Report: Main event changed for WWE SmackDown

A new main event is reportedly set for tonight’s SmackDown.

PWInsider is reporting that Jacob Fatu will no longer be wrestling on tonight’s show, where he is scheduled to face Drew McIntyre. WWE will instead go with Cody Rhodes taking on McIntyre in a WrestlePalooza rematch. Fatu is at tonight’s SmackDown taping, though it isn’t known in what capacity he’ll be used.

According to PWInsider, the decision was made on the new main event “minutes ago.”

It was reported earlier this week by BodySlam.net that Fatu, 33, is dealing with a non-wrestling related injury that will keep him out of action for “an extended period of time,” possibly into 2026. Fatu hasn’t wrestled since the September 12 edition of SmackDown, where he had a dark match street fight with Rusev. 

Fatu resurfaced earlier this month on an edition of SmackDown where he confronted McIntyre, setting up the match for this week. He called out McIntyre for always complaining, which led to McIntyre responding with a headbutt. On this past week’s SmackDown in Australia, the two brawled just one day prior to Crown Jewel in Perth.