cody rhodes was granted a title match against Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre on SmackDown, a direct consequence of McIntyre costing Rhodes his opportunity in the Elimination Chamber. The encounter headlines a March 6 card that begins at 8 ET and carries immediate WrestleMania implications: the winner is positioned to meet the Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
What Happens When Cody Rhodes Faces Drew McIntyre?
The match is the latest chapter in a storyline that pivoted when Drew McIntyre interfered in the Elimination Chamber, denying Rhodes a shot. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis ordered the title bout for this Friday night to resolve that interference. The program is being called amid an Elimination Chamber recap that opened the show, with commentary provided by Joe Tessitore alongside Wade Barrett.
The immediate stakes are straightforward: a championship change would set up a new path to WrestleMania, while a successful defense by McIntyre would maintain his march toward the event. The card from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, will serve as a direct follow-up to the Chamber results; Randy Orton’s status as the Elimination Chamber winner and Rhodes’ new title opportunity make this match a critical crossroads.
What If Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill Meet Face-to-Face?
Rhea Ripley, fresh off capturing the Women’s Elimination Chamber, arrives on SmackDown to address her upcoming WWE Women’s Championship opportunity against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania. Promotional material for the broadcast included a graphic indicating a face-to-face meeting between Ripley and Cargill, a segment that will clarify the direction of the title picture for the women’s division heading into WrestleMania week.
The meeting follows Ripley’s Chamber victory and comes as part of a show built around clarifying WrestleMania challengers. How the two interact on the broadcast will shape the narrative for the women’s title match and offer viewers a preview of the dynamics expected at the larger event.
What Happens With the U. S. Open Challenge, Tag Turmoil and the Celebration?
SmackDown’s undercard is stacked with multiple storyline threads. Carmelo Hayes will host a United States Title Open Challenge, with the challenger to be revealed during the broadcast. In addition, six SmackDown tandems will compete in a No. 1 Contenders’ Tag Team Turmoil Match to determine challengers for the current tag champions known as The MFTs.
Also on the card: Nia Jax and Lash Legend, who recently captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship after teaming to defeat Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, are slated to mark their title victory with what is being called an Irresistible Forces’ Celebration. Those elements round out a show designed to resolve Chamber fallout and set final pieces for WrestleMania storytelling.
Additional moments from the broadcast build the live atmosphere: the show opened with an Elimination Chamber recap, and Randy Orton made an appearance offering perspective on his path after the Chamber. A midcard U. S. Title match will feature a challenger who has been announced for the open challenge. The live event setting at the Moda Center anchors these segments in the immediate post-Chamber calendar.
While the outcomes on SmackDown will arrive in real time, the card’s design is clear: it is a bridge from Elimination Chamber to WrestleMania, clarifying challengers and intensifying rivalries. For fans tracking those storylines, the program delivers a direct, consequential follow-up—most notably a championship clash born from last week’s interference that puts cody rhodes back in contention and on a collision course with the Elimination Chamber winner.
