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WWE SmackDown Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From March 13
Welcome to Bleacher Report's live coverage of WWE SmackDown on March 13.
Here's a look at what WWE advertised for Friday's show:
Let's take a look at everything that happened on this week's SmackDown.
Drew McIntyre Wants Payback
1 of 10
The show opened with a recap of Cody Rhodes winning the WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre last week. We then saw McIntyre storming through the crowd with a mic as he ranted about Nick Aldis screwing him over by giving Rhodes a title shot.
Aldis came out and said McIntyre has nobody to blame but himself for losing the title. They argued about what was fair and McIntyre got right in his face to demand he make this right.
Jacob Fatu's music hit and he came down to remind McIntyre that he wouldn't have even won the title if it hadn't been for him, so getting involved last week was just making things right.
McIntyre said he quit and left through the crowd. The segment ended with Aldis and Fatu watching him leave. It feels like Fatu vs. McIntyre is being set up for 'Mania, but a Fatal 4-Way for the WWE title is also a possibility. Time will tell.
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations
The MFTs vs. Wyatt Sicks
2 of 10
Last time in action: Uncle Howdy defeated Solo Sikoa (SD, Feb. 27), Rowan and Howdy defeated Los Garzas (Main Event, Feb. 13)
WWE held another match in the seemingly never-ending feud between the MFTs and Wyatt Sicks this week, but the combination of competitors didn't feel as worn out as the feud.
Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga took on Uncle Howdy and Erick Rowan, but both teams had their whole stables in their corner. The match was originally advertised to include Tama Tonga instead of Talla.
The two giants got the match started with some shoulder tackles. It didn't take long for Sikoa and Howdy to take over.
It's gotten to the point that this feud has overstayed its welcome and then some. It feels like WWE has no idea what to do with any of these guys once its over, so it keeps stretching it out.
This bout didn't add anything interesting to the story and followed a predictable pattern. It wasn't bad, but it turned into a huge brawl at the end, which was the most predictable thing about it.
Nikki Cross took the lantern and distracted Sikoa long enough for Howdy to hit his finisher for the win. Tama took out Howdy and stole the lantern back to end the segment.
Result: The Wyatt Sicks defeated The MFTs
Grade: C
Notable Moments and Observations
Jade Cargill vs. Michin
3 of 10
Last time in action: Michin defeated Kiana James (Main Event, Oct. 31), Jade Cargill defeated Jordynne Grace (SD, Feb. 13)
Michin returned to the ring for the first time since October to take on Jade Cargill in a non-title bout this week. Michin went after Cargill before the ref had a chance to call for the bell.
Once the match officially got underway, she stayed on Jade and sent her out of the ring with a hurricanrana from the middle turnbuckle.
The champion got in a little offense, but Michin was firmly in control for the first few minutes. It took a fallaway slam on the floor to stall her momentum.
While there were some rough spots, this was actually one of Cargill's better matches in recent memory, and a lot of the credit for that goes to Michin bringing so much energy to the ring.
Cargill hit a powerbomb onto the barricade, followed by a chokeslam and her finisher for the win. Cargill delivered a promo directed at Rhea Ripley, which brought the No. 1 contender to the ring to confront her. Jade left without a fight to play some mind games.
Result: Cargill defeated Michin
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
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The Irresistible Forces vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss
4 of 10
Last time in action: Lash Legend and Nia Jax defeated Rhiyo (SD, Feb. 27), Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defeated Kiana James and Giulia (SD, Mar. 6)
The next match saw Charlotte Flair and Alexa bliss challenge Nia Jax and Lash Legend for the women's tag titles. Before the match got started, Nikki and Brie Bella came out to scout the match because they want a shot at the winners.
As soon as the ref called for the bell, the champions went after the challengers. Bliss and Flair were able to turn the tables and send them out of the ring.
Legend and Jax double-teamed Bliss throughout the break, which led to Flair getting the hot tag once the show was back. Jax pulled Brie into the path of Flair's kick at ringside.
It looked like the challengers were going to get the win, but Nikki caused the match to come to an abrupt end when she attacked Jax. The segment ended with Legend and Jax taking out everyone.
A non-finish to a title match is never ideal, especially when you can see it coming from a mile away. This will likely lead to a multi-team title bout at 'Mania.
