There will be changes to WWE SmackDown coming up, particularly as WrestleMania 41 approaches at a rapid speed.
Some changes are already set to occur while others would just be fun to see, whether they come before or after Mania in Las Vegas in just two weeks’ time.
Here are nine changes that could be coming up for WWE SmackDown.
9. Major Movements In WWE Draft 2025
With the WWE Draft reportedly coming up in May 2025, there will likely be big changes to both brands based on those movements.
While it is impossible to assert which stars might be shifting, there are some reasonable guesses like the world champions switching, meaning either Cody Rhodes or John Cena going to Raw, with GUNTHER or Jey Uso joining SmackDown.
Previously, the champions of the brands have essentially been locked in place on that brand and were ineligible to be drafted, but that could always change to mix things up even further.
We can also likely expect call-ups from NXT, with the likes of former NXT Champions Ethan Page and Trick Williams long-rumored to be main roster bound.
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8. Rey Fenix Debuts
While Penta has been making a big splash over on WWE Raw on Netflix, his brother Rey Fenix is set to debut on SmackDown.
With Fenix’s debut set for SmackDown on April 4, he will be the latest AEW transfer to debut in WWE to significant fanfare.
Despite a long history of winning tag team championships together, Penta and Rey Fenix will seemingly continue as singles stars for the time being and on different brands.
Time will tell if the WWE Draft will end up reuniting the Lucha Brothers on the same brand.
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7. Nia Jax Starts A Faction
While Nia Jax herself refuted a recent report claiming she wasn’t cleared to compete, she has yet to make an in-ring return since her tag team bout at Elimination Chamber.
Given that she seems absent in the road to WrestleMania, perhaps a new storyline should emerge for her on SmackDown soon after.
Since she already has one running buddy in Candice LeRae, Nia Jax could properly start her own faction.
Potentially used as a conduit for some NXT call-ups or even to give a character refresh to someone making a return in the future (Kiana James?), Jax could definitely lead her own dastardly squad on SmackDown.
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6. Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams Reunite
Since being called up to the main roster, Carmelo Hayes has engaged in some interesting feuds but has yet to capture gold.
Trick Williams should be called up from NXT soon, and could reunite with Hayes with the pair looking to take over the SmackDown tag team division.
While it may seem easy enough to transition Trick Williams from NXT to the main roster and have him resume his feud with former best friend Carmelo Hayes, Trick Willy’s attitude has seemingly changed as of late.
With NXT planting roots for a potential heel turn, Trick Williams could have a simple segue to reunite Trick Melo Gang on the main roster.
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5. Cody Rhodes Disappears
With a future landscape after WrestleMania 41 that could possibly see Cody Rhodes as no longer Undisputed WWE Champion – either way, Rhodes could disappear.
Not forever but for a little while, Roman Reigns style in order to give the American Nightmare some breathing room.
Should Cody manage to escape the clutches of The Rock and John Cena’s forces of evil at Mania, laying low makes sense.
And should Cody lose at Mania, retreating from SmackDown – and potentially returning on WWE Raw on Netflix – would also be a completely logical move.
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4. Nick Aldis Has A Match
Nick Aldis is far from just the SmackDown General Manager.
The former TNA and NWA World Champion had a long history in professional wrestling before joining WWE.
While he has primarily appeared as an authority figure in WWE, his size should be one clue that he has a history as an in-ring performer.
Perhaps not making a full-time return to the ring but rather a temporary one for a big feud or other massive stakes, it would be nice to see Nick Aldis properly mix it up in the ring with some unruly star on the SmackDown roster.
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3. Becky Lynch Returns To Feud With Charlotte Flair
While all indications seem to point to Becky Lynch having re-signed with WWE, it isn’t so clear that she would definitely return on Raw.
Perhaps instead of the expected, Lynch could make a bigger splash on SmackDown – returning to reignite a classic feud with perpetual frenemy Charlotte Flair.
While Flair of course has to get through current WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41 first, the rivalry between Flair and Lynch wouldn’t even need a title.
Charlotte Flair is too exceptional to expect a feud with just anyone to seem realistic, but The Man is a proven formidable opponent.
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2. SmackDown Returns To Two Hours
2025 saw a number of broadcast changes in WWE including Raw moving to Netflix and SmackDown to the USA Network.
Starting with the January 3, 2025 episode of SmackDown, the show has been clocking in at three hours in length.
However, it has been previously reported that SmackDown is set to return to a two-hour broadcast in June 2025.
With the shorter amount of TV time to account for within crafting storylines, it will be interesting to see which stars ultimately get drafted to the blue brand.
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1. Former AEW Stars Debut On WWE SmackDown
Which ones? There are numerous choices – take your pick! We already know Fenix is incoming, and there are mainstays in NXT like Lexis King, Ethan Page or Shawn Spears that are all potentials.
With Ricky Saints (Ricky Starks) recently making his debut in NXT and capturing the North American Championship, there are still several more former AEW stars left to land in WWE.
Moving on to former WWE stars who had stints in AEW but are returning, there have already been on-screen teases leading fans to anticipate the arrival of Aleister Black, and those teases have specifically aired on SmackDown.
Also recently making news, former WWE star Rusev (known as Miro in AEW) was spotted at WWE HQ amid continued speculation he was also returning to the company.
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