SmackDown airs tonight (May 29) with a show (live on Netflix in certain international markets, taped version airing in its normal time slot in the USA) emanating from Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain. This is the final episode of SmackDown during the three week build to Clash In Italy, which takes place on Sunday (May 31).
The ‘best technical wrestler’ in WWE finally gets a chance
The only match WWE has announced for tonight’s 3 hour episode of SmackDown (as of this writing at 8 am ET) is a low card singles bout between The Miz and Axiom. These guys got into a backstage argument last week over Danhausen’s curse, which led to Miz threatening to ruin Axiom’s return home in Spain.
On the surface, this looks like a throwaway match that doesn’t have much juice to it until Danhausen and Kit Wilson get involved. But did you know that Axiom is “by far the best technical wrestler” in WWE? That’s what GUNTHER told Netflix Italia in an interview this week:
“I don’t think he has the chance to show it a lot at the moment, but I think Axiom actually is the best technical wrestler on the main roster right now. He’s in a tag team. He’s doing different kinds of matches right now, but when he gets the chance to show his skills, I think he’s by far the best technical wrestler we have.”
Fraxiom is currently going nowhere in WWE (Nathan Frazer can’t even beat that jabroni Matt Cardona), and this is Axiom’s first chance to show off his top notch wrestling skills in a singles bout on SmackDown since January. Miz is certainly not in his league in that regard, and a match with low card guys doesn’t typically get a lot of time. However, WWE is desperate to fill out three hours of content, so maybe this one will go longer than usual, especially with Axiom being the hometown hero.
Can Axiom live up to GUNTHER’s hype as the best technical wrestler in WWE? Tune into SmackDown from Barcelona to find out.
The rest of the card
WWE says Jade Cargill has a “final message” for WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley tonight, before they fight over the gold at Clash In Italy. How much trash will Jade talk after pinning Rhea in their tag team match at Saturday Night’s Main Event last weekend (May 23)? Did you know that’s the first time B-Fab won a televised match in WWE since May 23, 2025, per CageMatch? Will it be another full year until she wins again?
I think the SmackDown commentators said that dumbass GUNTHER still has not signed the contract for his title match against WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Clash In Italy. Is there time for a different wrestler to swoop in and sign on the dotted line tonight? Anyway, WWE says the champ will be on SmackDown to address GUNTHER’s attack from last week. How many times will Rhodes remind the Ring General that he is easy to find, hard to beat? Does GUNTHER have his own twist on the catchphrase where Cody is easy to find, and easier to sleep?
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– Sami Zayn turned his back on Rhodes last week. Will the last good guy left in WWE explain this questionable decision to his ride-or-die fans by showing the video replay of Cody selfishly attacking him with Cross Rhodes right after Sami initially saved him from GUNTHER? I bet Johnny Gargano understands where Sami is coming from, at the very least.
– “The Glamour” Blake Monroe made her main roster debut in an 18 second backstage segment last week where she disrespected Chelsea Green. Will Monroe have her first official WWE match tonight, or is the plan to do a few more of these glamorous backstage bits first?
– Tama Tonga finally made his choice last week when he took out Shinsuke Nakamura and remained loyal to MFT. But can Solo Sikoa really trust that Tama and Talla won’t immediately betray him if they determine that he is the weak link in the family?
– Ricky Saints ruined Carmelo Hayes’ shot at United States Champion Trick Williams last week. Will it be Melo or Trick who punches Ricky in the face first tonight?
– Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton retained her gold in an open challenge last week against Lash Legend, thanks to an assist from her hopeful new best friend Chelsea Green, who Tiffy Time wants nothing to do with. If Stratton issues another open challenge tonight, will Lash’s fellow Irresistible Force Nia Jax answer the call?
– WWE Tag Team Champion Damian Priest is butting heads with Royce Keys, even though they both share the same goal of beating up MFT. Will Priest attempt to have a serious talk with his partner R-Truth about this situation tonight?
– Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence have fallen out of the spotlight since Jade Cargill returned to WWE. Do they have to wait until after Clash In Italy is over with to do something about it, or will they target WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Paige and Brie Bella tonight?
– What’s the latest chapter in the ongoing drama between Giulia and Kiana James? Can they delay their inevitable breakup by not getting any TV time this week?
– It looks like Danhausen is hiding a really large man under a sheet in his science laboratory. Is it really Baron Corbin under there? What about AEW star Big Bill aka Big Cass?
– Will any Raw stars like Jacob Fatu or Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch show up on the blue brand tonight to hype up their matches at Clash In Italy? Wait a minute, isn’t Fatu technically still on the SmackDown roster? WWE’s web site says he is, for whatever that’s worth.
– Drew McIntyre’s name popped up in rumors last week. Could he return to WWE’s European tour tonight, or maybe this weekend at Clash In Italy?
– The rumor mill also recently indicated that tonight is the final 3 hour episode of SmackDown before the show drops back down to 2 hours next week. Will WWE confirm if this is true during tonight’s broadcast?
– Where the f*** is Ilja Dragunov? He hasn’t wrestled a match since last month’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
What will you be looking for on SmackDown?
