WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Columbia, South Carolina, USA, Live on the USA Network, May 15th, 2026 — The Episode Recap:
- robbyplaha
- May 16
- 6 min read
Location: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
Where to Watch: Live on the USA Network.
What to Watch Next Week: WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Streaming Live on Peacock on Saturday at 8 P.M. ET, 7 P.M. CT, 5 P.M PT.
The May 15th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Official Match Results:
The Opening Match: Trick Williams (with Lil Yachty) defeated The Miz (with Kit Wilson) in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (11:18)
The 2nd Match: Brie Bella & Paige defeated Giulia & Kiana James in a Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:01)
The 3rd Match: Carmelo Hayes defeated Ricky Saints in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (12:44)
The 4th Match: Damian Priest defeated Tama Tonga in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:55)
The 5th Match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair defeated B-Fab & Michin (with Jade Cargill) in a Tag Team Match | via DQ — (11:58)
The Main Event Match: Gunther defeated Royce Keys in an Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender's Match | via Pin-Fall — (15:53)
My Official Thoughts on the May 15th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:
My Official Thoughts: We had an actual watchable episode of Friday Night SmackDown, which was highlighted by Carmelo Hayes & Royce Keys as they were the bright spots of this episode. This felt like a wrestling show; we had two solid matches out of six matches, which is not good, but they are making progress. I'm excited for Cody Rhodes & Gunther. The Women's Division is starting to heat up more. So I have to give credit, this was an actual solid episode of SmackDown.
The May 15th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Official Match Ratings:
The Opening Match: Trick Williams (with Lil Yachty) vs. The Miz (with Kit Wilson) in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: ** — I love Trick Williams, but he's a mirror-wrestler. He does better when he's in the ring with a very good wrestler, for example, his matches with Rey Fenix earlier this year, which were probably his best matches on the Main Roster. When he goes up against someone who isn't there anymore, it's not going to end well. But I'm a huge fan of Trick Williams; he has everything to offer as a Superstar, but this match wasn't it for me. I really thought there were some clunky moments, mixed in with some moments where I was shaking my head. But the ending, he hit his Trick-Shot Knee to get the win in his home-state, so I wonder who's his next feud because I hope it's Carmelo Hayes, as they have a lot of history.
The 2nd Match: Brie Bella & Paige vs. Giulia & Kiana James in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: *.25 — I really hope Brie Bella & Paige’s Title Reign ends soon because this has been a very horrible reign, and the matches aren't any better. Giulia & Kiana James are great talents, but their booking has been so questionable. Giulia should be in the Women's World Title Scene with Kiana James in the Mid-Card Title Scene, but they are jobbing out to Brie Bella & Paige. The match wasn't good whatsoever, really a down mark from this episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Fatal Influence members Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid need to win these WWE Women's Tag Team Titles sooner rather than later.
The 3rd Match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: ***.50 — Carmelo Hayes is finally back, now I see why this episode felt better than what we were getting the past week. Before their match, we saw a really good promo between both men. I liked how Carmelo Hayes is back and wants his WWE United States Title back. Ricky Saints is the cocky newcomer who wants to make himself known on SmackDown. The match itself was very fun. Carmelo Hayes never has horrible matches; you’re going to get a good match every time. But I liked how, with the finish of this match, they did protect Ricky Saints, but Carmelo Hayes used the tactic that Ricky Saints tried to do to get one over on him. But in his first match back, Carmelo Hayes got the win, but I don't think it's over between him and Ricky Saints. I want these two with Royce Keys to be in the WWE United States Title Division, and have a similar feud like what's going on on RAW with the WWE Intercontinental Title, which is held by Penta.
The 4th Match: Damian Priest vs. Tama Tonga in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: **.50 — I’m not interested in MFTs chasing the WWE Tag Team Titles. I'm simply over and done with the MFTs. Why are these guys always chasing belts with no interest from the fans? No one cares about them now. For Damian Priest, I appreciate the fact that he is trying his best to give a good match, but anything MFTs do poisons the show. Damian Priest had a solid showing in this match. This match was a lot better than last week’s match against Talla Tonga. Tama Tonga is a decent wrestler, always has been, dating back to his days in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Damian Priest & R-Truth just need to defend these titles against the MFTs to win the feud, then drop the titles to Fraxiom, then rebuild this SmackDown Tag Team Division.
The 5th Match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. B-Fab & MIchin (with Jade Cargill) in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: N/A — I really thought this match was going to be somewhat fun. I wanted to see Michin & Flair get some minutes against each other. But this match ended in a DQ finish, which made sense as we saw we're getting a super fun All-Star Six-Women Tag Team Match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, so that got me hooked. Jade Cargill contiunes to be the badass she is. I want the one-on-one with Charlotte Flair. I really wanna see how those two can go against each other, but this match, if it didn't have the DQ finish, would've been a five or a six for me, but I'm excited for the match at Saturday Night's Main Event next week in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Main Event Match: Gunther vs. Royce Keys in an Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | The Match Rating: **** — Now this is what I'm talking about. This was easily one of the best SmackDown Matches of this year, and Powerhouse Hobbs had a great performance against Gunther. Gunther fighting on SmackDown, please make this weekly. I need more Gunther wrestling on SmackDown. Royce Keys came into this match, and he was firing on all cylinders. This match was physical, hard-hitting & simply fun. I really liked how, back-to-back weeks, Royce Keys had a Main Event Match; in the process, he looked strong in this match. Gunther had some upper advantage as Solo Sikoa cost Royce Keys the match as he tried to give a chair, but Royce Keys denied, which allowed Gunther to hit the Powerbomb to secure the win, and now will face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed Title in Italy. Royce Keys is going to be a major in WWE, but please wrap this Solo Sikoa feud so he can focus on better things than a wrestler whom no one seems to care about anymore, but WWE Creative seems to shove him in our faces every single week, as no one seems to be invested in him.
The May 15th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Match of the Night: Gunther vs. Royce Keys in an Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | The Match Rating: **** — This was one of the best SmackDown matches this year, with Powerhouse Hobbs performing well against Gunther. Please make Gunther’s matches weekly on SmackDown; I want more of him. Royce Keys was impressive, and the match was physical and fun. Back-to-back weeks, he had a main event, showing strength. Gunther had an edge until Solo Sikoa interfered, costing Royce the match. Gunther then hit a Powerbomb to win and will face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed Title in Italy. Royce will be a major WWE star, but the Solo Sikoa feud should end, as no one cares about him anymore, even though WWE keeps pushing him.
The May 15th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Official Episode Grade: 6/10 (C) — Friday Night SmackDown delivered an episode that was actually worth watching, with Carmelo Hayes and Royce Keys standing out as the highlights of the show. It finally felt like a real wrestling program. While only two of the six matches were truly solid, which still isn’t great, it does show that they’re making progress. I’m really looking forward to Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther, and the Women’s Division is starting to heat up as well. Overall, I have to give them credit: this was a genuinely solid episode of SmackDown.
Next Week WWE Friday Night SmackDown May 22nd Episode in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Live on the USA Network — The Announced Appearances, Matches & Segments:
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga in a Singles Match.
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