Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for March 3, 2023

The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa) head to the ring to start tonight's show. Before Roman can say much of anything, however, Cody Rhodes shows up. Cody says he is not here to invade or take part in reckless negotiations, but to have a conversation with his WrestleMania opponent, one-on-one and man-to-man, and sees no reason for the rest of The Bloodline to be there unless Roman needs them. Roman calls off Solo, Heyman and Jimmy, who all leave, then lays the WWE and Universal Championships down between himself and Cody and asks "So what do you want to talk about?" Cody starts by talking about Roman, and after mentioning his accolades, says that Roman is a so-called impossible mountain to climb, but that has been kind of his thing as he has gotten further and further in his career, and while Roman is impossible, he is not impossible for him. Roman commends Cody on being a wordsmith, then asks Cody if he has competed in the main event of WrestleMania, much less competed for the WWE or Universal Championships or won them, as he has done all of that and is the most experienced main event of all time. He then says he has been groomed for greatness in WWE not just by his father, but also Cody's, and goes on to mention his friendship with Dusty Rhodes, then says that Dusty never said anything about Cody to him as far as he could recall. He says that Cody must miss Dusty and admits that he misses him too as he picks his championships back up, and while Dusty is not here anymore, if there is something Dusty did not teach Cody, he will. Roman then offers to shake Cody's hand. Cody says he is not playing on the same field and that this is not chess, and that Roman merely sent Heyman to him to tell him the truth. He says that if this is the truth, then Roman must have been the son that he always wanted. He then says this changes everything, as this becomes more than a want or a need, but a necessity, and in order to exist, he must beat Roman at WrestleMania. Cody then says "May the better man win" as he shakes Roman's hand.

Rhea Ripley beats Liv Morgan with the inverted cloverleaf with a knee to the back of the head.

Backstage in Roman Reigns' dressing room, Jimmy Uso tells Roman that Jey needs some time, but Roman says he is running out of patience not just with Jey, but with Jimmy.

Backstage, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley run into Santos Escobar. Escobar says Rey should have punched Dominik in the face and that he understands why he didn't, and tonight, he will teach him a lesson in respect. He says that he will head to the ring, and if Dominik is half the man he thinks he is, he will join him there. Escobar then blows a kiss to Rhea before heading to the ring.

Dominik Mysterio beats Santos Escobar after distracting the referee with brass knuckles so that Rhea Ripley can hit Escobar with Riptide. After the match, Dominik takes the mask that Rey Mysterio gifted Santos Escobar and almost tears it in half. After the match, Dominik takes the mask that Rey Mysterio gifted Santos Escobar and almost tears it in half. Suddenly, Rey Mysterio shows up, and Dominik says he will only give the mask back if he hits him. Dominik throws the mask to the ground, then hits Rey with a cheap shot when Rey tries to pick it back up.

In footage from earlier today, we hear from Sami Zayn, who says that Roman Reigns is learning that everything he says has been happening to The Bloodline is coming true. As for Solo Sikoa, he will send a message that he will not go away until The Bloodline goes down.

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. McIntyre says there are four weeks until WrestleMania, but he does not have a match and he plans to remedy that right now. He says there is someone he wants to be "the absolute schnitzel" out of and calls out Gunther. Sheamus shows up and wants to know what McIntyre is doing. McIntyre says it is nothing personal, but Sheamus says he still wants the Intercontinental Championship. McIntyre tells Sheamus to calm down, but when Sheamus accuses him of doing something behind his back, McIntyre says he does not need his permission to go after Gunther. Sheamus proceeds to call McIntyre "a backstabbing bastard," but McIntyre tells Sheamus he had his chance and lost twice. LA Knight soon shows up and mocks both Sheamus and McIntyre as they argue with each other, then says one cannot have an "L.A. WrestleMania" without him. Suddenly, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) show up. Woods apologizes on behalf of LA Knight, whom Kofi says keeps begging for a spot at WrestleMania, which Woods calls "sad." Kofi says Knight wants a match at WrestleMania when he cannot even win on SmackDown. Karrion Kross and Scarlett show up, and LA Knight uses this opportunity to try to attack everyone. Sheamus clotheslines Knight out of the ring, and when it seems Sheamus and McIntyre will come to blows, McIntyre hits a dive to the outside before Kross takes out Sheamus.

We see backstage footage from earlier today where "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Tegan Nox brawl and officials break the brawl up. Ronda Rousey is seen holding her arm, and it is revealed that she will not be able to compete tonight.

"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beats Tegan Nox with an armbar.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci). Gunther says it is a disgrace to be left waiting for a WrestleMania opponent, and the only thing that he is concerned about is not having a worthy opponent to do battle for the Intercontinental Championship with on the greatest stage of all.

Bobby Lashley heads to the ring. Lashley says that for the past two weeks, Bray Wyatt has been telling him to run, but he does not run from anyone. He says that since this didn't work, Bray Wyatt wants to play games, which he considers a sign of weakness. He then says that since Bray Wyatt is not man enough to face him, he has come to SmackDown to face Bray, and dares Bray Wyatt to see him. Uncle Howdy shows up on the TitanTron, then attacks Lashley from behind. Lashley soon fights back and plants Howdy, but as Lashley is about to hit Howdy with the Spear, the lights go out. When they come back on, Howdy has disappeared.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso meets with Roman Reigns. Jimmy tells Roman that Jey had said to "leave him the hell alone." Roman cannot understand why Jey is doing this after everything they have done for him, and says this didn't happen until Sami Zayn showed up. Roman says they will fix the Sami Zayn problem once and for all, and he tells Jimmy Uso to get out there with Solo Sikoa and get rid of Sami Zayn, and that if Jimmy gets rid of Sami Zayn, Jey will come home. After Jimmy leaves, Roman then tells Paul Heyman that Jey Uso has one week, and if Jey is not back, he is not going to blame Sami; instead, he will blame Jimmy.

Solo Sikoa beats Sami Zayn. After the match, Jimmy Uso attacks Sami Zayn, then Solo Sikoa gets a chair. Jimmy wraps the chair around Sami's neck, then offers to finish Sami off himself. Sami throws the chair at Solo, then hits Jimmy with a Helluva Kick. Sami tries to hit Jimmy with the chair, but he throws it at Solo instead and flees through the crowd.