Long before he rose to the top of AEW, Maxwell Jacob Friedman had already developed a reputation for cruelty and malice, both towards his opponents and wrestling fans. Sitting down with former NFL player Julien Edelman on “Games with Names,” MJF was asked to explain his process for coming up with the many insults he spews out on a regular basis.
“I’m mentally unwell, so what I’ll do is: I will sit down in my house for hours on end thinking of horrible things to say to my opponents,” MJF said. “My notes app is a cornucopia of ruthlessly unhinged, mean things to say.”
Asked to offer some specific examples, MJF relayed one crude insult that likely wouldn’t be approved for television, as well as a reference to his opponent having a sexually-transmitted infection. As for any others, they all pertained to certain AEW wrestlers, and MJF felt they wouldn’t translate to a wider audience.
“It’s ‘wrestler,’ and then under the wrestler [there are] seventy just brutal barbs that are ultra-specific about them,” he continued. “Then they go to the back and they pretend everything’s fine, but then later on, my boss will walk up to me and be like, ‘Hey, you kind of hurt that guy’s feelings.’ And I’ll be like, ‘Hey, I kind of don’t give a s**t.’ Then it gets worse, so… that’s wrestling.”
Going on to elaborate on the importance of promo work in the industry, MJF began talking about WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, whom he said was like a “father figure” to him. According to MJF, Austin understood that the most important part of pro wrestling was having a well-defined character that the audience can grasp onto.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Games with Names” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker has weighed in on the future of a man he knows very well, “The Last Stylebender” Israel Adesanya. At UFC Fight Night 271, Adesanya lost his fourth straight fight when Joe Pyfer secured the TKO victory in the second round, leading to many fight fans believing that Adesanya’s time in the UFC, and Mixed Martial Arts as a whole, might be coming to an end. However, during a recent interview with FOX Sports Australia, Whittaker believes there is a way back for Adesanya.
“I think he needs to find that hunger,” Whittaker said. “It’s easy to say right? It’s just he may be a little comfortable at the moment. He’s got money, he’s reached the top of the mountain, he’s done everything, he’s ticked every box, what is there he needs to achieve? He needs to find that. He needs to find that drive to continue doing what’s he doing to continue to light that fire, that hunger, and you know, that love for the game.”
Whittaker didn’t go as far as someone like Demetrious Johnson, who believes that Adesanya needs to retire sooner rather than later. However, he reiterated that Adesanya needs to reassess why he’s still fighting and figure out what he wants to achieve before he does eventually hang up his gloves for good. Whittaker also noted that he liked seeing Adesanya try and pull out a few of his old tricks against Pyfer before he lost, tricks Whittaker knows all too well as he has been beaten twice by Adesanya in his UFC career.
Please credit “FOX News Australia” when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
WWE SmackDown Results – April 10, 2026 – Welcome to WrestlingAttitude’s live coverage results of WWE SmackDown on April 10, 2026, from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
The show begins outside the arena, where Cody Rhodes approaches Nick Aldis and immediately asks where Pat McAfee is. Aldis tells him Pat is on his way, but adds that he is under strict orders to ensure Cody does not put his hands on Pat under any circumstances. Cody pushes back, wanting to know exactly who Aldis is taking orders from, but Aldis doesn’t answer before they’re interrupted.
Jelly Roll steps into the scene and asks where Randy Orton and Pat are. Aldis tries to keep him out of the situation, telling him not to get involved, but Jelly Roll shuts that down fast. He says this has nothing to do with Pat, Nick, or even himself — it’s about twenty years of friendship and betrayal, and he warns Cody not to let anything distract him from that truth.
Rhea Ripley Calls Out Jade Cargill
Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring and immediately congratulates Jade Cargill, saying Jade finally used her brain for once and figured out Rhea’s weakness. She clarifies that it isn’t about physiques or championships — Jade made it personal when she attacked Iyo Sky. Rhea demands Jade come out so she can beat her down right now.
Iyo Sky’s music hits, and she walks to the ring dressed to fight, even though she can barely lift her left arm after Monday. Rhea is visibly confused by Iyo’s appearance, but Iyo tells her she understands Rhea’s anger because she feels the same way. Jade attacked her too. Iyo acknowledges that Rhea will get Jade at WrestleMania, but she wants Jade tonight.
Rhea tells Iyo she trusts her, but she’s not at one hundred percent after Monday’s attack. She asks Iyo if this is truly what she wants. Iyo confirms it without hesitation and says she’ll talk to Nick Aldis if she has to — she wants Jade in the ring tonight.
Nick Aldis comes out and says he originally had something else planned for the main event, but he’s not about to waste a good idea. He makes it official: Iyo Sky vs. Jade Cargill will be the main event of SmackDown.
We’ll return after the break with more results from WWE SmackDown on April 10, 2026.
Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley
Alexa Bliss and Bayley lock up to start the match, with Bayley taking control early by applying a side headlock and knocking Alexa down with a shoulder tackle for a quick near fall. She follows with another shoulder tackle and a series of back elbows that earn her another two‑count. Alexa avoids Sister Abigail, but Bayley rolls her up for a near fall before landing a knee and a forearm. Bayley charges and misses, crashing knee‑first into the turnbuckles, allowing Alexa to hit a drop toe hold into the ropes and stomp away at her. Alexa mocks Lyra Valkyria, but Bayley cuts her off with a clothesline and then hits a dropkick through the ropes. Bayley follows with a forearm to the back and covers for another near fall before adding a forearm and a suplex for two more. She sends Alexa to the floor, but Alexa fires back with forearms and drives Bayley into the apron before Bayley answers with another clothesline. Bayley drives her knees into Alexa’s back and gets another near fall, then sends Alexa into the turnbuckles and kicks her repeatedly.
Bayley places Alexa on the apron and goes for her rope‑hung cutter, but Alexa slips free and rolls her up for a near fall. Bayley responds with a knee to the back and locks in a rear chinlock. Alexa escapes with a snap mare, an arm wringer, and a somersault senton. She follows with chops and shoulder tackles before hitting a blockbuster for a near fall. Bayley shoves Alexa into the corner, but Alexa counters with an STO and a double knee drop. She goes for a second one and misses, giving Bayley the opening to hit a sunset flip powerbomb for a near fall. Bayley climbs the ropes near Charlotte Flair, and the proximity distracts her long enough for Alexa to recover.
Alexa traps Bayley in the Tree of Woe and hits a hesitation dropkick. She climbs to the top rope, but Bayley cuts her off with a forearm to stop the momentum.
Alexa knocks Bayley off the ropes with a forearm and follows with a tornado butterfly suplex that sends Bayley crashing to the mat. Bayley recovers quickly and counters Sister Abigail with a belly‑to‑belly suplex. Both women rise and trade punches in the center of the ring until Alexa catches Bayley with an inside cradle for a near fall. Bayley reverses into a jackknife cover for another two‑count, and Alexa answers with La Magistral, but they roll too close to the ropes and the referee stops the count.
Bayley drives Alexa into the turnbuckles and climbs for her trademark elbow drop, landing it cleanly for a near fall. She argues with the referee, frustrated by the count, then slides to the floor and chops Alexa in front of Charlotte Flair, punctuating it with a mocking “Wooo.” Bayley throws Alexa back into the ring and woos again directly in Flair’s face, but the taunt costs her. Alexa grabs Bayley with a sudden rollup and holds her down for the three‑count.
Winner: Alexa Bliss
After the match, we get a recap of last week’s United States Championship match.
Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, and Yachty Backstage
Matt Cardona is backstage with Carmelo Hayes and tells him that moments like WrestleMania take time — he’ll get his moment eventually, but he has to wait for it. Trick Williams and Yachty walk in, and Trick tells Hayes that despite everything between them, he genuinely thought Hayes would win the title.
Hayes fires back, saying Trick is the reason he lost the championship in the first place. He tells Trick to get out of his face so he can rehab his knee. Yachty chimes in and says Hayes can watch the show from the couch if he wants. Hayes warns that if Trick wins, he’ll be coming after him next.
Trick turns to Matt and asks what he’s staring at. Matt says he’s tired of all the guests acting like they run the place. Yachty suggests Trick face Matt tonight, and Matt immediately likes the idea, saying he’s going to talk to Nick Aldis to make it happen.
Results for WWE SmackDown on April 10, 2026, continue after a commercial break.
Drew McIntyre’s Message to Jacob Fatu
In a pre‑recorded video, Drew McIntyre delivers a scathing message to Jacob Fatu, calling him a failure as a man and a failure as a father. Drew says they’re in San Jose — Fatu’s hometown — and his family is probably in the building tonight. Drew claims it must have been nice having Jacob around the last few years, but he’s sure the family is used to seeing him in a different environment. The camera pulls back to reveal Drew standing inside a jail cell.
Drew says this is who Jacob really is — a convict. He mocks Fatu for claiming Drew took food off his family’s table and tells him to look in the mirror, because he did that to himself. Drew says Fatu chose a life of crime, and instead of being a father, he gave his family a mugshot. He calls Fatu a thief and says he belongs in a cage because he’s an animal. Drew vows to beat Fatu within an inch of his life at WrestleMania, and when Fatu inevitably screws up again, he’ll end up right back in a cell. Drew says the system didn’t fail him — Fatu stole Drew’s title, stole his WrestleMania, and is a liability. At WrestleMania, Drew promises to be Fatu’s judge, jury, and executioner.
