Wrestling On FanNation

WWE SmackDown Tonight (3/6/26): Start Time, Match Card, How To Watch & Live Stream

If Drew McIntyre wants to make it to WrestleMania 42 as the WWE Champion, he'll have to get past Cody Rhodes tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
Rick Ucchino|
Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre | WWE

The road to WrestleMania 42 goes through Portland, Oregon tonight as Friday Night SmackDown is set to go live from the Moda Center.

The fate of the WWE Championship Match at this year's 'Showcase of the Immortals' hangs in the balance as Drew McIntyre is being forced to defend his title against Cody Rhodes.

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis booked this match last weekend after The Scottish Warrior made his way inside the Elimination Chamber and again screwed Rhodes out of earning his rematch for the WWE Title, just as he did at the Royal Rumble. The American Nightmare now has one final shot to secure his spot at WrestleMania 42. Will he capture it or just let it slip?

Rhea Ripley punched her ticket to Las Vegas when she won the Women's Elimination Chamber Match this past Saturday night. She'll challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women's Championship this April, and if the events of this past week are any indication, we are in for quite the ride along the way.

After a tense exchange of words on social media that had fans wondering if their comments were a work or shoot, Mami has promised to be in Portland tonight to meet Cargill face-to-face. Also, Carmelo Hayes will defend his Men's United States Championship in an open challenge and new No. 1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship will be determined when six teams compete in a tag team turmoil match.

2026 Men's Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton, Tiffany Stratton, Charlotte Flair and Sami Zayn are all being advertised for the show locally. Here's everything we currently know about tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown. Check back for updates as more matches and segments are announced throughout the day.

WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes
Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes | WWE

Drew McIntyre has been doing everything in his power to make sure that Cody Rhodes does not earn a rematch for the WWE Championship following his victory in Three Stages of Hell. He cost the American Nightmare opportunities to win both the Men's Royal Rumble Match and the Men's Elimination Chamber Match, and as a result, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis has booked tonight's title fight.

If the Scottish Warrior wants to walk into Allegiant Stadium as the WWE Champion this April, he'll need to defeat Cody Rhodes one final time. The winner of tonight's match, presumably, will move on to defend the gold against Randy Orton one-on-one at WrestleMania 42. Will The Viper face off against his old nemesis or his old protégé? We'll find out in just a few short hours.

How to watch WWE SmackDown tonight:

TV Channel: USA Network

Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV, Hulu+ Live TV, Sling TV

WWE SmackDown start time:

Time: 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST)

WWE SmackDown location:

Location: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

WWE Smackdown card (Announced):

  • Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship
  • WWE Women's Champion Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley meet face-to-face ahead of their clash at WrestleMania 42
  • Carmelo Hayes Men's United States Open Challenge
  • Nia Jax and Lash Legend celebrate WWE Women's Tag Team Title victory
  • No. 1 Contender's Tag Team Turmoil Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship (six teams will be involved)

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published | Modified
Rick Ucchino
RICK UCCHINO

Rick Ucchino is the Assistant Editor & Content Coordinator for The Takedown on SI. He also works full-time for 700WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio as a local news and sports anchor, in addition to his time covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sirius XM. Rick has been on the professional wrestling beat since 2019, having provided coverage for a number of outlets, including Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network. With an educational background in theater, creative writing and journalism, Rick focuses primarily on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle himself. He had the privilege of training with former WWE & WCW cruiserweight Jimmy Wang Yang for nearly two years and retired early due to back issues with a perfect 1-0 record in singles competition. Rick is a married father of two incredibly adorable children, who are budding pro wrestling fans themselves. Much to the chagrin of their mother. You can reach Rick at rwucchino@gmail.com

Home/WWE