The May 31st episode of SmackDown went live from MVP Arena in Albany, New York. The show featured a coronation ceremony for the Queen of the Ring, Nia Jax. The Bloodline took on the Street Profits, and Andrade was in action, too. Let’s review the whole show and look at everything that happened on the show. Let’s begin with our WWE SmackDown May 31 Results, Grades, and Analysis.
Nia Jax’s Coronation
Nick Aldis was in the ring, and he introduced the Queen of the Ring winner. Nia Jax arrived with a chorus of boos from the audience. She entered the ring and put the crown on her head. Aldis left the ring for the Queen. Jax said it’s a fact that she won the QOTR tournament and will be getting a title opportunity at SummerSlam. Nia called out WWE Women’s Champion Bayley.
Before Bayley could enter the ring, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven attacked her from behind. Niven drove her into the barricade and landed a splash. Green said that Piper would beat Bayley and face Nia at SummerSlam. Jax said she doesn’t care about the opponent as she will annihilate anyone.
Grades: B-
Analysis: A good opening segment with Nia Jax. She always gets a reaction from fans. WWE presented Niven as a real threat here for the WWE Women’s Title.
Backstage, AJ Styles approached Nick Aldis and demanded some time in the ring to talk about his future. Aldis gave him the time. Nick asked AJ about what he would say. An emotional AJ Styles replied that it would be hard to tell once, and he would do it in the ring.
Austin Theory vs Tomasso Ciampa
One-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions Austin Theory was in action against Tomasso Ciampa from DIY. Ciampa landed a few chops, but a distraction from Waller allowed Theory to take advantage. Theory hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Ciampa comes back with a reverse DDT. Theory escaped the Fairy Tale Ending and slammed Ciampa face-first on the mat for a two-count.
Both men delivered big boots at the same time. Tomasso followed it up with a knee to the face. Grayson was telling someone that he was the one who helped Theory. This distracted Austin, who came to argue with Waller. It allowed Ciampa to roll Theory for the pin.
Winner: Tomasso Ciampa
Grades: B
Analysis: Ciampa got the win here, and it looks like they will soon get a tag title opportunity. WWE has started to plant seeds for a potential break-up story between Austin Theory and Grayson Waller.
Backstage: Nick Aldis was with Blair Davenport. Naomi asked for a match with her and Bayley, who were teaming against Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. Aldis confirmed the match.
LA Knight was searching for Logan Paul. Knight didn’t find him, but he told him on the mic that he wanted the United States Championship. Carmelo Hayes arrived and told Knight that Logan would want to face the round 1 draft pick.
Andrade vs Apollo Crews
Backstage, we saw Angel trying to get Andrade in the Legado Del Fantasma faction. Andrade delivered a dropkick and a backdrop for a two-count in the match. Angel distracted Andrade, which allowed Crews to land a kick and a moonsault. Andrade bounced back with a crossbody off the top and crushed Crews with a double knee strike in the corner.
Apollo landed a German Suplex. Andrade hit a big boot. Apollo lifted Andrade with a gorilla press and dropped him, followed by a standing moonsault for a near fall. Angel distracted Apollo this time. Andrade delivered a back elbow and The Message for the victory.
Winner: Andrade
Grades: B
Analysis: A fun match for Andrade. He will be involved with Legado for some time. He needs TV time every week as he has a lot of potential.
Backstage: Solo Sikoa talked to Tonga and Loa about ending Street Profits. Paul Heyman arrived and told Solo they hadn’t strategized anything recently. When Roman, the Tribal Chief, was here, he consulted with the wise man before any violent act. Now, Solo is adding violent members in the Bloodline without Heyman’s advice. Heyman told Solo to keep Cody in check before Reigns’ return. Sikora said that they have Cody in check. He told Heyman to fix Kevin Owens.
Paul Heyman and Kevin Owens Promo
Kevin Owens entered the ring. He said he returned last week and flew to Saudi Arabia to have Randy’s back. Then Owens attended towards The Bloodline. Paul Heyman arrived and introduced himself as the wise man for Tribal Chief Roman Reigns for four years and the wise man for Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline. The crowd chanted, “We Want Roman.” Heyman said that he wants Roman more than anybody else.
