The John Report: WWE Smackdown 03/18/22 Review

March 18, 2022

The John Report: WWE Smackdown 03/18/22 Review

Hey yo. This week’s WWE Smackdown featured a Roman Reigns-Brock Lesnar confrontation while WrestleMania opponents Drew McIntyre and Happy Corbin were on opposite teams in tag team action.

There were two other advertised matches: Sasha Banks & Naomi vs. Raw's Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan and also Kofi Kingston in action against Ridge Holland. Best wishes to Big E after breaking his neck on Smackdown last week following a scary bump on the floor after taking a belly-to-belly suplex from Holland. Big E hopes to be able to wrestle again, but there's no timeline on that right now. Best wishes to Big E, who continues to post positive updates on social media. That dude is such a good guy. Easy guy to root for.

From the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, this is Smackdown for episode #1178. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Let's get to it.

The show began with a video package of WWE Champion Brock Lesnar calling out Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Paul Heyman informed Brock that Roman wasn't there. Lesnar chased after Heyman, who ran away into a waiting car and that was all we saw of Lesnar last week.

Let's Hear from Roman Reigns

The Universal Champion Roman Reigns made his entrance with Michael Cole noting that Roman's run as champion has reached 564 days. Reigns was joined by the Special Counsel Paul Heyman and SD Tag Team Champions The Usos. Cole was joined on commentary by Pat McAfee. Reigns had a shirt that said: “Greatness On a Different Level” Mode so it said “God Mode.” Nice. Reigns faces Lesnar in a Champion vs. Champion match at WrestleMania 38 in just over two weeks from now. Reigns posed in the ring with The Bloodline.

Reigns: “Charlotte, North Carolina acknowledge me.” Lots of boos for that. Reigns said it's a special night since it's the first time he gets to see Brock Lesnar face to face since he smashed him in Madison Square Garden. Reigns said he made Brock bleed all over New York and he'll do it in Charlotte as well. Heyman showed a text on his phone saying Lesnar had a weather delay in Saskatchewan four hours ago and Lesnar will not be there this evening.

Reigns said he wanted Brock to be there as well because he was about to smash him. Reigns said that was a business decision from Lesnar because Brock is scared of Reigns. Roman claims Lesnar was scared of the Tribal Chief and the Head of the Table. Reigns said he was in God Mode while adding this is greatness on a different level. Heyman tried to interrupt, Reigns told him not to interrupt him and Reigns said that the people want to hear what Roman has to say. Heyman showed something on his phone: “He’s landed and he’s on his way here.” Heyman was screaming: “He landed!” Reigns handed Paul the microphone to wrap this up and take it home. Reigns and The Usos left quickly with Heyman.

The announcers plugged what was coming up later on Smackdown.

Roman Reigns and The Usos were shown backstage getting into a truck with Jey in the driver's seat. Brock Lesnar was shown driving a forklift and used the end of it to break the glass of the driver's seat of the truck. Hopefully Jey and Jimmy ducked in the front seats or they may be dead from that. Anyway, they went to a commercial at that moment.

Analysis: Reigns showed confidence when he found out Lesnar wasn't there, but then when he heard Lesnar was going to be there, Reigns showed fear and the fans could tell that too. I like how they are building to the WrestleMania match with Reigns acting cocky when he's in control, but then he fears Lesnar when he knows Brock is around.

(Commercial)

There was a replay of Lesnar driving into The Usos, Reigns and Heyman in the truck. The guys in the truck that the end of the forklift that went into the windows. That was likely done as a pre-tape segment to avoid something bad happening. Reigns, The Usos and Heyman escaped, they left in another truck and Lesnar ripped off a door of the truck.

Analysis: It’s “Stone Cold” Brock Lesnar mode. That's something WWE loved to do with Steve Austin as a babyface over 20 years ago when he would commandeer vehicles to go after his opponents.

Let's Hear from Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar walked out with the car door in his hand. Lesnar did not have the WWE Title with him, but he did bring the car door around the ringside area. Pat was laughing about how Brock was carrying around a car door like a piece of luggage. Lesnar got a big pop when he got into the ring.

Brock: “Excuse me, I’m a little riled up.” Lesnar said that Reigns has “unleashed the bipolar beast.” Lesnar said that Roman can run and hide, but in two weeks at WrestleMania, Lesnar will do more than blow the doors off him. Lesnar: "Roman Reigns, I'm coming for blood." Lesnar told Roman to be prepared and said he'll see him in two weeks, buddy.

Analysis: That was quick from Lesnar. I think people wanted to see a brawl between Brock and Roman, but that didn't happen at least early in the show. I think it’s smart to try to save the physicality until WrestleMania although there are also two more Smackdown episodes before WrestleMania takes place on April 2-3.

They showed a replay of Rick Boogs beating Jey Uso last week to earn a Smackdown Tag Team Title match with Shinsuke Nakamura against The Usos at WrestleMania.

Rick Boogs played the guitar for the entrance of Shinsuke Nakamura. The fans were really into it as usual. Pat McAfee was really into it as well.

Los Lotharios made their entrance with the Kiss Cam where they kissed a pretty woman on the cheek.

Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs. Los Lotharios (Humberto & Angel)

Nakamura and Humberto started the match, Humberto blew a kiss, Nakamura caught it and stomped on it. Yes, I even do play-by-play of kiss spots sometimes. Nakamura set up Humberto against the top rope leading to a running knee lift to the ribs.