Why WWE Is Booking Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu Before WrestleMania 42

Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu is happening on the March 20 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, but WWE isn’t giving away a WrestleMania-level match for free. There’s a clear reason behind the decision.

As WWE continues building toward WrestleMania 42, the company is using SmackDown as a key piece of the storytelling process, not the final destination for this feud. The direction became clear during Wrestling Observer Radio when Bryan Alvarez questioned why such a major match was taking place ahead of WrestleMania instead of at the event itself.

“Well, that was the show there. And yeah, SmackDown’s got Randy Orton live on the show. I’m sure he’ll get cheered like crazy. And Jacob Fatu faces Drew McIntyre, which is kind of interesting because I thought that was a Mania match.”

Dave Meltzer immediately shut down any confusion and confirmed WWE’s long-term plan, “It is. It is a Mania match.” Alvarez then pointed out the real purpose behind the early matchup, “Just do something to set it up.” Meltzer made it crystal clear that this SmackDown bout is part of the build, not the payoff, “It’s to set up a Mania match. Yeah, yeah.”

WWE’s strategy here is straightforward. The SmackDown match exists to escalate the rivalry, add another layer of conflict, and create momentum heading into WrestleMania 42. Instead of holding everything back, the company is giving fans a preview while still saving the biggest version of the match for the grand stage.

This also fits with how the feud has unfolded so far. Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu have been intertwined for months, with interference, title implications, and personal attacks fueling their issues. Their March 13 confrontation, where McIntyre “quit” before returning to cost Fatu a match, only pushed things further.

By placing them in the ring together before WrestleMania, WWE can raise the stakes, potentially deliver a controversial finish, and give fans a reason to stay invested in seeing the rematch when it matters most. Rather than ending the rivalry early, this move is designed to make the WrestleMania clash feel bigger.

Do you think WWE is making the right call by using SmackDown to build Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu, or should they have saved their first singles match entirely for WrestleMania 42? Let us know your thoughts and drop your feedback below.