WWE Friday Night SmackDown has one job tonight: close the door on the road to Backlash with enough heat, clarity and urgency to make Saturday’s Premium Live Event feel like a must-watch show. Coming out of last week’s chaotic episode, the blue brand has several stories pulling in different directions. Cody Rhodes was medically cleared, survived Ricky Saints in Saints’ SmackDown debut, and then got choked out by Gunther in a shocking closing statement from The Ring General. Jacob Fatu turned the Bloodline story into a full-blown war zone by destroying The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga ahead of his World Heavyweight Championship match against Roman Reigns. Tiffany Stratton is trying to establish herself as a fighting Women’s United States Champion, but that title is still fighting for real placement too because the Women’s United States Championship has still never been defended on a WWE Premium Live Event. Fatal Influence is trying to prove its arrival on SmackDown was not just a one-week shock. Trick Williams and Sami Zayn somehow have one of the strangest but most personal builds on the entire Backlash card. That is the balance tonight’s SmackDown has to strike: push the serious title fights, sharpen the character-driven stories, and make the final episode before Backlash feel like more than just a holding pattern.
Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show
- Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Kiana James — WWE Women’s United States Championship
- Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Fatal Influence
- Gunther appears live after attacking Cody Rhodes last week
- Trick Williams hosts The Funeral of the Gingerbread Man
Last week’s SmackDown opened with Cody Rhodes back in the center of the show, and that was the right call. After being cleared by medical, Cody came out in Tulsa and reminded everyone that he is still the top champion on the brand. The segment quickly shifted when Ricky Saints made his SmackDown debut, walked right into the deep end, and challenged Cody in a way that felt confident without feeling forced. Saints did not come across like somebody just happy to be called up. He came across like somebody who wanted to take Cody’s spotlight immediately. That mattered because WWE has to keep introducing fresh names to the main roster without making them feel like background players on night one.
The match itself was a strong debut showcase for Saints while still protecting Cody as the established champion. Saints jumped Cody early, dragged him into a more aggressive pace, worked him over with neckbreakers, knee drops, rope-based offense and DDT variations, and showed enough edge to make the match feel competitive. Cody’s comeback hit the usual big beats with the scoop powerslam, Disaster Kick and Cody Cutter before Saints nearly stole it with a modified DDT and tornado DDT. The finish was clean and decisive, with Cody escaping the Rochambeau and putting Saints away with Cross Rhodes. That was the right result. Saints got shine, Cody stayed strong, and the match gave SmackDown a fresh matchup that felt important.
Then Gunther changed the entire direction of the night. The Ring General blindsided Cody, locked in the Gojira Clutch, left the Undisputed WWE Champion laid out, and posed with the title. That was the kind of angle SmackDown needed because Cody’s title picture had been looking for a harder edge. Gunther instantly gave it one. The only issue is timing. If Gunther is not part of Backlash, then WWE has to be careful not to make Cody’s biggest story feel like it is already moving past Saturday’s PLE. Still, as a television hook, it worked. Tonight, Gunther appearing live should be treated like a major segment. He does not need to overtalk it. He needs to explain why Cody, why now, and whether this is the start of the next major championship program.
The women’s division also had a major story last week with Jacy Jayne defeating Charlotte Flair. That result was not small. Charlotte is still Charlotte, and having Jacy beat her in her first major SmackDown singles statement immediately gave Fatal Influence credibility. The match had the right structure: Charlotte controlled portions with chops, power and the Figure-Eight threat, but Fatal Influence’s numbers became the difference. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid got involved at the perfect time, Alexa Bliss tried to even it up, and Jacy stole the match with the Rolling Encore after the distraction. That is exactly how a new faction should be booked. They did not just talk about taking over. They manipulated the match, got the win and left Charlotte embarrassed.
The post-match attack also set up tonight’s six-woman tag in a clean way. Fatal Influence jumped Charlotte and Alexa until Rhea Ripley made the save. Rhea, Charlotte and Alexa are not a natural trio, and that is what makes the match interesting. Rhea has her own presence, Charlotte has her pride, and Alexa is stuck between history, friendship and survival. Fatal Influence should not be treated like cannon fodder tonight. If WWE wants Jacy, Fallon and Lainey to matter on SmackDown, they need to either win or lose in a way that keeps them dangerous. Putting them in the ring with Rhea, Charlotte and Alexa is a big test, but it is also the right kind of spotlight.
The tag title scene last week was one of the better in-ring pieces of the show. Damian Priest and R-Truth defended the WWE Tag Team Championships against Fraxiom, and the match worked because it gave Nathan Frazer and Axiom room to fly while letting Priest be the difference-maker. Fraxiom looked sharp with their double-team offense, quick tags, dives and near falls. R-Truth brought the crowd-friendly moments, including the John Cena tribute offense, but Priest gave the champions the finish with South of Heaven on Frazer and the Razor’s Edge on Axiom. Fraxiom losing was fine because the match showed they belong, but WWE has to be careful not to keep using teams like them as “good effort” challengers without follow-up.
The real story after the match was Talla Tonga and Solo Sikoa destroying everyone. Talla laid waste to the champions and challengers, and Solo used the moment to send another warning toward Roman Reigns, The Usos and Jacob Fatu. That brought Jimmy and Jey Uso into the picture, and the family drama kept tightening. The Usos made it clear that Jacob Fatu putting his hands on Roman crossed a line, while Solo made it clear he does not care about Roman’s authority anymore. The line about Roman not being his Tribal Chief was simple, direct and exactly what that story needed.
