Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 3/25/2022 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and on Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
- The show begins with a video package recapping the segments between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar from the March 18, 2022 edition of SmackDown. The recap video showed Brock Lesnar destroying The Bloodline's car & truck with a forklift, proceeded by Lesnar cutting a promo while holding the door of the bloodlines truck in the ring. The transmission began with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee welcoming the audience to the show, airing live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
- Backstage, Kayla Braxton was seeing interviewing Brock Lesnar. Lesnar stated that he bought Reigns a new SUV with Blood Red coloring, proceeded by him stating that WWE management told him to not interact physically with Reigns unless provoked. Lesnar proceeded to stay in the locker room of Reigns in order to wait for a provoking from Reigns.
Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Rick Boogs) vs Jimmy Uso (w/ Jey Uso)
Prior to the match beginning, the team of Nakamura and Boogs brawled with the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, with Boogs lifting Jimmy Uso before throwing Jimmy on Jey Uso before the commercial break.
The match officially began with Nakamura and Jimmy Uso locking up aggressively, with Jimmy Uso hitting a shoulder block on Nakamura. Nakamura escaped an arm lock by locking in his own arm-lock before being hit with another shoulder tackle from Jimmy. Nakamura hit his own shoulder tackle on Jimmy, proceeding to taunt Jimmy. After being Nakamura choked Jimmy Uso in the corner with his foot, Nakamura hit a running knee on Jimmy Uso while he was on the apron. Jimmy Uso hit a back suplex for a near fall. Uso locked in a headlock on Nakamura before attempting to lift Nakamura for a Samoan Drop. Nakamura got outside before being hit with a side kick from Jimmy Uso. Jimmy Uso tried to go for a Tope Suicida, but he got hit with a kick from Nakamura, leaving Nakamura standing before the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Nakamura hit Jimmy Uso with an Inseguri kick on Uso, proceeded by a Running knee to Jimmy Uso's abdomen for a near fall. Nakamura hit a middle rope knee strike before preparing for the Kinshasha, but he was distracted by Jimmy Uso attacking Rick Boogs, proceeded with Jimmy Uso hitting a Superkick on Nakamura for a near fall. After this, Jimmy Uso got the guitar, but Boogs took it away from him by sending Jimmy Uso to the ring-post. Nakamura took advantage of the distraction by hitting Jimmy Uso with the Kinshasha for the pinfall victory.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Rick Boogs)
- A video package recapulating the promo Kevin Owens cut on the March 21, 2022 edition of Raw. The video showed Owens imitating "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's entrance and mannerisms, proceeded by Owens hitting a Stunner on a ringside extra.
- Backstage, Brock Lesnar was seen backstage waiting on Roman Reigns to arrive to the lounge, trying out the Champagne in the room. He proceeded to spit the champagne off his mouth in disgust, continuing to eat grapes before the commercial break.
- Returning from the commercial break, WWE officially announced that the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony for 2022 was going to happen right after the April 1, 2022 edition of SmackDown. WWE proceeded to announce that Shad Gaspard would be the recipient of the 2022 Warrior Award.
- Drew McIntyre was interviewed by Kayla Braxton, where he state that he was going to beat the smug smile off Happy Corbin off his face.
- This interview was proceeded by a video package showcasing Baron Corbin's trajectory from "Bum-Ass" Baron Corbin to his modern iteration, Happy Corbin. This included how he went from being broke, becoming a millionaire, and breaking McIntyre's neck. He stated that his happiness will become euphoria when ends Drew McIntyre's carrier. Madcap Moss proceeded to say that if Corbin had a Academy Award-nominated film, it would be called "Bald Fellas" Happy Corbin was not so happy about this joke, as he walked off from the scene disappointed with the joke.
Ridge Holland (w/ Butch & Sheamus) vs King Woods (w/ Kofi Kingston)
Prior to the match, Samantha Irvin accidentally spoiled Kofi Kingston's surprise, which was King Xavier Woods making his return to WWE, taking Kofi's spot in his match against Ridge Holland.
The match began with Woods evading the offense from Holland before being hit with a shoulder block. From out of nowhere, Woods caught Holland in a small package to pick up the pinfall victory, winning his return match in quick fashion.
Winner: King Xavier Woods (w/ Kofi Kingston)
- Roman Reigns sent in a video message to the transmission, where he stated that he went around the State of New York. He stated that he was on his way to Barclays Center, warning Lesnar to leave his locker room unless he wanted to bleed the same way he bled on the March 5, 2022 House Show on Madison Square Garden.
- After the commercial break, Ronda Rousey came out to the ring to cut a promo. After a video package showcasing Charlotte's attack on Rousey on the March 18, 2022, she stated that Charlotte will have to hand her the title to on Wrestlemania to become the SmackDown Women's Champion, stating that she may as well be the SMackDown Champion. After these statements, Charlotte Flair was seen in an on-air transmission on the titantron, where she stated that she would never be in a low rent city like Brooklyn. Rousey told Flair that when she broke her arm at the age of 14 years old, she liked it, proceeding to say that at Wrestlemania, she will be a part of the lost count.
- Brock Lesnar was interviewed by Kayla Braxton, where he told Braxton to tell Roman Reigns to the arena as soon as possible as he is running out of things to smash. He proceeded to throw a lamp away.
