Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for March 6, 2026

Randy Orton heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Orton welcomes everyone to tonight's show and talks about how he has performed in twenty WrestleMania yet has only main evented two of them, and that regardless of one's accolades, there is no guarantee that one will get to WrestleMania, let alone the main event. He can now say that he is going back to the main event of WrestleMania, and while he is not wired to say that he is the best, he lets his peers do the talking, including men he grew up with like Ric Flair, The Undertaker and Harley Race. Orton says that he looks at the locker room that he is part of now and that is he proud that he is still viewed as one of the best, and says that he has earned this. He says that he does not know who his opponent will be, but he and everyone will know in a few hours, and he is looking forward to the two possibilities of Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre. Orton then says he is entering WrestleMania with a chip on his shoulder and leaving with a championship around his waist. As Orton states that he plans to win with the RKO, Trick Williams heads to the ring, saying he has voices in his head telling him he has a bone to pick with Orton, as he should be in the main event of WrestleMania with the title shot. He also mentions Orton going up to his pod in the Elimination Chamber and saying that Trick is not 6'5". As Trick continues to speak, Orton messes with Trick before hitting him with an RKO.

In backstage footage from earlier today, General Manager Nick Aldis tells Carmelo Hayes that he is doing a good job with the open challenge for the United States Championship, and says that one open challenge has caught his eye. Carmelo, not wanting to know who his next opponent is right away, says that he will see this opponent in the ring.

Carmelo Hayes' open challenge is answered by El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.

Carmelo Hayes retains the WWE United States Championship against El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. after avoiding a top rope moonsault.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Ilja Dragunov. Dragunov says he is not the warrior that his mother wants him to be and continues to lose, and that he will wait to challenge Carmelo Hayes until he is that warrior again. The Miz shows up and says Dragunov should be seizing every opportunity, and Kit Wilson shows up to question Dragunov's masculinity. Dragunov takes this as a challenge from both men.

Backstage, Damian Priest and General Manager Nick Aldis are met by R-Truth, who says that the two of them are in tonight's Tag Team Turmoil match. Priest, still slightly bewildered, is up to the task. Priest and R-Truth, then Drew McIntyre shows up and tells Aldis to cancel his match with Cody, but Adlis tells McIntyre that he went back on his word that he would let things happen, and that he went back on his. He tells McIntyre to defend the title tonight or forfeit it. McIntyre says the only way Cody will win the WWE Championship is to take it from his cold, dead hands.

The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) head to the ring for their championship celebration. Nia Jax tells the fans to take it all in and get a good lock at two "six-foot thoroughbred stallions," as they now have the women's tag team division on lock. She then says they are generous champs, and says that any and all challengers are welcome. She then says it will not make a difference, and Lash Legend says that if anyone runs up, they will get done up, and calls this the locker room's first, last and only warning that they are here and they are not going anywhere. The two of them have a toast, then pyrotechnics goes off on the stage before Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss show up. Alexa says that Lash Legend has found a coattail to ride to the top, then says she and Charlotte only lost the titles because The Irresistible Forces interfered in their matches. Charlotte then says that if The Irresistible Forces, they are looking at the next ones in. Giulia and Kiana James show up, and Kiana reminds everyone that she beat Charlotte and Nia in a Triple Threat Match and pinned Alexa in the Elimination Chamber. Kiana says that they are going to WrestleMania one way or another, and Giulia stats that they are leaving with the women's tag titles before Kiana tells Charlotte and Alexa to step aside. General Manager Nick Aldis shows up and makes a match between the team of Giulia and Kiana and the team of Charlotte and Alexa, which happens right now.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss beat Kiana James and Giulia.

We hear from Jelly Roll, who congratulates Randy Orton in winning at the Elimination Chamber and states that he will be seeing Orton and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, who he wishes luck against Drew McIntyre, next week.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, who says that he wants to point at the WrestleMania sign, and the only thing in his way is Drew McIntyre. He hopes that when they speak again, he will be WWE Champion. Cathy Kelley leaves, then Sami Zayn shows up and admits that things have been frigid between them, then says that Cody has had yet another title match fall into his lap. Sami wishes Cody, who has trouble figuring out what Sami is getting at, good luck and that he wants what is best for him despite how he has been acting lately. Cody leaves, then Sami Zayn is angry with himself once again.

We see Trick Williams' interview on iHeartRadio's The Breakfast Club.

