The war of words turned into war in the ring as NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte took on the challenge of Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley on Smackdown.
Before she locked up with Charlotte, Bayley let Banks know that she doesn’t want her in her corner tonight when she faces Charlotte. She doesn’t want to give the “sheep” any ammunition to use against them.
True to her word, Bayley came to the ring alone.
Michael Cole reminded us that Bayley has beaten Charlotte several times before. Charlotte took control bouncing Bayley off turnbuckle after turnbuckle. Bayley and Charlotte attempted sneaky pins on each other using the ropes for leverage. Bayley dropped Charlotte on the back of her neck on the apron. Charlotte sold the move for about three seconds before throwing Bayley over the barricade.
“Sasha come out here so I can kick both of your asses!” The Queen yelled out.
“I am teaching you how to be a champion!” Charlotte yelled at Bayley as she he took her down to the mat with a headlock.
Bayley yanked Charlotte down as she set up her moonsault from the top rope. Charlotte tweaked her knee. The fight went to the floor with Bayley slamming Charlotte into the ringside barrier and the ring apron.
“This is how we do it on Smackdown!” laughed Bayley wearing Charlotte down in the ring.
A big boot from Charlotte got The Queen a two count. Charlotte put her knees up as Bayley went for a flying elbow smash from the top rope. Charlotte charged Bayley who stepped aside so that Charlotte ran into the steel post. Bayley hit the elbow the second time around. Charlotte kicked out…laughing. In fact, Charlotte was laughing over and over in the match. Why? No idea.
Bayley gets another one over on Charlotte. Photo: WWE.
As Charlotte remained on her knees Bayley chopped her again and again. Charlotte responded with chops of her own. Bayley pinned Charlotte by rolling her up and holding onto the ropes. Charlotte continued to laugh and laugh. Yeah, I still didn’t get it.
An altercation between The Miz, Morrison and Braun Strowman set up the main event of the upcoming Backlash pay-per-view.
Miz and Morrison introduced their rejected Firefly FunHouse puppets on the Dirt Sheet until Braun Strowman came to the ring. Braun Strowman tossed Miz and Morrison’s chairs out of the ring as they scampered back. The Miz warned Strowman that Bray Wyatt is not done with him. As he has been since he has won the championship Strowman tries to be cute and funny and comes off as an idiot goof again. Morrison gets in Strowman’s face talking up The Miz. The Miz tries to get Morrison to back off but he is too fired up. Strowman accepts the challenge calling for a referee. The Miz shakes his head at Morrison.
The Miz dances around the ring laying in some quick jabs to Strowman. Once Strowman catches Mix he smashes him to the mat and whips him from corner to corner. A shoulder tackle has Miz reeling. Miz pulls the ropes down on a charging Strowman. Morrison hits Strowman off the barrier with a kick. The Miz hurls Strowman into a steel post. Strowman tosses Miz across the ring and splashes him in a corner. Morrison gets punched in the face as he leaps up on the apron. Strowman powerslams Miz for the three count.
Morrison won’t let Strowman leave in peace. He challenges Strowman to a handicapped title match at Backlash. Even knowing how it turned out last time he fought in a handicapped match, Strowman doesn’t give it a thought. He agrees to the match.
Smackdown report for 05/22/2020
AJ Styles versus Shinsuke Nakamura – First Round Match of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament
Will it be another embarrassing battle of the crotch shots the WWE thought was just hilarious instead of a classic match-up again? Let’s see. The winner of this match will face Elias next week. It is all head locks and wrist locks at the start. Styles turns nasty by unleashing a double chop to the throat and a drop kick to the head. Styles chops Nakamura in a corner. Nakamura lures Styles in for a kick. Things break down as the two exchange blows in the middle of the ring. Style is dumped on the back of his neck by Nakamura and that slows down The Phenomenal One. A Pele Kick and a series of clotheslines has Nakamura floundering around the mat. The Calf Crusher has Nakamura reaching for the ropes. He breaks the hold. A running flying forearm from Styles almost puts Nakamura away. Nakamura gets a two count with a Michinoku Driver and so does again with a sliding knee a few seconds later. Styles avoids a Kinshasa but falls into a triangle submission. Styles counters with a Styles Clash. Both men barely get to their feet. Styles get the 1-2-3 with a Phenomenal Forearm.
Winner: AJ Styles.
Match Rating: 7.5 / 10
Mandy Rose and Otis versus Sonya Deville and Dolph Ziggler
Mandy Rose comes out wearing a blue jean outfit. Cory Graves loses his mind, what little he has left. “I want some Dolph! Get him in here!” bellows Otis. Otis has his way with Ziggler slamming and throwing him around. Ziggler tags out. Deville slaps and punches Rose into a corner until Rose leaps out. Ziggler attacks Otis on the floor shoving him shoulder-first into the steel ring steps. Rose leaves the ring to check on Otis. Otis pleads with Mandy to get back into the ring. Deville takes control kneeing and punching Rose into oblivion. Deville ticks Otis off by raking her fist over Rose’s face. Otis and Ziggler brawl on the floor. A knee to the face and running knee to the back of the head by Deville pins Rose. As Otis cradles Rose, Ziggler sneaks into the ring super kicking him in the face.
Winners: Sonya Deville and Dolph Ziggler.
Match Rating: 6.5 / 10
Speaking to us backstage, Jeff Hardy says the Intercontinental Championship means so much to him because it was the first title he won all on his own. He promises he will go through Sheamus in a blaze of glory tonight.
The Miz wonders what Morrison was thinking challenging Braun Strowman. The teams gets on the same page when Renee Young sticks a microphone in their faces though. They agree to make Braun Strowman’s life a living hell leading up to Backlash.
Jeff Hardy versus Sheamus – First Round Match of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament
The winner of this match faces Daniel Bryan. Sheamus has Hardy staggered. When Hardy tries to build up momentum Sheamus shoulder tackles him to the mat. Hardy drop kicks Sheamus into the announce table. Sheamus catches Hardy slams him into a post and press slams him onto the announce table. Sheamus drops knee after knee on Hardy’s chest. “It is not your day. You should have stayed home swigging away!” laughs Sheamus. That fires up Hardy who lands a Whisper in the Wind for a one count. Three Irish Curse backbreakers has Hardy laying in a heap on the canvass. “That’s a great workout,” says Sheamus as he executes Ten Beats of the Bodhran. Sheamus charges into the steel post in yet another steel post collision angle on the same episode of Smackdown. Hardy drives Sheamus into a post then clotheslines him off the ringside barrier. Sheamus blocks the Swanton Bomb by putting his knees up. Hardy pins Sheamus who misses his Brogue Kick.
Winner: Jeff Hardy.
Match Rating: 7 / 10
Episode Rating: 7.5 / 10
