Preview:

WWE SmackDown 3/20/26 returns this Friday, live from the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the road to WrestleMania 42 has just gotten a whole lot more unpredictable.

Last week’s blockbuster moment saw Randy Orton turn heel and deliver a savage beatdown to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes following their WrestleMania 42 contract signing, completely flipping the dynamic of what was expected to be a babyface vs babyface clash at Allegiant Stadium. The fallout from that shocking betrayal promises to set the tone for this Friday’s episode. Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, Jacob Fatu, Jade Cargill, and Sami Zayn are listed as featured superstars for the March 20 show. With WrestleMania just weeks away, every segment and every match carries enormous weight. Here’s everything you need to know.

On last week’s SmackDown in Phoenix, Drew McIntyre came in furious following his Undisputed WWE title loss to Cody Rhodes, confronting GM Nick Aldis backstage and demanding justice. Jacob Fatu arrived to take credit for costing McIntyre the championship, and the two nearly came to blows.  Nick Aldis then officially announced that Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu will collide this week on SmackDown and notably, the match will NOT be taking place at WrestleMania. That announcement adds a massive sense of urgency to this clash. McIntyre then later attacked Fatu on the outside during Fatu’s match against Trick Williams, costing him the bout. Expect this one to be a war.

The newly reformed Bella Twins visited SmackDown last week and declared that whoever won the Women’s Tag Team Title match between the Irresistible Forces and Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss would be their next target. As Flair and Bliss pushed the Irresistible Forces to the limit, Nikki and Brie Bella intervened and attacked the challengers, causing the match to end in disqualification. Since Nia Jax and Lash Legend retained via DQ, they will put the Women’s Tag Team Titles on the line once more this week, this time against the Bella Twins. The sisters made their statement last week. Now it’s time to back it up. The unlikely duo of Damian Priest and R-Truth earned their shot at the titles on the March 6 SmackDown, when they entered last in a Tag Team Turmoil match, a match Priest didn’t even know he was signed up for until R-Truth broke the news backstage. The freshest team in the match, they pinned both members of Los Garza to earn the #1 contendership.

Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga have been reigning as WWE Tag Team Champions for over 40 days, and this Friday marks their first title defense. With WrestleMania 42 looming large, Priest will be desperate to walk into Las Vegas with gold — but the MFTs will be looking to make a statement of their own on the road to the grandest stage of them all. On last week’s edition of Miz TV, Jelly Roll punched The Miz in the face after Kit Wilson inserted himself into their personal conversation and made unsavory remarks toward the GRAMMY-winning artist. Wilson is now set to issue a formal callout to Jelly Roll this Friday. With WrestleMania 42 looming, this feud could be building toward a massive celebrity showdown on the grandest stage of them all. Let’s Take look on complete match card and Show detail for edition of  WWE Smackdown Friday Night March 20th, 2026 episode.

Match Card:

• Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton WrestleMania build Continues.
• Tag Team Match – The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer)
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match – The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) (c) vs.
• The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella)
• Singles Match – Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu
• WWE Tag Team Title Match – The MFTs (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) (c) vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth
• More Cards.

Location & Date:

• Show: WWE SmackDown 3/20/26
• Location: Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Date & Time: Friday, March 20,2026 | 8PM ET – 6AM PT