Predicting 10 Surprises That Occur On Raw & SmackDown After WrestleMania
Sebastian Wright
Published Mar 27, 2026
WrestleMania 39 will occur on April 1st and April 2nd in SoFi Stadium. Yet, traditionally WWE television the night (and week) after WrestleMania is also memorable. WWE allows that post-WrestleMania week to be a reset for storylines. In many ways, the Raw and SmackDown after WrestleMania represents a new season.
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WWE television after WrestleMania is hyped as some of the most exciting TV of the year. Usually, we see debuts and swerves and different storylines flood our television screens. This will be the first post-WrestleMania season produced by Triple H, so fans want to see how exciting it will be. With the reset of storylines and rosters, it is hard to predict which show will air what element, but it isn't hard to predict elements that would please both the hardcore and casual WWE fan.
10 Street Profits Explode
The writing has been on the wall for weeks now. Truly, fans have discussed the potential of Montez Ford in a singles capacity since the Profits debuted. Yet, WWE has started laying a few Easter eggs suggesting a Street Profits split lately. Ford's strong performance at Elimination Chamber only magnified his potential. Angelo Dawkins has also improved recently. The most likely scenario would be a Dawkins heel turn, after a disappointing loss to a lesser tag team on Raw or Smackdown. Dawkins throwing Ford through the symbolic barbershop window would give both stars the best chance at finding singles success.
9 Carmelo Hayes Answers U.S. Title Open Challenge
Traditionally, WWE makes some NXT call-ups during after 'Mania. Carmelo Hayes is one of the most main roster ready talents on the NXT brand. Austin Theory will be riding high on Raw after a WrestleMania victory over the iconic John Cena. A success drunk Theory will arrogantly propose a U.S. Title Open Challenge, that will be answered by Hayes. WWE will strap the proverbial rocket ship on Hayes, allowing him to defeat Theory for the title. While this will allow a heel Theory to move up on the card, it will also shower Hayes with star power on his debut. The two 25-year-old stars have future WrestleMania feud written all over them.
8 Johnny Gargano Joins Judgment Day
Johnny Gargano will miss WrestleMania to participate in NXT Stand & Deliver. That should be Rebel Heart's last event as a babyface. Gargano has floundered on RAW and a move to SmackDown with a change in attitude is needed. Gargano had an incredibly popular heel run in NXT. As a face that swerves the audience and joins the Judgment Day, Gargano has an opportunity to make an impact. With the Bloodline most likely taking a step back after WrestleMania, expect to see the Judgment Day become a more dominant faction. By adding Gargano, the Judgment Day continues to grow in numbers and talent.
7 Alexa Bliss Kidnaps Liv Morgan
Alexa Bliss is currently not on WWE television, which is a creative mistake as Bliss is an entertaining character. Even with the Bray Wyatt/Alexa Bliss connection being up in the air, we know Bliss is supernaturally connected to that bizarre universe in some form. Liv Morgan has continually become more edgy recently on WWE television. Morgan is also an entertaining wrestler that isn't being used to her best ability at the moment.
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An abduction that turns Liv and Lexi into some type of twisted tag team would be phenomenal for their characters. Bliss and Morgan could represent Sister Abigail in their Harley Twins tag team role. With or without Bray, the union of Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan makes sense on WWE television.
6 Zack Ryder Returns On MizTV
The WWE Universe predicted that Zack Ryder would return at the Royal Rumble. That didn't happen, yet rumors of a Ryder return still run rampant. With the after Mania television being the perfect time for debuts and storyline resets, Ryder makes perfect sense. The Miz is in the role of WrestleMania host, which means after Mania his storyline card is free. A return of Zack Ryder to MizTV and the disparaging verbal assault that Miz could lead against Ryder would be must see tv. Ryder returning and battling Miz will give his character an opportunity to reconnect to the WWE audience. Ideally, Ryder's return character would be a more serious version of the WOO WOO WOO star that competed previously in WWE.
5 Tiffany Stratton Debuts
Few women in WWE NXT jump off the page like Tiffany Stratton, The Buff Barbie Doll has the look, in ring capability and charisma to be a future WrestleMania main event act. Still only 23 years old, Stratton has the potential to be a building block of the future for WWE and (just like Theory) the future is now.....or at least right after Mania. Stratton is destined for main roster success.
RELATED: Tiffany Stratton & 9 Other Young Women's Prospects That Will Be Future StarsWWE should allow Stratton to compete against an enhancement talent to show off her immense athleticism in her debut on Raw or Smackdown. Then allow veterans Carmella and Chelsea Green to recruit Stratton in their mean girls club. If Stratton is going to initially be a heel allow her to join the group. If WWE is going to allow her to be an over babyface, battling Carmella and Chelsea will give her time to develop.
4 Charlotte Challenges Bianca
The red-hot Rhea Ripley will dethrone the Queen at WrestleMania. Yet, Charlotte is never far from the top of the card. Expect the Queen to switch from Smackdown to Raw and fully embrace her heeldom as she challenges the EST of WWE. Bianca Belair will be feeling confident after defeating Asuka at WrestleMania. WWE has purposely kept Charlotte and Bianca from a main roster feud. The creative team has waited for the right time to fully invest in the Flair and Belair rivalry. The time for that feud is now, as Belair has ran through the Raw competition and needs to level up in a rivalry with Charlotte Flair.
3 Usos Challenged By Returning RKBro
Expect the Uso's to defeat Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens in the main event of WrestleMania night one. Of course, they will defeat the popular Canadian duo by dastardly measures that will include Solo Sikoa. As the longest reigning tag team champion's in history, expect the Uso's to offer a title shot to anyone in the main event of after Mania Smackdown. The returning Randy Orton and Matt Riddle will answer that call. Zayn and Owens will keep Sikoa away, and RKBro will win the titles to a massive returning pop. Yet, in true swerve fashion, expect Matt Riddle to RKO Randy Orton in the middle of the ring to end Smackdown. Riddle turning heel, leaves the tag team titles in disarray but allows his character to grow more serious and elevate up the card.
2 Trish Stratus Cuts A "Hollywood" Heel Promo
Trish Stratus will cost her team the match to Damage Control at WrestleMania by laying out Becky Lynch. Stratus will cut a similar Hulk Hogan turning Hollywood at Bash at the Beach 1996 promo. Trish will call herself the greatest of all time and call out her best friend, Lita, for joining Becky. Trish will let the WWE Universe know she wanted to win the tag titles with Lita as Team Bestie. She will then cut a scathing promo about Becky Lynch not respecting the women that laid the groundwork for her success. All of this will lead up to a main event feud between Trish and Becky Lynch.
1 The O.C. Attack Cody Rhodes & Jay White Debuts
Cody Rhodes will be riding high as WWE Undisputed Universal Champion on RAW the night after WrestleMania. WWE will need to set up the next challenger to their over like rover babyface champion. A returning A.J. Styles and his Good Brothers could be the perfect challenge awaiting Cody Rhodes. A.J. and Cody would most certainly tear the house down in the ring. A.J. would make Cody look incredible while advancing his title run. More importantly, while the Original Club are beating down the American Nightmare, expect Jay White to make his WWE debut by saving Rhodes. Eventually, White will challenge Rhodes, but initially having White second Cody will give him an outstanding WWE debut.