WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS (5/23): Keller’s report on LA Knight vs. Aleister Black vs. Nakanmura, Charlotte vs. Giulia vs. Zelina in MITB qualifiers, plus Profits vs. Fraxiom

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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MAY 23, 2025
SAVANNAH, GA. AT ENMARKET ARENA
AIRED ON LIVE ON USA NETWORK AND LIVE ON NETFLIX INTERNATIONALLY

Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

Ring Announcer: Mark Nash

Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 6,052 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 9,500 spectators when configured for concerts.

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[HOUR ONE]

-They showed the exterior of the arena with fans arriving. Then shots of The Street Profits, Fraxiom, Solo Sikoa & J.C. Mateo & Jacob Fatu, and finally Drew McIntyre arriving. Damien Priest jumped Drew backstage. Officials quickly intervened.

-Tiffany Stratton made her ring entrance. She asked the crowd, “Savannah, Georgia, what time is it?” They yelled ‘Tiffy Time!” She said a year ago she was walking into Money in the Bank “with all the hype in the world,” and some thought she was in over her head, but there she stands as the champion. She said she beat Charlotte Flair “on the grandest stage of them all.” She bragged about kicking Nia Jax’s face off last week. She said in two weeks at MITB, someone else will get the chance she had last year. Alexa Bliss then interrupted.

Alexa introduced herself to Tiffany. She said she actually felt bad for Charlotte at first, but then said she remembered not to feel bad “for a narcissistic who calls herself the queen.” She asked permission to call her Tiffy. She said she cashed in on Nia Jax when she had the briefcase, and she actually liked Nia, whereas “I don’t know you.” The crowd ohh’d. She told Tiffany she better pray she doesn’t win the briefcase, “because if you think your rise to the top was quick, just wait for the downfall.” Charlotte’s music then played.

Charlotte walked out and said she wanted to humbly congratulate Tiffany for beating her at WrestleMania. She said Tiffany is doing great, but it won’t last long. She said she has accomplished everything possible other than win MITB. She said she’ll win MITB this week and take her title back and also take back the spotlight.

Tiffany called her a hypocrite because she had previously said cashing in MITB is a cheap route to the title. She said Charlotte and Alexa “are a little vintage for me.” She said they were “the standard and I’m the upgrade.” She said as long as she is champion, it will always be Tiffy Time.

(Keller’s Analysis: Fans really want to like Alexa and they want to like Tiffany, and they really want to dislike Charlotte. Tiffany calling them “vintage” and just overall being that cocky seemed to turn off some of the fans. Not sure of the value of having two wrestlers fans like bickering in front of Charlotte like that. On the bright side, it obviously is establishing some of the dynamics in play going into MITB.)

-Giulia made her entrance. She eyed Tiffany on her way to the ring in the aisle. [c]

(1) CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. ZELINA VEGA vs. GIULIA – Money in the Bank Qualifier

The bell rang 18 minutes into the hour. With Vega knocked out of the ring early, Charlotte and Giulia battled. When Vega returned to the ring, Charlotte knocked her and Giulia to the floor. They brawled at ringside. Vega landed a leaping moonsault onto Charlotte and Giulia from the middle rope at 3:00. Then they, of course, cut to a double-box break as Vega celebrated. [c/db]

Charlotte leaped off the top rope onto both opponents after the break. Vega countered Charlotte’s next move into a mat hold. Giulia broke it up with a knee. Charlotte kicked her and scored a two count. She stood over both Giulia and Vega, then leaped off the top rope and landed on both with a moonsault for a dual two count.

Giulia applied a Rings of Saturn a minute later. Vega broke it up. Charlotte speared Giulia for a two count. Barrett said the match turned into a scramble. Charlotte set up a figure-four, but Giulia turned it into a small package. Charlotte kicked out and applied a figure-four. Vega landed a Meteora to Charlotte to break it up, then landed a Code Red on Giulia. Charlotte broke up the cover.

With all three down, a “This is awesome!” chant broke out. Charlotte applied a Figure-Eight on Vega. Giulia leaped off the top rope and stomped on Charlotte’s legs. Giulia then delivered a Northern Lights Bomb on Vega for the win.

WINNER: Giulia in 13:00 to earn a slot in MITB.

-A backstage promo aired with Tomasso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. They talked about the Motor City Machine Guns first and then Fraxiom.

