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.

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