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WWE has removed the previously scheduled Women's United States Championship match between Giulia and Tiffany Stratton from the April 17 SmackDown. Instead, Stratton will face Jordynne Grace in a number one contender's match, with the winner earning a future shot at Giulia's Women's United States Championship.
Pat McAfee admitted on The Pat McAfee Show that he intentionally fooled fans into believing a major surprise appearance would happen at WWE World, when the reveal was simply McAfee himself. McAfee mocked fans who expected an AEW wrestler to sign with WWE at WrestleMania, and warned that he and Randy Orton have plans to "shake things up" during WrestleMania weekend as part of their ongoing storyline with Cody Rhodes.
WWE SmackDown experienced a slight decline in viewership on April 10, 2026, during the lead-up to WrestleMania. The show aired as part of the road to WrestleMania programming.
A WWE WrestleMania 42 match is reportedly undergoing a change as Nikki Bella has not been medically cleared to compete. A long-absent star is reportedly set to return to replace Bella in the match.
LA Knight denied rumors that he received backstage heat after holding up a fan sign reading "We Want LA Knight, Not Jey Uso" during the October 2025 episode of WWE Raw. In an interview with SHAK Wrestling on April 17, 2026, Knight stated that nobody backstage said anything to him about the incident and described grabbing the sign as a spontaneous reaction rather than a calculated move.
AJ Styles has commented on his upcoming WWE Hall of Fame induction and who will be inducting him at the ceremony. Styles indicated that some potential inductors "couldn't induct" him, though specific details about his final choice were not provided.
WWE has added a last-minute tag team match to the April 17 SmackDown, with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair teaming up against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. All four women are set to compete at WrestleMania 42 in a four-way match for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, where they will face current champions The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend and Nia Jax) and The Bella Twins. The match serves as a preview for the WrestleMania showdown, giving two of the teams involved another chance to build momentum before the event.
AJ Styles, who is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, suggested on his Phenomenally Retro podcast that WWE should consider holding the Hall of Fame ceremony every other year instead of annually to make it more special. Styles explained that the annual format may contribute to the ceremony feeling long and overwhelming, and noted that speeches often exceed their intended time limits. The 2026 WWE Hall of Fame class includes Styles alongside Stephanie McMahon, Demolition, Dennis Rodman, Sycho Sid, and Bad News Brown, with the ceremony scheduled to air at midnight ET following SmackDown.
WWE President Nick Khan addressed whether the company could start integrating political and social commentary into its storylines. No additional details about Khan's specific comments or position on the matter were provided.
WWE is offering a 25% discount on Night One tickets for WrestleMania 42. The discount was announced as a surprise by Pat McAfee last Friday.
Brandi Rhodes is set to star in a new reality series titled "All Rhodes," which is being developed by Magilla Entertainment and will be shopped to networks soon. The show will follow Rhodes' daily life as she balances family responsibilities, business ventures, and public life, marking her return to reality TV after previously appearing on TNT's "Rhodes to the Top" alongside her husband Cody Rhodes during their AEW tenure.
Brooke Hogan revealed on the Hollywood Raw podcast that she was asked to participate in the upcoming Netflix documentary about Hulk Hogan but chose not to respond to the request. She explained her decision was based on concerns about how her family's story would be presented, stating she didn't want to be part of a narrative she has seen change multiple times and was uncertain whether people would be honest in their contributions. The Netflix documentary about Hulk Hogan is set to release on April 22, 2026.