WWE SmackDown in Fort Worth to Address WrestleMania 42 Fallout and Backlash Developments

Apr 24, 2026, 06:39

Introduction

The upcoming episode of WWE SmackDown, scheduled for April 24, 2026, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, is expected to address the aftermath of WrestleMania 42 and set the stage for the Backlash event on May 9 in Tampa, Florida.

Main Body

The broadcast, airing on USA Network at 8 p.m. ET, will feature a roster of advertised performers including Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, and Sami Zayn. Rhea Ripley is notably absent from the advertised list. The event is being promoted as the first post-WrestleMania SmackDown, following the April 19 event in Las Vegas. Cody Rhodes is currently in concussion protocol after sustaining a head and eye injury at WrestleMania 42, with no confirmed timetable for his return to in-ring competition. Randy Orton, who delivered a punt kick to Rhodes following their match, has not made public statements since the incident. Analysts suggest the episode may feature verbal exchanges between the two rather than physical confrontation. In the men''s division, Trick Williams recently won the United States Championship from Sami Zayn at WrestleMania. Carmelo Hayes is anticipated to insert himself into the championship picture, potentially leading to a match at Backlash. The dynamic among Williams, Hayes, and Zayn remains unresolved. Regarding the Samoan family storyline, Jacob Fatu issued a challenge to Roman Reigns on the post-WrestleMania Raw. The April 17 SmackDown concluded with Solo Sikoa performing a Samoan Spike on Tama Tonga, followed by a tense staredown, indicating potential instability within the group known as the MFT. The relationship between Sikoa and Fatu may be re-evaluated as the narrative progresses. In the women''s division, Tiffany Stratton has become the number one contender for the Women''s United States Championship, with a potential match against Giulia at Backlash. Charlotte Flair is reportedly being encouraged by Ric Flair to return to singles competition, which could begin with this episode. WWE has also teased a response from Rhea Ripley to a recent attack by Jade Cargill, despite Ripley not being on the advertised roster.

Conclusion

The Fort Worth SmackDown is positioned to clarify several ongoing storylines, including the status of Cody Rhodes, the direction of the United States Championship, and the alignment of the Samoan faction, as the company moves toward the Backlash pay-per-view event.

Vocabulary Learning

alignment
The arrangement or positioning of groups or individuals in relation to each other, especially regarding alliances or conflicts.結盟關係；陣營
Example:The Fort Worth SmackDown is positioned to clarify several ongoing storylines, including the alignment of the Samoan faction.
concussion protocol
A standardized set of medical procedures and guidelines followed to assess and manage a potential brain injury, typically in sports.腦震盪處理程序
Example:Cody Rhodes is currently in concussion protocol after sustaining a head and eye injury at WrestleMania 42.
insert himself into
To involve oneself in a situation or group, often assertively or without invitation.介入；插手
Example:Carmelo Hayes is anticipated to insert himself into the championship picture.
staredown
A prolonged, intense exchange of eye contact between two people, often used to assert dominance or signal confrontation.對視；瞪視
Example:The April 17 SmackDown concluded with Solo Sikoa performing a Samoan Spike on Tama Tonga, followed by a tense staredown.
timetable
A schedule or plan indicating the expected timing of events or actions.時間表；日程安排
Example:There is no confirmed timetable for his return to in-ring competition.

