WWE SmackDown heads to Jacksonville, Florida, tonight for the go-home show before Backlash on Saturday, with a title match, a high-profile six-woman tag, and an in-ring promo from GUNTHER among the confirmed segments for the May 8 broadcast.
Tiffany Stratton will defend the Women’s US Championship against Kiana James in the featured title match of the evening. Stratton enters the show looking to carry momentum into Backlash weekend, while James will be looking to pull off the upset and become the new champion on the final SmackDown before the premium live event.
A six-woman tag team match will pit Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss against Fatal Influence in what should be one of the more physically compelling segments of the night. The combination of three of the company’s most established women’s division names against the rising faction gives the match genuine stakes beyond a simple midcard showcase.
GUNTHER will also address his recent attack on Cody Rhodes in an in-ring promo segment that could set the table for future programming beyond Backlash weekend. Whatever GUNTHER says tonight will likely provide the clearest indication yet of where that program is headed.
The Gingerbread Man funeral segment also takes place tonight as part of the ongoing build toward Sami Zayn’s championship ambitions. The angle, unconventional as it is, is designed to advance Zayn’s pursuit of a United States Championship opportunity through the kind of character work that has defined his run in recent years.
SmackDown airs tonight on USA Network. WWE Backlash takes place Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, streaming live on the ESPN app.