-The MCMGs made their entrance. [c]

-Backstage, the camera showed Vega wincing in pain and walking for no apparent reason. Then, after over five seconds, Chelsea Green and her Secret Hervice walked up to her. Green called Vega a loser. Vega attacked her. Alba Fyre and Piper Niven attacked Vega. Michin and B-Fab ran in and joined in the fight. Nick Aldis and referees separated them. Michin said she and B-Fab wanted Niven and Fyre in the ring later. Aldis agreed.

(2) CHRIS SABIN (w/Alex Shelley) vs. TOMASSO CIAMPA (w/Johnny Gargano)

The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Sabin went for a leap to ringside, but Ciampa avoided him and landed a Widow’s Bell DDT. He then threw Sabin into the ringside barricade and they cut to a break. [c]

At 10:00, Sabin threw a charging Ciampa out of the ring and then leaped over the top rope onto both Ciampa and Gargano at ringside. A “This is awesome!” chant rang out. Ciampa knocked Sabin off balance on the top rope next. Sabin shoved Ciampa down. Ciampa sold a leg injury when he landed. The ref called for medical help. Tessitore showed no skepticism. Candice LeRae then yanked Sabin’s neck over the top rope as the ref’s back was turned. Ciampa then landed a running knee to the chin for the win.

WINNER: Ciampa in 11:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: Good action, as you’d totally expect from these two.)

-Byron Saxton interviewed Axiom and Nathan Frazer backstage. Frazer said tonight is the biggest night of their lives. Axiom said they dreamed of an evening like this when they were in the car together in their NXT days. Frazer said they’re not concerned about what DIY said earlier, but rather beating the Profits again.

-They showed Shinsuke Nakamura backstage wearing a helmet or mask. [c]

[HOUR TWO]

-A video package aired on John Cena and R-Truth.

-As Priest made his ring entrance for an in-ring promo, Drew attacked him on the stage. They brawled. “We can’t even get through a simple introduction for Damien Priest!” exclaimed a frustrated Tessitore. Security ran out and separated them. Priest entered the ring and told Drew he wanted a pound of flesh tonight. He clotheslined two security members (reset the “Security-O-Meter”). They were kept apart as fans chanted, “Let them fight!”

-Backstage, Solo Sikoa was talking with J.C. Mateo when Jacob Fatu walked up to them. Fatu wanted a word with Solo in private. Solo said he can say anything in front of J.C. but Fatu said he doesn’t know or trust J.C. “He ain’t blood and he ain’t family,” he said. Solo said his aggression needs to be transferred into the ring tonight against Rey Fenix and Jimmy Uso. He told Fatu that Jimmy is upset that Roman Reigns left, but he said he (Solo) never left “and I never will.” He said he wants Jimmy to come back. Fatu said he will see them out there tonight and he rolled his tongue as he said, “Know what I mean?”

-Piper Niven, Alba Fyre, and Chelsea Green made their ring entrance. [c]

-They were filming Charlotte backstage for no apparent reason when she happened upon Bliss who was speaking. “And that’s why it’s important to have friends, because when you don’t, there is no one there when everything falls apart.” Charlotte asked her what she said. Bliss said she wasn’t talking to her. She lifted her doll. She then told Charlotte, “See you at Money in the Bank. Oh, sorry.” Then she walked away as Charlotte scoffed.

(3) PIPER NIVEN & ALBA FYRE (w/Chelsea Green) vs. MICHIN & B-FAB

The bell rang 14 minutes into the hour. Chelsea distracted Michin at 3:00. Vega showed up to yank Chelsea off the ring apron and then deliver a knee to the chin. Niven chased Vega and then B-Fab leaped off the ring apron with a clothesline. Back in the ring, Michin gave Niven an Eat DaFeet and then B-Fab landed a Fab-U-Loss neckbreaker for the win.

WINNERS: B-Fab & Michin in 4:00.

