‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Apr 10th 2026)
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: Alexa Bliss def. Bayley
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
When Alexa Bliss looked for a Sister Abigail, Bayley countered with the Bayley-to-Belly but could not capitalize with a cover. Bayley nailed the flying elbow drop, but Bliss kicked out just in time. Bayley argued with Charlotte Flair at ringside before Flair threw her jacket at Bayley. Bliss took advantage by rolling up Bayley to get the win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Royce Keys def. Berto
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Royce Keys picked up a big win in his debut as he defeated Berto with a huge Spinebuster.
My Score: SQUASH out of 5
Match #3: Jacob Fatu def. Tama Tonga
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Jacob Fatu returned home to San Jose to take on former MFT brother Tama Tonga. Fatu nailed the pop-up Samoan Drop before connecting with the moonsault to get the win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Trick Williams def. Matt Cardona
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Sami Zayn observed the match from ringside, and Lil Yachty was in the corner of Trick Williams. Yachty kept getting involved, leaving Cardona gasping for air. Cardona nailed a Broski Boot before following up with the Un-Prettier. Williams pushed Zayn on the outside, provoking his WrestleMania opponent. Zayn got up to the ring apron, but Yachty pulled Zayn down. Zayn then followed up with a Helluva Kick on Yachty. Back in the ring, Williams nailed a Trick Shot to get the win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Danhausen def. Kit Wilson
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Danhausen made his in-ring debut by taking on Kit Wilson. Danhausen cursed Wilson, which caused the turnbuckle to go off with pyro as Wilson was perched on it, sending him between the ropes. Danhausen took advantage by hitting a big boot to get the very nice, very evil victory.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Jade Cargill def. IYO SKY
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
IYO SKY pummeled Jade Cargill and got retribution after the brutal attack from Raw left SKY injured. On the outside, Cargill hit a reverse Alabama Slam onto the ring steps. Back in the ring, Cargill connected with the pump kick before connecting with Jaded to win the match. After the bout, Rhea Ripley hit the ring to prevent Cargill from attacking SKY with a steel chair.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
This week’s Smackdown felt less like must-see TV and more like a show going through the motions. Nothing here was outright bad, but almost everything landed in that frustrating middle ground of “fine, I guess” — which is arguably worse. The opener between Alexa Bliss and Bayley had the ingredients to be something solid, but the Charlotte Flair distraction finish sucked the life out of it. That pretty much set the tone for the night. Royce Keys’ debut squash was blink-and-you-miss-it, Jacob Fatu vs. Tama Tonga never got out of second gear, and Trick Williams vs. Matt Cardona was more about outside nonsense than actual wrestling. Even Danhausen’s debut — which should’ve been a moment — came off more gimmicky than impactful. And while Jade Cargill vs. IYO SKY had star power on paper, it never clicked into anything memorable, instead feeling like just another stepping stone segment. That’s the real issue here: nothing mattered. No match truly delivered, no segment felt essential, and for a show that should be building momentum, this felt weirdly flat and forgettable.
