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Damian Priest and R-Truth successfully defended their WWE Tag Team Championships against Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller on WWE SmackDown. The title defense took place before WrestleMania 42.
During the April 17 WWE SmackDown episode in Las Vegas, The Miz and Maryse were renewing their wedding vows when Danhausen appeared and cursed the bride. Following the curse, Maryse tripped and fell face-first into the wedding cake, after which Danhausen tasted the vanilla cake from her face.
According to Fightful Select, Tiffany Stratton is scheduled to defeat Jordynne Grace in tonight's number one contender's match on WWE SmackDown to become the number one contender for the WWE Women's United States Championship. This would position Stratton for a future title shot against current champion Giulia.
Shayna Baszler was busted open during her fight with Nattie Neidhart at Bloodsport XV, which ended in a countout victory for Neidhart after Baszler was driven into the steel steps at ringside and couldn't return to the ring in time. The fight continued even after the bell, with both wrestlers throwing strikes until their entourages intervened to break up the chaos.
Big E stated that he feels like one specific match on the WrestleMania 42 card was booked specifically for him. He did not identify which particular match he was referring to.
WWE SmackDown aired April 17, 2026 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the go-home show for WrestleMania 42. The show featured several scheduled matches including Jordynne Grace vs. Tiffany Stratton for a WWE Women's United States Championship #1 contender's spot, an Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and an 8-man tag team street fight between MFT and The Wyatt Sicks. Randy Orton opened the show with a promo expressing frustration with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, saying Rhodes only takes in their friendship while Orton gives, and criticizing Rhodes for giving him "permission" to be himself ahead of their WrestleMania match.
WWE SmackDown's April 17, 2026 episode will feature several matches including MFTs vs Wyatt Sick6, Damian Priest and R-Truth vs Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller, and Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. The show will also include a number one contenders match for the United States Championship between Jordynne Grace and Tiffany Stratton, an Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and segments featuring Randy Orton, Jacob Fatu, Jade Cargill, Trick Williams, and Cody Rhodes.
Trick Williams released a diss track targeting Sami Zayn alongside rapper Lil Yachty ahead of their upcoming Intercontinental Championship match at WWE WrestleMania.
The Undertaker has praised late WWE legend Bray Wyatt, stating that Wyatt had "only begun to scratch the surface of how great he was gonna be."
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal is planned as the final match for tonight's April 17 WWE SmackDown, with a Cody Rhodes promo scheduled to close the show. Rhodes is advertised to respond to Randy Orton ahead of their WrestleMania 42 clash.
Paul Heyman has confirmed that Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns and Bron Breakker vs. CM Punk were planned to main event WWE WrestleMania 42. Heyman also addressed misconceptions about his previous comments regarding these planned matches.
Randy Orton hinted during an interview with Wade Barrett that his backstage phone calls on WWE SmackDown may not have been to Pat McAfee. This suggests the calls were directed to someone else, contrary to what viewers may have assumed.