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Jacob Fatu received some support from longtime pro wrestling colleague Royce Keys on “Friday Night SmackDown” ahead of his World Heavyweight Championship match at Backlash on Saturday.
Fatu had just been given words of warning by Jey and Jimmy Uso in the ring when cameras found him wandering to the back. Fatu ran into Keys, who he has a history of being at West Coast Pro and other promotions together before the two made it to WWE.
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Jacob Fatu makes his SmackDown debut at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. on May 8, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)
“I heard what your cousins said out there, forget all that noise,” Keys said. “Failure was never an option for us, was it? Failure was never an option, even when we didn’t know where our next dollar was coming from. Tell me this – when has Jacob Fatu been afraid of a man who breathes the same air as him?
“Go to Backlash, bring it home. Werewolf your a–up cause Jacob Fatu is all gas, no one slows down with it. People like us, we take anything we want.”
Keys and Fatu go back to the Bay Area wrestling days. Keys recently recalled being on the indies with Fatu in an interview with Pakinomist Digital.
Meanwhile, before the two men met, Fatu cut an impassioned promo as he will face Roman Reigns at the premium live event in Tampa, Florida.
The Usos interrupted Fatu’s opening speech and Jey Uso warned Fatu that he would lose.
MEET ROYCE KEYS: WWE SMACKDOWNS NEWEST ‘MONSTAR’ LOOKS TO BRING THE PAIN
Jey Uso and Jacob Fatu speak in the ring during SmackDown at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 8, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
“You want to know the worst part? He will break you down, emotionally, physically, and he will do all that to you right in front of your family, Uce,” he said.
Fatu swore he didn’t lose the match.
“This isn’t just a main event. This is for my family. If there’s one thing my family wants to see me do, it’s become WWE World Heavyweight Champion,” Fatu said, adding his own warning to The Usos before leaving the ring. “If you think of meddling, I’ll bring this whole damn family tree down.”
Jey Uso said he met with Keys before Keys’ match against Tama Toga later that night and told him to stay in his lane or he would “catch the eye of ‘The Chief’.”
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Cody Rhodes avoids Gunther’s sneak attack
Gunther appeared set to sign with the SmackDown roster, and Paul Heyman appeared to curry favor with “The Ring General” during the night. As Gunther met with SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes came out to the ring.
Gunther was upset that Rhodes was taking up his screen time. He then left Aldis’ office without signing the SmackDown contract. Rhodes was in the ring and addressed Gunther’s attack from last week when he came from behind and put Rhodes in a sleeper hold.
Cody Rhodes speaks during SmackDown at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 8, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Heyman interrupted Rhodes and said the contract he had in hand was for an Undisputed WWE Championship match at Clash of Italy on May 31st. But Heyman said that Rhodes himself should deliver the contract.
As Heyman left the ring, Gunther came out of the crowd to try to attack Rhodes. However, “The American Nightmare” moved out of the way and delivered its own attack.
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SmackDown match results
Tiffany Stratton def. Kiana James to retain 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 after Jade Cargill torments Ripley.
Royce Keys def. Tama Tonga.