-Saxton interviewed the Profits backstage. He told them there is a belief out there that all the pressure to win was on the Profits. He said they already lost to Fraxiom once. Angelo Dawkins said it’s a big night for both teams. He said they did beat them once, but not again. He said the belts represent the food on their table and this isn’t a friendly exhibition. He said they’d see if the lights are too bright for Fraxiom. Montez Ford said they’re walking in and will walk out as champions. Solo Sikoa, J.C., and Fatu walked up to them and then headed to the ring. There was a moment of tension. [c]

-The dinner meeting aired with Santos Escobar, Humberto, and Angel Garza. Escobar said he knows how good they can be when they work together. Humberto rolled his eyes and muttered, “Another stupid pep talk.” Santos said it’s not. He said it’s business. He said on June 7 at When Worlds Collide, they will come together as “the best this house has to offer against the best they have to offer.” It was a three camera shoot with dramatic music playing the whole time. Escobar and Angel stood. Humberto didn’t. Escobar told him to trust him and see the vision. Humberto stood and drank wine, then left. Angel offered to go get him. Escobar told him he will soon understand.

-El Hijo de Dr. Dragner Jr. & Psycho Clown & Pagano vs. Legado del Fantasma for When Worlds Collide.

-Jimmy and Rey Fenix gave each other a pep talk backstage.

(4) JACOB FATU & J.C. MATEO (w/Solo Sikoa) vs. JIMMY USO & REY FENIX

The bell rang 31 minutes into the hour. Tessitore and Barrett discussed the tension between Mateo and Fatu. Jimmy helped launch Rey off the top rope with a springboard corkscrew plancha onto an awaiting Mateo and Fatu below at ringside. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]

Back from the break, they showed a clip from during the break where Mateo clotheslined Jimmy from the ring apron. Mateo then landed a standing shooting star press and then he stared down Mateo. At 7:00 Mateo went for a back suplex on Jimmy, but Jimmy back elbowed himself free and then leaped off with a kick. Both were down and slow to get up. Barrett said Fenix was fresh and waiting on the ring apron. Jimmy leaped and made the tag. Fenix went at a newly tagged in Fatu, Fenix walked the top rope and took down Fatu with a leaping head scissors. When Fenix went after Mateo at ringside, Fatu grabned him. Fenix countered with a poison rana for a dramatic near fall.

Fenix avoided a charge into the corner by Fatu a minute later. Mateo entered, but Fenix tagged in Jimmy who kicked a charging Mateo. Jimmy then landed a leaping crossbody off the top rope. Fatu broke up the cover with a leaping senton. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Fenix leaped through the ropes, but Fatu caught him and rammed him into the ringside barricade and then onto the announce desk. Back in the ring, Jimmy kicked Mateo and speared him. He climbed to the top rope. Solo stood on the ring apron and slowed Jimmy. Fatu stood on the ring apron and offered Jimmy to join them. Jimmy passed, then leaped toward Mateo. Mateo moved and then landed his Tour of the Islands turning powerslam for the win. Barrett said Jimmy had the match won until Solo intervened.

WINNERS: Fatu & Mateo in 13:00.

-Saxton interviewed L.A. Knight backstage. He said he’s returning to the city that “made him,” Los Angeles, for Money in the Bank. He said to get there, he has to win tonight. He said the lights are going to turn out for the entrances of Aleister Black and Shinsuke Nakamura, but he’ll go through both of them. [c]

-Tessitore hyped their main event WWE Tag Team Title match.

-R-Truth’s ring entrance took place. He said people are asking him what it’s going to be like to face his childhood hero. He said he’s not because he doesn’t recognize this version of John Cena. He said he realized what happened. He blamed it on “power.” He said the more famous and powerful he got, the more disconnected he felt. He said the replies to texts got closer and phone calls stopped. He said he felt he was always annoyed by him. He said no matter what he did, Cena made him feel he was wrong. He said he sensed he was getting on his nerves, but then he talked to others and he said they felt the same way he did. He said Cena isolated himself with power. He said he stopped having fun and now he gets mad when others want to have fun. He said he’s the greatest of all time, and he’s going to try to bring him back. He declared he won’t let Cena take his joy away from him. “You want to ruin wrestling?” he said. “So if I want to save wrestling, I’ve got save you.” He said he doesn’t want to but if he has to, he’ll beat the ever living hustle, loyalty, and respect back into him. He said he misses his hero.

-Black’s ring entrance aired. [c]

[HOUR THREE]

-A video package aired for the Jade Cargill vs. Naomi vs. Nia Jax match next week for a spot in MITB.

