WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - March 20th, 2026
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Randy Orton to explain his shocking assault on Cody Rhodes
After a shocking attack on Cody Rhodes during last week's WrestleMania Contract Signing, Randy Orton will explain the vicious ambush of a man he considered his brother.
:smackdown:
— The show kicks off with a video recapping Randy Orton's betrayal of Cody Rhodes last Friday. Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore then greet audiences at home.
— We head outside the arena and see Drew McIntyre ripping off the broken windshield of Jacob Fatu's car. He rains down right hands on Fatu on the hood of his car, but officials pry McIntyre off Fatu.
McIntyre storms down to the ring and vents his frustrations with Cody Rhodes taking the WrestleMania 42 main event from him, but Nick Aldis appears with a few security guards and asks McIntyre what his problem is. Aldis says McIntyre didn't want to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship, but now he can't wait to face Fatu.
McIntyre says Aldis' son Donovan should be ashamed of his father, but Fatu storms down to the ring and exchanges right hands with McIntyre. McIntyre sends Fatu crashing into one of the barricades and rains down right hands on him, but Fatu sends McIntyre crashing into the ring post and sends him crashing into the ring steps. The two men brawl on top of the announce desk, but security finally manages to get them separated. Fatu breaks free and delivers a splash to McIntyre off one of the barricades to send McIntyre crashing through the announce desk.
— Damian Priest and R-Truth make their way to the ring. MFT follows.
:tagteam:
WWE Men's Tag Team Championship Match: MFTs (w/Talla Tonga, Tonga Loa & Solo Sikoa) vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth
Priest and Mateo begin the action. The bell rings and Priest rains down right hands on Mateo. Mateo clotheslines Priest out of the ring, then sends Priest's face bouncing off the ring apron during the commercial break.
Tama tags in and rains down right hands on Priest. Mateo tags back in and continues wearing down Priest before Tama tags back in and lands a pair of strikes on Priest. He rains down Hammer and Anvil Elbows on him, but Mateo tags back in and lands a splash on Priest in the corner back from the break.
Priest runs over Mateo with a boot, but Truth and Tama tag in. Truth levels Tama with a pair of shoulder blocks and a slam, then cinches in an STF on Mateo.
Talla Tonga lands a chokeslam on Truth on the ring apron while the referee has his back turned, opening the door for Mateo to pin him. Truth kicks out, but The Wyatt Sicks appear on the entrance ramp and begin brawling with MFT. Uncle Howdy sneaks up behind Solo Sikoa on the outside, but Mateo attacks Howdy from behind.
Back in the ring, Truth catches Mateo with a kick. Priest runs over Tama with a clothesline, and Truth delivers an Attitude Adjustment to Mateo for the win.
Winners and NEW WWE Men's Tag Team Champions: R-Truth & Damian Priest
— Candice LeRae is backstage with Johnny Gargano who is laying on a crate. Danhausen comes by and LeRae asks him if he can help and before she knows it Danhausen vanishes. Alex Shelley comes by and before he can get a word in Chris Sabin shows up and tells Shelley that they have a match to focus on. Shelley and Sabin leave and we get a commercial break.
— We come back from a break and Cathy Kelley talks to Sami Zayn. Kelley asks for Zayn's thoughts about Cody Rhodes being attacked. Zayn says he should be thinking about his match against Aleister Black but all he's doing is thinking of Rhodes. Zayn says Rhodes tries to be good and he gives the fans everything. Zayn says it got Rhodes nowhere after the attack from Randy Orton and Orton does what he wants and he's on top. Trick Williams walks by and asks Zayn about what he thinks about Williams coming out on top over Jacob Fatu. Zayn gets in Williams face and Williams says he will see if he has some time, he'll check out Zayn's match and maybe even give Zayn pointers. Zayn tells him to get a good look.
— Back at ringside, Nathan Frazer and Axiom make their way out. The Motor City Machine Guns follow.
Fraxiom vs. Motor City Machine Guns
Frazer and Alex Shelley begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Frazer levels Shelley with a dropkick and tags in Axiom, but Chris Sabin tags in and runs over Axiom with a double shoulder tackle along with Shelley. Shelley then tags back in, but Axiom levels Sabin with a dropkick and lands a strike on Shelley. Frazer tags in and delivers a double superkick to Shelley with Axiom before the pair land a double superkick on Sabin.
