WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights and Key Moments for May 16, 2025

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown, airing May 16, 2025, promises an action-packed night live from the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The post-WWE Backlash show sees “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes appear. Plus, Money in the Bank Qualifying Matches will begin.

The show kicks off at 8:00 PM ET on the USA Network and is available for international fans on streaming platforms like Netflix. Ringside News will provide live, match-by-match updates and highlights throughout the night. Stay tuned to this page, refresh for the latest results as the action unfolds, and join the conversation in the comments below!

WWE SmackDown Results (5/16/25): Live Match Updates and Highlights

The show opens up with Joe Tessitore welcoming us, while we get a backstage shot of WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton arriving at the arena. We then see Nia Jax walking past a WWE truck that has Stratton’s image on it.

We then get a video package recapping this past weekend’s WWE Backlash PLE.

Solo Sikoa’s music then hits and Sikoa, Jeff Cobb and WWE United States Champion “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu then make their way down to the ring. Sikoa invites fans to help him welcome the man who helped keep the United States Championship in his family: Jeff Cobb. Sikoa then promises to win his Money In The Bank Qualifying Match later tonight and if anyone tries to step to him, then they will have to get through Cobb and Fatu.

Fatu then grabs the microphone and says he told fans that he would bring the United States Championship to the family. Fatu then reiterates Sikoa’s sentiment of anyone getting in his way, but says he will deal with them himself. Sikoa then says he needs to hear something from Fatu and that is the fact that he loves him. FatU then tells Sikoa he loves him, but Sikoa becomes upset when he doesn’t say it how he used to. LA Knight’s music then hits and he pulls Cobb out of the ring from behind before quickly retreating through the crowd. Sikoa and company then stare at Knight from the ring.

We then head to the back, where B-Fab is giving Michin a pep talk about the Money in the Bank ladder match. Chelsea Green, Piper Niven and Alba Fyre then show up and Green says she will win the title. Green then says she will use social-economic policy with trickle-down effects that will lower interest rates for her Secret Hervice. Alexa Bliss then shows up. Bliss then tells Green see you out there. B-Fab then informs Niven and Fyre that no one will be allowed at ringside.

Alexa Bliss then makes her way down to the ring for the first match of the night. Michin and Chelsea Green then make their way down to the ring next.

Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Chelsea Green vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Michin

The match starts off with Michin hitting Green with a boot that sends her crashing out of the ring as Bliss laughs on. Bliss and Michin then lock up, but Michin hits a shotgun dropkick on Green that sends her crashing back out of the ring. Bliss and Michin then take turns rolling each other up and kicking out, but hits a couple of double dropkicks on Green that sends her off the apron and onto the floor.

Green then hits a tope suicida to nail Bliss and Green on the outside and Green sends Bliss back in the ring. Green then sends Bliss crashing into the corner with a boot, then sends Bliss crashing into the barricade on the outside and sends her back inside the ring. Green then delivers some right hands on Bliss and sends Michin crashing off the apron with a boot, then sends Michin crashing into the mat face first.

Michin then sneaks up behind Green and hits a couple of German suplexes on her, then follows it up with a sit-out powerbomb and goes for a pin. Bliss then breaks the fall, but Michin nails her with Eat Defeat and hits a second one on Green. Michin then hits a cannonball on both Green and Bliss in the corner, then pins each woman. Bliss and Green then both kick out.

Michin then hits another Eat Defeat on Green and goes for a pin, but Bliss breaks the fall once again and hits a Tornado DDT on Michin. Bliss then hits the Twisted Bliss on Michin and goes for a pin, but Green pulls Bliss off Michin and hits the Unprettier on Michin. Bliss then pulls Michin out of the ring and hits the Sister Abigail DDT on Green for the win.

The winner of the Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match, Alexa Bliss!

We then get a video package recapping Axiom and Nathan Frazer beating The Street Profits in a non-title match followed by #DIY attacking Fraxiom and the Motor City Machine Guns in the backstage area.

Fraxiom then make their way down to the ring for the next match of the night and #DIY follows.

