On Friday, April 17, 2026, WWE SmackDown will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the last stop before WrestleMania 42 and the crowd was louder than normal. This was a significant event for the wrestling universe and millions of fans around the world because everyone in attendance had their phones ready to capture key moments ahead of the two-night mega event at Allegiant Stadium. There were an insane number of new stories told throughout the night, as well as chaotic, yet very human moments mixed with outstanding athleticism, which is exactly what makes pro wrestling so magical. In addition to many different types of matches, such as street fights, heartfelt promos, and unexpected eliminations in the battle royal, this show created some of the biggest stories you can imagine. Let’s break down each segment of the show in detail so you can feel like you were sitting front row during the entire show.
Randy Orton and Pat McAfee Kick Off the Night with Bold Promises
Pat McAfee's and Randy Orton's entrances into the arena radiated star power as though they owned the entire place. When SmackDown's General Manager Nick Aldis handed a mysterious contract to McAfee, he opened it before the camera, displaying a grin that was impossible not to associate with his emotion. Orton entered the ring following this and expressed himself as he had probably wanted to do for weeks. He addressed how Cody Rhodes had relied upon his friends throughout the entirety of their career; instead of reaching out to Orton. Orton continued on discussing lost opportunities and how he will reclaim his spot at WrestleMania 42 when he defeats Cody Rhodes (current Undisputed WWE Champion) by hitting an RKO. The audience responded with a mix of cheers and boos, creating an air of personality that wasn't simply given to the night—it created the vibe for the rest of the show. He exited the way the entrance to the arena had displayed him: calm with an eagerness towards finding out what Nick Aldis's transport would do as well as if he had been correct about where his document (contract) would take him.
Jacob Fatu Makes a Powerful Stand Against Drew McIntyre
Then, one of the biggest moments of the night occurred. A cop car pulled into the arena with lights flashing and Jacob Fatu stepped out and climbed up onto the roof of the cop car. During the last week's show, Drew McIntyre attacked Fatu and left him in handcuffs. Fatu looked like he was going to get out of those cuffs; he was fired up! He spoke from the heart about becoming stronger and forgetting about his past. "I'm going to dog-walk you at WrestleMania 42," he told McIntyre on camera. He wasn't yelling, he was so confident! The fans chanted his name because he brought real emotion. The audience could feel his real emotion too! This quick promo not only hyped up this match, but it showed us how much Fatu's character has grown in front of our eyes. This is going to be one of the hottest feuds leading into a WrestleMania grudge match.
MFT Wins Chaotic Eight-Man Street Fight Against Wyatt Sicks in Shocking Style
Pure insanity, contained in an 8-man street fight between MFT and The Wyatt Sicks, was experienced during the first major match of the night. An incredible physical match-up took place between Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga, Tama Tonga, and JC Mateo (with Tonga Loa) vs Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, and Dexter Lumis (with Nikki Cross) comprised all those involved. Chairs, tables, and bodies were falling, as these two sets of warriors threw punches and kicked one another.
In the final seconds of the match, Uncle Howdy had MFT in danger of losing. Tama Tonga jumped in to help, but no one was prepared for Solo Sikoa's Samoan Spike on Howdy, which would lead to MFT being declared victors. However, the real story was the staredown between Solo and Tama, as there appeared to be some tension between them and a subtext of whether or not they could work together as a group in MFT moving forward. This level of uncertainty generated even more buzz within the fanbase than who actually won the match and created as many questions as it did answers leading into WrestleMania 42.
Damian Priest and R-Truth Retain Tag Team Titles in Smart Teamwork Win
During the match, Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller attempted to win the WWE Tag Team Championships from the reigning champions, Damian Priest & R-Truth. R-Truth was the more athletic of the two defending champions while Priest was the more powerful. Together, as a tag team, they worked well together performing various high flying stunts and strongman type moves. Waller attempted to use various underhanded tactics to gain the advantage but was unsuccessful at doing so. Kingston performed a lot of high flying moves including some dangerous yet exciting dives outside the ring but Priest and R-Truth kept him grounded. Both teams finished the match by executing a combination flapjack and flatliner move on Kingston. Both Championships remained with WWE SmackDown. After the match concluded, both teams displayed excellent sportsmanship by extending their hands to one another; which is rare in professional wrestling. Tag team wrestling can be exciting and entertaining when performed correctly as demonstrated by this match.