During the commercial break, Sabin pins Axiom but Axiom kicks out. Frazer tags in back from the break, but Sabin fights him off and lands a double crossbody on Frazer and Axiom. Candice LeRae saunters out to ringside as Axiom ascends to the top rope. Shelley kicks out, but LeRae rocks Frazer with a right hand. This opens the door for Sabin to roll up Frazer for the win.
Winners: The Motor City Machine Guns
— Randy Orton is seen walking in the parking lot and he's coming out next to talk about the shenanigans he pulled with Cody Rhodes. We go to break.
— Back from the break, Randy Orton makes his way to the ring.
Having grabbed a chair from the timekeeper's area and taken a seat in it inside the ring, Orton says the fans have sung along to his entrance song for years. He says that's quite a feeling and he tries to return the love to the fans by giving them high fives, signing their merch, and saying Happy Birthday to kids in the ring with a sign because it puts a smile on his face. He says he doesn't want his legacy to be about putting smiles on the fans, but how many championships he's put around his waist.
Orton says he didn't know if he could be who he needed to be in order to dethrone Cody Rhodes as Undisputed WWE Champion, but Rhodes took all the weight off his shoulders last week when he told Orton that he needed to be "The Viper" and listen to the voices in his head. He says the problem with listening to the voices in his head is that they can lead him to be impulsive, but he needs that killer instinct to become a 15 time World Champion. He looks at the WrestleMania 42 sign and says he'll do that with an RKO, then says the voices in his head counsel him, understand, and talk to him to tell him that he'll become the Undisputed WWE Champion and beat Rhodes at WrestleMania 42.
— Back from break, Aleister Black and Zelina make their way to the ring.
— Randy Orton walks by some superstars backstage and comes face to face with Matt Cardona. Cardona says he's known Rhodes and Orton for years but what he did to Rhodes was out of line. Orton gets pissed and tells Cardona off and goes to leave. Orton comes flying back and punches Cardona and tells him to stay out of his business.
Sami Zayn vs. Aleister Black (w/ Zelina)
The bell rings and Black blindsides Zayn from behind. Zayn fires off chops on Black in the corner and rains down right hands on him, then levels Black with a clothesline during the commercial break and pins him. Black kicks out.
Williams gloats on top of the announce desk as Zayn becomes visibly annoyed inside the ring. Black cinches in a variation of a Knee Bar on Zayn back from the break, but Zayn pins Black to escape the hold. Black kicks out, but Zayn clotheslines him out of the ring over the top rope and sends Black crashing into one of the barricades twice.
Zayn dumps Black back in the ring, then connects with an Exploder on him and sets up for the Helluva Kick. Black rolls out of the ring to avoid it, but Zayn follows him out and knocks Williams' feet off the announce desk. Williams takes a sip of his beverage and spits it on Zayn.
Zayn stares down Williams as Black rolls in the ring and the referee begins a ten count. Zayn rains down right hands on Williams and slides back into the ring at the last second, opening the door for Black to land Black Mass on Zayn for the win.
Winner: Aleister Black
— Matt Cardona talks to Nick Aldis and he wants a match with Randy Orton. Aldis says it won't happen and Cardona leaves. Carmelo Hayes approaches Aldis and asks why the open challenge is closed. Aldis says it's because someone came to him and made a case to be the next challenger. Aldis leaves and Ilja Dragunov is standing there and he says he's the guy who spoke to Aldis.
— Jade Cargill walks backstage and she's up next to discuss her road to WrestleMania.
— Back from a commercial break, we get a promo from Irresistible Forces. Lash Legend and Nia Jax talk about how they're the center of attention and how The Bella Twins are trying to stay relevant. They talk about all the tag teams who are looking to take their gold. Jax says they'll demolish The Bella Twins.
— Jade Cargill then makes her way to the ring.
Cargill says she's not here to play with the fans' time and calls Rhea Ripley to the ring.
Ripley's music hits and she makes her way out. She asks Cargill if they're going to talk or do something, then says she feels that they've said everything they need to and she doesn't feel like talking. Cargill says Ripley needs the Women's Championship while she doesn't need it, then says Ripley has been grinding to be somebody while she's been that b**** and is still that b****. She says she's not in WWE to make friends but more money.
