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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MARCH 20, 2026
RALEIGH, N.C. AT LENOVO CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a video package on the Randy Orton turn on Cody Rhodes last week.
-They went to Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett at ringside who reacted to the big turn last week. Barrett said everyone is united in believing Orton’s actions crossed a line “to a horrific degree that was disgusting.” Tessitore then previewed the announced matches with scenes of the involved wrestlers arriving or hanging out backstage. Those scenes included R-Truth getting tended to by a barber who was pretending to trim his hair as Damien Priest asked what was going on, then laughed and walked away.
They showed Kit Wilson throwing a Jelly Roll vinyl on the ground and stepping on it. Then Jelly Roll was shown, but officials ran past him to another incident. There was a crushed windshield. Drew yanked if off the frame and dragged Jacob Fatu out of the car and rammed him over and over into the hood. Drew left and a bloodied Fatu tumbled off the hood onto the pavement. Barrett said things had reached a boiling point in many areas of WWE.
-Drew marched to the ring and asked what anyone expected. He said he came there to fight and to anyone who wrong him, “your ass belongs to me.” G.M. Nick Aldis walked out and asked what is wrong with him. He said he is the most self-sabotaging person he’s ever known in wrestling. He said he has had every opportunity and he still acts like a maniac. He said he’s not on his way to WrestleMania, he’s on his way to unemployment. Drew said Aldis and Fatu would love that. He said Donovan should be ashamed to have such a corporate stooge as a father. Fatu charged out and went after Drew. Fatu got the better of Drew before he was escorted away by a crew of security and officials. Of course, he pushed past them and returned to the attack, leaping off the ringside barricade onto Drew, crashing him through the announce desk. [c]
-They replayed clips of the opening segment.
(1) SOLO SIKOA & J.C. MATAO (w/Talla Tonga, Tama Tonga) vs. DAMIEN PRIEST & R-TRUTH – WWE Tag Team Title match
Priest’s music played first and he came out. Then R-Truth joined him as Truth’s theme played. Barrett noted that the Freebird Rule allows Mateo to sub in defending the titles with Solo. The bell rang 19 minutes into the hour. Talla attacked Truth at ringside. Mateo then clotheslined a distracted Priest over the top rope. Talla knocked Priest down, too. Then they cut to a double-box break at 1:00. [c/db]
Mateo dominated after the break against Priest. Priest eventually hot-tagged in Truth, who went into the John Cena routine. Truth hit a stunner on Mateo. Truth applied an STF. Talla yanked Truth out of the ring as Solo distracted the ref. Talla then slammed Truth on the edge of the ring apron and shoved him into the ring. Mateo made the cover and scored a two count. The Wyatt Sicks made their way out onto the stage. The MFTs charged at them. Uncle Howdy put the Mandible Claw on Sikoa. Coming out of the chaos, Truth gave Mateo an Attitude Adjustment for the three count.
When Priest realized what happened, he chuckled and raised Truth’s arm. “What an unexpected career twist for these two!” exclaimed Tessitore.
WINNERS: Truth & Priest in 9:00 to capture the WWE Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: The Truth and Priest pairing is kinda working. The MFTs title reign didn’t really ever feel like it meant much. And the Wyatt Sicks-MFTs feud continues. Get your tickets quickly for whatever night of WrestleMania they go to battle on before it sells out!)
-Cathy Kelley interviewed The Bellas backstage about their tag title match later. As the Bellas talked about paving the way (believe it or not!), Charlotte and Alexa Bliss walked up to them. Charlotte said they want next. Nikki told Charlotte to come watch to see what real champions do. Brie then stole Alexa’s spoon from her pint of ice cream. Bliss was upset. Charlotte gave her her spoon.
-Candice LeRae was hanging out with Johnny Gargano who was half passed out on the rolling crate when Danaussen walked in. She asked if he could help her husband. “Do you have 20 human dollars?” he asked. She pulled a 20 dollar bill out of Gargano’s pocket and gave it to him. He thanked her and left. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin walked by. When Shelley paused to check on things, Sabin told him to follow him and forget about Gargano. [c]
-Backstage Sami Zayn told Kelley he knows how hard Cody Rhodes tries to always do the right thing, but so often it doesn’t work out for him. He said look at Randy Orton and what he did. He said the more he tries to do things the right way, the more things go wrong and people pull away. He said he’s feeling like the world he believes in doesn’t exist anymore. (Join the club.) Trick Williams walked up to Sami and told him it looks like he’s hurting. He said when life gives you lemons, get your lemon pepper steppers. Sami said he likes to talk, but maybe they should stop the talking. Trick said Sami has a match coming up, and he’ll check his schedule on his Palm Pilot and if he has time to watch, he’ll maybe give him some pointers. Sami told Trick to “get a real good look!”
