Danhausen’s WWE debut ends in undefeated win after pyro mishap
Danhausen defeated Kit Wilson on WWE SmackDown in his first WWE match, with a pyro malfunction aiding the finish, leaving him undefeated in WWE.
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McAfee Seizes WWE Championship on SmackDown, Sparks WrestleMania Chaos
Pat McAfee returned to SmackDown, blasted CM Punk, and announced a 25% ticket discount for WrestleMania Saturday. Cody Rhodes clashed with him, while Randy Orton and Jelly Roll set the stage for WrestleMania chaos, with McAfee driving off with Cody Rhodes’s WWE Championship.
Damian Priest slams Pat McAfee–Randy Orton angle as unnecessary, says locker room wasn't happy
Damian Priest criticized WWE's Pat McAfee storyline with Randy Orton on SmackDown, calling it 'sucks' and saying many in the locker room weren’t happy. He argued the PG show could still elevate talent without McAfee’s profanity-laden appearances and questioned the benefit to other wrestlers, noting the storyline felt unnecessary to him.
Royce Keys Debuts on SmackDown, Drops Aight Catchphrase and Spinebuster Finisher
Former AEW powerhouse Royce Keys made his SmackDown television debut on the Apr. 10 episode, quickly defeating Berto with a spinebuster that looks set to be his finishing move, while he peppered his promo with the new catchphrase “Aight.” Commentary suggests the spinebuster could trouble the SmackDown roster, and Solo Sikoa offered to help Keys as he begins his WWE ascent.
Pat McAfee Sparks Fan Backlash as SmackDown Takes a Turbulent Turn
Pat McAfee’s controversial promos dominate SmackDown as Nick Aldis positions himself as the fan’s voice and teases Roll vs. McAfee; Cody Rhodes defends the crowd while McAfee targets Punk and others, setting up potential conflicts. The show also features Jade Cargill vs. Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley, a Danhausen win with Kit Wilson, and Drew McIntyre–style beatdowns, plus Sami Zayn and Trick Williams interactions. The overall feeling is a confusing booking direction, yielding a D+ grade from the recap.
Royce Keys Resurfaces on SmackDown for a New WWE Run
WWE announced that Royce Keys, the ex-AEW talent who debuted at the 2026 Royal Rumble, will make his weekly SmackDown debut this Friday. A three-minute WWE video teases his arrival and a more layered character built around his East Palo Alto upbringing. Keys entered the Rumble at #14, lasted nearly 10 minutes, eliminated Damian Priest, and was eliminated by Bronson Reed; WWE confirms he’s aligned with SmackDown (the blue brand). After several dark matches and a well-received podcast interview, the key test will be what unfolds on TV in the ring.
WWE Revises SmackDown Card After Pat McAfee Storyline Response
WWE is reworking SmackDown plans following the Pat McAfee storyline, with changes to upcoming episodes’ lineup and segments.
SmackDown Bets on a MASSIVE SURPRISE to Save WrestleMania's Main Event
SmackDown from San Jose builds toward WrestleMania 42 with Pat McAfee promising a MASSIVE SURPRISE to buoy the Orton-Cody Rhodes main event, while Rhodes vows to strike back after last week's chair beatdown. The show is expected to feature the debut of Royce Keys, payback angles for Sami Zayn, and various setup segments as WWE pushes multiple WrestleMania storylines including Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu and several match-builds for the weekend.
McAfee Promo Sparks Creative Rift in WWE Mania Build
Pat McAfee’s SmackDown promo, critical of Mania ticket sales and ratings, reportedly wasn’t written by WWE’s creative team and was influenced by Ari Emanuel; Meltzer notes McAfee may have authored the lines himself with Christian Sowell listed as the writer of record, while Triple H was reportedly unaware of the specifics. Nick Khan was present, and WWE could pivot from previous Mania plans, though a Randy Orton & Pat McAfee vs. Cody Rhodes & Jelly Roll match is still being discussed for Backlash.
Royce Keys Set for Official SmackDown Debut After WWE Announcement
WWE announced that Royce Keys, formerly Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW, will make his official SmackDown television debut following his Royal Rumble appearance and recent dark matches, with WWE posting a video and tweet confirming the debut for tomorrow.
Injuries Force Rollins-Gunther Pivot for WrestleMania 42
WWE redirected WrestleMania 42 to Seth Rollins vs. Gunther after injuries sidelined Rey Mysterio and Bron Breakker, with post-RAW analysis from Sean Ross Sapp detailing the backstage pivot that turned a backup plan into a marquee feud.
IC Title Ladder Match Headlines WrestleMania 42 Card Expansion
WWE announced a slate of WrestleMania 42 matches on Raw, led by an Intercontinental Championship ladder match with Penta defending against Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh, Je’Von Evans, and Rusev; Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio; a four‑way Women’s Tag Team Championship match (Lash Legend & Nia Jax vs Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs The Bella Twins vs Lyra Valkyria & Bayley); Gunther vs. Seth Rollins; and other marquee bouts including Punk vs. Reigns for World Heavyweight and Rhodes vs. Orton for Undisputed WWE Championship, as WrestleMania 42 is set for April 18–19 in Las Vegas.
Bella Twins Backstage Buzz Sparks WWE RAW at MSG
Nikki and Brie Bella were spotted backstage at WWE RAW in Madison Square Garden ahead of WrestleMania 42, signaling a potential appearance despite not being officially advertised. The MSG episode features a loaded lineup, including Nia Jax & Lash Legend defending the Women’s Tag Team Titles against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, which has fans speculating the Bellas could pop up on the show or save their moment for a bigger WrestleMania moment.
GUNTHER Puts Rollins to Sleep, Sets WrestleMania Showdown in Las Vegas
On Raw, Seth Rollins was medically cleared to compete but was blindsided by GUNTHER, who slept him on the announcer’s desk and signaled a WrestleMania 42 showdown at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Mania ladder match lineup raises questions about its origins
WWE announced an Intercontinental Championship ladder match for WrestleMania with champion Penta defending against a field named on Main Event, including Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, Rusev, and JD McDonagh; however, the lineup’s low visibility and lack of title qualifiers have critics questioning its legitimacy and echoing a controversial, reportedly fabricated origin story for the title.