Ripley says Cargill has been successful in not making friends, then says Cargill has lived for professional wrestling since she was 16 years old and won't let anyone walk all over her. Cargill says she doesn't want another sob story from Ripley and says she makes wrestling matter, but Ripley says it's obvious that Cargill knows nothing about the professional wrestling business if she thinks Ripley needs the Women's Championship. She says she now wants the Women's Championship and will take it from Cargill, then welcomes Cargill to the big leagues and asks her if they'll continue talking or do something. She dares Cargill to hit her, but Cargill opts to hop out of the ring instead.
Michin and B-Fab saunter out to the ring to prevent Cargill from heading backstage, but Cargill tells them to surround Ripley in the ring. Michin and B-Fab oblige as they reveal their new allegiance with Cargill, then both beat down Ripley before Cargill lands Jaded on Ripley.
— Kit Wilson talks to The Miz backstage and The Miz isn't present. The Miz says his week has been terrible and talks about a sunburn on his back. Danhausen comes by and pats Wilson and The Miz on the back. The Miz says he won't mentor Danhausen and Danhausen tells The Miz to stay cursed and a ladder almost falls on The Miz. Danhausen leaves and The Miz tells Wilson to do this on his own and Wilson leaves, and a ladder falls on The Miz.
— We then see Solo Sikoa berate Tama Tonga and JC Mateo for losing the WWE Tag Team Championship. Tama says Sikoa is staring to sound like Roman Reigns, but Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre crash the conversation as they continue brawling with one another. McIntyre rakes Fatu's eyes, but security pries him off Fatu once again.
— Back at ringside, Ilja Dragunov makes his way down. Carmelo Hayes follows.
:ustitle2:
WWE United States Championship Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
The bell rings and the two lock up. Dragunov fires off chops on Hayes in the corner, then catches Hayes with a Constantine Special.
Back from the break, Dragunov sends Hayes crashing into the mat and goes for a pin. Hayes kicks out and lands a Dirty Diana on Dragunov, then flies over the top rope with a Tope Con Hilo to take out Dragunov on the outside and lands a splash on Dragunov off the top rope. He goes for a pin, but Dragunov kicks out.
Dragunov ascends to the top rope and flies, but Hayes lands a The First 48 on Dragunov. Dragunov manages to pin Hayes, but Hayes gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the fall. Dragunov then catches Hayes with a German suplex during another commercial break, but Hayes fires off back elbows on Dragunov before Dragunov catches Hayes with two more German suplexes.
Dragunov gets Hayes up on his shoulders on the ring apron back from the break and lands a Death Valley Driver on him, then drags Hayes up the ropes. Hayes sends himself and Dragunov crashing off the top rope with a variation of a cutter, but Dragunov fires off chops on Hayes and follows it up with a big boot.
Dragunov lands a powerbomb on Hayes and pins him, but Hayes kicks out and Dragunov lands an Oblique Breaker on him. He charges at Hayes as he sets up for a Torpedo Moskau, but Hayes catches Dragunov with The First 48 and pins him. Hayes kicks out and sets up for Nothing But Net, but Dragunov sees Hayes coming and moves out of the way. He delivers Torpedo Moskau to Hayes, but Hayes responds with a Sunset Flip to Dragunov and pins him for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Carmelo Hayes
— Jelly Roll talks to Damian Priest and R-Truth backstage and Jelly Roll congratulates them and they leave. Randy Orton approaches Jelly Roll and apologizes for last week. Jelly Roll says he knows what it's like to be judged for the worst decision he's made and he reminds Orton that he lights up the WWE and that Orton became a better man. Jelly Roll says he doesn't know why Orton is going back to the monster he once beat. Jelly Roll that fame, the title and all this stuff comes and goes, but friends and family stay forever. Jelly Roll tells Orton to go apologize to Matt Cardona. They hug and say they love each other.
— Back at ringside, Kit Wilson comes out to the ring to call out Jelly Roll and we cut to a commercial break.
Wilson wastes no time calling Jelly Roll to the ring, and Jelly Roll makes his way out. Jelly Roll tells Wilson that this is what he'll get if he wants it and says that they'll fight right here and now, but Wilson stops Jelly Roll and says that he fights with his words rather than his fists. Jelly Roll asks Wilson if he called him to Raleigh to have a rap battle with him, then says Wilson is no rapper.
Wilson tells Jelly Roll not to compare him to a rapper because he wants to have a slam poetry contest. Wilson reads a poem about Jelly Roll, his criminal past and weight loss, then tells Jelly Roll to bring it on. Jelly Roll responds with a poem of his own about Wilson and his mother, prompting Wilson to blindside Jelly Roll from behind and land an elbow drop on him off the top rope.
