WWE Friday Night SmackDown comes into tonight’s show from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky with a much stronger advertised lineup than it originally had. This is the final stop before tomorrow’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, but it is also one of the last major SmackDown chapters on the road to Clash In Italy on Sunday, May 31st. That gives tonight’s episode a real job to do. WWE has to sell Saturday Night’s Main Event, add more heat to Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther, push Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill closer to their next collision, give Tiffany Stratton’s Women’s United States Championship reign more purpose, and keep the United States Championship picture moving with Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams and Lil Yachty. Now that the official preview is filled out, tonight no longer feels like a one-match show. It feels like an episode that has to deliver.
Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show
- Gunther responds after being attacked by Cody Rhodes
- WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley kicks off SmackDown to respond to Jade Cargill
- Tiffany Stratton issues a Women’s United States Championship Open Challenge
- Carmelo Hayes has a message for United States Champion Trick Williams and Lil Yachty
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga
Last week’s SmackDown gave tonight a lot to follow up on. Trick Williams defeated The Miz in Columbia, South Carolina, giving the United States Champion a strong hometown win in front of his people. Miz and Kit Wilson tried to ruin the moment, but Lil Yachty helped even the odds, allowing Trick to hit the Trick Shot and leave with momentum. That was the right call. Trick should not be losing in his hometown while holding gold. The question now is whether WWE can make his reign feel bigger than crowd reactions and celebrity involvement.
That is where Carmelo Hayes comes in. Carmelo returned last week, defeated Ricky Saints and immediately put himself back near the United States Title picture. Tonight, he has a message for Trick Williams and Lil Yachty, and that should be one of the most important segments on the show. Trick vs. Melo is too easy not to use. It has history, ego, attitude, chemistry and a championship that can benefit from two younger stars treating it like the biggest prize on SmackDown. WWE should not overcomplicate it.
Gunther responding to Cody Rhodes is the biggest Clash In Italy hook tonight. Last week, Gunther defeated Royce Keys to become the No. 1 contender to Cody’s Undisputed WWE Championship, but Cody got the last word by dropping him with Cross Rhodes. That was a strong image because it reminded everyone that Cody is not walking into Italy as a passive champion. Tonight, Gunther needs to answer in a way that makes the match feel dangerous. He should not be loud just to be loud. Gunther is at his best when he is cold, direct and insulting without wasting words. Cody’s emotion, pageantry and connection with the fans are exactly the kind of things Gunther should pick apart.
Rhea Ripley opening SmackDown to respond to Jade Cargill also gives tonight a major women’s division centerpiece. Jade, Michin and B-Fab stood tall last week after attacking Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, which gave their side momentum before tomorrow’s six-woman tag match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. But tonight has to sharpen Jade’s story. Jade lost the WWE Women’s Championship to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42, so her challenge for a rematch should feel personal. She cannot just be booked as someone who shows up, attacks people and leaves. Her anger needs a reason, and Rhea’s response needs to make the title scene feel heated going into both Saturday Night’s Main Event and Clash In Italy.
Tiffany Stratton issuing a Women’s United States Championship Open Challenge might be the most interesting addition to the card because it gives tonight some unpredictability. Tiffany successfully defending against Kiana James two weeks ago helped stabilize her reign, but an open challenge gives WWE a chance to either elevate a surprise opponent or put Tiffany in a match that reminds everyone why the title matters. The Women’s United States Championship still needs consistent presentation, and this is a good opportunity to make the belt feel active instead of secondary.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga is still the only advertised match, and it now fits better inside the full preview. Nakamura has been trying to plant doubt in Tama Tonga’s mind, while Solo Sikoa is using Talla Tonga as the enforcer standing in his way. That gives the match more meaning than veteran vs. monster. Nakamura is fighting Solo’s grip over Tama. Talla is fighting to keep that control intact.
The finish matters. Talla should not be beaten clean if WWE wants him to feel like a serious force, but Nakamura should not be treated like someone who exists just to get destroyed either. The smartest route is controlled chaos: Solo getting involved, Tama hesitating, Nakamura getting close to breaking through, and Talla either stealing the win or leaving Nakamura laid out after the match. That keeps the story alive without cutting anyone down too early.
The stronger lineup helps tonight, but WWE still has to execute. A final SmackDown before Saturday Night’s Main Event cannot feel like a recap show. Gunther needs edge. Rhea needs fire. Jade needs purpose. Tiffany’s open challenge needs to matter. Carmelo’s message needs to push the United States Title picture forward. Nakamura and Talla need to give the MFT story more depth than another Bloodline-adjacent beatdown.
Current WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event match card
- Penta (c) vs. Ethan Page (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
- The Vision (Logan Paul & Austin Theory) (c) vs. The Street Profits (WWE World Tag Team Championship)
- Paige & Brie Bella (c) vs. The Irresistible Forces (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
- WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab
- Becky Lynch vs. Sol Ruca
Current WWE Clash In Italy match card
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther (Undisputed WWE Championship)
- Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu (WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Tribal Combat)
- Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
Final thoughts
This updated SmackDown preview feels much stronger than the original version because WWE finally gave tonight a real advertised lineup. Gunther responding to Cody Rhodes gives the Clash In Italy build a needed spark. Rhea Ripley opening the show gives the women’s title scene a major spotlight. Tiffany Stratton’s open challenge adds unpredictability. Carmelo Hayes addressing Trick Williams and Lil Yachty gives the United States Title picture direction. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga gives the MFT story an actual match with emotional stakes.
Now WWE has to make the show feel as important as the lineup suggests. Tonight is the final stop before Saturday Night’s Main Event and one of the last key SmackDown episodes before Clash In Italy. That means the episode cannot coast. It needs sharp promos, meaningful follow-up and at least one or two moments that make tomorrow and next Sunday feel bigger. The card is finally there. Now the execution has to match it.
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I’m the quiet one until the bell rings then I’ve got takes. I live for WWE NXT and TNA, I want every promotion to succeed, and I will absolutely roast the bad decisions on sight (because someone has to). Anime taught me to respect long-term storytelling; wrestling taught me that sometimes the plan is “we panicked” and called it “unpredictable.” The Miz got me into all of this, so yeah I appreciate confidence, commitment, and the art of talking like you’re already the main event. Now I bring that same energy to the page as the main writer for Late Night Crew Wrestling because if you’re not here to be must-see and tell the truth, why are you here?!