Tiffany Stratton Earns Shot at Women’s United States Championship
While both competitors brought excellent offense to this match, the fact that Tiffany Stratton walks away as the new number one contender for the Women’s United States Championship speaks volumes. Both women had strong offenses based on either strength or athleticism. At times, Jordynne Grace looked like she was going to finish off Tiffany with big moves like the neck breaker but then was met with an impressive rolling stunner and her prettiest moonsault ever as she caught a glimpse of the current champion, Giulia, as the crowd erupted around her. With this victory, she will have earned her spot in a title match and has yet again shown the world why she is one of women’s wrestling’s best stars. I hope Giulia has a plan to keep her title at WrestleMania 42.
Women’s Tag Team Match Turns into Total Chaos with Champion Attack
The match featured Bayley teaming up with Lyra Valkyria to go against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. The match started out with all four women displaying athleticism through flips, kicks, and great teamwork. Then came an unexpected and violent turn of events. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Lash Legend and Nia Jax (aka The Irresistible Forces), make a surprise entrance into the ring and attack all four participants – leaving them all lying on the mat. The match was thrown out and no winners were declared; however, all four women were injured as a result of the attack by the champions. This all occurred right before WWE WrestleMania 42 and is a clear indication to the fans who get to see the match as a Fatal Four-Way for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship that the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions make their own rules. While many of the fans enjoyed the surprise elements of the attack, they were disappointed to see their favorite wrestlers hurt through classic WWE dramatic storytelling.
Royce Keys Shocks Everyone by Winning the 2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Numerous tremendous individuals went into the ring to participate in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal with such well-known figures as Otis, Johnny Gargano, Aleister Black, Joe Hendry, and Talla Tonga all competing. Many individuals went flying through the air after being thrown over the top rope, and after many eliminations were left to only two competitors—Royce Keys and Talla Tonga. After showing a great level of enthusiasm along with a high level of skill throughout the battle royal, Royce Keys managed to throw Talla Tonga over top of the top rope to win the battle royal. The fans went insane, giving Royce Keys a tremendous amount of momentum upon victory . Because previous winners of the Andre Battle Royal have gone on to have successful professional wrestling careers, this feels like the beginning of something very promising for Royce Keys. It was a tremendous feel-good story on a night filled with shocking moments.
Todo ha sido un desastre. Un 2025 nefasto que continua en este 2026, pésimas historias, interés casi nulo, en ningún momento se ha sentido que WrestleMania se acercaba y el escenario no se siente como tal....
— Carlos Mora (@XxCarlosLM93xX) April 18, 2026
Pero llega el día y todo cambia.
Ya llegó WRESTLEMANIA 42!!!! 🎉🙌 pic.twitter.com/FuSDpF5sp4
Sami Zayn and Trick Williams Turn Up the Heat with Funny yet Serious Clash
During a segment that combined humor with some actual drama, the United States Champion Sami Zayn took on Trick Williams (who was dressed as a gingerbread man) in order to make fun of Zayn's entrance. When Zayn saw the gingerbread man he saw red and proceeded to destroy said gingerbread man costume with a Helluva Kick. After this, Zayn and Williams began brawling until Williams hit his Trick Kick on Zayn, and they proceeded to have a stare down with each other. Ultimately, this will set both Zayn and Williams up perfectly for their championship matchup at WrestleMania 42. Williams said he is the future and Zayn said that he would prove him wrong. Ultimately though, it was a fun segment, very personal and exactly what wrestling fans want going into a huge ppv.
Rhea Ripley Confronts Jade Cargill in Tense Women’s Title Build
Jade Cargill the WWE Women's Champion had a press conference where she talked about defending her championship title vs Rhea Ripley. Rhea gave her the heat because Rhea was demanding her title shot as she had waited long enough for this opportunity (She called her out specifically). Cargill threw back at Rhea when she said that Rhea was just an "emo goth kid" and from there things quickly escalated into a heated moment. The intensity of both ladies made this confrontation between them feel like a can't-miss match at WrestleMania 42. Two very talented women with different styles. A power vs technique match up that is going to be epic. This is a prime example of how much women’s wrestling has taken over the world today!
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