(5) SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. ALEISTER BLACK vs. L.A. KNIGHT – Money in the Bank Qualifier

The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]

After the break, Knight scored a near fall on Black, broken up by Nakamura. Nakamura threw Knight into the ringside steps. At 9:00 Black went for a flip onto both Nakamura and Knight, but they both moved and he landed between them. It didn’t look intentional. Nakamura sold phantom impact a bit. Black landed flip dive onto Knight. Both were slow to get up.

Back in the ring, Nakamura rallied at 10:00. He went for a kinshasa, but Black caught it. Nakamura connected with a leaping spin wheel kick followed by an overhead toss. Nakamura set up a Kinshasa, but Black connected with Black Mass. Knight threw Black out of the ring and pinned Nakamura.

WINNER: Knight in 11:00.

-Backstage, Carmelo Hayes told Miz it feels good to watch Black drop the ball. Miz said even better, he should have listened to him last week because then he would have won. Hayes said he gets a qualifying match next week. Miz said had a chance to enter, but he told Aldis to enter Hayes instead. Miz said MITB took him to the WWE Title and the main event of WrestleMania. He said it changed the course of his career, and it can change Hayes’s too. He told him to execute the plays exactly as he designs them. [c]

-They showed fan signs in the crowd.

-A video package hyped Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul for the World Title on SNME tomorrow night.

-Tessitore and Barrett hyped the SNME line-up.

-Backstage, Solo was talking with Fatu and Mateo. Solo said that’s what happens when they stick with the gameplan. Aldis walked up to them and congratulated them on their victory. He then informed Fatu that he’s in the final qualifier for the MITB match. Fatu smiled. Solo said they’ll both be in the match and they’ll both win, but he seemed nervous. Fatu then said, “I love you, Solo.” Solo told Mateo he hasn’t told him in that like six months. Mateo asked if he was okay with all that. Solo’s face brightened and he said he was. [c]

-A video package aired on Bianca Belair talking about how tough being sidelined is. She said sometimes she wants to give up, but what kind of example would that set. She said she won’t let this setback define her. She said she will heal stronger and wiser. “Here’s to a new beginning,” she said. She added that the only thing consistent in life “is change in me.” She said the best is yet to come.

(Keller’s Analysis: She sounded human and relatable there and less in her sing-song character mode.)

-Tessitore said Belair returns to Smackdown next week. Also, Fatu vs. Hayes vs. Andrade and Jax vs. Jade vs. Naomi in MITB qualifiers. Also, Cena returns to Smackdown to talk about his next move.

(6) THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. FRAXIOM (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) – WWE Tag Team Title match

Fraxiom’s entrance took place. Then the Profits. The bell rang 39 minutes into the hour. Axiom and Frazer landed one dive after another at ringside at 4:00 and then they cut to a break. [c]

Back from the break, the Profits rallied and scored a near fall on Frazer. They cut to a double-box break at 11:00. [c/db]

Four-way action broke out leading to everyone down on the mat and slow to get up. Frazer set up a superplex on the top rope, but Ford shoved him down. Frazer tried again and this time landed it. Axiom then kicked Ford in the head during a suplex for a two count. Fraxiom regrouped. Frazer dove through the ropes at Dawkins, but he hit him out of mid-air and then threw him into the ringside steps. Ford rolled up Axiom for a near fall. Then the Profits landed a double-team Electric Chair Blockbuster for a near fall, with Frazier breaking up the cover. Fans chanted, ‘This is awesome!”

Dawkins climbed to the top rope. Axiom met him up there. Frazier tagged him. Axiom landed a Spanish Fly. Frazer then landed a Phoenix Splash, but Ford broke it up. Axiom kicked Ford. All four were down again and slow to get up. DIY ran to the ring. The MCMGs then ran out and brawled with them at ringside. Ford landed a running leap over the ringpost onto both teams at ringside. Dawkins then avoided a Spanish Fly by Frazer and then landed a spinebuster. As Ford climbed to the top rope, the lights went out.

When the lights came back on, the Wyatt Sicks were standing in the ring together. “They’re back!” said Barrett. Fans chanted “Holy shit!” Dexter Lumis tossed Ford off the top rope. Rowen landed a cross body at ringside on some wrestlers. Nikki Cross then leaped onto Candice LeRae. They all gathered in the ring again as the show ended.

WINNERS: No contest in 20:00.