On May 23, 2025, WWE presented the weekly Friday Night SmackDown show from Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia. The show aired less than 24 hours before WWE Saturday Night Main Event, and we saw the final face-offs between competitors. Other than that, the build to WWE Money in the Bank continued with a couple of qualifying matches. Let’s discuss the WWE SmackDown May 23 Results.
The WWE Women’s Championship Chase
The show opened with the Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton, making her way to the ring. Stratton basked in her victories against Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax at WrestleMania 41 Saturday and last week’s SmackDown, respectively. She then turned her attention to the upcoming Money in the Bank. Before she could say much about Money in the Bank, Alexa Bliss made her entrance. Bliss qualified for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match last week on SmackDown.
Bliss told Stratton that she had the experience of winning the Money in the Bank briefcase and successfully cashing it in. She mentioned Charlotte Flair and The Queen came down to the ring. Flair congratulated Tiffany on beating her at WrestleMania. Flair said that she had done everything in this business except winning the Money in the Bank briefcase. She had a qualifying match coming and she aimed to win the Money in the Bank and claim back her world title and the limelight.
Stratton brought up Flair’s previous remarks about calling Money in the Bank as an easy way out. Tiffany called Alexa and Charlotte vintage and called herself the upgrade. The champ made her way out as the participants of the upcoming Money in the Bank qualifier made their entrances.
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun segment to kick off SmackDown. Stratton has been consistently improving on the mic. Bliss and Flair have some stories going forward. We have seen the two talking backstage on the previous shows.
Charlotte Flair vs Zelina Vega vs Giulia – Money in the Bank Qualifier
Flair knocked out Giulia and delivered a fallaway slam to Vega. The Women’s US Champ fought back with a double DDT to both her opponents. Charlotte and Giulia temporarily aligned to beat down Zelina and landed a double suplex. The alliance was short-lived, and Giulia landed a dropkick on Flair. Giulia landed another dropkick to Flair who had Vega on her shoulders this time. Flair landed a moonsault on both for a two-count.
Giulia applied the Ring of Saturn submission hold on Flair. The Queen barely survived it. Vega came in with a 619 on Flair. Giulia laid out Vega before getting speared by Flair. Charlotte applied the Figure 8 Leglock on Giulia. Vega broke the hold with a Meteora on Flair. Zelina hit a Code Red on Giulia, but Charlotte broke up the pinfall. In the end, Flair had Vega in Figure 8 as Giulia landed a double stomp. Giulia caught Flair and landed a Nothern Lights Bomb for the win.
Winner: Giulia
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was quite an entertaining match. Flair was a bit sloppy as we have seen her recently. Nonetheless, Giulia is headed to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. It was a surprise victory, especially since Charlotte Flair got pinned, which was a shocker.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Chris Sabin
Ciampa sent Sabin to the corner and landed a snapmare followed by a DDT. Ciampa continued the dominance with a neckbreaker. Sabin finally showed some fight and delivered a German Suplex and a running kick. Sabin landed a dragon screw and a diving cutter for a two-count. Gargano tried to interfere, but Sabin shut him down. Ciampa acted like his back was hurt and the referee checked on him. In the meantime, Candice LeRae had a sneak attack on Sabin. This allowed Ciampa to deliver the running knee strike for the win.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Grades: C
Analysis: No matter the match quality, it lacked story. The addition of Candice LeRae can do good for both her and DIY. WWE keeps visiting the matches between these teams without any proper character and story work.
Backstage
- Solo Sikoa was talking to JC Mateo as Jacob Fatu arrived. The US Champion made it clear that he didn’t know Mateo and didn’t like Mateo. Solo calmed JC down who was getting angry. Sikoa tried to say Fatu’s catchphrase, but Fatu cut him off and left.
- Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest came in brawling on the ramp. Priest took the mic and said that he’d send McIntyre to a hospital after the Steel Cage match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
- We saw Charlotte Flair overhearing Alexa Bliss. The Goddess was talking to Lilly about friendship. These intriguing segments keep on coming between Flair and Bliss and we are hopeful that these end up better for both women.
Michin and B-Fab vs Secret Hervice
Chelsea Green was at ringside for her mates. Niven landed a senton on B-Fab for a near fall. B-Fab struck back with a side slam and a DDT. Green tried to intervene, but Zelina Vega showed up to neutralize her. In the ring, Michin hit a neckbreaker for the win.
Winners: Michin and B-Fab
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a short match with little to no crowd involvement. The focus is mainly on Chelsea Green and Zelina Vega around the women’s US Championship.
Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo vs Jimmy Uso and Rey Fenix
Solo Sikoa was at ringside. The tensions between Mateo and Fatu gave Uso and Fenix an opportunity to send them out of the ring. Fenix followed it up with a dive to the outside, taking out both big men. Back in the ring, JC landed a slam and a standing moonsault on Jimmy. Jacob got the tag, and he delivered a pair of running hip attacks. Jimmy got an opening as he landed a corkscrew on Mateo. Fenix tagged in, as did Fatu.
