4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (15 May - Results & Review)
Royce Keys levels up; Women's division struggles; Trick Williams = top player.
There's a definite freshness to WWE's main roster post-WrestleMania 42 and now Backlash that's hard to deny. On the Raw side, Jacob Fatu gunning for Roman Reigns has been excellent. Over on SmackDown, new arrival Gunther is trying to big league his way to the WWE Title by acting like he, not brand GM Nick Aldis or reigning champ Cody Rhodes, is the one calling the shots.
Both top stories are working, but we need to talk about SmackDown's undercard. It's a bit rough all of a sudden. There are shoots of recovery in the form of star boy Trick Williams as United States Champion, and there could be something to Damian Priest and R-Truth as odd couple tag champs, but that women's division?! Ooft. It ain't great when the storytelling is this wishy washy/weak.
Honestly, give these ladies a fighting chance creative! Expecting them to make magic out of mush is unrealistic, lazy and more than a tad insulting considering the strength in depth around here. Names like Rhea Ripley, Jade Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss and the recently-returned Paige are knocking around waiting for things to do. Meaningful things to do.
If it wasn't for Jacy Jayne and company in Fatal Influence, then things would be even worse - Jacy, Fallon Henley and Lainey Red didn't really get featured this week though, which added to the problem.
Here's all the good and bad from a Smackers that juggled the next Saturday Night's Main Event and lined up some fare for Clash In Italy at the end of the month.