SmackDown 15.03.2024
Finally, The Radiant Team has come back to Memphis, Tennessee! Tonight's show promises to be electrifying for one reason and one reason only – The Rock. After last week’s slap, you can bet he’s got something in store for us. And beyond that, Logan Paul might make an appearance, and I’m certain AJ Styles will finally face LA Knight, face-to-face. The LWO should also be out for revenge after what happened to Dragon Lee, which will be a real deal for them. SmackDown is shaping up to be great, without a doubt. Let's see what it delivers!
The Rock Kicks Off His Brand Tonight
Who better to open SmackDown when the Tribal Chief isn’t in the building? It’s got to be the one who originally led it – The Rock! The most electrifying man in all of entertainment made his entrance with an updated theme song that sounded tougher and more badass than ever. He even added a new nickname to his collection: The Final Boss. The stage is set, and you know Dwayne is about to bring something special tonight. Tonight is particularly meaningful because The Rock’s career began right here in Memphis, Tennessee! The crowd roared as the legend returned home.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Reference to Seth Rollins and Becky balls.
"Finally, The Rock has come back… home!"
You could feel the energy. This was a special moment, and The Rock wasn’t going to let it pass without some fun. He teased a little song, a bluesy tune about the fate of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Meanwhile, backstage footage of The Rock played, showing highlights of his legendary career. But trust me, this is something you’ve got to hear for yourself.
This song is an instant classic—you simply can’t miss it because there’s no way to describe it better than The Great One himself. It was full of stinging, toxic humor, with plenty of painful jabs at both Cody and Seth. The Rock didn’t hold back, reminding everyone of Cody’s embarrassing Stardust days, calling Cody a "mistake," and even threatening to make Rollins' title vanish. He threw in some barbs about Cody being a crybaby, all while the crowd ate it up. It was a masterclass in insults, with a crystal-clear message.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - A very special present for Mama Rhodes.
But then, things got serious. Last week, Cody slapped The Rock, and instead of firing back instantly, Rock took it with a smile. Tonight, he was ready to respond. He didn’t just make fun of the slap—he leaned in, mocking Cody's tears from past moments, turning Cody’s emotional side into a punchline.
Then came the direct message to Mama Rhodes: "Roman Reigns and The Rock will beat your son and Seth, and this will lead to the Bloodline ruling where anything goes. Cody will never finish his story, and the title will stay around Reigns' waist. The only belt Mama Rhodes will see… is The Rock’s belt!"
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - "What can I say except you're welcome"
And then, in a savage move, The Rock pulled a belt from his bag, promising to make Cody bleed and punish him with it. He vowed to whip Cody over and over again, declaring that this belt would be a gift to Mama Rhodes—delivered by the Bloodline. It was cruel, brutal, and dangerous. The Rock knows how to create moments that take your breath away.
"If you smell what The Final Boss is cookin’?" Yeah, I can feel it. It smells like hell for Cody Rhodes and his buddy Seth Rollins.
WrestleMania Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: LWO vs. Legado Del Fantasma
Finally, this highly anticipated battle took place. The stakes were high as the winning team would secure a spot at WrestleMania, a dream moment for both factions. While it's tough to call which team has the edge, Angel and Humberto’s recent victories gave them the upper hand in my eyes. Of course, interference from other members was expected.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Just a great view of Zelina vega. You know I really like her.
The match reached its climax when a massive double slam from the third rope seemed to spell doom for Cruz Del Toro, but his partner Joaquin Wilde saved the match. Wilde came in like a tornado, taking out everyone in sight until Angel interrupted a near-pinfall. Finally, Legado Del Fantasma advanced, finishing Wilde with a team move. Once again, LWO suffered another heartbreaking loss, and even Rey Mysterio’s presence couldn't inspire them to victory. Hopefully, Dragon Lee can score a win against Santos later on.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - A massive slam from second rope breaks Cruze in half.
LA Knight Has Something to Say—YEAH!
LA Knight came out, wondering where AJ Styles was. Two weeks ago, AJ crossed half the world to hit LA with a chair, yet he’s been nowhere to be found since. LA issued a bold proposal—meet at WrestleMania to settle things once and for all. As expected, Styles didn’t let this challenge go unanswered. Sneaking up from behind, he smashed LA Knight with a chair, then accepted the WrestleMania challenge. Bad news for LA Knight: he got hit with a chair. Good news: he’s going head-to-head with AJ Styles on the grandest stage of them all.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Phenomenal accepts LA Knight's challenge.
USA Champion Shows His Teeth
Backstage, Logan Paul met with Nick Aldis, demanding an apology from Randy Orton. Nick, however, had a better idea—Logan should ask for it himself. Logan, still frustrated that Aldis hasn’t found him a WrestleMania opponent, questioned Nick’s competence. I think we all know who that opponent will be...
