WWE SmackDown Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before Clash in Italy

Welcome to Bleacher Report's live coverage of SmackDown's go-home show before Sunday's Clash in Italy PLE.

The WWE crew was already in Europe on Friday, so this week was a rare pre-taped episode for fans watching on the USA Network.

Here's a look at what WWE advertised for the show:

Cody Rhodes addresses Gunther before their title match

Jade Cargill sends Rhea Ripley a final message before Clash in Italy

The Miz vs. Axiom

Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints

Let's take a look at everything that happened on Friday's SmackDown.

She's Still Jaded

Joe Maher/WWE via Getty Images

After the usual array of Superstar arrivals and a recap of Saturday Night's Main Event, Cargill made her way to the ring with Michin and B-Fab.

She talked some trash about Ripley, which brought the champion to the ring to issue a response. She reminded Cargill of her winning record against her and promised to repeat her success on Sunday.

Cargill said the division doesn't revolve around her, and even went as far as to claim nobody in the locker room likes her. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss came out to add their thoughts. This led to Nick Aldis booking Cargill vs. Bliss.

The No. 1 contender was getting some good heat in this segment. The Spanish crowd was booing loudly enough to make it hard to hear her at times. Predictably, Ripley was over and received a big pop when she arrived.

This was a relatively simple segment designed to hype the women's title match on Sunday. It didn't do much to advance the storyline, but it wasn't bad.

Grade: C+

Notable Moments and Observations

The intro included some nice drone shots of Barcelona.

It still makes no sense for Michin and B-Fab to be doing Cargill's bidding.

Bliss was a highlight in this segment.

Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill

Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

Last time in action: Cargill's team defeated Bliss' team (SNME, May 23)

The match between Bliss and Cargill got started as soon as the show returned from a commercial.

The Goddess had the upper hand at first, thanks to her quickness, but The Storm used her power to stop her from building more momentum.

Cargill dominated her opponent throughout the break as Flair and Ripley watched helplessly from ringside. When Bliss began to make a comeback, the crowd started chanting and singing.

WWE could have booked Cargill to get an easy win ahead of her title shot on Sunday, but this ended up being a competitive fight that made Alexa look good, even in defeat.

All four women at ringside ended up fighting to the back. After countering Twisted Bliss, Cargill hit a pump kick followed by Jaded for the pin and the win. Cargill still has some things she needs to work on, but this was a decent match.

The No. 1 contender hit one more Jaded on a chair after the match was over.

Result: Cargill defeated Bliss

Grade: C+

Notable Moments and Observations

Cargill had some trouble balancing Bliss for the military press at first.

The powerbomb on the barricade was a surprising spot for a match like this, but it made Cargill look dominant.

It was a little strange to see Cargill with something other than silver hair.

Axiom vs. The Miz

Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images

Last time in action: The Miz lost to Trick Williams (SD, May 15), Axiom defeated Kit Wilson (Main Event, May 22)

Rhodes and Sami Zayn had a confrontation backstage. Zayn wanted an apology for Rhodes hitting his finisher last week after he helped take care of Gunther. Rhodes said it was fair game because it happened during a match.

The Miz was upset that Wilson would not be by his side for his match against Axiom, especially since they were in Europe. Lilian Garcia introduced Axiom in Spanish, and he got a great reaction from the crowd.

They had a brief sequence of counters before the lights flashed in the arena for a moment. Nathan Frazer cheered his partner on from ringside as he used his speed to control The A-Lister.

This match was booked exactly how it needed to be booked. The Miz played the classic wrestling heel like a pro, and Axiom did a great job playing to the crowd as the heroic babyface. They put on a fun show for the fans that was simple but effective.

Axiom picked up the victory after he was able to take advantage of the lights flickering again.

Result: Axiom defeated The Miz

Grade: B

Notable Moments and Observations

Danhausen's equipment was held up at customs. Aldis told him he wanted him to appear in front of the crowd tonight, and Danhausen ran off with an idea in mind and started building something in the background.

Axiom had new gear made for this match. You could tell he was excited to be back in Europe.

Joe Tessitore claimed Wilson wasn't allowed to enter the country because he was traveling with too much moisturizer.

Damian Priest and Royce Keys vs. The MFTs

Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

Last time in action: Priest defeated Tama (SD, May 15), Royce Keys lost to Gunther (SD, May 15), Talla defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (SD, May 22)

After a backstage segment with R-Truth, who still isn't cleared to compete, we ended up getting Damian Priest and Royce Keys teaming up to take on Tama and Talla Tonga. Solo Sikoa was at ringside, but Truth didn't show up until the end.

Tama has put on a lot of muscle since coming to WWE, but he was still the smallest guy in the ring because all three of the other competitors are so big.

Keys ended up being in the position of the babyface who gets double-teamed through the break, but The Archer of Infamy got the hot tag when the show returned.