(2) FRAXIOM (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) vs. MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
Nathan Frazer and Axiom made their entrance first. Then Shelly & Sabin. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Barrett said Sabin & Shelley need to get back to their winning ways. They cut to an early break. [c]
Sabin landed a leaping crossbody press onto both Fraser and Axiom leading to a near fall seconds later. LeRae walked out into the aisle. Barrett said he wasn’t sure what she was doing out there. Fraser and Axiom dove through the ropes onto both opponents twice in a row. Shelley shoved Axiom off the top rope. LeRae then hit Fraser leading to Sabin rolling up Frazer for the win.
WINNERS: Shelley & Sabin in 8:00.
-Barrett and Tessitore commented on clips of the Drew-Fatu brawl that started the show.
-They showed Orton arriving outside the arena. [c]
-Highlights aired of the C.M. Punk-Roman Reigns segment on Raw earlier this week.
[HOUR TWO]
-Orton made his ring entrance. Cheers were heard. Orton strolled to the ring casually and pulled a chair from the time keeper’s area that had a dent in it. He studied and admired it. He brought it into the ring and sat on it. He said for years when his entrance theme played, “all you guys sing along.” He said it was quite a feeling. He said he tried to pay it back by giving the fans high-fives, signing the replica titles, and he’ll see a kid with a poster saying it was his birthday and he’d sign it. He said that kid would remember it forever. He said that puts a smile on his face. Fans cheered. “And that smile is the emptiest feeling I have felt in my entire life,” he said. Some boos kicked in.
He said he’s been wrestling a long time and nothing lasts forever. He said he wants his legacy not to be the autographs he signed or smiles he produced, but rather how many world titles he put around his waist. He said when he won the Elimination Chamber, he was going to fight Drew for the title. He said when Cody beat Drew, he didn’t know if he could be who he needed to be in order to beat Cody. “I loved Cody like a brother, and I still do,” he said. He said last week Cody took that burden off his chest when he told him to be the best version of Randy he could be. He said Cody told him to be the Viper and listen to the voices. He said the problem with listening to the voices is he isn’t always in control and it can get chaotic. He said sometimes he gets hurt as bad as someone else. He said he needs that killer instinct to add no. 15 to his legacy. Some more cheers, more muted than earlier.
He looked up at the WrestleMania sign and said he’s going to do it with the three most dangerous letters, RKO. Fans chanted, “RKO!” He said he hears voices in his head and they council him and they understand and they talk to him. He said they tell him that he’s going to beat Cody for the WWE Title. Some fans cheered and even pumped their arms. He stood from the chair and said it will happen at the main event of WrestleMania. His music kicked in.
(Keller’s Analysis: While that promo seemed true to Orton’s character, it left fans either cheering or conflicted on whether they wanted to cheer him. That ambiguity can lead to ambivalent emotions that undercuts that peak fan experience of the crowd united in rallying for a common outcome. That was the challenge with Orton turning heel in any scenario at this stage of his career, and this didn’t solve it.)
-A vignette aired on the Bellas.
-Aleister Black and Zelina Vega made their ring entrance. [c]
-Backstage, Orton walked past Angel and Berto. They eyed him and walked away sheepishly. Matt Cardona got in Orton’s face and asked what that was all about last week with Cody. Orton yelled: “Are you freakin’ kidding me? You’ve got the nerve to talk to me of all people like that. Don’t you have some action figures to go play with, mark-ass stooge, indy nerd. You’re wasting me time. I’m done.” He turned to leave, but then turned right back and hit Cardona. He told Cardona, “Stay out of by business; you wouldn’t understand.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Some would say that counts as a babyface turn for Orton.)
(3) SAMI ZAYN vs. ALEISTER BLACK (w/Zelina Vega)
After Sami’s entrance, Trick made his entrance. Fans sang “Whoop that Trick!” As Trick struck a pose at ringside, the ref called for the bell 20 minutes into the hour. Black went after Sami at the start with strikes. Sami made a comeback a minute later and they cut to an early break. [c]
Black took over and landed a knee strike and scored a near fall at 5:00 as Trick was chilling at ringside. Black avoided a Helluva Kick and then landed a meteora for a near fall. Barrett said Sami is a half step off and isn’t the same person he was prior to his Royal Rumble championship match. Sami knocked Black over the top rope and showed fire. Sami tossed Black around ringside. Barrett said Sami has been slapped out of his despair by Black. He delivered an exploder suplex back in the ring. He then set up an Helluva Kick again. Black rolled to ringside first, though.
