The March 6 episode of WWE SmackDown took place at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, offering a pivotal night on the road to WrestleMania 42. The event featured Drew McIntyre defending the WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in a highly anticipated main event, alongside a Tag Team Turmoil match that determined new number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Oba Femi Overcomes Johnny Gargano in a Swift Encounter
The opening match saw a downcast Johnny Gargano issue an open challenge, which was promptly answered by Oba Femi. Gargano attempted to leverage his speed, but Femi dominated with powerful uppercuts and quickly forced a finish using the Fall From Grace maneuver. Despite Gargano’s reputation for technical skill, this match was a one-sided squash that repeated Femi’s established move set without adding fresh elements. The pattern of easy victories for Femi continued, leaving some disappointment about Gargano’s rapid defeat.
Tag Team Turmoil Decides New Challengers for WWE Tag Team Titles
The SmackDown tag team division converged in a Tag Team Turmoil match showcasing several competitive pairings. Fraxiom and The Motor City Machine Guns opened with fast-paced technical sequences, highlighting their agility and teamwork, though Fraxiom was eliminated with a close call due to Chris Sabin’s foot being on the rope. Los Garza then brought intensity and quickly secured a fall before the Wyatt Sicks entered, slowing the pace momentarily.
The match progressed with The MFTs interfering against the Wyatt Sicks, creating chaos that allowed Damian Priest and R-Truth to surge into contention. The crowd responded enthusiastically to Priest and R-Truth’s back-and-forth exchanges with Los Garza. The contest concluded with a dual finishing move—stereo AA and chokeslam—pushing Priest and R-Truth to victory. Although entertaining, the bout did not reach exceptional heights but served well to establish new challengers.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss Secure Victory Against Kiana James and Giulia
Following Kiana James’ recent victories over Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss inside the Elimination Chamber, this tag match featured the duos competing for momentum within the tag division. James initially dominated with notable strength and aggression, but Flair and Bliss staged comebacks with impactful hot tags fueling the audience’s excitement. Though some parts of the contest descended into disorganization, the elevated energy kept fans engaged. Flair ultimately sealed the match by executing the Natural Selection on Giulia, earning the win for her team.
Main Event Thriller: Drew McIntyre Defends WWE Championship Against Cody Rhodes
The headline bout between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes added another chapter to their ongoing rivalry over the WWE Championship. The match began explosively as Rhodes intercepted McIntyre’s attempt to exit, leading to a brawl on the ramp and outside the ring. Rhodes gained early control, but McIntyre retaliated by targeting Rhodes’ midsection harshly, including a slam on the apron. The champion then methodically attacked Rhodes’ arm, turning it into a key focus of the contest.
Rhodes fought back by applying the Figure Four Leglock, aiming to weaken McIntyre’s leg in return. As the battle intensified, the two clashed on an announce table that unexpectedly collapsed beneath them, further energizing the crowd. McIntyre powerbombed Rhodes through another table outside, escalating the brutality. Throughout the match, finishers were exchanged, and referee distractions occurred, causing the stakes to rise along with mounting frustration from McIntyre.
The conclusion drew controversy when McIntyre’s actions led to interference by Jacob Fatu, who stopped the champion from cheating. Capitalizing on this, Rhodes struck the Cross Rhodes to reclaim the WWE Championship, a booking decision expected to generate significant debate among fans and analysts going forward.
United States Championship Match Showcases Carmelo Hayes vs. El Hijo De Wagner Jr.
In a thrilling highlight of the night, Carmelo Hayes defended the United States Championship against AAA star El Hijo De Wagner Jr., who surprised fans by accepting the open challenge. Previously seen at Worlds Collide and TripleMania, Wagner brought his vibrant lucha libre style with acrobatic dives and agile attacks. Early in the match, he caught Hayes off guard utilizing cannonballs, dropkicks, and dives, combining speed with power advantages.
Hayes countered the high-flying offense with his own agility and technical skills, leading to dynamic exchanges and impressive counters. The bout grew physical and intense as both wrestlers traded powerful strikes and large-impact moves, with the audience growing increasingly involved. The contest climaxed when Hayes executed his finisher, Nothing But Net, to secure a well-earned victory, underscoring his championship resilience against a formidable opponent.
Overall Impact and Road Ahead for WWE SmackDown
The March 6 SmackDown event provided an intense mix of matches that moved multiple storylines forward as WrestleMania 42 approaches. Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes continued their heated clash over the WWE Championship, setting up an unpredictable path for the title. The tag team turmoil offered fresh challengers in Damian Priest and R-Truth, while Carmelo Hayes’ successful title defense reinforced his status in the mid-card division.
Though some matches, like Oba Femi’s quick victory over Johnny Gargano, felt repetitive, others demonstrated solid in-ring storytelling and character dynamics that kept the audience engaged. The event’s mixture of quick-paced action and physical contests contributed to a diverse card that will influence booking decisions in the weeks ahead, ensuring fan interest remains high as SmackDown’s stories evolve.
