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Combat Sports

WWE Smackdown Recap

SmackDown recap
Mar 24, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Sami Zayn (top) is attacked by Jimmy Uso (left) and Jey Uso (right) during WWE Smackdown at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

You can practically smell Wrestlepalooza in the air, can’t you? The go-home edition of WWE SmackDown felt less like a wrestling show and more like the final, chaotic moments before a bar brawl turns into a full-blown riot. If you were looking for quiet diplomacy and respectful handshakes, you tuned into the wrong channel. This was pure, unadulterated chaos, and honestly, we’re all here for it.

Brock Lesnar Reminds Everyone He’s a Human Wrecking Ball

 Let’s get this out of the way first. Brock Lesnar doesn’t do “subtle.” The man operates at two speeds: dormant and “destroy everything in sight.” Tonight, he chose the latter. In what was supposed to be a message for John Cena, Lesnar decided the entire commentary team needed to be part of his destructive art project. Michael Cole looked like he’d seen a ghost, and Corey Graves… well, Corey Graves met the business end of an F5. It was a classic Lesnar moment—a primal scream of dominance that didn’t need a single word. Message sent, John. Loud and clear.

 A Contract Signing Goes Exactly as Expected

 Did anyone really think Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre were going to sit down, sign a piece of paper, and share a polite cup of tea? Come on. This isn’t a board meeting; it’s WWE SmackDown. Cody, ever the showman, tried to play some mind games, bringing up their tag team championship win from 15 years ago. It was a nice touch, a little “remember when we were friends?” jab.

 McIntyre, however, wasn’t feeling nostalgic. The man has been stewing for weeks, keyboard-warrior-ing his way into a title shot, and he was in no mood for a trip down memory lane. After the ink was dry, Drew delivered a Glasgow Kiss so stiff it probably rearranged Cody’s dental work. The brawl that followed was inevitable, a messy, glorious preview of the physicality we can expect at Wrestlepalooza. Security guards swarmed the ring like ants on a picnic, but it was too little, too late. The stage is set, and it’s going to be brutal.

 What Else Went Down on a Wild Night?

 While the main SmackDown event feuds were boiling over, the rest of the WWE SmackDown card was firing on all cylinders.

Women’s Tag Titles on the Line:

Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair, a team that feels like a beautiful, chaotic fever dream, managed to hang onto their Women’s Tag Team titles. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre put up a heck of a fight, but Flair and Bliss are just on another level right now. The women’s division is a powder keg, with Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Jade Cargill all circling each other, leading to a triple threat match announcement for next week. Grab your popcorn.

A Bron-Tastic Victory:

The “Bron ‘n Bron Connection” is a thing, and it’s terrifying. Bron Breakker and “Big” Bronson Reed are two slabs of SmackDown beef who enjoy running through people. Tonight, their victims were the high-flying duo of Fraxiom. It was a classic power vs. agility matchup, and tonight, power won. Decisively.

Zayn Retains in a Banger:

Don’t sleep on Sami Zayn vs. Carmelo Hayes. This SmackDown match for the United States Championship was an absolute clinic. Hayes is a star in the making, but Sami Zayn is in the middle of a career-defining run. He fought with the heart of a champion and managed to retain his title. It was a hard-fought, emotional battle that proved why Zayn is one of the best in the business.

Final Thoughts

From top to bottom, this episode of WWE SmackDown did precisely what it needed to do. It built anticipation, it created moments, and it left us all desperately counting down the hours until Wrestlepalooza. Buckle up, folks. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.