Semi went after Black at ringside and shoved Trick’s boots off the announce desk. Trick took offense and threw his drink on Sami. Sami snarled and turned to him. He was about to re-enter the ring, but instead turned and attacked Trick. He beat the ten count, but Black caught him with a Black Mass for the three count.
WINNER: Black in 10:00.
-Cardona begged Aldis to let him have Orton tonight. Aldis said he can’t make it happen with all he has going on. Cardona stormed off. Carmelo Hayes asked Aldis why the Open Challenge was closed tonight. Aldis told him it was because someone made a compelling case why it should be them. Ilja Dragunov then walked up to him and said he can’t be the man he wants to be unless he takes the shots in front of him. Dragunov said pain will entertain whether it’s Hayes’s or his.
-They showed Jade Cargill backstage. [c]
-A vignette aired with Nia Jax and Lash Legend talking about their defense against the Bellas later. They also addressed Bayley & Lyra Valkyria saying they are coming after their titles. Jax said the Bellas will be lucky to survive tonight.
-Jade made her ring entrance. Jade said she wasn’t there to talk to the fans. She said she knew Rhea Ripley was back there, so she called her to the ring. Ripley’s music immediately played and she strolled out. Barrett said they were two alpha females unwilling to take a backward step away the other.
Ripley asked if they’re going to talk or actually do something. She said they’ve said they all have to say and she didn’t really want to talk to her anymore. Jade said Ripley needs the title, whereas she doesn’t need the title, the ring, or the fans. Fans booed. She told Rhea she was trying so hard to be somebody, and with or without wrestling, she’s always been and always will be that bitch. She said she’s there to make more money. Ripley said if her goal wasn’t to make friends, she’s doing a good job.
Ripley said she’s been at this since she was 16. Jade said she doesn’t care about what she sacrificed nor any of the women in the locker room. She said wrestling didn’t make her, but Rhea is nothing without wrestler. Ripley cut her off and said she won’t let her cut her off and disrespect her. She said it’s obvious she knows nothing about this business. She said she doesn’t need the title, the title needs her. She said now, though, she wants the title and she’s going to take it. She said that’s why she has given her a big title match. “Welcome to the big leagues, bitch!” Rhea said. She told her to take the first shot and do something. Jade smiled at Ripley and said, “Naw. On my time.” She threw the mic down and left.
As Jade left, Michin and B-Fab walked out. They went after Ripley with a kendo stick. “What the hell is going on?” asked Barrett. He said they used to hate Jade, and now they’re apparently in cahoots. Jade then gave Ripley her Jaded finisher.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m not sure Ripley calling Jade “bitch” lands as an insult when Jade’s catch phrase is “I’m that bitch.” Good segment that actually saw Jade play a true heel in every way. Rhea did a good job representing herself and the fans. Having Jade lead a faction makes sense for her.)
-Kit Wilson was talking to Miz, but Miz was zoned out. He said his family vacation was delayed because of weather in Hawaii and then his flight got delayed. He said they put him a middle seat and he has sunburn. Danhausen walked in and offered to help. Kit told him they don’t want his toxic machismo. Danhausen said dismissively, “Fine, have it your way, stay cursed, I don’t care.” A ladder then fell behind them. Miz told Kit he needs to go out there by himself and Be the Miz Method. Kit acted psyched up. Miz turned and ladder fell into his face.
-Solo threw a fit backstage at the MFTs. He yelled that their trip to WrestleMania is over. Mateo said that’s on the Wyatts. Solo yelled it’s on him. Tonga calmly told Solo that he isn’t acting like himself since the Wyatts showed up. “You’re starting to sound like Roman,” he said. Solo asked what he said. Then Drew and Fatu brawled past them. Officials pried Fatu off of Drew. Drew fought back.
