WWE SmackDown Results: Injured champ forfeits major title; former champs make in-ring debut - Winners, Recap, Grades & Highlights (May 19, 2023)
Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman kicked off SmackDown. The crowd acknowledged Roman before KO and Sami Zayn interrupted them, and the tag champs got in the ring.
"You can drop off my titles and you can see yourselves out..."
@WWERomanReigns isn't playing with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions @SamiZayn and @FightOwensFight tonight. 😮💨🔥
#SmackDown https://t.co/0W18kcE8ph
Roman told Zayn that inviting him to the Bloodline was the biggest mistake in his career. Zayn fired back, saying that Reigns may want the tag titles at Night of Champions, but he wasn't going to win since he wasn't as good as them or the Usos.
.@WWERomanReigns only has one regret... 👀
@SamiZayn @FightOwensFight @WWESoloSikoa @HeymanHustle
#SmackDown https://t.co/bBivAWKMwi
The Usos came in and attacked Sami and KO out of nowhere and took them out. Roman was furious and stormed out of the ring, bumping into Solo on his way out.
Backstage after a break, Roman yelled at the Usos for not following his orders.
Uh oh! 😬
The @WWEUsos just attacked @SamiZayn and @FightOwensFight and @WWERomanReigns isn't happy about it... 👀
#SmackDown https://t.co/gMewxGhP1T
WWE SmackDown Results (May 19, 2023): The Brawling Brutes vs. Pretty Deadly
Welcome to #SmackDown, #PrettyDeadly!
@KitWilson_PD @EltonPrince_PD #SmackDown https://t.co/A6eMlQA3u9
Ridge was in control early on against Elton Prince, but the latter managed to make a tag to Kit Wilson, who came in with a big DDT. Back after a break on SmackDown, Pretty Deadly got some big double-team moves before Butch was tagged in.
Butch hit some big suplexes and stomps before getting a near fall. Ridge came back, lifted both opponents and hit a big slam before he and Butch hit 10 Beats of the Bodhran.
The ref was distracted as Butch went down near the ropes. The former NXT Tag Champs Pretty Deadly hit their double-team finisher Spilt Milk on Ridge before picking up the win.
Result: Pretty Deadly def. The Brawling Brutes
Looks like their fingers are PRETTY BROKEN after that one...
#PrettyDeadly are battling The #BrawlingBrutes in what's sure to be a pretty brutal match in their #SmackDown debut! 😮💨🔥
@KitWilson_PD @EltonPrince_PD @PeteDunneYxB @RidgeWWE https://t.co/RVIYLq9RWu
Grade: B
Zelina Vega vs. Asuka on SmackDown
619 FROM @ZelinaVegaWWE! 👏👏👏
These two have been ON FIRE lately! 🔥 @WWEAsuka
#SmackDown https://t.co/H2cZ0cxUoI
Zelina got an early roll-up and some kicks before Asuka took the fight outside the ring and dropped Vega on the announce desk.
Back in the ring, Vega got the Meteora before The Empress went for the Asuka lock. Zelina reversed the hold, but Asuka countered it into a modified armbar before picking up the win via submission.
Result: Asuka def. Zelina Vega
WOAH... @BiancaBelairWWE was 🤏 THIS CLOSE to falling victim to @WWEAsuka's mist!
Will the #WWERaw Women's Champion be as lucky at #WWENOC? 👀
#SmackDown https://t.co/gz5PFWRXiV
Asuka attacked Vega after the match, and Bianca Belair came out to make the save. Asuka retreated, but Belair caught her by the hair from the apron.
Asuka hit the mist but barely missed the champ before retreating.
Grade: C
Grayson Waller was out with his talk show, and AJ Styles was the guest for tonight.
AJ talked about having his longest break due to injury recently and said he was ready to win the Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions.
Looks like @GraysonWWE has his pick for the World Heavyweight Championship Match at #WWENOC... will he be right? 🤔🏆
@AJStylesOrg #SmackDown https://t.co/gzIkLLcIf5
Waller told him that Seth Rollins would win instead, and the two had a staredown before SmackDown continued.
