The residual stress field (RSF) after wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) lead to mechanical properties such as fatigue crack propagation (FCP) inferior to those of conventionally manufactured parts. Laser shock peening (LSP) is a highly controllable technique for advantageous local manipulation of the RSF. Results from a multi-step process model are compared with experimental findings. The investigation of processing and geometry parameters add mechanical insight to the AM process and offer a path towards near-final-shape processing at no expense of the mechanical properties.