WWE SmackDown live results: Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes face-to-face
The road to WrestleMania continues on tonight’s SmackDown from Capital One Center in Washington, D.C.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes will both appear ahead of their WrestleMania 39 main event. A face-to-face with Reigns and Rhodes will kick off the episode.
Paul Heyman warned Jimmy Uso last week that he needed to handle the Jey Uso situation — or Reigns would deal with it when he returns to SmackDown. Later that night, Jey showed up but didn’t help Jimmy when Jimmy was brawling with Sami Zayn.
Zayn is facing Solo Sikoa on tonight’s show.
Rhea Ripley goes one-on-one with Liv Morgan. Last week, Ripley briefly confronted her WrestleMania opponent SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. Dominik Mysterio spoke with Flair first, discussing their famous fathers. Dominik then cost Rey Mysterio a match with Karrion Kross later that night. After the match, Dominik taunted Rey to hit him — but Rey walked off instead.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes Face-to-Face
Wow, an electric and fantastic segment. Reigns and Rhodes hit a home run for this back-and-forth promo. They made their WrestleMania match feel incredibly important and special. They were both great in their role. The fan reaction was strong, adding to the atmosphere.
Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, and Jimmy Uso made their way to the ring. Reigns grabbed the mic and demanded Washington, DC, acknowledge him. Without missing a beat, Cody Rhodes’s music hit to a big pop. Michael Cole noted it was Rhodes’s first appearance on SmackDown in seven years.
The fans erupted into a massive “Cody” chant. Contrary to what Paul Heyman told Reigns, Rhodes is there to talk with his WrestleMania opponent man-to-man. Rhodes felt the rest of The Bloodline didn’t need to be in the ring. Reigns ordered The Bloodline to leave.
The fans applauded The Bloodline leaving. Reigns then set the titles down, which got the fans buzzing. Rhodes noted Reigns is an impossible mountain to climb. But that’s Rhodes’s thing. Everyone always doubted Rhodes, saying he’d always be Randy Orton’s understudy, he’ll never get away from Stardust, and he and his friends couldn’t draw 10,000 fans to his little indy show. The fans applauded. Rhodes pointed out that defeating Reigns isn’t impossible for him. The fans broke into a loud “Cody” chant.
Reigns laughed and congratulated Rhodes for practicing his speech all week. Reigns pointed at the WWE title and asked Rhodes if he ever won it. Rhodes never competed for the title or was in a WrestleMania main event. Reigns has done it all. He was groomed for this position by his father and Dusty Rhodes since he was a child.
Reigns doesn’t have a bad thing to say about Dusty. He praised Dusty for his guidance and advice. Reigns even did a Dusty impression. Reigns added that Dusty never talked about Cody with him. Reigns admitted he misses Dusty. Reigns promised if there is something Dusty didn’t teach Cody, Reigns will teach him at WrestleMania. Reigns wanted a handshake.
Rhodes realized he was not playing on the same field as Reigns. Maybe Reigns is the son Dusty always wanted. Rhodes needs to beat Reigns. For Rhodes to matter and exist, he must complete his story and beat Reigns for the title. They shook hands to end the segment.
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Rhea Ripley (w/Dominik Mysterio) defeated Liv Morgan (8:04)
Ripley and Morgan had a fun opener with a hot crowd. Ripley came across as a monster, but they gave Morgan lots of chances to shine.
Morgan hit a dropkick out of the gates for the early advantage. Ripley briefly took over, but Morgan fired back with a middle rope dropkick. Morgan went for a suicide dive, but Ripley knocked her down in mid-air. Ripley then cut a promo on Charlotte Flair as they cut to a break.
Ripley continued to dominate Morgan. Morgan avoided a back suplex and caught Ripley with a hurricanrana. She followed with a second rope code breaker for a close near fall. Ripley countered oblivion. Morgan fought back with an enziguri. Morgan leaped off the top rope, but Ripley caught her in a powerbomb. Ripley hit rip tide and locked on an inverted cloverleaf for the submission win.
