Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for March 22, 2024

Santos Escobar beats Rey Mysterio after a person in a Rey Mysterio mask trips up Rey on the outside. The person reveals themselves to be none other than "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio.

Backstage, Bayley thanks Naomi for her help next week, and Naomi says that she has her and that she is just doing the right thing. She says her anger is towards Iyo after what she did to her, and that Iyo will feel her anger tonight. Bianca shows up and confronts Bayley, saying she is only sorry because her past is catching up to her. Both Bianca and Bayley start to argue, and Naomi has to take Bianca aside.

Backstage, Bianca Belair tells Naomi that she is putting herself in the same position that she was in for the last two years. Naomi tells Bianca that everything she is saying is valid, but she cannot do anything about the past. She says she has Bianca's back and that she will take care of business, but she cannot do it alone and neither can Bianca.

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory beat The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) in the SmackDown Tag Team Qualifier Bracket #2 after Theory gets his feet on the ropes for leverage on a schoolkid pin.

Before the next match, Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane) shows up without Iyo Sky at first. Iyo Sky is then seen attacking Bayley backstage before showing up.

Iyo Sky beats Naomi following the interference by the rest of Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane). After the match, Naomi fights off Damage CTRL, but is blinded by Asuka's blue mist. Bianca Belair shows up and makes the save, but Dakota Kai hits her with a chop block as she goes for the K.O.D. on Kairi Sane. Damage CTRL then gang up on Bianca, and Naomi gets on top of Bianca to protect her.

We see a vignette for Jade Cargill, who makes her first official appearance as a SmackDown Superstar next week.

Backstage, Bianca Belair and a medical team member helps Naomi clean out her eyes when Tiffany Stratton shows up, calls the blue mist a good look for Naomi, and walks off.

Backstage, Kevin Owens is talking with General Manager Nick Aldis when Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) interrupt wanting a match. This leads to Pretty Deadly saying Kevin Owens knows nothing about tag team wrestling. Owens mentions being a tag team champion and punching out Grayson Waller and Austin Theory at one time before challenging them to a tag team match with Randy Orton, who is suddenly in the room and admiring Elton Prince's jacket. Orton and Owens leave, then Aldis tells Pretty Deadly that they have a match next week and that standing close to each other is not a good idea. Owens suddenly comes back to punch both members of Pretty Deadly in the face at the same time.

In interview footage from last night, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles is at his home when he finds out that LA Knight is outside. This leads to a brawl that ends with LA Knight being arrested and carried away by police.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) in the SmackDown Tag Team Qualifier Bracket #2 with an inside cradle from Montez to Akam to face Grayson Waller and Austin Theory for a spot in the 6-Pack Ladder Match at WrestleMania.

Backstge, Paul Heyman is on the phone with Roman Reigns, and tells him that "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes is in the arena alone and that the public awaits.

Roman Reigns is seen entering the arena before he and Paul Heyman head to the ring. Roman then states that Heyman made a promise, and that he his kept his word. He says that he is here alone with only Heyman, then states that "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes will soon join them. Cody is seen backstage heading towards the ring before the commercial break, and after the commercial break, Cody enters the ring. Cody says that if Roman came alone, then he came alone. Roman says Cody is a fool and that Cody is "stupid to [him]," and that from his perspective, he is not fit to be on top and to be face of the company because he is an idiot. He says that Cody thinks with his heart and that he thinks people have his back when he should be thinking with his head as nobody cares. He also questions Seth "Freakin'" Rollins' true colors, bringing up the fact that Seth stabbed him in the back and broke their bond. Roman then says that the same thing will happen to Cody. Cody says he remembers The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Rollins, Reigns), and reminds him that he was part of the first team that beat The Shield. Cody then says that he appreciates the history lesson and notes the "Family Above All" slogan on Roman's jacket, then asks the fans if he can trust Rollins before stating that Rollins might hate his guts, but he hates Roman even more. He then asks Roman if he can trust The Rock at WrestleMania, and asks if Roman or The Rock is really in charge. Roman mentions Cody asking The Rock the same question the other way around, and says he is spinning the question and trying to run for governor, then says Cody does nothing but promise things and never deliver. He says that this is because Cody Rhodes is "number two" and "the greatest number two of all time," then says that is all Cody will ever be because he is number one forever. Cody mentions that the both of them grew up in the industry and that Roman wanted to grow up and become the face of a generation, then says he has ceded to the idea that the next generation wants to be "the next Roman Reigns." He says that this is Roman's destiny, yet Roman is unfamiliar with his, and that when it comes to who will beat him for the title he has held all this time, he is not number two; he is "The One." Cody wishes Roman good luck and extends his hand, but Roman drops his microphone in disgust and refuses to shake his hand. He then shakes hands with Heyman before the two of them leave. Roman then stops to snap his fingers, and his theme plays before he and Heyman stand across from the ring. Suddenly, Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa are spotted in the crowd, but Cody sees them coming as they climb over the barricade. Jimmy and Solo soon move across ringside to stand alongside Roman and Heyman, but Jey Uso and Seth Rollins are soon seen in the crowd and hopping over the barricade. Jey and Rollins stand near the ring alongside Cody Rhodes to end the show.

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Bianca Belair! Bobby Lashley, B-Fab and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)! Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince)!