Category: SmackDown

NXT Trio Fatal Influence Called Up To SmackDown, Made A Huge Statement To The Roster

Friday night’s episode of WWE SmackDown turned into a statement show for one of NXT’s most talked-about factions, as Fatal Influence officially arrived—and they didn’t come quietly.

While much of the buzz heading into the night centered around Paige’s long-awaited return to the blue brand after more than eight years, the spotlight quickly shifted once the chaos began during a high-profile women’s tag team match. Paige teamed up with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Brie Bella to take on Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, but the match never reached a proper conclusion.

Jacy Jayne—making her own presence felt in a big way—stormed the scene and yanked Paige off the apron just as a tag was about to be made. From there, things unraveled fast. Jayne sent Paige crashing into the steel steps, while the rest of Fatal Influence—Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid—hit the ring and dismantled both Flair and Bliss. The trio stood tall over all four women before heading up the ramp, making it clear with both their actions and words that SmackDown was now their territory.

The group wasn’t finished for the night, either. Later in the show, Fatal Influence crossed paths with WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, setting up an impromptu showdown between Ripley and Jayne. The match ended in another disqualification after Henley and Reid once again got involved, but the numbers game allowed Jayne to get the last laugh by dropping Ripley with her Rolling Encore finisher.

Jayne’s move to the main roster had been heavily speculated in the days following WrestleMania 42, especially after what looked like a farewell moment at the WWE Performance Center on NXT programming. What wasn’t clear at the time was whether Henley and Reid would be making the jump alongside her—but after Friday night, that question has been answered.

With a dominant debut and immediate impact on SmackDown’s top stars, Fatal Influence has officially entered the mix—and if their first night is any indication, the women’s division just got a lot more unpredictable.

WWE SmackDown Preview 4/24/2026

WWE SmackDown live tonight at 8pm ET on USA Network and Netflix internationally from the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

  • Fallout from WrestleMania 42
  • New Women’s WWE Tag Team Champion Paige returns to SmackDown
  • Call ups from NXT are expected
  • New WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley expected to appear
  • New Men’s United States Champion Trick Williams expected to appear

WWE Reportedly Eyeing SmackDown Changes, Possible Roster Moves in the Works

WWE could be gearing up to make some subtle adjustments to Friday Night SmackDown, though fans shouldn’t expect a complete makeover.

According to recent reports, there have been internal discussions about freshening up the overall presentation of the blue brand. That said, the core look and feel of SmackDown is expected to stay the same. There are currently no plans to swap out the show’s theme music, redesign the stage, or introduce a new logo — suggesting this would be more of a light refresh than a full-scale reboot.

Alongside those production tweaks, there’s also talk of potential roster movement.

One name reportedly being discussed is Jacy Jayne. The former NXT standout recently competed at NXT: Revenge, where she came up short before delivering an emotional address to the crowd — the kind of sendoff that often signals a transition to the main roster. While nothing has been confirmed, the timing has certainly raised eyebrows.

Another interesting name linked to SmackDown is Rey Mysterio. The WWE Hall of Famer has primarily been featured on Raw in recent months, but he’s remained active across multiple promotions, including appearances in AAA. A move to SmackDown could help freshen up matchups and storylines, especially given his veteran presence and continued popularity.

As of now, there’s no official word on when — or even if — these changes will take place. Still, the idea of minor adjustments combined with a few roster shakeups could be WWE’s way of keeping SmackDown feeling fresh without straying too far from what’s already working.

WWE Reportedly Scaled Back Pat McAfee Angle Following Fan Backlash

With WrestleMania now in the rearview, attention has quickly shifted to the fallout from WWE’s biggest event of the year—and it looks like Pat McAfee may be one of the first major pivots coming out of the weekend.

Leading up to WrestleMania, the reveal that McAfee was the mystery person Randy Orton had been referencing didn’t exactly land the way WWE may have hoped. Instead of excitement, many fans were left scratching their heads. That confusion only grew after McAfee delivered a pair of promos that were widely criticized, including comments that seemed to take aim at the product itself.