Tag Team Match: Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)

The match starts off with Axiom and Tommaso Ciampa and Axiom wears down Ciampa. Frazer then tags in and hits the Dive Train with Frazer on Johnny Gargano and Ciampa on the outside. Frazer then sends Ciampa back in the ring and tags in Axiom.

Axiom then runs the ropes, but Gargano trips him and tags in. Gargano then nails Axiom on the outside, then sends him back in the ring and hits a slam on him. Ciampa then tags in and hits a stomp on Axiom, then tags Gargano back in. Gargano then wears down Axiom with a submission, then tags Ciampa back in. Ciampa then hits a backbreaker on Axiom, then wears him down with another submission.

Frazer then tags in and hits a Sling Blade on Gargano. Ciampa then tags back in and hits a powerbomb-backstabber combination on Frazer. Frazer and Gargano then teeter on the ropes, but Axiom makes the blind tag in. Frazer then hits a superplex on Gargano and Axiom hits a Brainbuster-superkick combination on Gargano with Frazer. He then goes for a pin, but Ciampa breaks the fall. Gargano and Axiom then trade strikes with one another, but Axiom rolls Gargano up for the win.

The winners of the Tag Team Match, Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom)!

After the match, Ciampa and Gargano attack Axiom and Frazer. The Motor City Machine Guns’ music then hits and they run down to the ring. They then nail Ciampa and Gargano on the outside, then check on Frazer and Axiom in the ring.

We then see Rey Fenix and Andrade having a conversation in the backstage area. Fenix says he is ready for the next level of Money in the Bank. Solo Sikoa then shows up with his crew and asks where LA Knight is, but Fenix and Andrade didn’t give them an answer.

Nia Jax is then shown warming up in a backstage area. Naomi is shown standing behind Jax in the distance.

We then see Fraxiom walking in the backstage area and they are met by The Street Profits. The Street Profits say next week Fraxiom will get their title shot.

We then go to a sit-down interview with Wade Barrett talking to R-Truth about getting sent through a table by John Cena at the Backlash press conference. Truth says bills and pressure, but you can always depend on John Cena. Truth then says your time is now, hustle, loyalty, respect. Truth then says its a beacon of light. Barrett then tells Truth to listen to himself and recaps the finish at Backlash. Truth then says the guy at the press conference is not the John he knows. Truth then says he doesn’t want to fight John, but if he has to beat him back to his senses, he will do it. Truth then says he has already talked to Nick Aldis and at Saturday Night’s Main Event no matter what he will walk out with his hand held high. Truth then says hustle, loyalty and respect. It is then made official that John Cena will face R-Truth in a non-title match.

Aleister Black then makes his way down to the ring for the next match of the night.

We then get a video package on the feud between Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre.

We then head to the back with The Miz and Carmelo Hayes. Hayes says its not over until he wins and its Carmelo over everybody. Miz then says to hit Hayes’ music. Hayes then makes his way down to the ring for the next match of the night with The Miz.

Singles Match: Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes

The match starts off with both men locking up. Black then nails Hayes with a shoulder tackle, then sets up for Black Mass. Hayes then avoids the move, but Black stares him down. Hayes then flies over the top rope to nail Black, then sends him back in the ring and sends him into the corner. Hayes then hits a splash on Black, then wears him down with a submission. Black then hits a knee on Hayes’ midsection and follows it up with a kick to his chest, then sends him out of the ring. Miz then delivers some stomps on Black on the outside as Hayes distracts the referee.

Hayes then nails Black with an enzuigiri, but Black hits a series of kicks on Hayes and hits a moonsault on him off the ropes on the outside. Hayes then sends Black crashing into the mat face first, but Black rolls up Hayes. Hayes then kicks out, but Black nails him with a kick. Miz then hops up on the apron, but Hayes becomes frustrated and gets in Miz’s face. Black then sends Hayes crashing into Miz and hits an elbow on him, but Hayes responds with The First 48. Black then nails Hayes with a jumping knee, but Miz nails Black from behind to cause the disqualification.

The winner of the Singles Match due to a disqualification, Aleister Black!

