WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: John Cena accepts challenge, major WrestleMania 36 change confirmed

WWE finished the build to WrestleMania with Cena delivering a message to The Fiend, only to receive one in return

WWE closed out the build to WrestleMania with the go-home edition of SmackDown on Friday night, again airing from the empty WWE Performance Center. In the show's defining moment, and one fans will long remember for better or worse, John Cena accepted Bray Wyatt's WrestleMania challenge for a Firefly Fun House match -- only to see Wyatt and alter-ego The Fiend show up at the same place at the same time. It was an entertaining, if slightly cheesy, way to end the build to the biggest show of the year.

Much like recent weeks of SmackDown and Raw, WrestleMania 36 will take place from the Performance Center with no fans in attendance. But for the first time in the event's history, it will air over two nights on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5. Cena and Wyatt are one of the featured attractions for the show, taking part in the mysterious Firefly Fun House clash. Cena, closing out the show, delivered a roaring promo toward Wyatt, promising to not panic due to the uncertainty Wyatt thrives on. Cena, however, was left visibly disturbed when Wyatt showed up behind him at the same time The Fiend was visible on a camera platform in the building.

In the other bit of big news from the show, WWE finally confirmed that Braun Strowman would step in for Roman Reigns to challenge Goldberg for the universal championship at WrestleMania this weekend. Fans who tuned in were also treated to the first ever televised one-on-one match between legends Daniel Bryan and Shinsuke Nakamura as Bryan would pay a heavy price ahead of his shot at Sami Zayn's intercontinental title at WrestleMania.

Let's take a look back at everything that went down on the final show before WrestleMania 36.

The New Day and The Usos were guests on "Miz TV." Before The Miz and John Morrison came out to host the segment, New Day and The Usos got into an argument and were ready to clear the ring and throw down. Miz and Morrison cut a promo on both teams, pointing out the unfair situation with having to defend their titles against five teams at Elimination Chamber and now in a ladder match against two teams at WrestleMania. The Usos and New Day had enough and attacked the champs before turning on each other, allowing Miz and Morrison to clean house and pose atop the ladders on the stage. Grade: B-

Tamina def. Naomi and Lacey Evans via pinfall after hitting Naomi with a superkick. Sasha Banks and Bayley were on commentary, putting all five women in the WrestleMania women's championship match in the ring area. Banks interfered to take Evans out and Bayley later interfered to attack Naomi. Naomi stumbled backward into a Tamina superkick, giving Tamina the win. Bayley entered the ring after Tamina's victory, offering to shake the winner's hand and saying, "the division needs competitors like you." Tamina accepted the handshake before taking Bayley out with a superkick. Banks then ate a Samoan Drop from Tamina, leaving the biggest threat in the WrestleMania fatal five-way standing tall. Grade: C+

WWE confirmed Goldberg would defend his title against Braun Strowman with Roman Reigns out of the universal championship match at WrestleMania. No larger context was given to the announcement.

Tucker def. Dolph Ziggler via disqualification. Ziggler dominated the majority of the match after Otis received a text message and ran off before the bout. Tucker made a comeback and set up the ring steps only to have Ziggler turn the tide to hit a Zig Zag on the steps for the disqualification. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville stopped Ziggler from attacking any further before Otis ran to ringside. At that point, a hidden figure -- the one behind the "technical glitches" that have interrupted recent shows -- cut onto the screen and showed security footage of Deville sending the text that led Otis to be late for his Valentine's Day date with Rose, setting off a chain of events that led Rose to hook up with Ziggler, who was shown agreeing to the plan laid out by Deville. Ziggler escaped from Otis to close a segment that went a bit all over the place while bringing back memories of the old GTV angle. Grade: B-

