Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. Please keep refreshing throughout the show for constant updates once it kicks off at 8:00 PM EST.

This is the first SmackDown since WrestleMania 36. WWE is filming content right now and will continue for the next several days with the purpose of nailing down content for the next month of programming. Let’s see what they have in store for fans this week.

Mandy Rose and Otis are together again. The storybook romance will enter its next chapter next week.

Braun Strowman will be on WWE RAW as well. WWE could introduce a new challenger for the WWE Universal Title this week.

We will see a WrestleMania rematch this week. Bliss Cross Applesauce will defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles against the Kabuki Warriors.

What do you want to see on tonight’s show? Is there anything WWE can do to make the most of these empty arena shows? Sound off in the comments below and join the conversation throughout the show!

Braun Strowman Promo

The Universal Monster came out and hyped his big WrestleMania win. Then Shinsuke Nakamura came out.

Shinsuke Nakamura had a microphone and Sami Zayn was not present. “This should be funny, what do you want?” Strowman asked.

Nakamura said he’s knocking on the door for an opportunity. He said “knock knock,” but Strowman didn’t say anything. “You’re supposed to ask ‘who’s there?'” Who? Shinsuke Nakamura is there. He said the last time he wrestled Braun he defeated him.

Braun said nobody tuned into SmackDown to watch him run his mouth. Then Braun suggested that he knock the crap out of him.

Shinsuke Nakamura said Braun reminds him of an old Japanese proverb “the weak are the meat and the strong eat.” Then Braun said he has his own old proverb. Later tonight he’s gonna get these hands.

Then Cesaro came in and Braun shoved him out of the ring. Nakamura kicked Braun and then he left.

Bliss Cross Applesauce vs The Kabuki Warriors

Bliss and Cross are putting those WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles on the line.

Asuka took punishment to Alexa Bliss right off the bat. She stomped Bliss down in the corner and then tagged Kairi Sane for a double team move.

Michael Cole put over the Kabuki Warriors as being great champions during their 6-month reign when they hardly defended the titles.

Bliss rolled through and got a roll-up for a two count. Bliss slapped Sane, but then Kairi returned fire and tagged Asuka who took Nikki Cross out right away. Then Asuka continued beating down Bliss.

Sane hit Bliss with a dropkick and tagged Asuka back in. Alexa hit a dropkick on Sane, but Asuka went outside. Then she went around the ring and hit a hip attack. Asuka put on a headset and screamed in the mic. Nikki got on the table with her. Bliss pulled Asuka off and Cross hit a crossbody on Asuka to the floor.

Nikki took the tag sometime during the commercial break, but she immediately took to getting beat down by Kairi Sane. Asuka eventually took the tag to keep Nikki Cross from tagging in her partner.

Eventually, Cross hit a bulldog and tagged in Bliss who hit some clotheslines on Sane who also tagged in. Bliss fired up and hit her knees into backhand spring moonsault.

Sane nailed Bliss with a spear for a two count.

Bliss tagged Cross. Asuka nailed a kick on Bliss and Sane hit Cross with a spinning back fist. Asuka tagged in and kicked Nikki in the spine. Cross was soon in an Asuka Lock as Nikki fought out.

Bliss broke up the hold and Sane took Bliss out. Then Sane got back to the corner so she could get a tag and climb up top for the Insane Elbow. Nikki moved and Sane landed on her feet. Bliss got the tag and hit the DDT, but Asuka broke up the pin.

Asuka took Cross out with a knee and then Bliss nailed a Twisted Bliss on both Sane and Asuka.

Bliss went for Twisted Bliss in the ring, but Sane moved. Nikki got the tag and hit the twisting neckbreaker for the win.

Winners: Bliss Cross Applesauce

Ladies And Gentlemen… Elias

Elias was on the crow’s nest again where he took that fall. He feels great about how his match against King Corbin went at WrestleMania. He has a song for us called “Walk With The King.” He said to clap along and don’t worry about your neighbors because they’ll be clapping too.

Elias played a nice little song and WWE added clapping sound effects too.

They played a video package for Otis and Mandy Rose’s WrestleMania storyline.

Dolph Ziggler came out with Sonya Deville and they were unhappy. They got in Cole’s face an violated social distancing in a big way. They demanded for the footage to be edited and they claimed that it was fake. Then Tucker from Heavy Machinery came out.

Tucky said he’s sorry to interrupt their meltdown. He said he knows he’s smitten with Otis’ kitten Mandy. Then he showed off the pictures that Mandy released earlier today.

