SmackDown airs tonight (May 22) with a live show emanating from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. This is the second episode of SmackDown during the three week build to Clash In Italy, which takes place on May 31.
Cody Rhodes is crying and complaining like a typical American
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is scheduled to defend the title against that dumbass GUNTHER at Clash In Italy.
During last week’s contract signing, the Ring General caught my attention when he referred to Rhodes as the “golden boy” and derided him for his typical American behavior. In this case,
he was talking about Rhodes trying to take the spotlight away from the major news of GUNTHER’s official move to the blue brand.
“And still, you find a way to make it all about yourself. Just like a typical American. I shouldn’t be surprised. I see it on your neck every week. When the attention is not on you, you cry, complain, and find a way to make it about yourself.”
The American Nightmare acknowledged his patriotic (but still hideous) neck tattoo before going on about GUNTHER making things “weird” with his behavior.
Their exchange got me thinking that WWE may be leaning into the lazy trope of the Heroic American vs. Evil Foreigner as part of the build to their title match at Clash In Italy. Given the very stupid war that USA’s President Trump picked with Iran that is raising gas prices and hurting most people’s wallets domestically and abroad, it’s certainly not the best time to go down this route, unless the idea is for Rhodes to actually be the Evil Foreigner when the bell rings in Italy.
Now that the silly contract signing angle is over, we should get a proper promo segment between Rhodes and GUNTHER tonight, which will hopefully steer away from this trope. Will GUNTHER instead be focused on getting violent revenge after Cody welcomed him to the blue brand by laying him out with Cross Rhodes? Tune into SmackDown tonight to find out.
The rest of the card
It looks like Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga is the only match that is currently scheduled for tonight’s three hour episode of SmackDown. This appears to be a lopsided contest in favor of the tallest Tonga, given his recent push and Nakamura’s lack of ring time. But you never know, maybe this is the night where Tama Tonga finally heeds Nakamura’s advice and turns on MFT.
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– I don’t think there is any going back for Royce Keys after he launched a steel chair in Solo Sikoa’s face last week. I expect that MFT will retaliate against the powerhouse tonight. Will WWE Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Damian Priest be there to fight alongside Keys when that happens, or is Priest still too wary of him?
– Carmelo Hayes returned to SmackDown last week with a win over Ricky Saints, and appears to be gunning for United States Champion Trick Williams. Will Carmelo have to lean heel for that story if fans to continue to respond to Trick like he’s one of the top babyfaces on the blue brand?
– Speaking of Saints, when will he beat someone on the WWE roster who isn’t a jabroni named Matt Cardona?
– WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige are set to defend the belts against the Irresistible Forces tomorrow night at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Will Nia Jax and Lash Legend get the jump on the champs by squashing them into the mat tonight?
– Jade Cargill is back in WWE, and she implied that she’s getting a rematch against WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley at Clash in Italy. Before that can happen though, Jade’s return match is currently scheduled for Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend when she teams up with Michin and B-Fab against Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss. Is all of this actually leading to a major match between Cargill and Flair down the line?
– After taking a backseat last week, how will Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence make sure they remain at the forefront of the women’s division now that Cargill is back?
– Sami Zayn can’t believe that GM Nick Aldis is making him earn another shot at the United States championship instead of automatically granting him a rematch. Zayn probably should have forced Paul Heyman to owe him a favor if that’s what he wanted. Anyway, Zayn was commiserating with Johnny Gargano last week after getting an earful from Rey Fenix. Will Zayn make Fenix eat a Helluva Kick tonight, or will he instead start rebuilding the WWE tag division by joining forces with Johnny Wrestling?
– Chelsea Green no longer has the Secret Hervice after WWE released Alba Fyre, so now she’s trying to partner up with Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton. Is this part of a master plan for Chelsea to eventually win back that title? Stratton wants nothing to do with her at the moment, so Green has her work cut out for her.
– Giulia and Kiana James got into a shouting match backstage last week after another miscue led to their latest defeat on SmackDown. Are we finally reaching the breaking point of their relationship tonight?
– I guess WWE doesn’t need to explain why Randy Orton disappeared after WrestleMania 42, because the man himself says he’s just milking it while enjoying the time off.
– Is Danhausen taking a break from tormenting The Miz and Kit Wilson so that he can bring Baron Corbin back to WWE?
– “The Glamour” Blake Monroe is still “coming soon” to SmackDown after wrestling in a dark match at last week’s taping. Will she finally make her TV debut tonight and prove to be the most intriguing NXT call up of them all?
– Where the f*** is Ilja Dragunov?
What will you be looking for on SmackDown?
