WWE SmackDown comes out of WrestleMania 42 Backlash and into the build for both Saturday Night’s Main Event on May 23 and Clash in Italy on May 31, with tonight’s Backlash fallout episode airing live from the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina at 8 PM ET on USA Network and Netflix outside the United States. The University of South Carolina campus venue puts United States Champion Trick Williams in his hometown for a homecoming celebration, with major calls coming on the GUNTHER-Cody Rhodes Clash in Italy build, the Jade Cargill-Rhea Ripley fallout, and the start of the Jacob Fatu post-Backlash story.
The official WWE announcements for tonight:
- GUNTHER decides whether to officially join the SmackDown brand to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash in Italy
- Trick Williams returns to the University of South Carolina for a homecoming celebration
- Jade Cargill addresses last week’s attack on Rhea Ripley
GUNTHER all but joined SmackDown last Friday, with Paul Heyman fulfilling the favor he owed The Ring General by setting up a contract for a match between GUNTHER and Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Tonight’s show is positioned as GUNTHER’s formal decision to sign the SmackDown contract and lock in the Clash in Italy challenge in Turin on May 31. Rhodes has already signed his side. The two have been on a heated collision course since GUNTHER’s sneak attack on the May 1 episode of SmackDown, and the official confirmation tonight would set the Clash in Italy main event.
Trick Williams comes home to Columbia after retaining the United States Championship over Sami Zayn at Backlash for the second consecutive PLE, with Lil Yachty’s distraction setting up the Trick Shot finish. Williams played college football at South Carolina under his real name, Matrick Belton, from 2014 through 2016 before transitioning to wrestling and signing his WWE developmental deal in 2021. The post-Backlash crowd chanted for Carmelo Hayes as Williams’ next challenger, and Hayes is advertised on the Colonial Life Arena listing for tonight. A Williams vs Hayes title program for Saturday Night’s Main Event or Clash in Italy could get a confrontation tonight.
Jade Cargill returned to WWE TV last Friday for the first time since dropping the WWE Women’s Championship to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42, immediately setting her sights back on Ripley by interrupting a six-woman tag with B-Fab and Michin. The interference caused Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss to lose to Fatal Influence. Cargill will address the attack tonight and clarify what comes next. Both Ripley and Cargill are advertised for the show.
Chelsea Green is also expected on the show less than two weeks after undergoing a heart procedure to correct supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Green confirmed her return on social media after attending the Los Angeles premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu Thursday night with husband Matt Cardona, who turned 41 on Thursday.
“From The Mandalorian and Grogu premiere tonight in LA straight to SmackDown.”
From #TheMandalorian and Grogu premiere tonight in LA straight to #SmackDown in Charlotte!@starwars @Disney @WWE @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/xEzEMmlF58
— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) May 15, 2026
Green underwent the SVT ablation procedure on May 4 after the condition was finally caught following an episode around WrestleMania 42, where her heart rate hit 228 beats per minute for a 15-minute stretch. She had been on bed rest in the immediate post-procedure window and has since been cleared of it. She is also currently dealing with an ankle injury and has been continuing her on-screen storyline with United States Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton via pre-recorded vignettes, including last week’s segment, where Stratton continued to reject Green’s attempts at friendship. Stratton is advertised for tonight’s show.
The full list of WWE Superstars advertised for the SmackDown Columbia show per Colonial Life Arena: Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Trick Williams, Brie Bella, Paige, Sami Zayn, Jacob Fatu, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Tiffany Stratton, Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill, and more. GUNTHER, Carmelo Hayes, and Chelsea Green are expected based on the storyline placements above.
