WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - April 3rd, 2026
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Cody Rhodes looks to spoil Randy Orton's homecoming on The Road to WrestleMania
After an explosive return last Friday on SmackDown, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will surely be on the warpath this Friday in St. Louis, the hometown of his WrestleMania challenger Randy Orton. The American Nightmare will look to spoil The Viper's homecoming on the turbulent Road to WrestleMania. How will the Undisputed WWE Champion respond to Orton's attack on Jelly Roll last week? How will he take the fight to Orton in The Viper's hometown?
:smackdown:
— Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore greet audiences at home before we head over to a video of the conversation between Cody Rhodes and Stephanie McMahon from Monday's episode of WWE Raw.
— Randy Orton makes his way out to the ring.
Orton asks St. Louis what they want to talk about, then says what he's doing is for himself and his family. He promises to walk out of WrestleMania 42 as Undisputed WWE Champion, then says Cody Rhodes will leave Las Vegas empty handed whether he walks, crawls, or is carried out. He says things between himself and Rhodes aren't personal because Rhodes gave him permission to listen to the voices in his head, then says there's no putting back to bed what Rhodes opened up.
Rhodes' music hits, and he makes his way out. He begins brawling with Orton and fires off right hands on him in the corner, but Pat McAfee appears out of nowhere and low blows Rhodes.
Orton grabs a chair from the ringside area as McAfee fires off stomps on Rhodes. McAfee begins ragging on St. Louis as Nick Aldis and officials make their way out and Orton places the Undisputed WWE Championship on his shoulder. Orton cracks a chair across Rhodes' spine as McAfee explains he was asked a month ago when he'd return to WWE. He says he did say he thought the professional wrestling business had passed him by, then says when he turns on WWE TV, he has to see two 5'5" guys have an Iron Man Match for no reason. He questions why he's watching that when Orton is around, then reveals he was the one on the phone with Orton telling him that he was going to save the professional wrestling business. McAfee then leaves the ring with Orton.
— Pat McAfee and Randy Orton walk through the parkade and get into a truck and drive away. McAfee says Orton is saving the business and that Orton is the GOAT and they drive off.
— Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring. Michin and B-Fab follow.
Rhea Ripley vs. Michin (w/ B-Fab)
The bell rings and Michin charges at Ripley. Ripley fires off right hands on Michin, then whips her into the corner and lands a shoulder on her midsection. She lands a Fallaway Slam on Michin.
Jade Cargill makes her way out to the ring as Ripley lands a second Fallaway Slam on Michin. Cargill distracts Ripley, opening the door for Michin to land a German suplex on Ripley and rain down right hands on her. Michin dumps Ripley out of the ring during the break, and B-Fab fires off a right hand on her as Michin distracts the referee.
Michin wears down Ripley with a submission hold back in the ring, but Ripley lands a kick on the side of Michin's head back from the break. She sends Michin crashing into the mat and lands a dropkick on her, then connects with a running knee on her and goes for a pin. Michin kicks out.
Ripley gets Michin up in an Electric Chair position, but Michin reverses into a hurricanrana. She connects with Eat Defeat on Ripley and goes for a pin, but Ripley kicks out and cinches in the Prism Trap on Michin. Michin taps out.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
— After the match, B-Fab attacks Ripley and Ripley takes down B-Fab. Cargill gets in the ring and Michin attacks Ripley. Ripley gets triple teamed and Cargill goes to hit Jaded on Ripley and Iyo Sky comes. Cargill leaves the ring and Sky beats on both Michin and B-Fab. Sky and Ripley hit a double dropkick sending Michin and B-Fab out of the ring. Ripley and Sky celebrate.
— Matt Cardona is in medical and he is approached by Aleister Black and Zelina. Cardona says if they want to take credit for turning Randy Orton to the dark side. Cardona suggests they fight tonight.
