WrestleMania weekend is here but before we get to The Grandest Stage of them All - the final Friday Night SmackDown before WM comes at us. On the show for tonight, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Jacob Fatu & Drew McIntyre are scheduled to appear, Tiffany Stratton battles Jordynne Grace in a No. 1 Contenders Match for Giulia's Women's United States Championship, The Wyatt Sicks collide with MFT in an Eight Man Tag Team Street Fight, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss take on Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal returns and more!
Check back for live results when the show airs tonight at 8/7 C.
SmackDown begins with a recap of WrestleMania's history. Wrestlers like CM Punk, The Usos, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Jade Cargill, Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan, Roman Reigns, Gunther, Stephanie Vaquer, Chelsea Green, Je'Von Evans and a bunch of celebrities and fans all weigh in on their favorite WrestleMania is and what WrestleMania means to them.
We cut to the arena, Jade Cargill with B-Fab & Michin, Rhea Ripley, Sami Zayn, Trick Williams, Lyra Valkyria & Bayley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss and Randy Orton & Pat McAfee are all shown arriving to the venue or backstage. Nick Aldis approaches McAfee and Orton and gives McAfee a contract to sign and talks about a meeting they have scheduled. McAfee says he'll read over the contract and sign it after - Orton let's them deal with the contract and he says he's going out to the ring to speak his mind and leaves. McAfee signs the contract and asks Aldis to park his truck.
At ringside, Randy Orton comes out and heads to the ring. Orton grabs a mic and stands in the ring for a bit. Orton says he'll be the first to admit that he doesn't need Pat McAfee, but the truth is, he wants McAfee. He says McAfee is a straight shooter and isn't a yes man, and tells Orton what Orton needs to hear. Orton says all he needed to hear was to just be him. Orton talks about how things would have been different had he still been facing Drew McIntyre as originally planned. Orton says Cody Rhodes interjected himself into this whole thing and beat McIntyre. He says he didn't want to fight his friend and then Rhodes gives him permission to be him. He can't believe Rhodes feels he needed to give him permission when all Rhodes has done is take, take and take. Orton talks about when Rhodes took on Roman Reigns and how Rhodes called Seth Rollins for back up. He didn't even call Orton, and when Rhodes was being attacked by Solo Sikoa, Orton showed up like a friend and got beaten up. Again, all Rhodes does is take, take, take. Orton talks about Rhodes battling Kevin Owens and when Owens turned on Rhodes, Orton showed up and took Rhodes' side and Owens injured him and put Orton on the shelves. All Rhodes does is take, take and take. Orton says McAfee has helped him more than Rhodes. Orton says Rhodes has hurt his legacy and tomorrow Orton will repair his legacy and he'll do it with the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment - RKO. Orton drops the mic and leaves the ring.
We cut backstage and Pat McAfee is in his truck and Nick Aldis waits outside the truck. Randy Orton gets in the truck and McAfee says Orton's a real champion and then speed out of the parking lot.
Match 1: MFT (Tama Tonga, Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo) w/Tonga Loa -vs- The Wyatt Sick6 (Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan & Joe Gacy) w/Nikki Cross
Everyone starts fighting right at the bell. Talla Tonga is left in the ring with Wyatt Sick6 and Rowan knocks him out of the ring. Lumis and Gacy take out Tama Tonga and JC Mateo. Tonga Loa trips up Rowan allowing Talla Tonga to clothesline Rowan to the floor outside the ring. Talla Tonga uses the steel steps to take out Lumis, Gacy and Rowan and we cut to a commercial break.
