SmackDown preview: It sounds like WWE is planning to make a new star right before WrestleMania

SmackDown airs tonight (Apr. 17) with a live show emanating from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the final episode of SmackDown during the seven week build to WrestleMania 42, which takes place this weekend (April 18 & 19).

It sounds like WWE is planning to make a new star right before WrestleMania 42

Tonight’s episode of “WrestleMania SmackDown” features the 12th Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. The 11 previous winners are Carmelo Hayes, Bronson Reed, Bob Lashley, Madcap Moss, Jey Uso, Braun Strowman, Matt Hardy, Mojo Rawley, Baron Corbin, Big Show, and Cesaro. Will it be an established veteran or a WWE newcomer who joins this list of winners tonight in Las Vegas?

The answer to that question may be found in today’s Rumor Roundup, which indicates that Royce Keys is the favorite to win this match. The former AEW powerhouse made his SmackDown debut last week with a win over Berto. The timing of his debut so close to WrestleMania led to speculation that he would enter and win this year’s Andre the Giant Battle Royal, so this could all be part of WWE’s plan to turn Keys into a star sooner rather than later. Aight?

We still don’t even know who is in the Andre Battle Royal, so there’s a chance that Royce will be booked in a different match tonight. I’m also curious to see if Carmelo Hayes is dumped in here, to potentially become the first wrestler to win the Andre trophy more than once. In addition to Keys and Hayes, some of the more notable wrestlers who aren’t on WrestleMania 42 but could make a deep run in this match include Ilja Dragunov, Aleister Black, El Grande Americano, Otis, Johnny Gargano, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Shinsuke Nakamura, Damian Priest, and definitely not Rey Fenix.

Tune into tonight’s 3 hour episode of WrestleMania SmackDown to see if anyone can stop Royce Keys from cleaning house and winning this year’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

The feud between Wyatt Sicks and MFT finally comes to an end tonight when they do battle in an 8-Man Tag Team Street Fight. Tensions have been escalating between Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga, especially after Tama recently returned that stupid lantern back to Uncle Howdy. Shinsuke Nakamura has also been whispering in Tama’s ear about leaving MFT. It feels like a betrayal is coming here, one way or another.

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will appear on SmackDown tonight to deliver a message Randy Orton, roughly 24 hours before they fight over the title at WrestleMania Saturday. Will Rhodes reveal that the voices in his head actually belong to Jelly Roll, and he wants Roll to be in his corner at WrestleMania? Will Pat McAfee show up to lower WrestleMania ticket prices again while reiterating that Sunday’s card is ass and not worth buying?

Drew McIntyre says Jacob Fatu is a convict who belongs locked up, so he chained Fatu up to the ringpost last week and brutally beat the shit out of him. The Samoan Werewolf will be on SmackDown tonight to respond to what happened. If McIntyre is brave enough to show his face too, will Fatu pay him back with an equally severe beating on the eve of their Unsanctioned Match at WrestleMania?

At first it looked like Women’s United States Champion Giulia vs. Tiffany Stratton was booked for tonight’s card based on WWE’s social media, but the official preview on WWE’s web site doesn’t include this match. Who knows, now that Jordynne Grace is back from injury (she returned in a dark match last week), maybe that rumored 3-way match between Giulia, Stratton, and Grace still has a chance to make the cut for WrestleMania Sunday, which is one match short of Saturday’s card.

Other stuff to keep an eye on

– Will GM Nick Aldis announce anything regarding Nikki Bella’s status for her scheduled WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania Saturday? If she isn’t medically cleared, will the Kabuki Warriors or Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez replace the Bella Twins in the match? If Bella is cleared to perform, is there still time for Asuka vs. IYO SKY to be added to WrestleMania Sunday?

– Rhea Ripley tried to take out B-Fab and Michin last week. Will she have to do it again tonight to ensure they are in no condition to help WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill at WrestleMania?

– United States Champion Sami Zayn blasted Lil Yachty with a Helluva Kick last week. How will Trick Williams and Lil Yachty respond tonight?

– Will Damian Priest and R-Truth defend their WWE tag team championship on the eve of WrestleMania, or will most of the jabroni tag team division be fodder in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal?

– Matt Cardona is always ready to do the job. Who gets to beat his ass tonight?

– After Danhausen defeated Kit Wilson last week in his first WWE match, will he find a way to get another match tonight so he can extend his undefeated streak? Is there any chance that Danhausen instead competes in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal?

– Will any major Raw stars like Seth Rollins, GUNTHER, CM Punk, Liv Morgan, Stephanie Vaquer, LA Knight, The Usos, Logan Paul, Paul Heyman, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, Rey Mysterio, or JD McDonagh show up on SmackDown to promote their matches at WrestleMania 42?

– Where the f*** are the Street Profits?

What will you be looking for on SmackDown?