wrestling / TV Reports
Hall’s WWE SmackDown Review 4.24.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...WWE SmackDown
Date: April 24, 2026
Location: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore
It’s the first SmackDown after Wrestlemania, and that means it’s time to deal with both the fallout and the start of the new season. That probably means some debuts, some big twists, and hopefully a new challenger for Cody Rhodes, who retained the World Title over Randy Orton on Saturday. Let’s get to it.
Long Wrestlemania recap.
Danhausen arrives in the Danhausenmobile and scares Trick Williams off.
Here is Jacob Fatu to get things going. Fatu talks about how he told Roman Reigns how much he needs the World Title, with Reigns saying Fatu isn’t ready. That’s what he’s heard his whole life, but Reigns needs to get in the ring with him and prove it. Cue the Usos to interrupt, with Jimmy liking the idea of Fatu wanting to make his family better.
Fatu can do all that…by beating Cody Rhodes, who is already banged up. Run the play with the family. These people out here aren’t going to help him make it happen, so don’t listen to them. Jey, on the other hand, says it’s gone too far already, and Fatu is going to have to face Reigns. Cue Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s, with Sikoa saying he brought Fatu to WWE. What did the Usos ever teach him? How to Yeet?
Fatu is going to need an army to beat Reigns, and that’s what Sikoa has…but Tama Tonga grabs the mic. He asks why they’re wasting time on a lost cause like Fatu? Tama: “You think he’s going to beat Roman? He can’t even beat you.” Fatu superkicks Tama, who is held back as Fatu wants to talk to Reigns. Oh, and he wants to face Sikoa tonight.
Giulia knows there is pressure when she is ready to defend the Women’s US Title against Tiffany Stratton and feels pressure. Kiana James does NOT like these questions, though.
Women’s United States Title: Tiffany Stratton vs. Giulia
Giulia, with Kiana James, is defending. Stratton flips around to start and hits a discus lariat, followed by a pinfall reversal sequence. Giulia headbutts her into the corner and breaks up a quick Prettiest Moonsault Ever. A neckbreaker onto the floor drops Stratton, and we take a break. We come back with Stratton hitting a handspring elbow into the corner, but Giulia catches her up top.
A butterfly superplex gives Giulia two, but Stratton is back with a kick to the chest. James’ distraction doesn’t work as Stratton grabs a Regal Roll, but the Prettiest Moonsault Ever is countered into a double arm neck crank. With that broken up, Giulia hits a running knee to the face, only to get Alabama Slammed. Now the Prettiest Moonsault Ever gives Stratton the title at 8:58.
Rating: B-. As usual, Giulia can look incredibly smooth in the ring, but there is only so much to her in the charisma/interest department. That’s where WWE has dropped the ball with her, as she basically just came in, became a champion, and…that’s it. Now she’s lost the title, and I have no idea what is next for her. If she’s going to be a bigger star, WWE has to find a way to make the fans care about her because it hasn’t happened yet.
We look back at Danhausen and the Mini Hausens, beating up Kit Wilson and the Miz at Wrestlemania, as John Cena thought, “I got out of this stuff just in time.”
Earlier this week, Danhausen snuck into Miz’s house and then vanished inside of it, somehow winding up in Miz’s pool. Miz insisted that there was no course and then wound up flying into the pool as well.
We look at Paige and Brie Bella of all people winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania.
Tiffany Stratton is happy to not be the runner-up for a change, but here are Brie Bella and Paige to interrupt. Stratton leaves as the other two head to the ring for a chat. Brie talks about how great it is to be here as a champion, and while she was sad to not be there with Nikki, she’s here with someone she sees as a sister. Paige: “I’m back.” It’s been a long road to get back here, but this is Paige’s house. They aren’t going anywhere, and cue Charlotte/Alexa Bliss to interrupt. The two of them reluctantly welcome the champs back and then get right to the challenge. It’s on, so get a referee out here.
Women’s Tag Team Titles: Paige/Brie Bella vs. Alexa Bliss/Charlotte
Paige and Bella are defending, and we’re joined in progress with Bliss taking Bella down. It’s off to Charlotte to work on the leg, but Bella kicks her away. The tag is loaded up…and NXT’s Jacy Jayne debuts to send Paige into the steps for the DQ at 1:57 shown.
