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Jacob Fatu received support from longtime colleague Royce Keys on “Friday Night SmackDown” ahead of his world heavyweight championship match at Backlash on Saturday.
Fatu had just received words of warning from Jey and Jimmy Uso in the ring when the cameras found him wandering in the back. Fatu met Keys, with whom he previously competed in West Coast Pro and other promotions together before the two came to WWE.
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Jacob Fatu makes his entrance during SmackDown at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on May 8, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)
“I heard what your cousins said over there, forget all the noise,” Keys said. “Failure was never an option for us, was it? Failure was never an option, even if we didn’t know where our next dollar was going to come from. Tell me this: since when was Jacob Fatu afraid of a man who breathes the same air as him?
“Go to Backlash, take this home. Werewolf, you’re crazy because Jacob Fatu is all gas, no brakes. People like us, we’ll take whatever we want.”
Keys and Fatu return to the days of Bay Area wrestling. Keys recently recalled working on the indies with Fatu in an interview with PK Press Club Digital.
Meanwhile, before the two men met, Fatu cut a heated promo as he prepared to face Roman Reigns at the premium live event in Tampa, Florida.
The Usos interrupted Fatu’s initial speech and Jey Uso warned Fatu that he was going to lose.
MEET ROYCE KEYS: WWE SMACKDOWN’S NEW ‘MONSTAR’ LOOKS TO BRING THE PAIN
Jey Uso and Jacob Fatu speak in the ring during SmackDown at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on May 8, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
“You want to know the worst? He’s going to break you, emotionally, physically and he’s going to do all this to you right in front of your family, Uce,” he said.
Fatu vowed that he would not lose the match.
“It’s not just a main event. It’s for my family. If there’s one thing my family will see me do, it’s become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion,” Fatu said, adding his own warning to the Usos before leaving the ring. “If you plan to interfere, I’ll bring down the whole damn family tree.”
Jey Uso said he met with Keys before Keys’ match against Tama Toga later that night and told him he had to stay in his lane or he was going to “catch the attention of the ‘tribe leader’.”
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Cody Rhodes avoids Gunther’s sneak attack
Gunther appeared ready to sign with the SmackDown roster and Paul Heyman appeared to make his case for “The Ring General” during the night. As Gunther met with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes entered the ring.
Gunther was upset that Rhodes was taking up his time on screen. He then left Aldis’ office without signing the SmackDown contract. Rhodes was in the ring to answer Gunther’s attack from last week, as he came from behind and put Rhodes in a sleeper hold.
Cody Rhodes speaks during SmackDown at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida 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 in Italy, which would take place on May 31. But Heyman said Rhodes would have to deliver the contract himself.
As Heyman left the ring, Gunther came out of the crowd to attempt to attack Rhodes. However, “The American Nightmare” stepped aside and launched its own assault.
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SmackDown match results
Tiffany Stratton def. Kiana James will retain the United States Championship.
Talla Tonga def. Damien Priest.
Ricky Saints def. Matt Cardona.
Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid def. Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley after Jade Cargill tormented Ripley.
Royce Keys def. Tama Tonga.