After the match, Miz sets up for the Skull Crushing Finale on Black. Black sees Miz coming and sets up for Black Mass, but Hayes hits a chop block on Black. He then delivers some right hands on Black, then follows it up with Nothing But Net.

We then head to the back, where Byron Saxton is speaking with Alexa Bliss about her win. Bliss says it felt amazing to qualify for the MITB match. Bliss then says her goal is to become the first woman to win MITB twice. Bliss is then distracted by something off-camera and then she wraps up the interview. The camera then follows Bliss as she finds Charlotte Flair standing outside Nick Aldis’s office. Bliss asks Flair if she has any thoughts about what they had spoken about. Flair says they aren’t even close. Bliss then says Flair took her under her wing in NXT at a time when no one else would talk to her. Flair then says she doesn’t remember that. Giulia then exits Aldis’ office. Aldis comes out and introduces Giulia to Flair and Bliss as the newest member of the Smackdown roster. Giulia then smiles and walks away. Aldis then tells Flair they can talk about MITB. Flair then tells Bliss to stay out of the way if she wanted to help because she doesn’t need her. After Flair enters Aldis’ office, Bliss says keep telling yourself that.

Drew McIntyre is then shown walking backstage.

We then get a video package recapping some of the history between Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax.

Drew McIntyre then makes his way down to the ring. McIntyre starts off by saying he heard Damian Priest’s challenge for a Steel Cage Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in a video from earlier tonight and while Priest has only been in the Drew McIntyre vortex for a short time, he has been in it for a year. McIntyre then says he’s been trying to get rid of Priest for months, but he keeps getting involved in his business. McIntyre then says Priest sees everything he has ever wanted in McIntyre and he would have been a Grand Slam Champion at Backlash if it wasn’t for him. McIntyre then tells Priest he’ll see him in a Steel Cage Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. McIntyre then guarantees that one man will walk out of the cage, while the other man will leave on a stretcher.

As McIntyre walks to the back, the music of Solo Sikoa hits and Sikoa, Jeff Cobb and Jacob Fatu make their way down to the ring and its looks like Jeff Cobbs’ full name is JC Mateo.

Jimmy Uso then cuts a promo before making his way down to the ring for the next match of the night and Rey Fenix follows.

Men’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Jimmy Uso vs. Rey Fenix vs. Solo Sikoa

The match starts off with Jimmy and Fenix working together to clear Solo from the ring. Fenix then rolls up Jimmy for a two count. Jimmy then stands up and hits Fenix with a chop. Fenix then rolls through the ropes into a hurricanrana and pins Jimmy for a two count. Fenix then hits a springboard dropkick for another two count. Jimmy then responds with a punch and a chop. Solo then pulls Jimmy to the floor and slams his head on the commentary desk twice. Fenix then dives off the top rope onto both opponents. Fenix then goes for a top rope move, but Solo catches him and puts him down with a uranage slam. Solo then knocks Jimmy off the apron and Jimmy’s head slams off the commentary desk again. Solo then slams Jimmy on top of the commentary desk and stands on the apron.

Fenix then rolls Solo into a pin, while Jimmy Uso dives from the top rope over both men. Referee Charles Robinson is looking at Jimmy and doesn’t make the count, while Fenix has Solo pinned. Solo then goes for a Samoan Spike, but Fenix puts him in a crucifix. Jimmy then superkicks Solo, causing him to fall over in the crucifix pin. Jimmy then has to break up the pin. Fenix then does his Adios Amigos rope run kick on Jimmy. Fenix then charges at Jimmy and Jimmy spears Fenix for a two count. Jimmy then goes to the top rope as Jacob goes to the apron. Solo then spikes Jimmy, sending him to the floor. Fenix then takes down Solo. Fenix is then distracted by Mateo and Fatu and that leads to Solo hitting the Samoan Spike on Fenix for the win.

The winner of the Men’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match, Solo Sikoa!

After the match, LA Knight blindsides Mateo, Sikoa and Fatu. Knight then grabs a chair, but Nick Aldis makes his way to the ring to make a match between Knight and Mateo official.

