WWE Friday Night Smackdown results, recap and highlights: March 3, 2023

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This week’s Smackdown from USA’s capital city had the two Wrestlemania 39 main-eventers coming face-to-face for the first time in the history of WWE before their title match showdown.

Dominik Mysterio was in action against Santos Escobar while his Mami Rhea Ripley also competed against her former tag team partner. Plus, a huge qualifier was declared for the Intercontinental Championship with Wrestlemania 39 implications.

Check out the recap and results from the March 3 episode of Friday Night Smackdown that took place at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC:

– Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa) kicked off this week’s SmackDown and confronted the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes.

Cody talked about how Roman has been champion for 915 days and how his father Dusty Rhodes trained Roman to be in this position since childhood.

Roman eventually went for a handshake in response to which Cody said he would finish the story by defeating Roman in the main event of WrestleMania 39. Cody also said may the better man win before shaking Roman’s hand.

– Rhea Ripley (with Dominik Mysterio) defeated Liv Morgan in the opening contest of Smackdown. Morgan escaped a Riptide attempt, delivered a running knee, and went for a Codebreaker.

Ripley caught her from that position in the second rope and planted her with the Riptide. She then applied the Inverted Cloverleaf for the submission win.

– In a backstage segment, Roman Reigns asked Jimmy Uso about Jey Uso as he’s running out of patience. Jimmy informed Jey needed more time.

– Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio were backstage when Santos Escobar confronted them to set up the next match.

– Dominik Mysterio (with Rhea Ripley) defeated Santos Escobar. Dominik wanted to use brass knuckles but the referee caught him and barred him from doing so.

Ripley took advantage and dragged Escobar out of the ring to deliver a Riptide on the floor. She got him back in the ring, where Dominik was waiting with a Frog Splash for the pin to win.

After the match, Dominik insulted his father Rey Mysterio by holding his mask. Rey eventually came out to confront him which led Dominik to take a cheap shot at him on the ramp.

– Drew McIntyre called out Intercontinental Champion Gunther for WrestleMania 39 in response to which Sheamus came out and he’s angry about this as Sheamus wanted to go after the IC Title.

Sheamus said Drew was just being a backstabbing b**tard. Drew then mentioned how Sheamus got his opportunity in the past but he lost his opportunity, twice.

LA Knight came out followed by Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Karrion Kross, and Scarlett as all of the male superstars wanted to have a shot at the IC Title WrestleMania.

A brawl broke out in the ring and Kross was the only man left standing in the end. Afterwards, it was announced that on next week’s SmackDown, a Fatal-5-Way Intercontinental Championship Qualifying Match will take place with the below lineup:

Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre vs. LA Knight vs. Karrion Kross

– Shayna Baszler (with Ronda Rousey) defeated Tegan Nox (with Natalya) in a singles contest. The originally announced tag match didn’t take place as Ronda was injured from an earlier backstage brawl.

– Bobby Lashley called out Bray Wyatt to the ring, but Uncle Howdy attacked him from behind. Lashley planted him with a spine buster and set him up for a Spear. But the lights went off and Howdy escaped the ring.

– Solo Sikoa (with Jimmy Uso) defeated Sami Zayn in the main event of Smackdown. After a Blue Thunder Bomb, Sami set up for a Helluva Kick but Jimmy pulled Sikoa out of the way. Sikoa then pinned Sami with a Samoan Spike.

Jimmy Uso and Solo continued to attack Sami even after the match, but Sami fought back using a steel chair. Sami managed to escape the scene as Smackdown went off the air with Roman Reigns’ seething face on the screen from backstage.