We're back, Sikoa beats Howdy with a kendo stick. Tama Tonga punches and kicks Howdy in the corner. Lumis and Gacy get in the ring. Gacy takes out Tonga and he and Lumis take out JC Mateo and then Solo Sikoa. Gacy kicks Talla Tonga out of the ring. Gacy and Lumis double team Tama Tonga and try for a pin. Mateo gets in and takes out Gacy and slams down Lumis. Mateo kicks Howdy in the corner and then goes back to Lumis. Howdy strikes Mateo and Talla Tonga gets in the ring and hits a Samoan Drop on Howdy. Talla Tonga does the same to Lumis and then hits Gacy with a Samoan Drop as well. Rowan gets in the ring and Tonga tries to slam him but Rowan kicks him out of the ring and hits a suicide dive on Tonga outside through the ropes. Rowan tosses some chairs and kendo sticks in the ring. Gacy helps him and we have trash cans in the ring too. Rowan and Howdy strike Sikoa with garbage cans and Rowan splash onto Sikoa with a garbage can on him and we get another commercial.
Back to the match, Sikoa sets a chair in the ring and slams Howdy's head into the chair. Sikoa sits on the chair with a kendo stick and smacks Howdy's ass with the stick and then strikes him hard with the kendo stick. Sikoa drives the chair into Howdy in the corner. Sikoa hits a running hip attack on Howdy. Sikoa tells Howdy the lantern is his and then goes back to punch and kick Howdy. Everyone else fights outside the ring and in the ring Sikoa runs at Howdy again but Howdy gets out of the way and strikes Sikoa with a chair. Howdy takes out Tama Tonga and Mateo with a chair. Howdy slams down Sikoa onto a chair. Nikki Cross hits a top rope cross body on Tonga Loa. Talla Tonga kicks Howdy as he tries for Sister Abigail on Sikoa. Sikoa stands on Tonga's shoulders and hits a splash on Howdy. Lumis and Gacy break the pin and then gets chokeslammed by Talla Tonga. Rowan hits Tonga with a chair and they both fly over the ring when Tonga clotheslines Rowan. Tama Tonga takes down Howdy and goes for cutthroat but Sikoa runs in and hits a Solo Spike and pins Howdy.
Winners: MFT
After the match, Tonga stares at Sikoa and Sikoa stares back. Sikoa points at a fallen Howdy as if he's trying to get Tonga on the same page as him. Tonga looks pissed.
R-Truth and Damian Priest walk backstage and talk about The New Day and Truth tells Priest that Asuka cursed them. Truth gets Priest all confused about who is in the New Day.
We cut to a clip from earlier today where The Miz & Maryse renew their vows with Kit Wilson as the officiate. Danhausen shows up and curses The Miz & Maryse. The Miz and Danhausen fight and Maryse gets pushed into their renewal cake.
A video package for Royce Keys plays highlighting his upbringing and childhood.
A cop car rolls into the parking lot and drives into the arena and stops in the entryway. Jacob Fatu comes out of the cop car with a mic and stands on the cop car. Fatu calls out Drew McIntyre and says that McIntyre wants to tell the world that Fatu is a criminal but Fatu isn't ashamed of his past but he doesn't live there anymore. Fatu talks McIntyre getting him arrested and thinking it would embarrass him but it didn't. Fatu says he will destroy McIntyre in their unsanctioned match and no one will be there to stop him from dog walking McIntyre. Fatu says McIntyre tried to put him back in jail but that's in the rearview and when he finishes beating up McIntyre tomorrow that's where McIntyre belongs - in the rear view.
Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair talk backstage and they talk about how great 2025 was and how 2026 will be better. They talk about their match tonight and their goal is to stay friends regardless of what happens at WrestleMania. Flair says they should focus on the gold too and Bliss leaves.
Match 2 - WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth(c) -vs- The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller)
Waller and Priest start off. Waller attacks Priest and gets kicked down by Priest. Priest throws Waller in the corner and then tags in Truth. Waller is double teamed and Truth then strikes Waller in the corner and punches him 10 times at the turnbuckle. Waller is able to escape at six and beat on Truth. Kingston is tagged in and Priest is knocked off the apron. Truth goes at Waller and Kingston on his own. Waller gets Truth out of the ring, and Priest goes to slams Waller on the apron and Kingston takes out Priest sliding under the bottom ropes and then we cut to a break.
