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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 10, 2026
LAS VEGAS, NEV. AT T-MOBILE ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 8,760 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 20,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They began with a nice video package starting with footage from the original WrestleMania and then highlights of many since followed by wrestlers talking about what WrestleMania means to them and what their top moments are. Je’Von Evans was shown last just giggling as he said “WrestleMania.”
-They showed clips of wrestlers arriving or hanging out including Michin, B-Fab, Michin, and Michin’s dog; Rhea Ripley, Sami Zayn (boos rang out from the crowd), Trick Williams (roar of cheers from the crowd); Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.
-Pat McAfee arrived in a pick-up truck with his sidekick, Randy Orton. G.M. Nick Aldis presented them with an agreement. He said they were going to have a chat. McAfee said he reads his contracts and noted he’s a self-made billionare that “none of you bums” would understand. Orton interrupted and excused himself. He said he was heading to the ring and leave McAfee and Aldis to finish their talk. McMahon acted obnoxious and said Orton was about to “ruin the show by telling some truths.”
-Orton made his way to the ring to his music. Corey Graves said Orton looked ready to begin title reign no. 15. Tessitore said that would move him into sold possession of third place among all wrestlers. Graves said McAfee is the least popular person in the WWE Universe but he unleashed something in Orton that could spell bad things for Cody Rhodes.
Orton began: “I’ll be the first one to admit I don’t need Pat McAfee. Truth is, I want him.” He said McAfee doesn’t tell him what he wants to hear, but he tells him what he needs to hear. He said McAfee made him realize all he ever needed to do was “just be me.” He smiled and said, “Who woulda thought?” He said he won the Elimination Chamber and faced Drew McIntyre for the title. He said he knew he could be who he needed to be and take Drew’s title. “Easy cake, back to St. Louis with the title. Done.” He said then Cody won the title back. Fans booed. Orton repeated Cody’s name and fans booed again.
He said he and Cody are friends, and he couldn’t hurt his friend, and then he let Cody give him permission to be him. “Who the f… Who the hell is Cody Rhodes to give me permission? To be myself? I wrote the book on being me. I listen to the voice. That cocky son of a bitch tried to give me permission to be me.” He said he gave to Cody whereas Cody only took during their friendship.
He talked about WrestleMania 40. He said Cody needed someone to watch his back and he called Seth Rollins. He said Cody didn’t even call. He said Solo’s Bloodline attacked Cody and he was there for him, but all he got was driven through a table. He said Cody just takes. He said he gifted a title match to “my friend at the time, Kevin Owens.” He said to make matters worse, Owens turned on Cody. He said he told Cody he’d have his back and talk some sense into Owens. He said, as a result, he got dropped on his head via piledriver. He said it was career-threatening. He said again said all Cody does is take. He said McAfee has done more for his career and legacy than Cody ever did. He said Cody thinks McAfee hurts his legacy, but in truth, it was helping Cody all those years that hurt his legacy.
Orton said at WrestleMania, he’s going to fix it and right the wrongs and do it “with the three more important letters in sports entertainment – R-K-O.”
(Keller’s Analysis: I don’t think this promo served a helpful purpose unless viewers at home are dissecting and parsing Orton’s claims. There wasn’t any heel heat there, and fans were booing mentions of Cody’s name. Obviously, the McAfee angle is meant to get Orton heel heat, but Orton hasn’t found a narrative that gets him actually booed.)
-They went to Tessitore and Graves at ringside. Tessitore said Cody would be arriving later.
-Backstage, McAfee was driving his pick-up out of the arena with Orton in the passenger seat. He said, “Good work, Randy!” Aldis walked up to the driver’s window. McAfee said everything for the better tomorrow. “See you tomorrow, marks!” he said before driving away.
-Solo and the MFTs made their ring entrance. [c]
-Footage aired of the WWE World event where wrestlers took photos with fans. Graves, Cody. and C.M. Punk were among those shown interacting with fans.
(1) SOLO SIKOA & TONGA LOA & TAMA TONGA & J.C. MATEO (w/Talla Tonga) vs. THE WYATT SICKS (Uncle Howdy & Deter Lumis & Joe Gacy & Erik Rowan (w/Nikki) – 8-man Street Fight
The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour. Graves pointed out that Talla wasn’t a designated participant in the match, but since there’s no DQs, he can do as he pleases. Talla bashed Lumis and Gacy and Rowan with the ringside steps. With those three down, they cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, they were all brawling in the ring. Dexter catapulted Loa into the arms of Gacy would powerbombed him into a near fall. Mateo then beat up Lumis. Rowan dove through the ropes and tackled Talla at ringside. The announcers made a huge deal out of it. “That was like an aircraft carrier flying through the air,” said Tessitore. Rowan threw apparatus into the ring. Rowan and Howdy bashed Solo with the trash can. Rowan splashed a trash can onto Solo’s chest. They cut to another double-box break at 8:00. [c/db]
Solo took control during the break until Howdy entered with a chair and delibered a uranage onto a chair. Nikki leaped off the top rope onto Loa. Howdy then set up a Sister Abigail on Howdy, but Talla gave Howdy a running big boot. Solo then leaped off the top rope onto Howdy, but Gacy hit solo with a kendo stick which magically caused Solo to roll off of Howdy.
