WWE SmackDown Results (03/17) - Sami Zayn And Jey Uso Come Face To Face, GUNTHER's WrestleMania Opponents Revealed, We Hear From Cody Rhodes

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE SmackDown" on March 17, 2023, coming to you live from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri!

Last week, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, Karrion Kross, and Xavier Woods collided in a Fatal Five-Way Match to determine who would challenge GUNTHER for his Intercontinental Championship at "WrestleMania 39" in Los Angeles, California. However, the match ended in controversy after Sheamus and McIntyre pinned Woods and Knight respectively at the same time. Tonight, the pair will go one-on-one to decide who will face "The Ring General" as the cracks in their relationship continue to grow.

As he prepares to square off with Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the SoFi Stadium, Cody Rhodes has something on his mind to share with the WWE Universe. "The American Nightmare" has had several encounters with The Bloodline over the past few weeks, and has made it clear that he intends to be the man to put an end to Reigns' momentous title reign.

Speaking of The Bloodline, Sami Zayn will come face-to-face with one half of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, Jey Uso, for the first time since Jey attacked the former "Honorary Uce" on the March 6 episode of "WWE Raw". Jey's actions occurred in light of Reigns' stern warning that there would be consequences for his brother, Jimmy Uso, if he didn't come back home to his family.

Additionally, a huge mixed tag team match is set for tonight, as Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley take on Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega of Legado Del Fantasma. Escobar has taken issue with Dominik after seeing first-hand the disdain he has shown to Rey Mysterio (as prior to then, Rey and Escobar had given one another their Lucha masks as a major show of respect).

We are live! Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet audiences at home as Cody Rhodes heads to the ring.

Rhodes asks Kansas City what they want to talk about, then suggests they could talk about WrestleMania. He expresses his respect for Roman Reigns and calls him the greatest champion in both sports and sports entertainment. He says he's looking forward to beating Reigns in Los Angeles, California, then clarifies that he doesn't want to talk about someone but rather to someone. He then calls Kevin Owens to ringside.

Owens' music hits after a couple of beats and he marches down to the ring. He tells Rhodes he thinks he knows what Rhodes wants to say. Rhodes cuts him off and says this isn't just a conversation between two people. He says another party should be involved before he invites Sami Zayn out.

Zayn's music hits and he appears with a smile plastered across his face. Rhodes says he's going to peel back the curtain and tells Owens that he has an incredible amount of respect for him. He explains that when he left WWE in 2016, he needed contacts and help. He says Owens provided him with such and bettered his livelihood. He tells Owens he can never repay him, but is trying to at least partially do so at this moment.

Owens says he's heard everything Zayn has to say, but Zayn cuts him off and says while that may be the case, Owens hasn't said everything he needs to. Zayn says while the two have hurt each other many times, they have always managed to forgive one another. He says he doesn't understand why this time is different, then asks Owens to get whatever he needs to out of his system.

Owens asks Rhodes if he's gotten what he's wanted so he can leave, and Rhodes says they all know they are in the people pleasing business. Rhodes says it doesn't matter what he wants to see, but rather what the fans want to: Owens and Zayn on the same page. Zayn says fans want to see them team again, and so does he. He says that the two of them could do something magical and remarkable together, and adds that they can be the ones to take down The Bloodline. He says they don't need to be friends, but to be able to work as a unit. Owens says he's heard Zayn say it all and says he gets it, but questions why he would fight for someone who doesn't want to be his friend. Owens thanks Rhodes for what he tried to do, then leaves the ring and heads to the back.

Back from the break, we see Owens exiting the arena and head towards his car. Zayn catches up to him and says forget everything that's happened. He tells Owens that they're not only friends, but brothers. He tells Owens if he never wants to talk to him, then that's fine but lets him know that he loves him. Owens gets in his car and drives off as a look of dispiritedness overtakes Zayn's face.

Back at ringside, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio head down. Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega follow.

Dominik and Escobar begin the action. The bell rings and Dominik wastes no time. He delivers a dropkick and fires off several right hands, but Escobar fires back with several of his own. Vega and Ripley tag in. Vega delivers a senton off the middle rope, then follows it up with a hurricanrana that sends Ripley to the outside. Dominik goes to check on Ripley, but Escobar levels him before Vega delivers a moonsault off the ropes to Ripley.

Back from the break, Dominik delivers a cannonball off the top rope. He rains down right hands, but Escobar fires back with a dropkick. Dominik delivers more right hands, but Escobar levels Dominik with an elbow. Vega and Ripley tag in. Vega delivers a knee and a DDT, then rolls Ripley up. Dominik pulls Vega off Ripley before Escobar levels him. Ripley tosses Vega to the outside as Dominik and Escobar teeter on the ropes. Ripley pulls them both down in order to take down Escobar, allowing Vega to hit a crossbody off the top. She follows it up with a knee, then hits Dominik with a hurricanrana off the top rope. Ripley manages to sneak up on Vega as she watches him fall to the outside and delivers Riptide for the win.

