By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,387)
Raleigh, North Carolina, at Lenovo Center
Simulcast live March 20, 2026, on USA Network and internationally on Netflix
[Hour One] Smackdown opened with a recap of Randy Orton attacking WWE Champion Cody Rhodes during the contract signing that closed last week’s show… Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett checked in from their broadcast table. They spoke briefly about Orton attacking Rhodes, and Tessitore hyped that Orton would appear during the show…
Backstage/arrival shots aired of WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend, Nikki Bella and Brie Bella, The MFTs, Damian Priest and R-Truth, and Kit Wilson…
Jelly Roll was shown arriving in a truck, which he parked outside the building. Various WWE officials ran past him. Cameras followed and showed Drew McIntyre attacking a bloody Jacob Fatu on top of a white car that had been struck by another car. The broadcast team spoke at their desk about the attack…
“What the hell did you think was going to happen?” Drew McIntyre called out before he emerged from the entrance area and headed to the ring. He said people want him to shut up and wrestle. McIntyre said if anyone wanted a fight, their ass belonged to him.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis walked out and asked what was wrong with McIntyre. He said McIntyre wants to face Fatu, and Fatu wants to face him. Aldis said McIntyre wants to be on his way to WrestleMania, but he’s on his way to unemployment. McIntyre mentioned Aldis’s son, Donovan, and said he’s ashamed to have a corporate stooge as a father.
Jacob Fatu came out through the entrance and got past the security guards and producers who tried to stop him. Fatu and McIntyre met near the ring and brawled. Fatu ran McIntyre’s head into the ring post casing and then ran him into the ring steps. Fatu tossed McIntyre over the broadcast table. Fatu headbutted McIntyre several times and threw punches at him until the producers and security intervened.
Fatu barrelled past the producers and security and then jumped off the barricade and splashed McIntyre through the broadcast table. McIntyre was holding his jaw while lying on the collapsed table as the show went to its first commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A h0t opening with a good brawl that heated up the Fatu vs. McIntyre feud heading into a likely WrestleMania 42 match. The attendance is strong for his show. An hour before showtime, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 13,448 with 12,986 tickets distributed. The listed capacity is 20,000.
The broadcast team recapped the Fatu and McIntyre brawl… Entrances for the WWE Tag Team Title match took place…
1. JC Mateo and Tama Tonga vs. Damian Priest and R-Truth (w/Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga, Tonga Loa) for the WWE Tag Team Titles. The champions apparently have the option of using Freebird Rules, which allow any members of the faction to defend the titles. They Priest down on the floor before a picture-in-picture break. [C] Truth caught Mateo in STF. Solo distracted the referee while Talla broke up the pin and chokeslammed Truth on the apron.
“The Wyatt Sicks” Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross walked out. A brawl broke out between the MFTs and the Wyatts. Howdy attacked Solo. Mateo ran Howdy into the barricade and gave the lantern back to Solo. Mateo returned to the ring. Truth hit the Attitude Adjustment on Mateo and pinned him…
Damian Priest and R-Truth defeated JC Mateo and Tama Tonga in 8:50 to win the WWE Tag Team Titles.
Priest and Truth celebrated afterward, while Tessitore mentioned that it was only their third match as a team…
Powell’s POV: I’m not crazy about seeing two singles wrestlers win the tag titles when the company is wasting so many good tag teams, but it’s not like the MFTs vs. Wyatt Sicks feud needed the tag team titles.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Nikki Bella and Brie Bella bout challenging for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. They were interrupted by Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, who were eating ice cream. Flair said it was no surprise that the Bellas skipped the line. She called them selfish. Flair said that she and Bliss wouldn’t interrupt the title match because they don’t need to be the center of attention. Flair said they want the winners of the title match. Nikki asked Flair to come watch their match so she could see how real legends get it done. Brie took Bliss’s spoon.
Backstage, Candice LeRae spoke while Johnny Gargano was lying on a production crate. LeRae said she’d tried everything and didn’t know what else to do. Danhausen showed up and scared her. Danhausen poked at Gargano, who didn’t flinch. LeRae noted that Danhausen can curse things and wondered if he fixes things. He asked for a ridiculous amount of money. LeRae handed him one bill. Danhausen thanked her and then was gone when she looked up again. The Motor City Machine Guns walked through. Alex Shelley stopped to check on LeRae and Gargano. Chris Sabin called for Shelley and reminded him they had a match… [C]
A brief video showed YouTubers reacting to Randy Orton attacking Cody Rhodes…
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn, who said he couldn’t stop thinking about what happened to Cody Rhodes. Zayn said he’s said a lot about Cody, but Cody always tries to do good. Zayn conceded that he looks up to Randy Orton and said he does what he does. He said he didn’t know what to make of things anymore. He wondered if the world that he believed in no longer exists.
