WWE Smackdown 4/17/2026

WWE Smackdown 4/17/2026

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2026/04/wwe-smackdown-4102026.html

We are in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves are on commentary.

This is the final WWE show before Wrestlemania.

We get a video with various wrestlers and others talking about various Wrestlemania moments.

We see various wrestlers arrive including Rhea Ripley without make up.

Pat McAfee arrives in a truck with Randy Orton. Nick Aldis greets them. He gives them an agreement to sign. Pat says he needs to read this before he can sign it and Orton says he's heading to the ring. Pat says Orton will ruin the show by telling truths. Pat then signs the contract. 

Randy Orton comes out to talk. He says he doesn't need Pat McAfee but he wants him. He says Pat is the only straight shooter in this company. He doesn't tell him what he wants to hear but what he needs to hear. He says he was friends with Cody and Cody gave him permission to be him. Orton says he doesn't need permission to be him.

Orton says most relationships work on give and take. He says he gave and Cody took. He said he had Cody's back during his feud with Solo Sikoa and he got put through a table for it. He says Cody gave Kevin Owens a title match. He said he had Cody's back when KO turned on him and tried to talk sense into KO. He says he got piledriven for it. He says Pat has done for him than Cody has done in half a lifetime. He says helping Cody hurt his legacy and he will fix it. He says he will take #15 home where it belongs with the RKO. 

Pat McAfee is in the truck and tells Orton great work. Aldis is there. Pat says everything changes for the better and he will put a good word in for him. He says life is about to get better. 

Street Fight - The MFT's (Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo, Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga) vs The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan and Dexter Lumis)

All 8 fight to start. Howdy beats up Solo outside. Erick facekicks Talla. Talla is then booted out by Erick. Joe and Dex hit stereo dives outside. Erick goes for a dive but is tripped by Tonga Loa. Loa is sent into the rails. Talla lariats Erick on the floor. Talla hits The Wyatt's with the steps and throws the steps at Erick's head. 

We go to PiP break and return. Tama pounds on Howdy in the corner. Joe handspring lariats Tama. Dex backdrops and legdrops Solo. Tama is monkey flipped into a sitout powerbomb. JC germans Joe then tour of the islands backdrops Dex. JC belly to belly suplexes Dex. 

Howdy pounds on JC. Talla samoan drops Howdy, Dex and Joe. Erick dropkicks Talla out. Erick then topes him. Erick throws weapons in. Solo is hit with trash cans. Erick splashes a trash can into Solo. We go to PiP break and return.

Solo is chaired by Howdy. Tama and JC and also get chair shots. Howdy uranage's Solo. Nikki Cross top rope plancha's Loa. Talla facekicks Howdy. Solo top rope splashes Howdy. Talla gets hit with kendo sticks. Talla then hits a double chokeslam. Erick chairs Talla.Talla lariats him over the top and goes with him. Erick starts holding his leg. Tama twisting reverse ddt's Howdy. Tama goes to finish off Howdy and Solo samoan spikes Howdy for the win.

Thoughts: We had 2 breaks during this. It was mostly weapons shots. No one bled or anything and it wasn't anything too special. This really should have happened on Mania where it could have been more exciting.

R-Truth and Damian Priest talk. Truth talks about New Day and says they could beat them. He says Asuka could curse them and Priest says that's Danhasuen. Truth confuses Grayson Waller for someone and Truth tells him to get it together. Truth says they have a championship match tonight and Priest doesn't know anything about it.

We see The Miz and Maryse renewing their wedding vows with Kit Wilson being the priest. Danhausen comes in and freaks out Miz. Dan says he's the maid of honor. Miz tells Kit to do something. Kit says you may now "curse the bridge". Miz and Dan fight. Maryse is pushed into the wedding cake and gets it on her face.

We get a video on Royce Keys.

Jacob Fatu comes out in the back of a police car. He then stands on top of it. He says Drew wants to tell the whole world he's still a criminal. Fatu says he's not ashamed of his life and doesn't live that life no more. He says Drew putting him in cuffs didn't bother him. He says there's no Nick Aldis or police tomorrow and says no one can stop him when he beats his @ss. He says there's no one save him tomorrow.

Fatu says he put being in jail in his rear view. He says when he gets done beating him, he will put him in his rear view. He say we will see him shake his dreads and he says he will dog walk Drew tomorrow. 

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Bliss tries to make her feel good. Flair says she wants to win gold at Mania tomorrow. Bliss says they need to beat Bayley and Lyra tonight to do that. Bliss says they will still be best friends after. Flair says being friends is good but think about how good winning gold will feel. Bliss then walks away. 

WWE Tag Titles - R-Truth and Damian Priest (c) vs Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller

GW hits shots on DP then flurries him. DP facekicks him. DP throws GW in the corner and hits punches. GW takes a russian legsweep + flying corkscrew forearm. Truth hits mounted corner punches on GW.

Truth is pulled over the top by GW. GW poses for the camera's and runs into DP. DP takes a dropkick between the ropes from Kofi. We go to PiP break and return. Kofi fameassers Truth. GW elbow drops Truth off the buckles. Truth is missing his shoe.