Winners: Judgment Day

After the match, Dominik grabs a mic and says Rey Mysterio is nothing but a "disrespectful, deadbeat of a father." He says Rey was never there for him, but before he can continue, Rey appears on the Titan Tron as we see him walking backstage, presumably making his way to the ring.

Back from the break, Rey's music hits and he heads to the ring.

Dominik taunts Rey, but Rey interrupts him and asks Ripley for a moment alone with Dominik. Dominik says that now he wants to talk after leaving him home alone for many nights, then says he's been a terrible father.

Rey cuts him off once again and admits he hasn't always been the best father, but he says that doesn't change the fact that he loves him. He tells Dominik he will find out that the wrestling business is selfish, and he made the sacrifices he did so Dominik and the rest of his family could have the life he never did. Rey tells Dominik that every time he got in trouble, the Mysterio name bailed him out. He tells Dominik to hear him out because he's having a hard time coping wit everything happening between them, then says he's being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He says he would love nothing more than to have Dominik stand by his side on the stage as he begins to tear up. He says maybe it's too late for that to happen, but his biggest regret is what Dominik has become. He says if someone like Dominik – an ungrateful, disrespectful, punk – called him out for a WrestleMania match, he would gladly beat them up, but unfortunately, Dominik is still his son, and fighting him would be a major disgrace for him as a father. He reiterates that he will never fight Dominik, then adds that goes for WrestleMania as well.

Rey hops out of the ring and heads to the back as Dominik asks him why he won't fight. He says he keeps running away like he did as a father, then says all Rey is doing is teaching him what not to do. He continues to egg on Rey as Rey pauses at the top of the ramp and takes a minute to collect himself.

Wade Barrett announces that there will be both a Men's and Women's Fatal Four-Way tag team match at WrestleMania, and the first qualifier for the women's bout will be up next. Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan then head to the ring. Tegan Nox and Emma follow. 

Nox and Rodriguez begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Rodriguez sends Nox to the mat, but Nox slaps Rodriguez. Rodriguez sends her crashing into the corner, then tags in Morgan. Nox delivers an uppercut and a knee, then fires off a series of right hands and whips Morgan into the corner. Emma tags in and delivers a crossbody, then rains down right hands and follows it up with a double underhook suplex. Nox tags back in and plants Morgan face first, then delivers a kick to her face. Morgan laughs manically, then delivers a backstabber and tags in Rodriguez. Emma tags in, and Rodriguez levels her with a pair of clotheslines. She follows it up with a Fallaway Slam and a Corkscrew Elbow and goes for a pin. Nox breaks the fall before Morgan levels her. Morgan tags in before Rodriguez delivers the Texana Bomb. Morgan follows it up with Oblivion for the win.

Winners: Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan

Charlotte Flair then heads down to the ring. 

Flair says the more things change, the more they stay the same. She says now that WrestleMania is two weeks from now, things haven't changed. She says that as she walks into her seventh WrestleMania, whether it be as the challenger or champion, she has always been the star. She says Ripley wants to be the star, but she can't be the star until she becomes the champion and in order to do that, Ripley has to beat her. Flair says Ripley couldn't beat her three years ago and she still can't do it today.

Ripley's music hits and she heads to the ring with Dominik Mysterio by her side. Ripley says Flair is 100% right and says she chose Flair over Bianca Belair for a reason. She says all the men and women in the locker room turn away from her because they all fear her. She says Flair is the exception to that and says Flair is staring her down without an ounce of fear in her eyes. She says the fact that Flair isn't scared of her gravely upsets her, then says she is a fourteen time champion because she is a superstar. Ripley says she needs the "SmackDown" Women's Championship because she needs to be a star, then says Flair will learn to not only call her champion, but to fear her once WrestleMania is over.

Dominik gets in Flair's face and tells her Ripley will defeat her. This gives Ripley the opening to take a cheap shot and knock Flair to the mat. Ripley and Dominik go to leave the ring, but Flair gets up and levels Ripley with a clothesline to her back. She shoves her into the barricade spine first, and the two begin brawling before officials run down to the ring in order to separate them. Flair clocks a security guard and escapes, delivering a big boot to Ripley. Ripley sends Flair over the announce desk, but Flair recovers and delivers a crossbody to Ripley and nearby officials. The two women continue to brawl as officials try pulling them apart. Both women continue to knock them down and spill out to the crowd before officials manage to separate them. 

