That is when Ricky Saints' entrance music hit, and SmackDown's newest star walked to the ring. He insulted the crowd a bit before focusing on the champion. He said Rhodes is barely hanging on and his title reigns have aged him 30 years.

"WWE SmackDown" stopped through Tulsa tonight with a new wave of NXT faces joining the usual big-name Friday stars.

WWE SmackDown May 1, 2026 preview, start time, and full breakdown of Ricky Saints' debut, Charlotte Flair vs. Jacy Jayne, and the road to WWE Backlash 2026.

The post-WrestleMania 42 world continues to shake out on Friday night with the first episode of SmackDown since the two-night spectacle. WWE champion Cody Rhodes, who defeated Randy Orton in Night 1's main event, is scheduled to make an appearance on Friday to discuss what happened then and what comes next.

SmackDown newcomers Fatal Influence left their mark in their debut last week when they laid waste to Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, as well as Brie Bella and Paige during their women’s Tag Title match.

WWE Backlash 2026 full card update after SmackDown on May 1, including Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn for the U.S. Title and a Danhausen tag team match.

The stars of WWE arrive in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday night for SmackDown at the BOK Center. Tonight’s edition of SmackDown is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) with TV coverage on USA Network and streaming on-demand.

Earlier this week, it was reported that "WWE SmackDown" is expected to return to a two-hour format this upcoming June after airing for three hours each Friday since the beginning of the year. On Thursday,

WWE SmackDown in Tulsa balanced nostalgia and fresh developments, honoring hometown legend Goldberg despite his absence and escalating tensions between Cody Rhodes and Gunther. Goldberg’s career and Tulsa roots were spotlighted in a brief tribute ...