WWE has confirmed several things for Friday’s edition of SmackDown, with Cody Rhodes, GUNTHER, and Rhea Ripley all set to appear ahead of Clash in Italy on May 30.
Per WWE’s announcement, the show will feature Rhodes and GUNTHER ahead of their Undisputed WWE Championship match at Clash in Italy. The two will appear separately on the broadcast.
Rhea Ripley will open the show in response to Jade Cargill’s challenge for the WWE Women’s Championship at Clash in Italy. Cargill issued the challenge on the May 19 Raw, with Ripley now needing to formally respond on her own brand. The Women’s Championship match at Clash in Italy has not yet been confirmed.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tama Tonga is the only confirmed in-ring match on the SmackDown lineup as of writing. Nakamura has been working a heel singles run on the brand. Tonga has been a member of the MFTs faction and was recently part of a tag team unit reshuffling following the post-WrestleMania 42 cuts wave, which removed Jeff Cobb and Tonga Loa from the company.
The current SmackDown May 22 lineup:
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tama Tonga
- Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER to appear
- Rhea Ripley to open the show