Trick Williams interrupted and talked smack. Zayn said they’ve done a lot of talking, and maybe they should have a match. Trick told Zayn to take it easy because he had a match coming up. Trick said he might watch Zayn’s match and give him some pointers if he liked what he saw. Zayn laughed and then got in his face and told him to take a good look…
2. “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. “Fraxiom” Nathan Frazer and Axiom. Both entrances were televised. Barrett downplayed the friction between the Guns by talking about how long they’ve been a team and said that brothers occasionally bicker. Frazer and Axiom were in offensive control before an early break. [C]
Candice LeRae walked out and watched the match from the entrance aisle before eventually heading to ringside. Frazer and Axiom hit Shelley and Sabin with suicide dives. Back in the ring, Axiom went up top and was pulled down by Shelley. Frazer rolled up Sabin, who kicked out, and LeRae punched Frazer. Sabin rolled up Frazer and got the three count.
“The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin defeated “Fraxiom” Nathan Frazer and Axiom in 8:05.
Powell’s POV: The idea was that Shelley saw LeRae interfere, but Sabin was unaware of her involvement. While I’m not sure where this is going, it’s good to see the Guns do more than just have the occasional random television match.
The broadcast team recapped highlights of the Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre brawl…
Randy Orton walked past the two damaged cars in the parking lot while Tessitore hyped his appearance for later in the show…
Highlights from Raw aired of the latest CM Punk and Roman Reigns angle…
[Hour Two] Orton grabbed a dented chair from ringside, looked at it, and slid it inside the ring. Orton set up the chair in the middle of the ring and then got a microphone before sitting down. There was a mix of boos and cheers once Orton’s music stopped playing, followed by a “Randy” chant.
Orton said fans have been singing along to his entrance music for several years now. He said it’s quite a moment, and he tries to pay them back by signing autographs and high-fiving fans. He said the love he gets back puts a smile on his face. Orton said that the smile gives him the emptiest feeling he’s ever had. He said he doesn’t want his legacy to be how he’s treated fans; he wants it to be how much gold he put around his waist.
Orton said he didn’t know how to handle it when Cody Rhodes beat Drew McIntyre. He said Cody took a burden from him when he told him to listen to the voices. Ortons said the problem is that when he listens to the voices, he loses control.
Orton said he needs to have a killer instinct to add to his legacy. He looked at the WrestleMania sign and said he would do it with the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment. The fans responded with an RKO chant. Orton listed some of the lines from his entrance theme. He said the voices told him he would beat Cody Rhodes to win the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania…
Powell’s POV: Meh. I hoped Orton would deliver a darker promo and really turn on the fans. This was a tame, forgettable first promo following last week’s excellent violent attack on Cody.
Aleister Black and Zelina made their entrance for Black’s match against Sami Zayn… [C]
Randy Orton walked backstage. Angel, Berto, and Rey Fenix all walked away. Orton approached Matt Cardona, who dismissed Apollo Crews. Orton said he had no beef with Cardona. He said that if Cardona had a beef with him, he should spit it out. Cardona took issue with what Orton did to Cody.
Orton cut off Cardona and complained that he had some nerve talking to him that way. “Don’t you have some action figures to go play with, mark ass stooge?” Orton called Cardona an indy nerd and teased leaving, but then turned around and dropped Cardona with a forearm or elbow to the head. “Stay out of my business,” Orton said. “You wouldn’t understand”…
Sami Zayn made his entrance. Just as his match with Aleister Black was about to start, the lights went down, and then Trick Williams made his entrance…
3. Sami Zayn vs. Aleister Black (w/Zelina). The referee called for the opening bell while Zayn was watching Trick Williams pose on the broadcast table. Black took advantage of the distraction by attacking Zayn. Trick sat at ringside and watched the match with one foot on the edge of the broadcast table. Zayn was in offensive control before an early break. [C]
Back was in offensive control coming out of the break, while the broadcast team wondered how Trick got a drink delivered to him. Zayn sent Black to the floor and then followed and ran him into the barricade twice. Back inside the ring, Zayn performed an exploder suplex.
Zayn set up for his finisher, but Black rolled to the floor to avoid it. Zayn joined him at ringside and then shoved Trick’s foot off the broadcast table. Zayn slammed Black’s head on the table and then jawed at Trick. Zayn tossed Black back inside the ring.
Trick threw his drink at Zayn and then held up the cup and pointed at it before letting it fall to the ground. Zayn teased returning to the ring, but he opted to attack Trick instead. Once Zayn got back in the ring, Black dropped him with a Black Mass kick and then covered him for the win…
Aleister Black beat Sami Zayn in roughly 10:00.
Powell’s POV: This was really well done in terms of giving Black a win, adding to Zayn’s frustration, and adding to Zayn’s feud with Trick Williams.
