WWE SmackDown April 24, 2026: Start Time, Location And Preview

What Should You Expect From Cody Rhodes And Randy Orton?

I'd expect some verbal sparring but no contact for Rhodes. If we forgot why the punt kick was outlawed before, Rhodes' eye is a reminder.

Rhodes is still in concussion protocol as a precaution, and there’s no current timetable for his ring return. Orton has been the quietest man in the company since the post-match punt at Mania, which makes Fort Worth the obvious spot for both men to address what comes next without needing to put hands on each other.

What's Next For The Bloodline On SmackDown?

Who knows if Reigns shows up on SmackDown? There's been some energy between Solo and Jacob Fatu recently. You have to wonder if Solo will attempt to align himself with Jacob again as he moves toward a feud with Roman Reigns.

The April 17 SmackDown ended with Solo hitting a Samoan Spike and a tense staredown with Tama Tonga, suggesting the MFT itself may not be as solid as it looks. With Fatu having issued a Backlash challenge to Reigns on the post-Mania Raw, the Samoan family chess board is going to need pieces moved on Friday one way or another.

What Should You Expect From The Women's Division?

Rhea is the new champion and Charlotte Flair seems primed for a return to singles competition and perhaps the championship spotlight. Stratton is the new No. 1 contender for the Women's U.S. Championship. I'm expecting her match with Giulia to take place at Backlash, but we'll likely find out on Friday.

Then there’s the new women’s tag-team champions.

WWE has already teased a Ripley response to Cargill’s latest attack, even though Ripley isn't on the advertised list. Charlotte's path is the one to watch beyond that — Ric Flair has been openly campaigning for her to leave the Alexa Bliss tag pairing and get back to the singles scene, and Fort Worth could be the first sign of that pivot.

What Else Could Happen On WWE SmackDown On April 24?

The Williams-Hayes-Zayn triangle isn't over, so it'll be interesting to see where we land with that story.

Trick Williams just took the U.S. Title from Sami Zayn at Mania, and the obvious next step is Carmelo Hayes inserting himself into a coronation moment. With all three names floating around the same belt, this episode is the one where the Backlash mid-card picture should start coming into focus.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com