Fan reaction turned negative in a hurry, and according to Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, that response may have forced WWE to rethink its plans in real time. While McAfee was generating buzz, it reportedly wasn’t the kind of heat the company was aiming for. Meltzer noted that WWE ultimately “backed off” the storyline, suggesting that whatever direction was originally planned got scrapped once it became clear the audience wasn’t buying in.

There had been talk of a tag team match at Backlash featuring Cody Rhodes and celebrity guest Jelly Roll teaming up against Orton and McAfee. However, Meltzer indicated there were no clear signs at WrestleMania that such a match was still on track, reinforcing the idea that the company pulled back on the angle altogether.

Despite the pivot, McAfee’s involvement did bring extra attention to WrestleMania, which may have been part of WWE’s initial goal. Still, the situation highlights how quickly plans can change when fan reaction doesn’t align with expectations.

Injury concerns may have also played a role in the shifting landscape. Orton was reportedly dealing with some level of physical issues heading into the event, though the severity remains unclear. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes appeared worse for wear after his match, with noticeable swelling around his eye. That injury has already impacted his schedule, as a planned fan appearance was canceled, and his in-ring status moving forward is uncertain.

All in all, WrestleMania’s aftermath is already proving to be unpredictable, with WWE seemingly adjusting on the fly—starting with the sudden cooling of the McAfee storyline.

WWE SmackDown Preview 4/17/2026

WWE SmackDown live tonight at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
  • WWE Women’s United States Championship Match: Giulia (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton
  • Street Fight: The Wyatt Sicks vs. MFT
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has a message for Randy Orton one night before WrestleMania
  • How will Jacob Fatu respond to Drew McIntyre’s brutal attack last week on SmackDown as The Samoan Werewolf prepares to battle The Scottish Psychopath in an Unsanctioned Match at WrestleMania.

WWE SmackDown Preview 4/10/2026

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans, emanating from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

Backstage Reaction Mixed to Pat McAfee’s Role in Rhodes vs. Orton Storyline

Pat McAfee’s involvement in the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton feud heading into WrestleMania 42 is reportedly causing some quiet tension behind the scenes.

According to PWInsider, several WWE talents feel the rivalry between Rhodes and Orton already had more than enough built-in history, making McAfee’s addition feel unnecessary. The two have a deeply rooted storyline dating back years, and some within the locker room reportedly believe the match didn’t need an extra element to elevate it.

There’s also said to be some confusion over how the decision came together. Previous reports indicate McAfee’s role was pushed by higher-ups within TKO Group Holdings, rather than coming directly from WWE’s creative team led by Triple H. That distinction has only added to the perception that the storyline shift wasn’t entirely organic.

McAfee’s recent SmackDown appearance—where he delivered an unscripted promo tied into the feud—reportedly drew a mixed response backstage. While some appreciated the energy he brings, others weren’t sold on how the segment meshed with the ongoing WrestleMania build.

Another layer to the situation is the pressure it may be putting on Cody Rhodes. While there’s no indication Rhodes himself has spoken out, there is said to be some sympathy internally, with the belief that the added spotlight and expectations could complicate an already high-profile match.

As it stands, Rhodes vs. Orton is locked in for Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Whether McAfee’s involvement ultimately enhances the story or proves to be a distraction remains to be seen, but it’s clearly a talking point within WWE as the biggest show of the year approaches.

New Details On Pat McAfee’s WWE Return

Pat McAfee made a loud and memorable return to WWE on the April 3, 2026 episode of SmackDown, but it turns out the road to getting him back on TV wasn’t as straightforward as it looked.

McAfee immediately made an impact by aligning himself with Randy Orton and going after Cody Rhodes, even delivering a fiery, reality-blurring promo that got people talking. It felt like a big-time moment—and according to new details, that was exactly the goal.

Earlier reports had already hinted that McAfee’s return was driven in part by TKO executives looking to create “corporate synergy,” particularly tying WWE more closely with ESPN while also adding star power ahead of WrestleMania 42. The idea was simple: bring in a recognizable name to help generate buzz and potentially move more tickets.