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– In the Bloodline locker room, Roman Reigns asked Jimmy Uso about his brother Jey. Jimmy defended Jey, pointing out that Jey’s a hot head. Jey just needs time to calm down. Reigns admitted he’s losing patience. Jimmy understands and promises to talk to Jey. Reigns isn’t losing patience with Jey. He’s losing patience with Jimmy. Jimmy understands and went to call his brother.
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-The Progressive Match Flo of the Week recapped Dominik Mysterio taunting his father, Rey Mysterio, to hit him.
-Santos Escobar approched Dominik and Ripley. He thinks Rey should have punched Dominik in the face. Escobar went to Adam Pearce and got a match with Dominik. Esocbar’s going to the ring to see if Dominik’s a man. Escobar called Ripley mami and made a kissy face as he walked away.
Dominik Mysterio (w/Rhea Ripley) defeated Santos Escobar (8:35)
Another solid match with Mysterio vs. Eccobar. They noted Escobar’s a member of Legado Del Fantasma, but there was no sign of Zelina Vega or the other members.
Mysterio was briefly in control. Escobar quickly took over and locked on a submission. Escobar came to the ring with the mask Rey gave him two weeks ago. Mysterio escaped and lured Escobar in. He tossed him to ringside and hit a dive as they went to a break.
Mysterio was firmly in control, setting up for the 619. Instead, he choked Escobar on the middle rope. Mysterio yelled at Escobar about respecting his legacy and pointing at Rey’s mask on the corner.
Escobar recovered, hitting a tilt-a-whirl into a leg drop. Both guys hit the ropes and collided in mid-air. Mysterio slowly got to his feet and blatantly pulled out brass knuckles to distract the referee. Ripley pulled Escobar out behind the referee’s back and hit the rip tide. Mysterio then hit the frog splash for the win.
After the match, Dominik grabbed Rey’s mask from Escobar. Dominik ripped up the mask as he walked away. Rey Mysterio came out and demanded the mask. Dominik got in Rey’s face again and demanded he hit him. Dominik knocked down Rey when he went to pick up the mask.
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– Earlier today, Sami Zayn was walking among the fans. he knows his match with Solo Sikoa is about sending a message and not winning. Zayn has a message of his own to send.
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Drew McIntyre/Sheamus/LA Knight/New Day/Karrion Kross Segment
This segment started strong with McIntyre and Sheamus. They both want a title shot against Gunther at WrestleMania. Then it turned into a typical WWE segment where a bunch of people interrupted each other. In this case, nobody has a WrestleMania match, and everyone wants one.
Drew McIntyre entered the ring. He pointed out that he doesn’t have a WrestleMania opponent. He wants a match with Intercontinental Champion Gunther and called him out.
Instead, Sheamus entered the ring. Sheamus was furious that McIntyre went behind his back to get a match. McIntyre knows how badly Sheamus wants to win that title. McIntyre noted Sheamus isn’t his parent. He doesn’t have to run everything past Sheamus first. Sheamus thought they were brothers, but McIntyre’s not his brother.
McIntyre told Sheamus the hard truth. He got two title shots and lost twice. LA Knight’s music interrupted. He noted they couldn’t have WrestleMania without LA Knight.
The New Day’s music hit, and they walked to the ring. Kofi Kingston made fun of Knight for wanting a match at WrestleMania. Kingston correctly pointed out that Knight can’t even win a match on SmackDown.
Karrion Kross interrupted and made his way to the ring with Scarlet. Kross caused a distraction, allowing Knight to attack New Day. Sheamus sent Knight to ringside. McIntyre and Sheamus went face-to-face. McIntyre hit a dive wiping out everyone at ringside. Kross jumped Sheamus from behind, clearing the ring. Kross was the last one standing to end the segment.
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Earlier today, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler brawled with Natalya and Tegan Nox in the back. During the fight, Rousey somehow injured her arm. Due to Rousey’s injury, the tag team match is now Nox vs. Baszler.