Back from a commercial break, Kingston trips up Truth and Truth loses a shoe. Kingston hits a top rope double axe handle and covers Truth. Truth kicks out and Waller is tagged in. Truth rolls up Waller and Waller kicks out and elbows Truth to the mat. Kingston is tagged in and Truth is double teamed and Truth is covered and Truth kicks out. Kingston stomps on Truth and Waller tags himself in. Kingston is a little choked and Waller tells Kingston to get Truth up. Truth reverses and sends Kingston into Waller knocking him off the ropes. Truth tags Priest and Priest takes out both Waller and Kingston. Priest slams down Kingston and then grabs Waller and walks the ropes. Priest jumps at Waller with a cross body and hits a lariat and covers Waller but Kingston breaks the pin. Kingston tells Waller to get up. Truth is at Kingston's corner asking him to get tagged in. Kingston obliges and Truth comes in and beats up Kingston. Priest slams down Waller and both Priest and Truth do the five knuckle shuffle. Waller is then dropped in a 3D and covered for the win.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: R-Truth & Damain Priest
A video recap of the Randy Orton/Cody Rhodes saga is shown.
Jade Cargill walks backstage with Michin & B-Fab and she makes her way out to the ring to share her thoughts and we cut to a commercial break.
We come back from a commercial break and it's storming in the arena. Jade Cargill makes her way out with her allies, Michin & B-Fab. Cargill and Michin pose together in the ring and B-Fab kinda stands to the side. Before Cargill can say anything, Rhea Ripley's music hits and Ripley makes her way out to the ring. Ripley gets on the apron and says she wants to beat Cargill up right now but she doesn't want Cargill to have an easy out at WrestleMania. Ripley says she's normally not this patient but everytime Ripley comes out to face Cargill face to face, she always has her minions to help her and at WrestleMania she will embarrass Cargill. B-Fab tells Ripley that she should be embarrassed because every time Ripley has come for Cargill she comes out short-handed. Ripley says Cargill is hiding and is scared of Ripley. Ripley tells Cargill to say something to her face to face and alone. Cargill gets on the mic and mockingly says she's scared. Michin and B-Fab leave the ring and Cargill says Ripley is only a top dog because the roster is weak. Cargill tells Ripley she'll put Ripley down at WrestleMania. Ripley says she's been fighting girls like Cargill her whole life and calls Cargill a narcissistic, selfish fake-ass bitch. Cargill shoves her belt in Ripley's face and leaves the ring. Michin and B-Fab join Cargill as Ripley stands in the ring and stares them down.
MFTs talk backstage about finishing the Wyatts. Sikoa says they did that as a team and Tama Tonga seems like he's not on board and then agrees. Sikoa tells Talla Tonga to prepare for the Battle Royal tonight. Sikoa and Tonga share a weird moment before leaving.
Giulia and Kiana James are sitting at ringside for the next match.
Match 3 - WWE Women's United States Championship No. 1 Contenders Match: Tiffany Stratton -vs- Jordynne Grace
Grace and Stratton shake hands before the match and then lock up. Grace gets Stratton in a headlock and Stratton tries for a roll up and tries for another pin but Grace kicks out of both. The two regroup and go at it again. Grace elbows Stratton and Stratton flips around the ring. Stratton takes down Grace and covers her for a near fall. Grace slams Stratton into the turnbuckles and then clotheslines Stratton. Grace gets Stratton on her shoulders and slams her into the ropes. Stratton is clotheslined down to the mat and covered. Stratton kicks out at two and we get a break.
