WWE SmackDown (May 1, 2026): Charlotte Flair in action; Ricky Saints' debut & more set for next week
(Courtesy :Â WWE)
The aftermath of WrestleMania 42 spilled onto SmackDown in Texas.
The April 24 edition of Friday Night SmackDown served as the fallout show from WrestleMania 42, where new Champions came out to celebrate their win, while new feuds and storylines continued taking shape ahead of Backlash 2026.
The show also featured main roster call-ups similar to Monday’s Raw, with Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) making their presence known on the Blue brand. The Usos also made an appearance to try to steer Jacob Fatu away from Roman Reigns and challenge Cody Rhodes instead.
Furthermore, Tiffany Stratton defeated Giulia to become the new Women’s United States Champion, while R-Truth and Damian Priest defeated JC Mateo and Tama Tonga to retain the WWE Tag Team titles.
Jacy Jayne vs Rhea Ripley ended in a disqualification win for Rhea as Henley and Reid attacked, while in the main event, Jacob Fatu defeated Solo Sikoa and then thwarted a three-on-one attack by the MFTs to end the show.
Ricky Saints debuts on SmackDown next week
During the April 24 edition of the Blue brand, a vignette aired announcing Ricky Saints’ main roster debut on SmackDown next week. Saints is set to have his final match on NXT next Tuesday against Shiloh Hill.
On the other hand, as noted, Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) made their debut on the show, attacking Paige before targeting Brie Bella, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, during a tag team match between the reigning Women’s Tag Team Champions and Charlexa.
Jayne, along with Henley and Reid, then confronted Rhea Ripley later in the show, leading to a non-title match between the two, where Henley and Reid attacked Rhea to cause the disqualification.
After the attack in a backstage segment, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were discussing their clash with Fatal Influence when Rhea Ripley walked past and asked if there was an issue, and Bliss stated that they do in the form of Fatal Influence and suggested teaming up to take care of them. However, Flair interjected, saying she’ll handle Jacy Jayne next week, unlike some people, hinting at Ripley.
Notably, a vignette teasing Blake Monroe’s debut on the main roster also aired during the show. However, no date was mentioned in the vignette, but it confirmed that Monroe is heading to the main roster.
The May 1 edition of WWE SmackDown will emanate live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The show will intensify the build towards Backlash, likely announcing new matches before the go-home show on May 8.
Additionally, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, and Randy Orton are listed as featured superstars for next week’s show.
Announced for WWE SmackDown (May 1, 2026)
- Ricky Saints’ debut
- Charlotte Flair vs Jacy Jayne
When and where will SmackDown take place next week?
The May 1 edition of WWE SmackDown will emanate live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
When and where will Backlash 2026 take place?
The 2026 edition of Backlash will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
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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.