: Rhea Ripley . Ripley captured the title from Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 Night 2.
The "SmackDown after Mania" on April 24, 2026, marked a turning point with several high-profile debuts and roster shifts:
: Damian Priest & R-Truth . The veteran duo successfully defended their titles against Tama Tonga and JC Mateo in the most recent episode. WWE Friday Night Smack Down
WWE Friday Night SmackDown: The New Era After WrestleMania 42
: Jacob Fatu has emerged as a dominant force, recently defeating Solo Sikoa and repelling an attack from The MFTs. Fatu is now set to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns at the upcoming Backlash event. : Rhea Ripley
: Paige & Brie Bella . Paige made a shocking return to win the titles at WrestleMania, though their recent match with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss was disrupted by new arrivals. Emerging Storylines and New Faces
: NXT stars Jacy Jayne , Fallon Henley , and Lainey Reed made a destructive main-roster debut, attacking both the Women’s Tag Team and Women’s Champions in a series of ruthless ambushes. The veteran duo successfully defended their titles against
: Cody Rhodes . After a grueling victory over Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42, "The American Nightmare" remains the face of the brand.