Andre the Giant Battle Royal Set for Smackdown Before WrestleMania

Annual pre-WrestleMania tradition to continue on WWE's flagship Friday night show.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:19am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a WWE wrestling match, with wrestlers' bodies and limbs abstracted into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.The annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal remains a beloved WWE tradition, as the company's mid-card talents vie for the prestigious trophy in a chaotic, high-energy match.Las Vegas Today

WWE has announced that the annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal will take place as part of next week's episode of Friday Night Smackdown in Las Vegas, Nevada. The battle royal has been a WrestleMania weekend tradition since 2014, though it has shifted to being a Smackdown before Mania event in recent years. Past winners include Carmelo Hayes, Bronson Reed, Jey Uso, and Bobby Lashley.

Why it matters

The Andre the Giant Battle Royal is a long-standing tradition that helps kick off the WrestleMania festivities each year, providing an opportunity for mid-card and undercard talent to shine on the biggest stage. Moving the match to the Smackdown before WrestleMania allows WWE to further build momentum and excitement heading into their flagship pay-per-view.

The details

Along with the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, next week's Smackdown will also feature an eight-man Street Fight between the MFTs and the Wyatt Sicks, which is expected to involve wrestlers like Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, and Joe Gacy facing off against Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo, Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga, and Tonga Loa. The two factions have been feuding for months on both Raw and Smackdown.

  • The Andre the Giant Battle Royal will take place on the April 18, 2026 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • The MFTs vs. Wyatt Sicks Street Fight will also occur on the April 18, 2026 Smackdown episode.

The players

Andre the Giant Battle Royal

An annual over-the-top-rope battle royal match that has been a part of WrestleMania weekend since 2014, featuring mid-card and undercard WWE superstars competing for the prestigious trophy.

MFTs

A faction consisting of Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo, Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga, and Tonga Loa, who have been feuding with the Wyatt Sicks on both Raw and Smackdown.

Wyatt Sicks

A faction featuring Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, and Joe Gacy, who have been engaged in an ongoing rivalry with the MFTs.

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What’s next

The winners of both the Andre the Giant Battle Royal and the MFTs vs. Wyatt Sicks Street Fight will be determined on the April 18, 2026 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, setting the stage for potential WrestleMania matches and storylines.

The takeaway

The annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal remains a beloved tradition that allows mid-card talents to shine, while the ongoing feud between the MFTs and Wyatt Sicks has been a highlight of WWE programming in recent months. These matches on the Smackdown before WrestleMania will help build momentum and excitement heading into the company's biggest event of the year.