On May 15th, 2026 WWE aired the 1,395th episode of Smackdown live in Columbia South Carolina inside Colonial Life Arena & can watch it on USA Network (United States) & Netflix (Everywhere else).
-Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with a recap of Backlash.
-United States Champion Trick Williams voices his excitement for being back in his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina and recalls eating local chicken wings at Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles standing up with sauce that dripped onto his lemon pepper steppers.
-He says he had a lot of good days and some not so good ones playing for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks then points out his parents in the crowd.
-The Miz’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring alongside Kit Wilson.
-He says Cocky looks like a rejected mascot for his daughter’s birthday party and says he looks like Sesame Street but Lil Yachty cuts off The Miz to defend Williams and reminds him that he’s cursed.
-Wilson reads a slam poem dissing Williams, Yachty & the University of South Carolina Gamecocks but Yachty responds with a rap dissing The Miz and Wilson.
-The Miz raises his hand and says when his hand goes up, everyone else’s mouths go shut.
-He mocks Columbia and says he’ll beat down Williams in front of his mother.
-Williams lands an open palm strike on Wilson to level him and sends him crashing out of the ring before sending The Miz out to join him.
Non Title Match
United States Champion Trick Williams defeated The Miz via Trick Shot
-We then backstage where Sami Zayn begs Nick Aldis for another United States Title match.
-Aldis says Zayn will have to earn another United States Title match but Zayn pushes back.
-Aldis responds by telling Zayn that he sounds entitled and walks off.
Non Title Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella & Paige defeated Kiana James & Giulia via RamPaige on James
-We then head backstage where Cathy Kelley catches up with Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton.
-They get distracted by Kiana James & Giulia but Chelsea Green interrupts Kelley & Stratton.
-Having set up a table and slid 2 office chairs into the ring, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes asks Columbia what they want to talk about.
-He says he has all of the formal ingredients for an Undisputed WWE Title contract signing at Clash in Italy.
-Gunther’s music hits and he makes his way out.
-He asks Rhodes if he knows how much time and planning it took to negotiate his deal to come to Smackdown then says Rhodes is making things about himself.
-He says the Undisputed WWE Title will be his then demands that Rhodes address him nicely and say please.
-Rhodes says he’ll make things simple then says he has the contract for an Undisputed WWE Title match at Clash In Italy and all Gunther has to do is sign it.
-Gunther responds by saying he knows Rhodes didn’t mean what he just said and tells Rhodes to say please.
Royce Keys’ music hits and he makes his way out.
-He says if Gunther won’t sign the contract for an Undisputed WWE Title match at Clash In Italy then he will.
-Keys pushes Gunther and storms past him then looks to sign the contract.
-Gunther grabs the pen from Keys but Keys takes it back.
-Nick Aldis makes his way out and says Keys will be going head 2 head with Gunther in a #1 Contenders Match for the Undisputed WWE Title at Clash In Italy.
-We then head backstage where Shinsuke Nakamura approaches Tama Tonga.
-Talla Tonga finds them and sends Nakamura crashing through a table.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Ricky Saints via Roll Up (Recommend)
WWE Tag Team Champion Damian Priest defeated Tama Tonga via South Of Heaven
Cargill says everyone acts tough when she’s not in the building.
-She says when her music hits, everyone seems to get real quiet and says Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley found that out last Friday.
-She says the Women’s Title will be coming home with her at Clash In Italy.
-Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss make their way out to the ring and Flair says the fans don’t want to hear Cargill talk.
-Bliss adds that South Carolina is Flair Country but Cargill asks where Ripley is and says it’s funny that someone gets so quiet when they get a pump kicked in the face.
-Bliss says Michin & B Fab are supposed to be making Cargill look good and Flair invites Cargill to take a seat and take some notes.
Tag Team Match
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss defeated Michin & B Fab via DQ
Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contenders Match
Gunther defeated Royce Keys via Powerbomb