Daniel Bryan def. Shinsuke Nakamura via disqualification after interference by Cesaro. This was the first televised singles match between these two legendary wrestlers and something Bryan has talked about wanting for years. The two were given plenty of time to tell a compelling story through a TV match with Nakamura trying to soften up his opponent ahead of Bryan's shot at Sami Zayn's intercontinental title at WrestleMania. The match was heavy on big strikes and submission attempts until Bryan transitioned from armbar to triangle choke to Yes Lock attempt, drawing Cesaro in to attack Bryan for the disqualification. Cesaro took out Drew Gulak and Bryan before Zayn and Nakamura jumped in on the beating. Cesaro hit Bryan with the Gotch Neutralizer and Nakamura followed with a Kinshasa. Zayn finished things off with a Helluva Kick to Bryan. Grade: B+

John Cena cut an in-ring promo addressing Bray Wyatt's challenge to a Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania. Cena said he has not been told a single thing about what a Firefly Fun House match is, and that Wyatt is planning to thrive on the panic that uncertainty will cause. "I will not panic, I sure as hell am not afraid and I will squash Bray Wyatt and finish what I started six years ago," Cena said before delivering a gut punch of a line: "Bray Wyatt is not even on the level below me." Cena brought a healthy amount of fire to the promo before finally accepting the Firefly Fun House match challenge. The Fun House puppets surrounded the ring before the building's lights cut out, turning back on to reveal The Fiend on one of the camera platforms. Wyatt then showed up behind Cena saying, "let me in" before disappearing to end the show. Grade: B

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:58 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

John Cena cut an in-ring promo addressing Bray Wyatt's challenge to a Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania. Cena said he has not been told a single thing about what a Firefly Fun House match is, and that Wyatt is planning to thrive on the panic that uncertainty will cause. "I will not panic, I sure as hell am not afraid and I will squash Bray Wyatt and finish what I started six years ago," Cena said before delivering a gut punch of a line: "Bray Wyatt is not even on the level below me." Cena brought a healthy amount of fire to the promo before finally accepting the Firefly Fun House match challenge. The Fun House puppets surrounded the ring before the building's lights cut out, turning back on to reveal The Fiend on one of the camera platforms. Wyatt then showed up behind Cena saying, "let me in" before disappearing to end the show. Grade: B

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:51 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

John Cena up next to close the show and address Bray Wyatt's challenge to a Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania.

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:47 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Daniel Bryan def. Shinsuke Nakamura via disqualification after interference by Cesaro. This was the first televised singles match between these two legendary wrestlers and something Bryan has talked about wanting for years. The two were given plenty of time to tell a compelling story through a TV match with Nakamura trying to soften up his opponent ahead of Bryan's shot at Sami Zayn's intercontinental title at WrestleMania. The match was heavy on big strikes and submission attempts until Bryan transitioned from armbar to triangle choke to Yes Lock attempt, drawing Cesaro in to attack Bryan for the disqualification. Cesaro took out Drew Gulak and Bryan before Zayn and Nakamura jumped in on the beating. Cesaro hit Bryan with the Gotch Neutralizer and Nakamura followed with a Kinshasa. Zayn finished things off with a Helluva Kick to Bryan. Grade: B+

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:33 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

This is the first ever televised singles match between Bryan and Nakamura. They have met in several tag matches and once in a dark match.

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:28 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Daniel Bryan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura is up next.

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:26 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Tucker def. Dolph Ziggler via disqualification. Ziggler dominated the majority of the match after Otis received a text message and ran off before the bout. Tucker made a comeback and set up the ring steps only to have Ziggler turn the tide to hit a Zig Zag on the steps for the disqualification. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville stopped Ziggler from attacking any further before Otis ran to ringside. At that point, a hidden figure -- the one behind the "technical glitches" that have interrupted recent shows -- cut onto the screen and showed security footage of Deville sending the text that led Otis to be late for his Valentine's Day date with Rose, setting off a chain of events that led Rose to hook up with Ziggler, who was shown agreeing to the plan laid out by Deville. Ziggler escaped from Otis to close a segment that went a bit all over the place while bringing back memories of the old GTV angle. Grade: B-

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:10 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Dolph Ziggler vs. Tucker is up next. Tucker getting a go at Ziggler before Otis gets him at WrestleMania

[Apr 3, 2020 at 9:03 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

WWE confirmed Goldberg would defend his title against Braun Strowman with Roman Reigns out of the universal championship match at WrestleMania. No larger context was given to the announcement.