Kofi and Waller argue. Kofi is pushed into him and knocks him off the ropes. DP hot tags in and drops the heels with forearms. DP hits flying corner attacks and lifting flatliners Kofi. DP rope walks and crossbodies GW. DP rebound lariats GW for 2.

Truth aks Kofi to tag him in and Kofi does. Truth flying shoulders Kofi then backdrops him. DP slams GW. Truth and DP do five knuckle shuffles together. GW takes a flapjack + flatliner and is pinned.

Thoughts: It was alright but a little goofy near the end with Truth asking Kofi to tag him in and doing Cena's offense. The faces won as expected here. 

Jade Cargill comes out with Michin and B-Fab. Rhea Ripley comes out before Jade can say anything. Rhea says there's nothing she'd like more than to lay her out now but she doesn't want to give her an excuse to not make it to Mania. She says she's not the most patient of people. She says she thinks Jade is scared. She says she can't wait to embarrass her.

Fab says Rhea should be embarrassed as she keeps coming for Jade and failing. Rhea says Jade has done nothing but hide since Elimination Chamber. She says this is her last chance to say something face to face to her. 

Jade mocks her. She says she's everything Rhea wishes she could be. Jade says she was sparing her and will put belt to @ss on her on Saturday. She says if she keeps talking, she will make it quick. Rhea says she doesn't want to be like her and says she has fought people like her all her life. Rhea says her insecurities made her the person she is. She says they can make it quick at Mania if she wants. They stare down and Jade leaves.

The MFT's talk in the back. Solo is happy about their win and says The Wyatt's are finished. He says it happened because they worked together as a team. Tama doesn't seem thrilled. Solo  tells Talla to win the battle royal and take the trophy home tonight. Solo says he will talk to Aldis to get the tag titles back. 

WWE United States Title #1 Contender's Match - Tiffany Stratton vs Jordynne Grace

Giulia and Kiana James are at ringside for this. They shake hands. JG side headlocks her. Tiff sunset flips her then crucifixes her. JG ducks a high kick. Tiff hadnsprings over her then they botch something for 2. Tiff's head is banged off the buckles and JG hits short arm lariats. Tiff is dropped throat first on the top rope and JG lariats her. 

We go to PiP break and return. JG 2nd rope superplexes her. Tiff ddt's her when countering a suplex. They trade shots. Tiff knees her in the face. Tiff spinning back elbows her then double stomps her for 2. JG hits a headbutt flurry on her.

JG rolling death valley drivers her and sitout package powerbombs her for 2. Tiff handsprings into a stunner on her. Tiff finlay rolls her. Tiff double jump moonsaults her and wins. Tiff stares Giulia as she wins.

Thoughts: It wasn't that good. The crowd wasn't into it and they were sloppy early. Tiff's body looks completely different and it seems like she lost a lot of her muscle. I think they were supposed to do Tiff vs Giulia at Mania but dropped it and no matter how you shake it, this is a major demotion for Tiff. I don't know how much longer this Giulia experiment will go on but it's a problem when it is taking Tiff out of the picture at Mania.

Trick Williams comes out to talk. Trick says there's no smiles, games and jokes tonight. He says he has something to get off his chest. He says Sami Zayn crossed the line last week when he hit Lil' Yachty with a helluva kick. He says he doesn't know when Yachty is coming back. He says he did something worse than hurting his friend - he hurt his entrance. He tells Sami Zayn to come out.

Someone in a gingerbread costume comes out. Trick thinks it's Sami and introduces him to the crowd. Trick says the gingerbread man looks upset and says he's upset about their not being diehard Sami fans last week. Trick says when life gives you lemons, you put your lemon pepper steppers on and keep talking. Trick says this is his moment to get the US Title and Mania and he will do whatever it takes.

Sami Zayn then comes out and gets booed. He says he's glad Trick is taking his first Mania so seriously. Sami says he hasn't had a good time for a long time. He says the fans haven't been having fun lately either. Sami says he's not sure what he did wrong and he doesn't care. Sami says he does this everyday for the ride or die Sami fans. He says those fans will be in his corner at Mania and beyond. 

Sami tells the gingerbread man to go away. He says he thought Trick was the future of the industry but he hasn't shown him anything where it counts in the ring. Sami says he doesn't see the future of this business, he sees a little punk rookie. He says Trick walked in with no plan. Trick says he is the plan.

Trick says Sami is washing out and doesn't know how to find himself no more. Trick says he's the one that will get the job done. Sami says Trick thinks he's in Sami's head with the gingerbread man. Trick says he's in the ring with 2 gingerbread men. Sami hits him and Trick punches back. Trick drops him and Sami lariats him over the top. 

Sami then looks at the gingerbread man and helluva kicks him, twisting his mask around. Trick hits a trick shot on Sami and holds up the US Title.

Thoughts: I don't know why they want Sami to be heel so much but it's working and I hope they are happy with how it works out.

The girls in the 4-way tag match at Mania all talk. Brie says Nikki showing up at Mania.  

