‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Mar 27th 2026)
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: Nikki & Brie Bella def. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
When one-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Lash Legend hit Alexa Briss through the ropes, it allowed Brie Bella to pick up a quick win for the Bella Twins over Five Feet of Fury and Charlotte Flair.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: Rhea Ripley def. B-Fab (DQ)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After falling victim to a 3-on-1 attack by WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill and her new allies Michin and B-Fab last week, Rhea Ripley called the trio out. The war of words between them would lead to an impromptu matchup between The Eradicator and B-Fab. Ripley’s subsequent match against B-Fab quickly descended into chaos as her opponent, WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill, and Michin attacked The Storm’s WrestleMania No. 1 Contender.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Jelly Roll def. Kit Wilson
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Multi-Grammy Award winning artist turned in-ring competitor Jelly Roll overcame Kit Wilson with the choke slam in his first singles match in WWE.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: United States Championship – Sami Zayn def. Carmelo Hayes
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
When Trick Williams caused a distraction and attempted to hit Sami Zayn in the height of the United States Championship Open Challenge Match, Sami ducked out of the way and Trick connected with Carmelo Hayes instead. Zayn then seized the opportunity and hit the Helluva Kick to pin Him and recapture the United States Championship.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #5: Giulia def. Tiffany Stratton
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
When Tiffany Stratton attempted the Prettiest Moonsault Ever in the final moments, a James distraction allowed Giulia enough time to get her knees up and pick up the non-title win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Randy Orton def. Matt Cardona
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Randy Orton once again unleashes the full force of his brutal nature on Matt Cardona.
My Score: SQUASH out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
This week’s Smackdown felt like one of those episodes where nothing quite clicked the way it should. A show packed with names like Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley and Randy Orton should, on paper, be a slam dunk… but in execution, it was more airball than highlight reel. The opening tag was messy and underwhelming, while Ripley vs. B-Fab never even got out of first gear before collapsing into predictable chaos. Jelly Roll picking up a win was novel, but still felt more like a celebrity sideshow than something meaningful. Thankfully, the United States Title match between Sami Zayn and Carmelo Hayes brought some much-needed quality, easily the standout of the night, even with the distraction finish. Elsewhere, Giulia vs. Tiffany Stratton was fine but forgettable – apart from Stratton’s botched Swanton, and Orton’s destruction of Matt Cardona was exactly what you’d expect… quick, brutal, and over before it began. Overall, this was a disjointed episode that leaned far too heavily on interference, distractions and non-finishes, with only one match really delivering. A rare miss for Smackdown.
