The March 21 episode of SmackDown will be broadcast at its regular time of 8 p.m. ET on USA Network in the U.S., but it will not be live. This is due to the show’s participation in WWE’s three-week pre-WrestleMania 41 tour across Europe and the UK, originating from the Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy. The live airing takes place at 3 p.m. ET in Bologna (and presumably wherever else SmackDown is available via Netflix), meaning spoilers may be accessible for fans interested.
The episode is set to feature: Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk addressing the repercussions of their time at Madison Square Garden a few Mondays back. Additionally, Liv Morgan will confront Jade Cargill, while Jacob Fatu and Braun Strowman will engage in destruction as they attempt to overpower each other. Piper Niven aims to defend Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green, among other exciting segments!
We will provide updates on this post as results come in from Bologna.
- Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett will provide commentary as we catch a glimpse of Jade Cargill backstage, followed by entrances from Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, CM Punk, and other participants arriving at the venue.
- Randy Orton makes an entrance, greeted with cheers from the crowd. Before he can speak, Kevin Owens’ music plays. Owens expresses that while Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn deserved what happened to them, Orton did not. Kevin is upset that Randy chose Cody over him, leading to his regrettable actions. He cautions Orton against letting anger dictate decisions. Owens intervened last week to protect Randy, advocating for teamwork in pursuing the Tag titles at WrestleMania, a suggestion met with disapproval from the audience.
- Orton contemplates this proposal and finds it appealing, surprised by Owens’ admission of fault. However, he dismisses Owens’ apology, criticizing his change in character. He notes that voices in his head have reemerged, urging him to take vengeance on Owens.
- Following a video package featuring Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre, Priest enters the ring. Damian Priest and Big Jim Uso faced off against Drew McIntyre and Shinsuke Nakamura, where Priest took an aggressive approach, striking McIntyre before the match formally began. The heels gained control, and the finish saw Big Jim kick McIntyre out of the ring, allowing Priest to pin Nakamura after executing South of Heaven.
- McIntyre retaliates against Priest post-match, concluding with a Claymore kick.
In a backstage segment, Braun Strowman encounters LA Knight, who reassures Strowman he’ll be monitoring his match since Jacob Fatu tends to travel with others. Braun informs Knight that Nick Aldis has confirmed that the winner of his match against Fatu will secure a shot at the U.S. title, motivating Strowman to push for a victory on the WrestleMania card.
A video review of the conflict between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton plays, showcasing them on split screens before another commercial break. The discussion focuses on their contrasting careers, as Charlotte defends her accolades while Tiffany believes she has a promising future ahead.
