WWE SmackDown 3/20 Results: Randy Orton Explains Cody Rhodes Assault And Then Attacks Matt Cardona

Randy Orton has always been one of the more brilliant minds in wrestling, and his work as a premier heel throughout his time in WWE carved a lane for ‘The Viper’ in a way that separated him from his famous father and grandfather. His amazing performance last week only highlighted his command of the character, even though it spat in the face of his time as a face during his most recent run.

Anyone keeping score knew it was only a matter of time before the least trustworthy superstar in the locker room would turn heel, but who knew it would hurt so much to hear him cut a promo, not railing against his time as a face, but remorseful for it.

He spoke about the smiles on the kids’ faces when they would come up to him in public or when he would see a kid with a sign saying it’s their birthday—making sure he went up to them to personally wish them ‘happy birthday.’ Then, he dropped the hammer on the fans by claiming it was the ‘most empty feeling’ he has ever had, even though it means the world to those fans.

Just before dropping the act, he claimed that the smile he would get from those kids was a ‘hollow gesture.’

“I’ve been doing this a long time, longer than most,” Orton began to open up on the mic. “So when the time comes to hang up the boots, I don’t want my legacy to be the moments I gave the young fans—the high-fives, the autographs, the smiles I put on their face.

“I want my legacy to be how much world championship gold I have put around my waist.”

Whether or not the line was meant to garner cheers, it did. Then he claimed that Cody took ‘all the weight’ off his shoulders when he asked Randy to show up to Mania as “The Viper.” Orton explained that when he ‘listens to the voices, ‘ it makes it difficult to control his actions, sometimes hurting himself just as much as his opponents. While his words were those of a heel, his demeanor came across as a face looking to ‘finish his own story.’

Matt Cardona confronted Orton following his promo in the backstage area, and Matt was clear that he believed Randy was out of line last week with Cody. Orton did not hold back, calling Cardona a ‘mark’ and telling him to go play with ‘his figs’ before delivering a right hand that put the former Zach Ryder down on the mat.

Jelly Roll convinced Orton to apologize to Cardona, and it seemed like Orton was starting to see the error in his way.

In the final segment of SD, Randy popped out for a second promo, making a phony apology to Cardona that was only a setup to get him out in front of the fans. Orton left Cardona in a similar fashion to how he left Cody to end SD last week.

JACOB FATU… ALL GAS, NO BREAKS, ON TOP OF THE HOOD OF A CAR

The Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu feud has been a chaotic one in more ways than one. After attempting to cost Drew his title match, only to be the reason he won, Fatu’s direction was pointed towards Rhodes. Now that we are back to square one, neither Fatu nor Drew is champion, beefing for the blood feud of it all, it seems like this program cannot rid itself of the chaos.

Fatu and Drew fought around the ring, similar to recent bookings, and then ended up in the parking lot with Fatu taking stiff potatoes to the head, delivered by McIntyre’s bare fist. The entire segment was a bit unoriginal, but the most interesting aspect of the opening was Drew’s beef with GM Nic Alids.

McIntyre and Aldis have been embroiled in a cold rivalry dating back to 2024, but the flames have been fanned since the end of 2025 as the former champion’s narrative accuses Aldis and the WWE of favoring Cody without provocation. So, when Aldis came out before Fatu, the two were able to escalate the growing tension.

Aldis threatened to fire Drew, and Drew quickly reminded him that he ‘tried to quit’ once before, and it was Aldis himself who went to the home of McIntyre to work things out—seemingly at the behest of one of the TKO suits.

Then, Drew dropped the bombshell, Aldis’s son’s name, Donovan, on live TV in his promo—claiming that ‘Donovan should be ashamed’ to have the GM as a father. The line cut deep, and the crowd paused briefly in a collective moment of unawareness. The rivalry is heating up, and it must end in a match between Aldis and McIntyre—perhaps in a ‘loser leaves SD’ match that gives Drew time to shoot his role in the upcoming “Highlander” remake.

THE SAMI SAGA CONTINUES

Sami Zayn faced off with Aleister Black after weeks of backstage confrontations, and the heel won it with a ‘Black Mass’ to the face following a distraction from Trick Williams. Black has played a similar role to Karrion Kross just last year, but the rumors of a match between Sami and Trick, potentially at Mania, come with a narrative that paints Sami as a heel and Trick as a face.

JADE THROWS SHADE, RHEA PLAYS FACE

The promo battle started interesting enough, with the champ telling fans she doesn’t need them or the WWE ring because she’s “that b****.” Rhea responded by making it clear that she is the A-side in the match. Rhea said she was the reason that the match with Jade was big, and that Rhea intended to save the division by claiming the world title.

“That’s why I’ve given you a big WrestleMania match, so welcome to the ‘big leagues’ b****,’ Rhea told Jade before begging her to hit her—Jade responded by declining the offer. The segment ended with Jade aligning herself with Michin and B-Fab.

MFTS(c) VS DAMIEN PRIEST & R-TRUTH—Tag Team Titles

After a rushed pairing segment, Damien Priest and R-Truth secured their number one contender’s spot for the tag titles after winning a gauntlet match several weeks back, and you would have expected the challengers to pop up on the champ’s radar. However, Solo’s continued antagonizing of the Wyatt Sycks made it so that they would have difficulty focusing on anyone else.

The face team won the tag titles, marking Truth’s fourth time holding the straps as a co-champ, most recently with The Miz on their ‘Ruthless Aggression Tour.” Priest and Truth were once not so friendly, back when Priest was the leader of The Judgement Day with Truth as a non-member part of the faction.

The pairing might be a lot late, but the dynamic the two seem to have could make for a very entertaining run—now they just need a legit tag name. Priest plus Truth… how about “The Confession?”

Other Tidbits

– Jelly Roll and Kit Wilson shared the ring for a ‘Poetry Battle’ segment. The impromptu showdown (do not call it a rap battle) was actually funny, as Kit’s ‘bars’ were well received by the fans.

– Carmelo Hayes successfully defended his U.S. championship against former champion Ilja Dragunov. The match was an absolute banger and worth watching.

– Tonight’s SD audience were a bit shorted as the tag match between Morto City Machine Guns and Fraxiom displayed quality action without the clean finish. Candice LeRae interfered to help MCM pick up the win. Hopefully, we get to see these guys run it back with greater stakes and without the weird Johnny Gargano storyline.

– The Bella Twins were caught in a backstage argument with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss ahead of the ‘Hall of Fame’ sisters’ crack at the tag titles.