The road to WrestleMania 42 hit a fever pitch as the "Apex Predator" Randy Orton returned to his hometown of St. Louis. In a night defined by shifting loyalties and brutal brawls, the WWE Universe witnessed the shocking reveal of Orton's mystery ally and the continued dominance of the "Judgment Day" remnants.
From championship retentions to unsanctioned announcements, here is the full match card and results from the April 3, 2026, edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
WWE SmackDown Full Match Card & Results: April 3, 2026
| Match Type | Competitors | Winner |
| Singles Match | Rhea Ripley vs. Michin (w/ B-Fab & Jade Cargill) | Rhea Ripley (via Prism Trap) |
| Singles Match | Uncle Howdy vs. Tama Tonga | Uncle Howdy (via Sister Abigail) |
| Singles Match | Aleister Black vs. Matt Cardona | Aleister Black (via Black Mass) |
| Women's Tag Match | Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria | Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss |
| Tag Team Title Match | Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson | Damian Priest & R-Truth |
| United States Title | Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes | Sami Zayn (via Helluva Kick) |
Pat McAfee Joins Randy Orton
Huge cheers filled the arena as the first act brought St. Louis' own Randy Orton to the stage. Wearing an "RKO Everybody" top, Orton grabbed the mic to bash Cody Rhodes, stating the Undisputed WWE Champion did not have the "killer instinct" necessary for their WrestleMania bout. As Rhodes came out to call for a fight, everyone at Enterprise Centre could hardly believe their eyes because Pat McAfee came out of nowhere, hit Rhodes with a low blow, and joined Orton. The scene saw the new team standing above a beaten champion who was their handiwork, which suggested the popular announcer was going to take a character turn for the worse.
Championship Sunday: Sami Zayn Retains US Title
The main event saw Sami Zayn defending his new United States Championship title against the ex-champion Carmelo Hayes. It was a very technical and beautifully performed match where Hayes came very close to winning after a great springboard counter. Nevertheless, it was Zayn's determination that eventually won as he managed to hit his signature Helluva Kick that ended the match in his favour.
On a different note, the backstage situation for WrestleMania got even more heated when Nick Aldi gave his official approval to an Unsanctioned Match between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre, a match which he described as being capable of showcasing a level of violence that one might hardly expect to be on the blue brand.