The road to WrestleMania continued on the March 6th edition of SmackDown, delivering a night of high-stakes competition and shifting championship landscapes. In a dramatic main event, Cody Rhodes once again captured the Undisputed WWE Championship, although Randy Orton emphatically declared his intentions for WrestleMania with a brutal attack. The show also saw Carmelo Hayes defend his United States Title and a chaotic scramble for contention in the tag team division.
The most significant outcome of the evening was Cody Rhodes’s victory over Drew McIntyre, reclaiming the Undisputed WWE Championship. This win sets the stage for a potentially explosive encounter at WrestleMania, though the circumstances surrounding the match were far from conventional. Elsewhere, Randy Orton’s aggressive actions signaled a clear message to his WrestleMania opponents, and several tag teams battled for a shot at championship gold.
The night’s main event saw Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre clash for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The match was marred by controversy as McIntyre knocked out the second official with a Glasgow Kiss. As McIntyre attempted to utilize a chair, Jacob Fatu intervened, creating an opening for Rhodes to deliver a Super Cutter/Cross Rhodes combination, securing the pinfall victory and the championship.
Earlier in the evening, Randy Orton wasted no time in asserting his dominance. Following his win at Elimination Chamber, Orton made it clear he intends to exit WrestleMania as the Undisputed WWE Titleholder. He punctuated this statement with an RKO on Trick Williams, sending a clear message to anyone who might stand in his way.
In other action, Carmelo Hayes successfully defended his United States Championship against El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., overcoming his opponent with the “Nothing But Net” maneuver. The Irresistible Forces celebrated their recent win of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, but their celebration was quickly interrupted by Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, as well as Giulia and Kiana James, all vying for a shot at the championship. Flair and Bliss ultimately prevailed over Giulia and Kiana James, proving their worthiness to challenge for the titles, following The Queen’s Natural Selection.
A Tag Team Turmoil match unfolded to determine the next contenders for the tag team championships. Fraxiom initially defeated Motor City Machine Guns, but was then bested by Angel and Berto. Los Garza then defeated The Wyatt Sicks, with interference from The MFTs, before Damian Priest and R-Truth ultimately emerged victorious over Los Garza, earning them a title opportunity against The MFTs.
Rhea Ripley and WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill engaged in a heated verbal exchange, building anticipation for their upcoming WrestleMania clash. Ripley vowed to take Cargill’s title with force. In a surprising turn of events, Oba Femi answered Johnny Gargano’s open challenge, dominating him and finishing the match with the “Fall From Grace.”
Randy Orton’s career has spanned over two decades, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, tied for third-most world championship reigns in WWE history, according to Wikipedia. Orton is a third-generation wrestler, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Bob Orton, father Bob Orton Jr., and uncle Barry Orton.
As WrestleMania approaches, the WWE landscape continues to shift. Cody Rhodes’s reclaiming of the Undisputed WWE Championship has added another layer of complexity to the event, while Randy Orton’s aggressive actions have made it clear he is a force to be reckoned with. The tag team division is also heating up, with Damian Priest and R-Truth poised to challenge for the titles. The coming weeks promise to be filled with further developments as the WWE prepares for its biggest event of the year.
What impact will Jacob Fatu’s interference have on the Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre rivalry? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with fellow wrestling fans!
