WWE SmackDown Results: Bad Bunny joins top stable; champs attacked ahead of Backlash - Winners, Recap, Grades, and Highlights (May 5, 2023)

The SmackDown before Backlash kicked off with the LWO coming out to greet the crowd in Puerto Rico. Rey Mysterio introduced Zelina Vega as the future SmackDown Women's Champ before Judgment Day showed up.

The LWO are kicking off #SmackDown LIVE from Puerto Rico RIGHT NOW! 🔥🇵🇷 https://t.co/rmFvaAEqMn

Dominik Mysterio tore up an LWO shirt he stole from the crowd before joining Rey and the others in the ring. The two teams argued in Espanol before Rey challenged Dom to a rematch. Ripley stepped in, and they eventually decided on a mixed tag match with Rey and Zelina.

Puerto Rico is FIRED UP!!! 🔥

Are we going to see @DomMysterio35 & @RheaRipley_WWE vs. @reymysterio & @ZelinaVegaWWE TONIGHT? 👀

#SmackDown https://t.co/Uq2eswz1PR

WWE SmackDown Results (May 5, 2023): The O.C. vs. The Viking Raiders

HOW IS THE ROOF STILL ATTACHED? This crowd is AMPED UP! 🔥👏

The O.C. is looking to prove their place on the blue brand against The #VikingRaiders tonight!

#SmackDown https://t.co/2Yx76PzRmf

AJ Styles was on commentary, and the Vikings were in control early on, with Anderson isolated in the ring. Michin and Valhalla got in each other's faces before Gallows was tagged in and got some big moves.

Erik took a big boot and a powerbomb before Ivar tried for a dive but was countered. Michin wiped out Valhalla at ringside, and the distraction helped Gallows slip out of Ivar's reach and hit the Magic Killer with Anderson for the win.

Result: The O.C. def. The Viking Raiders

Grade: B

THE CHAMP HAS ARRIVED! 💥

#WWERaw Women's Champion @BiancaBelairWWE is here on #SmackDown! https://t.co/lh6IflDfmS

Bianca Belair was out next, and she was interrupted by Damage CTRL. Bayley and the gang got in the champ's face before a brawl broke out.

The women's tag champs Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez showed up to defend Belair and cleared the ring of Damage CTRL before SmackDown moved on.

#DamageCTRL just attacked the #WWERaw Women's Champion @BiancaBelairWWE ahead of her Title Match against @Iyo_SkyWWE tomorrow at #WWEBacklash!

Luckily the champ has some friends on #SmackDown... 😏 https://t.co/9xidk1706l

The Street Profits vs. Imperium on SmackDown

Kaiser sent Ford outside early on and tagged Vinci in, who hit a big dive on top of both opponents. Back in the ring, Ford was isolated but came back with a big suplex on Kaiser.

Dawkins tagged in and cleaned houses before getting the Anointment. He then tagged in Ford for the Frog Splash before they picked up the quick win.

Result: The Street Profits def. Imperium

🐸 SPLASH!

@MontezFordWWE @AngeloDawkins #SmackDown https://t.co/20PHYuN3C5

Grade: D

Cody Rhodes came out to massive pop from the crowd and hyped his match against Brock Lesnar at Backlash tomorrow.

He called Brock a coward and said he would beat him tomorrow night at Backlash before SmackDown moved on.

"Tomorrow! I bring the pain #BrockLesnar!"

@CodyRhodes #SmackDown https://t.co/hKl4gYc7mG

Riddle, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens were backstage, and Riddle gave a whole monologue about beating the Bloodline before we headed for the next match.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross on SmackDown

This is match is BRUTAL... 😧

@realKILLERkross wants to END @ShinsukeN here tonight and it doesn't look like he's going to stop until he does! ⏳

#SmackDown https://t.co/APkJYzqjj3

Kross started strong and took Nakamura into the corner before the latter came back with a big boot. The superstars rolled outside, and Kross powerbombed Nakamura into the ring post before we headed for a break.

Back on SmacKDown, Kross got the Doomsday Saito suplex off a distraction from Scarlett, but Nakamura kicked out. Nakamura countered the Kross Jacket as well and turned it into an armbar and then a guillotine.

Nakamura got a kick to the head and a German Suplex, but Kross dodged the Kinshasa. Kross recovered and tried for the Saito again but was denied before Nakamura got the Kinshasa and picked up the win.

Result: Shinsuke Nakamura def. Karrion Kross

Kinshasa from @ShinsukeN!

#SmackDown https://t.co/LXs4mbibOw

Grade: B

Adam Pearce welcomed Cameron Grimes to SmackDown before Baron Corbin showed up and tried to make fun of him. Grimes and Corbin decided on a match next week before we headed for the main event.

NEXT WEEK @CGrimesWWE makes his #SmackDown debut against @BaronCorbinWWE!

Time for Grimes to show the WWE Universe what he's got! 💪😤

#SmackDown https://t.co/BDh5bIi9kC

LWO vs. Judgment Day on SmackDown

#WrestleMania flashbacks! 👀💥 @DomMysterio35 and his father @reymysterio going at it!

@ZelinaVegaWWE and @RheaRipley_WWE giving us a preview of what's to come tomorrow night at #WWEBacklash!

#SmackDown https://t.co/v8tzvBJ4t2

Vega and Ripley kicked off the match, and the champ was in control early on and sent Vega outside before we headed for a break. Back on SmackDown, Dominik took Rey down off the apron while Ripley was still dominating in the ring.

Mysterio was finally tagged in and hit a big crossbody before setting up for a corner move but was denied. Dom took Rey down with a big suplex and got a near fall before getting caught in the Hurricanrana.

Dom was in the 619 position when Ripley tried to interfere but got taken out by Vega. Rey got the 619, but Balor ran distraction, letting Dom counter the splash. Dom tried for the Three Amigos, but Rey rolled him up in between the Suplexes before picking the win.

Result: LWO def. Judgment Day

#LWO's @ReyMysterio gets the victory over @DomMysterio35 to close out #SmackDown! https://t.co/btd8vDyFWr

Grade: B+

After the match, Judgment Day attacked Rey before Bad Bunny came out with the rest of LWO. Santos and his crew took down Balor and Dom before Priest and Bunny stared each other down in the ring.

🐰 x #LWO

#SmackDown https://t.co/8a9GxX9gOP

Before they could fight, Dominik came in from behind and got wiped out before Judgment Day retreated. The show went off the air with LWO handing Bad Bunny one of their shirts, who put it on and is possibly now an honorary member.

Bad Bunny has arrived! 🔥

@sanbenito #SmackDown https://t.co/mgAY5sDbkz

Episode rating: B

We got some great matches tonight on the SmackDown before Backlash, while Cody Rhodes cut a promo about his match against Brock Lesnar tomorrow.