Warning: The following copy has SPOILERS for WWE SmackDown (May 31, 2025)
WWEis booming and the road toWrestleManiais heating up on an action-packedSmackDown. Damian Priest, Jacob Fatu, and Bruan Strowman will take part in a monstrous triple-threat qualifier for the Elimination Chamber, and Chelsea Green and Naomi will attempt to battle their way into the women’s match. All of this andSolo Sikoa will have to face Cody Rhodesafterattacking him at the end of last week’s show.
Elsewhere,Tiffany Stratton defends her WWE Championship against Nia Jax, asCharlotte Flair waits in the wingsto settle on herWrestleManiaopponent. Kevin Owens will provide an update on his spiraling situation with his lifelong associate, Sami Zayn. Motor City Machine Guns will go head-to-head with Los Garza inSmackDown’s red-hot Tag Team division, LA Knight will hope to hunt Shinsuke Nakamura and the US Championship, and Alexa Bliss will be back after qualifying for the upcoming Elimination Chamber match.
The Women’s WWE Championship Takes Center Stage
A Great Championship Match And WrestleMania Becomes Clearer
An electric match between Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton did a great job of heating up that championship scene ahead ofWrestleManiaseason.Jax and Stratton have been brilliant for one another, and Nia’s second rope leg-drop was a brilliant moment for both of them. It showed Tiffy’s resilience and Jax sold her shock at Stratton’s toughness magnificently. The end of the match was underwhelming, but Jax and Stratton’s continued rivalry led to the evening’s biggest development.
Throughout the enjoyable match, Charlotte Flair looked at the proceedings like Darth Vader on a backstage monitor. With Stratton looking pathetic on the canvas, Charlotte then lauded her presence over Tiffany, setting up a chair for added effect.Stratton vs Flair will be a banner match atWrestleMania. The hearts of the WWE global fanbase will ride with Tiffany Stratton, butdoes she really have a chance against the inevitable Charlotte Flair?
The United States Championship Finally Gets Some Exposure
A Great Week For Nakamura, LA Knight And One Of WWE’s Forgotten Men
This was a moment of impromptu brilliance onSmackDown, astension finally builds around the United States Championship. Shinsuke Nakamura has been seen lurking in the background of backstage segments onRawandSmackDown, and his promo was beginning to unravel some mysteries on his feelings and intentions. It was at this moment that two championship contenders took over.
SmackDown is building a really great mid-card scene with its recent acquisitions, andLA Knight and The Miz created magic together. LA Knight has been better in recent weeks with Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre and now The Miz than he was at any point in his US Championship reign. He has an extra layer of distain for Miz that brought out a little of his heel persona that’s been missing in his cuddlier face run.
The Miz was also fantastic, getting personal with Knight and visibly getting under his skin. He also showed his comedic chops by suggesting “Melo Don’t Miz” to Carmleo Hayes. It all worked, andNakamura vs LA Knight now feels important. The segment ended with Nakamura and Knight, but this was a night when The Miz reminded everyone that he still has a part to play on SmackDown.
Jacob Fatu No Longer Loves Solo
There’s Trouble Brewing Inside The Bloodline
Even though he’s looked like a superstar since the second he arrived in WWE, Jacob Fatu continues to go from strength to strength. He has developed a unique style on the mic, leaning into the cool of his accent and peerless intimidation techniques. When even Drew McIntyre is thinking twice about tangling with The Samoan Werewolf, you know he’s s rare breed. Still, it wasn’t enough to get the job done on SmackDown.
After Solo returned on last week’s show, Fatu was not happy to see his former Tribal Chief. Showing additional layers to his character, Jacob feels betrayed by Sikoa and he wasn’t shy in letting him know that. Keen to atone for his absence, Sikoa tried to win the match for Jacob but instead handed the advantage to Damian Priest. His misplaced Samoan Spike was a disaster that took out Tama Tonga, distracted Jacob and has broken The Bloodline. Can they get on the same page or willWrestleManiahave its own Bloodline Civil War?
This week has seen us discover two matches for this year’s Showcase Of The Immortals, asCharlotte Flair vs Tiffany Stratton is now confirmed for WrestleMania 41. Solo Sikoa and Jacobo Fatu are out of love with one another, as the former Tribal Chief cost his Bloodline brethren with a misplaced Samoan Spike. This show was a much-needed shot in the arm for the US Championship scene, asThe Miz and LA Knight had great chemistryon the mic and in the ring. There’s finally some development in the Jade Cargill injury saga to, with Naomi now being joined by Liv Morgan in the frame for who injured the Tag Team Champion.
