Jacob Fatu finds support from familiar WWE colleague ahead of title match at Backlash

Jacob Fatu received immoderate enactment from longtime pro wrestling workfellow Royce Keys connected "Friday Night SmackDown" up of his World Heavyweight Championship lucifer astatine Backlash connected Saturday.

Fatu had conscionable been fixed words of informing by Jey and Jimmy Uso successful the ringing erstwhile cameras recovered him wandering successful the back. Fatu ran into Keys, who helium has a past with being astatine West Coast Pro and different promotions unneurotic earlier the 2 made it to WWE.

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Jacob Fatu makes his entranceway during SmackDown astatine VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena successful Jacksonville, Fla., connected May 8, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)

"I heard what your cousins said retired there, hide each that noise," Keys said. "Failure has ne'er been an enactment for us, has it? Failure was ne'er an option, adjacent erstwhile we didn’t cognize wherever our adjacent dollar was coming from. Tell maine this – erstwhile has Jacob Fatu been acrophobic of immoderate antheral that breathes the aforesaid aerial arsenic him?

"Go to Backlash, bring that home. Werewolf your a-- up due to the fact that Jacob Fatu is each gas, nary brakes with it. People similar us, we’re gonna instrumentality everything we want."

Keys and Fatu spell backmost to the wrestling days successful the Bay Area. Keys precocious recalled grinding connected the indies with Fatu successful an interrogation with Fox News Digital.

Meanwhile, earlier the 2 men met, Fatu chopped an impassioned promo arsenic he’s acceptable to look Roman Reigns astatine the premium unrecorded lawsuit successful Tampa, Florida.

The Usos interrupted Fatu’s archetypal code and Jey Uso warned Fatu that helium was going to lose.

MEET ROYCE KEYS: WWE SMACKDOWN'S NEWEST 'MONSTAR' LOOKING TO BRING THE PAIN

Jey Uso and Jacob Fatu talk successful the ringing during SmackDown astatine VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena successful Jacksonville, Fla., connected May 8, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)

"Wanna cognize the worst part? He’s gonna interruption you down, emotionally, physically and helium gonna bash each that to you close successful beforehand of your family, Uce," helium said.

Fatu vowed that helium wasn’t losing the match.

"This isn’t conscionable a main event. This is for my family. If there’s 1 happening my household volition spot maine bash it’s becoming the WWE satellite heavyweight champion," Fatu said, adding a informing of his ain to The Usos earlier helium near the ring. "If you deliberation astir interfering, I volition bring this full goddamn household histrion down."

Jey Uso said met with Keys earlier Keys’ lucifer against Tama Toga aboriginal successful the nighttime and told him helium needed to enactment successful his lane oregon helium was going "catch the eyes of the ‘Tribal Chief.’"

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Cody Rhodes avoids Gunther’s sneak attack

Gunther appeared to beryllium acceptable to motion with the SmackDown roster and Paul Heyman looked to marque bully connected his favour to "The Ring General" during the night. As Gunther met with SmackDown wide manager Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes came retired to the ring.

Gunther was upset that Rhodes was taking his surface time. He past near Aldis’ bureau without signing the SmackDown contract. Rhodes was successful the ringing addressing Gunther’s onslaught from past week, arsenic helium came from down and enactment Rhodes into a sleeper hold.

Cody Rhodes speaks during SmackDown astatine VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena successful Jacksonville, Fla., connected May 8, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)

Heyman interrupted Rhodes and said the declaration helium had successful his manus was for an Undisputed WWE Championship lucifer astatine Clash successful Italy, which takes spot connected May 31. But Heyman said Rhodes would person to present the declaration himself.

As Heyman near the ring, Gunther came retired of the assemblage to effort to onslaught Rhodes. However, "The American Nightmare" moved retired of the mode and delivered his ain assault.

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SmackDown lucifer results

Tiffany Stratton def. Kiana James to clasp the United States Championship.

Talla Tonga def. Damian Priest.

Ricky Saints def. Matt Cardona.

Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid def. Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley aft Jade Cargill torments Ripley.

Royce Keys def. Tama Tonga.