Shayna Baszler (w/Ronda Rousey) defeated Tegan Nox (w/Natalya) ) (2:01)
They shot an angle to change this to a singles match. Rousey had her arm in a sling and didn’t get involved. Basic two-minute match.
Tegan Nox was on fire early as she hit a cannonball in the corner. Baszler recovered and attacked Nox’s arm. Nox tried to fight back, but Baszler went back to the arm. Baszler rocked Nox with a knee to the face and locked on an arm bar for the submission win.
After the match, Nox yelled that Baszler broke her arm as Natalya checked on her.
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– Gunther and Imperium spoke with Kayla Braxton. Gunther was upset that Adam Pearce didn’t have a match for him for WrestleMania. He said it was a disgrace and demanded a WrestleMania match.
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Bobby Lashley Segment
Typical Bray Wyatt/Uncle Howdy segment with magic.
Bobby Lashley made a surprise appearance on SmackDown. Bray Wyatt’s symbol flashed on the screen as Lashley entered the ring.
They recapped Lashley addressing Wyatt on Raw and Wyatt’s muscle man dance. Lashley knows Wyatt’s not man enough to meet him to his face. So, Lashley came to SmackDown to confront Wyatt. Lashley called out Wyatt.
Instead, Uncle Howdy’s music started playing. Howdy jumped Lashley from behind. Lashley fought back with a spine buster and set up for the spear. Suddenly the lights turned off. When they came back on, Howdy was gone. Lashley looked around, confused.
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– In the Bloodline locker room, Jimmy spoke with Jey on the phone. Jey still needs more time to think. Reigns was annoyed. Jimmy admitted Jey said to leave him the hell alone. Reigns blamed The Bloodline’s problems on Sami Zayn. Reigns believes if they get rid of Zayn, Jey will come back to The Bloodline. Reigns told Jimmy to join Sola Sikoa for his match and to take out Zayn.
After Jimmy left, Reigns told Paul Heyman that Jey has one week to return. If he doesn’t return, Reigns won’t blame Zayn; he’s blaming Jimmy.
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Solo Sikoa (w/Jimmy Uso) defeated Sami Zayn (7:46)
Sikoa pinned Zayn after Jimmy’s brief interference in a solid main event. The show’s long story revolves around Reigns demanding Jimmy find out what’s happening with Jey Uso. Right now, Reigns blames Sami Zayn for all the problems in The Bloodline. Reigns gave Jey Uso one week to return. If Jey doesn’t return, Reigns will blame Jimmy, not Sami.
Zayn jumped Sikoa and Uso before the match. Zayn dumped Sikoa and Uso ringside. He followed up with a dive wiping out the heels. Uso caused a distraction, allowing Sikoa to wipe out Zayn. Sikoa took over and tossed Zayn over the barricade.
Sikoa continued to punish Zayn and beat him down. Zayn tried fighting back, but Sikoa hit a Samoan drop. He followed with a splash in the corner. Zayn fought back with a flying crossbody for a near fall. Zayn set up for the blue thunder bomb, but Sikoa escaped. Zayn recovered and hit the blue thunder bomb after Sikoa missed a splash in the corner.
Zayn went for the helluva kick, but Jimmy pulled Sikoa out of the way. Sikoa then hit the Samoan spike for the win.
After the match, Sikoa and Jimmy beat down Zayn. Jimmy placed the chair around Zayn’s head. Sikoa went for the splash, but Jimmy stopped him. Jimmy wanted to hit the splash instead. Jimmy kept talking trash, allowing Zayn time to recover. Zayn fought back with the chair and escaped through the crowd.
In the locker room, Reigns was furious that Zayn escaped. Jimmy was distraught in the ring. The fans broke into a loud “Sami” chant.
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Next Week: A fatal five-way number one contender’s match featuring Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, LA Knight, Kofi Kingston, and Karrion Kross. The winner takes on Intercontinental Champion Gunther at WrestleMania. Plus, Ricochet & Braun Strowman take on The Viking Raiders.
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