World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso.

John Cena is out next. Cena calls Jey and Rhode John Cena wannabes. Another person in WWE embodies hustle, loyalty, and respect. Cena’s tag partner at MTIB: Logan Paul. Paul joins Cena in the ring. Cena runs down Rhodes and Jey. Paul runs down Knoxville. A brawl is about to break out. Paul wants to fight. Cena wants to leave. Rhodes asks if they are going to go back so Paul can polish Cena’s Peace Makeer. Everyone fights. Jey and Rhodes clear the ring.

This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.

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Lovell Porter
Lovell Porter

Lovell Porter is the lead Play-by-Play Analyst for Wrestlezone.com. Lovell handles the live coverage for Monday Night RAW, NXT, and all WWE Special Events. Lovell is a lifelong professional wrestling fan that has been covering the sport professionally since 2015.

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