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The women\u2019s division also kicks off its big Women\u2019s Championship program when Jade Cargill comes face-to-face with her WrestleMania challenger, Rhea Ripley. The confrontation serves as the first major meeting between the two powerhouse competitors before their clash on the grandest stage, and they’ve already blurred the lines this past week, using social media interactions to progress an early story build.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on the card, Carmelo Hayes continues to establish himself as one of “SmackDown\u2019s” rising stars with his ongoing U.S. Championship open challenge. The unpredictable format means anyone in the locker room could answer the call, but clearly WWE has more in store for Ilja Dragunov as a piece of this puzzle.<\/p>\n
Tag-team gold is also in focus, as “SmackDown” will determine the next challengers for the WWE Tag Team Championship in a No. 1 contender\u2019s match. While the participating teams have yet to be announced, the bout can shake up the division and return its spotlight to where it was in 2025.<\/p>\n
Check out the full “WWE SmackDown” lineup below, which starts at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network:<\/p>\n
Undisputed WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (c.) vs. Cody Rhodes<\/p>\n
Oba Femi def. Johnny Gargano<\/p>\n
WWE Tag Team Championship No. 1 contenders match: R-Truth & Damian Priest def. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom), The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Loomis), Los Garza (Berto and Angel Garza)<\/p>\n
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair def. Kiana James and Giulia<\/p>\n
U.S. Championship: Carmello Hayes (c.) def. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr.<\/p>\n
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For complete coverage of “WWE SmackDown” on USA, follow along with Uncrowned’s live blog below:Live65 updates![\"Drake](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dims.jpeg\"\/)
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:56 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Rhodes climbs to the top rope, missing his attack and running into a near-powerslam. They tease a ref bump and start to exchange strikes \u2014 then there’s the accidental Disaster Kick to the ref. McIntyre gets caught in a near-Pedigree, as they get back to striking. McIntyre chops away at Rhodes on the ropes before Rhodes finds a tilt-a-whirl into a Cross Rhodes! There’s no referee, though. Rhodes signals for a referee, and out one comes, right as McIntyre lands a Claymore! Rhodes kicks out!<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:54 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
McIntyre goes for a Claymore Kick, but gets super kicked, then Claymore’d by Rhodes! McIntyre kicks out!<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:53 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
McIntyre rolls out of the ring. Rhodes dives out to knock McIntyre into the announce table. And we have a botch, folks! The announce table broke as McIntyre was getting set up for a Cross Rhodes. Now, they’ve set up a table, which McIntyre powerbombs Rhodes through, but doesn’t get DQ’d for. Yep. There’s your both audible. Completely illogical.<\/p>\n
Rhodes then eats a Cross Rhodes, kicking out at two.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:50 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
McIntyre starts to work on an inverted kimura-type move before transitioning it into a knee drop. They work their way to the top rope, with Rhodes landing a big superplex. No pin follows. Instead, Rhodes goes for a Figure-4-Leg Lock. McIntyre makes it to the ropes.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:46 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Rhodes escapes a back suplex, leading to a punch exchange. He finds a quick snap slam, somewhat Orton-like. Talk about foreshadowing. The Cody Cutter follows. McIntyre gets lined up for a near-Cross Rhodes, but rolls his way out of the ring. McIntyre baits his foe, pulling him shoulder first into the s<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:44 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
McIntyre drops Rhodes with a big sidewalk slam to the apron off the steel steps. Rhodes is finding himself stalked, but fights back with a series of strikes. McIntyre halts it with a back elbow and stomp to the head \u2014 not quite Seth Rollins-like, but effective. Rhodes gets scooped up off his knees for a high-amplitude suplex.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:43 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
McIntyre connects with a big belly-to-belly suplex in the corner. They move to the other side of the ring, and McIntyre hits another, as Rhodes rolls out of the ring. McIntyre tries to send him into the steel steps, but goes face-first himself. Rhodes goes for a suicide dive, only to eat a forearm, and then meet the steps with his forehead.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:41 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