This is one of those matches that was decent, but it felt like it was missing something. They were following a familiar pattern we have seen in countless tag matches, so it didn't feel exciting despite everyone putting in a good effort.

Sikoa attacked Priest behind the ref's back, which paved the way for Talla to hit a chokeslam for the win. The MFTs will likely leverage this into a shot for the tag titles once Truth is cleared.

Result: MFTs defeated Priest and Keys

Grade: C+

Notable Moments and Observations

Truth, Priest and Keys had a funny backstage segment to set this up.

Flair and Ripley had a backstage segment with both of them saying they wanted a piece of Cargill after what she did to Bliss.

The yellow lighting and smoke add a cool look to Keys' entrance.

The pounce Keys used on Tama looked painful.

Sami Zayn vs. Matt Cardona

Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images

Last time in action: Zayn lost to Rhodes (SD, May 22), Cardona defeated Frazer (Main Event, May 15)

Sami Zayn was talking to a comatose Johnny Gargano backstage when Matt Cardona approached him. Their conversation turned hostile and led to them agreeing to a singles match.

Despite being on a heel's path these days, the Spanish crowd was still singing and chanting along with Zayn's entrance music. Cardona didn't get much of a reaction, so it was clear who the favorite was.

The first couple of minutes were a pretty standard exchange of takedowns. Zayn eventually upped the aggression, but he still wasn't breaking many rules.

They had a back-and-forth fight, but Zayn definitely controlled the pace for the majority of the match. Cardona rallied, but it was too little, too late. Zayn nailed the Helluva Kick for the win. This was entertaining, but the story would have worked better if the crowd was booing Zayn.

Result: Zayn defeated Cardona

Grade: B

Notable Moments and Observations

Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green had an awkward segment backstage that made Green look more sympathetic than usual.

WWE clearly has no idea what it wants to do with Gargano. It's sad because he is one of the most valuable talents they have from an in-ring standpoint.

WWE aired a comic book-inspired video to hype the mask vs. mask match between the two El Grande Americanos in AAA.

There was a strange glitch after the commercial break in the middle of the match.

Cardona's double underhook powerbomb was cool, but Zayn almost took that bump right on his neck.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints

Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images

Last time in action: Hayes lost to Williams (SD, May 22), Saints lost to Hayes (SD, May 15)

Lil Yachty and Williams came to the ring for a promo. Yachty called himself the man with the money and the one with the connections to make things happen. The United States champion declared his intention to enter the King of the Ring tournament, which led to Hayes coming out to join him.

They talked some trash before Saints made his way to the ring to say he was coming for the U.S. title after he was done with Melo. A little scuffle broke out before the break. When we returned, the match was already underway.

These two had a great encounter the last time they met, so WWE knew they could be relied on to deliver a repeat performance. This was the best thing we saw all night, which was exactly what happened when they fought two weeks ago.

Unfortunately, it ended in a double countout. Hayes was a second too late making it back into the ring. Saints tried to keep fighting, but Hayes hit The First 48 to send him packing.

Result: Double countout

Grade: B+

Notable Moments and Observations

Yachty always looks like he's wearing white fishing boots.

Saints almost missed a jump to the middle rope, but Hayes rolled him up and covered it up right away.

Hayes jumping up to the barricade for a diving clothesline was a fun spot.

Chelsea Green vs. Nia Jax

Mike Marques/WWE via Getty Images

Last time in action: Green lost to Stratton (SD, Feb. 6), Jax and Legend lost to Paige and Brie Bella (SNME)

Chelsea Green tried to recruit Tiffany Stratton to be in her corner, but the U.S. champ didn't seem interested. Later in the show, Tiffy had a run-in with Nia Jax and Lash Legend that seemed to change her mind.

This was Green's first singles match since February due to being out with an injury. The Barcelona crowd was happy to see her, and she leaned into it by acting like more of a babyface than usual.

Green fell into the role of an underdog against the powerhouse Jax. She kept finding ways to make brief comebacks, but it looked like the former women's champion had her number until the last couple of minutes.

Stratton's music provided the distraction she needed to attack Jax with her title behind the ref's back, allowing Green to get the pin and the win thanks to her help.

Result: Green defeated Jax

Grade: C+

Notable Moments and Observations

The video package for Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi was pretty good.

The way Jax threw Green across the ring looked brutal.

Green has been a heel for her entire WWE run so far, so seeing how she fares as a babyface could be fun. She's funny and talented, so it should be easy for her to transition.

The Final Word

Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images

The final segment of the night was the face-to-face meeting between Rhodes and Gunther ahead of their WWE Championship match on Sunday.

They had a good verbal exchange to sell their showdown. Rhodes was especially strong in this segment.

Friday's episode did its job of hyping the PLE this weekend, but it didn't do enough to make the episode stand on its own.

The only match worth going back to watch is Hayes vs. Saints, and that didn't even have a satisfying ending, unfortunately.

WWE has gotten too comfortable with repetitive booking and storylines. Something needs to change soon.

Grade: C+