— Solo Sikoa is with The MFTs backstage. He talks about being challenged by Uncle Howdy tonight. He asks one of the MFTs to take out Howdy. Tama Tonga asks why they're fighting for a lantern and says it's caused them nothing but problems. Sikoa tells Tonga to go out and fight for the lantern. Tonga says he will handle Howdy and he wants to go out alone. Sikoa tells him not to mess this up.
— Rhea Ripley is backstage with Iyo Sky. Cathy Kelley comes by and asks if Sky being here was Ripley's back-up plans. Ripley admits it was planned and says Jade Cargill has followers and she has friends. They both say they have each other's back.
— Tama Tonga makes his way to the ring. Uncle Howdy is already waiting inside.
Uncle Howdy vs. Tama Tonga
The bell rings and Howdy fires off stomps on Tama in the corner. Tama sends Howdy crashing into the top turnbuckle face first, then sends his hand bouncing off the ring steps on the outside during the commercial break and dumps Howdy back in the ring.
Tama fires off stomps on Howdy in the corner, but Howdy cinches in the Mandible Claw on Tama. Solo Sikoa emerges at ringside to distract Howdy with The Wyatt Sicks' lantern, opening the door for Tama to attack Howdy from behind.
Tama and Sikoa begin arguing after Tama had told Sikoa to stay in the back earlier. This opens the door for Howdy to land Sister Abigail on Tama for the win.
Winner: Uncle Howdy
— After the match, Tama continues arguing with Sikoa. Tama tells Sikoa he doesn't need The Wyatt Sicks' lantern and grabs it from his hand, then places it on the ring apron. Tama lets Howdy take The Wyatt Sicks' lantern back and stops Sikoa from trying to take it back.
— Kit Wilson and The Miz walk backstage. Wilson says he believes Danhausen cursed him. The Miz says there is no curse and they come by R-Truth. The Miz goes off on Truth and says Truth always gets everything. Truth says he and Damian Priest should take on Wilson and The Miz. Wilson is stoked they have a title match tonight and The Miz is surprised and happy too.
— A video package for Jacob Fatu plays and he discusses his WrestleMania match against Drew McIntyre. Fatu talks about coming from the gutter and coming out on top. He says he's a survivor and says he'll destroy McIntyre.
— Sami Zayn is all smiles and he walks backstage. Zayn thanks Nick Aldis for allowing him to go out to the ring and talk to the fans. Zayn apologizes for getting in his feels for being left out of WrestleMania and Aldis tells Zayn that he deserves it and he earned it and tells Zayn to go out and address the fans and to be excited for getting pyro for his entrance since he's a champ now. Sami Zayn looks to make his way to the ring, but Trick Williams' music hits before he can and he makes his way out along with Lil Yachty.
Williams says he came to the ring to celebrate his first WrestleMania match. He says with all the celebrities appearing on WWE programming, he thought he would bring out another one in Lil Yachty. Lil Yachty says WrestleMania is made for legends and not little boys and girls before Williams gives a preview to the fans by standing on the ropes and poses as the pyro goes off.
Zayn's music hits and he makes his way out. He says Williams has the rapper with him, but the pageantry has never really been his thing. He says his thing is being more dressed down and what he does in the ring between the ropes, then says when the bell rings at WrestleMania, Williams will learn that his pageantry won't save him because he'll be in the ring with one of the best to ever do it. He promises to humble Williams at WrestleMania, but Williams says Zayn failed to mention that the only reason he's United States Champion and is heading to WrestleMania is because of him. He thanks himself on behalf of Zayn.
Carmelo Hayes' music hits and he makes his way out. He says he can't watch all of this go down in the back and says he has a long history with Williams, then says Williams has his receipt coming. He says what happened between himself and Zayn doesn't sit right with him, then says he carried SmackDown and the United States Championship on his back for months. He says the fans want him rather than Zayn, then tells Zayn to give the fans what they want and demands Zayn give him a rematch for the United States Championship.