Backstage, Matt Cardona begged Nick Aldis to give him a match against Randy Orton during the show. Aldis said Cardona knows what he’s capable of after what he did to Cody Rhodes last week. He said he had his hands full with Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre, and couldn’t give him the match. Cardona stormed off.
Carmelo Hayes approached Aldis and said he heard the open challenge had been accepted. Aldis said it was because someone made a compelling case. Hayes hoped it wasn’t The Miz, and Aldis confirmed that it was not Miz.
Ilja Dragunov was shown behind Hayes, who turned around. Dragunov recalled speaking with Hayes last week and said he was right when he said he would always fight himself. Dragunov spoke of taking the shot in front of him. Hayes said it was about time. He said there would be champagne for one of them, and just pain for the other. Dragunov said they’d see whether it’s his pain or Hayes’s pain…
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill was shown walking backstage… [C]
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend were featured in a promo video about facing the Bella Twins. Legend noted that the Kabuki Warriors and the team of Lyra Valkyria and Bayley wanted their titles. She said it was time to put them all in check. Jax said the only thing the Bellas could do about the way they would demolish the twins was “nothing and like it”…
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill made her entrance. She said she wasn’t there to play with the people’s time. “We all know you’re back there, bring your ass out here,” Cargill said.
Rhea Ripley made her entrance and joined Jade inside the ring. Ripley asked if they were going to talk or actually do something. Ripley said she felt like they had said all there was to say, and she didn’t really want to talk to Jade anymore.
Jade said it wasn’t about her, it was about what Ripley needed. Jade said she didn’t need the title, the ring, or the fans. Jade said Ripley has been trying so hard to be somebody. Jade said with or without wrestling, she’s been that bitch and is still that bitch. Jade recalled saying that she wasn’t there to make friends, she was there to make more money.
Ripley said Jade was right. “I do need this, and I live for this,” Ripley said. Ripley said she’s been busting her ass for 16 years and wasn’t going to let someone walk all over her and get what they want. Jade said it was another sob story. She said she didn’t care about Ripley or the other women in the locker room.
Jade said wrestling didn’t make her; she makes it matter. Jade said that without wrestling, Ripley would disappear. Ripley said she wasn’t going to let Jade disrespect her or anyone in the business. Ripley said it’s obvious that Ripley said the title has needed her since it has been around Jade’s waist.
Ripley spoke about giving Jade a big match and said, “Welcome to the big leagues, bitch.” Ripley told Jade she would give her the first shot. Ripley dropped the mic and told Jae to hit her. “Nah, on my time,” Jade said before dropping her mic and leaving the ring.
Michin and B-Fab walked out and blocked Jade’s path. Once they were at ringside, Jade turned back and smiled at Ripley. Jade, Michin, and B-Fab surrounded Ripley. B-Fab entered the ring first and was kicked by Ripley. Michin hit Ripley with a kendo stick. Michin and B-Fab held Ripley while Jade kicked her. Jade followed up with Jaded and then stood over her while B-Fab brought her the WWE Women’s Championship belt…
Powell’s POV: New Baddies! Or whatever they will be called. I’ve wondered for a while now if that was the plan for B-Fab and Michin, so I’m happy to see it. I also like the idea of leaning into the perception that Jade is disrespectful to the pro wrestling business, the wrestlers, and the fans.
Backstage, Kit Wilson spoke with The Miz, who said his family vacation was delayed due to bad weather in Hawaii. He said he had to fly in a middle seat and he had a sunburn on his back that was killing him. Danhausen popped up and patted both men on the back before greeting them. James told Danhausen they didn’t want his toxic machismo. Miz said he wouldn’t mentor Danhausen, who told him he could have it his way. A ladder fell and nearly hit Miz. After Miz gave a brief pep talk to Wilson, a second ladder fell and hit him…
In another part of the backstage area, Solo Siko barked at Tama Tonga and JC Mateo for losing the tag titles and costing them their spot at WrestleMania. Tama told Solo that he hadn’t been acting like himself and was starting to sound like Roman Reigns. Solo took offense, but he was interrupted.
Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre brawled past the MFTs and blew off referees who tried to stop them. McIntyre jabbed his thumbs in Fatu’s eyes until security pulled him away…
Ilja Dragunov made his entrance… [C] The broadcast team touted Dennis Rodman being added to the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026… Carmelo Hayes made his entrance…
5. Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov for the U.S. Championship. An intense Dragunov went at Hayes aggressively. Both men avoided kicks. Dragunov chopped Hayes, who then caught him with a kick. Dragunov turned Hayes inside out with a clothesline. [C]
[Hour Three] Dragunov was in offensive control coming out of the break. Tessitore noted that Hayes had seven successful title defenses in 63 days as champion. Dragunov jumped from the ropes into The First 48. Dragunov was woozy, but then he hit Hayes with a punch and fell on top of him. Dragunov had Hayes pinned, but Hayes put his foot over the bottom rope before a PIP break. [C]
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