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.
Fatu delivered a promo from the top of the car. He asked if Drew McIntyre wants to tell the world that he’s still a criminal. Fatu said he’s not ashamed or afraid of his past, but he doesn’t live that life now. Fatu said even the police know he’s not the same man. He spoke about the unsanctioned match, meaning that Nick Aldis, the cops, and no one else could step in and save McIntyre…
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were shown talking in their dressing room. Bliss said they need to beat Lyra Valkyria and Bayley so they have momentum going into WrestleMania and win the tag team titles. Flair said she understands that the gold is the friendship they’ve made along the way, but she asked how great real gold would be on Saturday. Bliss stormed away while Flair continued to talk about them becoming tag team champions…
World Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth made their entrance…
[Hour Two] [C] Footage aired of the WrestleMania 42 set reveal. Cody Rhodes counted down for the 30 content creators in attendance. Tessitore said the footage was online…
Powell’s POV: I get that WWE is gaga for YouTube personalities and other content creators due to the exposure they can provide, but that was uneventful. I prefer the old approach of releasing a video of the set at night in all its glory.
2. Damian Priest and R-Truth vs. Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller for the World Tag Team Titles. The challengers’ entrance was televised. Priest set up Waller for a chokeslam on the floor, but Kingston broke it up. [C]
Priest and Truth slammed both opponents. Truth wanted a double Five Knuckle Shuffle. Priest shook his head no initially, but then went along with it. Priest popped up Waller for Truth, who essentially pulled Waller’s face to the mat. Priest covered Waller for the pin…
Damian Priest and R-Truth beat Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller in roughly 10:00 to retain the World Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: Priest is a good straight man for Truth’s comedy, but I hope he’ll get to do more than comedy bits soon. Likewise, I hope Waller breaks away from New Day and doesn’t spend another year spinning his wheels.
The broadcast team spoke at their desk. Tessitore said Cody Rhodes was on his way to the venue. Tessitore set up a video recap of last week’s angle with Cody Rhodes and Pat McAfee in the ring, followed by Randy Orton revealing that he laid out Jelly Roll backstage…
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill was shown walking backstage with B-Fab and Michin… [C] A sponsored video recapped Rhea Ripley beating Charlotte Flair to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39…
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill made her entrance and stood on the stage, and then B-Fab and Michin joined her before they all headed to the ring. Jade started to speak, but she was immediately interrupted by entrance music.
Rhea Ripley headed to the ring while mouthing the words to her theme. Ripley stood on the apron and said she wanted to come out before Jade started talking and wasting everyone’s time. She said she would like to lay out Jade, but she didn’t want to give her an excuse at WrestleMania.
Ripley added that she’s not normally the most patient person. A loud “Mami” chant broke out. She said Jade was lucky that she wasn’t getting in the ring and whipping her ass. Ripley said Jade wasn’t letting her go face-to-face without help, because she’s afraid.
B-Fab said Ripley should be embarrassed because she’s the one who keeps coming for Jade. Ripley said she hasn’t had the chance to come for Jade because she hides behind her sidekicks and social media. Ripley said that if there was anything Jade wanted to say to her, this was her last chance to say it alone. Michin took a step forward, but Jade put her arm out to stop her and had her and B-Fab leave the ring.
Jade mocked the idea that she’s afraid as Ripley entered the ring. Jade spoke about making it quick at WrestleMania. Jade brought up Ripley’s insecurities. Ripley said those insecurities aren’t bad. Ripley said the insecurities made her the person she is today. Ripley said they could make it quick at WrestleMania, but it wouldn’t go in Jade’s favor. Ripley called Jade a narcissistic, selfish, fake-ass bitch while going face-to-face with her. Jade held up her title belt and said something that ended with “bitch” before leaving the ring…
Backstage, Solo Sikoa spoke with the MFT about how they finished the Wyatts because they worked together as a team. “Gotcha, right, as a team,” Tama Tonga said. Solo told Talla Tonga that he wanted him to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and bring home the trophy to the family. Solo told Tama that he was going to talk to Nick Aldis about getting the tag team titles back. Talla, JC Mateo, and Tonga Loa walked away. Tama stuck around for a couple of seconds and stared at Solo before walking away…
Tiffany Stratton made her entrance for the No. 1 contender’s match for the Women’s U.S. Championship… [C]
Powell’s POV: Rhea seemed to get lost at the beginning of her promo, as she repeated her opening lines, but this was pretty good once she got on track. Jade vs. Rhea doesn’t feel as epic as I thought it could when Jade arrived in WWE, but they’re still in a pretty good place going into WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Tama seeing Solo as a selfish manipulator is growing on me.
Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills was shown in the crowd. He stood up and held up a Bills title belt… Jordynne Grace came out and yelled, “Let’s go!”
3. Tiffany Stratton vs. Jordynne Grace to become the No. 1 contender to the Women’s U.S. Championship. U.S. Women’s Champion Giulia and Kiana James were seated at ringside near the broadcast table. Grace had Stratton in the Electric Chair position and dropped her on the top rope. Grace followed up with a clothesline and covered her for a two count before a PIP break. [C]
Grace performed a superplex and rolled through for another suplex, but Stratton countered with a DDT. Strattong dropped Grace with an elbow strike and then blasted her with a basement dropkick that led to a near fall.
Tessitore said they would have a commercial-free last hour. Grace battled back and performed a nice folding powerbomb for a near fall. Stratton rallied with a handspring into the ropes, followed by a cutter. Stratton performed a rolling senton. Stratton looked at Giulia before hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win…
Tiffany Stratton defeated Jordynne Grace in 9:05 to become the No. 1 contender to the Women’s U.S. Championship.
After the match, Stratton stood on the ropes while looking down at Giulia and James…
Trick Williams was shown walking backstage. Tessitore said Trick would speak after a break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Grace yelling “let’s go” before the match was the loudest anyone in the building was during her entrance. She never clicked with the fans during her NXT run, and it hasn’t been much better on the main roster. Hopefully, it’s like her TNA run in that it took her some time to settle in, but the fans really embraced her once she gained confidence. The match was entertaining. The majority of the crowd favored Stratton, but they mostly reacted to big moves due to it being a match between two babyfaces.
Tessitore hyped the WrestleMania weekend schedule. He noted that it would be Michael Cole’s 25th time calling WrestleMania…
Trick Williams stood on a small platform with his back to the crowd. A center piece that slowly turned him toward the fans, who were chanting “Whoop That Trick.” Once in the ring, he howled once he was standing on the middle rope. Trick said the lines that Booker T used to say during Trick’s NXT entrances.
Trick said Sami Zayn crossed the line last week. He had the production team play footage of Zayn dropping Lil Yachty with a Helluva Kick. Trick said Zayn hit his friend with a Helluva Kick. He said he didn’t know whether Yachty would be back, so Zayn messed with his WrestleMania entrance. Trick called out Zayn.
Sami Zayn’s entrance theme played. A man came out dressed in a Gingerbread Man costume and joined a laughing Trick inside the ring. At one point, Trick wondered if Zayn had a lot of fans in Vegas, which led to boos.
U.S. Champion Sami Zayn walked out with his title belt draped over his shoulder. Zayn said it was funny. He said it had been a long time since he had a good time. Zayn climbed on the apron and said he does what he does for his ride or die fans who have been with him since day one. “Shut the f— up” chants broke out and were poorly censored.
Once in the ring, Zayn started to address Trick, but then he made the Gingerbread Man stand in a corner of the ring.
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