After weeks of Ilja Dragunov denying Carmelo Hayes a match, Hayes retained the Men’s U.S. title over him on “WWE SmackDown”.
Early in the match, Hayes slapped Dragunov in the face & Dragunov carried him to the opposite corner and slammed him into the turnbuckle. They exchanged strikes and dodged each other’s moves until Dragunov connected with the Constantine Special.
After a break, Dragunov took control of the match until Hayes connected with Dirty Diana. He followed with a clothesline, sending Dragunov over the ropes. Hayes went for a Tope Con Hilo, but overshot Dragunov and hit the announce table. Hayes attempted a splash, but could barely cover him. Dragunov landed a senton & got a count of two and half. He was looking for a Coast-to-Coast when Hayes landed a First 48 midair, which Dragunov reversed into an H-Bomb, only for Hayes to get his foot on the rope.
Hayes went for a DDT on the apron, but Dragunov reversed into a Death Valley Driver. Hayes countered a superplex into a cutter. They exchanged blows. Dragunov stacked him for a cover & immediately followed with another pin attempt. Hayes connected with another First 48 midair. Dragunov responded with a Torpedo Moscow. Hayes reversed a powerbomb into a Sunset Flip to retain.
Hayes is one week shy of a 100-day reign as champion. Since defeating Draugnov for the title last December, Hayes has held multiple open challenges and now has eight total defenses, including another win over Dragunov in January.
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill now has backup from Michin and B-Fab, after the women turned heel and aligned themselves with the champion against her WrestleMania 42 opponent, Rhea Ripley, on “WWE SmackDown” on Friday. B-Fab was seen last week in the background of another backstage segment talking to Cargill, which got fans talking on social media.
Cargill called out Ripley for a face-to-face in the ring during the show. Ripley said she didn’t want to talk to Cargill and that they had said everything there was to say to each other. Cargill told her it wasn’t about what Ripley needed, but she knows Ripley needs the championship, but she doesn’t need the title or wrestling to still be “that b****.” The women traded barbs until Cargill left the ring, saying she wasn’t going to fight Ripley.
As she backed up the ramp, she was met by Michin, armed with a kendo stick, and B-Fab. Despite feuding with Cargill in various backstage segments for months, Michin and B-Fab had her back, revealing their new alliance, and circled the ring. They beat down Ripley, and Cargill hit a Jaded to end the segment.
WWE has fined Tama Tonga for posting a rehearsal video from last week, according to Andrew Zarian, who reported that the penalty was significant and that word of the fine was circulating backstage at Friday’s SmackDown taping.
Zarian noted that WWE has an unwritten rule prohibiting talent from recording or sharing any content during rehearsals. Tonga apparently violated that guideline when he uploaded rehearsal footage to social media.
“Word going around at SmackDown is that Tama Tonga was fined by WWE for posting a video of rehearsals last week,” Zarian wrote on X. “Was told it was significant of a fine. WWE has an unwritten rule about not recording or posting during rehearsal.”
WWE has long been protective of its behind‑the‑scenes production process, especially anything involving rehearsals, which can reveal planned spots, camera setups, and storyline elements before they air. While the company encourages talent to use social media to promote themselves and the brand, production‑related material has consistently remained off limits.
The fine stands out because WWE has become increasingly open to backstage content in recent years, allowing talent to post locker room interactions, travel footage, and arena arrivals. However, rehearsal footage continues to be treated differently, with the company maintaining strict boundaries around anything that exposes the mechanics of match planning.
Fans interested in seeing wrestlers go over matches can still find that type of material on WWE Unreal, but posting rehearsal clips independently remains prohibited.
When contacted for comment, Tama Tonga did not issue a statement.
Word going around at SmackDown is that Tama Tonga was fined by WWE for posting a video of rehearsals last week. Was told it was significant of a fine.
WWE has an unwritten rule about not recording/posting during rehearsal.
— Andrew Zarian (@AndrewZarian) March 20, 2026
Tama Tonga Fined By WWE for Posting Rehearsal Video
Damian Priest & R‑Truth vs. Tama Tonga & JC MateoIlja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes (c)
They tie up to start, and Hayes gives a clean break. They lock up again, Hayes backs off a second time, and Ilja shoves him in the chest. Hayes answers with a slap, and Ilja immediately demands more.