We head backstage to Kayla Braxton and Sami Zayn. Braxton asks Zayn if the events of earlier tonight have affected his headspace going into his confrontation with Jey Uso, and Zayn says it's been a heavy night because he's now been burned by two men he considered brothers. He says if people you love say something long enough, then you start to believe it and if Jey wants to meet him in the ring, then that's fine because if he brought everything on himself then it's time to face what he's done. 

Back at ringside, Xavier Woods heads down. LA Knight follows.  

The bell rings and the two lock up. Knight sends Woods into the middle turnbuckle, then fires off several stomps and hits a DDT. The two men ascend to the middle rope before Woods pushes Knight off and delivers a missile dropkick. He whips him into the corner and delivers a neckbreaker, then plants Woods face first. Knight gets Woods up for a move, but Woods manages to escape and rolls up Knight for the win.

Winner: Xavier Woods

Back from the break, we see Knight walking around backstage. Kayla Braxton approaches him and asks for a word, but Knight spots Rey Mysterio signing autographs. Knight says he'll fight Dominik Mysterio if Rey won't, and mentions he's even willing to call himself LA Mysterio. Rey loses his temper and slaps Knight, then storms off.

Back at ringside, Sheamus heads down. Drew McIntyre follows. 

McIntyre points at the WrestleMania sign with his sword while Sheamus does the same with his shillelagh. 

Imperium them heads out to watch the action. 

The bell rings and the two lock up. Sheamus sends McIntyre crashing into the mat, but McIntyre quickly recovers and delivers a chop. He follows it up with a suplex, but Sheamus hits a clothesline while GUNTHER grabs a headset to answer a couple of questions from Wade Barrett. McIntyre delivers a bodyslam, then follows it up with a series of chops. Sheamus fires back with an Irish Curse Backbreaker, then looks for the Ten Beats of the Bodhran. McIntyre escapes and looks to do the same, but Sheamus moves out of the way and delivers a big boot. He ascends to the top, but McIntyre catches him with a right hand and meets him up there before he hits a superplex.

Back from the break, McIntyre delivers a chop. Sheamus fires back with a bodyslam. Sheamus sends McIntyre's head bouncing off the top rope, then delivers the Ten Beats of the Bodhran. He sets up for the Brogue Kick, but McIntyre ducks it and delivers a neckbreaker. He kips up and sets up for the Claymore Kick, but Sheamus meets him with a knee and goes for a pin. McIntyre kicks out before the two go back and forth with right hands. McIntyre gains the upper hand and delivers a Glasgow Kiss, but Sheamus fires back with a knee.

Sheamus and McIntyre level one another with a Brogue Kick and Claymore Kick respectively. The referee begins a ten count and reaches eight, but GUNTHER gets in his face and keeps him from completing the count in an effort to find out his opponent. Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser attack both men, causing a disqualification.

Winner: N/A (double disqualification)

McIntyre and Sheamus send Vinci and Kaiser out of the ring. GUNTHER then joins in and beats down the two men, then powerbombs Sheamus onto McIntyre.

Imperium looks to head to the back, but Adam Pearce appears on the Titan Tron. He reminds GUNTHER that he wanted one opponent for WrestleMania, then informs him that he will now be facing both Sheamus and McIntyre as a result of his actions.

Back from the break, Jey Uso and Sami Zayn head to the ring.

Zayn asks Jey if this is what he wanted. He asks Jey how he wants to do this, and Jey says he has a job to do tonight. He tells Zayn he didn't like or trust him since day one. He says the rest of The Bloodline warmed up to him except for him. Jey says he has felt that it's his job to protect his family since he was a boy, and the one time he let his guard down, Zayn betrayed him and made him look stupid. Jey says he called Zayn his brother and says he has been a fake Uce since day one.

Jey tells Zayn he had no choice, but Zayn cuts him off and says he does have a choice. He says he can choose to leave Roman Reigns and his toxic behavior, then says he could've hit Reigns with a chair at the Royal Rumble but he wasn't able to do it quick enough.

The two men begin brawling with one another before Zayn tackles Jey and rains down right hands. Jimmy enters the ring and levels Zayn. The Usos then beat down Zayn, and Jey hits Zayn with the ring steps as Jimmy holds him in place.

Jimmy gets him in the ring and looks to beat him down, but Kevin Owens' music hits. He appears behind The Usos and tosses Jimmy out of the ring, then beats down Jey. Jimmy tries jumping him, but Owens sends him back out of the ring and continues attacking Jey. Owens then levels Jimmy with a Stunner and takes Jey down with a Pop-Up Powerbomb.

The Usos roll out of the ring as Zayn gets up. Owens and Zayn then stare one another down before Owens hugs Zayn and the pair effectively reunite with one another. We see Cody Rhodes watching on from backstage with a big smile across his face.