Did Jimmy Uso Make a Mistake?
Kayla Braxton tried to get Paul Heyman’s thoughts on Jey Uso’s challenge, but instead, Jimmy Uso answered for him, accepting the challenge. It’ll be interesting to see how Roman Reigns reacts to Jimmy making such a bold decision on his own.
Unexpected Turn of Events
Since Logan Paul wanted an apology from Randy Orton, I had a feeling Randy would deliver a strong message tonight after taking on Grayson Waller. I saw no chance for Waller against the Legend Killer, especially with Kevin Owens backing him up. But it wasn't a straightforward fight—Logan Paul decided to get involved, turning it into a 3-on-1 situation. Despite the distractions, Randy managed to deliver two massive slams to Waller at the commentary table.
Even with the odds stacked against him, Randy was able to land a devastating RKO on Waller. But as I expected, things didn’t end there—Austin Theory attacked Randy from behind, and it seemed like the two would punish Orton until Kevin Owens rushed in at the last second. A near disaster was avoided when Randy almost hit Kevin with an RKO, but they pulled through—finishing Theory with a Stunner and another RKO.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Logan tries to punish Randy but he has a backup.
The final twist? Nick Aldis announced that Logan Paul would face Randy Orton and Kevin Owens in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania. A tough day for Logan, but exciting news for the new team of Randy and Kevin. Still, if Logan spends most of the match outside the ring, we might see him swoop in and steal a victory, à la Drew McIntyre.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Austin every week tastes Stunner or RKO. Poor guy.
Dragon Lee’s Late Save
Santos Escobar arrived with Legado Del Fantasma, while Dragon Lee—once again—was alone. It’s infuriating how LWO never seems to have their members' backs. Lee had a good showing against Santos, but, predictably, the constant interference from Legado helped Santos secure the win with a Phantom Driver.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Both this athletes know how to show beauty in ring.
Just when things looked bleak for Lee, Carlito ran out to help, taking out Angel and Humberto, only to be stopped by Santos. Finally, Rey Mysterio arrived, but it felt more like Rey wanted the spotlight, waiting until the last moment to save the day. Rey then challenged Santos to a one-on-one match next week, promising to slap the smile off his face. After months of absence, Rey looks bulked up, much like AJ Styles.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Rey challenges Santos for a fight for a next week.
WrestleMania Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: New Catch Republic vs. Pretty Deadly
A classic British-style battle. Sadly for Pretty Deadly, they’ve never managed to beat Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate, so I didn’t expect that to change tonight. After disappearing from TV for a bit, it was clear that New Catch Republic had the momentum. Pete clinically dismantled the limbs of his opponents while Tyler smashed both of them with ease. Pretty Deadly had a brief shining moment with a good move on Tyler, but Pete was relentless.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Pete Dunne does what Pete Dunne does best.
Despite a small chance after a top-rope facebuster, the match ended with Tyler hitting the classic Tyler Driver for the win. New Catch Republic advances!
Bayley’s Attempt at Revenge
Tonight, Bayley sought revenge, but I had my doubts. With three other Damage CTRL members lurking, things didn’t look good for her. Despite this, I was rooting for Bayley, especially since Iyo Sky has been such a dull champion. Dakota Kai feels like the true leader of Damage CTRL, while Sky just holds the belt. Bayley was on the verge of winning when Iyo attacked her, causing a DQ, and the rest of Damage CTRL stormed the ring.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - A hot spot to measure Dakota's flexibility.
However, Naomi, who showed some sympathy toward Bayley last week, rushed out to save her, risking everything. She held her own against all three members until Sky attacked from behind. The crowd chanted for Bianca Belair to help her friend Naomi, but sadly, that never happened. Bayley got taken out with a Moonsault from Iyo.
SmackDown 15.03.2024 - Naomi tires to even the odds but numbers game is not on her side.
It was a disappointing ending, but something has to give soon to even the odds in this feud.
Final Thoughts and Ranking
Considering the electrifying opening segment with The Rock, I’m giving this show a 10/10. The Rock’s verbal destruction of Seth and Cody was brilliant, and I can’t wait to see their response. New Catch Republic earned their spot in the title race, and Randy and Kevin Owens secured a WrestleMania match.
On the flip side, LWO and Rey Mysterio’s constant failures are frustrating. They never support Dragon Lee, who has been taking beatings for weeks. At this point, he’d be better off joining Legado. And why did Bianca not show up to help Naomi? That missed opportunity soured the ending a bit. Overall, the show was still strong, earning a 7/10 from me.
See you next week on Raw—don’t miss it!
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