WWE SmackDown Live Results: Know Winners, Live Grades and Highlights to WrestleMania

This week’s WWE SmackDown was filled with surprises and last-minute changes, all thanks to The Rock’s unexpected return before the show even started. Originally announced just a day prior, The Rock’s return left fans wondering about his next moves, especially with his looming presence on Raw’s upcoming Netflix debut.

Here’s a rundown of the key matches WWE had advertised for Friday night:

Pretty Deadly vs. DIY (Tag Team Championship Match)
Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso
Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, and Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga

Let’s look at everything that happened on WWE SmackDown this week.

Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso

The show kicked off with Nick Aldis informing Cody Rhodes that he would no longer be part of the six-man tag match due to The Rock’s direct orders. With no replacement announced at the time, speculation immediately began about who would take Rhodes’ spot.

As the action shifted to the arena, Drew McIntyre made his entrance for his scheduled match against Jimmy Uso.

Jimmy took control early, even managing to land a top-rope crossbody for a near-fall. However, McIntyre quickly regained dominance by launching Uso across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex.

The match saw shifts in momentum, with Jimmy rallying back after the commercial break. In a surprising turn, Jimmy managed to counter a reverse Alabama Slam into a victory roll, securing an unexpected win over McIntyre.

Frustrated by the loss, McIntyre launched a post-match attack, leaving Jimmy down in the ring. While the match itself had a few entertaining moments, it was the aftermath that truly stood out.

Result: Jimmy Uso defeated Drew McIntyre
Grade: B

Key Takeaways:

No immediate replacement was announced for Cody Rhodes in the six-man tag match.
McIntyre’s belly-to-belly suplex continues to impress, showcasing his raw power.
Jimmy Uso’s Spear could use some refinement, as his positioning still feels slightly off.

The Miz and Carmelo Hayes vs. R-Truth and LA Knight

Before this match, The Miz and Carmelo Hayes shared a humorous backstage segment with R-Truth, who hilariously believed that LA Knight’s name stood for Louisiana.

In the ring, Hayes and Truth started the match, with Hayes landing a quick springboard clothesline. However, his overconfidence led to him getting caught off guard.

After the commercial break, LA Knight tagged in, turning the momentum in favor of his team as the crowd came alive. While much of this match leaned into comedy spots, it also featured solid wrestling moments.

A potential new alliance between The Miz and Carmelo Hayes emerged, but it’s unclear whether this pairing is long-term or just a temporary partnership before an inevitable betrayal.

Shinsuke Nakamura interfered, providing a crucial distraction that allowed Hayes and Miz to execute a combined finishing sequence, securing the victory.

Result: The Miz and Carmelo Hayes defeated R-Truth and LA Knight
Grade: B-

Key Takeaways:

Jacob Fatu replaced Tama Tonga in the six-man tag match, adding an unpredictable element to the bout.
WWE aired a well-produced video package on Zelina Vega before this match.
R-Truth’s comedic timing was on full display, especially when he counted down Melo for a non-existent pin attempt.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Candice LeRae

Tiffany Stratton kicked off this segment by addressing her upcoming WrestleMania challenge from Charlotte Flair, but before she could fully express her thoughts, Nia Jax and Candice LeRae interrupted. Tensions ran high as words were exchanged, leading to an impromptu match between Stratton and LeRae that started during the commercial break.

Flair made her presence felt by joining the commentary table, keeping a close eye on Stratton’s performance. Midway through the match, Stratton took a high-risk approach, delivering a moonsault from the top rope that wiped out both Jax and LeRae at ringside.

Despite a few awkward moments and a slower pace in certain spots, the match delivered a solid back-and-forth fight. Stratton appeared to have victory in hand as she prepared for her finisher, but chaos erupted when Trish Stratus ran down to intervene. However, Stratus herself fell victim to Nia Jax’s devastating Annihilator, which took out both her and Stratton.

Result: Tiffany Stratton defeated Candice LeRae
Grade: C

Key Takeaways:

Stratton slipped on an arm drag attempt, but she recovered quickly.
Her selling ability continues to improve, making her reactions look realistic.
The Alabama Slam into the barricade didn’t go as planned, making for an awkward moment.
Trish Stratus’ attempted save backfired, leaving both her and Stratton down as Jax stood tall.

The Rock and Cody Rhodes

The scheduled match between Naomi and Liv Morgan never got started as Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez blindsided Naomi and Bianca Belair before the bell.

