WWE SmackDown 4/3 Live Results: Pat McAfee Revealed as Orton’s Caller

April 3, 2026 John Kleinchester NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

April 3, 2026
Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO

By: John Kleinchester

WWE SmackDown Results

  • Rhea Ripley over Michin via Prism Trap in 9:13
  • Uncle Howdy over Tama Tonga via Sister Abigail in 7:15
  • Aleister Black over Matt Cardona via Black Mass in 9:46
  • Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss over Bayley & Lyra Valkyria via Natural Selection in 10:29
  • Tag Team Championship: Damian Priest & R-Truth over The Miz & Kit Wilson via South of Heaven in 9:18
  • United States Championship: Sami Zayn over Carmelo Hayes via Helluva Kick in 11:02

 

The Big Reveal

Friday Night SmackDown kicked off with St. Louis’ own Randy Orton cutting an in-ring promo saying that he was going to win the title for his family, who were seated in the front row. Orton said Cody Rhodes was not a killer, and what had awoken inside of him could not be put back to bed. This brought out Cody, and the two immediately started brawling. Pat McAfee then casually strolled into the ring and hit a low blow on Cody. McAfee then ran down all the St. Louis sports teams as Orton hit Cody with a chair. He continued to cut a heel promo, complaining about various things like “two five-foot-five guys do a forty-five-minute Iron Man match” when Randy Orton is around. McAfee said that SmackDown had just had its worst-rated episode ever, and that Cody Rhodes was a pupper champion everyone hates. He finished by saying Randy Orton was “going to save the fucking business”. 

 

After a commercial and replays of the first segment, the two were backstage celebrating what they had done before driving out of the arena. This whole thing felt very strange, especially doing it in Randy Orton’s hometown. 

Rhea Ripley vs. Michin

The first match of the night was Rhea Ripley taking on Michin with B-Fab in her corner. A minute into the match, with Ripley in control, Jade Cargill walked down the entranceway, distracting Ripley and allowing Michin to gain the advantage. During the ad break, both Jade and B-Fab attacked Ripley behind the referee’s back. Upon return, the two struggled to execute a Razor’s Edge and a running knee, both of which looked brutal for Michin. Michin recovered, hitting a reverse rana, followed by Eat Defeat for a near fall. Ripley applied the Prism Trap, and Michin tapped out. The three heels started a beatdown on Ripley, but Iyo Sky made the save. 

Backstage, Aleister Black and Zelina approached Matt Cardona, and Cardona challenged Black to a match tonight. 

Elsewhere backstage, Solo Sikoa said he would not let the Wyatts’ lantern out of his sight. Tama Tonga spoke up, asking why they were fighting for the lantern when it was nothing but problems for them. Tonga said he would handle Uncle Howdy, but he would do it alone. Sikoa responded, “Good. But before you do, don’t mess this up.” Which is objectively terrible writing. 

In yet another spot backstage, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky were interviewed, with Ripley admitting Iyo was her backup plan and her best friend. 

Uncle Howdy vs. Tama Tonga

Next, the epic, never-ending battle over the Wyatts’ lantern continued, with Tama Tonga taking on Uncle Howdy, who did not get a televised entrance. Tama Tonga took control of the match early on as the show went to break. As it came back, Joe Tessitore reminded us that it was early January when this damn lantern issue began. Howdy was able to recover enough to apply the Mandible Claw when Solo Sikoa appeared with the lantern, causing Tonga to yell at Sikoa to get to the back. Howdy hit the Sister Abigail for the win. Sikoa and Tonga began to argue in the ring, and Tonga ripped the lantern away, giving it to Howdy. 

Backstage, Kit Wilson was telling The Miz that he was worried about Danhausen’s curse. Miz said there was no curse when they ran into R-Truth, who confused Miz’s yelling with a tag title challenge. 

A pre-taped vignette from Jacob Fatu aired, discussing how he was a product of his environment and needed to survive. 

Sami Zayn approached Nick Aldis backstage, asking if he would have pyro tonight. Zayn said he was going to the ring when Trick Williams’ music played. Williams came to the ring with Lil’ Yatchy. Williams asked Yachty to come with him to WrestleMania.

