The WWE Friday Night SmackDown saw Gunther officially punch his ticket to Clash in Italy by destroying Royce Keys in the main event, finally locking in his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, Trick Williams fed The Miz a hometown loss, Carmelo Hayes built major momentum with a pinfall over Ricky Saints, and Damian Priest handled Tama Tonga. Plus, Jade Cargill sparked complete chaos, invading the ring to cause a disqualification in Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss’s tag match. Check the full results and highlights from May 15 below.
WWE SmackDown Results: Winners And Grades (May 15, 2026)
| Match | Result | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Gunther vs Royce Keys | Gunther def. Royce Keys | 4/5 |
| Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs Michin & B-Fab | Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Michin & B-Fab | 1.75/5 |
| Damian Priest vs Tama Tonga | Damian Priest def. Tama Tonga | 1.75/5 |
| Carmelo Hayes vs Ricky Saints | Carmelo Hayes def. Ricky Saints | 3.75/5 |
| Paige & Brie Bella vs Giulia & Kiana James | Paige & Brie Bella def. Giulia & Kiana James | 3.25/5 |
| Trick Williams vs The Miz | Trick Williams def. The Miz | 2.75/5 |
How Did Gunther Seal a Massive Match With Cody Rhodes?
Gunther earned his ticket to WWE Clash in Italy by toughing out a hard-fought battle with Royce Keys on SmackDown that earned him an Undisputed WWE Title opportunity against Cody Rhodes. What started as a tense contract segment earlier in the night quickly turned into a real fight after Keys stepped up and called Gunther’s bluff, securing himself a shock No. 1 contenders match as the main event.
The contest lasted close to 16 minutes, with Keys giving Gunther more of a fight than anticipated and forcing the former champion deep into the bout. Things became chaotic near the end when Solo Sikoa appeared and tried to slide a chair towards Keys. Instead, Keys tossed the chair back into Sikoa’s face, but the distraction allowed Gunther to land a devastating lariat followed by a folding powerbomb for the victory.
Le “Ring General” bat Royce Keys pour devenir le Challenger au Titre Incontesté WWE!
Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER à Clash in Italy 🇮🇹#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FomYu98Z9w
— WWE France (@WWEFrance) May 16, 2026
It was not long before Gunther’s celebration was cut short. Only a few moments after the match ended, Rhodes was behind him and hit him with a surprising Cross Rhodes, causing Gunther to be laid out as SmackDown went off the air. Rhodes vs. Gunther is now officially announced as the first match for Clash in Italy on May 31 in Inalpi Arena in Turin.
