WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before WrestleMania | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Emily Beck
Published Mar 24, 2026
While fans often anticipate the Raw after WrestleMania, the SmackDown before 'Mania is rarely talked-about for a reason. The company cannot afford any injuries, so the action was sparse and talent involvement light.
There were fun moments. Kevin Owens and Randy Orton running around Philadelphia to get their hands on Logan Paul was a fun segment, even if it could have been shorter.
The main event was a decent preview of a good match in the future coupled with a welcome surprise appearance from Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
LA Knight, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi all sold their WrestleMania matches with short impactful promos in front of a hot crowd.
New Catch Republic and A Town Down delivered a solid preview of what could come on Saturday, followed by a surprise Judgment Day attack.
It was just the other matches, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and Elektra Lopez vs. Zelina Vega, that could not keep the momentum.
Overall, the crowd made this show worth watching, even if its true impact on WrestleMania weekend was light.
Overall Grade: C+
