Winners, News And Notes On May 6, 2022

WWE SmackDown advertised Drew McIntyre standing alongside the Bloodline, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus and Ridge Holland and Sasha Banks vs. Shayna Baszler.

SmackDown opened with a brawl between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair, and also saw the return of Shinsuke Nakamura, who lost via countout to Sami Zayn. Drew Gulak’s latest job, came in a match where he lost to Gunther. The main event featured another brawl, this time between The Bloodline and “RK-McBro.” The babyfaces got the better of the heel stable after McIntyre hit the Claymore Kick on Reigns.

Last week’s broadcast of SmackDown remained flat with 1.953 million viewers.

• April 29, 2022—1.953 million
• April 22, 2022—1.952 million
• April 15, 2022—2.142 million
• April 8, 2022—2.230 million
• April 1, 2022—2.359 million

• WWE SmackDown Venue: Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, N.Y.)
• Tickets Distributed: 7,669
• Available Tickets: 198

AEW vs. NJPW Forbidden Door Sells Out (Pro Wrestling Bits)

WWE SmackDown Total YouTube Viewership Last Friday: 6,419,785 (Down from 7,902,121)

• Most-Viewed: Drew McIntyre Fends off RK-Bro (1,653,438 views)
• Least-Viewed: The Story of Lacey Evans (114,704 views)
• Median Viewership: 405,285 views

WWE SmackDown Results | Friday, May 6, 2022

Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey Brawl

Charlotte Flair spent much of this opening segment trying to verbally and physically bully Aliyah into saying “I Quit.”

Charlotte had some bars for Rousey’s baby, which of course led to a big brawl.

There wasn’t as much heat for the opening brawl between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey as I thought there would be, but fans eventually got behind the brawl and Rousey.

Shayna Baszler def. Sasha Banks

Naomi’s arm injury inspired a Dave Chapelle-tackling reference from Pat McAfee.

WWE is really building Baszler and Natalya as viable contenders, but I’m almost certain they’re going to lose the championship match.

Happy Corbin with Madcap Moss

How many times has Madcap Moss been a guest on “Happy Talk,” because this has to be some kind of record.

Madcap Moss needs a ghostwriter if he’s going to have the jokes that will get people on his side permanently, but “Big Bald Bolf” really got over with this crowd.

Happy Corbin sulked off after being called a Big Bald Wolf. What the hell is so happy about this man?

Gunther def. Drew Gulak

Shinsuke Nakamura cut a good promo on Roman Reigns as it’s clear his English is improving in leaps and bounds. The promo was about Roman Reigns, so of course, Sami Zayn stooged him off.

The broadcast team simultaneously put Drew Gulak over as a “tremendous competitor” while burying him as someone who had no chance against Gunther.

With Drew Gulak set to face Gunther, I’m sure the jokes about his latest “job” were flowing on Twitter like wine.

Sheamus and Ridge Holland def. The New Day

Kofi Kingston had one of his best performances in a while in this match, including an unbelievable dive from high in the air through the barricade.

It turns out Butch was not at Coachella, but rather hiding under the ring on Long Island.

It looks like Michael Cole is referring to Butch, Sheamus and Ridge Holland as The Unholy Trinity.

Lacey Evans appeared live for a curtain call after Chapter 5 of her story, where she teased going after the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Sami Zayn def. Shinsuke Nakamura via Countout

Shinsuke Nakamura’s return also meant the return of Pat McAfee on top of the announce desk during his entrance.

Zayn’s new gimmick is literally being a “stooge” as Michael Cole used the word several times to describe Zayn.

Shinsuke Nakamura losing via countout is a deflating return for somebody who is supposed to be a future challenger against Roman Reigns.

RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre Confront the Bloodline

For the time being, McIntyre and RK-Bro are called RK-McBro. These three spent their promo “acknowledging” certain parts of the history between McIntyre and Orton, and it got over.

Several fans had their “ones” up as “top heel” Roman Reigns walked to the ring.

RK-McBro got the better of The Bloodline in this showdown, reducing their chances to win an otherwise meaningless six-man tag team match at WrestleMania Backlash.