WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 3
For the first time since winning the Royal Rumble in January, Cody Rhodes came face-to-face with his WrestleMania opponent, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Friday night on SmackDown.
That confrontation headlined a broadcast that also saw the other Rumble winner, Rhea Ripley, battle the runner-up in the women's match, Liv Morgan.
Who emerged from that contest with momentum on their side, and what went down when The American Nightmare and The Tribal Chief stood in the same ring?
Find out with this recap of the first broadcast of March.
Match Card
1 of 8Events announced for Friday's show:
- Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes face-to-face
- Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
- Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns Face-to-Face
2 of 8
Cody Rhodes came face-to-face with Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns at the top of Friday's show and realized quickly the game The Head of the Table was playing with him.
Reigns struck a nerve, sure, by tapping into Rhodes' love for his father, Dusty. He played up his relationship with The American Dream and the mentor-protege relationship they had during Reigns' time in Florida Championship Wrestling, going as far as to suggest the Hall of Famer never spoke of Cody.
Rhodes easily could have lost his cool but did not. He rose his voice, sure, but he never raised a fist or instigated any violence. Instead, he iterated that for him to exist in Reigns' presence, he will have to beat him in the main event of WrestleMania.
This was extraordinary television by two guys in tune with their characters and the stories they are trying to tell.
The facial expressions of both were outstanding, but it was the work of The Tribal Chief as he exited the ring that really told the story. He flashed a smile that exuded fake confidence before the camera caught real uncertainty. He looked over his shoulder, expecting Rhodes to attack, but he realized that the Royal Rumble winner refused to lose his cool and bite.
Rhodes is a different beast than what Reigns has faced to this point. He is laser-focused and will not give in to the champion's manipulative ways. He cannot be mentally toyed with. That may be the difference between The American Nightmare doing what no other man has to this point: defeating Reigns for the top prize in pro wrestling.
Fantastic stuff to start the show.
Grade
A+
Top Moments
- The pops for both Reigns and Rhodes are proof positive of why they are headlining WrestleMania.
- "...unless you feel you need them here," Rhodes said, slyly insinuating that Reigns needed The Bloodline as his backup.
- "So what d'ya wanna talk about?" Reigns said, mocking Rhodes' typical opening line.
- "It's like you've been rehearsing that all week or something," Reigns said, again mocking Rhodes' promo style.
- "I've been groomed since I was just a little boy. Not just by my father but...by your father, too," Reigns said, striking a nerve.
- Reigns' Dusty Rhodes impression was on point.
- "When I was in there, it was like you did not exist," Reigns said of his time under Dusty's learning tree.
- "If there's anything he didn't teach you, I will," Reigns finished his portion of the promo.
- "The only way I can exist is by beating you at WrestleMania!" Rhodes said in response.
- "May the better man win."
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
3 of 8
The final two combatants in this year's Royal Rumble squared off in the night's opening contest as Rhea Ripley squared off with Liv Morgan. Ripley sought to maintain momentum entering WrestleMania and her upcoming SmackDown Women's Championship Match against Charlotte Flair.
She did just that.
Ripley was relentless and physically superior, overwhelming Morgan at every turn before downing her with Riptide. Rather than settling for the pinfall victory, Ripley tapped her out with an inverted cloverleaf submission.
This was a great way to further establish Ripley. Morgan is popular and fans buy her as a former champion. For Mami to essentially steamroll her on the way to The Grandest Stage of Them All was a booking decision that will further announce to the world that she is the star they should be paying close attention to.
Morgan may not be in the position she should be entering the biggest show of the year, but she is still over with audiences, which will only help any attempt to heat her back up after the premium live event.
Result
Ripley defeated Morgan via submission
Grade
A
Top Moments
- Ripley spoke to Flair through the camera mid-match as she asserted her dominance over Morgan.
- Backstage, Ripley and Dominik encountered Santos Escobar, who set up a match with the spoiled, third-generation heel.
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Santos Escobar vs. Dominik Mysterio
4 of 8
Dominik Mysterio had disrespected and disparaged the legacy of his father, and Friday night, he drew the ire of Legado del Fantasma's Santos Escobar. The recipient of Rey's mask two weeks ago, Escobar battled his hero's disrespectful son in singles competition.
Dominik controlled the majority of the bout, only for Escobar to fire up and spark a comeback attempt. A distraction caused by the heel and a pair of brass knuckles allowed Ripley to attack Escobar, deliver Riptide on the floor and set Dominik up for the frog splash for the win.
The match was curiously booked in that one would assume Escobar would have dominated until the cheap win. Instead, the focus was put on Dominik. Given the fact that he presumptively has a match with his father at WrestleMania, it makes sense to highlight him, but that could have been established while still playing up the cowardly elements of the character.
The post-match, which amplified Dominik's degradation of his father, helped the segment recover as creative brings us closer to the father-son showdown we were not all that sure we were ever going to see.
Result
Dominik defeated Escobar
Grade
B-
Top Moments
- Escobar brought the mask given to him by Rey Mysterio to the ring with him.
- "Do you respect your legacy?!" Escobar asked his opponent. "No!" Dominik exclaimed.
- Dominik teased a 619 but opted to choke Escobar on the ropes instead.