-Ilja Dragunov made his ring entrance. [c]
(4) CARMELO HAYES vs. ILJA DRAGUNOV – U.S. Title match
The bell rang 54 minutes into the hour. Tessitore said these two have had instant classics so far. Barrett said Dragunov has put himself through mental turmoil, but he now realizes to be who he wants to be, he has to take the shot. Hayes superkicked Dragunov, but then Dragunov landed a clothesline as they cut to a break. [c]
[HOUR THREE]
Hayes flipped onto Dragunov at ringside and then crashed into the announce desk. He held his arm in pain. Back in the ring, he landed a splash for a two count. Dragunov caught Hayes springboarding toward him and turned it into a back suplex. Dragunov landed a top rope senton for a two count. Hayes gave Dragunov a First 48 but then Dragunov fell onto him with a forearm and scored a two count, with Hayes draping his boot on the bottom rope. They cut to a double-box break at 9:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Dragunov set up a superoplex, but Hayes countered into a twisting face plant for a near fall at 13:00. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” They went into a mid-ring exchange of strikes. Dragunov landed a boot and then rolled up Hayes for a near fall. Hayes caught Dragunov with a First 48 mid-air and scored a near fall. Dragunov landed a Torpedo Moscow, but when he went for a powerbomb afterward, Hayes countered and leveraged Dragunov’s shoulders down for a three count. Barrett said they need to create a second U.S. Title. Barrett said this was awesome.
WINNER: Hayes in 16:00 to retain the U.S. Title.
-Backstage, Jelly Roll congratulated Priest and Truth for their win. When Priest and Truth left, Orton came up to Helly Roll and apologized to him for last week. He asked for forgiveness. Jelly Roll said he’s worried about him. He said he knows what it’s like to be judged for being the worst version of yourself and your worst decision. He asked Orton if he knows how much he means around there. He said he lights up eyes backstage when people used to fear him. “I don’t undersatnd why you’re fighting so hard to going back to being a version of yourself you already beat,” he said. He said he is a husband, father, and man with a beautiful soul. He said he had his back at Summerslam and he doesn’t know this version of his. He said tiltes come and go. He said he loved him. Orton listened and then asked what he was supposed to do. “How do I even begin to fix it,” he said. Jelly Roll said one step at a time, starting with Cardona and then Cody later. Orton said he heard what he was saying. He shook his hand and they hugged.
(Keller’s Analysis: Watch out, Jelly Roll! This isn’t going to go well.) [c]
-Highlights aired of the Oba Femi-Brock Lesnar angle on Raw. Then Barrett and Tessitore reacted. They showed a graphic comparing key stats like shoe size, height, weight, reach, and chest. Brock has a bigger chest and reach, but Oba edged him in the other categories.
-Kit stood in the ring and called Jelly Roll out. He said he crossed the line last week and started to this fight, so tonight he’ll finish it. He said where he comes from, if you cause a problem, you solve it like men. Jelly Roll came out to his own song. Kit jumped out of the ring when Jelly Roll entered it. Jelly Roll said if that’s what he wants, then this is what he gets. He said if he wants a fight, then let’s fight. Kit told him the bravado and ego is a step or two ahead of his brain. He said he said he wants to settle this like civilized gentlemen. He said he doesn’t fight with his fists, he fights with his words. Jelly Roll asked if he heard him right. “Did you bring me to Raleigh to have a rap battle with you?” he asked. He said he’s a decent dancer, but he’s not rapper. Kit told him, “Don’t you dare compare me to a rapper.” He said there wouldn’t be a rap battle tonight. He said they had Slam Poetry!
Kit pulled out a notebook and read a Slam Poem. He took digs at his face tattoos and criminal past. He said regarding his weight loss, “All I see is a melted blob of skin.” Jelly Roll looked hurt. Kit said he’s fat phobic, toxic, and a jerk, but at least they have proof that Ozempic does work. He said maybe now he can see his little willy. He threw his notebook down.
Jelly Roll said, “That was pretty good.” He said he still might have something for him, even though he didn’t bring a notebook. He said he doesn’t need to see his willy because “your mother sees it for me.” Kit was upset and kicked the bottom turnbuckle. Jelly said he put his bell on Kit’s mom’s back. He did some gyrations. Kit hit Jelly Roll from behind. Then he landed a flying corkscrew elbow.
-Backstage, Kiana James told Giulia she is aware of the outcome of her match. Giulia said she didn’t get the job done, so next week she’ll clean up her mess. James said she keeps saying she’s sorry. When Chelsea Green offered help, Giulia said she doesn’t need her help. Lyra Valkyria said that was rude. Jax and Lash pushed Chelsea’s wheelchair out of the frame. [c]
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