The Pannu Family are the recipients of tonight's Cricket 5G Seat Upgrade.

Damian Priest and R-Truth beat The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley), Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom), The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis), and Los Garza (Angel and Berto) in a Tag Team Turmoil Match. Fraxiom eliminates The Motor City Machine Guns after Axiom pins Sabin near the ropes, and while Shelley puts Sabin's foot on the ropes, the referee does not see it. The Wyatt Sicks are eliminated after Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa show up and pull Gacy out of the ring and distract Lumis, allowing Los Garza to eliminate them. After the elimination, Gacy and Lumis brawl with Tama and Loa on the way to the back.

Backstage, Randy Orton is met by Sami Zayn. Sami says he is happy for Orton, then asks Orton how he can speak highly of Cody and yet drop him where he stands in the same breath. Orton says that one needs to be selfish in this business, and when Sami asks Orton if that makes him a bad person, Orton says that has made him a fourteen-time World Champion. Orton then tells Sami that he believes in him that he will become World Champion one day and that he just needs to listen to the voices, then leaves. Aleister Black and Zelina Vega show up and tell Sami that it is the nature of the beast.

Rhea Ripley heads to the ring. Rhea, knowing that Jade Cargill has a lot to say to her, dares Jade to come to the ring and say it to her face. Cargill shows up and heads to the ring, shakes Rhea's hand, and says that she respects Rhea and her accomplishments, how the people love her, how Rhea earned her way to a championship match against her and how she has gotten into the shape she has gotten herself in. She then says she is not impressed, as she is bigger, more powerful and more worthy of the WWE Championship than Rhea, then says she will beat the hell out of her and that there is nothing she can do about it.Rhea then offers her hand for another handshake, which Jade gives to her before Rhea respects Cargill's honesty, and admits that while she does not impress Cargill physically, Cargill does for her, but she will not go down and stay down after Cargill's best shot. She then says that if she hits Cargill with hers, there is no way Cargill is getting back up, as Cargill's body is built for show while hers is built for fighting. She says that Cargill is more aesthetically pleasing while she thrives and survives in the business. Rhea says Cargill can flex all she wants, because she will fight and she will take the WWE Championship from her with force, and there is nothing Cargill can do about it.

Backstage, Alex Shelley is speaking with Candice LeRae regarding a nearby planking Johnny Gargano. Chris Sabin is wondering what is going on, then says they need to talk after Shelley said he tried to save the match. Sabin and Shelley leave, then Candice tells Gargano to get up and "do it himself." Gargano shows up and heads to the ring.

We hear from Bo Dallas. He tells Solo Sikoa that he keeps putting his family members in compromising positions without understanding the weight of consequences, then says he has something that does not belong to him and that he will not rest until he takes it back. He says that Solo's family will constantly look over their shoulders and realize there is nothing left to do but run.

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae are in the ring. He says that he is one of the best wrestlers in the world and that he is tired of pretending that he is not, then says that he and everyone else needs to remember who he is, and that he must be "Johnny Wrestling" again. Gargano then issues an open challenge to anyone in the back, and the open challenge is answered by Oba Femi.

Oba Femi beats Johnny Gargano.

Backstage, Jade Cargill is met by "Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab. Michin says she has been waiting to get her pound of flesh. Cargill says she will see Michin next week.

Backstage, Danhausen runs into General Manager Nick Aldis and makes the same demands he made to Raw General Manager Nick Aldis, including a mentor. Nick Aldis notices The Miz and has him mentor Danhausen. Danhausen hopes Miz will make him a champion and a TV star, and when Miz refuses to mentor him, Danhausen curses him, then tells him to remember what happened to "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio earlier this week.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Drew McIntyre to win the Undisputed WWE Championship for a third time. During the match, referee Charles Robinson is dragged into a Cody Cutter by McIntyre. Cody hits the Cross Rhodes, then calls for another ref. Referee Dan Engler shows up, then McIntyre hits the Claymore only for Cody to kick out at one. Engler is eventually hit with a Glasgow Kiss by McIntyre, who then grabs a chair from the timekeeper's area to use as a weapon only for Jacob Fatu to show up and take it away from him. Robinson comes back to just in time for Cody to score a near-fall on a schoolkid pin. McIntyre hits a Future Shock DDT, but misses big on the Claymore when Cody ducks it. Cody hits a Super Cody Cutter followed by the Cross Rhodes for the pin, the win, the title and the WrestleMania main event.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!