Post-match, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid (the rest of Jayne’s Fatal Influence faction) run in to beat down Bliss and Charlotte. This is hardly a surprising call-up for Jayne, though I wasn’t sure if the other two were coming up with her. Jayne has been in NXT for the better part of ever, so it was time to try it or let her go, which would feel like a huge waste.
We look at Cody Rhodes retaining over Randy Orton, only for Orton to lay him out after the match.
We look at Royce Keys returning to his hometown in an effort to inspire kids.
Here is Cody Rhodes, complete with a black eye, for a chat. Rhodes talks about leaving the stadium at Wrestlemania because that’s what he was supposed to do as champion. He wanted to leave through the entrance because he wanted to send a message that he wasn’t done. It was a message to Randy Orton because he wasn’t done after the Punt.
It was a message to Sami Zayn, who called him the Golden Boy, and nothing bad ever happens to him. And it was a message to those outside forces who want to take him out because you are 0-3, so MIND YOUR D*** BUSINESS! It is the Smackdown after Wrestlemania, and he is easy to find but hard to beat. Kind of nothing here, but if he’s not physically cleared, this was all they could do.
We look back at Fatal Influence’s debut.
Solo Sikoa sends the MFT’s to get the Tag Team Titles back. He’ll take care of Jacob Fatu.
Tag Team Titles: Damian Priest/R-Truth vs. MFT’s
JC Mateo/Tama Tonga, with Tonga Loa, are challenging. R-Truth and Tama start things off with Tama knocking him down but missing a dancing elbow. Priest comes in but gets pulled down to the floor for the crash as we take a break. We come back with Priest fighting out of trouble and hitting a rebound lariat, allowing the tag off to R-Truth. That means the John Cena sequence is initiated, but Tama gets in a cheap shot, and Mateo grabs a German suplex. Tama misses a charge into the post, though, and Mateo goes into a lifting Little Jimmy to retain the titles at 8:18.
Rating: C+. Priest and R-Truth continue to play with the house’s money as they have no business being a long-term team, but are having a perfectly nice title reign. It’s not like the other teams on the show were doing anything in the first place, so see what you can get out of them. If nothing else, anyone who takes a title from R-Truth is going to feel like a big-time heel, so it’s hardly the worst idea.
Back at Miz’s house, Miz gets out of the pool, and Danhausen (who is changing clothes between appearances) plays with Miz’s golf simulator and accidentally hits Miz low with the club. Then he steals and breaks a Slammy and has some chocolate on the way out. Danhausen opens the door and sees Maryse….and Miz accidentally throws chocolate on her. Danhausen escapes by stealing their daughter’s bicycle. This is so stupid that it’s hilarious.
Here is Trick Williams, with Lil Yachty and a person in a gingerbread man costume, for a championship celebration. The fans seem happy to see him, and Yachty says he’s here to stay. Williams makes it clear that he’s not doing the US Title Open Challenge anymore…but the gingerbread man jumps both of them. It’s Sami Zayn, who hits a gingerbread Helluva Kick and does a bit of dancing as the fans boo this out of the building.
Royce Keys is happy with winning the Andre Battle Royal last week, but he’s just getting started. Solo Sikoa comes in and says it’s a good win. There’s always room for Keys in Sikoa’s family. Sikoa leaves without getting a yes or a no.
We get a Tale Of The Tape for Miz vs. Danhausen, with each getting some special stats.
Danhausen has a curse success rate of 100%, is a personal friend of John Cena, and has very strong merchandise sales.
Miz has an active curse status, his last win is under review, and he has never been on a blimp. I love these goofy things.
Danhausen vs. The Miz
Danhausen has the Danhausenmobile, which has Tessitore surprised, even though it was shown earlier tonight. Kit Wilson is here with Miz as Barrett lists off Danhausen’s crimes thus far. Wilson steals Miz’s Slammy back from Danhausen’s car, even as Danhausen snaps off a middle rope hurricanrana. That’s enough for Miz to bail out to the floor, but he comes back in to stomp away. Miz and Wilson pose, but Danhausen curses them. Pyro goes off, and Miz gets rolled up for the pin at 1:43.
Post-match, Danhausen tries to use the flash paper to escape, but Miz is waiting for him. Miz and Wilson collide, and Danhausen escapes. This was goofy slapstick stuff, which is Danhausen’s thing.
Blake Monroe is coming. Yeah, that’s another expected call-up, but I’m not sure where she fits in.