Sentence Learning

Cody Rhodes is currently in concussion protocol after sustaining a head and eye injury at WrestleMania 42, with no confirmed timetable for his return to in-ring competition.
Main clause: 'Cody Rhodes is currently in concussion protocol' (present simple passive). Subordinate clause: 'after sustaining a head and eye injury at WrestleMania 42' (reduced adverbial clause using a gerund phrase, equivalent to 'after he sustained...'). Additional prepositional phrase: 'with no confirmed timetable for his return to in-ring competition' (absolute construction providing supplementary information).主要子句：「Cody Rhodes is currently in concussion protocol」（現在簡單被動語態）。從屬子句：「after sustaining a head and eye injury at WrestleMania 42」（使用動名詞片語的簡化副詞子句，相當於「after he sustained...」）。附加介詞片語：「with no confirmed timetable for his return to in-ring competition」（獨立結構，提供補充資訊）。
The April 17 SmackDown concluded with Solo Sikoa performing a Samoan Spike on Tama Tonga, followed by a tense staredown, indicating potential instability within the group known as the MFT.
Main clause: 'The April 17 SmackDown concluded' (past simple). Prepositional phrase with a complex object: 'with Solo Sikoa performing a Samoan Spike on Tama Tonga' (object + present participle phrase). Two reduced relative/adverbial phrases: 'followed by a tense staredown' (past participle phrase modifying the action) and 'indicating potential instability within the group known as the MFT' (present participle phrase providing a result or commentary).主要子句：「The April 17 SmackDown concluded」（過去簡單式）。帶有複雜賓語的介詞片語：「with Solo Sikoa performing a Samoan Spike on Tama Tonga」（賓語 + 現在分詞片語）。兩個簡化關係/副詞片語：「followed by a tense staredown」（過去分詞片語修飾動作）和「indicating potential instability within the group known as the MFT」（現在分詞片語提供結果或評論）。
Analysts suggest the episode may feature verbal exchanges between the two rather than physical confrontation.
Main clause: 'Analysts suggest' (present simple). Noun clause (object of 'suggest'): 'the episode may feature verbal exchanges between the two rather than physical confrontation' (containing a modal verb 'may' and a comparative structure 'rather than'). This is an example of subjunctive-like usage after 'suggest' (indicating a proposal or opinion, though the verb 'feature' remains in indicative form due to the modal).主要子句：「Analysts suggest」（現在簡單式）。名詞子句（「suggest」的賓語）：「the episode may feature verbal exchanges between the two rather than physical confrontation」（包含情態動詞「may」和比較結構「rather than」）。這是「suggest」後類似虛擬語氣的用法（表示提議或意見，但由於情態動詞，動詞「feature」保持陳述語氣）。
Charlotte Flair is reportedly being encouraged by Ric Flair to return to singles competition, which could begin with this episode.
Main clause: 'Charlotte Flair is reportedly being encouraged by Ric Flair to return to singles competition' (present continuous passive with an adverb 'reportedly' and an infinitive phrase 'to return...'). Non-restrictive relative clause: 'which could begin with this episode' (introduced by 'which', modifying 'return to singles competition'; contains a modal verb 'could').主要子句：「Charlotte Flair is reportedly being encouraged by Ric Flair to return to singles competition」（現在進行被動語態，帶有副詞「reportedly」和不定式片語「to return...」）。非限制性關係子句：「which could begin with this episode」（由「which」引導，修飾「return to singles competition」；包含情態動詞「could」）。
The Fort Worth SmackDown is positioned to clarify several ongoing storylines, including the status of Cody Rhodes, the direction of the United States Championship, and the alignment of the Samoan faction, as the company moves toward the Backlash pay-per-view event.
Main clause: 'The Fort Worth SmackDown is positioned to clarify several ongoing storylines' (present simple passive with an infinitive of purpose). Appositive/participial phrase: 'including the status... faction' (present participle phrase providing examples). Subordinate adverbial clause: 'as the company moves toward the Backlash pay-per-view event' (introduced by 'as', indicating time or reason). The sentence features high lexical density with a list of three complex noun phrases.主要子句：「The Fort Worth SmackDown is positioned to clarify several ongoing storylines」（現在簡單被動語態，帶有目的不定式）。同位語/分詞片語：「including the status... faction」（現在分詞片語提供例子）。從屬副詞子句：「as the company moves toward the Backlash pay-per-view event」（由「as」引導，表示時間或原因）。句子具有高詞彙密度，包含三個複雜名詞片語的列舉。