WWE: WWE United States Title Open Challenge Match Set for 2/27 WWE SmackDown Show, Seth Rollins Shoulder Injury & Return Plans Update, Clarification on WrestleMania 42 Start Time Change

WWE United States Title Open Challenge Match Announced for Feb. 27th WWE SmackDown Show

WWE announced one new match for the card of tonight’s WWE SmackDown show at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

This new match announced was a WWE United States Championship Open Challenge match of mystery opponent vs. Carmelo Hayes (c).

Who will step up to HIM?!@Carmelo_WWE holds a United States Open Challenge TONIGHT on #SmackDown!

📺 8 ET/7 CT on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/L5122L0QDp

— WWE (@WWE) February 27, 2026

Current card for February 27th WWE SmackDown show:

• WWE United States Championship Open Challenge match – mystery opponent vs. Carmelo Hayes (c)
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) vs. Rhiyo (Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY) (c)
• Jordynne Grace vs. Candice LeRae
• Uncle Howdy vs. Solo Sikoa
• Oba Femi vs. The Miz
• 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber competitors Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, LA Knight, & Jey Uso to speak

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Seth Rollins Shoulder Injury & Return Plans Update

As noted before, Seth Rollins has been out of action for WWE since this past October’s Crown Jewel: Perth event due to a torn rotator cuff injury and surgery.

A recent episode of ESPN’s First Take featured Seth Rollins as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Rollins providing an update on his recovery from injury.

“No, I will not be able to do anything this weekend. But we’re getting close. I mean, look, I can move it around, it’s not in a sling anymore. It’s feeling good. It was in October, is when I got the surgery. So, you know, you look at the timeline, we’re getting close. We’re getting close. We’re not all the way there, but we’re getting close, guys.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

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Clarification on WWE WrestleMania 42 Start Time Change

As noted before, WWE recently changed the start time for ticket holders for their upcoming WrestleMania 42 event on April 18-19 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada from its originally listed 4:00PM PST start time to a new start time of 2:30PM PST.

The Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez reported that his sources clarified that the in-ring portion of WrestleMania 32 is currently scheduled to start at 3:00PM PST and not 2:30PM PST as had been speculated.

“WrestleMania official local start time for in-ring action is 3 PM, not 2:30.”