WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Paul Heyman's lie comes to light on Backlash go home show

Paul Heyman may have overstepped. The Bloodline's wiseman let loose that he pulled strings independent of Roman Reigns, something that might not sit well with de facto leader Solo Sikoa. For now, Sikoa and Tama Tonga have their hands full with Kevin Owens and Randy Orton on the final WWE SmackDown before Backlash.

Heyman is an all-time talker and manipulator in the world of professional wrestling. He rarely slips up, but that's exactly what appeared to happen on Friday night. Heyman revealed that he has not spoken to Reigns since The Tribal Chief lost at WrestleMania 40. That's peculiar considering that Heyman announced that Reigns had personally withdrawn from last week's WWE Draft. Heyman will likely have to answer to Sikoa after The Bloodline deals with their R-KO problem.

SmackDown also featured one last face-off between undisputed champion Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles ahead of their main event clash at Backlash.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from LDLC Arena in Lyon, France.

Heyman makes a rare mistake

Heyman met with SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis early in the show. Heyman compelled Aldis to pull Kevin Owens and Randy Orton from their match with Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga at Backlash. Aldis dismissed Heyman, asking if the request was "by order of the Tribal Chief." Heyman let it slip that he hadn't spoken to Reigns since WrestleMania 40. The lapse prompted Aldis to ask why Heyman informed everyone that Reigns had willingly withdrawn himself from last week's WWE Draft. Heyman confessed he decided to pull Reigns from the draft to shield him from the messy dynamic of The Bloodline. Heyman warned Aldis it was in Owens and Orton's best interest to stay away from The Bloodline amid Sikoa's hostile takeover. Aldis told Heyman he should convince Owens and Orton on the planned "RKO Show" segment.

Heyman welcomed himself onto "The RKO Show." He urged Orton and Owens to back out of their tag team match. Owens and Orton wondered why they should take Heyman seriously while everything crumbles around him. Orton asked Heyman who the "real Tribal Chief" was. Heyman took his time answering -- intentionally or out of fear -- leaving an opening for Sikoa and Tonga to attack their Backlash opponents. A brawl broke out before WWE officials intervened. Orton back-suplexed a security guard on the announcers' table; meanwhile, Kevin Owens hit The Bloodline and WWE staff with a swanton bomb ringside. The brawl picked up again backstage in the closing seconds of SmackDown.

You won't get much story development the night before a major weekend event but this still felt phoned in. The most interesting plot point was the revelation that Reigns is completely AWOL. Heyman taking matters into his own hands by removing Reigns from the draft won't sit well with Sikoa. It was probably wise to keep Owens and Orton looking strong ahead of Backlash but it made The Bloodline look second-rate for falling short on their sneak attack. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Bayley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi def. Damage CTRL (Asuka, Dakota Kane and Kairi Sane) and Tiffany Stratton via pinfall after Belair hit Kai with KOD.
• Bobby Lashley and Carmelo Hayes had some friction backstage.
• Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) def. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) via pinfall after hitting a powerbomb and suplex combo on Dunne. Final Testament members Karrion Kross and Scarlett provided meaningful distractions.
• LA Knight def. Angel Garza via pinfall in a short match. Knight and Escobar announced their entries into the King of the Ring tournament.
  
• Dragon Lee attacked Carlito backstage following last week's revelation of Carlito's betrayal.
  
• WWE Tag Team Championship -- A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) def. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) via pinfall after distracting the referee.
• Styles slapped Rhodes after a face-to-face promo that teased their runs outside of WWE and time in the Bullet Club faction.