Tag: WWE

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 WrestleMania 42 Card (4/18 & 4/19)

WWE WrestleMania 42 – Saturday, April 18, 2026 and Sunday April 19, 2026 – Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. – Available on ESPN Unlimited, Netflix (Internationally) and PPV.

Night 1 kicks off on Saturday, April 18, with the first hour airing at 6:00 pm ET on ESPN2. Night 2 kicks on Sunday, April 19, with the first hour airing at 6:00 pm ET on ESPN.

John Cena is the host of WrestleMania 42

CARD

WrestleMania 42 – Night 1 (April 18)

  • WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton
  • WWE Women’s World Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
  • WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
  • Seth Rollins vs. GUNTHER.
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship 4-Way Match: The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) (c) vs. The Bellas vs. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
  • (ESPN2) Logan Paul, Austin Theory & I ShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight
  • (ESPN2) Unsanctioned Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu

WrestleMania 42 – Night 2 (April 19)

  • WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns
  • WWE Women’s Championship Match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
  • WWE United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
  • Dominik Mysterio vs. The Demon Finn Balor
  • (ESPN) Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
  • (ESPN) WWE Intercontinental Title Ladder Match: Penta (c) vs. Rusev vs. Je’Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee vs. Rey Mysterio

Report: AEW Catches WWE and TNA Off Guard with Forbidden Door Scheduling Move

AEW has stirred up plenty of buzz this week—and not just with fans. A new report suggests that both WWE and TNA Wrestling were left in the dark when Tony Khan’s company made a major announcement regarding Forbidden Door 2026.

It was revealed on Wednesday that this year’s Forbidden Door event will take place on June 28 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The twist? That date just so happens to clash directly with TNA’s Slammiversary, which is set for the same night in Boston, Massachusetts.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, neither WWE nor TNA had any prior warning about AEW’s plans. Both promotions reportedly learned about the scheduling decision at the same time as the public, making the move feel like a surprise shot across the bow.

For TNA, the timing is especially significant. Slammiversary is widely considered one of the promotion’s biggest shows of the year, second only to its flagship events. Naturally, running head-to-head with AEW—particularly on a card as loaded as Forbidden Door—is far from ideal.

Some may have expected WWE to step in and bolster TNA’s lineup in response, especially given their growing working relationship. However, the report indicates WWE was just as blindsided and had no involvement in the decision or any immediate counter-strategy.

Meanwhile, AEW is aiming to make this year’s Forbidden Door the biggest yet. The 2026 edition won’t just feature talent from AEW and NJPW—it’s also set to include stars from CMLL and STARDOM, turning the event into a massive multi-promotional showcase.

Whether intentional or not, AEW has thrown a major wrinkle into the summer wrestling calendar—and all eyes will be on how the competition responds.

WWE Eyeing Major NXT Call-Ups as “NXT: Revenge” Could Signal Big Changes

WWE appears to be gearing up for another wave of NXT call-ups, and all signs point to the upcoming NXT: Revenge special playing a pivotal role in those plans.

According to reports circulating within the industry, several standout NXT talents are currently being discussed for a move to the main roster. Among the names reportedly under consideration are Jacy Jayne, Ethan Page, Joe Hendry, and Sol Ruca—four performers who have all made strong impressions in recent months.

The timing is noteworthy, as WWE is building toward a two-week NXT: Revenge event that looks designed to wrap up key storylines. Historically, the company has often used major events as a launching point for roster shakeups, and this situation appears to follow that same pattern.

The first week of NXT: Revenge is already shaping up with a loaded lineup. Jacy Jayne is set to go one-on-one with Lola Vice, while Joe Hendry is advertised for a concert segment—something that’s quickly become a signature part of his presentation. Ethan Page will also be in action against Tony D’Angelo in what could be a decisive moment in their ongoing rivalry.

Week two raises the stakes even further, with Sol Ruca scheduled to face ZARIA in a Last Woman Standing match. Given the stipulation and Ruca’s rising momentum, the bout could serve as a major turning point—not just for her storyline, but potentially for her future brand placement.

Behind the scenes, there’s a growing sense that NXT: Revenge is being positioned as a clean break point. Multiple feuds are expected to conclude across the two-week special, creating a natural window for talent to transition to RAW or SmackDown.

One moment that has already fueled speculation came after the latest taping, when Jacy Jayne was seen visibly emotional, blowing kisses to the crowd in what many interpreted as a farewell. If that was indeed her sendoff, it would mark the end of a highly successful NXT run.

