WrestleMania 36 updates: Post-SmackDown edition

This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown was interesting, to say the least. It was the first show that was taped ahead of time since the coronavirus pandemic forced a change in how WWE runs its shows, and came not long after reports of multiple wrestlers pulling out of WrestleMania 36 due to that very same pandemic.

Despite that, WWE went ahead with a show that didn’t really address any of the reports and even promoted matches that, according to those very reports, aren’t going to happen.

• Roman Reigns pulled out of the show, but WWE spent much of the night promoting his previously scheduled Universal title match against Goldberg. There were reports that an angle would run on SmackDown tonight explaining this and giving us a replacement but that’s not at all what happened. In fact, a replay aired of Reigns vs. Triple H from WrestleMania 32 before Triple H appeared on the broadcast to give a prediction for Reigns vs. Goldberg.
• The Miz was also the subject of reports, with word coming that he has been sick and would have to be quarantined. That would mean his not working WrestleMania 36 as previously planned. However, WWE went ahead with airing an angle where Miz & John Morrison interfered in The New Day vs. The Usos to determine who would challenge for the SmackDown tag team titles and an announcement was made that both teams would get the shot in a ladder match.
• An angle was shot where Baron Corbin knocked Elias down from a high place and there may be an injury that affects the latter’s status for WrestleMania 36. The match is still on for now, but it was played like that could change.
• Drew Gulak defeated Shinsuke Nakamura, which made Daniel Bryan vs. Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental championship official.
• Bray Wyatt challenged John Cena to a “Firefly Fun House” match, which would presumably just be how WWE is getting to having the two work a match at a unique set and not in the arena with no fans.
• Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler was made official.
• The opening segment featured all the wrestlers involved in the SmackDown women’s championship match, without any announcement of a replacement for Dana Brooke. It appears as though the match will go ahead as a Fatal 5-Way instead of a Six-Pack Elimination match.

That’s everything, for now. Again, much of this is reportedly scheduled to change, so we’ll keep you up to date on the when and the how whenever that actually happens.