By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,391)
Las Vegas, Nevada, at T-Mobile Arena
Simulcast live April 17, 2026, on USA Network and internationally on Netflix
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore checked in on commentary while a shot aired of the Las Vegas Strip, followed by WrestleMania 42 host venue Allegiant Stadium. A slick video package aired with various wrestlers talking about WrestleMania…
Powell’s POV: A good video. That’s the best job the company has done when it comes to attempting to stir up feelings of nostalgia for WrestleMania this year. On a side note, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 9,955 with 9,788 tickets distributed. The listed capacity is 20,000.
The exterior of the Smackdown host venue was shown, followed by backstage/arrival shots of Jade Cargill with Michin, B-Fab, and Michin’s dog, Rhea Ripley, Sami Zayn, Trick Williams, Lyra Valkyria with Bayley, and Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss…
A red truck was shown pulling into an underground parking area. Pat McAfee emerged from the driver’s door, and Randy Orton exited the passenger door. Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis greeted them and handed McAfee “an agreement.” Aldis said he and McAfee would have a little chat.
McAfee said he was a self-made millionaire and would need to read the paperwork. Orton dismissed himself, saying they could take care of business while he went to the ring. McAfee signed the paperwork, and Orton’s entrance theme played in the background…
Randy Orton made his entrance. Ring announcer Mark Nash introduced Orton. A fan sign read, “Disco Inferno Was Better Than Pat McAfee.”
Powell’s POV: Hey, it’s nice to see WWE hooked up Disco with good tickets so that he could get his sign on television. Yes, I’m kidding.
Orton stood in the ring and said he’d be the first to admit that he doesn’t need Pat McAfee. Fans cheered. Orton said the truth is that he wants him. He said McAfee is the only straight shooter in the company because he doesn’t tell him what he wants to hear; he tells him what he needs to hear.
Orton recalled Cody Rhodes regaining the WWE Championship. There were loud boos for Cody, so Orton mentioned his name again to get more boos. Orton recalled Cody granting permission to be The Viper. Orton asked who Cody thinks he is that Orton would need his permission.
The theme of Orton’s promo was that all Cody does is “take, take, take.” Orton closed by saying he would win his 15th world championship at WrestleMania with an RKO, which drew a lot of cheers from the crowd…
Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves checked from their broadcast table…
Backstage, Pat McAfee sat in his truck while Nick Aldis stood by with the contract folder. McAfee told Randy Orton that he did great work. Orton got in the passenger’s seat. McAfee told Aldis that he put in a good word for him. McAfee called the fans “marks” and said he would see them tomorrow. “Life’s about to get better, baby,” McAfee said while speeding away…
Powell’s POV: We’ll see how this live crowd reacts when Cody appears, but it looks like it will be a tough weekend for him based on the loud boos when Orton mentioned his name. I like that Cody and Orton are both on the WrestleMania 42 go-home show. Although Cody and John Cena both appeared on last year’s Smackdown before WrestleMania 41, some WrestleMania go-home shows have been light on star power over the years.
Solo Sikoa led Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga to the ring for the eight-man tag match before the first commercial break… [C] The Wyatt Sicks made their entrance…
1. “The Wyatt Sicks” Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, and Joe Gacy (w/Nikki Cross) vs. Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga (w/Tonga Loa) in an eight-man Street Fight. The Wyatts rushed the ring and brawled with Solo’s crew to start. Graves noted that Loa wasn’t in the match, but nothing was stopping him from getting involved due to it being a street fight. Talla used the top piece of the ring steps to batter some of his opponents before a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Rowan performed a suicide dive on Talla. The Wyatts threw kendo sticks, chairs, and trash cans into the ring. Rowan placed a trash can on Solo and then performed a running splash on the can before another PIP break. [C]
Howdy worked over Solo and Mateo with a chair. Howdy hit a uranage slam on Solo onto a chair. Loa climbed on the apron and was sent back to the floor with a Howdy punch. Cross went up top and hit Loa with a crossbody block on the floor.
Howdy set up Solo for Sister Abigail, but Talla broke it up with a big boot. Solo went up top and then jumped over Talla before splashing Howdy. Solo had Howdy pined, but Gacy broke it up with a kendo stick. Talla chokeslammed Lumis and Gacy simultaneously.
Rowan hit Talla with a chair from behind, but Talla no-sold it. Talla kicked the chair out of Rowan’s hand and then clotheslined him and they both tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Rowan immediately clutched his right leg.
In the ring, Howdy set up Mateo for Sister Abigail, but Tama broke it up and put Howdy down. Tama set up for his Cutthroat finisher, but Solo cut in and put Howdy down with a Solo Spike. Solo covered Howdy and got the pin while looking up at Tama, who wasn’t pleased.
Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga defeated “The Wyatt Sicks” Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, and Joe Gacy in 14:30 in an eight-man Street Fight.
Powell’s POV: Everyone seemed to have a pep in their step with this being their WrestleMania weekend match. Hopefully, this was the blowoff, and both teams can move on.
World Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth were shown walking backstage. Truth spoke about facing a team that he thought was New Day. Priest pointed out that they’re on Raw. There was also confusion over Danhausen being the person who curses people. The confusion continued. Truth told Priest that he needed to get it together because they had a tag team title match coming up in Las Vegas. Priest was surprised by this news…
The broadcast team set up highlights of The Miz and Maryse renewing their vows, with Kit Wilson officiating the ceremony. As Miz was delivering his vows, he suddenly asked, “Just who in the hell do you think you are?” Danhausen was standing by Maryse, who asked who he was. Danhausen said he was the ring boy, the best man, and the maid of honor. Miz motioned for Wilson to hurry things up. “You may now curse the bride,” Wilson mistakenly said. Danhausen cursed her. Miz choked Danhausen and shoved him, but he collided with Maryse, who went face-first into the wedding cake…
Tessitore said the full video of the wedding would be on WWE social media later tonight. He also hyped a video package on the Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu feud… [C]
A Royce Keys video package aired. Keys got emotional. A graphic noted that his mother, Nita Hobson, suffered a fatal overdose in 2021 at age 61. It added that she never got to see her son’s dream come true.
Royce’s sister, Evelyn, was seated next to him and spoke about how she was proud of her kids. Keys said he knew his mother and grandparents were with him. Keys said no one from his home area is supposed to be where he is. He said he hoped that his mother is proud of him…
The broadcast team set up footage of last week’s angle involving Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu…
A police car pulled onto the stage with its siren blaring. Two police officers exited the vehicle, and the driver opened the rear door. Jacob Fatu emerged from the car and climbed to the top of it while the cops stood by.
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