The final episode of WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 40 will be a stacked show and will see the return of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
On the March 29, episode of WWE SmackDown, it was confirmed that the battle royal will take place on the April 5, episode. This will mark the tenth-annual battle royal, named after the legendary giant who was WWE’s first Hall of Famer.
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
The match was first introduced in 2014 by WrestleMania 30 host Hulk Hogan, who fittingly dedicated the battle royal to his friend and rival. Cesaro (now AEW’s Claudio Castagnoli) won the inaugural match by eliminating the Big Show, who won the match the following year. Since then, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley have lifted the trophy.
Losing Out on a Payday
Hosting the show on SmackDown will come as a blow to many WWE Superstars. For the first years of the battle royal, the match was held at WrestleMania. Though it was on the pre-show, this guaranteed the entrants a WrestleMania-sized pay-day, which of course won’t be the case with the match being on SmackDown instead.
Other SmackDown Plans
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will be just part of the stacked final episode before WrestleMania 40. The show will also see Solo Sikoa take on Jey Uso. The former NXT North American Champion has been ordered to ‘take out’ his brother on orders from Roman Reigns.
The New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate) will take on Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. Both teams qualified for the WrestleMania six-pack challenge during the March 29, episode of SmackDown.
Zelina Vega will take on Elektra Lopez on the go-home SmackDown. The pair have been at odds as part of the LWO’s feud with Legado Del Fantasma.
Kevin Owens will host an edition of the ‘KO Show’ with Randy Orton as his guest. The two men will challenge WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul in a triple-threat match at WrestleMania 40.