Zayn says he thinks the world of Hayes and did carry SmackDown on his back, but says he beat Hayes last week and punched his ticket to WrestleMania 42. He says if Hayes wants a United States Championship rematch, it'll have to be after WrestleMania 42. He says he's happy he's going to WrestleMania 42, but doesn't feel good about not giving Hayes his rematch until after April 18 and 19. Hayes tells Zayn to do the right thing, prompting Zayn to give Hayes his rematch tonight. He says the winner will defend the United States Championship against Williams and asks Hayes if they're good and Hayes says they are.
— Backstage, Solo Sikoa asks Tama Tonga why he gave the lantern back. Tonga says the lantern was tearing them apart and they need to focus on taking over SmackDown and taking all the titles. Sikoa agrees and says they need to finish the Wyatt Sicks and then they'll go about new business.
— Aleister Black and Zelina make their way to the ring. Matt Cardona follows.
Matt Cardona vs. Aleister Black (w/ Zelina)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Cardona levels Black with a dropkick, but the action spills out of the ring and Cardona beats down Black. He dumps Black back in the ring and sends him crashing into the top turnbuckle face first, but Zelina distracts him which opens the door for Black to trip Cardona and send him crashing off the apron and onto the floor.
During the commercial break, Black sends Cardona crashing into the barricade and continues to beat him down. He wears down Cardona's arm that was previously injured by Randy Orton, but Cardona lands a spinebuster on Black. Black sits Cardona on the top rope back from the break, but Cardona fights off Black and delivers a dropkick to him. He follows it up with a powerbomb and goes for a pin, but Black kicks out.
Cardona looks to land a running boot on Black, but Black avoids it and lands a suplex on Cardona. He follows it up with Black Mass for the win.
Winner: Aleister Black
— Cathy Kelley talks to Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Bayley says she's excited for their WrestleMania spot. Valkyria says they'll take down Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss. Valkyria says this year's WrestleMania is retribution for Bayley being cut from WrestleMania last year.
— A video package for the Oba Femi/Brock Lesnar saga plays.
— R-Truth talks to Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano. Gargano tells Truth that Johnny Wrestling is back and they leave. Damian Priest comes up to Truth and asks why he agreed to the match against The Miz & Kit Wilson. Truth says Asuka cursed them and Priest says that's Danhausen. Priest doesn't get why Truth gave The Miz and Wilson a title shot because they are "cursed"? Truth tells Priest out for Asuka cursing everyone.
— A video package for Drew McIntyre plays where he calls Jacob Fatu a convict and says Fatu is only here because of his family and that Fatu is a nepocriminal. McIntyre vows to expose Fatu.
— Back at ringside, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss then make their way out. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria follow as Wade Barrett reveals that Nikki Bella is undergoing rehabilitation for an ankle injury she had sustained last Friday.
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss
The bell rings and all four women begin brawling with one another. Flair levels Valkyria with a big boot in the middle of the ring, but Alkyria rocks Flair with an enzuigiri. Bliss tags in and lands a DDT on Valkyria off the middle rope, but Flair tags back in and continues to wear down Valkyria.
Bliss tags back in and wears down Valkyria with a submission hold. She jams her knee into the back of Valkyria's neck during the commercial break, but Flair tags in and knocks Bayley off the apron. She sends Vakyria crashing into the corner, but Bliss tags back in and fires off stomps on Valkyria.
Back from the break, Flair tags back in and levels Valkyria with a chop. Bayley tags in and wears down Flair, then drags her into one corner and ascends to the top rope. Flair joins Bayley on the ropes, but Bayley fends her off and lands an elbow drop on her. She goes for a pin, but Flair kicks out.
Valkyria tags in and ascends to the top rope as Bayley gets Flair up on her shoulders. Valkyria and Bayley land a Fallaway Slam-Blockbuster combination on Flair, but Flair cinches in a Figure Eight Leg Lock on Valkyria. Bayley breaks the hold and drags Valkyria to her corner to tag herself in, but Bliss levels Bayley with a dropkick.
