WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From March 1 (2024)

The Rock returned to SmackDown Friday night to address the bombshell challenge laid down by Cody Rhodes for a one-on-one encounter.

What major developments would occur when The Great One returned to the blue brand?

Would Rhodes make an unscheduled appearance on the heels of his declaration that he is hunting The Bloodline?

Find out with this recap of the March 1 episode, which also featured the culmination of the feud between Carlito and Santos Escobar as they clashed in a Street Fight.

The Bloodline kicked off Friday's show, first with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns commanding acknowledgment, as he typically does, followed by the return of The Rock.

One-liners were made, fans rained down on him with boos, and we finally got to the meat of the segment some 30 minutes into the broadcast as The Great One countered Cody Rhodes' challenge for a match by issuing a challenge of his own, for the biggest tag team match in the history of WrestleMania.

On the grand stage, it will be Rock and Reigns vs. Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of Night One of WrestleMania 40, with two enormous stipulations. A win for the latter team and The American Nightmare's match against The Tribal Chief will be free of The Bloodline.

A win for the heels and it will be Bloodline Rules, which means anything goes, for Rhodes vs. Reigns.

The Head of the Table did not appear overly thrilled by either stipulation and interrupted The Rock's trademark catchphrase, saying he would do anything for the family but...he wanted acknowledgment from his famous cousin.

Rock did and The Bloodline stood tall to close an explosive segment that took forever to go anywhere but once it did, delivered. Big time.

Reigns was the star here. Rock did all of the talking on the mic but it was The Tribal Chief's facial expressions and body language that told the story. He was a guy forced to sit back and watch his more famous family member take center stage, barking out orders, and issuing challenges, and the paranoia and absence of self-confidence set in.

He needed Rock to acknowledge him so he could return to whatever place of power he thought he had in the family. When The Great One did, Reigns brimmed with confidence. As The Bloodline took center stage and raised their fingers in the sky, it was not lost on this writer that Rock teased the thumb coming out again, forming an "L" in the direction of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

There are so many layers to this story and this one segment presented at least two more.

Epic, epic stuff from everyone involved, including Reigns, who quite literally is on a different level from everyone else when it comes to the character work and storytelling.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Before the night's first match, a backstage vignette set up Randy Orton vs. Austin Theory for the night's main event.

In the arena, Tiffany Stratton made her way to the squared circle to battle Naomi, who was already in the squared circle and looking to avenge her upset loss to the former NXT Women's champion inside the Elimination Chamber last Saturday.

What ensued was a solid back-and-forth match, clearly hampered by time constraints, that concluded with Stratton delivering the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the hard-fought victory.

There is an argument to be made that Naomi should not be losing this much this early in her return to the company but Stratton is red-hot coming out of the Elimination Chamber and the overwhelmingly positive response she received in Perth.

It makes sense that WWE Creative would want to emphasize her here. Hopefully, this is not the end of the issues between the two competitors, though, because there is some chemistry there and it would be nice to see it build in the coming weeks.

Result

Stratton pinned Naomi

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

The deceit and betrayal within Damage CTRL reared its head again as Dakota Kai turned on Bayley Friday night, dropping off the apron just as the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble winner was about to make a much-needed tag.

Bayley fired up, fended off Asuka and Kairi Sane, then turned her fury toward Kai. She unloaded but the heels had the numbers advantage in their favor and ultimately left her lying to close out the segment.

Was it predictable that Kai, known as much for her betrayal of Tegan Nox in a War Games match during their time in NXT, would turn on Bayley? Sure, but it made sense and sets the No. 1 contender to the WWE Women's Championship up as an even more sympathetic babyface who fans will want to see get her revenge.

This worked well and set the stage for a Bayley vs. The World story in time for WrestleMania 40.

Result

No contest

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Bron Breakker made his second in-ring appearance Friday night, squaring off with Xyon Quinn.

In a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" moment, he exploded across the ring at the opening bell and destroyed Quinn with a spear, pinning him and securing the win in seconds.

It was utter dominance and the crowd in Glendale responded favorably, indicating the squash match format may work wonders for the second-generation star as he transitions from NXT to the main roster.

Result

Breakker defeated Quinn

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Rey Mysterio returned from injury Friday night, unloading on Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo en route to aiding his LWO teammate Carlito in a victory over Santos Escobar.

The Street Fight was extremely well done, with the hardcore brawling to start, the heel interference from Angel and Humberto from there, the run-in save from Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde, and the eventual return of the Hall of Famer.

The crowd was red-hot for all of it, with Mysterio blowing the roof off the place. The 619 finish into a spinebuster from Carlito, through a table, was great and the perfect exclamation point on the contest.

This was a perfectly constructed match and angle that will ultimately set up either Mysterio vs. Escobar or a multi-man match between the two segments that should result in the Hall of Famer's second, consecutive big-time match on the WrestleMania stage, something that is well-deserved after his tumultuous history at the event.

Result

Carlito defeated Escobar

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Ahead of the night's main event, Nick Aldis confronted an enraged LA Knight, informing him that he had instructed AJ Styles not to be at the show. The Megastar vowed revenge against The Phenomenal One and told the SmackDown general manager that no one, not even him, would prevent him from achieving it.

From there, Kevin Owens joined Corey Graves and Wade Barrett in the commentary position as Randy Orton squared off with Austin Theory in a match set up by Grayson Waller inadvertently (?) throwing his friend under the bus earlier in the night.

A surprisingly good, competitive match saw Orton give Theory some quality offense before a fiery finish that included table bumps, a giddy Owens, and one of the greatest RKOs of all time to the arrogant heel.

The Viper secured the win, Owens joined him in dispatching the heels one last time, and the two babyfaces stood tall to close out the show.

This was a match that kept Orton and Owens in the spotlight on a night when shared foe Logan Paul was unavailable. It also should serve as the latest chapter in a deteriorating friendship between Theory and Waller, which could be one of the more enjoyable stories post-WrestleMania 40.

Result

Orton pinned Theory

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

WWE is on the Road to WrestleMania 40 and producing some of its best shows in a long time.

The layers and drama involved in the Bloodline/Cody Rhodes/Seth Rollins storyline are on another level and tonight's show-opening promo only enhanced it, thanks to the sudden tension that exists between The Rock and Roman Reigns.

How that develops will be key in the coming weeks and could determine the outcome of WrestleMania 40.

The Bayley-Damage CTRL storyline advanced nicely, the Street Fight between Carlito and Santos Escobar was great television emphasized by the return of Rey Mysterio, and the main event was a fun match.

Not everything was perfect (Naomi and Tiffany Stratton was criminally short), but this was the most complete show WWE has produced in a string of really good television.

Overall Grade: A