The post-WrestleMania Backlash edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live tonight from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
New SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey is advertised to appear tonight, returning to the show as champion after her WrestleMania Backlash win over Charlotte Flair.
The WrestleMania Backlash go-home edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live tonight from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.
It’s interesting to note that WWE has apparently pulled the Sheamus and Ridge Holland vs. The New Day Tables Match from tonight’s show. The match disappeared from the WWE website listing some time between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, and the old URL for the match preview now just says “Access Denied” when you try to access it.
The only match listed for tonight’s show is WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks vs. Shayna Baszler. This is to build to next Friday’s show with Banks and Naomi defending against Baszler and Natalya.
RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro are scheduled to appear tonight for the final WrestleMania Backlash build as they team with Drew McIntyre to face The Bloodline in six-man action on Sunday.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will be a taped last Friday at the MVP Arena in Albany, NY, due to the roster being in the UK for the European tour.
The following matches and segments were taped for tonight’s episode:
* Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn in a Steel Cage match as the opener
* WWE Intercontinental Champion Ricochet will defend against Shanky
* Raquel Rodriguez will make her official SmackDown in-ring debut vs. enhancement talent
* Madcap Moss appears on Happy Talk with Happy Baron Corbin
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler
* Xavier Woods vs. Ridge Holland
* Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus
* Contract signing for RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos in the Winners Take All Title Unification match at WrestleMania Backlash
* “I Quit” Beat The Clock Challenge: Ronda Rousey (vs. Shotzi) and SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair (vs. Aliyah)
* Appearances by Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Jinder Mahal, and others
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York with more build for WrestleMania Backlash.
WWE is not planning on ending the brand split anytime soon, despite the recent title merger, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Daily Update.
There have been some rumors about WWE doing that, but at the moment the company is not expected to be merging rosters. It was noted that Vince McMahon could change his mind, but right now that is not the direction he is heading.
At WrestleMania 38 Roman Reigns brought both the WWE and Universal Championships together by defeating Brock Lesnar. The company is now moving forward with unifying the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania Backlash when The Usos face RK-Bro.
When it comes to WrestleMania Backlash, the update notes the Tribal Chief is expected to headline the event, although he does not have any match announced at this point. Roman Reigns did attack Shinsuke Nakamura on the post-WrestleMania episode of SmackDown, which could potentially lead to a match.
Roman will be defending his titles against Drew McIntyre on WWE’s UK Tour, which takes place at the end of this month before the next premium event.
On Monday Night RAW this week WWE did add another match to the card as AJ Styles will be facing Edge in a rematch from WrestleMania 38.
The WrestleMania Backlash Premium Live Event is scheduled for Sunday, May 8 from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Below is the updated announced card:
Winners Take All Title Unification Match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro
I Quit Match for the SmackDown Women’s Title
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins
AJ Styles vs. Edge
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
* Ricochet will defend the WWE Intercontinental Title against Jinder Mahal
* Drew McIntyre will face Sami Zayn in a rematch from last week’s bout that ended in a count out win for McIntyre
The WWE Events website has RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro advertised for tonight’s SmackDown. There’s no word on if they will be there to continue the feud with SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, or if they’re just working a dark main event.
RAW Superstars Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are also advertised by the WWE Events website. The arena website has Rhodes vs. Rollins advertised, which is likely a dark main event.
It’s interesting to note that The Usos and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns are not being advertised to appear, by the WWE Events website or the arena. Ronda Rousey is also not listed by either website, but SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair is.
The Bloodline ended last week’s show by taking out Shinsuke Nakamura, so it will be interesting to see if they miss this week’s SmackDown for whatever reason.
The post-WrestleMania 38 edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live tonight from the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Roman Reigns to reveal the next step on The Island of Relevancy tonight
Ronda Rousey vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair is being advertised by the venue and is still being listed in an updated ad for tonight’s show. The WWE Events website also has Rousey advertised for tonight.
The WWE Events website had Seth Rollins advertised for SmackDown at one point, but he was removed earlier in the week. PWInsider has reported that Cody Rhodes is scheduled to be at the show tonight, but there’s no word yet on if he will be appearing on TV or working a dark match.
New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Naomi are also scheduled to appear tonight, along with Drew McIntyre.
The WrestleMania 38 go-home edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live tonight from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
The Road to WrestleMania 38 will continue tonight with the final SmackDown on FOX episode before next week’s special go-home show. SmackDown will air live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City tonight.
WWE has not officially announced Ronda Rousey for a segment on tonight’s show but she is being advertised locally and by the WWE Events website.
The Road to WrestleMania 38 will continue tonight as WWE SmackDown on FOX airs live from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC.
Brock Lesnar to collide with Roman Reigns ahead of WrestleMania
It’s likely that King Xavier Woods will make his return to SmackDown tonight. Woods had been out of action since suffering a calf injury in January, but he returned at last weekend’s live events because Big E suffered a broken neck on last Friday’s SmackDown. WWE had plans for a six-man match at WrestleMania 38 with The New Day vs. Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Butch, but now we should find out if that will turn into a standard tag team match with Big E being out.
The WWE Events website has Ronda Rousey advertised for tonight’s show. There should be a follow-up to last week’s show-closing brawl with SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
