WWE went live from FedEx-Forum in Memphis, TN, on March 15 for the weekly Friday Night SmackDown episode. The Rock made an appearance on the show. The drama between LWO and Legado del Fantasma continued. Bayley faced another roadblock in Dakota Kai before WrestleMania XL. Let’s review everything that happened on WWE SmackDown.
The Rock’s Promo
SmackDown kicked off with The Great One, The Rock. The crowd chanted “Rocky” and gave him a nice ovation during the entrance.
The Rock came out with a song for Cody and Seth. He called Seth a clown and aimed at whooping Cody’s ass at WrestleMania.
The Rock involved Cody’s mom in the scenario and again called Cody a mistake. Talking about Seth Rollins, Rock said that Seth is an embarrassment and his wife, Becky Lynch, is more famous.
Rocky took shots at the Cody crybabies and mentioned Rhodes slapping him last week.
The Rock then addressed Cody’s mother. He said she would get Rock’s belt instead of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Rock had a weight belt and said he would beat Cody like a dog. Then, he will give the belt to Cody’s mom, filled with Cody’s blood over it.
Rock ended it by saying, “If ya smell what the Final Boss is cooking”.
Grades: A
Analysis: The Rock gave a great opening to the show. His entrance suits his persona well. The Rock alone is doing enough to hype the already anticipated WrestleMania 40.
Tag Team Match
Angel Garza and Humberto Carillo vs. Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde
Del Toro started with a hurricane. Both LWO members kicked Garza to the outside, followed by stereo suicide dives.
Garza and Carillo replied with a double Gorilla press off the middle rope. Wilde saved the match for his team. Del Toro delivered a beautiful standing Spanish Fly on Humberto.
Wilde hit Garza with a Tornado DDT. Carillo saved the match for his team this time. Garza and Carrillo laid out Cruz at ringside.
In the ring, they hit Joaquin with a double-team manoeuvre for the victory.
Winners: Humberto Carillo and Angel Garza
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun tag team match. These superstars were athletic, and they delivered good action.
Knight challenges Styles
LA Knight was with Kayla Braxton on the entrance ramp. The megastar called out AJ Styles, who didn’t appear.
Knight said Styles flew to Australia to cost him the Elimination Chamber match, but he didn’t drive to Memphis to show up.
Knight dared Styles to attend WrestleMania and challenged him to a one-on-one match. Styles blindly attacked Knight with a chair and accepted the challenge.
Grades: B-
Analysis: A solid segment with LA Knight and AJ Styles. Another WrestleMania match is up in the cards.
Backstage: Logan Paul was with Nick Aldis. The US Champion demanded an apology from Randy Orton for his actions last week when he delivered RKO to KSI. Logan also questioned Aldis about his WrestleMania opponent.
– Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa were backstage. Jimmy accepted Jey’s WrestleMania challenge.
Singles Match
Randy Orton vs. Grayson Waller
Logan Paul joined the ringside for this match. Waller tried to get the early advantage, but Orton delivered right hands in the corner.
Randy slammed Grayson face-first into the commentary table at ringside and sent him into the timekeeper’s area.
Logan Paul stood up to Orton. The distraction gave Waller the upper hand as he slammed Orton on the commentary desk.
Back in the ring, Randy delivered a snap power slam and prepared for his signature DDT. Waller escaped and sent Randy to the outside.
Orton again slammed Waller on the announcers’ table and threw him in the ring. Theory tried to distract, but Waller accidentally attacked his buddy.
Orton took advantage and delivered a draping DDT. Waller rolled to the outside to prevent RKO.
Orton grabbed Theory, who was on the apron and delivered a draping DDT. Waller came in and suffered RKO. Randy secured the win.
After the match, Logan Paul tried to attack Orton with the help of Austin Theory. Kevin Owens joined the fray and saved Orton. KO delivered a Stunner to Theory, followed by Randy’s RKO.
Nick Aldis announced a triple-threat match between Randy, Logan, and Owens at WrestleMania XL for the US Title.
Winner: Randy Orton
Grades: B+
Analysis: The match was fine, but the post-match angle was awesome. Logan Paul will defend the US Title in a triple-threat match at WrestleMania.
Singles Match
Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar
Lee started with a clothesline and a running senton over the top rope to the ringside area. In the ring, Lee landed a Superkick and a powerbomb for a near fall.
Humberto tried to interrupt, but Dragon sidelined him with a hurricanrana. In the ring, Escobar hit Lee with a Phantom Driver for the win.
Legado continued the attack after the match. Carlito came out and delivered a backstabber and a spinebuster to Garza and Carillo.
Rey Mysterio joined and went for a 619 on Escobar. Santos wisely rolled to the outside to save himself. Rey grabbed a microphone and challenged Escobar to a match next week.
Winner: Santos Escobar
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a decent match. Dragon Lee has been impressive so far in all his TV appearances on the main roster.
Rey challenged Santos for next week. It looked like they were leading to a multi-man with both factions against each other at WrestleMania.
Tag Team Match
New Catch Republic vs. Pretty Deadly
The match started in the commercial break. Pete Dunne started with his finger-twisting manoeuvres. Dunne survived the double-team assault from Pretty Deadly and tagged Tyler Bate in.
Bate spun Prince and slammed him. Tyler delivered a snap German Suplex on Prince. Ultimately, Bate and Dunne delivered Burminghammer on Prince for the win.
Winners: New Catch Republic
Grades: B-
Analysis: Bate and Dunne look great as a team, and the future holds big things for them. It was a sad moment for PrettyDeadly.
This match will be linked to the six-pack ladder match for the Undisputed Tag Team titles at WrestleMania XL.
Singles Match
Bayley vs. Dakota Kai
Bayley started in rage, and she threw her right hand at Dakota. Bayley delivered a suplex. Asuka’s distraction allowed Kai to hit a double stomp.
Dakota distracted the referee, and Asuka blindly attacked Bayley for a two-count. Bayley delivered the elbow drop for a near fall.
The distractions continued, and this time, Kairi Sane sneak-attacked Bayley. Kai’s move was countered by a Powerbomb by Bayley.
Damage CTRL entered the ring. Iyo Sky’s attack allowed the referee to end the bout without disqualification.
Naomi came out to help Bayley in the numbers game. Iyo Sky landed a dropkick on Naomi and delivered a moonsault on Bayley. Damage CTRL celebrated in the ring to close out the show.
Winner: Bayley by DQ.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a decent main event. Bayley is not alone in her battle against Damage CTRL. WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky looked strong tonight.
Overall, The Rock’s promo highlighted it as a decent SmackDown show. Three important WrestleMania matches got official. We got Jimmy vs Jey, Randy vs Owens vs Logan Paul, and AJ Styles vs LA Knight.
