Cody Rhodes Wins WWE Championship, SmackDown Results & Grades

PORTLAND — “WWE SmackDown” delivered a night of shifting alliances and championship implications this Friday, March 6, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The main event saw Cody Rhodes reclaim the Undisputed WWE Championship, setting the stage for a potentially complex rivalry with Randy Orton as WrestleMania 42 looms.

The Predictability of Championship Change

Cody Rhodes is once again the Undisputed WWE Champion, overcoming Drew McIntyre in a match that, although delivering action, leaned heavily into familiar WWE storytelling tropes. McIntyre’s attempts to gain an advantage through underhanded tactics – including seeking a disqualification – ultimately proved unsuccessful, as Rhodes secured the victory with a top-rope Cody Cutter followed by a Cross Rhodes.

The match itself featured a chaotic sequence involving a broken announce table, requiring a replacement wooden table for Rhodes to be powerbombed through. Despite the unconventional nature of the spot, no disqualification was called, a decision that felt narratively convenient rather than organically driven.

While the match provided entertainment, it lacked the freshness and intensity one might expect from a championship contest of this magnitude. The long-running rivalry between Rhodes and McIntyre, while significant, has reached a point of fatigue, and the insertion of Orton into the equation, while intriguing, feels somewhat disconnected from the immediate championship picture. The dynamic echoes, to some extent, last year’s WrestleMania encounter with John Cena, pitting Rhodes against another legendary figure.

👑 Sami Zayn: A Pressure Cooker Ready to Explode 👑

Sami Zayn’s simmering frustration and growing intensity are rapidly becoming the most compelling storyline on “SmackDown.” Zayn, consistently positioned as the underdog, has found new life in voicing his discontent after repeatedly falling short of championship opportunities. His performance on this episode was particularly strong, effectively contrasting his emotional state with the more measured approaches of Rhodes and Orton.

The direction of Zayn’s storyline remains uncertain, but a program with Rhodes appears to be the most logical and captivating path forward. He’s become a pressure cooker, and the anticipation surrounding his next move is palpable.

Where Does Trick Williams Fit In?

Randy Orton opened the show with a compelling promo, reflecting on his storied career and expressing his desire to add a 15th world title to his resume at WrestleMania, potentially against either Drew McIntyre or Cody Rhodes. His monologue was interrupted by Trick Williams, who voiced his frustration at being overlooked for a main event opportunity, a sentiment stemming from his loss in a recent multi-man contender match.

Orton quickly dispatched Williams with an RKO, a swift and decisive response. While effective in establishing Orton’s dominance, the segment left Williams’ future trajectory unclear. There have been hints of a potential rivalry between Williams and Zayn, but the recent developments on “SmackDown” may have altered those plans. Williams has demonstrated considerable potential, and a more substantial storyline at WrestleMania would be a fitting reward.

A Fall From Grace: Johnny Gargano

The episode also highlighted the unfortunate decline of Johnny Gargano. Once a prominent figure in NXT, Gargano is now being consistently defeated, most recently in a squash match against Oba Femi. This booking decision is particularly jarring given Gargano’s past accomplishments and the expectations surrounding his arrival on the main roster. The departure of Tommaso Ciampa to AEW has seemingly left Gargano adrift, lacking a clear direction or purpose.

New Old Kids on the Block

The tag team division saw an unexpected pairing emerge, as R-Truth and Damian Priest secured a victory over Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, The Wyatt Sicks, and Los Garza to become the new No. 1 contenders for the WWE Tag Team Champions. The unlikely alliance between Truth and Priest evokes a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of the mid-2000s era of WWE tag team wrestling. While the pairing is unconventional, it has the potential to generate intrigue, even if the outcome of their championship challenge seems predictable.

Overall Show Rating: 👑 5/10 👑

WWE SmackDown Full Card Results and Grades:

• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes def. Drew McIntyre (c.) — 👑 Crown score: 3.5/5 👑
• Oba Femi def. Johnny Gargano — 👑 Crown score: 1/5 👑
• WWE Tag Team Championship No. 1 contenders match: R-Truth & Damian Priest def. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom), The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Loomis), Los Garza (Berto and Angel Garza) — 👑 Crown score: 2.75/5 👑
• Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair def. Kiana James and Giulia — 👑 Crown score: 2.75/5 👑
• U.S. Championship: Carmello Hayes (c.) def. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr. — 👑 Crown score: 3/5 👑