Result: No Contest
Grade: C
Notable Moments and Observations
Damian Priest and R-Truth vs. Los Garzas
5 of 10
Last time in action: Damian Priest and R-Truth defeated Los Garzas in the gauntlet (SD, Mar. 6),
R-Truth and Damian Priest had a backstage segment with Angel and Berto that led to the two duos having a match. Los Garzas tried to get an early advantage, but Priest singlehandedly took them out.
Truth tagged in and took a lot of offense from the real-life cousins. Angel and Berto brought their A-game to this match and had some great moments.
This was obviously booked to make Truth and Priest look good before the challenge for the tag titles, but what it really did was illustrate how underutilized Los Garzas have been on SmackDown.
What should have been a throwaway bout ended up being one of the highlights of the night, which was admittedly a low bar to clear at this point in the show.
Priest scored the win for his team with South of Heaven.
Result: Priest and Truth defeated Los Garzas
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
Miz TV with Jelly Roll
6 of 10
Danhausen had a funny segment with The Miz backstage before The A-Lister went to the ring to interview Jelly Roll.
The Miz proposed teaming up with Jelly Roll, but the singer pointed out how The Miz has a history of stabbing his partners in the back.
The A-Lister immediately got mad and started insulting him. He tried to take credit for Jelly Roll getting himself in shape. Kit Wilson came out and said Jelly Roll is toxic and fatphobic.
Jelly Roll ended up punching out The Miz when he was aiming for Wilson. This segment was formulaic and not as funny as WWE thinks it is. Everything about it was forced and predictable.
Grade: D
Notable Moments and Observations
Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James
7 of 10
Last time in action: Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James both lost inside the Chamber (Elimination Chamber)
The next match saw two Kiana James take on Tiffany Stratton. Both women were unsuccessful in the Chamber, so they were both hoping to gain some momentum. As usual. Giulia was by James' side.
Alba Fyre wheeled Chelsea Green to the ring to watch as Stratton started gaining momentum. Giulia prevented her from attacking Tiffy because it would cost James the match.
The chaos at ringside allowed Stratton to hit her finisher on James for the win. The ending was a little convoluted, but they had some good moments in this match. It's too bad a good chunk of it happened during a break.
Result: Stratton defeated James
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
Jacob Fatu vs. Trick Williams
8 of 10
Last time in action: Jacob Fatu lost to Logan Paul (SD, Feb. 27), Williams lost in the Chamber (Elimination Chamber)
The final match on this week's show was the one Aldis booked earlier in the night between Jacob Fatu and Trick Williams.
Williams began by backing Fatu to the corner for a cheap shot, but The Samoan Werewolf immediately fired back with some shots of his own.
These are two guys who both work a very physical style, so they were able to put on a fun encounter, especially considering their lack of experience working together.
McIntyre ended up interfering to attack Fatu, which cost him the match and gave Williams the win. After it was over, McIntyre hit a Claymore to add insult to injury.
Result: Williams defeated Fatu
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
Contract Signing
9 of 10
The Final segment on Friday's show was the contract signing with Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton for the WWE title at WrestleMania. Before Aldis brought them out, he booked McIntyre vs. Fatu for next week.
Rhodes thanked Orton for being there for him when he came back to WWE before signing the contract. Randy signed next, but then he grabbed the mic and stood in the corner for a moment.
The Viper said Rhodes doesn't understand how much he needs to win the WWE title. Rhodes assured him that he is prepared for the most dangerous version of Orton.
After they hugged, Orton slammed Cody's head into the table and proceeded to beat him down and throw him out of the ring. He busted Rhodes open with the steel steps and continued destroying him.
Jelly Roll tried to talk some sense into him, but Orton shoved him to the ground before leaving the ringside area. He returned a moment later and used a steel chair to smash Rhodes' head against the steps.
Two friends signing a contract would usually be a pretty boring segment, but they did a good job hyping their match with Orton's heel turn. This added some needed conflict to the story.
Grade: B
The Final Word
10 of 10
Friday's SmackDown was a pretty forgettable episode overall, but it definitely ended on a high note.
Orton's heel turn is going to add some drama to the WWE title feud heading into WrestleMania, which it was sorely lacking before this show.
As far as the in-ring action goes, Fatu and Williams put on a decent match, as did Los Garzas with Truth and Priest.
Everything else on the card was either too predictable or fell flat, but ending the show with Orton sitting with the WWE title instantly made his feud with Rhodes more interesting.
Grade: C
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