Ilja drives Hayes into the corner and unloads with chops and short headbutts. He keeps the pressure on with more chops, a kick, and a waist lock. Hayes tries to back him into the turnbuckles, but Ilja plants his feet and stops the momentum. Hayes misses an enzuigiri, and Ilja fires a kick before hitting the Konstantin Special.
Ilja takes him down with a waist‑lock throw and follows with a back senton for two. He corners Hayes with another chop and a boot, then clamps on a front facelock and chops him again. Ilja whips Hayes hard into the turnbuckles chest‑first and crushes him with a splash.
Hayes catches Ilja with a kick as he charges. He follows with a forearm and a chop in the corner. Ilja blocks a suplex, then muscles Hayes over with one of his own for a near fall. Ilja slams Hayes, climbs the ropes, and drops a knee across the chest for another two count.
Hayes kicks Ilja, Ilja kicks back, and they trade chops. Ilja tries to lock in an abdominal stretch, Hayes fights it, but Ilja eventually forces it on.
–– Here is what’s in store for WWE SmackDown on March 20 ––
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer).
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend) (c) vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella).
Kit Wilson calls out Jelly Roll.
Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu.
Randy Orton to speak.
WWE Tag Team Championships: MFT (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) (c) vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth.
Just one week after Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton made their WrestleMania 42 Undisputed WWE Championship match official on SmackDown, the situation has already exploded. Moments after signing the contract, Orton blindsided Rhodes, battering him with the ring steps and a steel chair before leaving the champion motionless. With the WWE Universe still stunned by the attack, Orton is set to appear on tonight’s show with something he intends to get off his chest.
The Women’s Tag Team Championship will also be on the line tonight following last week’s chaotic scene. Nikki and Brie Bella were seated at ringside for Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss’ title challenge against The Irresistible Forces, having declared themselves next in line. Instead, the Bellas inserted themselves into the match, causing a double disqualification and allowing Nia Jax and Lash Legend to retain. Now, Jax and Legend will defend the titles again—this time against Nikki and Brie directly.
The WWE Tag Team Championship will be defended as well, with Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga putting the titles on the line for the first time since dethroning Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis on January 23. Their challengers, Damian Priest and R‑Truth, earned the opportunity by surviving a grueling Tag Team Turmoil Match on March 6, outlasting The Motor City Machine Guns, Nathan Frazer and Axiom, Los Garza, and The Wyatt Sicks. Meanwhile, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin will meet Frazer and Axiom in tag team action after tensions flared between the teams during that same Turmoil Match.
Drew McIntyre returns to in‑ring competition tonight as he faces longtime rival Jacob Fatu. The animosity between the two has escalated rapidly over the past several months, culminating in a heated confrontation last Friday that ended with McIntyre announcing he was quitting WWE—only to later cost Fatu his match against Trick Williams. Their issues now spill into the ring with both men looking for decisive retribution.
Ronda Rousey surprise appearance at AEW Revolution may be connected to ongoing frustration with TKO Group Holdings over a compensation issue, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Meltzer reported that a source close to the situation indicated Rousey’s AEW angle is partially tied to a dispute involving her planned fight with Gina Carano. Negotiations for the Carano fight under the UFC banner went on for over a year but ultimately fell through. When the deal collapsed, TKO allegedly revised the compensation terms, leaving Ronda Rousey with limited options. The fight is now scheduled to take place under Jake Paul’s MVP promotion on Netflix rather than through the UFC.
Regarding speculation about a potential match between Rousey and Toni Storm, Meltzer clarified that no plans are currently in place. “Rousey, who is not shy about promoting her projects, to the best of my knowledge, did not push AEW after the angle,” he wrote. “The angle would lead you to believe there would be a Rousey vs. Storm match, which would get some attention, although we’ve heard nothing at all indicating it is happening.”
The response from WWE to Rousey’s AEW appearance was reportedly negative, and TKO may also view the situation unfavorably given her presence on a competing platform. Meltzer emphasized, however, that the overall impact on the wrestling industry is limited. “This is more an annoyance than any kind of game changer for wrestling,” he noted. Rousey has not publicly praised AEW nor criticized WWE in relation to the angle.
Storm’s extended absence adds further uncertainty to any follow-up program. She was pulled from AEW Dynamite the week after Revolution due to a legitimate injury and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period, with no confirmed return timeline.
Damian Priest & R‑Truth vs. Tama Tonga & JC MateoIlja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes (c)
