Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for April 3, 2026

Randy Orton heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Orton asks the fans what they want to talk about, much like "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, then says that it is no secret that St. Louis, Missouri is his hometown and has been for years, and that the next time he is here, he will be world champion. Orton then says he is becoming world champion again for him and for his family, who he considers his real home, and that Cody Rhodes will be heading home from WrestleMania empty-handed. He says that Cody gave him his blessing and told him that he needed to be "The Viper" and be the best version of himself, then says that the voices are talking to Cody and that Stephanie McMahon was right when she said Cody cannot beat him. He says that Cody is not a killer that and that there is no putting back to bed what Cody has awoken. Suddenly, Cody Rhodes shows up and heads to the ring. Cody and Orton brawl, and Cody quickly gets the momentum. All of a sudden, Pat McAfee gets in the ring and kicks Cody in the groin, revealing himself to be the one that Orton talked to on the phone. Orton then grabs a chair and hits Cody with it, then McAfee makes fun of the local sports team as General Manager Nick Aldis shows up with officials and states that it is a tough night for St. Louis. McAfee says that a month ago, he was asked when he would return WWE, and he said that he thought the business passed him by and that it was "absolute shit." He says Orton called him and told him it went in a direction that some people did not like. He says that the older fans who put WWE on their back to take it where it is now feel forgotten about as Orton chokes Cody with the chair, and says he has to watch two 5'5" guys wrestle each other in 45-minute Iron Man Matches for ten weeks straight for no rhyme or reason while Randy Orton is around. He says that gorilla positions keeps circlejerking themselves, that tickets are WrestleMania are somehow still available, and SmackDown has a puppet for a champion after its worst-rated episode of the year while Orton is around, and tells Orton to kick Cody's ass. Orton attacks Cody as McAfee says he has been the one on the phone telling Orton to kill everything, as the business Cody is leading is terrible and that Orton is going to "save the fucking business." Randy places the Undisputed WWE Championship on Cody before whispering into Cody's ear and leaving with Pat McAfee. Officials check on Cody.

Backstage, Pat McAfee and Randy Orton celebrate what they have done to "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes on their way out of the building.

Rhea Ripley beats "Michin" Mia Yim by submission with the Prism Trap. Jade Cargill shows up shortly after the beginning of the match to watch from ringside. After the match, B-Fab attacks Rhea, and while Rhea takes her out, Michin attacks Rhea from behind as Rhea is focused on Cargill, which leads to a beatdown. As Cargill is about to hit Rhea Ripley with Jaded, Iyo Sky shows up and fends off Michin and B-Fab, and she and Rhea clean house.

Backstage, Matt Cardona is met by Aleister Black and Zelina Vega. Aleister says that Randy Orton went back to being himself and that the universe is right again, and Zelina says that Cardona cannot accept that. Cardona says he has talked to General Manager Nick Aldis, and that they can fight tonight. Aleister says that Cardona is a fan of making bad decisions before he leaves.

Backstage, Solo Sikoa talks with the MFT's (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo). He says that Uncle Howdy wants to challenge for the lantern, and wants to know who will take care of Uncle Howdy. Tama Tonga says that the lantern has been nothing but trouble for all of them, including Solo. Solo tells Tama to take care of Howdy, and while Tama obliges, he will do this alone. Solo says he is okay with this, then tells him not to mess this up.

Backstage, Rhea Ripley tells Iyo Sky that she owes her one before Cathy Kelley interviews her. Rhea says that Jade Cargill has proven that she cannot do this one on her own, and that she did not know she had a back-up plan. She says Cargill has followers while she has friends, and Iyo tells Rhea she will always have her back. Rhea says she will always have Iyo's back and that she will walk out of WrestleMania as champion.

Uncle Howdy beats Tama Tonga when Solo Sikoa shows up and almost hits Uncle Howdy with the lantern only to get caught by the referee. This leads to Solo arguing with Tama followed by Uncle Howdy hitting Tama Tonga for the win. After the match, Solo and Tama argue, and Tama takes the lantern, saying that Solo does not need this. He lets Howdy take the lantern and holds Solo back, telling Solo to let the lantern go.

Backstage, Kit Wilson and The Miz - the latter looking sweaty and having had a rough day - are worried about Danhausen's curse when they run into R-Truth, who is setting up a new clubhouse. Miz says R-Truth takes nothing seriously and challenges R-Truth to inspire someone, saying he has never earned anything in WWE. R-Truth takes this as a challenge for the WWE tag team championships and goes to talk to General Manager Nick Aldis.

We hear from Jacob Fatu, who says that is just him and Drew McIntyre one-on-one in an unsanctioned match at WrestleMania. He says his life has been one big rollercoaster, and one is forced into the gutter, one is forced to be part of the environmental and that it all comes down to survival. He says that every decision he made and every day he was locked up brought him to this moment, and in this match, there are no rules, no one to stop him, no one to break it up and no one to tell him what to do. Jacob says that at WrestleMania, McIntyre is in his world, and he will see if McIntyre can make it out.

