WWE SmackDown Results: Injured champ forfeits major title; former champs make in-ring debut - Winners, Recap, Grades & Highlights (May 19, 2023)

Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman kicked off SmackDown. The crowd acknowledged Roman before KO and Sami Zayn interrupted them, and the tag champs got in the ring.

Roman told Zayn that inviting him to the Bloodline was the biggest mistake in his career. Zayn fired back, saying that Reigns may want the tag titles at Night of Champions, but he wasn't going to win since he wasn't as good as them or the Usos.

The Usos came in and attacked Sami and KO out of nowhere and took them out. Roman was furious and stormed out of the ring, bumping into Solo on his way out.

Backstage after a break, Roman yelled at the Usos for not following his orders.

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WWE SmackDown Results (May 19, 2023): The Brawling Brutes vs. Pretty Deadly

Ridge was in control early on against Elton Prince, but the latter managed to make a tag to Kit Wilson, who came in with a big DDT. Back after a break on SmackDown, Pretty Deadly got some big double-team moves before Butch was tagged in.

Butch hit some big suplexes and stomps before getting a near fall. Ridge came back, lifted both opponents and hit a big slam before he and Butch hit 10 Beats of the Bodhran.

The ref was distracted as Butch went down near the ropes. The former NXT Tag Champs Pretty Deadly hit their double-team finisher Spilt Milk on Ridge before picking up the win.

Result: Pretty Deadly def. The Brawling Brutes

Grade: B

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Zelina Vega vs. Asuka on SmackDown

Zelina got an early roll-up and some kicks before Asuka took the fight outside the ring and dropped Vega on the announce desk.

Back in the ring, Vega got the Meteora before The Empress went for the Asuka lock. Zelina reversed the hold, but Asuka countered it into a modified armbar before picking up the win via submission.

Result: Asuka def. Zelina Vega

Asuka attacked Vega after the match, and Bianca Belair came out to make the save. Asuka retreated, but Belair caught her by the hair from the apron.

Asuka hit the mist but barely missed the champ before retreating.

Grade: C

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Grayson Waller was out with his talk show, and AJ Styles was the guest for tonight.

AJ talked about having his longest break due to injury recently and said he was ready to win the Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions.

Waller told him that Seth Rollins would win instead, and the two had a staredown before SmackDown continued.

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LA Knight & Rick Boogs vs. Street Profits on SmackDown

Boogs was in control early on and lifted Ford over his head and bench-pressed him before tossing him away. Dawkins was tagged in, and Boggs lifted him, too, and did curls before hitting a hip toss.

Boogs made the tag to Knight, and Ford came in before he tossed Boogs and Knight outside and hit a big dive. Back in the ring, the Profits took down Boogs before Ford hit the Frog Splash for the win.

Result: Street Profits def. LA Knight & Rick Boogs

Knight picked Boogs off the mat after the match and hit a stunner, blaming him for the loss.

Grade: B-

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Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn vs. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon on SmackDown

The champs were in control early on, and Dawn locked in a hold before Fyre came in with a superkick. Dawn sent one of her opponents out of the ring as the match continued.

The NXT Women's Tag Champs hit the Russian leg sweep and the Gory Bomb combo before picking up the quick win.

Result: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn def. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon

Grade: D

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We learned that Liv Morgan was injured last week, and it will cause Raquel Rodriguez to relinquish the women's tag titles.

There will be a fatal four-way tag match on the May 29 episode of RAW, and the winning team will be crowned the new women's tag champs.

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We got a short promo with Karrion Kross where he declared that he would be going after AJ Styles.

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Austin Theory was out next and talked about losing in the Heavyweight Title tournament. He taunted Sheamus for not helping him against Lashley before the Celtic Warrior came out and hit a Brogue Kick on him, dropped his mic, and left.

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LWO vs. The Usos on SmackDown

Rey and Jimmy kicked off the match, and tags were made early on before Escobar was isolated in the ring. Rey came back off the tag and got a senton and a springboard crossbody for a near fall.

Escobar came in and hit a big knee strike and a hurricanrana on Jimmy for a near fall. The Usos countered the 619 with a superkick before Jey got a near fall off a splash.

KO showed up and ran a distraction before Zayn came in with the assist and helped Rey hit the 619. Escobar came in with the top rope finisher and picked up the win.

Result: LWO def. The Usos

In the locker room, Roman was furious about the loss, and Solo was about to get up, but Reigns motioned for him to sit back down, which he did.

Grade: B

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Episode rating: B+

We got some great matches tonight on SmackDown, while The Bloodline had a face-to-face with KO and Sami Zayn ahead of Night of Champions.