LA Knight & Rick Boogs vs. Street Profits on SmackDown
"Boogalicious Knights" The #StreetProfits vs. The ❔ "Boogalicious Knights" ❔ is happening RIGHT NOW on #SmackDown! https://t.co/ML5uya9K3G
Boogs was in control early on and lifted Ford over his head and bench-pressed him before tossing him away. Dawkins was tagged in, and Boggs lifted him, too, and did curls before hitting a hip toss.
Boogs made the tag to Knight, and Ford came in before he tossed Boogs and Knight outside and hit a big dive. Back in the ring, the Profits took down Boogs before Ford hit the Frog Splash for the win.
Result: Street Profits def. LA Knight & Rick Boogs
Knight picked Boogs off the mat after the match and hit a stunner, blaming him for the loss.
"YOU'RE TRASH!" 😤
After losing to The #StreetProfits, @RealLAKnight decided to teach his tag team partner @rickboogswwe a lesson...
#SmackDown YEAH! https://t.co/98QKP8y1KU
Grade: B-
Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn vs. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon on SmackDown
The champs were in control early on, and Dawn locked in a hold before Fyre came in with a superkick. Dawn sent one of her opponents out of the ring as the match continued.
The NXT Women's Tag Champs hit the Russian leg sweep and the Gory Bomb combo before picking up the quick win.
Result: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn def. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon
The #WWENXT Women's Tag Team Champions @IslaDawn and @wwe_alba are clearly ready to dominate on #SmackDown... 🔥 https://t.co/TUOhBdwyNq
Grade: D
We learned that Liv Morgan was injured last week, and it will cause Raquel Rodriguez to relinquish the women's tag titles.
There will be a fatal four-way tag match on the May 29 episode of RAW, and the winning team will be crowned the new women's tag champs.
BREAKING: The WWE Women's Tag Team Titles have been vacated. New champions will be crowned on the May 29th episode of #WWERaw. https://t.co/Hzrczwmeit
We got a short promo with Karrion Kross where he declared that he would be going after AJ Styles.
Tick Tock, @AJStylesOrg! ⏳
@realKILLERkross #SmackDown https://t.co/XQdC0fEuLG
Austin Theory was out next and talked about losing in the Heavyweight Title tournament. He taunted Sheamus for not helping him against Lashley before the Celtic Warrior came out and hit a Brogue Kick on him, dropped his mic, and left.
Without saying a single word, @WWESheamus sent a message to the US Champion @_Theory1... 💥🇺🇸
#SmackDown https://t.co/4qdoAWt84z
LWO vs. The Usos on SmackDown
This is The @WWEUsos like we've never seen them before. RUTHLESS. FOCUSED. DESPERATE. ☝️😤
Can @reymysterio and @EscobarWWE turn this match around?
#SmackDown https://t.co/GACqOBEN35
Rey and Jimmy kicked off the match, and tags were made early on before Escobar was isolated in the ring. Rey came back off the tag and got a senton and a springboard crossbody for a near fall.
Escobar came in and hit a big knee strike and a hurricanrana on Jimmy for a near fall. The Usos countered the 619 with a superkick before Jey got a near fall off a splash.
KO showed up and ran a distraction before Zayn came in with the assist and helped Rey hit the 619. Escobar came in with the top rope finisher and picked up the win.
Result: LWO def. The Usos
"The @WWEUsos' downward spiral continues thanks to @FightOwensFight and @SamiZayn!"
The Tribal Chief @WWERomanReigns is NOT happy. What does this mean for #TheBloodline? 👀☝️🤔
#SmackDown https://t.co/0c088eyesT
In the locker room, Roman was furious about the loss, and Solo was about to get up, but Reigns motioned for him to sit back down, which he did.
What does this mean for #TheBloodline? 👀
@WWERomanReigns @WWESoloSikoa @WWEUsos @HeymanHustle #SmackDown https://t.co/LH3bU4CLLu
Grade: B
Episode rating: B+
We got some great matches tonight on SmackDown, while The Bloodline had a face-to-face with KO and Sami Zayn ahead of Night of Champions.