Jordynne Grace vs. Candice LeRae: Johnny Gargano Costs SmackDown Match

Johnny Gargano cost Candice LeRae a match with jordynne grace on the Feb. 27 SmackDown, derailing a scheduled singles confrontation and reshaping the card for Friday at 8 ET. The turn of events follows a backstage altercation last week and a public call from Grace for a more hard-hitting version of LeRae.

Gargano's interference on SmackDown

The Feb. 27 episode saw Johnny Gargano’s actions prevent the advertised singles meeting between Candice LeRae and Jordynne Grace. The interference meant the anticipated matchup did not proceed as planned, creating immediate storyline consequences and leaving the status of a future one-on-one contest unclear at the end of the broadcast.

Jordynne Grace wants PWG-era Candice LeRae

Jordynne Grace has publicly urged that Candice LeRae bring a PWG-style approach when they meet, posting that she wants the PWG version of LeRae for their encounter. That demand follows LeRae’s history wrestling in PWG and competing regularly against male opponents there, a background Grace referenced when setting expectations for the match.

Candice LeRae's recent inactivity and what follows

Candice LeRae has not wrestled since appearing in the Royal Rumble, and she has not had a singles television match since September 2025, when she competed on NXT as part of the Speed Title tournament. The combination of that recent inactivity and Gargano’s interference raises questions about how prepared LeRae will appear if the match with jordynne grace is rescheduled or restarted.

There are two clear indicators to watch heading into Friday at 8 ET: whether Candice LeRae accepts the PWG-style challenge Grace set, and how the creative response to Gargano’s interference is handled in the coming broadcasts. If LeRae responds by leaning into the PWG-style persona Grace requested, the match could follow a more physical, high-intensity trajectory. If storyline fallout centers on Gargano, the immediate plan could pivot to a different confrontation or a multi-person segment.

All developments remain tied to on-screen confirmations. The backstage altercation from last week was presented as part of the lead-up to this segment, and the net effect of Gargano’s actions on future bookings was not publicly confirmed at the close of the Feb. 27 episode.

What to expect Friday at 8 ET

Friday’s show at 8 ET will be the next chance to see how the promotion addresses the cancelled singles contest and Grace’s challenge. Viewers should look for whether Candice LeRae appears with a PWG-influenced style, whether Gargano is woven into the storyline moving forward, and whether officials book a direct confrontation between Jordynne Grace and LeRae in short order. Those tangible signals will determine whether the pairing happens as originally promoted or becomes part of a larger storyline development.

Key takeaways:

• Johnny Gargano’s interference cost Candice LeRae a match with Jordynne Grace on Feb. 27.
• Jordynne Grace publicly demanded a PWG-style Candice LeRae for their encounter.
• Candice LeRae’s last in-ring appearances include the Royal Rumble and a September 2025 singles match on NXT in the Speed Title tournament; the next show at 8 ET will clarify next steps.