WWE Friday Night SmackDown in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Live on the USA Network | April 3rd, 2026 — The Episode Recap:

Randy Orton & Pat McAfee are now in an alliance with each other as they attacked the WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. (Image courtesy of WWE)

The April 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Official Match Results:

The Opening Match: Rhea Ripley defeated Michin (with B-Fab) in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:13)

The 2nd Match: Uncle Howdy defeated Tama Tonga in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (07:15)

The 3rd Match: Aleister Black (with Zelina) defeated Matt Cardona in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:46)

The 4th Match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair defeated Bayley & Lyra Valkyria in a Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall — (10:29)

The 5th Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) defeated Kit Wilson & The Miz in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:18)

The Main Event Match: Sami Zayn (c) defeated Carmelo Hayes in a WWE United States Title Match | via Pin-Fall — (11:02)

My Official Thoughts on the April 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

My Official Thoughts: Man, I have no breath to waste, so I'm going to be quick. The Pat McAfee reveal is the big issue WWE has, and that's TKO doesn't know what the fuck they are doing with this company, thinking Pat McAfee can sell tickets when the real issue is piercing out your fans, to cater to the Mainstream audience. It's like WWE turned to hype moments, and aura, not real professional wrestling. The company had Jelly Roll and Pat McAfee be involved in a 20-Year Story that could've been money, but because Ari Emanuel thinks Pat McAfee is Sylvester Stallone we have Randy Orton voice of reason beiong Pat McAfee makes no sense but this goes to show ehere WWE at in 2026, a soulless company that can't produce anything good without TKO shitting all over it.

The April 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Official Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Michin (with B-Fab in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: **.25 — I guess this was passable. I don't know, this whole Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley rivalry is awful because I have zero interest now because of the poor writing and quality of this feud. I swear you can't be excited about anything in WWE anymore because they know how to piss all over potenial great feuds with the horrendous writing.

The 2nd Match: Uncle Howdy vs. Tama Tonga in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: DUD — Well one of the worst storylines ends with Tama Tonga handing back the Lantern that was stolen, as we conclude the feud from September of 2025 to April of 2026 I don't know if creative even has eyes because this was terrible all around, I'mn a fan of the Wyatt Sicks but what the hell is the point of this group now? You guys ruined it. But this match stunk like another stinker, but now we can be at peace with this feud being over.

The 3rd Match: Aleister Black (with Zelina) vs. Matt Cardona in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: *.25 — Why was this even a match? We could've slotted Ilja Dragunov or Rey Fenix. Matt Cardona being involved in the Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton story made sense, noting he's one of Cody Rhodes’ best friends. But this thing with Aleister Black, he's like Karrion Kross being the guy who predicts downfalls. But Aleister Black, I mean, he's still decent, but this match had no flow, and the chemistry wasn't there at all. Aleister Black wins, but this match was not needed. Could've done a backstage segment and left it at that.

The 4th Match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: *** — Hey, at-least we got a match where there was no DQ Finish, I was happy they were allowed to wrestle because this was a decent match, I was excited for this because these tag teams do rule, but the build for the Fatal-Four Way Match at WrestleMania for the WWE Women's Tag Tea Titles could've been a lot better, but this was some fun and I'm so happy thids wasn't a DQ because I wou;d've been so irate because it been a recycle of the same booking with SmackDown it's a garbage fest on Friday's for WWE.

The 5th Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. Kit Wilson & The Miz in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | The Match Rating: DUD — Garbage, uninteresting, not even a real tag team. What's the point of having Fraxiom, Motor City Machine Guns & Los Garza if you are not going to use them? Kit Wilson & The Miz got a Tag Team Title shot, and the match was the eptione of WCW 2000 with Danhausen doing his magic to make the referee not count to three, and helping Damian Priest & R-Truth retain their titles, now I think Danhuasen is very not needed I'm not a fan but this match sucked, and I wish that I never watched it in the first place, nothing positive I have to say about this match whatsoever.

The Main Event Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes in a WWE United States Title Match | The Match Rating: ***.75 — After seeing the rest of the show, I was quite excited for this match, hoping something would occur with Carmelo Hayes getting added to the WrestleMania United States Title Match, converting it to a Triple Threat Match. Oh, how wrong was I... Sami Zayn played the heel, targeting Carmelo Hayes' knee, wearing it down, and damaging it in the process. Sami Zayn as a heel is quite entertaining, but I was hoping Trick Williams would do something to cost a DQ, but nothing. After Carmelo Hayes lost clean, Sami Zayn & Trick Williams jawed, and a brawl ensued. Carmelo Hayes & Ilja Dragunov carried this brand for months, but now will most likely be left off this WrestleMania Card. What a shame, and honestly, WWE has been a mess in 2026.

The April 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — My Official Match of the Night: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes in a WWE United States Title Match | The Match Rating: ***.75 — This match wasn’t like last week but it was passable sucks that Carmelo Hayes lost clean because if he isn’t at WrestleMania a poor taste by WWE Creative that’s all I have to say.

The April 3rd Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Episode Grade: 0/10 (F) — Enough is said, I have no words. This was an overall horrendous episode of SmackDown. I have nothing else to say about this episode. I said everything above.