Talla fended off Lumis and Gacy and double chokeslammed then. Rowan bashed Talla across his back. Talla then clotheslined Rowan over the top rope. Rowan clutched his right knee in pain afterward. As Howdy set up a Sister Abigail on Matao, Tama intervened and gave Howdy a neckbreaker. He signaled for Cut Throat, but Solo gave Howdy a Solo Spike first and got the pin. Tama gave him an evil stare “for stealing the pin.”
WINNERS: Solo & MFTs in 14:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: It was fine for that style of match, leaning into the chaos and the apparatus as weapons..)
-R-Truth told Damien Priest that The New Day are one of the more iconic tag teams in WWE. Priest said they’re on Raw. Truth said it could be an easy layup because “Asuka cursed them.” He then got Xavier Woods mixed up with Greyson Waller. Priest tried to correct Truth. Truth asked if he was okay. Priest seemed to start doubting his own sanity. Truth said they have to defend their titles tonight. “What?” said Priest after Truth scurried away.
-They went to ringside and showed the Andre statue as the announcers talked about it.
-They showed Miz and Maryse “renewing their vows.” They cut to Miz asking, “Who the hell do you think you?” It seemed he was saying it to Maryse, but instead Danhausen showed up. Maryse was startled. Danhausen said he’s the ring boy, the best man, and maid of honor. Kit Wilson, overseeing the vows, said, “You may now curse the bride.” He reacted like he slipped up by accident. Danhausen cursed the bride. Maryse then then got knocked into the big cake. They cut to a girl watching saying, “I wanted cake.”
-Tessitore said the full video will be on WWE socials later. [c]
-They showed scenes of Las Vegas as Tessitore plugged the Hall of Fame ceremony.
-A video aired on Royce Keys (formerly Powerhouse Hobbs) back in his neighborhood and talking about hoping his mom is proud of him as he got emotional. A graphic noted she died of an overdose in 2021 at at 61. Mark Henry said he believes when you tap into your emotions, you can be strong. His sister Evelyn sat next to Keys and said how she was proud.
-A clip aired of last week’s Drew-Jacob Fatu fight.
-A siren blared and eventually a police car drove onto the stage. Graves asked Tessitore, “Have you been clipping mattress tags off again?” Fatu stepped out of the police car and stood on the roof. Fatu said he’s not ashamed or afraid of his past. “I certainly don’t live that life anymore,” he said. He asked Drew if he really thought cuffing him in front of his family would embarrass him. “That didn’t bother me at all,” he said. He said he’s going to put Drew in his rear view after WrestleMania. He said there will be no one to save him. Tessitore emphasized that WWE doesn’t guarantee the safety of either competitor. Fatu yelled that he is dialed in.
-Backstage, Alexa Bliss told Charlotte Flair she has more Charlotte merch than she ever thought she’d need in 2025 and also became tag champs with her best friend. Charlotte said they need to make 2026 special by winning at WrestleMania. Alexa said no matter what, they’ll still be best friends. Charlotte said she knows and understands how important their friendship is.
-Damien Priest and R-Truth made their entrance. [c]
-They showed the reveal of the WrestleMania set, released earlier on the WWE YouTube page.
-They showed Tyrese Haliburton at ringside, a star player with the Indiana Pacers.
(2) DAMIEN PRIEST & R-TRUTH vs. GRAYSON WALLER & KOFI KINGSTON – WWE Tag Team Title match
Graves said Waller hasn’t been fully accepted as a member of New Day, but a win here could perhaps seal the deal. Graves said Truth is out of his mind by offering a tag title match to someone he wasn’t sure who they were. The bell rang 7 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early double-box break. [c/db]
Waller blind-tagged himself in with a pat on Kofi’s back. Kofi didn’t like it. Truth then shoved Kofi into Waller on the topr ope. Truth then hot-tagged in Priest. Priest and Truth set up Koifi and Waller for dual Five Knuckle Shuffles. Priest then lanched Waller into the air for Truth to drive him into the mat for the three count.
WINNERS: Priest & Truth in 10:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
-They went to Tessitore and Graves at ringside. Tessitore said they were told Cody was on his way to the arena.
-A video recap aired of McAfee’s promo on Smackdown last week.
Advertised Matches & Appearances
- The Wyatt Sicks vs. The MFTs – Eight-Man Tag Team Street Fight
- Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
- Tiffany Stratton vs. Jordynne Grace – Women’s United States Championship No. 1 Contender’s match
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
- Cody Rhodes to deliver a message to Randy Orton
- Jacob Fatu to respond to Drew McIntyre’s attack
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