Back to SmackDown, Grace slams down Stratton and then hits a top rope splash and covers Stratton for a near fall. Stratton kicks Grace and Grace sits Stratton on the top rope. Grace hits a superplex on Stratton and Stratton rolls through and brings Grace down with a spike DDT. Stratton and Grace punch each other in the middle of the ring. Stratton knees Grace in the face. Stratton goes for the double stomp but Grace counters and covers Stratton for a near fall. Stratton hits her double stomp and covers Grace and Grace kicks out at two. Grace slams into Stratton on the ropes and then gets Stratton on her shoulders and slams down Stratton. Grace hits slams down Stratton with a folding powerbomb and Stratton kicks out at two. Stratton counters out of a vertebreaker and hits a stunner on Grace. Stratton hits her Prettiest Moonsault Ever and gets the win.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Trick Williams is seen walking backstage and we cut to a commercial break.
Back from a commercial break and Trick Williams comes out to the ring. Williams gets a mic and says he's usually out here, all smiles, games and jokes but not tonight. Tonight Williams has something to get off his chest and says Sami Zayn crossed the line last week and shows a clip of Zayn hitting Little Yachty with a Helluva Kick. Williams says that Zayn hurt and hit his friend and now he doesn't know when Yachty will be back - and this means Zayn has ruined Williams' WrestleMania entrance. Williams wants to take care of business tonight and tells Zayn to come out right now. Zayn's music hits and a man dressed up as a Gingerbread Man comes out. Williams laughs in the ring as this mascot gingerbread man gets in the ring. Williams introduces him as Sami Gingerbread man. Williams cuts a promo on the Gingerbread man. Williams says all of Zayn's fans are on Drury Lane. Williams says this Sunday it's all about him, it's his first WrestleMania and he will do anything to walk out a champion. Sami Zayn comes out and says this is all funny and he's glad Williams is taking his first WrestleMania so seriously. Zayn says he wishes he was having a good time but he hasn't been having a good time for a long time. Zayn says even though he's champ he's not having a good time and says the fans aren't either as they're booing him. Zayn says he doesn't know what he did wrong to have the fans turn on him but he doesn't care because he does this for his ride or die fans and he gets boo'd. He says he has a lot of fans and they'll be in his corner on Sunday. The fans chant for Zayn to shut the f up. Zayn tells the Gingerbread man to stand in the corner and then Zayn says when Williams showed up everyone was talking and now that he's here he hasn't done much. He says Williams hasn't shown Zayn anything in the ring, where it matters. Zayn says he doesn't see the future of the business in Williams and now all he sees is a little punk rookie. Zayn says William has bitten off more than he can chew. Williams talks about how Zayn combs his hair now and is changed and Williams has gotten in Zayn's head. Williams says he's the one who is going to get the job done. Zayn says Williams isn't in his head... and that's Williams' plan - standing in the ring two days before Mania with a Gingerbread Man. Williams says he's in the ring with two gingerbread mans. Zayn attacks Williams and Williams drops Zayn. Zayn then sends Williams over the ropes with a clothesline. The Gingerbread Man stands in the corner and Zayn runs at him with a Helluva Kick and the mascots head spins backwards. Williams gets back in the ring and hits Trick Shot on Zayn, flattening him. Williams poses with the title as the segment ends.
In the parking lot we see Cody Rhodes' tour bus and Rhodes makes his way out.
Match 4: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss -vs- Lyra Valkyria & Bayley
Flair purposely swings into the ropes knocking Valkyria off the top rope before the bell. The bell rings and all four women go at it. Flair and Valkyria are left in the ring and Valkyria takes Flair down. Outside the ring, Bliss sends Bayley into the ring. Nia Jax and Lash Legend run in and attacks Flair and Valkyria. Bayley gets in the ring and jumps on Jax's back but gets flattened by Legend. Valkyria attacks Legend and Jax gets her off Legend. Legend punches Valkyria to the mat and then Legend shakes Valkyria and Jax comes off the middle rope with a leg drop on Valkyria.
