WWE WrestleMania SmackDown in Paradise, Nevada, USA, Live on the USA Network, April 17th, 2026 — The Episode Recap:

The WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes & the WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk gave each other some advice and embraced each other in the square circle. (Image courtesy of WWE)

• Location: T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, USA.

• Where to Watch: Live on the USA Network & Streaming on Netflix Worldwide.

• What to Watch: WrestleMania Night One is Tomorrow at 6 P.M. ET / 5 P.M. CT / 3 P.M. PT, Streaming Live on ESPN Unlimited. The first hour of WrestleMania Night One will be live on ESPN2.

The April 17th Episode of WWE WrestleMania SmackDown — The Official Match Results:

The Opening Match: The MFTs (JC Mateo, Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga) (with Tonga Loa) defeated The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy & Uncle Howdy) (with Nikki Cross) in an Eight-Man Tag Team Street Fight | The Match Rating: **.75 — (14:30)

The 2nd Match: Wepa Up (Damian Priest & R-Truth) (c) defeated Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | via Pin-Fall — (10:00)

The 3rd Match: Tiffany Stratton defeated Jordynne Grace in a WWE Women’s United States Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:05)

The 4th Match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria in a Tag Team Match | via No Contest — (00:34)

The Main Event Match: Royce Keys defeated Akira Tozawa and Aleister Black and Alex Shelley and Angel and Apollo Crews and Axiom and Berto and Chris Sabin and Cruz Del Toro and El Grande Americano and Ilja Dragunov and Joaquin Wilde and Joe Hendry and Johnny Gargano and Kit Wilson and La Parka and Matt Cardona and Nathan Frazer and Otis and Psycho Clown and Rey Fenix and Shiloh Hill and Shinsuke Nakamura and Talla Tonga and The Original El Grande Americano in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale — (10:55)

My Official Thoughts on the April 17th Episode of WWE WrestleMania SmackDown:

My Official Thoughts: This wasn't horrible, but I was very uninterested throughout the majority of the episode. I think WWE needs a major reset after WrestleMania. Everything feels dull and uninteresting.

The April 17th Episode of WWE WrestleMania SmackDown — My Official Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: The MFTs (JC Mateo, Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga) (with Tonga Loa) vs. The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy & Uncle Howdy) (with Nikki Cross) in an Eight-Man Tag Team Street Fight | The Match Rating: **.75 —

The 2nd Match: Wepa Up (Damian Priest & R-Truth) (c) vs. Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller in a WWE Tag Team Title Match | The Match Rating: *.75 — I wasn't interested in this match, because it makes no sense. You've Fraxiom, Motor City Machine Guns & Los Garza. But a made-up team of Damian Priest & R-Truth is the champion. To put it shortly, the match sucked, Grayson Waller & Kofi Kingston aren't even SmackDown Superstars, they're on RAW. It was a very awful match; I didn't enjoy watching it.

The 3rd Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jordynne Grace in a WWE Women’s United States Title No. 1 Contender’s Match | The Match Rating: *** — This wasn't that bad, Jordynne Grace is back after an injury scare back in March on a Main Event Taping against Alba Fyre glad she's okay, but this was a very stiff, and hard-hitting match, which is a good thing, this looked to woken up Tiffany Stratton who looked disinterested in recvent weeks, but I wished Jordynne Grace could've got the win, but I do think with Jordynne Grace back she'll have a solid run on SmackDown, but Giulia next challenger for her WWE Women's United States Title is Tiffany Stratton. But I would've preferred Jordynne Grace; she would've brought the best version out of Giulia, but maybe soon that match will happen.

The 4th Match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria in a Tag Team Match | The Match Rating: N/A — This match happened a couple of weeks back. They ran it back again, only lasting a couple of seconds, and every team involved with the Fatal-Four Way Women’s Tag Team Title Match came out to battle as everyone was barreling as the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Lash Legend & Nia Jax stood tall, after the brawl. They really didn’t need this match if this was going to happen.

The Main Event Match: Royce Keys vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Aleister Black vs. Alex Shelley vs. Angel vs. Apollo Crews vs. Axiom vs. Berto vs. Chris Sabin vs. Cruz Del Toro vs. El Grande Americano vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Joaquin Wilde vs. Joe Hendry vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kit Wilson vs. La Parka vs. Matt Cardona vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Otis vs. Psycho Clown vs. Rey Fenix vs. Shiloh Hill vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga vs. The Original El Grande Americano in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale | The Match Rating: ***.25 — Hey, this match wasn't bad because Royce Keys got his first achievement in WWE as he won the Andre the Giant Battle Royale in the Main Event of this show. The action in this match was how every typical battle royal is, but the ending stretch was cool with Otis, Royce Keys & Talla Tonga. But it was cool to see Royce Keys winning they been showing people who he is, his background, him winning last week against Berto, and now won his 1st Achievement by eliminatiing Talla Tonga now if you remember Solo Sikoa talked to Royce Keys so it seems like the MFTs is Royce Keys first feud within WWE, I just hope it goes by quick because WWE seems to srtech feuds out for months on end.

The April 17th Episode of WWE WrestleMania SmackDown — My Match of the Night: Royce Keys vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Aleister Black vs. Alex Shelley vs. Angel vs. Apollo Crews vs. Axiom vs. Berto vs. Chris Sabin vs. Cruz Del Toro vs. El Grande Americano vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Joaquin Wilde vs. Joe Hendry vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kit Wilson vs. La Parka vs. Matt Cardona vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Otis vs. Psycho Clown vs. Rey Fenix vs. Shiloh Hill vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga vs. The Original El Grande Americano in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale | The Match Rating: ***.25 — Hey, this match was quite good because Royce Keys earned his first WWE achievement by winning the Andre the Giant Battle Royale at the main event. The match itself was typical of a battle royal, but the final moments with Otis, Royce Keys, and Talla Tonga were exciting. It was great to see Royce Keys win, especially after they’ve been highlighting his background, his victory last week against Berto, and now his first major win by eliminating Talla Tonga. If you recall, Solo Sikoa spoke to Royce Keys, which suggests that the MFTs might be Royce Keys’ first WWE storyline. I just hope it doesn’t drag out, as WWE often stretches feuds over several months.

The April 17th Episode of WWE WrestleMania SmackDown — My Official Episode Grade: 4/10 (D+) — It wasn’t terrible, but I felt disengaged for most of the episode. I think WWE needs a major reset after WrestleMania, because everything currently feels flat and uninteresting.