WWE SmackDown live results: Final build to WrestleMania 36
WWE’s final build to WrestleMania 36 airs on tonight’s episode of SmackDown from the Performance Center.
With Roman Reigns not wrestling at WrestleMania, we’ll see how that’s handled on tonight’s show. We’ll also see if the new challenger for Goldberg’s Universal Championship at WrestleMania is officially revealed tonight.
Triple H did an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani earlier this week saying that Reigns’ story will “play out in a unique manner.” A face-to-face segment with Goldberg and Reigns had originally been announced for tonight’s show but is no longer being advertised.
John Cena is set to face “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania. On SmackDown tonight, Cena will respond to Wyatt challenging him last week to make their match a Firefly Fun House match.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison hosting a Miz TV segment with The New Day and The Usos is also advertised for tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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SmackDown opened up with a shot of the ring set up for Miz TV. There were also ladders around ringside. The ring announcer started to introduce The Miz and John Morrison when The Usos music hit. They noted Miz and Morrison attacked them last week. They promised to win the tag team titles at WrestleMania. New Day’s music hit, and they interrupted.
Kofi Kingston noted that they’re going to win the titles at WrestleMania and not the Usos. They argued over who had the advantage last week but took jabs at Miz and Morrison as well.
Miz and Morrison finally came out but stayed on the ramp. Miz noted they’d thrive no matter what the other teams do. He pointed out that The Usos and New Day might act like friends, but they’ll destroy each other and Miz & Morrison will retain the titles.
The New Day and Usos ran up the ramp and attacked Miz and Morrison. Jimmy accidentally superkicked Kingston, and Big E went after The Usos. Miz and Morrison recovered and beat down the other two teams. The champs climbed to the top of the ladder and celebrated the beat down.
They advertised The Miz & Morrison defending against The New Day and Usos in a ladder match at WrestleMania.
Later tonight, Ric Flair’s farewell match from WrestleMania 24 will air.
Triple Threat Match: Tamina defeated Naomi and Lacey Evans
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks joined Michael Cole on commentary. Cole told Banks that he rapped before, so maybe he can be on Banks’ album. Bayley and Banks laughed at Cole. Cole tried to ask about Banks being in the WrestleMania match, but Banks and Bayley avoided the question.
Lacey Evans made her entrance and put her hat on Cole. Cole wore the hat for a few minutes before taking it off. Bayley wouldn’t even answer his question because he had the hat on.
Evans and Naomi worked together against Tamina. Tamina took over and dumped both women onto the apron. She then charged at Evans and Naomi, knocking them off the apron.
Back from the break, Tamina was firmly in control with a side headlock on Naomi. Naomi fought back, but Tamina knocked her to the floor. Evans recovered and took down Tamina.
Naomi and Evans fought on the floor. Banks got up from commentary and attacked Evans, but Naomi took her out. Bayley didn’t get up to help Banks.
Bayley got upset with Cole and left commentary. She attacked Naomi and Tamina hit the superkick for the win.
After the match, Bayley praised Tamina and said she’s happy Tamina’s in the WrestleMania match. Bayley went to walk away, but Tamina rocked her with a superkick. Tamina then gave Banks a Samoan Drop.
In the back, Tucker was warming up when Mandy Rose approached. Static appeared, and the words The Truth Will Be Heard flashed across the screen.
Wrestlemania 24: Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair
The fans popped huge for Flair as there were “Wooo’s” even before his music started playing. They showed Flair’s family sitting at ringside, including Charlotte, David, and Reid.
Michaels had the early advantage and took down Flair with a shoulder tackle.
The fans booed Michaels. Flair shoved Michaels, and Michaels slapped Flair in the face. The fans booed Michaels again. Flair backed Michaels in the corner and rocked him with hard chops. Flair caught Michaels with a back elbow and followed up with a knee drop.
Michaels recovered and caught Flair with an elbow. Michaels climbed to the top, but Flair grabbed him and slammed him down. Flair climbed to the top and hit a crossbody for a near fall.
Michaels recovered and sent Flair to the floor. He followed up with a sliding dropkick. Michaels then attempted a moonsault off the second rope, but Flair moved, and Michaels crashed through the announce table.
Back from the break, Flair hit a back suplex for a near fall. They traded shots in the middle of the ring. Flair then hit a standing vertical suplex for another near fall. Flair and Michales traded hard chops in the corner. Michaels fought back and hit a swinging neck breaker.
Michaels dropped Flair to the floor. He then climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit a moonsault to the floor. They teased a double count-out, but they both made it back in time. Michaels and Flair traded hard chops in the middle of the ring again. Michales then hit a flying forearm.
Michaels went for sweet chin music, but he hesitated. Flair then grabbed Michaels’s leg and applied the figure four leg-lock to a huge pop. Michaels fought back and reversed the hold.
Back from the break, Michaels used a sunset flip for a two count. Michaels rocked Flair in the corner with hard chops. Flair fought back and used a chop block on Michaels’s leg. Flair attempted the figure four, but Michaels used an inside cradle for a near fall.
Michaels attempted an enziguri, but Flair caught the leg and applied the figure four leg lock. Michaels fought back and made it to the ropes to break the hold. Flair attacked the leg, but Michaels hit sweet chin music out of nowhere for a very close near fall.
Michales set up for sweet chin music, but Flair was still down. Michaels yelled at Flair to get up and set up for sweet chin music again. Michaels had enough and tried to pick up Flair. Flair then hit a low blow for a very close near fall.
Michales applied the figure four leg lock, but Flair made it to the ropes. Flair and Michaels traded hard chops, but Michaels hit sweet chin music again out of nowhere.