Bliss tags in and sets up for Sister Abigail on Valkyria. Bayley comes to Valkyria's aid, but Bliss and Flair land double Natural Selections on Valkyria and Bayley. Bliss then pins Valkyria for the win.
Winners: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss
— After the match, Lash Legend lands a standing splash on Valkyria as Nia Jax levels Bayley and Claire with a double clothesline on the outside. Legend runs over Bayley with a big boot, then stand tall holding up their Women's Tag Team Championship belts.
— Damian Priest and R-Truth make their way to the ring. Kit Wilson and The Miz follow.
:tagteam:
Men's WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson
Truth and Miz begin the action. The bell rings and Wilson attacks Truth from behind to instead start the match. Miz fires off stomps on Truth in the corner, but Truth levels Miz with a pair of shoulder tackles and a slam. Miz rakes Truth's eye, and Wilson sends Truth's face bouncing off the apron before taking a cheap shot on him on the outside.
Back from the break, Priest lands a crossbody on Miz off the top rope. Truth tags back in and levels Miz with a shoulder tackle.
Danhausen's music hits and he makes his way out. He calls for Miz to tag him in despite not being in the match, but Miz decides against it and argues with the referee. Danhausen calls for Truth to instead tag him in, and Truth does so.
Danhausen gets fired up, but Miz yells at him to get out of the ring. Danhausen looks to curse Miz, but Miz pulls the referee in front of him and curses him instead. The Miz then looks to land a Skull Crushing Finale on Danhausen.
The lights go out, but when they come back on, Danhausen has run up the entrance ramp. Truth lands an Attitude Adjustment on Wilson, but Miz catches Truth with a Skull Crushing Finale. He goes for a pin, but the cursed referee is unable to complete the count because his arm gives out. This opens the door for Priest to land South of Heaven on Miz for the win.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: R-Truth & Damian Priest
— After the match, Cody Rhodes runs out and hits Cross Roads on Wilson and gets on the mic. Rhodes talks about Pat McAfee being the man who directed Orton to snap. Rhodes says McAfee can kiss his ass and insults McAfee. Rhodes talks about how John Cena was the angel on his shoulder, Randy Orton was the devil - Orton was a mentor. Rhodes says he needs to be a bad guy to beat Orton. Rhodes says he doesn't know how to be underhanded and shady to fight Orton. Rhodes talks about all the people he's challenged and beaten. He talks about his WrestleMania match being a match with two of the best. He says he is finally listening to the voices in his head and we don't want to know what they're saying.
— Trick Williams and Little Yachty come out to the announce desk for the next match.
:ustitle2:
WWE United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
The bell rings and the two lock up. We see that Trick Williams and Lil Yachty have taken a seat at ringside to watch the action as Zayn fires off back elbows on Hayes, but Hayes rains down right hands on Zayn and runs the ropes. Zayn catches Hayes with a clothesline.
The action spills out of the ring as the referee begins a ten count during the break. Zayn and Hayes beat it, but Zayn fires off stomps on Hayes and delivers an elbow drop to him. Hayes fires off right hands on Zayn back from the break and sends him crashing into the mat face first, then goes for a pin but Hayes kicks out.
Hayes catches Zayn with a thrust kick, then ascends to the top rope and lands a Frog Splash on Zayn. He goes for a pin, but Zayn kicks out. Hayes grabs onto his knee, but the referee checks on him in the corner. Zayn takes advantage and delivers a Helluva Kick to Hayes as the referee moves out of the way for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Sami Zayn
— After the match, Williams and Lil Yachty get in the ring and begin beating down Zayn. Yachty holds Zayn in place for Williams to land a Trick Shot at Zayn. He holds up the United States Championship and stands tall with Lil Yachty in the ring as the show goes off the air.
