WWE SmackDown results, grades: Brock Lesnar rips door off truck in violent rampage

The Beast caused plenty of damage (Picture: WWE)

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar delighted fans with a wild path of destruction on SmackDown this week.

Friday night saw things heat up with plenty of storylines heading into WrestleMania 38 on April 2 and 3, and the Beast Incarnate’s unification match with Roman Reigns kicked off the show in style.

Roman Reigns and the rest of The Bloodline came out at the beginning of the night as the Tribal Chief gloated over his beatdown of Lesnar at Madison Square Garden.

Paul Heyman eventually interrupted to reveal the Beast – who wasn’t going to be at the show due to a weather-related delay – had found a way to the arena.

The Head of the Table and The Usos were clearly shook up and immediately decided to head to the back, but Brock and a forklift halted them in their tracks as they got in a car to leave.

He used the forklift to smash up their car, and also ripped the door off a truck – looking like an absolute machine in the process – before hitting the ring with his prize, issuing a warning that he’s ‘coming for blood’ in Dallas.

This was absolutely perfect as a way of building more excitement for what stands as the biggest match of WrestleMania weekend, with high stakes and a bitter rivalry adding to the drama.

Everyone has been at the top of their game – not least Lesnar himself, who has hit a whole other level of perfect character work over the past few months.

Charlotte Flair destroys Ronda Rousey, Sami Zayn and Johnny Knoxville set stipulation and more

The first match of the night saw Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs build some momentum heading into their SmackDown Tag Team Title showdown with The Usos at WrestleMania 38.

Boogs – who is so popular with the live crowds wherever he goes – looked fantastic here as the duo beat Los Lotharios in a fun match, and the fans’ reaction suggests he and Nakamura could actually be a fine choice to dethrone Jimmy and Jey.

Up next, Drew McIntyre teamed up with The Viking Raiders in a winning effort against the team of Happy Corbin, Jinder Mahal and Shanky in a fun match despite the lack of drama in terms of the result.

The two heavyweights will come to blows at WrestleMania 38 (Picture: WWE)

McIntyre and Corbin will undoubtedly have a good heavyweight scrap at Mania, even if some people would like to pretend the latter isn’t more than talented enough to hold up his end of the deal.

Backstage, we saw Sami Zayn address Johnny Knoxville as he challenged him to an ‘anything goes’ match at WrestleMania, which the Jackass star accepted, giving them scope to create something special with the potential for some high risk stunts.

Naomi and Sasha Banks faced off with soon-to-be Mania opponents Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley in a battle of the blue and red brands which delivered a brilliant tag team bout with some electric exchanges between all four stars.

The fans were treated to a fantastic tag match (Picture: WWE)

The match came to an end when Natalya and Shayna Baszler crashed the party for a double DQ, with Sonya Deville adding them to the Women’s Tag Team Title match in two weeks, leaving Carmella and Queen Zelina with an unenviable list of challengers.

Michael Cole let Pat McAfee know he was wanted in Mr. McMahon’s office, and the SmackDown commentator came out and cut a fiery promo about his love for professional wrestling (his words).

Austin Theory interrupted and urged the former NFL star to apologise for losing his cool during last week’s attack, but McAfee instead said sorry for his rival being a ‘punk b***h’ and his parents hating him.

Austin and McAfee delivered here – with the latter shining on the mic (Picture: WWE)

Theory quickly took a selfie and ran off, making a wise escape totally in line with his character as he avoids another physical confrontation with his much bigger foe.

After recapping last week’s horrific incident when Big E broke his neck at ringside, it was time for his New Day partner to take on Ridge Holland, whom commentary revealed had apologised to the former WWE Champion over the incident.

It was a nasty accident, so it was wise of Cole to relay his remorse to the fans rather than turn something so horrible into part of the on-screen story.

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In the end, Holland beat Kingston, while Sheamus had to hold Butch (FKA Pete Dunne) back from delivering an attack.

Charlotte Flair verbally took the fight to Ronda Rousey with a fantastic promo, before the Baddest Woman On the Planet came down to spark a wild brawl

In a great callback, the Queen used a kendo stick to gain the advantage and – after a scary moment where Rousey could have got hurt – send her WrestleMania challenger through the announce table.

WWE SmackDown airs Friday nights at 1am on BT Sport 1.

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