Championship Contender's Match
Ricochet vs Angel (w/ Humberto)
Prior to the match, Los Lotharios struggled to find someone to do the "Kiss Cam" on, before a woman showed up in the front and did the kiss cam before the commercial break. The mysterious woman was Independent Wrestling stand-out Leila Grey, who was seen on AEW Rampage on March 3, 2022 against Serena Deeb.
The match began with Angel and Ricochet exchanging chops before Angel took Ricochet off the top turnbuckle to send him to the ground. Ricochet sent Angel to the corner, before kicking Angel's head. Ricochet proceeded to climb to the turnbuckle, but Humerto tried to distract Ricochet, leading to Angel get the roll-up for the pinfall win.
After the match, Ricochet said that he was not going to do that tonight, and proceeded to challenge Humberto to an impromptu match. Humberto accepted and the match was set.
Winner: Angel (w/ Humberto)
Humberto (w/ Angel) vs Ricochet
Humberto and Ricochet exchanged strikes, before Ricochet hit the scissors on Humberto before sending him outside with a dropkick, They continued to exchange strikes, before Ricochet hit another dropkick to send Humberto outside, following this by hitting an over the top-rope Senton on Carrillo before the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Ricochet hit Humerto with a Springrope Frankensteiner on Humberto, who was hanging in the ropes. After Ricochet hit multiple uppercuts on Humbert, he proceeded with a Springrope moonsault. Angel distracted Ricochet, and humberto tired to repeat the trick on Humberto with a roll-up, but Ricochet kicked out. Ricochet hit a Northern Lights Suplex on Humberto, followed by a Suplex for the nearfalll. Ricochet went to the top rope to hit the 630 on Humberto, but Angel pulled Humberto out of the ring. Ricochet hit a crossbody on Angel to neutralize him, which was followed by Ricochet hitting a Tornado DDT assisted by the Announce table on Humberto. After he sent Humberto into the ring to continue the match, Garza intercepted Ricochet's foot to prevent him from entering the match, leading to referee Jessica Karr counting out Ricochet for the count-out defeat.
Winner: Humberto (w/ Angel)
- Sami Zayn was interviewed backstage, where he stated that Johnny Knoxville had no chance on beating him in a normal match, but his chances were reduced dramatically by the match between them being an "Anthing Goes" Match.
- Austin Theory smacked Pat McAfee while he was in the commentary table, which lead to McAffee chasing down Theory throughout the arena. The chase ended with Theory entering Mr. McMahon's office, with McAfee calling Theory a "rat bastard".
- After the commercial break, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee discuss Triple H's announcement of his in-ring retirement, after he revealed the news on ESPN's First Take. You can see more reactions from the wrestling world here.
Sasha Banks (w/ Naomi) vs Shayna Baszler (w/ Natalya) vs Queen Zelina (w/ Carmella) vs Rhea Ripley (w/ Liv Morgan)
The match began with Queen Zelina getting out of the ring, proceeded by Baszler being sent outside by Banks and Ripley. Ripley and Banks exchanged strikesbefore Banks hit a deep arm-drag. Bannks hit Baszler with knees to the chest, before hitting Ripley with a Bulldog for a near fall. Zelina sent Banks to the announce table, which led to everyone in the ring and outside the ring brawling before the commercial break.
After returning from the commercial break, Ripley got Banks in a modified Leg Lock, which led to Baszler hitting a knee on Banks. After Zelina saw all three women on the ground, she attempted to pin them all, but they all kicked out. Banks got Zelina in the Bank Statement, but Baszler got Zelina in a modified wrist lock to prevent Zelina from tapping out, but Banks got both Baszler and Zelina in a Bank Statement before Ripley dropkicked everyone to break the hold. Baszler reversed a Riptide attempt from Ripley into a Sleeper hold, but Zelina hit a Code Red on Baszler for a near fall. Ripley did a running senton on Baszler outside, but Zelina hit a Hurranacarana on Ripley to leave her standing tall for the moment. Zelina went back to the ring, but Banks got Zelina with a Bank Statement for the submission victory, making Zelina tap out.
Winner: Sasha Banks (w/ Naomi)
- The 2022 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal and Angel Garza vs Humberto vs Intercontinental Champion Ricochet for the Intercontinental Championship were announced for Wrestlemania SmackDown, scheduled for April 1st, 2022.
- Roman Reigns arrived in the arena with Paul Heyman, where Heyman stated that he did not feel so good, which Reigns responded by saying that they will be fine but Brock won't be. Reigns made his way to the ring with Heyman to cut a promo in the Main Event of the show. He requested Brooklyn to acknowledge him, which the crowd oblidged. He proceeded to tell Lesnar that if he was still in the locker room, he would put his head through a wall. backstage footage showed that Lesnar was no longer in the locker room to chants of "Suplex City", which Reigns responded that this was The Island of Relevancy. Lesnar would be seeing destroying the car of Reigns, which Reigns responded with by saying that the car was small money. Lesnar made his way to the ring from the crowd and stood on top of the announce table, surrounded by security guards. He hit every security guard with a steel chair, running off Reigns from the arena. Backstage, Reigns told Lesnar that at Wrestlemania, he would acknowledge Reigns as the Undisputed WWE Champion to end the show.
