{"id":95552,"date":"2020-04-03T14:56:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T19:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=95552"},"modified":"2020-04-03T14:56:04","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T19:56:04","slug":"wwe-smackdown-primer-4-3-spoiler-free-continued-audience-free-show-final-hype-for-wrestlemania-miztv-hosts-smackdown-tag-team-championship-ladder-match-participants-cena-to-answer-brays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/04\/03\/wwe-smackdown-primer-4-3-spoiler-free-continued-audience-free-show-final-hype-for-wrestlemania-miztv-hosts-smackdown-tag-team-championship-ladder-match-participants-cena-to-answer-brays\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 4\/3 (Spoiler-Free): Continued Audience-Free Show, Final Hype for WrestleMania, MizTV Hosts Smackdown Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Participants, Cena to Answer Bray\u2019s Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-3519906288\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER<br \/>\nAPRIL 3, 2020<br \/>\nORLANDO, FLA. AT THE WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER<br \/>\nAIRS ON FOX NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EDT<br \/>\nBY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH SPECIALIST<\/h3>\n<p><em>Announcers: Michael Cole<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Top 10 Moments from Last Week<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Top 10 Friday Night SmackDown moments: WWE Top 10, March 27, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ttdHfLhOzGs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Arena and Items Advertised by WWE<\/h3>\n<p>Tonight\u2019s WWE Smackdown will once again take place in the WWE Performance Center with no audience. It was recorded before the shelter-in-place order for Orange County, of which Orlando, FL. is included.<\/p>\n<p>We head towards WrestleMania, \u201ctoo big for one night,\u201d which starts tomorrow night and concludes Sunday. Here\u2019s what\u2019s on tap for tonight thus far:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>MizTV sets the stage for Smackdown Tag Team Title clash at WrestleMania<\/li>\n<li>John Cena to answer Bray Wyatt\u2019s challenge at WrestleMania<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>MizTV: Champs Miz &amp; Morrison to host New Day and the Usos<\/h3>\n<p>Last week, New Day (Big E &amp; Kofi Kingston) took on long-time rivals the Usos (Jimmy &amp; Jey) for the right to face the Miz &amp; John Morrison for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania. Miz &amp; Morrison joined Michael Cole on commentary. To nobody\u2019s surprise, they got involved in the match attacking Big E and then Kofi as well as the Usos. The referee called off the match.<\/p>\n<p>Following that, Cole had a message from \u201cWWE officials\u201d as he advised Miz &amp; Morrison that they would be defending their championship not just against New Day, but the Usos as well in a triple threat ladder match. Here\u2019s New Day in a WWE exclusive:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The New Day getting back to basics in championship hunt: SmackDown Exclusive: March 27, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LcVHoGm1f54?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Tonight, ahead of the triple threat match at WrestleMania, Miz &amp; Morrison will have New Day and the Usos on MizTV. As far as the match at WrestleMania, multiple wrestling media outlets have reported that Miz did not wrestle in the match as he reportedly showed up at the recent Smackdown taping sick. This did NOT sit well with the Usos and quite possibly has a lot to do with Roman Reigns pulling out of the match with Goldberg. WrestleMania was already taped, so over the weekend we\u2019ll ultimately find out what WWE did with the tag match and the Universal Championship match. The match is still advertised on their website as originally constituted.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: Not to say something that everyone would say, but what is wrong with the Miz if this is true? As far as I\u2019m concerned, he should face harsh disciplinary action for committing an egregious act of irresponsibility. Part of me feels like they should have stripped Miz and Morrison and have New Day and the Usos go at it for the titles.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>John Cena to Answer Bray Wyatt\u2019s to a Firefly Funhouse Match<\/h3>\n<p>Last week on Smackdown, Bray Wyatt opened the door once again to the Firefly Funhouse and talked about his upcoming match with John Cena at WrestleMania. He made a shake which included hot sauce and Ramblin\u2019 Rabbit. (How many lives does that little guy have?) At any rate, Bray said that their match at WrestleMania shouldn\u2019t just be any match. He said that \u201che\u201d (meaning the Fiend of course), challenges John to a Firefly Funhouse match.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1117557283\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>John appears tonight to answer Bray\u2019s challenge. Typically, I don\u2019t include clips of what was already shown, but here\u2019s Bray interrupting John a few weeks ago on Smackdown. This was the first of the empty-arena series of shows:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bray Wyatt crashes John Cena\u2019s interview en route to WrestleMania: SmackDown, March 13, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-ruCcewe7IM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: The Firefly Funhouse match likely gave WWE an opportunity to film the match away from Orlando, as they likely did with the Boneyard match between the Undertaker and A.J. Styles on Raw. One could only imagine the particulars of a Firefly Funhouse match, but hopefully Ramblin\u2019 Rabbit comes back to life.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Roman Reigns vs. Universal Champion Goldberg Still Advertised for WrestleMania<\/h3>\n<p>WWE is still advertising this match for WrestleMania.