Backstage, Sami Zayn meets with General Manager Nick Aldis. He finds out that he has pyro, then apologizes for last week. Aldis says it is not necessary, saying that Sami did what he had to, then tells him to go out to the ring and talk to the fans before Trick Williams' theme plays. Rapper Lil Yachty accompanies Trick to the ring, and Trick celebrates having his first WrestleMania match before stating that since the guests are rolling out, it was only right to bring out Lil Yachty. Lil Yachty says that WrestleMania is for legends in the making like Trick, and Trick mentions that the two of them have history before stating that he will do what it takes to win the United States title and that he will "take no lip from no Gingerbread Man." He then says to hit Sami Zayn's pyro, because Trick Williams runs SmackDown. Sami Zayn shows up and says Trick Williams is celebrating before he has won and that pageantry has never really been his thing. He says that he is focused on winning, then says that 50,000 signs will be pointed at the ring at WrestleMania and that all the presentation, pageantry and celebration will not save him from one of the best to ever do it in the ring. Sami tells Trick that he will "humble [his] ass" at WrestleMania, and Trick tells Lil Yachty that "Ginger Snap is pretty upset" and fails to realize that he only has the United States Championship and is going to WrestleMania because of him. Carmelo Hayes shows up and heads to the ring and says he cannot sit back and watch things go down like this, then mentions his history with Trick, saying that he will spin the block and give Trick his receipt. Carmelo says that the end of their match does not sit well with him and that he carried the United States Championship on his back only for Sami to win it in the fashion that he did, and that the fans want him, not Sami, at WrestleMania. Carmelo tells Sami to listen to the fans and give him his rematch. Sami agrees with Carmelo and that he deserves a rematch and does not want to take anything from him, and that while he is sorry that this happened at his expense, he will have to wait until after WrestleMania. Sami acknowledges that Trick Williams got involved in their match, and says the same thing happened to him regarding Cody Rhodes. He says this may have worked in his favor this time around, but he is not happy about it. Carmelo tells Sami to do the right thing. Sami tells Carmelo that he has his rematch tonight. If Carmelo wins, he gets Trick Williams; if he wins, he gets Trick, and this is the last he hears of this. Carmelo accepts and heads to the back. Trick laughs and thanks Sami for finally saving some time, and Sami clotheslines Trick out of the ring.

Backstage, Solo Sikoa confronts Tama Tonga for returning the lantern to Uncle Howdy. Tama says the lantern tore them apart and that it is time to get back to business and take all the titles. Solo agrees, then says that once they finish The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross), they will get back to business. Tama looks at the MFT's (Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo) while Solo looks at Tama with a side eye.

Aleister Black beats Matt Cardona.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Bayley says that losing last year's opportunity sucked, but she has made a career out of fighting with her back against the wall, and they will win the women's tag titles on Monday after Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss get a taste of what will happen at WrestleMania. Lyra Valkyria says that if Charlotte and Alexa had gone through what they did, they would not be a team. Lyra says this is more than about friendship or championship gold, but about making it iup to Bayley and making the last year worth it.

Backstage, R-Truth speaks with Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano. R-Truth admits that he thought Gargano was dead when he found him on the floor, but Gargano says that he is still alive and about to win the North American Championship before he and Candice leave. Damian Priest then shows up wanting to know why they are facing The Miz and Kit Wilson with their titles on the line, but R-Truth says that Asuka cursed them. Priest reminds him that he is really talking about Danhausen, but R-Truth insists that it is Asuka who did it and that it will not only be like taking candy from a baby, but that St. Louis, Missouri gets to see that it "It's 'Wepa' Time."

We hear from Drew McIntyre. He says that his family was about to see him walk out as Undisputed WWE Champion, but the title was stolen from him again, this time by Jacob Fatu. He says that Jacob has made excuses, justifications and lies as well as a criminal and a thief who has the potential to change but never will because he is a convict. He says Jacob's family made his life hell and that Jacob is the worst of all to the point that he cannot outrun his past. McIntyre says he will prove Jacob "guilty as charged" and show who Jacob really is.

It is announced that Nikki Bella has suffered an ankle injury last week and that she will hopefully get better by WrestleMania 42.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss beat Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. After the match, both teams are laid out by The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend).

Backstage, The Miz tells Kit Wilson that the curse is a myth, as they have a WWE Tag Team Championship match, and the universe corrects itself. Danhausen shows up with his jar of teeth, and offers to accompany them to the ring to show them how to be him. Kit Wilson calls Danhausen toxic, but Danhausen offers to undo the curse. The Miz tells Danhausen to stay away from the ring, then Danhausen disappears the moment Miz looks away.

Rapper Sexxy Red is seen in the crowd.

Damian Priest and R-Truth retain the WWE Tag Team Championships against Kit Wilson and The Miz. During the match, Danhausen shows up and tries to tag out The Miz, but both the referee and The Miz are having none of it. R-Truth tags in Danhausen, and The Miz tells Danhausen to get out. Danhausen tries to curse The Miz, but The Miz uses referee Dan Engler as a human shield and Engler gets cursed instead. The Miz is able to hit R-Truth with a Skull Crushing Finale soon after, but Engler's wrist suddenly hurts as he makes the three count. This allows Priest to tag in and hit South of Heaven on the Miz to retain, with referee Dan Engler making the count with his other hand. After the match, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes suddenly shows up, hits Kit Wilson with a Cross Rhodes, then addresses Pat McAfee. He says this is like The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) talking about the third man, except it was Disco Inferno instead of Hulk Hogan. Rhodes says that McAfee will get his receipt and that he and everyone who represents him can kiss his ass, saying that firing him "went well the last time," then mentions everyone telling him he must go to a dark place and become a bad guy to beat Randy Orton. Cody admits he does not know if he can do it anymore, as he has two children and his dream job, and says that while he was wrestling current greats in WWE, they were also wrestling him. He says that he is finally hearing those voices in his head, then says that the fans do not want to hear what they have to say.

Trick Williams and rapper Lil Yachty show up to watch the next match from ringside.

Sami Zayn retains the WWE United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes after hitting Carmelo with the Helluva Kick when Carmelo tweaks the right knee when he misses Nothing But Net. After the match, Lil Yachty congratulates Sami Zayn before putting Trick Williams on a pedestal. Sami confronts Yachty for calling him "The Gingerbread Man," and Trick attacks Sami from behind with Yachty holding Sami down for the Trick Shot to the jaw.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!