Singles Match: JC Mateo vs. “The Mega Star” LA Knight

The match starts off with both men locking up. Knight then grabs Mateo, but Mateo turns it around and tosses Knight. Mateo then grabs Knight and sends him down. Knight then tries to fight him off, but Mateo nails him. Knight then comes back and applies a headlock on Mateo. Knight then tries to send him down, but Mateo won’t move. Knight then runs the ropes and is caught by Mateo, but Knight reverses it and slams down Mateo, covering him for only a one count. Knight then has Mateo in the corner and hits him with big right hands. Mateo then grabs Knight and Knight fights him off. Knight then runs the ropes and is sent to the mat with a big elbow to the face. Mateo then clobbers on Knight and picks him up and hits him again. Mateo then picks up Knight, but Knight fights it off with back elbows. Knight then hits a boot on Mateo and then bulldogs him. Solo then distracts Knight as it allows Mateo to send him over the top and to the floor.

Knight then delivers some right hands on Mateo, but Mateo nails Knight with a clothesline and goes for a pin. Knight then kicks out before setting up for BFT on Mateo. Mateo then hits a spinning slam on Knight, then hits a Standing Moonsault on Knight and follows it up with a superkick. Knight then sends Mateo crashing into the middle rope, then hits a running knee on the side of his head and follows it up with a springboard crossbody to land on Sikoa and Fatu on the outside. Mateo then hits Knight with the Tour Of Islands as soon as he re-enters the ring for the win.

The winner of the Singles Match, JC Mateo!

We then get a video package of Berto leaving the ring after Santos Escobar slapped him last week. In the locker room, Santos tells Angel he needs to go find Berto and invite him to dinner or something. Angel then says he will try to find Berto. Santos then says Angel has been loyal to him since day one.

We then get a video vignette with Shinsuke Nakamura directed towards LA Knight and Aleister Black. Nakamura is speaking in Japanese and we have English subtitles.

We then head to the back, where Jade Cargill confronts Tiffany Stratton. Cargill tells Stratton she will win MITB and take the title just like Stratton did with Nia. Stratton then tells Jade as long as she is the champion Jade will never be able to beat her.

Tessitore then says the main event is up next and Nia Jax makes her way down to the ring for the main event of the night. Tiffany Stratton makes her way down to the ring next.

WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. “The Irresistible Force” Nia Jax

The match starts off with both women wasting no time in going after each other and locking up. Jax then sends Stratton crashing into the ring post shoulder first and hits her with a Hip Attack, but Stratton responds with a Hip Attack on Jax’s head. Jax then responds with a Samoan Drop on Stratton off the middle rope and goes for a pin, but Stratton kicks out.

Stratton then hits a crossbody on Jax off the top rope and goes for a pin, but Jax kicks out. Jax then hits a Samoan Drop and a senton on Stratton before going for a pin of her own. Stratton then kicks out and hits a spinebuster on Jax. Jax then hits a leg drop on Stratton, but Stratton sends Jax crashing into the mat off the ropes.

Naomi’s music then hits and she makes her way out with a chair in hand. Jade Cargill’s music then hits and she nails Naomi with a superkick before chasing her away from ringside. Stratton then hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax and pins her, but Jax kicks out and clears the announce desk. Jax then hits a Samoan Drop on Stratton on top of the announce desk.

Jax then sends Stratton back in the ring and hits her with the An-Nia-Lator, then goes for a pin. Stratton then grabs the bottom rope to break the hold. Jax then grabs the chair that Cargill send crashing out of Naomi’s hand. Jax then looks to hit Stratton with it, but Stratton uses it to dropkick Jax while the referee is distracted disposing of the WWE Women’s Championship belt Jax had moved. Stratton then hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax for the win.

The winner and still the WWE Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton!

After the match, Stratton celebrates and stands tall as the show comes to a close.

Matches & Key Moments Scheduled for WWE SmackDown on May 16, 2025

• R-Truth sit-down interview with Wade Barrett
• Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Chelsea Green vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Michin
• Men’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Jimmy Uso vs. Rey Fenix vs. Solo Sikoa
• WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. “The Irresistible Force” Nia Jax
• Singles Match: Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes
• Tag Team Match: Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)
• “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will appear