SmackDown

SmackDown: May 17th, 2023

Women's Title on the Line, Riddle's SummerSlam Opponent revealed and John Cena stands in the ring with Roman Reigns!

SUMMERSLAM IS 3 WEEKS AWAY!

#SmackDown

🔵 John Cena says Roman Reigns is trying to write his name over Cena's name:

After years of trials after failures, Roman Reigns still isn't as over as he says he is - Those were the words of John Cena.

John Cena believes Roman Reigns is a coward whose game plans are cowardly and predictable and that it was all proven in last week's contract signing that gone terribly wrong. Roman Reigns is so afraid of being exposed at SummerSlam and his gimmick's fall, so he chooses to play dirty, really dirty.

Roman Reigns walks out next, but Paul Heyman had done all the talking, saying that Cena may have won his match at WrestleMania, but Roman Reigns walked in at Night One Universal Champion and left Night Two of WrestleMania THE Universal Champion. Which is something John Cena never accomplished.

After asking John Cena how it felt to lose the World title 9 times, Paul Heyman leaves with a smirk on his face.

🔹 BACKSTAGE: Blackheart and Nox say 'Never Say Never to Eva Marie and Doudrop.

Blackheart and Tegan Nox agree that they might face Eva Marie and Doudrop in the future...

🔵 Damian Priest vs. Kevin Owens:

After attacking Sami Zayn last week, Damian Priest was assaulted by Kevin Owens, who he goes against this week.

Kevin Owens defeats Damian Priest via pinfall.

Priest attacks Owens from behind and walks out.

🔵 The Miz and John Morrison spoil Riddle's Intercontinental Title Open Challenge:

Riddle opens a SummerSlam challenge to any SmackDown superstar, but The Miz and Morrison walked out first demanding revenge against Riddle for feeding them to Omos last week.

Finn Balor walks out to drive Miz and Morrison out and accepts Riddle's challenge but no. Adam Pearce schedules a 3-way match-winner faces Riddle at SummerSlam.

🔵 The Miz vs. John Morrison vs. Finn Balor - Intercontinental Title Contenders' Match:

it was more like a handicap match as Miz and Morrison continued the double team attacks on Balor but a slight mistake from former Intercontinental Champion Morrison costs the duo the victory.

Finn Balor wins.

🔹 BACKSTAGE: Aj Styles & Omos brag about dominating the blue brand.

Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Omos' reign continues but it looks like Shinsuke Nakamura has something in mind as he watches Aj Styles in shadows from a long distance.

🔵 Nia Jax attacks Charlotte Flair after face-to-face with Rhea Ripley:

After the war of words between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax attacked the Queen and says that last week was about who will face Charlotte at SummerSlam, but that doesn't mean she can't defend her title TONIGHT!!

🔵 Seth Rollins watches "The Horrors of a Hospital Bed":

Seth Rollins watches Sam Rigleer's video as he describes the pain of being chained to your bed due to injury as time goes by and it eats from your career's length

🔵 MAIN EVENT - Charlotte Flair(c) vs. Nia Jax - SmackDown Women's Championship Match:

Charlotte Flair defends her title against Nia Jax before SummerSlam.

Charlotte Flair wins.