Four WWE stars who deserve to win Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on SmackDown before WrestleMania 42
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
SmackDown next week will feature the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
As per tradition, the WWE WrestleMania 42 go-home show of Friday Night SmackDown will feature the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
It is a traditional Battle Royal held yearly as a part of the WrestleMania weekend. This is a traditional battle royal, which is held to honour the legacy of Andre the Giant. In recent times, the battle royal has been held on the go-home show of SmackDown.
Let us now take a look at the top four WWE stars who deserve to win the battle royal this year on the April 17 edition of SmackDown in Las Vegas.
4. Dragon Lee
Dragon Lee received a well-deserved push around early 2026, teaming up with AJ Styles to capture the World Tag Team titles. He even feuded with Gunther for a brief period.
However, Lee has since been largely absent, making sporadic appearances with no clear creative plans. A win in the battle royal will help Lee gain momentum once again, and coming out of WrestleMania, he can plan to challenge for the IC title once again.
3. Aleister Black
Aleister Black kicked off his second WWE run last year, and despite brief interactions with major names, has only engaged in a major feud with Damian Priest. Black has also mostly been out of the title picture, even the US title.
Black can carry feuds and deliver incredible segments; a win next week will at least provide him some momentum to guide his directionless feuds.
2. Carmelo Hayes
Fans have been very vocal about WWE opting for Carmelo Hayes to drop the US title to Sami Zayn just before WrestleMania, especially since Hayes delivered incredible title defense, becoming a staple of SmackDown programming for weeks.
Despite being sidelined from the ‘Grandest Stage,’ Hayes can win the battle royal at least an alternative reward and become the first-ever two-time winner of the battle royal
1. Royce Keys
Royce Keys made his highly anticipated main roster debut during the April 10 edition of SmackDown, defeating Berto of the Los Garzas with ease to pick up his first win in what was basically a squash match to welcome him on the main roster.
Keys can build on his momentum with another victory in next week’s battle royal, further elevating his standing and cementing himself as a rising force in the division despite his brief time on the roster.
What is the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal?
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal is a traditional Battle Royal held yearly as a part of the WrestleMania weekend. This is a traditional battle royal, which is held to honour the legacy of Andre the Giant.
When and where will SmackDown take place next week?
The April 17 edition of the Blue brand will take live place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.