Jacob Fatu Confronted Backstage
Backstage, Jacob Fatu chops the monitor in anger as Cathy Kelley asks for his reaction to Drew’s comments. Fatu says they’re in the Bay Area, and Drew is about to find out exactly what that means.
Solo Sikoa walks in and cuts him off, asking what Drew is supposed to find out. Solo reminds Fatu he’s not the only one with family in the area and says every time someone brings up Fatu’s past, it reflects badly on the entire family. Fatu tells Solo they’re not doing this today — they can run it back another time.
Solo smirks and asks if this is the place where Fatu got his teeth knocked out, wondering aloud if anyone knows who did it. He says it would be a shame if it happened again. Solo turns to Tama Tonga for confirmation, but Tama stays silent before finally saying, “It is what it is.”
Solo says he’s going to talk to Nick Aldis.
Royce Keys Video Package
Joe Tessitore introduces Royce Keys, leading into a pre‑recorded video that highlights Keys’ story and the environment that shaped him. Keys says this is his city — a place where having choices is a luxury most people never get. He explains that he was born into it, surrounded by drugs and gang violence throughout East Palo Alto, but his grandparents refused to let that life consume him. They didn’t have much, but they had each other, and his grandmother always encouraged him to dream.
Keys says this — wrestling — is what he always wanted to do. Not many people make it out of East Palo Alto, but he was determined to be one of the few. He says the ring brings him peace, and the struggle behind him motivates him every day. He refuses to be defined by where he came from; he will be defined by where he’s going.
Royce Keys’ SmackDown debut is up next.
Results for the April 10, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown continue after a commercial break.
Royce Keys vs. Humberto Carrillo
Humberto opens the match with a waist lock and slaps Keys on the back of the head to taunt him. They lock up again, and Humberto applies a side headlock, but Keys blasts him with a clothesline. Keys powers Humberto up into a powerslam and follows with punches in the corner. He charges, but Humberto slips to the floor to avoid the impact. Angel distracts Keys from the outside, allowing Humberto to shove Keys shoulder‑first into the ring post. Humberto returns to the ring and hits a missile dropkick for a near fall before unloading with punches.
Humberto chokes Keys in the corner and continues striking him from the turnbuckles, but Keys catches him mid‑attack. Humberto manages to slip free, but when he leaps off the ropes, Keys snatches him out of the air and hits a fallaway slam. Keys builds momentum with a running powerslam and a corner splash before placing Humberto on the turnbuckles and hammering him with forearms.
Angel tries to interfere again, but Keys levels him with a clothesline. Keys then plants Humberto with a spinebuster and holds him down for the three‑count.
Winner: Royce Keys
Pat McAfee Arrives at the Arena
A vehicle pulls up outside the building, and Pat McAfee steps out. Nick Aldis is there to greet him, and Pat immediately checks to make sure Nick told everyone he was coming. Without hesitation, Pat tosses his car keys to Aldis as if he’s the valet, barely acknowledging him before walking forward.
Jelly Roll approaches and asks Pat if he told Randy Orton to RKO him last week. He wants to know why Pat is even here tonight. Pat tells him it’s bigger than he can imagine and calls Jelly an outsider, saying he doesn’t belong in this environment.
Jelly Roll fires back, saying Randy isn’t here — so he’ll deal with Pat instead. He grabs Pat by the shirt, but Nick Aldis quickly steps in and pulls Jelly off before things escalate further.
The show cuts to a commercial break. We will be back for more WWE SmackDown results for April 10, 2026.
–– Here is what’s in store for WWE SmackDown on April 10 ––
Cody Rhodes will respond to the assault by Randy Orton and Pat McAfee
Royce Keys will make his SmackDown debut
Drew McIntyre vows to expose the real Jacob Fatu
Sami Zayn looks for payback against Trick Williams and Lil Yachty
Rhea Ripley will address Jade Cargill’s vicious attack on IYO SKY
Bayley vs. Charlexa’s Alexa Bliss
WWE SmackDown Preview – April 10, 2026
Last week, Pat McAfee stunned the WWE Universe when he made his unexpected return to align himself with Randy Orton, ambush Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes just days before WrestleMania 42, and declare his desire to bring back the era of larger‑than‑life heavy hitters reminiscent of the Attitude Era. With fans still trying to make sense of his motives, McAfee is set to appear tonight and may finally shed some light on why he chose to stand beside Orton — and why he targeted Rhodes.
Ahead of the Fatal Four‑Way Women’s Tag Team Championship Match at Night One of WrestleMania 42, Alexa Bliss will go one‑on‑one with Bayley. Bliss and Charlotte Flair inserted themselves into Bayley’s match with Lash Legend on Monday’s Raw, but Bayley managed to fight them off and still defeat Legend thanks to a timely assist from Lyra Valkyria, who held Legend’s foot on the ropes. With Bliss & Flair, Bayley & Valkyria, and The Bella Twins all challenging The Irresistible Forces at WrestleMania, tonight’s match serves as a crucial momentum shift before all four teams collide.