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"SDW0IeX5FF\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/03\/30\/roman-reigns-confirms-he-has-pulled-out-of-wrestlemania-lashes-out-as-those-critical-of-his-decision-wwe-still-advertising-the-match\/\">Roman Reigns confirms he has pulled out of WrestleMania, lashes out as those critical of his decision, WWE still advertising the match<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Roman Reigns confirms he has pulled out of WrestleMania, lashes out as those critical of his decision, WWE still advertising the match&#8221; &#8212; \" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/03\/30\/roman-reigns-confirms-he-has-pulled-out-of-wrestlemania-lashes-out-as-those-critical-of-his-decision-wwe-still-advertising-the-match\/embed\/#?secret=wZb5uX02LE#?secret=SDW0IeX5FF\" data-secret=\"SDW0IeX5FF\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>WWE was advertising that Goldberg and Reigns will meet face to face tonight. They did not include it in their official preview, so we\u2019ll find out tonight if that was edited out as Smackdown was filmed last week. All signs point to Braun Strowman replacing Reigns in the match at \u2018Mania, which has also already been filmed. Roman talked to People.com regarding his decision (<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/sports\/wwe-superstar-roman-reigns-pulls-out-of-wrestlemania-36-i-made-a-choice-for-my-family\/\">LINK<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h3>Other Match Results and News Items from Last Week<\/h3>\n<p>Smackdown Women\u2019s Champion Bayley, Sasha Banks, Lacey Evans, Naomi, and Tamina all came out to open the show and discuss their Fatal Five-Way elimination match at WrestleMania for the Smackdown title. Tamina headbutted Naomi to start a brawl.<\/p>\n<p>Drew Gulak defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to earn Daniel Bryan an Intercontinental Championship match against Sami Zayn at WrestleMania. Here\u2019s Drew and Bryan training after the match:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Training never stops for Daniel Bryan &amp; Drew Gulak: SmackDown Exclusive: March 27, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OTlMCAYu2pw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Dolph Ziggler challenged Otis of Heavy Machinery to a one-on-one match at WrestleMania with Mandy in his corner.<\/p>\n<p>Elias sand a song about King Corbin and was attacked by Corbin from behind. He got shoved off of a platform and onto his back. He was taken to a \u201clocal medical facility.\u201d (Great timing WWE. Let\u2019s talk about medical facilities during a global pandemic. Morons.)<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2958525686\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Alexa Bliss defeated Asuka of the WWE Women\u2019s Tag Team Champions the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka &amp; Kairi Sane). Alexa and Nikki Cross take on the Warriors for the titles at WrestleMania. It was Alexa &amp; Nikki from whom the Warriors took the titles at Hell in a Cell back on October of last year. Here\u2019s Alexa &amp; Nikki in a WWE exclusive:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Alexa Bliss &amp; Nikki Cross ready to take back the titles: SmackDown Exclusive: March 27, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0EhAGCUI5F0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>They showed Roman Reigns vs. Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 32 in 2016. (Of all matches they picked that?)<\/p>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>I have to admit I\u2019ve been negative on watching WWE programming, but after a while I realized if I\u2019m going to watch it, I may as well enjoy it. I don\u2019t sit there and beat down AEW for putting on empty arena shows, so why would I be critical of WWE? Either beat it all down or not at all. The promos have been outstanding with no fans and have been done the way promos were done when I started watching wrestling back in the 1980s. I see passion and a purpose, two of my \u201cPs\u201d that should be in every promo. I\u2019m really curious to see how they handled the Reigns situation. More importantly, with the stay-at-home order for Orange County, what do they do with subsequent Raws and Smackdowns? The order, last I checked, was until April 9. It may have changed as of this article publishing. We\u2019ll see, as we get ready for WrestleMania.<\/p>\n<p><em>Follow Frank on Twitter @FrankPeteani. Questions and discussion are welcome. Thank you for reading!<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CATCH UP&#8230;\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/03\/27\/leclairs-wwe-smackdown-report-3-26-alt-perspective-detailed-coverage-of-new-day-vs-usos-bliss-vs-asuka-firefly-funhouse-more\/\">LECLAIR\u2019S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 3\/26: Alt perspective, detailed coverage of New Day vs. Usos, Bliss vs. Asuka, Firefly Funhouse, more<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2950135957\"><div id=\"pwtor-4154516906\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER APRIL 3, 2020 ORLANDO, FLA. AT THE WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER AIRS ON FOX NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EDT BY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH SPECIALIST Announcers: Michael Cole Top 10 Moments from Last Week <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/04\/03\/wwe-smackdown-primer-4-3-spoiler-free-continued-audience-free-show-final-hype-for-wrestlemania-miztv-hosts-smackdown-tag-team-championship-ladder-match-participants-cena-to-answer-brays\/\" title=\"WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 4\/3 (Spoiler-Free): Continued Audience-Free Show, Final Hype for WrestleMania, MizTV Hosts Smackdown Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Participants, Cena to Answer Bray\u2019s Challenge\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":95560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,52,4403,27,5893,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-95552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prowrestlingnews","category-opnionandanalysis","category-smackdown-primer","category-specialists","category-tvprimers","category-news_wwe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-03-at-2.54.08-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95552"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95561,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95552\/revisions\/95561"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}