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WWE SmackDown Preview (4/11/25): Start Time, Match Card, How to Watch & Live Stream

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes makes his return to Friday Night SmackDown with just nine days remaining until his showdown with John Cena at WrestleMania 41.
Rick Ucchino|
Cody Rhodes returns to Friday Night SmackDown
Cody Rhodes returns to Friday Night SmackDown | WWE.com

The road to Las Vegas, Nevada has one final stop for WWE SmackDown as the Blue Brand invades the Climate Pledge Arena tonight in Seattle, Washington

Just nine days out from his clash with John Cena at WrestleMania 41, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes returns to SmackDown. There is little doubt as to what the American Nightmare will want to talk about as he gets set to defend the very future of WWE against the 16-time World Champion.

While Rhodes is prepared to send his hero into early retirement, his great mentor now finds himself without a match at WrestleMania. Randy Orton was scheduled to face Kevin Owens, until the former Universal Champion announced that he needed neck surgery last week.

A clearly frustrated Orton found his catharsis in the form of an RKO on SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. An action that Aldis has promised will be addressed in the very near future.

Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez need opponents to face at WrestleMania, and they will be determined tonight at the end of a six team gauntlet match. Rey Fenix will also be in action, while Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest will be in the same ring at the same time ahead of their showdown in Vegas.

Here is everything we know about tonight's episode of Friday Night SmackDown in Seattle:

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contender's Gauntlet Match

Liv Morgan
Who will challenge Liv & Raquel at WrestleMania | WWE.com

We know Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez will be defending the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 41, we just don't know who their opponents will be. Six teams will vie for the opportunity tonight in a gauntlet match - Kayden Carter & Katana Chance, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark, B-Fab & Mia Yim, Natalya & Maxxine Dupri, Secret Hervice and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria.

Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre come face-to-face

Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre
Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre face-to-face | WWE.com

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis made it official Thursday with a post on social media, Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre will face each other at WrestleMania 41. Before they fight in Las Vegas they'll come face-to-face tonight in Seattle. It'll be the first time they've met since Priest slammed McIntyre on top of a car windshield and damaged his eye with a piece of glass.

Rey Fenix vs. Berto

Rey Fenix vs. Berto
Rey Fenix vs. Berto | WWE.com

Rey Fenix had an impressive in-ring debut last week on SmackDown when he defeated NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazer. He certainly caught the eye of Santos Escobar, but Berto wasn't as excited to see the former AEW star debut in WWE. He'll look to prove that Fenix is nothing more than a 'flash in the pan' when they go one-on-one tonight.

How to Watch WWE SmackDown Tonight:

TV Channel: USA Network

Streaming: Fubo TV, Peacock, YouTube TV, DirecTV, Hulu+ Live TV

WWE SmackDown Start Time:

Time: 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST

WWE SmackDown Location:

Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington

Match Card (Announced):

Cody Rhodes returns to SmackDown

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contender's Gauntlet Match

Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest come face-to-face

Rey Fenix vs. Berto

Published | Modified
Rick Ucchino
RICK UCCHINO

Rick Ucchino is the Assistant Editor & Content Coordinator for The Takedown on SI. He also works full-time for 700WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio as a local news and sports anchor, in addition to his time covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sirius XM. Rick has been on the professional wrestling beat since 2019, having provided coverage for a number of outlets, including Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network. With an educational background in theater, creative writing and journalism, Rick focuses primarily on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle himself. He had the privilege of training with former WWE & WCW cruiserweight Jimmy Wang Yang for nearly two years and retired early due to back issues with a perfect 1-0 record in singles competition. Rick is a married father of two incredibly adorable children, who are budding pro wrestling fans themselves. Much to the chagrin of their mother. You can reach Rick at rwucchino@gmail.com

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