Tucker said that he and Dolph have unfinished business and they’ll take care of it right now.

Dolph Ziggler vs Tucker

Ziggler tried to gain an advantage with some underhanded tactics. Then Tucker used his brute strength to heave Ziggler over the announce table.

They returned to the ring and Ziggler kicked out after a powerslam. Tucker his a stiff clothesline that put Ziggler down hard. Ziggler kicked out again.

Ziggler nailed a Superkick off the post and got the win.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

They said that The Miz was hurt which is why he couldn’t work the ladder match at WrestleMania. Then they showed a clip from the match’s finish.

The Dirt Sheet

It’s good to see The Miz.

They said it’s hard times for the citizens of the world, but they’re going to share good news. They retained the titles at Mania. Morrison reminded Miz that he defended the titles. He’s the only one who ever retained the titles by himself. Miz is the only one who retained while watching from his couch.

They said Otis finally kissed a girl which is good news. Then they brought up AJ Styles and The Undertaker’s Boneyard Match. It wasn’t them being buried so that’s good news too.

Miz said that Braun being champion means he’ll be on every show. That’s much better than previous champions. That’s good news too.

They had several things to tell fans that was good news. Then they performed their hit song “Hey Hey” live on the show.

Then The Usos came out to stop them mid-song.

The champs said “how dare you” when they ruined the performance. Miz wondered why the Usos were out there. Uce said that they needed to defend both titles. Miz said that wasn’t the deal at Mania.

Morrison said that he has Miz’s back and everyone else gets his front. Miz said he’s “still not medically cleared” so he can’t wrestle tonight. Then The New Day entered the empty arena.

Big E says it only makes sense to him that the other members of the teams get to compete for the titles as well. That would be Jey Uso vs Big E vs The Miz eventually.

Kofi said after consulting with several people they were informed that the match will go down next week for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

Forgotten Sons vs Lucha House Party

Steve Cutler, Jaxson Ryker and Wesley Blake made their debut on SmackDown.

The picked Lucha House Party apart one by one. Each tagged in and got a chance to lay in punishment. Cutler and Blake were the ones in the match.

Blake went to the floor and then Cutler took the tag. Lucha House Party got some offense in, but they couldn’t close the deal as Metalik hit Cutler with a few dropkicks only to have the cover broken up.

Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross accepted a challenge during a backstage segment from Carmella and Dana Brooke.

Bayley Promo

Bayley was very happy. She said just three weeks ago Paige tried to ruin their WrestleMania and her friendship with Sasha Banks, but she didn’t. Bayley said anyone who wants to face her… DING DONG — YA CAN’T! Because she beat everyone.

Bayley mocked Michael Cole for minute and called herself the best and they’re the “ultimate role models.” Bayley said they have two words for anyone who thought that she was breaking up with Banks: “Screw You.”

Then Tamina came out. Bayley said she could smell her from across the ring — and she smells great. Bayley was acting scared of Tamina. Then Snuka told Bayley to shut the hell up. She said nobody beat her at WrestleMania. It took all of the women to eliminate her. Then she challenged Bayley to a one-on-one title match.

Banks got in the way. She said that Tamina just came back from whatever coconut shell she’s been hiding in for a year. She can’t just come back and make demands. Bayley said she can have her match if Tamina can beat Sasha Banks. The Boss didn’t seem too thrilled about that.

Sheamus vs Cal Bloom

This was a straight-up enhancement match for Sheamus.

Winner: Sheamus

Sheamus took a moment and stared Corey Graves down before he left. That was a VERY interesting interaction especially since Graves just admitted that he considered trying to make return to the ring.

They aired a Jeff Hardy video package that really built his character using childhood clips.

Braun Strowman vs Shinsuke Nakamura

Braun threw Nakamura all over the ring and then they took things outside. Nakamura tried to get offense in, but Braun was a strong champion.

After commercial, Nakamura nearly won after Cesaro hit a cheap shot on Strowman, but Braun kicked out.

Nakamura muscled Braun down with a headlock, but it didn’t work for long as Braun hit a side slam before hitting a running clothesline in the corner. Strowman took out Cesaro with a right hand and then he turned Nakamura inside out with a clothesline.

Then Strowman went outside the ring and did the Strowman Express spot over Cesaro. He returned to the ring and Nakamura hit a knee for a two count.

Then Strowman hit a running powerslam and got the win.

Winner: Braun Strowman

After the match, Bray Wyatt appeared in a Firefly Fun House segment. This ended in a challenge for the WWE Universal Championship that was quickly accepted by Strowman.