Here is the new Women’s Champion, Rhea Ripley for a chat. She’s champion again, and she’s a fighting champion, so let’s do an open challenge. Cue Fatal Influence, but the fans don’t want to hear from Jacy Jayne. She welcomes the booing because she loves it and goes on to introduce the team. Ripley says the attack earlier was impressive, but stop while you’re ahead. Fallon Henley threatens Ripley, who says take your shot. Jayne says they’re always ready to throw hands, so here is Nick Aldis to make Jayne vs. Ripley for right now.
Jacy Jayne vs. Rhea Ripley
Non-title. Jayne chills on the ropes to start and gets sent face-first into the mat. Back up, and Jayne grinds away on a headlock, but Ripley gives her a running shoulder into the corner. Ripley sends her to the apron for a forearm to the floor, and it’s an electric chair onto the apron. The rest of Fatal Influence offers a distraction, though, and Jayne gets in a kick from the apron as we take a break.
We come back with Ripley fighting out of a chinlock and firing off some clotheslines. Jayne fires off a superkick, though, and a pump kick puts Ripley down for two. The Rolling Encore (discus forearm) misses for Jayne, though, and Ripley goes up, only to get crotched down. Ripley is right back with a Razor’s Edge and running knee for two in a pretty impressive kickout from Jayne. The Riptide is loaded up, but Fatal Influence runs in for the DQ at 10:55.
Rating: B-. That ending was a relief as it was the way out of the match. I was worried that they were going to have Jayne get pinned here, but instead, they went with the logical result instead. At the same time, it’s rather awesome to see Fatal Influence being thrown into the deep end. They’ve been built up in NXT, and it’s not crazy to think that they’re ready for this. Let’s see how good they can be.
Post-match, the beatdown leaves Ripley lying.
We look at Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu on Raw.
The Usos tell Jacob Fatu that they have his back in the main event. Fatu doesn’t want it, which doesn’t surprise Jey.
Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are in the trainer’s room when Rhea Ripley comes in. Ripley and Charlotte have a staredown, and Charlotte doesn’t like Jacy Jayne. She’ll get her hands on Jayne next week, unlike Ripley this week.
We get the Brock Lesnar tribute video from Raw.
Ricky Saints is coming next week. He didn’t have much else to do in NXT, so why not?
Solo Sikoa vs. Jacob Fatu
The MFT’s are here with Sikoa. Fatu shrugs off a headlock, and they trade shoulders for a standoff. Sikoa hammers away in the corner, but Fatu is right back with a running elbow. Back up, and Sikoa sends him outside, where the MFT’s get in a cheap shot to take over. Cue the Usos, but Fatu is not happy because he doesn’t want them here.
Sikoa gets in a cheap shot, and we take a break. We come back with Sikoa snapping off a suplex, but Fatu is right back up for a slugout. Fatu gets the better of things and hits a running back splash to put Sikoa in trouble for a change. The headbutts in the corner have Sikoa in more trouble, and the running Umaga Attack connects.
Fatu superkicks him down and goes up, which has the MFT’s up for a distraction/interference. Sikoa’s rollup gets two, but Fatu is back up with a dive onto the MFT’s. Spinning Solo and the Superfly Splash give Sikoa two each, but the Samoan Spike misses. Fatu gives him the pop-up Samoan drop, and the triple jump moonsault finishes Sikoa at 10:59.
Rating: B. This was about making Fatu look like a killer who smashed through Sikoa and his goons to make him feel like more of a threat to Reigns. That worked well here, as Fatu had some trouble but came out on top in the end. It’s a good way to go, with Fatu clearing out the lower parts of the family on his way to the bigger members. Good main event here, with bigger ramifications.
Post-match, the MFT’s run in and beat Fatu down, so the Usos come to the ring, only for Fatu to beat the MFT’s down on his own. Fatu hits running Umaga Attacks into chairs in the corner, and puts Tonga Loa through the announcers’ table. Back in, and Fatu glares at the Usos, saying he’ll see Roman Reigns on Raw to end the show.
Results
Tiffany Stratton b. Giulia – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Paige/Brie Bella b. Alexa Bliss/Charlotte via DQ when Jacy Jayne interfered
Damian Priest/R-Truth b. MFT’s – Lifting Little Jimmy to Mateo
Danhausen b. The Miz – Rollup
Rhea Ripley b. Jacy Jayne via DQ when Fatal Influence interfered
Jacob Fatu b. Solo Sikoa – Triple jump moonsault
