This week's SmackDown episode saw Alexa Bliss and only Sikoa qualified for Money In the Bank's fighting. Jeff Cobb changed his name to JC Mateo after helping Jacob Fatu retain the United States championship in Backlash.
The Knight defeated a furious in its improvised debut combat. Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre agreed to end their vicious cycle with a steel cage fight at Saturday Night's Main Event.
R-Truth talked about John Cena's attack after Backlash, and will face his childhood hero next weekend in Tampa Bay, presumably in a fight without a title. Cena and Randy Orton were absent from the program.
Nick Aldis announced Giulia as the new SmackDown member, while the Wyatt Sicks remain in a creative limbo. Here is the best and the worst of SmackDown after backlash.
#3. Better/Worse – Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes ends up in disqualification
The officers got into a dead end by facing Aleister Black against Carmelo Hayes for the second consecutive week. Black defeated Hayes after a vibrant fight, and both had another great performance this week.
The rivals connected hard blows and counterattacks, but The Miz attacked Black after Nxt's ex-champion pushed Hayes about him. It seems that each episode of RAW and SmackDown has at least one fight that ends in disqualification.
Black should not have lost so soon on his return, and that he was lost again would have damaged his chances of ascending on the stairs. If it had been a team combat or an exchange of promos, both stars could have left wearing strong.
#2. Better/Worst – Alexa Bliss classifies for money in the bank
Alexa Bliss, Chelsea Green and Michin fought for the first place in the Combat of Women's Stairs of Money in the Bank. Green recently lost the United States female title. Bliss returned to SmackDown last week after two inexplicable months outside TV.
When the bell rang, Little Miss Bliss classified for the fight he won in 2018. Giving him a prominent place in the next great live event is a good decision, but the error was in the combination for the triple threat.
Michin could have used the impulse associated with qualifying for Money in the Bank, especially because he has never competed in this special fight. That Green was Miss Money in the Bank would also have been a great option for her character.
She is a brilliant point during the three hours of SmackDown. The decision will be polarizing, but if B-Fab or Alba Fyre had been in combat, the winner's choice may not have been so scrutinized.
#1. Better – Fraxiom shines again in SmackDown
Nathan Frazer and Axiom have started their careers in the main roster with a fourth consecutive victory in the same number of weeks. The ex-champions in NXT couples have defeated the Garza, Pretty Deadly, the Street Profits and now to DIY.
The victory earned the emerging duo a fight for the title at the SmackDown next week. Vince McMahon was never a big fan of the fight in pairs, so it is refreshing to see Triple H highlight several teams in the blue brand.
Any of these duos is championship material, and some may need to move to RAW to balance things.
#1. Worse – Solo Sikoa covers Rey Fenix to qualify for Money in the Bank
Only Sikoa seems to have passed its streak of defeats to another member of the SmackDown roster. Sikoa, Jimmy use and Rey Fenix faced first in the male combat of Money in the Bank 2025.
After an interference attempt by JC Mateo (formerly Jeff Cobb) and Jacob Fatu, Sikoa won after covering Fenix. This remains the defeat of the wrestling fighter against the great American in Wrestlemania 41.
Why is such a talented and exciting fighter receiving coverage in such a prominent fight? Jimmy use could have taken defeat instead. That was his role in Bloodline's fighting.
The referee, Charles Robinson, also clearly ignored an attempt to cover when Fenix had Sikoa rolled. He was not paying attention to action, which is his main function.
#1. Better/Worse – Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax Finally ends
Tiffany Stratton defended the WWE Women's Championship against Nia Jax in what, hopefully, will be his last fight in a long time. The two have been in a rivalry for much of the year since Stratton won the Money in the Bank last year.
Jax intimidated her and warned Stratton not to use him against her. After months of insinuations, The Center of the Universe finally exchanged her briefcase against her former friend in January 2025. The two had some fighting until Charlotte Flair replaced Jax for a Wrestlemania program.
It seems that the same two contestants by the title have been replaced each other after a defeat. The combat had great moments, but also some clumsy movements where Jax fell badly or with too much force.