Jayne has built an impressive résumé during her time on the brand. She captured the NXT Women’s Championship in May 2025 and held it for 150 days before going on to win the title again. She also added the TNA Knockouts Championship to her list of accomplishments in a rare cross-promotional “Winner Take All” match. While she did get a brief taste of the main roster back in 2022 alongside Gigi Dolin, those plans were cut short due to injury, leaving unfinished business on WWE’s biggest stage.

If WWE follows through with these reported call-ups, the aftermath of NXT: Revenge could significantly reshape both NXT and the main roster. With fresh faces potentially heading to RAW and SmackDown, the next few weeks could mark the start of a new chapter for several rising stars.

Update On IYO SKY-Asuka Match Not Being Scheduled For WWE WrestleMania 42

For weeks, it looked like WWE was steering directly toward a high-profile singles clash between IYO SKY and Asuka at WrestleMania 42. The tension has been there, the interactions have been building, and even a public challenge was thrown into the mix—but as of now, the match still hasn’t been made official, and the latest backstage update suggests things may not be as locked in as fans expected.

The situation took an interesting turn following last week’s episode of Raw, where Asuka called out SKY, only for “The Genius of the Sky” to respond with a WrestleMania challenge on social media. That alone felt like a clear signal the match was imminent. Typically, WWE doesn’t push talent to make those kinds of public challenges unless there’s a plan in place.

However, that momentum stalled. On this week’s Raw, SKY faced Kairi Sane, Asuka’s Damage CTRL ally, and while Asuka got involved to cost SKY the match, WWE still stopped short of confirming the WrestleMania bout. That raised eyebrows—and now we may know why.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the match is currently in a state of uncertainty. While it hasn’t been outright canceled, it also hasn’t been finalized. Meltzer noted that SKY even removed her WrestleMania challenge from social media, which only adds to the confusion surrounding the situation.

Behind the scenes, there’s reportedly been talk that the match could be shifted to Backlash instead. While that’s not a definite decision, it’s being considered, especially given WrestleMania Sunday’s already packed lineup. At one point, SKY vs. Asuka was expected to land on night two of the event, but timing constraints may have forced WWE to rethink their plans.

At this stage, the door isn’t completely closed on the match happening at WrestleMania—but it’s far from guaranteed. Whether it gets squeezed onto the card last-minute or saved for a future premium live event, the company is clearly still weighing its options.

For now, fans hoping to see SKY and Asuka collide on the biggest stage of the year may have to wait a little longer—or at least keep a close eye on any last-minute changes leading into WrestleMania weekend.

WWE NXT Revenge Week 1 Preview 4/14/2026

WWE NXT Revenge Week 1 tonight on The CW and Netflix internationally.

  • NXT Championship: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Ethan Page
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Lola Vice (c) vs. Jacy Jayne
  • WWE Men’s Speed Championship Tournament Match: EK Prosper vs. Dorian Van Dux
  • Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Joe Hendry in concert

WWE Raw Preview 4/13/2026

WWE Raw live today at 8pm ET/5pm PT on Netflix from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

At the time of this writing, WWE is advertising the follow for today’s Raw, which is the go-home show for this Saturday’s WrestleMania 42.

Appearances by Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Gunther, Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar

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.

Positive Backstage Update On Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez Following RAW Incident Ahead Of WrestleMania 42

There’s some encouraging news coming out of WWE regarding Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez after their scary-looking backstage incident on this week’s episode of Raw.

The moment in question saw Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer launch a surprise attack on Morgan, blindsiding her and inadvertently sending her crashing into Perez during a backstage segment. The spot looked rough, and Morgan later shared a photo on social media showing a noticeable welt on her head, which only added to the concern among fans.

Initial reports indicated that both Morgan and Perez were placed in concussion protocol following the segment. However, the latest update suggests the situation isn’t as serious as first feared.

According to WrestleVotes Radio via Fightful Select, there’s growing optimism within WWE that both Morgan and Perez will be medically cleared in time for WrestleMania 42, set for April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. That’s a key development, especially with Morgan currently slated for a major title opportunity.

The report also notes that Vaquer has not picked up any backstage heat over the incident, which suggests officials view it as an unfortunate in-ring (or in-segment) mishap rather than negligence.

As it stands, Perez isn’t advertised for a WrestleMania match, though her return to Raw is still fresh after undergoing surgery to remove a benign mass from her back earlier this year. Morgan, on the other hand, has a huge opportunity ahead of her, having won the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble to earn a shot at Vaquer’s Women’s World Championship.

If Morgan is able to compete and capture the title at “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” it would mark her third world championship reign in WWE.

For now, all eyes are on WWE’s medical team as they monitor both stars heading into one of the biggest weekends of the year.

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.