McIntyre hilariously rolls out of the ring as soon as the match starts. Rhodes tracks him down, tossing the champion into the barricades before sending him over one down by the ring. McIntyre gets beaten on early, taking a fan’s drink to the face before they re-enter the ring. McIntyre fires back with some quick offense. Rhodes counters with a springboard<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:25 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Main event time. It’s, hopefully, one more dance between McIntyre and Rhodes for at least a good, long while. The table is set for a lengthy 30-minute match.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:20 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Danhausen ran into Nick Aldis, demanding a mentorship in WWE, which led to an interaction with The Miz. The latter has recently been embracing a role like that. Now, he’s in danger of suffering a cursed fate like Dominik Mysterio, as Miz refused, only for a Danhausen disappearance to follow. The interaction was brief, but there is a lot of comedy to create between these two.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:16 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:13 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:12 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Gargano escapes an early powerslam only to get chopped and uppercutted in the corner. Just a flurry in succession. A Puff-Puff Toss lands to Gargano, then the Fall From Grace for the squash match win. Oh, what a fall from grace it’s been for one of Triple H’s old boys, Gargano.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc51 Crown score: 1\/5 \ud83d\udc51<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:09 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
“Johnny Wrestling” comes to the ring, inviting anyone to the ring for a match, needing to remind himself and the world who he is. This just screamed Oba Femi, and what do you know? There he is. Be careful what you wish for, man.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:02 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
MCMG are suddenly at odds backstage in front of Candice Lerae and Johnny Gargano. Sabin questioned why there was no help on his pinfall loss, and that they needed to talk. Are we really about to see these two break up? Shelley is spectacular as a singles wrestler, but this is a potential curveball.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:01 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Ripley wasted no time, saying virtually nothing before inviting Cargill out. Ripley is immediately greeted with a handshake. Somewhat surprising.<\/p>\n
Cargill says it’s because she respects Ripley and her accomplishments, as well as the love from the fans. Cargill looks massive out here compared to Ripley.<\/p>\n
The champion adds that she’s not impressed despite her respect. She then compares their bodies, saying her’s is bigger and more powerful. Hence why Ripley won’t be able to do anything about Cargill beating the hell out of her at ‘Mania. Cargill hit her catchphrase, then shook Ripley’s hand again.<\/p>\n
Ripley got back on the mic, saying she’s impressed by Cargill’s physique. This is going in an odd direction that I wasn’t ready for. Ripley agreed, countering that she won’t be going down easily, while Cargill will. She finished by saying Cargill’s body is built for show and hers for fighting. Ripley punctuated her rebuttal by stealing Cargill’s catchphrase and dropping the mic.<\/p>\n
As odd as the promo battle may have been, it worked pretty well, and both delivered their lines well.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:52 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
The Women’s Championship program kicks off properly here, as Ripley makes her way to the ring to await the champion, Jade Cargill.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:51 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Zayn greeted Orton backstage in a similar manner to how he had greeted Rhodes earlier. He was instead much kinder, and suggested Zayn start listening to the voices in his head.<\/p>\n
The foundation is clearly here, folks. It’s just a matter of when.<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:48 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:45 PM PST<\/p>\n
Drake Riggs<\/p>\n
Garza gets dumped over the announce table from a running Priest shoulder shove. Berto hits the baseball slide, gaining momentum to get Priest back in the ring, landing a springboard kick and going to the top rope. He hits a big moonsault, but Priest kicks out. Quickly, Berto takes a Broken Arrow, and Priest tags in Truth to land the 5 Moves of Doom. Truth locks on the STF, but Garza returns. To score the win, Truth and Priest land an AA and South of Heaven. Well, alright then. Throw something together and see how it goes, huh.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc51 Crown score: 2.75\/5 \ud83d\udc51<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PORTLAND \u2014 “WWE SmackDown” is bringing major WrestleMania 42 implications this Friday, March 6 to the Moda Center…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":326097,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[24579,24584,146,85,46,41051,135287,24577,161313,161314],"class_list":["post-326096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-cody-rhodes","tag-drew-mcintyre","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-randy-orton","tag-wrestlemania","tag-wwe-championship","tag-wwe-smackdown","tag-wwe-tag-team-championship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=326096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/326097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=326096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=326096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=326096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}