Here is your fight size update for WWE Friday Night SmackDown and AEW Rampage on Friday, May 5, 2023.
WWE SmackDown
- Cody Rhodes cut a final promo ahead of his match with Brock Lesnar at WWE Backlash. He called Lesnar a gatekeeper and noted that beating the former world champion would get him back on the road to finish the story. "The American Nightmare" passionately vowed to emerge victorious.
- WWE Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair looked ahead to her return to WWE SmackDown once the WWE Draft rosters take effect on May 8. She also eyed making history; with a win at WWE Backlash, she would become the longest-reigning women's champion of the modern era.
- Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY) confronted Belair and ganged up on her, but WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez made the save.
- The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) defeated the Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar).
- The Usos got hyped up for their six-man tag team match at WWE Backlash, Solo Sikoa clearly wasn't on the same page. He said he'd do his part and told Jimmy and Jey to do theirs.
- The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) picked up a decisive win against Imperium (Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser).
- A video package highlighted SmackDown's NXT draft class.
- Matt Riddle hyped up the six-man tag team match where he, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn will face The Bloodline (The Usos and Solo Sikoa) at WWE Backlash.
- Rey Mysterio and the LWO kicked off the show and discussed WWE Backlash. The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, and Finn Balor). The heated confrontation set up a mixed tag team match in the main event.
- Shinsuke Nakamura gained more momentum with a win over Karrion Kross.
- A video package showcased the rivalry between Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes.
- Cameron Grimes arrived on WWE SackDown. When Baron Corbin confronted him and they clashed over their respective statuses following the WWE Draft, Grimes challenged Corbin to a match, which was made official for the May 12 episode of WWE SmackDown.
- Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega defeated Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley in a hard-fought main event.
- The Judgment Day attacked Rey Mysterio after the match, but Bad Bunny made the save and put an LWO shirt on.
- In a SmackDown Exclusive, The O.C. (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and Michin) vowed to take over and win gold.
- Check out the card for the May 12 episode of WWE SmackDown here.
- In a SmackDown Exclusive, Rey Mysterio reflected on the LWO's special night and previewed WWE Backlash.
- Catch up on our coverage of the May 5 episode of WWE SmackDown here.
AEW Rampage
- TBS Champion Jade Cargill scored a dominant win against Gia Scott and climbed to 57-0.
- The Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo) and El Hijo del Vikingo defeated Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall, and Aaron Solo.
- A brief clip showed that AEW World Champion MJF was frustrated after he and Sammy Guevara lost on the May 3 episode of AEW Dynamite.
- Mark Briscoe defeated Preston Vance in a competitive match and celebrated with his family after the bell.
- Brian Cage attacked Dustin Rhodes backstage, and Swerve Strickland looked ahead to another match between the two.
- Jay Lethal expressed his confidence that he and Jeff Jarrett will win the AEW World Tag Team Championship at AEW Double or Nothing.
- Check out the card for the May 10 episode of AEW Dynamite here.
- Adam Cole responded to Chris Jericho and said he'll beat up him every week.
- Matt Hardy announced that the extended cut of The Firm Deletion was available on Bleacher Report.
- QTV noted that the team came up short, but they impressed the right people.
Catch up on our coverage of the May 5 episode of AEW Rampage here. For a full review, check out our post-show podcast on our YouTube channel.