No Contest
Match 5 - The 2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: El Grande Americano -vs- OG Americano -vs- Axiom -vs- Nathan Frazer -vs- Johnny Gargano -vs- Matt Cardona -vs- Royce Keys -vs- Joe Hendry -vs- Kit Wilson -vs- Berto -vs- Talla Tonga -vs- Alex Shelley -vs- Chris Sabin -vs- Apollo Crews -vs- Shiloh Hill -vs- Shinsuke Nakamura -vs- Rey Fenix -vs- Dragon Lee -vs- Aleister Black -vs- Otis -vs- Akira Tozawa -vs- Joaquin Wilde -vs- Cruz del Toro -vs- Ilja Dragunov -vs- Psycho Clown -vs- La Parka
Wilson is eliminated almost immediately. Frazer is out next, followed by Sabin. El Grande and OG Americano are eliminated. Hill is out next and La Parka is out next. Berto is eliminated right after. Clown goes out next, followed by Axiom. Shelley is eliminated next, and Crews follows Shelley as the next elimination. Hendry is tossed out next, Wilde and Del Toro are eliminated next. Fenix is eliminated next and Nakamura goes out after him. Dragunov is the next elimination, followed by Tozawa. Angel is tossed out, followed by Gargano. Cardona is the next elimination and we are down to Otis, Black, Keys and Tonga. Black and Otis battle in the ring and Black connects with a kick to Otis' face. Keys gets on his feet and Black is eliminated by Keys. Keys and Tonga stand face to face and Otis collides with Keys knocking him down. Otis slams into Keys and Tonga in the corner. Otis slams Keys and Tonga boots Otis down and tosses him out. Tonga goes to chokeslam Keys but Keys hits a Spinebuster on Tonga and then eliminates him.
Winner: Royce Keys
We get a Roman Reigns and CM Punk feud recap.
Back at ringside, Cody Rhodes makes his way out to the ring to respond to Orton's promo that opened the show. Rhodes stands in the ring and encourages the crowd to sing his theme. Rhodes asks what we should talk about but the one thing he doesn't want to talk about is how the last three WrestleMania's people have tried to screw him over and then he talks about it. He says tomorrow is simple and it's him against his mentor, Randy Orton. He says he doesn't think he'll be screwed over this WrestleMania and talks about Orton saying all Rhodes does is take. Rhodes says Orton has never taken responsibility for anything. Rhodes says as good as Orton is, and before he can continue, CM Punk comes out. Punk is all playful with Rhodes and Rhodes looks annoyed. Rhodes lightens up and says he has to ask as champ to champ and as a friend to friend, is Punk going to kick him in the balls and turn on him tonight. Punk says Rhodes doesn't deserve to be low blowed but he's out here to give Rhodes some advice. Punk and Rhodes talk about how dressed up they are and Rhodes says it's because of the Hall of Fame later tonight. Punk says they've always been chasing each other and they should relish in the moment that they're standing in the ring as champions and headlining WrestleMania 42. Punk says Rhodes has done and said things he hasn't accomplished. Punk says he's been Rhodes' mentor as well, and he wants Rhodes to focus on Orton because he's dangerous. Punk says he's proud of Rhodes and tells him to go get it done this weekend and Punk starts to leave. Rhodes asks Punk to stay back and says he has something to share with Punk. Rhodes talks about Punk's match against Roman Reigns and how it's going to be a hard battle. Rhodes says Punk is here because he loves wrestling instead of being born into the business. Rhodes reminds Punk that people chanted for him for 10 years after he had left. Rhodes says Punk came back better than ever and compares Punk to Shawn Michaels and his return. Rhodes says the new Mr. WrestleMania may be CM Punk and Rhodes says he has a right to say this and he thanks Punk for what he's taught Rhodes and sharing the ring with him today and says that his dad would be proud of Punk right now. Rhodes and Punk say they love everyone and they're here to celebrate with the people and the show goes off the air.