- Ripley delivered Riptide to Escobar on the floor while Dominik distracted the referee.
- After the match, the victor ripped his father's mask as Escobar shouted from the ring, recognizing the implications of his opponent's actions.
- Rey interrupted the post-match antics of his son, only to again refuse to strike his firstborn. Dominik did not share the same hesitations, blasting Rey on the ramp.
Drew McIntyre Calls Out Gunther, Gets Everyone Else Instead
5 of 8
Drew McIntyre hit the ring to call out Intercontinental champion Gunther in reaction to not having a match scheduled for WrestleMania. This brought out his recent tag partner and friend, Sheamus, who took exception to The Scottish Warrior eyeing an IC title that he has repeatedly expressed was significant to him.
LA Knight, New Day and Karrion Kross all interrupted, leading to a brawl that ended with the latter standing tall with Scarlett and a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the championship picture ahead of WrestleMania.
Some will consider this to be an example of lazy booking on the part of Triple H and Co., but by booking so many guys to have an interest in the IC title, you elevate the significance of it to the audience. If no one cared and Gunther just defended against the challenger of the week, it would be an afterthought.
The crop of talent involved here is certainly interesting, and how WWE goes about determining who gets the opportunity, if not all of them, should make for some interesting television in the coming weeks.
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- "Damn right this is personal. You know how much that Intercontinental Championship means to me," Sheamus said, taking exception to his friend calling Gunther out for WrestleMania.
- "You two are handed every single opportunity and yet still you cry!" Knight said of McIntyre and Sheamus.
- "LA Knight wants a match at WrestleMania, but as of late, LA Knight can't even win a match on SmackDown!" Kingston said.
- McIntyre just barely made it over the top rope during a senton attempt and clipped the crop of talent below.
Tegan Nox vs. Shayna Baszler
6 of 8
Earlier in the afternoon, Tegan Nox attacked Ronda Rousey, injuring her arm and instigating a brawl with Shayna Baszler. With the night's planned tag team match pitting Nox and Natalya against Baszler and Rousey off the table, Nox battled The Submission Magician one-on-one.
Baszler essentially dominated Nox, working her over before tapping her out with an arm bar.
This did nothing to further any ongoing storyline, nor did it help either woman involved.
Nox was not even allowed to have the spotlight to herself, entering the arena to the music of Natlaya, who merely seconded her. From there, she was physically outmatched and tapped in short order, diminishing a star that was barely lit in the first place.
As a result, Baszler does not look any more or less impressive because she beat a competitor who has not yet been allowed to build her own momentum.
This was a misfire and feels like more evidence of the blue brand women's division being a major roadblock (not related to the NXT show of the same name, this Tuesday on USA).
Result
Baszler defeated Nox
Grade
D-, if only because it got the underrated Nox on television
Top Moments
- Not a single one, unfortunately.
Bobby Lashley Promo
7 of 8
Bobby Lashley made a rare Friday night appearance and wasted little time calling out Bray Wyatt following the Muscle Man Dance mind games of Monday's Raw.
Instead of The Eater of Worlds, he got Uncle Howdy, who jumped him from behind. A scuffle ensued until the arena went dark. When the lights came back on, Howdy was gone, leaving Lashley dismayed.
This was...something.
The feud has no real definition or reason for existing. We know Lashley is not about the kid's games, and Wyatt continues to play them, but beyond that, this is lacking serious bite.
Hopefully, that changes in the weeks to come, but this feels like a story thrown together to accommodate high-profile stars without anything else going on.
Grade
D
Top Moments
- Backstage, Jimmy Uso delivered a message to Roman Reigns on behalf of his brother, Jey: "leave me the hell alone."
- Reigns told Paul Heyman that if Jey is not on-board and in The Bloodline by next week, he's holding Jimmy accountable.
Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa
8 of 8
Sami Zayn's vendetta against The Bloodline continued in Friday's main event as he battled the faction's designated enforcer, Solo Sikoa, who was accompanied to the squared circle by Jimmy Uso.
The match went about as one would expect, with Zayn starting hot before Sikoa slowed the pace and worked him over. The Underdog from the Underground fought back, scored a near-fall and looked to have the match in hand until well-timed interference from Uso resulted in a tainted win for Sikoa.
After the match, Sikoa and Uso beat Zayn down, with the former threatening the running hip attack in the corner. Uso stopped him, offering to do it instead. The result? Zayn got up, fended both men off and escaped through the crowd, infuriating Reigns backstage.
The match itself was fine, but the meat of the segment was the post-match booking.
Uso is under a ton of scrutiny for not returning his brother to the fold and only dug himself deeper with his failure here. Zayn remained red-hot, managing to generate chants of "Sami!" as the show went off the air, even after enduring a defeat.
It is a testament to the storytelling that he remains as over as he is, even without the wins to support it.
Result
Sikoa defeated Zayn
Grade
B+
Top Moments
- Roman Reigns watched intently from his locker room.
- "Sami Zayn is the problem that should have been left in Montreal but is the problem The Bloodline simply cannot shake," Wade Barrett put it excellently on commentary.
- Zayn scored a near-fall off a blue thunder bomb.
- Reigns looked on approvingly as Sikoa scored the tainted victory.
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