WrestleMania made a bit of a splash (at least on Night 2), but would this week's “WWE SmackDown” do the same? Kicking off just hours after the news of the latest WWE releases — with sad goodbyes to Kairi Sane, the Motor City Machine Guns, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, The Wyatt Sicks and others — this week's show had somewhat of a hill to climb in terms of putting us in that Friday night mood. So let's see how they fared …Jacob Fatu sets out his stallBeing the first challenger to the new champion is no easy feat.
Just ask AJ Styles, whose final run against newly-minted champion Cody Rhodes failed to excite us back in spring 2024. But can Jacob Fatu, the fearsome Samoan werewolf, do any better when it comes to that feat?This week's "SmackDown" kicked off with Jacob Fatu in the ring in Fort Worth, explaining how beating Roman Reigns — the new WWE champion — could be his ticket to success. Sadly "The OTC" himself wasn't available to respond, leaving The Usos to do the job for him.
"PROVE IT"@jacobfatu_wwe is READY for @WWERomanReigns 😮 pic.twitter.com/rcph9c4SrO— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026.@WWEUsos are letting @jacobfatu_wwe KNOW what it means to step up with @WWERomanReigns!! 👀 pic.twitter.com/bbJsThgv4d— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026Then just when we were ready to hear Jey Uso out, the PA system throbbed with another theme: Solo Sikoa and the MFTs."Why are we here, spending time with this?" asked Tama Tonga, capturing my thoughts nicely. There's only one thing worse than another convoluted Bloodline storyline, and that's a Bloodline angle without the main man Roman Reigns.
We theater kids have a phrase for this kind of thing: Hamlet without the prince ….Solo Sikoa vs Jacob Fatu TONIGHT?!?!?@RealNickAldis, please make this official! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/oIUciiUUow— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026Still, the family dynamic led into the main event, pitting Fatu against Solo Sikoa to finish the show. After Jacob got the win over his former ally, the MFTs attempted to launch an ambush only to be thwarted by a near superman performance from "The Samoan Werewolf". The Usos — who had appeared on the ramp — watched on impressed, seemingly taking notes to report back to their "Tribal Chief."The MFTs are already playing a role in this match! 😭 pic.twitter.com/fKvgVSRj10— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026CHAOS to end SmackDown!! 👊AND @jacobfatu_wwe stands TALL!! pic.twitter.com/FZyjeaFJMD— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026Tiffany becomes U.S. championShe might be a relative newcomer to pro-wrestling, but Tiffany Stratton has one thing under her belt: She very rarely has a dull outing in the ring.
This time around, the gymnast-turned-grappler was up against Giulia for the women's U.S. title — a match that narrowly failed to make the card at WrestleMania.Once Wade Barrett opined about Tiffy missing the stadium show, it seemed more than likely that she would win — and so it proved. A ripple of tension between Giulia and her manager Kiana James led to the former NXT champion getting the win, thanks to a characteristically smooth moonsault (do we really have to call it "The Prettiest Moonsault Ever"?).A brutal offensive flurry from @giulia0221g! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3l7G90lTLn— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026#ANDNEW WOMEN'S UNITED STATES CHAMPION!!! 😤@tiffstrattonwwepic.twitter.com/Vj2WuRmfPA— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026That's great for Tiffany, but where does it leave Giulia, whose U.S. title run didn't exactly get the star treatment from WWE?
On a night where releases are at the forefront of our imaginations, no one likes to see these promising young talents being dealt such a bad hand.Paige and Brie defend their titles (sort of)"I'm so happy to be home," said Paige, giving her first promo since her massive return at WrestleMania. I'm sure she said the same thing when I saw her a few months ago making a cameo at World Association Wrestling — the Knight family's longstanding wrestling promotion here in England — last year, but I guess we can let that one slide."SmackDown is MY HOUSE" 🔥Paige is letting the ENTIRE roster know! @Saraya | @NikkiAndBriepic.twitter.com/IK2Uzxymfz— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026No sooner had Paige finished her thought, she and Brie Bella were interrupted by Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.
The crowd popped when WWE authorities green-lit the tag title match, only for the occasion to be rudely interrupted by Jacy Jayne and the rest of Fatal Influence making their “SmackDown” debut with an ambush attack on Paige and Brie Bella.FATAL INFLUENCE?!?! @jacyjaynewwe, @lainey_wwe and @FallonHenleyWWE just RUINED this Tag Match!! pic.twitter.com/cRpOVHQh1R— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2026What do we make of that? While it's nice to see the Fatal Influence girls getting a break, the loud boos for the non-finish told the story on that one.Cody Rhodes taunts his rivalsHoly crap, he did it. Cody Rhodes actually went full blown heel, giving us the most shocking twist of the entire WrestleMania season … wow!Ha, sorry.
Just testing you there. Of course, he didn