WWE SmackDown Results & Winners (May 15, 2026): Cody Rhodes lays out Gunther ahead of Clash in Italy; Chelsea Green & Carmelo Hayes return; Jade Cargill attacks & more
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
Trick Williams’ homecoming in Columbia, Gunther defeats Royce Keys & more!
With the conclusion of Backlash 2026 last week, WWE delivered the fallout show of Friday Night SmackDown. The May 15, 2026, edition of the Blue brand emanated live from the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
Along with addressing the fallout from Backlash, the show continued the build towards the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event and Clash in Italy. The show also featured the return of Chelsea Green and Carmelo Hayes, who were absent from programming.
Get the full summary, highlights, results, and winners list from this Friday’s fallout show of WrestleMania 42, the 5/15 episode of WWE SmackDown.
WWE SmackDown Summary and Highlights
United States Champion Trick Williams, alongside Lil Yachty and the Gamecock mascot, appeared to kick off the May 15 show in Columbia, South Carolina, and the crowd welcomed the hometown boy with open arms and loud cheers.
The homecoming was interrupted by The Miz and Kit Wilson, with the latter reading out a poem, calling out Williams. Yachty responded with a rap where the punchline was about Miz having tiny balls. This led to a singles match between Williams and Miz, with Trick Willy securing a win in front of his hometown crowd and family.
In a backstage segment, Carmelo Hayes made his first appearance since last month, talking about how Williams and Sami Zayn have made a mockery of the US title and revealed that he’s coming back for the title. Ricky Saints was interrupted, leading to a back-and-forth and a match announcement for later in the show.
On the other hand, Rey Fenix met up with GM Nick Aldis when Sami Zayn rolled up asking for another shot at the US title. Aldis reminded him that he already lost the rematch, and if he wants another shot, he has to earn it. Sami started lashing out at Alids while Fenix asked how he was doing. Zayn said he was still the same and that everyone else was changing, while Rey admitted he didn’t even recognize him anymore.
Brie Bella and Paige spoke before their tag team match, when the Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend) rolled up, stating that they’re rooting for the Tag Champions to win tonight and on Monday because at Saturday Night’s Main Event, they want to beat them and regain the tag titles.
In their tag match, Paige and Brie Bella defeated Kiana James and Giulia, with the latter still suffering from miscommunication. In another backstage segment, Tiffany Stratton insisted she was doing perfectly fine on her own while Giulia and Kiana James argued in the background.
Chelsea Green then interrupted and once again brought up the idea of them teaming together, but Stratton said they were never going to be a team before walking away. Green brushed it off afterward, claiming Stratton was joking.
Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes called out Gunther for the contract signing for Clash in Italy. Gunther appeared and complained about Cody making it all about himself, and asked Cody to address him nicely. Rhodes then told Gunther to get in the ring and “please” sign the contract.
Gunther asked Cody to phrase it as “please, Mr. Gunther,” when Royce Keys interupted and had a brief face off with Gunther on the entrance ramp, before stating that if Gunther is not going to sign the contract, he will. Gunther stops Keys from signing the contract. Nick Aldis then appeared, announcing a number one contenders match between the two with the winner facing Rhodes for the title at Clash in Italy.
Backstage, Solo Sikoa questioned whether Tama Tonga understood the task at hand. Shortly, Shinsuke Nakamura arrived to once again speak with Tama; however, before he could say anything, Talla Tonga suddenly attacked him.
Elsewhere, Gunther confronted Nick Aldis and complained that they had an agreement. Aldis said that Gunther had pushed things too far and listened to Paul Heyman too much, adding that he now needed to earn the title opportunity.
After the backstage segment, Carmelo Hayes battled Ricky Saints, with Hayes picking up the win in his in-ring return. Backstage, Danhausen was once again cooking something in the lab, stating that he’s on to something bigger and better. He rolled in a stretcher with a body under a sheet and typed away on.
Damian Priest defeated Tama Tonga in singles action, but Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga attacked him after the match. Backstage, Sami Zayn complains to Johnny Gargano about how things aren’t like they used to be. Candice LeRae appeared, complaining about Gargano just lying around all day. Zayn gave Gargano a pep talk and left, and Gargano looked up momentarily.
Jade Cargill, along with Michin and B-Fab, appeared to cut a promo, stating that at Clash in Italy, she will defeat Rhea Ripley to regain the WWE Women’s title. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss interrupted the promo, leading to a tag team match against Michin and B-Fab that ended in disqualification as Cargill attacked Alexa. Flair took out Michin and B-Fab and confronted Cargill.
Backstage, Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) were shown watching the tag team match, issuing a warning to the locker room, with Jayne noting that everyone will fall at their feet. Meanwhile, a hype reel for Blake Monroe aired before the match, once again teasing her debut.
Flair and Bliss regroup backstage after the match. Flair complained about Rhea’s absence, while Bliss noted that they were outnumbered and Rhea owes them one. In another segment, Solo Sikoa met with Royce Keys, once again extending the offer to join the MFTs. Keys said that he’s got it, and Sikoa noted that, funnily enough, Jacob Fatu said the same thing.
Cody Rhodes flatlines Gunther before Clash in Italy
In the main event of the show, Gunther and Royce Keys battled for a title shot against Cody Rhodes at Clash in Italy. Solo Sikoa arrived ringside to cheer Keys and even threw in a steel chair when Keys sent Gunther crashing into the official.
Despite the obvious advantage, Keys refused the offer, throwing the chair, which slammed right in Solo’s face as he went crashing down from the apron. Gunther capitalized on the distraction, slamming Keys down with a powerbomb to pick up the win and secure the title shot.
The Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes crashed Gunther’s victory celebration, ambushing him with the Cross Rhodes, a receipt for the back-to-basics attacks for the last two weeks.
WWE SmackDown 5/15 Results
- Trick Williams defeated Miz
- Paige & Brie Bella defeated Kiana James & Giulia
- Carmeo Hayes defeated Ricky Saints
- Damian Priest defeated Tama Tonga
- Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair defeated B-Fab & Michin via DQ as Cargill attacked
- Gunther defeated Royce Keys – #1 Contenders match for WWE title
- Cody Rhodes laid out Gunther after the main event
Who won in the main event of SmackDown tonight?
Gunther defeated Royce Keys to secure the number one contender’s match for the WWE title to win in the main event.
When and where will the upcoming edition of SNME take place?
The May 23 edition of SNME is set to emanate live from the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
When and where will Clash in Italy take place?
Inalpi Arena in Turin, Piedmont Region, Italy, will host the upcoming edition of the Clash in Italy PLE on May 31.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.