Full Show Recap: SmackDown Live From Tulsa
The May 1, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown emanated from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with Backlash 2026 on May 9 in Tampa, Florida only eight days away. The show ran three hours on the USA Network and packed in a championship debut match, the “death” of the Gingerbread Man, a Bloodline-vs-MFTs-vs-Jacob Fatu free-for-all, and a post-match Gunther attack that reset Cody Rhodes’ entire SmackDown title picture.
Cody Rhodes Cleared, Loses To… Wait, Beats Ricky Saints
The show opened with a Roman Reigns/Jacob Fatu Raw recap before Cody Rhodes came to the ring. Rhodes announced he had met with the medical staff and Nick Aldis and had been officially cleared after the orbital injury he suffered against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. Ricky Saints’ music hit and SmackDown’s newest call-up made his main roster debut.
Saints cut his introductory promo: “They boo what they don’t understand. I’m the hottest, newest, flyest free agent in the business. If you don’t know about me, you better ask about me. I’m everything your baby mama wishes you were.” Saints called himself the leader of “the revolution” and welcomed everyone to “Friday Night Saints” before saying he was there to relieve Cody of his duties as champion. The two shook hands and the match was set for later in the night.
The match itself was a non-title contest, not a championship match. Rhodes won clean with the Cross Rhodes after Saints kicked out of the Disaster Kick and Cody Cutter combination. Post-match, GUNTHER hit the ring and locked in the Gojira Clutch, choking Rhodes out cold. Gunther refused to release the hold even after Rhodes was unconscious, forcing referees to physically pry him off. The crowd serenaded Gunther with “you suck” chants, but they were also booing Rhodes, signaling the audience is ready for a heel turn or a fresh challenger.
Charlotte Flair Loses To Jacy Jayne; Rhea Ripley Makes The Save
Backstage before the opening contest, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley approached Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Ripley told Flair she had tried to take Fatal Influence on alone last week and got ambushed, and she was willing to put differences aside. Bliss agreed. Flair refused, saying just because they teamed before doesn’t mean they will team again.
Jacy Jayne, with Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid in her corner, cut a promo on the Tulsa crowd before the match. The match went 10:05 and Jayne picked up the win after Henley pulled Flair’s arms during a Figure 8 attempt while the referee wasn’t looking. Jayne dropped Flair with the Rolling Encore for the pin. Post-match, Fatal Influence stomped Flair and Bliss before Rhea Ripley ran in for the save. Ripley took out Henley and Reid before going for a Riptide on Jayne. Jayne slipped out and shoved Ripley toward Flair, but Ripley stopped before colliding with The Queen. After a tense moment, Flair extended her hand and Ripley accepted.
The MFTs Defeat The Usos; Jacob Fatu Wrecks Both Sides
The main event was Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga vs. The Usos. Earlier in the night, Sikoa cut a promo claiming Jacob Fatu took out his family and would be a “dead man walking” when he showed up. Jimmy Uso came out and said Roman Reigns has a problem with Fatu too, and Jey Uso added that Fatu used the Tongan Death Grip on Reigns, which is a sacred move handed down through the Tonga family. Sikoa refused to wait his turn, and after he and Talla agreed to leave, Talla attacked the Usos on Sikoa’s signal. Sikoa told the Usos to tell Reigns he isn’t his Tribal Chief and the MFTs will go after Fatu whether Reigns likes it or not.
In the actual match, Talla beat down both Usos for most of the contest. The finish came when Talla started tearing apart the announce table and Jacob Fatu ran in from the crowd to attack him, causing the disqualification. Fatu smashed Talla with the steel steps, then locked Solo Sikoa in the Tongan Death Grip in the ring. Talla tried to make the save but ate a Tongan Death Grip of his own before Fatu drove him through the announce table with a Samoan Drop. Fatu got in the ring with the Usos and walked right between them without making contact. He grabbed a mic on the ramp and told the Usos to tell Roman Reigns he was going to “dogwalk his ass at Backlash” because he’s “all gas, no brakes.”
The Gingerbread Man Dies; Trick Williams Plans Funeral
Sami Zayn came to the ring with the Gingerbread Man costume and cut a promo where he compared himself to Bob Dylan, saying when Dylan went electric everyone booed him. Zayn said he didn’t understand why fans were booing him before snapping and beating the Gingerbread Man costume, low-blowing it, ripping off an arm, and tearing it apart. Trick Williams ran out, chased Zayn off, and threw up the X sign at ringside.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Williams when a physician approached and informed him the Gingerbread Man “did not survive.” Williams demanded a US Title rematch against Zayn at Backlash. Nick Aldis confirmed the match. WWE then aired an “In Memoriam” graphic for the Gingerbread Man, and announced Trick will host a funeral for him next week on SmackDown.
Tag Title Match, Women’s Tag Title Match, Royce Keys Squash
Damian Priest and R-Truth retained the WWE Tag Team Championship over Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom). The match was set up backstage when Truth misunderstood a conversation with Frazer and Axiom about taxes and inadvertently agreed to defend the titles against them.
Paige and Brie Bella retained the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship over The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) in a match described by multiple reviewers as sloppy. The MFTs came out post-match to attack both teams, with Talla Tonga wiping out all four women.
Royce Keys squashed Angel Garza in a quick singles match with the Ultimate Spinebuster. Keys later had a backstage scene with Jacob Fatu where the two reminisced about their 15-year friendship before WWE. Keys told Fatu the Bloodline was back in business, that he wanted Fatu to be the man on top, and that “people like us take everything we want.” As they went to walk off, Talla Tonga attacked Keys and put him through a table, and the MFTs laid out Fatu before officials broke things up.
Backlash Card Updates and Next Week
Two new matches were announced for Backlash on May 9: Trick Williams defending the United States Championship against Sami Zayn, and Danhausen with a partner of his choosing vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson. The Danhausen match was set up after Miz and Wilson tried to prank Danhausen with a baby-powder briefcase and accidentally got it in their own faces.
For next week’s SmackDown on May 8: Tiffany Stratton defends the Women’s United States Championship against Kiana James after Stratton’s open challenge was answered by Chelsea Green and Giulia, with Stratton ultimately picking James. A six-woman tag with Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and Rhea Ripley vs. Fatal Influence is also set, along with the Gingerbread Man funeral.
Match Results
- MFT (Solo Sikoa & Talla Tonga) def. The Usos
- Paige & Brie Bella (c) def. The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend) — WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
- Royce Keys def. Angel Garza
- Cody Rhodes def. Ricky Saints (non-title)
- Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) def. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) — WWE Tag Team Championship
- Jacy Jayne def. Charlotte Flair (10:05)