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs Bayley and Lyra Valkyria

All  4 girls trade shots. Bliss takes a backdrop and Flair chops Lyra. Lyra spinning heel kicks Flair. Bayley is sent into the steps. Nia Jax comes in and lariats Lyra or the DQ. Lash comes down and pump kicks Flair down. Bayley then gets in and Lyra is dropped. Lyra is held in the air for a 2nd rope Nia legdrop. Nia and Lash hold the titles up after. 

Thoughts: There was nothing to this before the finish.

2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Psycho Clown is in this as is La Parka and Shiloh Hill. Joe Hendry then gets his own entrance. 

Everyone fights. Kit Wilson yells at Joe Hendry and self eliminates to escape him. Sabin fights off Fraxiom. Sabin boots Frazer on the apron then Frazer is knocked off by Gargano and sent into the commentary table for the elimination. Sabin gets eliminated. Grander Americano I fights Grande II. Grande I goes for the mask and Talla Tonga throws both out.

Ilja Dragunov chops and trades with Shiloh. Ilja flying kicks him off the apron for the elimination. Parka gets sent out by Los Garza. Rey Fenix flying kicks Berto out. Clown tilt-a-whirl backbreakers Angel then pop-up forearms him. Clown headbutts Angel and Royce Keys lariats Clown over the top.

Gagano slingshot ddt's Axiom on the apron. Alex Shelley helps him up and Rey Fenix ropewalk kicks Alex for the elimination. Apollo Crews and Shinsuke Nakamura trade. Nakamura eliminates Crews. Hendry fallaway slams Gargano. Aleister Black sends Hendry out.

Joaquin Wilde is sent out then Talla Tonga throws Cruz Del Toro out. Talla Tonga is ganged up on. Fenix hits kicks on Talla. Talla catches Fenix's springboard and chokeslams him on the apron for the elimination. Ilja spinning chops Talla. Aleister Black throws out Nakamura. Ilja jumping facekicks Aleister. Aleister knocks Ilja off the buckles for the elimination.

Akira Tozawa germans Aleister. Aleister hits black mass on him and throws him out. Otis running lariats Cardona and Aleister. Otis corner splashes Angel and throws him out. He corner splashes Gargano as well and Gargano falls down. Otis does the caterpillar splash to Gargano and throws him out.

Otis powerbombs Cardona then throws him out. Otis bolo punches Aleister. Aleister drops him with black mass. Keys lariats Aleister over the top for the elimination. Otis shoulders over keys and corner splashes him. Otis slams Keys. Talla running facekicks Otis then throws him out.

Keys and Talla are the final two. Keys spinebusters Talla then lariats Talla over the top. Royce Keys wins.

Thoughts: It was your usual battle royal. They kept things moving and tended to just focus on 2 people at a time. It wasn't anything too great or memorable and there weren't a lot of happenings. It was pretty straight forward. Keys winning is a good way to get his singles run going here and shows that they are interested in pushing him.

Keys poses with the Andre trophy after.

Cody Rhodes comes out to talk. He says we are not going to talk about the conspiracy theories of someone messing with him at the last 3 Mania's. He says tomorrow is about 2 men fighting for the richest prize in the game. He says Orton was talking about him "taking" and he says it's an interesting choice of words. He says Orton has never taken responsibility in his life. He says he saw Orton burn everything in is path in 2009 and lose at Mania.

CM Punk comes out. Cody asks if Punk will kick him in the balls and urn on him after they hug. Punk says he wants to give him advice and to not speak about a tourist's name (Travis Scott). Punk asks if he's wearing a bowtie and Cody says he's dressed up for the Hall of Fame ceremony. Punk says he's wearing a suit for the first time on TV since Teddy Long got married.

Punk says he doesn't need to give him advice as he has done things he hasn't. He tells him to focus and says if Orton was his teacher he's not now. He says he knows they will both be here on Monday. Punk asks the fans to be with them too on Monday. Punk says he's proud of him. Punk tells him to have fun and tries to leave. Cody stops him.

Cody says he knows who Punk is up against on Sunday. Cody says Roman is that good and is facing the most dominating Mania main eventer. He says Punk wasn't born into this like they were. He says Punk got in when they weren't looking for people like him. He says Punk got his name chanted when he wasn't here for 10 years. He says Punk came back better than ever. He says he's better than he has ever been. He says Punk is trying to make it so he's the new Mr. Wrestlemania. Cody thanks Punk for everything he has taught him and for sharing the ring with him. He says his dad Dusty would be extremely proud of him and he loves him. They then hug.

The music hits and Punk says cut the music. Punk says he loves all the fans and says they are here to celebrate with the people.

Overall thoughts: Mania is tomorrow so we had a lot of fluff and filler here. There weren't many new developments angle wise and the wrestling was weak overall. I wouldn't say there was a clear best match here and there was nothing you need to see. The final segment with Cody and Punk was something different though and a nice moment. It was a weaker show as expected as they are saving everything good for this weekend. I'd give it a 4 out of 10 and thought you could pretty much skip this one.