WWE SmackDown takeaways: Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill coexist

USA Today

03-05-2025

WWE SmackDown takeaways: Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill coexist – for now Check out the top takeaways from WWE SmackDown on May 2, which took place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown on May 2 took place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, and featured a tag team match between Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton against Naomi and Nia Jax.
This week's show continued to build towards Backlash, and you guessed it, John Cena was not present. He'll be there next week, though. In the ring, Fraxiom picked up a win over Pretty Deadly, and Rey Fenix pinned Santos Escobar.
Keeping it real as always, this week's show didn't quite hit on all cylinders. Maybe it was the vibe of watching after hearing about all of the surprising talent releases. Perhaps it was too midcard-heavy. Maybe last week's TLC banger was just a tough act to follow. Either way, something was off.
Check out the top takeaways from this episode:
Jacob Fatu to defend US title in fatal 4-way vs. Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight
Solo Sikoa just can't help but make things harder on Jacob Fatu.
The opening match of the show was between Damian Priest and LA Knight. Naturally, Sikoa decided to get involved to cause a disqualification. It was the second time in as many weeks that Sikoa ruined the end of a match in the US title picture.
Later in the show, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis decided that since Fatu's potential opponents haven't been given a fair shake thanks to Sikoa, Fatu would face Priest and Knight in a triple threat at Backlash. Sikoa interjected to remind Aldis that McIntyre already won a No. 1 contender match (by DQ), and that it should just be McIntyre vs. Fatu instead. Aldis thanked Sikoa for the reminder and decided to insert McInytre into the triple threat, making it a fatal 4-way instead.
Fatu clearly didn't appreciate Sikoa's actions making things even harder for him, but said he's still "all gas, no brakes with it" and took it in stride.
Randy Orton sends an intense message to John Cena
Randy Orton took the mic to cut a damn good promo on John Cena, building toward their title match in the main event of Backlash.
Orton said Cena took full advantage of the "PG era" by embracing the role of a babyface "cartoon character." He picked at some of the lines Cena said last week, including about raising the WWE Universe's kids.
After getting a few jokes out of the way, Orton took a more serious tone when he addressed Cena's comments about erasing Orton's entire family legacy from wrestling. Orton addressed Cena dubbing himself "The Last Real Champion" and flipped it nicely.
"Nah, nah, nah – John, you are the latest legend I have to put down."
Much like Cody Rhodes had to do in the build to WrestleMania, Cena's opponents are carrying the load on solo missions when Cena isn't present. While on the surface, that can easily be interpreted as a bad thing, it has also allowed room for a few fantastic promos without interruption. Maybe some of the Superstars in the back and on NXT can take notes from these so they don't end up on the chopping block like many did earlier on Friday.
Aleister Black picks up his first win since return
After attacking The Miz last week, Aleister Black was placed in a match against the "A-lister."
The Miz, with his tag team partner Carmelo Hayes watching from ringside, worked a longer-than-expected match against Black. Naturally, Black carried the match with his flashy, martial arts-style approach. He also hit a slick reversal out of The Miz's finisher. Hayes jumped on the apron for a temporary distraction to stop Black from landing his finisher a moment later. It didn't matter, though, because Black still connected with a Black Mass to end it.
After the match, Black and Hayes stared each other down.
Black was always winning this match, unless Hayes got involved. I'm glad he didn't because now it seems like we'll get a match between Black and Hayes. However, once that one happens, don't be surprised if The Miz gets more involved, causing a DQ, forcing Black and Hayes to run it back more than once. Remember when Hayes and Andrade went to a Game 7? It's the NBA playoffs. Run that same play with Black and Hayes, WWE.
Zelina Vega retains women's US title
Zelina Vega put her newly acquired women's US title on the line against one of Chelsea Green's Secret Hervice members, Piper Niven.
The match was decent, with the obvious story being told of Vega having to overcome the size of Niven. The back-and-forth affair led to Vega getting Niven in position for a 619, which was interrupted when Green jumped onto the apron. Niven's attempt to hit Vega from behind failed as she ducked, knocking Green to the floor. Vega hit a rollup to secure a victory.
There's not much to say about this one other than it was a title match on a weekly show. Green's team is in shambles after the leader lost the US title, and her biggest bodyguard couldn't get it back.
Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton work together, for now
Last week, Naomi, Jade Cargill, Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton got in a brawl, which led everyone to believe there was going to be a tag match set up that night. Nope. Instead, they ran the same play back this week, starting with a promo by Jax. Eventually all four parties were in the ring together again, and this time, Nick Aldis made the tag match between Cargill and Stratton against Jax and Naomi.
Before the match took place, Cargill let Stratton know that she wants her title. She said she has a No. 1 contender match against Jax next week, but tonight she would handle business alongside Stratton.
Fast forward to the main event of the show, and sure enough, Cargill was able to co-exist with Stratton, despite their tensions over the title. Jax and Naomi put up a good fight, but the match would come to a screeching halt when Cargill stopped Jax on the middle rope, countering into a powerbomb.
After the match, Cargill yanked Stratton's title from the referee to give it a very close look. She handed it to Stratton, but didn't let go, keeping the tease going. Naomi had enough of it and attacked Cargill from behind, knocking Stratton out of the ring in the process. Naomi then grabbed the title and stood tall with it as the show came to an end.
It seems this road will eventually lead to Stratton vs. Cargill for the title; it's just a matter of figuring out how we get there with two other parties also wanting their shot.