Tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown is live from Kansas City, Missouri. Did you miss the previous episode of Raw? You can catch up with the results here.
WWE SmackDown Results (3/17/2023)
We kick off the show with The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes. WOOHHH OHHH! Rhodes talks about Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania, Kevin Owens to the ring. He then invites Sami Zayn to the ring. Cody wants them to try reconciling their differences so they can work together, and says it is all about what the WWE Universe wants. After some talk, KO decides he wants nothing to do with it and exits the ring to a chorus of boos.
“Again, an absolute home run of a promo segment. As we get closer to Mania, the WWE Universe is getting more and more desperate to see Sami and KO finally get on the same page. Beautiful!”
After the break, Sami catches up with KO in the parking lot as he’s getting into his vehicle to tell him he loves him. Owens says nothing before driving away.
Up next, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio face Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega in mixed tag team action.
#1. Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega — Winners: Judgment Day
“This was primarily a showcase for Rhea Ripley, and it was perfectly fine for what it was.”
Following the match, Dominik gets on the mic and calls his father a “deadbeat dad”. Rey Mysterio enters. He asks Rhea to give him some time with his son. Dominik calls him a scared, pathetic excuse of a father.
Rey wants to give his son the truth. He hasn’t been the best father in the world. He has missed birthdays, graduations, football games, and hasn’t been there all the time. That doesn’t take his love away, he still loves him.
Dom is his world, but soon, pretty soon, he will find out that this business is selfish. But despite everything, when he would get in trouble, the Mysterio name would bail Dom out. But bear with him on this, it really hurts. He wants nothing more than to have Dom standing by his side at the Hall of Fame induction. Maybe it’s too late for that.
Rey’s biggest regret is what his son has become. If someone like Dom, some ungrateful, disrespectful, pathetic, punk-ass kid, calls him out for WrestleMania, he would gladly whoop their ass. Unfortunately, Dom is his son, and fighting him would be the biggest disgrace as a father. He’s not worth it. He will never fight him. Rey walks away again. Dom says he’s still doing what he taught him to do, and that’s being a scared little man.
“This is certainly one of the most intriguing angles heading into Mania.”
We cut to Drew McIntyre and Sheamus preparing for their match tonight. The winner heads to WrestleMania to challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship. We head to the commercial break.
Back from the break, we learn that two “showcase” Fatal 4-Way tag team matches will be held at WrestleMania, one for men and women each. The first qualifying match for the women’s showcase is next…
#2. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Emma & Tegan Nox — Winners: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
Charlotte Flair is out next for her promo. She says that the more things change, the more they stay the same. She says even when she was a baby, WrestleManias were built around Flair as a champion, and Rhodes as a challenger. And the more things change, the more they stay the same.
“Wait, that’s not true… But I understand the gist.”
Charlotte says that that it doesn’t matter if she is champion or challenger, she has always been THE STAR. Whoa, out comes Rhea Ripley, flanked by Dominik Mysterio.
Mami says that she acknowledges Charlotte’s greatness, but it is her time now, and that at WrestleMania, Mami needs to fulfill her potential, SHE NEEDS TO BE CHAMPION. Dom gets in Charlotte’s face. Mami takes a cheap shot, sucker punching Charlotte.
Mami and Dom make their exit, but Charlotte is not taking that lying down. The champion attacks the challenger. Things break down into a hellacious brawl. Officials, referees and security tries to calm this commotion down, but to no avail.
They are finally separated. Charlotte is in the ring, posing with her title belt, as Rhea stays in the timekeeper’s area.
We cut to Sami Zayn in the back and is distraught. He says that his brother Kevin Owens has already left him in the lurch, and another man he considered his brother, Jey Uso, attacked him last week. He says he can just accept things as they come now…
Xavier Woods makes his entrance as we cut to the break. Back from the commercial, LA Knight makes his way to the ring to a thunderous ovation. YEAAHH!!!
#3. LA Knight vs Xavier Woods — Winner: Xavier Woods
“Woods rolled up LA Knight to sneak up the victory. As much as I hate the result, I feel that they are going somewhere with this…”
Backstage, LA Knight is irate before an interviewer tries to catch up with him for an interview. He does the “lemme talk to ya” catchphrase before he sees Rey Mysterio. Desperate for WrestleMania to get an LA Knight moment, YEAAHHH, he offers to face Dom at WrestleMania, saying he would even be willing to be a “deadbeat dad.” That’s enough for Mysterio to punch LA Knight in the face.
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus bang each other, next! But wait a minute, the Intercontinental Champion also comes out to peruse over the proceedings.
“The mood changes. It’s like Gunther owns the room. His very presence is incredibly imposing and just commands respect.”
#4. Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre — No Contest
Imperium attacks both ben as they were both lying prone in the ring. Adam Pearce appears on the screen. The triple threat is on for WrestleMania.
Back from the break, Jey Uso is in the ring. Out comes Sami Zayn.
“Oh, come on! Let me sing along to the music. Wait a minute before getting all serious.”
Jey Uso says that from day one, he did not like Sami, he did not trust Sami. He acknowledges how he was the only one that did not accept Sami in The Bloodline. But when he did, he was the one closest to Sami, and stood up for Sami, and he was made to look like a damn fool after Sami betrayed Roman.
Sami fires back, saying that the only reason why Jey is mad at him is because he could not man enough to stand up to Roman Reigns himself.
That’s it. Jey attacks Sami. Both men brawl. Sami has the advantage, but Jimmy blindsides Sami. The Usos are beating down Sami. Kevin Owens is here!! KO is here!
He takes out The Usos! Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are in the ring together. There’s the hug!! They HUGGED IT OUT! Cody Rhodes is seen smiling watching it backstage on the monitor. Sami & KO stare down The Usos on the entrance ramp as SmackDown goes off the air…
“That was… ORGASMIC!”
To recap tonight’s results,
Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio defeated Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez defeated Tegan Nox & Emma
Xavier Woods defeated LA Knight
Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre ended in no contest; both men to challenge Gunther for the IC title in a triple threat match at WrestleMania.