That all built to the main event, where The Usos faced Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga. The match was more about chaos than wrestling, but that was the point. Talla’s size and power gave MFT control, Solo played the disrespectful younger brother perfectly, and The Usos fought from underneath until Jey got the hot tag and the pace picked up. Then Jacob Fatu arrived and completely changed the energy. He attacked Talla, destroyed him with the Tongan Death Grip, sent him through the announce table with a Samoan Drop, and left everyone standing around him looking unsure of what to do next. That final image mattered. The Usos did not save Solo. Solo could not control Jacob. Talla could not stop him. Fatu walked out looking like the most dangerous man in the whole story.
That was probably the strongest piece of Backlash build on the show. Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu feels big because Jacob is being booked like a real monster, not just another family member taking a shot at the throne. The concern is that Roman was not physically present for the final SmackDown stretch last week, and if he is not a major part of tonight’s go-home push, WWE risks making the challenger feel hotter than the champion. That can work if the story is Roman being hunted, but tonight needs one more clear reminder that Backlash is Roman’s fight too.
The Trick Williams and Sami Zayn story is still the weirdest part of the road to Backlash, but it is also strangely memorable. Last week, Sami’s frustration with Trick’s entrance, energy, catchphrases and Gingerbread Man mind games finally boiled over. He cut a promo about disrespect, snapped, and destroyed the Gingerbread Man costume in front of the crowd. Trick rushed out, Sami escaped, medical checked on the Gingerbread Man, and WWE turned the whole thing into a full-blown memorial service waiting to happen.
Tonight, Trick Williams hosts The Funeral of the Gingerbread Man, and honestly, WWE should lean all the way into it like it is a real funeral. Put the flowers out. Dim the lights. Give him a framed picture. Let Trick stand at the podium like a grieving champion and deliver a full eulogy for a fallen friend who was taken too soon at the hands of Sami Zayn. Talk about the Gingerbread Man as a loyal soldier, a sweet soul, a cookie with courage, a man made of ginger, frosting and dreams who never asked for war but found himself crushed in the middle of one. Trick should mourn him like he was family. He should speak about the memories, the entrance, the dancing, the joy, the innocence, and then turn the entire eulogy into an indictment of Sami Zayn.
That is where the segment can work. It cannot just be comedy for comedy’s sake. Trick needs to make it clear that Sami did not just destroy a costume. In Trick’s world, Sami ruined a symbol of joy, confidence and swagger because he could not handle being embarrassed. Sami, on the other hand, has every reason to interrupt and call the whole thing a joke. That is the real story underneath the madness. Trick thinks Sami is bitter, uptight and losing control. Sami thinks Trick is disrespecting the United States Championship and turning their fight into a circus. If tonight’s funeral becomes a eulogy that ends with Sami snapping again, then WWE can take something ridiculous and actually turn it into heat for Backlash.
Tiffany Stratton defending the WWE Women’s United States Championship against Kiana James is the most straightforward match advertised for tonight, but it also speaks to a bigger problem with the title. Last week, Tiffany made it clear she wants to be a fighting champion and even teased the idea of more frequent title defenses. Kiana stepped up as Giulia’s representative, essentially trying to bring the championship back to their side after Tiffany ended Giulia’s reign. That is a smart first defense for Tiffany because Kiana gives her a credible opponent without jumping straight back into the Giulia rematch.
The bigger issue is that the Women’s United States Championship still has not been defended on a WWE Premium Live Event. That should not be overlooked. WWE introduced the title to give the women’s division more depth, more opportunity and another prize that could create new stories outside the world title picture. But if the championship keeps living mostly on television and never gets a true PLE spotlight, it becomes harder for fans to see it as a major title instead of a midcard accessory. Tiffany should retain tonight, but WWE needs to start treating this reign like the chance to fix that. Stratton has the star power, the presentation and the confidence to elevate the belt. Now the booking has to meet her halfway.
As far as the road to Backlash goes, SmackDown has had strong individual angles but uneven overall focus. The Bloodline material with Roman and Jacob has been hot. Gunther attacking Cody was a strong shock angle. Trick and Sami is memorable, even if it is walking the line between entertaining and too silly. Fatal Influence has been introduced well. Tiffany’s title reign has a clear first step, but the title itself still needs a bigger platform. The criticism is that some of the Backlash build still feels scattered. Cody and Gunther feels bigger than several matches actually on the PLE. The women’s six-person tag matters for SmackDown’s division, but it is not clearly tied to Backlash. The show has pieces that work, but tonight has to make them feel connected to the bigger weekend instead of just existing as separate television stories.
That is why tonight is important. This cannot be a show where WWE simply reminds fans that Backlash is tomorrow and calls it a night. The final SmackDown before a PLE should create urgency. Someone needs to leave stronger. Someone needs to lose control. Someone needs to make the audience feel like Saturday cannot be skipped. Gunther and Cody need a real next step. Roman and Jacob’s story needs one last explosive push. Trick and Sami need to turn the funeral segment into heat for the title match. Tiffany needs a strong first defense. Fatal Influence needs to prove last week was not a fluke.
Final Thoughts
Tonight’s SmackDown has a strong setup, but the execution matters more than the lineup. On paper, the show has a title match, a major six-woman tag, Gunther’s follow-up after attacking Cody Rhodes, and one of the strangest funeral segments WWE has done in a while. That is enough to make the final stop before Backlash feel loaded. The key is making sure the show does not drift. Last week had big moments, but tonight needs direction. Backlash is this Saturday, and SmackDown has to make every major story feel hotter by the time the show goes off the air. If WWE gives Gunther and Cody real weight, keeps Jacob Fatu looking dangerous, lets Tiffany Stratton start her reign strong, makes the Women’s United States Championship feel like it belongs on bigger stages, and turns the Trick Williams/Sami Zayn funeral chaos into actual championship heat, this can be a very effective go-home show.
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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?!