Preview:

WWE SmackDown 4/3/26 rolls into the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, this Friday, for a show that carries some serious weight. This is Randy Orton’s hometown, and he has made it clear that his mystery caller will be revealed right there in front of the St. Louis faithful.

Last week in Pittsburgh, the blue brand delivered one of its most eventful nights of the season. Cody Rhodes returned from a brutal beatdown and got into an all-out brawl with Orton.  Sami Zayn answered Carmelo Hayes’ open challenge and recaptured the United States Championship, while GM Nick Aldis made Jacob Fatu vs Drew McIntyre official as an Unsanctioned Match at WrestleMania 42. The Bella Twins picked up a controversial win over Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, and Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin left Rhea Ripley down and out after a 3-on-1 assault. With WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18 and 19, everything happening this Friday matters. Here is everything you need to know.

This is the segment everyone will be talking about heading into Friday. Orton posted a video on social media confirming that the mystery person who has been coaching him through his heel run will appear on WWE SmackDown this week, and the location could not be more fitting. St. Louis is Orton’s hometown, and bringing his mystery ally into that building is a calculated move. Fans have been predicting Bob Orton Jr., the Apex Predator’s real-life father, as the most likely candidate, with the “Royal Family” angle pointing directly to a legacy storyline. Whatever the reveal is, it will send shockwaves straight into his WrestleMania 42 title clash against Cody Rhodes.

Ahead of the show, WWE.com has provided a sneak peek of what awaits on this Friday’s SmackDown. Cody Rhodes is set to crash Randy Orton’s homecoming on SmackDown in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu are both scheduled to appear, with anticipation building around the chaos they could bring ahead of their unsanctioned match. Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill will also be featured, as questions linger over how Ripley will respond following the recent attacks. WWE says ass-kicker Cody Rhodes will “surely be on the warpath” tonight to try spoiling Randy Orton’s homecoming on the road to WrestleMania. It might not be so hard for Randy to avoid the WWE champion’s wrath if Cody doesn’t show up to work again until 5 or 10 minutes before SmackDown goes off the air, like last week. The big hook here is Randy saying he will meet his mystery caller tonight. Let’s Take look on complete match card and Show detail for edition of  WWE Smackdown Friday Night April 3rd, 2026 episode.

Match Card:

• Cody Rhodes looks to spoil Randy Orton’s homecoming on The Road to WrestleMania
• How will Rhea Ripley response to back-to-back attacks by Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab?
• What carnage awaits en route to Jacob Fatu’s Unsanctioned Match against Drew McIntyre?
• Jelly Roll Build to Wrestlemania Continues.
• Sami Zayn vs Trick williams build to Wrestlemania.
• More Cards.

Location & Date:

• Show: WWE SmackDown 4/3/26
• Location: Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Date & Time: Friday, April 3,2026 | 8PM ET – 5AM PT