Fenix delivered a hurricanrana and a poisonrana on the US Champion. Fatu bounced back with a Samoan Drop. JC tagged in but Jimmy landed a splash. Fatu broke up the pinfall attempt with a senton. Fenix landed a missile dropkick on Fatu and attempted a dive to the outside. Fatu caught him and slammed him onto the commentary table. In the ring, Jimmy speared JC. He went for a splash but a slight distraction from Sikoa helped Mateo to land the Tour of Islands for the win.
Winners: Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a fun match. Jimmy Uso and Rey Fenix showed great fights against relatively much bigger opponents. Solo is trying to make his gang get along, but the tensions are still there. Mateo impressed in his second match as well.
R-Truth talks about his match with John Cena
R-Truth made his entrance to a good crowd ovation. Truth said the man we’re seeing right now as the WWE Champion is not John Cena. Truth said he doesn’t recognize him. It’s not his childhood hero. Truth wondered where things went wrong for Cena. He figured out that it is the Power that made Cena the way he is these days. Truth made it clear that he didn’t want to fight Cena, but he must do this to bring back the Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect. Truth said that he’d save wrestling by saving John Cena.
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a much more decent promo than expected. Truth delivered serious words, leaving his comedic side out for some time. Who would have thought we could get Cena vs Truth in this Farewell Tour?
Aleister Black vs Shinsuke Nakamura vs LA Knight – Money in the Bank Qualifier
The match began at a quick pace. We saw temporary alliances between Black and Knight and Black and Nakamura as well. Black and Nakamura exchanged kicks, and Black gained the upper hand with a series of strikes and a vicious knee strike. Knight landed a superplex from the top rope on Black, but Nakamura broke up the pin at two. Nakamura sided Knight at ringside by slamming him onto the steel steps.
A flurry of strikes erupted between Nakamura and Black. Knight reentered the ring, only to be met with a stiff knee from Black. Aleister followed up with a moonsault off the apron onto both Knight and Nakamura. Back in the ring, Knight dropped Black with a reverse DDT. Knight landed a top rope elbow drop, but Nakamura broke up the pin. Shinsuke tried to steal the pin here, but Aleister reached the bottom rope.
In the end, Nakamura attempted a Kinshasa but Black countered. Shinsuke sent Black into the turnbuckles. Nakamura went for another Kinshasa, but Black responded with a Black Mass instead. Knight threw Black to the outside and stole the victory.
Winner: LA Knight
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a fine triple-threat MITB qualifier. Black was expected to win but it looks like that he’ll feud with Hayes in the coming weeks. It was evident from a backstage segment as well where Miz and Carmelo Hayes talked about Black’s failure. LA Knight has qualified for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Shinsuke is still featured on TV despite Nakamura leaving WWE rumors.
Street Profits (c) vs Fraxiom – WWE Tag Team Championship Match
The champions dominated in the early going of the match. Dawkins displayed power with a shoulder tackle. Fraxiom fought back and sent Profits to the outside followed by stereo dives. Back in the ring, Ford hit a senton for a two-count. Dawkins locked in a chinlock, but Axiom responded with a crossbody. Frazer and Ford tagged in, with Nathan landing a running shooting star press followed by a dropkick.
Ford landed a suplex and a few kicks to Axiom. Axiom applied a rear naked choke on Ford but Dawkins suplexed Frazer onto Axiom to break the hold. Fraxiom connected with the Golden Ratio combo on Ford for a near fall. Axiom caught Dawkins with a Spanish Fly, followed by a Phoenix Splash from Frazer for another near fall as Ford saved the match.
DIY appeared at ringside, but Motor City Machine Guns neutralized them. Ford launched himself over the turnbuckle with a huge dive onto everyone at ringside. In the ring, Dawkins delivered a spinebuster to Frazer. Ford tagged in and climbed the ropes—but the lights went out.
The Wyatt Sicks were in the ring! The crowd erupted as the faction attacked Ford, and the referee called for the bell. Uncle Howdy delivered Sister Abigail to Gargano as the faction attacked everyone. Uncle Howdy looked up, delivering a tribute to the late Bray Wyatt: “My life for you.” SmackDown ended as Wyatt Sicks brought the carnage.
Result: Street Profits via DQ.
Grades: B+
Analysis: Wow! A chilling end to an otherwise dull episode of SmackDown. The Wyatt Sicks made another impactful display, but the question remains of their future booking. WWE have failed to cash on their hype previously. Hope so, there are solid plans for them this time.
That’s it from WWE SmackDown May 23 Results. What are your thoughts on the chilling return of the Wyatt Sicks?
