WWE SmackDown Highlights: WWE SmackDown aired live from Dickies Arena in the first episode following WrestleMania 42. The show focused heavily on the fallout from WrestleMania, featuring the return of Cody Rhodes after his brutal encounter with Randy Orton, Bloodline tension involving Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, and major chaos surrounding the women’s division.

New champions also celebrated their victories, including Trick Williams and Rhea Ripley, while Paige made her return to WWE television.

WWE SmackDown Highlights 2026

Jacob Fatu Calls Out Roman Reigns as Bloodline Drama Explodes

The show opened with Jacob Fatu demanding a future World Heavyweight Championship opportunity against Roman Reigns.

Fatu spoke about constantly being doubted and made it clear he wanted to prove himself at the highest level.

Soon after, The Usos interrupted the segment. Jimmy Uso discussed the importance of “family business,” while Jey Uso warned Fatu that Roman Reigns does not hand out respect easily.

The tension escalated when Solo Sikoa arrived alongside his faction. Solo claimed Fatu needed the group and called him a lost cause. Things turned physical after Tama Tonga was hit with a superkick during the confrontation.

Ignoring the chaos around him, Fatu shifted his focus back to Roman Reigns before challenging Solo Sikoa to a match later in the night.

Tiffany Stratton Wins Women’s United States Championship

Giulia defended the Women’s United States Championship against Tiffany Stratton in one of the standout matches of the night.

The contest began at a fast pace with both women exchanging counters, roll-ups, and quick reversals.

After the commercial break, Stratton mounted a comeback with a springboard cartwheel Stunner. Giulia responded with heavy offense, including the Arrivederci knee strike and submission counters.

Outside interference from Kiana James nearly changed the outcome, but she accidentally got taken out during the chaos.

In the closing moments, Tiffany Stratton connected with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to secure the pinfall victory and capture the championship.

Brie Bella and Paige Return to Action

Brie Bella teamed up with returning star Paige against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.

Brie spent most of the match fighting from underneath while trying to reach Paige for the hot tag. Just as Paige was about to enter the match, interference from Jacy Jayne disrupted the action by pulling Paige off the apron.

The match quickly broke down into chaos and ended in a disqualification victory for Brie Bella and Paige.

Cody Rhodes Returns After WrestleMania Attack

Cody Rhodes returned to SmackDown sporting a black eye after the brutal attack from Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42.

Despite the visible damage, Rhodes told the crowd he refuses to stay down and reminded everyone that he is still the Undisputed WWE Champion.

He directly addressed Randy Orton, warning that the attack failed to finish him. Cody also referenced Sami Zayn and declared that everything in his life remains “gold.”

Rhodes ended the segment by issuing an open challenge to wrestlers across Raw, SmackDown, and NXT for a future title opportunity.

Sami Zayn Crashes Trick Williams Celebration

Trick Williams celebrated his United States Championship victory with a huge in-ring party featuring balloons, champagne, and special guests including Lil Yachty.

Williams spoke about finally earning respect and proudly repeated his “Whoop That Trick” catchphrase.

Lil Yachty also grabbed the microphone and referred to himself as “The Prophecy” while discussing the future of the title scene.

However, the celebration took a dramatic turn when the mysterious “Gingerbread Man” revealed himself as Sami Zayn. Zayn attacked both Trick Williams and Lil Yachty before ending the segment with a Helluva Kick on the new champion.

Rhea Ripley Segment Ends in Chaos

New Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley addressed the crowd and made it clear she is ready to face any challenger, including Jade Cargill.

The segment was interrupted by Jacy Jayne alongside Fatal Influence members Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid.

Later in the show, Ripley faced Jayne in a singles match. The bout featured momentum swings and interference from Fatal Influence throughout.

Ripley appeared close to victory multiple times before outside interference caused a disqualification finish. After the bell, Fatal Influence launched a group assault on Ripley to close the segment.

Jacob Fatu Defeats Solo Sikoa in Main Event

The main event saw Jacob Fatu face Solo Sikoa in a brutal and chaotic showdown.

The match never slowed down, with interference from J.C. Mateo, Tama Tonga, and other members of the MFTs constantly affecting the action. The Usos watched from the entrance ramp as the Bloodline tension continued escalating.

Solo controlled parts of the match, but Fatu eventually fought back with a superkick, Samoan Drop, and finally the Mighty Moonsault to secure the victory.

After the match, the MFTs attempted another attack, but Fatu fought them off before confronting The Usos and teasing more Bloodline drama ahead of Monday’s show.

Final Takeaway

This episode of WWE SmackDown successfully pushed multiple storylines forward after WrestleMania 42.

Jacob Fatu’s rise within the Bloodline story, Cody Rhodes’ emotional return, Sami Zayn crashing Trick Williams’ celebration, and the chaos surrounding Rhea Ripley all set the stage for major developments in the coming weeks.

With tensions rising across every division, SmackDown appears to be entering one of its most unpredictable periods of the year.

FAQs

Q1. What was the biggest storyline on WWE SmackDown?

A. Jacob Fatu calling out Roman Reigns and confronting Solo Sikoa was the central storyline of the show.

Q2. Who won the Women’s United States Championship?

A. Tiffany Stratton defeated Giulia to win the title.

Q3. What happened during Cody Rhodes’ segment?

A. Cody Rhodes returned with a black eye after WrestleMania and issued an open challenge across WWE brands.

Q4. Who interrupted Trick Williams’ celebration?

A. Sami Zayn interrupted the celebration and attacked Trick Williams.

Q5. What was the result of Jacob Fatu vs Solo Sikoa?

A. Jacob Fatu defeated Solo Sikoa after hitting the Mighty Moonsault.

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