The May 9th edition of WWE SmackDown was presented from the Nutter Center, in Dayton, Ohio. This was the go-home show for WWE Backlash and featured some highly captivating matches and the return of two major superstars to the blue brand.
Furthermore, the night was headlined by the appearance of the Undisputed WWE Champion, John Cena, before his first title defense at Backlash. He had some hard-hitting facts to deliver about his opponent, Randy Orton, but he did not leave the show unscathed as it came to an end, falling for Orton’s trap.
Quick Results
- LA Knight & Damian Priest defeated Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu in a tag team match.
- Alexa Bliss & Zelina Vega defeated Chelsea Green & Piper Niven in a tag team match.
- Nia Jax picked up the win over Jade Cargill in a No.1 contender’s match for the WWE Women’s Championship.
- Nathan Frazer & Axiom defeated The Street Profits in a non-title tag team match.
- Aleister Black defeated Carmelo Hayes in a singles match.
- Rey Fenix and Andrade El Idolo defeated Angel and Berto in a tag team match.
Best Match
The best match of the night undoubtedly goes to the non-title tag team match between Fraxiom and reigning WWE Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits. It was an impromptu bout made by General Manager Nick Aldis. The match delivered beyond expectations and captivated that audience like no other. It was a display of classic tag team wrestling.
The match was so exceptional that it led to fans erupting in ‘This is Awesome’ chants multiple times throughout the match. The conclusion was even shocking as the upstart Fraxiom executed a tag team combination move on Montez Ford, and Axiom pinned him to pick up a huge win for his team.
Worst Match
In our opinion, Aleister Black’s match against Carmelo Hayes looked much like a filler that had no major interest for the fans. Although Black won the match, he needs some better rivalries to clinch a major spot on the WWE SmackDown roster.
Noteworthy Moments
One of the most noteworthy moments came at the end of WWE SmackDown with the appearance of the Undisputed WWE Champion, John Cena. He came to remind the fans that their childhood ends tomorrow at Backlash and took major shots at Randy Orton, his legacy, and even his family. Towards the end, a masked man tried to attack him, but Cena laid him out with an AA. As he turned his back to hoist his title, the real Randy Orton came out of nowhere and, for the third time, took Cena down with an RKO.
Also read: John Cena Offers Surprise Opinion Of Former Boss Vince McMahon Amid Scandals: ‘I Love Vince’
Another noteworthy moment this week was Charlotte Flair’s return since the night she lost to Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41. The fans booed the Queen out of the building and she actually left after being disrespected by the fans. As she was leaving, Flair shared a moment with Jade Cargill who making her way to the ring for her match. As she was leaving backstage, a returning superstar caught up with her to have a chat.
A prime highlight of the night was the No.1 contender match between Jade Cargill and Nia Jax to determine Tiffany Stratton’s next challenger. Both women displayed impressive power and delivered an exciting match that was second only to our night’s best match. However, Naomi’s interference led to Cargill being distracted and Jax delivering the Annihilator to pick up the important win.
The last more noteworthy moment was the evident tensions in Legado Del Fantasma. After Angel and Berto lost a thrilling tag team match to Rey Fenix and Andrade El Idolo, Santos Escobar vented out his frustrations on Berto, who took the pin. However, he snapped back at Escobar and left the ring alone.
Holy Sh!@ Moments
The one moment that led to the fans erupting in a shocker was the return of Alexa Bliss on WWE SmackDown after months. She was revealed to be Zelina Vega‘s surprise tag team partner in her match against Chelsea Green. Following an exciting showdown, Bliss delivered the Sister Abigail DDT on Green to pick up the win.
Another Holy Sh!@ Moment was the display of Jade Cargill‘s impressive power against the heavier opponent Nia Jax. During their match, Cargill picked up and tossed the dominant Jax from the top rope and onto the mat in a jaw-dropping moment.
Lowlights
The opening match was a good match, and LA Knight and Damian Priest, despite their evident differences, managed to win over Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. However, as the match ended, LA Knight and Priest traded blows, but Fatu took both of them out. As Fatu turned, Drew McIntyre appeared, laid him out with a Claymore Kick, and held the US title high above his head.
Another lowlight came as Charlotte Flair was leaving the arena after the fans showered her with jeers and boos. As she was getting into her car, the returning Alexa Bliss walked up to her to have a talk, possibly hinting at something brewing between the duo as the weeks unfold.
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