— Giulia is backstage with Kiana James. Giulia is pissed James lost to Tiffany Stratton. Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre show up and Green says the enemy of her enemy is her friend and suggests they work together. Giulia says they don't need to work together, she and James leave. Green is beside herself with the disrespect from Giulia. Nia Jax pushes Green's wheelchair aggressively and sends her off screen and she and Lash Legend walk to the camera as they defend their titles next.
— Jelly Roll comes up to Nick Aldis and says he wants Kit Wilson next week. Aldis agrees to make a match for SmackDown next week.
— The Irresistible Forces make their way to the ring. Nikki Bella and Brie Bella follow.
:womenstag:
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: The Irresistible Forces (c) vs. The Bella Twins
The bell rings and Brie brawls with Lash Legend on the outside as Nia Jax whips Nikki into the corner of the ring. She levels her with a shoulder tackle, but Brie tags in. She tags back out to Nikki and holds Jax in place for Nikki to land a double ax handle on her off the middle rope. Jax sends Nikki and Brie crashing into one another, but Nikki and Brie land a double Bulldog on Jax.
Charlotte Flair's music hits, and she appears along with Alexa Bliss to watch the action. This opens the door for Legend to take out Brie with a forearm and send Nikki crashing into the corner face first during the break. Legend then jams her boot into Nikki's face in the corner and lands a splash on her before she tags in Jax.
Jax sends Nikki crashing into the announce desk face first and sends her crashing into both Flair and Bliss, but Nikki delivers a jawbreaker to Legend back inside the ring after Legend has tagged in. Legend rocks Nikki with a pair of shoulder tackles and steps on her to pin her, but Nikki kicks out.
Jax tags back in and charges at Nikki, but Nikki catches Jax with a back elbow and delivers a kick to her off the ropes. Brie tags in and delivers a dropkick to Jax off the top rope, then rocks Legend with a boot on the outside and delivers a kick to Jax's chest.
Jax lands a headbutt on Brie, but Nikki tags in and delivers a crossbody to both Legend and Jax on the outside. Jax then gets Nikki up on her shoulders and tags in Legend, then ascends to the middle rope and lands a Samoan Drop on Nikki. Legend follows it up with a splash of the middle rope and pins Nikki, but Nikki kicks out.
Nikki cinches in an STF on Legend, but Flair clocks Jax on the outside and delivers a kick to her to cause the disqualification.
Winners by Disqualification and STILL WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: The Irresistible Forces
— After the match, Nikki gets in Flair's face for interfering. Bliss gets in Nikki's face, but Brie fires off strikes on Flair and Nikki sends her crashing into the corner of the ring face first. Bliss fires off stomps on Brie in one corner as Flair does the same to Nikki in the opposite corners, but Legend delivers a splash to Flair and Nikki as Jax lands one of her own on Bliss and Brie. Jax lands a leg drop on Flair.
— Randy Orton is backstage on the phone. He tells the person on the phone that they're right and he's going to go out to the ring to fix this. We head to break.
— We are back from break and Randy Orton comes out to the ring with a chair in hand. He high fives kids on his way to the ring and gets to the ring and slides the chair into the ring, high fives some more kids and then gets in the ring.
Orton says he has an apology to make to the fans, but also has one he has to make to Matt Cardona. He calls Cardona to the ring.
Cardona makes his way to the ring, and Orton says he's legitimately sorry to Cardona. He says he thinks that action figures are cool and says they've known each other for 20 years, then says he has to apologize to Cody Rhodes next week and asks Cardona if he'll forgive him.
Orton hugs Cardona, then low blows him and dumps him out of the ring. He lays Cardona on the announce desk and fires off right hands on him and grabs one of the ring steps, but officials run down to the ring and try to stop Orton. Orton momentarily backs off as he tries to process all the voices in his head, then decides to dump Cardona back in the ring and fire off right hands on him. He slides Cardona's arm into the chair, but officials hold Orton back before he can do anything else.
Orton breaks free and stomps on the chair to injure Cardona's arm. Officials hold back Orton on the outside and escort him up the entrance ramp.
We then head outside the arena, where Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu brawl on top of a platform. Nick Aldis and officials try getting to them, but are blocked by a fence. McIntyre and Fatu then both go crashing off the platform as the show goes off the air.