In a memorable moment, Michaels got back to his feet and set up for sweet chin music. Flair got to his feet with his fists up and tears in his eyes. Michales said, “I love you” and rocked Flair with the superkick for the win. Michaels hugged Flair on the mat and left the ring.
After the match, Flair cried in the ring as the fans gave him a huge ovation. They showed Charlotte and Reid crying at ringside as well.
Flair went over and kissed David, Reid, and Charlotte at ringside.
They recapped Baron Corbin injuring Elias last week.
Michael Cole announced Elias vs. King Corbin is still taking place at WrestleMania despite Elias’ injury.
Cole then announced that Universal Champion Goldberg defends against Braun Strowman at WrestleMania. There was no unique explanation or storyline for the change of the match. Cole simply announced the new match. There was also no mention of Roman Reigns either.
In the back, Tucker approached Otis. He told him that he talked to Mandy Rose before. She was asking about Otis. Otis got a text message and ran off.
Tucker vs. Dolph Ziggler
Tucker was firmly in control and had the early advantage. Ziggler attacked the leg and took over with a neck breaker. Ziggler slowed the pace down and applied a chin lock.
Ziggler hit a standing dropkick for a near fall. He went back to the chin lock and slowed the pace back down. Tucker recovered and rocked Ziggler with a kick to the face.
Tucker missed a charge in the corner and went shoulder-first into the post. Ziggler then hit a huge DDT.
Back from the break, Ziggler was firmly in control with a chin lock. Tucker fought back and threw Ziggler across the ring to the floor. Tucker and Ziggler fought around ringside. Tucker whipped Ziggler into the barricade and then the ring steps.
Tucker hit a side slam for a near fall but Ziggler got his foot on the bottom rope. Tucker tried to slam Ziggler onto the ring steps at ringside, but Ziggler poked Tucker in the eye. Ziggler then hit the Zig Zag onto the steps for the disqualification.
After the match, Ziggler grabbed the ring steps and teased hitting Tucker. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville walked out and stopped him.
Otis’s music hit, and he ran out to check on Tucker.
Suddenly, The Truth Will Be Heard flashed across the screen again. A guy was sitting in a chair surrounded by computers. He sat in the dark, so his face was in the darkness. He said the truth would be heard and pressed a button.
He showed footage of Sonya Deville sending Otis a text message from Rose’s phone saying she’s going to be late. Deville deleted messages and conspired with Ziggler. She told Ziggler that she gets what she wants, and Ziggler gets what he wants.
Back in the ring, Rose was shocked and walked away. Deville tried to apologize, but Rose wasn’t listening. Otis hit Ziggler, but Ziggler got away.
In the back, Deville tried to apologize to Rose, but she walked away.
Daniel Bryan (w/Drew Gulak) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Sami Zayn & Cesaro)
Bryan and Gulak warmed up before the match again. Bryan and Gulak’s warm-up before the match has been one of the highlights of the last few weeks. They make a good team.
Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn joined Michael Cole on commentary.
Bryan and Nakamura started with some mat wrestling. Bryan worked over Nakamura’s arm and rocked him with a dropkick. Bryan followed up with a sliding dropkick to the floor and a knee off the apron.
Bryan hit a missile dropkick and dropkick in the corner. Bryan attempted the hurricanrana off the top, but Nakamura held on, and Bryan crashed to the mat. Nakamura followed up with a knee for a near fall.
Nakamura hit a kick to the back and a sliding German suplex.
Back from the break, Bryan recovered and took out Nakamura. Bryan followed up with the Yes kicks, but Nakamura countered and rocked Bryan with knees.
Nakamura then hit a series of kicks, but Bryan fought back. Nakamura took back over with a kick to the face. Nakamura set up for the Kinshasa, but Bryan reversed into a half-crab. Nakamura fought to the ropes to break the hold.
They traded strikes in the middle of the ring. Nakamura applied an armbar, but Bryan slipped out and applied the armbar on Nakamura. Bryan transitioned into the Lebell Lock, but Cesaro jumped in for the disqualification.
After the match, Cesaro dumped Gulak over the barricade. Bryan attempted a suicide dive, but Cesaro caught him and slammed Bryan on the announce table. The heels continued to beat down Bryan and Gulak.
In the ring, Cesaro hit the neutralizer on Bryan, and Nakamura followed up with the Kinshasa. Cesaro and Nakamura held Bryan as Zayn then hit the helluva kick.
John Cena Responds To Bray Wyatt’s Challenge To A Firefly Funhouse Match
Cena noted that one month ago, WWE announced they’d continue shows without an audience. He said it’s a learning curve with some great moments and some bad ones. Cena pointed out that starting tomorrow night will be an epic broadcast that will be the most viewed and talked about WrestleMania in history. He said for the first time nobody knows what’s going to happen.
Cena pointed out Bray Wyatt challenged him to a Firefly Funhouse match, and he doesn’t know what that is. He said he’s sure The Fiend doesn’t know what it is either. Cena noted that The Fiend thrives on uncertainty, fear, and panic. He said on the eve of WrestleMania we’re uncertain.
Cena mocked The Fiend and noted Goldberg exposed him. Cena promised to embarrass and beat The Fiend. Cena then accepted the challenge for the Firefly Funhouse match.
Suddenly, Ramblin Rabbit and the other puppets appeared at ringside. Rabbit noted that Cena’s going to play with them forever in the Funhouse. Rabbit became scared and noted, “He’s here.”
The lights went out, and The Fiend appeared standing in the perch. Cena and The Fiend had a staredown with creepy music.
Suddenly, Bray Wyatt appeared next to Cena and said, let me in. The lights went out again. When the lights came back on, Cena was standing in the ring alone.