The focus then shifted to The Rock, who made his entrance with a New Orleans-inspired theme and took time to hype up WrestleMania’s return to NOLA. However, the tone quickly changed when he invited Cody Rhodes to the ring.

The Rock’s message was cryptic—he spoke about wanting Rhodes to be his champion, but in a way that suggested he meant a corporate champion who follows orders. His delivery oscillated between heel and babyface energy, leaving the audience unsure of whether to boo or cheer.

While tension between The Rock and Rhodes was evident, the segment didn’t achieve much in terms of advancing their storyline. Instead of feeling like an intriguing cliffhanger, it came across as WWE being uncertain about its direction for this feud.

Grade: C

Key Takeaways:

The Rock’s promo work was strong, but the messaging was inconsistent.
The audience seemed divided on whether to cheer or boo, as The Rock fluctuated between heel and babyface behavior.
Instead of offering clarity, the segment raised more questions than answers, but not in a compelling way.

DIY vs. Pretty Deadly

Before their match, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (DIY) delivered a promo about why they would defeat Kit Wilson and Elton Prince (Pretty Deadly) in their title match. However, as soon as Pretty Deadly made their entrance, they wasted no time attacking DIY before the bell rang.

Once the match officially started, DIY controlled the action, leading into the first commercial break. However, Pretty Deadly regained momentum after the break with a series of double-team moves, using their size and chemistry to their advantage.

Just as the match was hitting its peak, The Street Profits interfered, attacking Pretty Deadly and causing a disqualification. After taking out Wilson and Prince, the Profits turned their attention to DIY, taking them down as well.

The post-match chaos continued as the Motor City Machine Guns attempted to intervene, but the Profits made quick work of them, asserting their dominance.

Result: No Contest (Due to Interference)
Grade: C

Key Takeaways:

Pretty Deadly’s entrance featuring a giant disco ball remains a fun, unique touch.
DIY’s pre-match promo felt unnecessary, as the match went to a commercial break shortly after it started.
The DQ finish was disappointing, but the Street Profits’ attack made them look dominant.
The Motor City Machine Guns’ attempt to help was quickly neutralized, keeping the focus on the Profits as a serious threat.

Damian Priest and Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa

Originally set as a six-man tag match, The Rock’s last-minute change turned the main event into a traditional tag team battle featuring Damian Priest and Braun Strowman taking on Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.

The match kicked off with Priest and Sikoa trading heavy strikes, setting the tone for an intense fight. Solo’s early confidence led to a costly mistake, allowing Priest to take control.

Strowman, always one for mind games, took every opportunity to taunt Fatu before they finally faced off in the ring. The crowd erupted when the two powerhouses clashed, delivering some of the most explosive moments of the night.

However, a critical miscommunication shifted the momentum. Fatu accidentally superkicked Sikoa, giving Strowman and Priest the opening they needed. Strowman cleared the announce table with a brutal attack on Fatu and Tonga, while Priest sealed the win with a devastating South of Heaven chokeslam on Sikoa.

While Priest and Strowman looked dominant, the real story is the growing tension between Fatu and Sikoa. The Bloodline’s unity seems more fragile than ever, teasing a potential rift that could explode in the coming weeks.

Result: Damian Priest and Braun Strowman defeated Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa
Grade: B

Key Takeaways:

Fatu and Sikoa’s pre-match backstage segment hinted at rising tension, with Sikoa visibly annoyed by Fatu’s interruption.
The chemistry between Priest and Strowman was surprisingly strong, making them an intriguing potential duo.
The Bloodline’s internal conflict continues to escalate, with Fatu and Sikoa struggling to stay on the same page.

The Final Word

This week’s SmackDown showcased some exciting in-ring action but also highlighted WWE’s tendency to rely on familiar booking patterns.

While the main event delivered in terms of physicality and intrigue, other segments felt somewhat lackluster. The Rock’s promo, which should have been a major talking point, left fans confused rather than invested. His inconsistent messaging blurred the line between heel and face, making it difficult to grasp WWE’s long-term direction for his feud with Cody Rhodes.

Additionally, multiple matches ended in interference or disqualification, which made certain outcomes feel like lazy booking rather than creative storytelling.

On the plus side, the tension in The Bloodline adds a fresh dynamic that could lead to exciting developments heading into WrestleMania. But with time running out, WWE needs to pick up the pace and deliver more meaningful moments to ensure the Road to WrestleMania remains must-watch television.