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WWE Adds Match Between Former Women’s Champions On SmackDown, Alters Pat McAfee Segment

By John Canton • Published Apr 10, 2026 16:25 EDT
WWE Smackdown Logo Arena WWE.com
WWE Smackdown Logo Arena - Source: WWE.com

A big singles match between two former WWE Women’s Champions has been added to SmackDown.

There are just eight days left until WrestleMania 42 takes place on April 18th and April 19th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

While the WrestleMania card is nearly full with the potential for one more match to be added, it has meant a lot of talking segments on Raw and SmackDown as WWE tries to keep building up the matches.

One of the WrestleMania matches will see the Irresistible Forces team of Nia Jax & Legend defend the Women’s Tag Team Titles against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, and The Bella Twins duo of Nikki & Brie Bella. Nikki is currently dealing with an ankle injury and hopes to wrestle.

To build that Women’s Tag Team Title match even more, SmackDown GM announced on social media that the Bay Area’s own Bayley will be in action in San Jose against Alexa Bliss in a matchup of two women who have combined to win 9 Women’s Titles in their careers.

Tonight from The Shark Tank, it’ll be hometown girl @itsBayleyWWE going 1-on-1 with @AlexaBliss_WWE. See you tonight on #SmackDown

Pat McAfee Will Address The WWE Universe On SmackDown

Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42, and we found out on SmackDown last week that Orton has gained former announcer/sometimes wrestler Pat McAfee as an ally.

WWE had previously promoted the Rhodes, Orton, and McAfee segment on April 10th by mentioning Rhodes: “How will Cody Rhodes respond to assault by Randy Orton and Pat McAfee?”

That has been altered on WWE’s website as they are instead pushing Pat McAfee’s promo.

Last week, Randy Orton formed a partnership with Pat McAfee to unleash a shocking attack on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

Later in the show, an irate American Nightmare hit the ring to issue a fiery response.

Tonight, Pat McAfee will address the WWE Universe LIVE on SmackDown at 8 ET/7 CT on USA.

In his post on social media promoting WWE SmackDown, Pat McAfee claimed there would be a massive surprise.

Randy Orton is gonna save the business for future generations of wrestling fans. That’s so incredible to think about.. Very rarely do these types of obviously monumental moments happen in our lifetime.

My daughter and baby boy on the way are gonna have a WWE that is thriving.. a WWE that is the greatest form of entertainment on Earth, bar none, because the top of the company is gonna be exactly what it’s supposed to be.

A man sent DIRECTLY from the Wrestling AND Sports Entertainment Gods will be properly leading the business once again.

It is my honor to serve the future generations of wrestling fans as I motivate The 🐐, Randy Orton to not only become 15 TIME WORLD CHAMPION but also, become a man who saved his family’s business.

WrestleMania Saturday Night is gonna be The most Historic Night in the HISTORY of sports.. SO MUCH ON THE LINE. Multi-Generational pressure comes to a head. Randy will prevail… for all of us 🙏🏻

See also… I have a MASSIVE SURPRISE to announce tomorrow night.

You’ll start thanking me and Randy soon enough for all of this.

SEE YOU IN SAN JOSE

The advertised segments on WWE SmackDown look like this:

  • Pat McAfee to address the WWE Universe
  • Drew McIntyre promises to expose the real Jacob Fatu on SmackDown
  • Rhea Ripley will address Jade Cargill’s attack on IYO SKY
  • Sami Zayn will be out for payback on Trick Williams and Lil Yachty
  • Royce Keys makes his SmackDown debut this Friday

As always, we’ll have full WWE SmackDown coverage right here on TJRWrestling.

Also Read:Randy Orton & Pat McAfee To Team Up At Upcoming WWE PLE