Just a day ahead of the company’s premium live event Backlash, WWE hosted its weekly episode of Friday Night SmackDown on May 3. The show emanated live from the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines, France which is also the same venue for the premium event. The latest SmackDown episode featured several updates about Backlash, with Cody Rhodes meeting AJ Styles inside the ring one last time before their match. Next, the fans witnessed Randy Orton and Kevin Owens unveiling their brand new R-KO talk show. In the main event, the company organised a WWE Tag-team Championship match between the A Town Down Under and the Street Profits.
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Randy Orton and Kevin Owens unveil the R-KO Show
The show started with Randy Orton revealing how Kevin Owens talked him into doing a WWE talk show in front of a French crowd. Owens then added that it was Paul Heyman who convinced him to conduct this show and that the ‘Advocate’ would be their first guest. Heyman made his way into the ring before Orton had the opportunity to introduce him. He then warned the Viper and Owens to withdraw from their tag-team match at WWE Backlash. Orton then asked Heyman about who the real Tribal Chief after which he got blindsided by The Bloodline.
AJ Styles slaps Cody Rhodes
The segment begins with the WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes addressing the city of Lyon. AJ Styles quickly interrupts him by saying the champ should be focused on him instead of the audience. Rhodes responds to Styles by saying that he was nothing but the first of many in his way rather than being the Phenomenal One. He then threw up a symbol to spark Styles’ rage who slapped the champ before leaving the ring.
The Bloodline brawl with Randy Orton and Kevin Owens as the show goes off the air
Following the segment between Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles, the latter left the ring and headed backstage. Just as the camera moves with him, the fans witness the duo of the Apex predator Randy Orton alongside Kevin Owens fend off the attack from The Bloodline members including Tama Tonga and Solo Sikoa. These four superstars will be competing in a two-vs-two tag-team match at WWE Backlash.
These are the results of all the fights on the latest episode of WWE SmackDown:
Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill vs Damage CTRL and Tiffany Stratton – Belair landed a KOD on Kai to secure a pinfall win for her team.
New Catch Republic vs Authors of Pain – The Authors of Pain secured a pinfall using a neckbreaker-powerbomb combination.
LA Knight vs Angel – Knight managed to hit Angel with the BFT to seal a pinfall win.
A Town Down Under vs The Street Profits for the WWE Tag Team Championship – Grayson Waller landed a flatliner on Dawkins while the referee was distracted before Theory pinned him to retain the Tag Team titles.