Trick demanded that they hit Sami Zayn’s pyro, which, for some reason, they obliged. This brought out Zayn, who called himself working-class and dressed down, and the crowd booed. Trick took credit for Zayn being the United States Champion and for having a WrestleMania match. This brought out Carmelo Hayes, who said he had the US title at the one-yard line, and now Zayn was going to take it into the endzone. Hayes demanded a rematch, and Sami said not until after WrestleMania. Trick interjected, saying to give Carmelo a chance. After a drawn-out bit of consternation, Sami agreed to a US title match later tonight. Trick said that took a long time (agreed, Trick), and Zayn clotheslined him out of the ring. 

Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga continued their argument, with Tonga suggesting they get back to winning titles. Sikoa agreed but said they had to finish the Wyatts first. So, somehow it still continues despite the lantern. 

Matt Cardona vs. Aleister Black

The next match saw Matt Cardona taking on Aleister Black with Zelina. Cardona was still selling the attack on his wrist, wearing a giant brace, and Black immediately focused his offense on it. Zelina distracted Cardona early on, allowing Black to take full control as the show went to break. After returning, Cardona began to shift the momentum, but Black hit the Black Mass from out of nowhere for the win. 

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria were interviewed ahead of their match against Charlotte and Alexa Bliss tonight. Valkyria said this WrestleMania was about making up to Bayley for what happened to her last year. 

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were speaking with Truth backstage, promoting his match at NXT tomorrow night. Damian Priest approached and asked why Truth chose Miz and Kit to face. Truth said it was because “Asuka” cursed them. 

A Drew McIntyre vignette aired in response to Fatu’s earlier. McIntyre called Fatu a convict who was only in WWE because of his family. He said next week he would show the world who Fatu really is. 

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

Next was the match featuring two of the four teams in the WWE Women’s Tag title match at Wrestlemania, with Flair and Bliss taking on Bayley and Valkyria. It was noted that Nikki Bella rolled her ankle in a match last week and was currently undergoing rehab in order to be ready for Mania. Flair and Bliss controlled the match through an ad break, with Bayley getting the hot tag and attempting to forge a comeback. Bliss and Flair picked up the win with double Natural Selection. Lash Legend and Nia Jax appeared immediately after the bell, attacking both teams. 

Miz & Kit Wilson were warming up for their title match when Danhausen appeared and said he would accompany them to the ring tonight, but Miz said no. 

 

Tag Team Championship

Next was Damian Priest and R-Truth defending their tag titles against Kit Wilson and The Miz. After an ad break, the match began, and 90 seconds later, it was back into an ad break. After that, Danhausen marched down to the ring and tried to tag into the match. Miz was confused and started yelling at the referee. Danhausen realized he didn’t have the tag rope, and R-Truth tagged him in. Miz got into his face, and Danhausen accidentally cursed the referee. The lights went out, and Danhausen ran off. The Miz hit the Skull-Crushing Finale, but the referee suddenly couldn’t count to three because his arm froze up. Priest tagged in and collected the pinfall as the referee used his left hand to make the count.

Cody Rhodes appeared, hitting the Cross Rhodes on Kit Wilson. Rhodes got on the mic and compared Pat McAfee as the reveal earlier in the night to the nWo’s third man being Disco Inferno instead of Hulk Hogan. Cody told McAfee to kiss his ass and wondered if WWE would fire him – noting it really worked out for them the last time. Rhodes said he didn’t know how to be a bad guy anymore, dark hair and all. He continued, noting that the last three WrestleManias were records, and he was in the main events of each. 

United States Championship

The main event of the evening saw Sami Zayn defending his United States title against former champion Carmelo Hayes. Trick Williams and Lil Yachty were out at ringside to get a look at who his Mania opponent would end up being. Hayes gained control early on in the match but hit a somersault dive on Zayn over the top rope, but came up grabbing his left knee.

After the break, Hayes continued to sell the effects of his knee injury as Zayn capitalized with the crowd booing his offense. Hayes hit First 48 but missed Nothing But Net, injuring his knee further. The referee pushed Zayn back as if this was a legit injury, but Zayn hit the Helluva Kick anyway, picking up the win. 

Trick Williams and Lil Yachty got in the ring and attacked Zayn, leaving him lying and posing with the US title as the show went off the air. 

 

About John Kleinchester 312 Articles
John Kleinchester is a New Jersey–based wrestling reporter, primarily covering WWE and AEW. He can be reached at [email protected].
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