Winners, News And Notes On March 11, 2022

WWE SmackDown featured Brock Lesnar responding to Roman Reigns, The New Day vs. Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Pete Dunne—who debuted as “Butch”—and a confrontation between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair.

Last week’s broadcast of Friday Night SmackDown garnered 2.261 million viewers.

• March 4, 2022—2.261 million
• February 25, 2022—2.114 million
• February 18, 2022—2.173 million
• February 11, 2022—2.231 million
• February 4, 2022—2.151 million

• WWE SmackDown Venue: Legacy Arena (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Tickets Distributed: 8,415
• Available Tickets: 373

WWE SmackDown Total YouTube Viewership Last Friday: 7,388,506 (Down from 8,488,009)

• Most-Viewed: Ronda Rousey vs. Sonya Deville (2,240,041 views)
• Least-Viewed: Sheamus and Ridge Holland Destroy Big E’
• ATV (323,036 views)
• Median Viewership: 596,907 views

WWE SmackDown Results | Friday, March 11, 2022

Brock Lesnar Opens SmackDown

Brock Lesnar was oddly getting the “what” treatment during his opening promo. Where’s Eddie Kingston when you need him?

Paul Heyman announced Roman Reigns is not here tonight. When I was in the building for a SmackDown in Los Angeles, and Heyman made a similar announcement, it got some of the biggest heat of the night, and this crowd was no different.

It didn’t take long before Brock Lesnar chased Paul Heyman out of the building. Pat McAfee described it as “Paul Heyman, with the squirts, running out of the building.”

The New Day def. Sheamus and Ridge Holland (with Pete “Butch” Dunne)

The story of this match was Internet Wrestling Darling Pete Dunne being introduced as “Butch.” Of course, the internet insists they will never call him Butch, but Gunther—among countless other examples—has proven otherwise.

Butch aside, the most egregious part of this segment was the fact that three former world champions are feuding over an ATV.

Big E took a brutal bump on his head and hopefully he’ll be okay. Big E had to be stretchered out of the arena. Ridge Holland accidentally dropped Johnny Gargano on his head in a similar spot.

Happy Corbin Destroys Drew McIntyre

Happy Corbin seems to have formed yet another stable alongside Madcap Moss, Jinder Mahal and Shanky.

The poor Viking Raiders have spent at least 50% of their TV time getting beaten down in recent weeks.

WWE is going out of its way to build Happy Corbin up as a heel on the level of Drew McIntyre. First they concocted an undefeated streak, then they gave him a pseudo-stable, and instead of having a match, he beat down Drew McIntyre.

Charlotte Flair Confronts Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey officially credited Kurt Angle as her inspiration for using the ankle lock, which should come as a surprise to nobody.

Charlotte Flair’s outfit was so on-brand with her heel gimmick as “The Queen,” right down to the furry arms.

Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey feels like it still has some ways to go before it really feels like a WrestleMania program.

Naomi and Sasha Banks def. Natalya and Shayna Baszler

Natalya finding yet another random tag team partner is proof positive that WWE’s women’s tag team division is a bit of a farce.

Shayna Baszler was on the losing end of this match, but she should be considered an early favorite to win the WrestleMania women’s Battle Royal.

Rick Boogs def. Jey Uso

This was such a random choice for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, but after Boogs beat Jey Uso, it looks like Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura will challenge for the SmackDown Tag Titles at WrestleMania.

Ricochet def. Sami Zayn—WWE Intercontinental Championship

The Sami Zayn-Johnny Knoxville rivalry escalated this past week as Knoxville posted Zayn’s phone number online. It’s 407-574-1532. When I tried calling the number, it gave me the busy signal.

WWE did no favors for Austin Theory by making him look like an absolute chump in a fair fight with Pat McAfee. By the end of the one-sided brawl, Theory was running away from McAfee like McAfee was The Fiend.

Fans were really behind Ricochet, who won clean. All WWE ever had to do was give them the slightest reason to care about him. They did, the fans are all in, and Ricochet’s immense talent will take care of the rest.

SmackDown went off the air with a wild brawl between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair. Flair won the brawl in the end.