Tonight also marks the televised SmackDown debut of Royce Keys (formerly Powerhouse Hobbs). Keys has quietly built an impressive streak in untelevised dark matches across Raw and SmackDown since February 13, defeating names such as The Motor City Machine Guns, Rey Fenix, Berto of Los Garza, Brutus Creed, Rayo Americano, and more. Now, he finally steps into the spotlight on Friday night with the WWE Universe watching.
Before defending his United States Championship against Trick Williams at Night Two of WrestleMania 42, Sami Zayn will appear tonight with something to say. After retaining his title against Carmelo Hayes in last week’s main event, Zayn was blindsided by Williams and his new ally Lil Yachty, who left the champion laid out. With the biggest weekend of the year approaching, Zayn is expected to address the attack — and his challenger.
Rhea Ripley will also be appearing tonight after a turbulent week. Ripley reunited with IYO SKY on Raw to score a win over Jade Cargill’s allies Michin and B‑Fab, but the celebration was short‑lived. Cargill, Michin, and B‑Fab ambushed SKY after the match and forced Ripley to watch as they left her partner motionless. With Ripley set to challenge Cargill for the Women’s Championship at Night Two of WrestleMania, she now has plenty to say about the attack — and the message it sent.
Additionally, Drew McIntyre is scheduled to appear after vowing to expose his WrestleMania 42 opponent and bitter rival Jacob Fatu for who he truly is.
UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria will be involved in one of the biggest fights in Mixed Martial Arts history when he headlines the UFC Freedom 250 card at The White House against Interim UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje.
The White House card has been one of the most talked about events in combat sports over the past year, with many fans predicting what fights would end up on the historic card. Topuria himself even predicted who he would end up facing if he was to be included in the festivities, and during a recent interview with “Fight Disciples,” he admitted that he didn’t think he would end up facing Gaethje, he thought he would face Paddy Pimblett.
“I’m surprised because I thought that Paddy [Pimblett] was–that he’s going to win that fight against Justin. So I was thinking in myself before that fight that I would face Paddy because since the first moment that they announced the White House, I always knew that I would be in that event. So I was like ‘if Justin is fighting against Paddy, I’m going to fight the winner and I think that Paddy’s going to win that fight.’ I was surprised because of that.” Topuria and Pimblett have exchanged words multiple times over the past few years with the idea that they would face off in an eventual grudge match. However, Pimblett would lose to Gaethje at UFC 324, leading to Topuria facing Gaethje in the title unification bout.
Topuria was rumored to be facing Islam Makachev at The White House in a champion vs. champion bout, but negotiations regarding money got in the way, and that fight has been shelved until further notice.
Please credit “Fight Disciples” when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
The latest television numbers show a split trend between WWE NXT and AEW Dynamite, with NXT posting a viewership increase while Dynamite experienced a drop.
According to Programming Insider, the April 7 episode of NXT on The CW Network drew 605,000 viewers. This marks an increase from the 572,000 viewers recorded on March 31. In the key 18 to 49 demographic, the show held steady with a 0.08 rating, matching the previous week’s number.
Most Viewed NXT (4/7) Videos on YouTube
Lola Vice fends off a brutal Fatal Influence attack (91K views)
Izzi Dame beats Sol Ruca thanks to Zaria (84K views)
FULL MATCH: Tony D’Angelo, Joe Hendry, Ricky Saints & Ethan Page vs. DarkState (73K views)
DarkState launch a surprise attack on Tony D’Angelo (68K views)
Tatum Paxley & Shiloh Hill vs. Blake Monroe & Jackson Drake (63K views)
On the other hand, All Elite Wrestling’s Dynamite broadcast on April 8 averaged 654,000 viewers on TBS. That figure is down from the 730,000 viewers the show drew on April 1. The episode also saw a slight dip in the 18 to 49 demographic, scoring a 0.14 rating compared to the 0.15 rating the week prior.
Despite the decline, Dynamite still ranked sixth on cable for the night, maintaining a strong position among televised programming.
Most Viewed AEW Dynamite (4/8) Videos on YouTube
Will Ospreay brings United Empire for a BRAWL with the Death Riders! (290K views)
Jericho put Ricochet on THE LIST for a match at AEW Dynasty! (201K views)
MJF confronts Kenny Omega but gets KNOCKED OUT before AEW Dynasty! (70K views)
Okada & Takeshita reach a boiling point and come to BLOWS! (57K views)
Death Riders vs Will Ospreay & United Empire in a Chaos in Canada Match (46K views)
The updated figures highlight NXT’s upward movement in total audience, while Dynamite faced a week-to-week decrease in both overall viewership and key demographic performance.
