WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, Live on the USA Network | March 20th, 2026 — The Episode Recap:

Randy Orton unleashes a vicious attack on Cody Rhodes's best friend, Matt Cardona, as he tries to break his arm. (Image courtesy of WWE)

The March 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Official Match Results:

The Opening Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth defeated The MFTs (JC Mateo & Tama Tonga) (with Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga & Tonga Loa) (c) in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | via Pin-Fall — (08:42)

The 2nd Match: The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) defeated Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) in a Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall — (08:01)

The 3rd Match: Aleister Black (with Zelina) defeated Sami Zayn in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:31)

The 4th Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) defeated Ilja Dragunov in a WWE United States Title Match | via Pin-Fall — (16:06)

The Main Event Match: The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) (c) vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella) in a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match | via No Contest — (07:59)

My Thoughts on the March 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

My Thoughts: The saving grace of this episode was Drew McIntyre & Jacob Fatu brawling like manics around the arena, Fraxiom taking on Motor City Machine Guns, Randy Orton becoming a menace throughout the night, Jelly Roll and Kit Wilson actually had an entertaining segment, and Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov having another wonderful match between each other. But man, we saw some duds in the Main Event where Nia Jax just showed she couldn’t care less about making Charlotte Flair’s strikes look effective. Damian Priest & R-Truth win the WWE Tag Team Titles after becoming a team two weeks ago. I have no words, but there were positives from this show, and it was somewhat enjoyable to watch.

The March 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: The MFTs (JC Mateo & Tama Tonga) (with Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga & Tonga Loa) (c) vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | The Match Rating: *.50 — Damian Priest & R-Truth, I like both of them, always have but this is something when you simulate your WWE 2K Universe, and see the game create a random Tag Team that goes on to win a WWE Tag Team Title. The MFTs had one of the worst title reigns I've ever seen as a wrestling fan. They were feuding over a Lantern, forgetting they were the WWE Tag Team Champions. JC Mateo man... Jeff Cobb could've been a killer in the Mid-Card scene, but is now made a joke. But I feel like this was made so Damian Priest has something for WrestleMania this year. But this stuff is so random and uninspiring, noting this Brand has Fraxiom, Los Garza,  Motor City Machine Guns & Street Profits. Who are all the amazing Tag Teams that never get the good booking they all truly deserve? So I don't like this. It’s a great moment, I guess, for the crowd, but in the long term, it still doesn't fix anything within the SmackDown Tag Team Division. Also, MFTs need to disband entirely. It's a failure of a group. Solo Sikoa went on to have the worst WWE United States Title Reign and WWE Tag Team Title Reign in recent memory.

The 2nd Match: The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: ***.25 — Why can't we have Fraxiom as the Tag Team Champions for SmackDown? This match alone just shows how amazing this Tag Division can be again if they just can focus on it as they did for 2/3 of 2025 until the terrible MFTs and Wyatt Sicks Feud happened, which kept the WWE Tag Team Title from being important. But Fraxiom is simply amazing. They need to be used correctly. I don't know what Triple H is doing with them because it's just shocking that they haven't even fought for the WWE Tag Team Titles since SummerSlam last year. Motor City Machine Guns finally have an interesting storyline as Candice LeRae helped them get the win over Fraxiom. You've one of the best young tag teams in all of wrestling wasting them, and one of the greatest tag teams to ever lace a pair of wrestling boots in Motor City Machines Guns, who now are back on our TV Screen but weren't even getting used properly since last year. Please have something serious for both teams. I'm tired of good talent being wasted because of terrible booking.

The 3rd Match: Aleister Black (with Zelina) vs. Sami Zayn in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: **.50 — Aleister Black got major victories over Randy Orton & Sami Zayn, which is great in hindsight; they are doing a similar gimmick with him as they did with Karrion Kross, foreshadowing people's demises, which prolongs them to turn heel. This match was very much okay, it wasn't like their match last year when Sami Zayn was the United States Champion, that was a much better match, but I felt like this match was more, so we can further the story being told about Sami Zayn, how he's driving himself to insanity, all because he does the right things. Outside was Trick Williams observing the match, but once he threw water at Sami Zayn, Sami Zayn did indeed pull the trigger, but it cost him the win, as Aleister Black hit a vicious Black Mass to get the win. I do like the fact that Aleister Black is doing these stories and also winning, because if he continues to lose, how are you going to make him a serious individual on SmackDown? But very okay in the ring, but the Sami Zayn story got me hooked onto seeing what he does, and will he turn heel or become a darker shift in his character?

The 4th Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov in a WWE United States Title Match | The Match Rating: ****.75 — Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov are wrestling soulmates. They have countlessly had amazing matches, after amazing matches with each other, I can also confidently say you can make a case of them being one of the best rivals of this 2020 Decade. But this match was awesome, this was one of my favorite matches of this year. I was on my feet, I thought we could see a title change, and I liked how the finish went. Do I want this feud to end in a Two Out of Three Falls Match at WrestleMania? Yes. I want these two by the end of this year, chasing the World Title because they are amazing talents that every time they are allowed to wrestle, they deliver. They can wrestle a broomstick, and it would be entertaining. I loved this so much, it’s one of my favorite matches from WWE this year. Please give me more of this style of matches because it's so refreshing to see, instead of an MFTs Match that is filled with outside interference. Give me a wrestling match every single week. Amazing stuff, I do see this ending in a WrestleMania Match.

The Main Event Match: The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) (c) vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella) in a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match | The Match Rating: DUD — Damian Priest & R-Truth, I like both of them, always have but this is something when you simulate your WWE 2K Universe, and see the game create a random Tag Team that goes on to win a WWE Tag Team Title. The MFTs had one of the worst title reigns I've ever seen as a wrestling fan. They were feuding over a Lantern, forgetting they were the WWE Tag Team Champions. JC Mateo man... Jeff Cobb could've been a killer in the Mid-Card scene, but is now made a joke. But I feel like this was made so Damian Priest has something for WrestleMania this year. But this stuff is so random and uninspiring, noting this Brand has Fraxiom, Los Garza,  Motor City Machine Guns & Street Profits. Who are all the amazing Tag Teams that never get the good booking they all truly deserve? So I don't like this. It’s a great moment, I guess, for the crowd, but in the long term, it still doesn't fix anything within the SmackDown Tag Team Division. Also, MFTs need to disband entirely. It's a failure of a group. Solo Sikoa went on to have the worst WWE United States Title Reign and WWE Tag Team Title Reign in recent memory.

The March 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Match of the Night: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov in a WWE United States Title Match | The Match Rating: ****.75 — Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov are wrestling soulmates, having had countless amazing matches. This match was one of my favorites this year, exciting with a great finish. I want them to have a Two Out of Three Falls match at WrestleMania and chase the World Title by year’s end, as they always deliver. Their skills are impressive, and I love this style of match, more of this, less outside interference. I see this ending in a WrestleMania showdown.

The March 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Official Episode Grade: 6.25/10 (C+) — Saving grace of this episode was Drew McIntyre & Jacob Fatu brawling like manics around the arena, Fraxiom taking on Motor City Machine Guns, Randy Orton becoming a menace throughout the night, Jelly Roll and Kit Wilson actually had an entertaining segment, and Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov having another wonderful match between each other.

Next Week WWE Friday Night SmackDown March 27th Episode in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Live on the USA Network — The Announced Matches & Segments:

1. Giulia (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton in a WWE Women’s United States Title Match.

2. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella) in a Tag Team Match.

3. Kit Wilson vs. Jelly Roll in a Singles Match.