WWEs current plan for tonights SmackDown includes a clear direction for how the show will wrap up ahead of WrestleMania 42. Ringside News has learned that The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal is currently planned to be the final match on tonights edition of Friday Night SmackDown. That placement gives the annual match a strong spot late in the broadcast as WWE heads into its biggest weekend of the year. The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has become a regular part of WrestleMania season, usually featuring a crowded field of Superstars looking to stand out. Having it positioned as the final match suggests WWE wants to end the in-ring portion of the night with a fast-moving and unpredictable finish. Also, Cody Rhodes promo is slated to close the show currently. Rhodes is already advertised to respond to Randy Orton, so ending the night with his message would keep the focus locked on their WrestleMania 42 clash. Here is the updated lineup for WWE SmackDown on April 17, 2026: Jordynne Grace vs Tiffany Stratton No. 1 Contenders Match for the Womens United States Championship Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs Bayley & Lyra Valkyria Cody Rhodes Responds to Randy Orton Jacob Fatu Breaks Silence After Drew McIntyre Attack Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Street Fight: Wyatt Sicks vs The MFTs (Spoiler) R-Truth & Damian Priest vs Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller With the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal currently planned as the final match and Cody Rhodes set to close the show on the microphone, WWE appears ready to send fans into WrestleMania weekend with the spotlight firmly on one of its biggest stars. Be sure to tune in live and follow along withRingside Newsfor full play-by-play coverage over in ourSmackDown resultssection. Do you like the idea of Cody Rhodes closing the show tonight, or should WWE have ended SmackDown with a different final moment? Let us know what you think. G Add as a preferred source on Google
