The WWE Smackdown Reaction for May 6, 2022

Welcome to the WWE Smackdown Reaction, where I offer my take on this week’s show from Long Island. It’s the last Smackdown before WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday.

As always, you can check out John’s full in-depth review here.

We kick things off this week with a recap of last week’s beat the clock challenge before Charlotte Flair came down to the ring for a rematch against Aliyah. Instead of fighting Aliyah, Flair decides to channel her inner 2000 Triple H and cut a long-winded boring promo. Flair then beat up Aliyah so that Ronda Rousey could make the save. Flair and Rousey have a great pull-apart brawl that this feud sorely needed. I’m still picking Rousey to win the title at WrestleMania Backlash.

Our actual opening contest has Sasha Banks taking on Shayna Baszler. Naomi had a wrap on her arm to sell last week’s attack. This was a really good match between these two. They went back and forth with sufficient time given to them. The ending came with Natalya helping Baszler keep Banks down in the pin. After the match, Natalya and Baszler tried a cheap attack, but Banks and Naomi repelled them this time. It was announced that the Women’s Tag Title match is next week on Smackdown. I don’t expect a title change. The match should be good though.

Happy Talk is up next and the segment just outright bombs. Nobody cared for Corbin or the awful jokes that Madcap Moss told. This feud really needs to end. I’m hoping the blowoff match is at WrestleMania Backlash. Moss is going to need a new gimmick once this feud is over too for him to progress up the card as a face.

Drew Gulak is out and back doing what he does best, getting absolutely destroyed by Gunther. Well, at least he lost to someone in the Men’s Division this week.

Shinsuke Nakamura remembered he was supposed to be feuding with Roman Reigns and said that he’ll be coming for him, sometime.

Up next, Sheamus and Ridge Holland take on the New Day in a tables match. Looks like we are still playing the Where’s Butch game. Let’s hope Butch is getting his name back. The was a really good tables match. Kofi had a spot where he jumped off the ring post and knocked Sheamus through the barricade. That was a very impressive visual. This was one of the more entertaining tables match as of late. The end came when we found Butch hiding under the ring and attacked New Day, to set up Woods going through a table. With Big E on the shelf for the foreseeable future, I wonder who will be the third man to help New Day or was this the blowoff?

Sami Zayn is backstage and wants to stick up for The Bloodline against Nakamura. Um, okay?

Lacey Evans gives us her final backstory installment and it was a rough ending. After the video was over, ring announcer Samantha Irvin introduced Evans to the fans and she comes out to a decent pop and new music. Let’s hope WWE doesn’t fumble this time.

Sami Zayn takes on Shinsuke Nakamura next. Pat McAfee still does the table dance even though Rick Boogs isn’t playing Nakamura to the ring. Nakamura does acknowledge McAfee when he gets in the ring. This was another good match that you would expect out of these two. The match ended a little differently with Sami Zayn outsmarting Nakamura and getting a count out victory.

It’s “main event” time with the face off between The Bloodline and RK-McBro. I actually like that for RK-Bro and McIntyre. RK-Bro is out first with McIntyre next. They go though and acknowledge a few things before The Bloodline come out to fight. It was a good fight for the go-home show. The Bloodline eventually got the advantage until the Usos eat some RKOs which allowed McIntyre to drop Reigns with a Claymore to close out the show. I was surprised that Reigns took the Claymore tonight on Smackdown.

Let’s take a look at tonight’s highs and lows.

The Highs

Smackdown was a pretty solid show from start to finish. The Rousey/Flair and Bloodline/RK-McBro brawls really set the tone for their WrestleMania Backlash matches. The in-ring matches were all solid as well. It was a really good Smackdown for a change.

The Lows

Can we please kill off Happy Talk? It is horribly boring and gets zero reaction from the live audience. It’s just not working for Corbin.

There was still zero explanation as to why Reigns no longer cares about the Usos becoming double champions. I know that there was a report out that said the title unification match was never in the cards but they spent far too much time pushing it and getting the fans hyped for it just to be forgotten.

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If you have not already done so, I participated in the WrestleMania Backlash Preview with the rest of the TJRWrestling staff. Check it out.

I can be reached on Facebook or Twitter (@ciscowebwiz76) with any feedback or discussion.

That’s all I’ve got, until next time.