Heyman said that Reigns always admired Owens and considered him a serious threat to his championship. However, Sikoa has no respect for Owens. Paul told KO that Roman denied adding members to the Bloodline. However, Solo adds these violent men to Bloodline. He advised Owens to back off from the fight as Tama and Loa were bloodthirsty. Heyman pleaded with Kevin to avoid this Bloodline, or they would do him badly.
Owens said that it would be another trick by Heyman, as he does every single time. KO said that Bloodline handcuffed him, crashed him with a golf cart, and superkicked him in the past four years, but he is still standing. Owens said he respected that Bloodline, including Roman Reigns and The Usos. He said he had no respect for this Bloodline and would fight them to get them out of there. Kevin told Heyman that he didn’t need his help to fight Bloodline.
The Bloodline arrived, but the Street Profits came to even the odds. They took out Tonga and Loa as Solo fought with Owens.
Grades: B+
Analysis: Very solid segment. Heyman and Owens made up great points. The KO problem will possibly continue with the Bloodline.
The Bloodline vs The Street Profits
After the break, we joined in the match. Tama and Loa dominated Ford for a while. Tama hit a clothesline, and Loa followed it up with a power slam. Dawkins got the tag and landed a spinning back elbow and a splash for a two-count. Tama grabbed Dawkins at ringside and slammed him face-first into the commentary table.
Dawkins hit Loa with an overhead throw. Ford got the tag, and he delivered a superkick. Ford and Dawkins delivered the Blockbuster to Loa. Tama saved the match. Tama sneakily tagged himself in, but Dawkins didn’t realize. Dawkins slammed Loa on the mat, and Ford landed a frog splash. Tama entered and slammed Ford onto the mat for the victory.
Winners: The Bloodline
Grades: B-
Analysis: The Bloodline got the victory as expected. They have nothing planned for the Street Profits. Also, the Bloodline story is fading, and something massive needs to happen.
Bayley and Naomi vs Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
Piper slammed Bayley in the corner and hit a splash. Chelsea and Piper double-teamed Bayley. Later, Bayley landed a suplex on Chelsea and tagged Naomi. They double-teamed Chelsea. Naomi landed a suicide dive on Chelsea at ringside while Bayley delivered a flying forearm to Niven.
After the break, Bayley escaped an elbow drop and tagged Naomi in. In comes Green from the other side. Naomi delivered a dropkick and a split-legged moonsault for a near fall. Naomi landed a corkscrew splash to the outside. In the end, Piper hit a splash on Naomi for the win.
Winners: Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
Grades: C
Analysis: Shockingly, Green and Niven are your winners. Niven can be a possible threat, but they have put her into the main title picture out of nowhere, which looks a bit odd.
AJ Styles’ Huge Announcement
AJ Styles was walking towards the ring. He met Cody and whispered something in his ears. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson joined him in the ring. The fans chanted “AJ Styles,” and an emotional AJ Styles entered the ring. Styles talked about when Aldis told him to wait in line for his next World Title opportunity last week. AJ said he understands Aldis’s point, but that can’t do it anymore. He has done that for the past two decades and proved himself worldwide as Phenomenal.
AJ told everyone that his son graduated from high school this week, and he had a part and a great time with his family. He said that the clarity hit him in his head. Styles said instead of being phenomenal in the ring, maybe he stays at home and is a phenomenal father. He called Anderson and Gallows his brothers and hugged them. Styles said that he asked Cody to come out here and that it was time.
Cody Rhodes arrived in the ring. Gallows and Anderson left. AJ told Cody that he had one of the greatest matches of his life at Backlash. Styles said that the crowd was electric, and it was perfect for his last match. Cody said he could say many things, but all he wanted to say was thank you, AJ Styles.
Cody raised Styles’ hand in the air, but AJ delivered a clothesline. Anderson and Gallows prevented WWE Officials from interfering. AJ attacked Cody on the steel steps and hit Styles Clash on the floor. The show ended with an angry AJ Styles.
Grades: A
Analysis: Wow! Amazing segment in the main event. Although, it was clear that AJ wasn’t retiring in this way. Still, he made everyone believe with his presentation and words. Cody and AJ Styles will have another match soon.
Overall, it was an excellent show. The Undisputed WWE Championship scene has become very interesting.