However, Dave Meltzer shared on Wrestling Observer Radio that things didn’t come together quite so easily behind the curtain. According to Meltzer, McAfee was actually the first choice for the role, with the push reportedly coming from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, who was keen on incorporating celebrity involvement into WWE programming.

The twist? McAfee initially wasn’t on board.

Meltzer noted that after McAfee turned down the opportunity, WWE began looking for other options to fill that spot. That scramble didn’t last forever, though, as the two sides eventually worked things out and reached a deal that brought McAfee back into the fold—just in time for his high-profile SmackDown appearance.

In the end, what fans saw was a seamless return with major storyline implications, but behind the scenes, it was a last-minute success story that nearly went in a completely different direction.

With McAfee now back in the mix alongside Orton and already mixing it up with Cody Rhodes, it’ll be interesting to see whether this is a short-term attraction tied to WrestleMania season—or something that sticks around longer than expected.

Pat McAfee Revealed as Randy Orton’s Secret Ally, Stakes His Future on WrestleMania 42 Outcome

WWE finally pulled back the curtain on one of the more intriguing mysteries heading into WrestleMania 42, and the answer added a major twist to Randy Orton’s path to the Undisputed WWE Championship.

On this week’s episode of SmackDown from St. Louis, Orton’s hometown, it was revealed that Pat McAfee was the voice guiding “The Viper” during his recent backstage phone segments. But this wasn’t the same McAfee fans were used to—he returned with a noticeably more aggressive edge, aligning himself firmly with Orton and turning heel in the process.

The show kicked off with Orton addressing the crowd, making it clear he was fighting not just for himself, but for his family seated ringside. His attention quickly turned to Cody Rhodes, referencing Rhodes’ recent appearance on Raw. That confrontation didn’t take long to escalate, as Rhodes made his way to the ring and the two immediately came to blows.

That’s when things took a turn.

McAfee—sporting Orton merchandise—jumped into the fray and dropped Rhodes with a low blow, officially revealing himself as Orton’s backup. From there, McAfee unleashed a fiery promo, criticizing both Rhodes and the current state of WWE, while hyping Orton as the man destined to restore order. He even claimed responsibility for pushing Orton to “destroy everything” in his path.

The segment didn’t stop at just aligning with Orton. McAfee doubled down backstage, referring to Orton as the “GOAT” and reinforcing his belief that “The Legend Killer” is the one who can fix what he sees as a broken system under Rhodes’ leadership.

As if that wasn’t enough, McAfee took things a step further after the show by issuing a bold ultimatum on social media: if Orton fails to defeat Rhodes at WrestleMania 42, he’ll walk away from wrestling television entirely. The former commentator didn’t mince words, calling out fans while framing the match as one of the most important in wrestling history.

Interestingly, McAfee’s return comes after months of uncertainty regarding his WWE future. He previously cited burnout and suggested the industry might be better off without him. Now, he’s back in a major storyline with a completely different attitude—and a lot on the line.

Behind the scenes, reports indicate this pairing wasn’t a standard creative decision. Instead, the move reportedly came directly from TKO executive Ari Emanuel, who sees McAfee as a crossover star capable of boosting visibility for WWE’s biggest event of the year. There’s also hope that McAfee’s mainstream presence—especially through his ESPN platform—can help bring additional attention to WrestleMania weekend.

Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes isn’t backing down. After the attack, he returned later in the night with a chilling message of his own, hinting that he has “voices” guiding him as well—and suggesting Orton may not like what they’re telling him to do.

With Orton chasing his 15th world title, McAfee putting his career on the line, and Rhodes promising a darker side of himself, this WrestleMania clash is quickly becoming one of the most emotionally charged matchups on the card.

WWE SmackDown Preview 4/3/2026

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight at 8/7c on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix Internationally from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

  • Randy Orton will reveal who is has been talking to on the phone
  • Cody Rhodes looks to spoil Randy Orton’s homecoming on The Road to WrestleMania
  • How will Rhea Ripley response to back-to-back attacks by Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab?
  • What carnage awaits en route to Jacob Fatu’s Unsanctioned Match against Drew McIntyre?