WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: The Rock, Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins set for Wrestlemania

The Rock added extra stipulations for Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 as Rhodes delivered a bit of payback with a slap across the face

The stakes at WrestleMania are even higher for Cody Rhodes after WWE SmackDown. Rhodes and Seth Rollins accepted a challenge to face The Rock and Roman Reigns on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. Afterwards, The Rock revealed career-altering stakes for Rhodes.

If Rhodes loses to Reigns at WrestleMania 40, he will never be allowed to challenge for the undisputed WWE universal championship again. Dwayne Johnson asserted his power as a board member of WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, in adding a new stipulation to the Night 2 main event of WrestleMania.

SmackDown developed many storylines throughout the show. It explored the split between Bayley and Damage CTRL, the simmering feud between LA Knight and AJ Styles, the problems between Logan Paul and Randy Orton, plus more.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Rock raises the stakes, gets a taste of his own medicine

SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis had a fleet of extra security on hand ahead of Friday's explosive meeting. It was Aldis' desire to maintain order and keep the two sides separate as long as possible. Aldis, flanked by security, knocked on Rhodes and Rollins' door late into the show only to discover they weren't there.

The Bloodline, excluding The Rock, made their way to the ring first. Dwayne Johnson received a brand new solo entrance that received a positive reception from the live crowd. Reigns told the Dallas crowd to "acknowledge us" but he didn't make it far into the speech before Rhodes' music hit. Rhodes and Rollins entered from the crowd in a manner reminiscent to The Shield, the former faction compromised of Reigns, Rollins and Dean Ambrose.

Rhodes asked The Rock if he had the authority to set terms for the tag team match. After all, The Rock acknowledged Reigns as Tribal Chief last week. The Rock reiterated the stakes of the match but was interrupted by the "Diarrhea Dwayne" chants proposed by Rollins on Raw. If Rhodes and Rollins win, The Bloodline will be banned from ringside when Rhodes and Reigns go one-on-one on Night 2 of WrestleMania. If The Rock and Reigns win, The Bloodline is free to interfere as they wish in the undisputed WWE universal title match.

Rollins cut off The Rock, telling "Mr. Midlife Crisis" that he's had his time and he can't have theirs. Rollins accepted the challenge, drawing laughter from Reigns. The undisputed WWE universal champion asked Rhodes if he was really going to let Rollins make the biggest decision of his career for him. The Rock reminded his opponents that as a TKO board member he is Rhodes and Rollins boss. The Rock said that if Rhodes fails at WrestleMania 40, he will never get another crack at the title.

The Rock evoked the name of Rhodes' late father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. The Rock mentioned how Cody Rhodes is about 20 years younger than his sibling and said it's because he's a mistake. Rhodes slapped the taste of The Rocks' mouth as the show awkwardly went off air, seemingly running long.

The energy for this tag team match is palpable and surpasses the Night 2 main event. It's arguably the biggest WrestleMania match in years and everyone brought their A game on the microphone. The Rock continued to pile on stakes for WrestleMania weekend, but it may have been overboard. Rhodes never being eligible for another undisputed world title shot almost guarantees his victory against Reigns, unless Triple H vetoes that stipulation. It's unlikely WWE makes the same mistake that AEW did by blocking Rhodes out of the title picture. Rhodes giving The Rock a receipt by slapping him in the face was welcome but muted by the show's awkward ending. It seems the segment ran long, they had to rush the slap and then the show awkwardly ended. It happens but it's very disappointing for what is one of the biggest face offs in recent history. Grade: A-

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Randy Orton laid out KSI with an RKO after Logan Paul revealed that his Prime beverage will be WWE's first-ever ring mat advertisement.
  
• Orton and Kevin Owens def. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller via pinfall after hitting Theory with a pop-up RKO combination. Paul tried to attack Orton with brass knuckles post-match but failed.
  
• Bayley was distraught about Damage CTRL turning on her in a sit down interview with Kayla Braxton. Naomi expressed sympathy for Bayley but Bianca Belair was not having any of it.
  
• Bobby Lashley def. Karrion Kross via disqualification after Authors of Pain attacked Lashley. Street Profits and B-Fab came to the rescue but The Final Testament eventually got the best of it.
• Legado del Fantasma bullied Dragon Lee for wanting to be the next Rey Mysterio.
• Tiffany Stratton def. Michin via pinfall after hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.
• LA Knight smashed a TV with a chair after AJ Styles promised to put him in his place in a pre-taped vignette.
• Dragon Lee def. Angel Garza via pinfall after hitting a dragonrana. Legado del Fantasma laid him out post-match.
• Damage CTRL bragged about outsmarting Bayley. Dakota Kai said she'd see Bayley in the ring next week.