With the creative change from King and Queen of the Ring to Night of Champions, there has been no official word as to whether WWE will go still go forward with the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. We are told that decision has not yet been made but one source felt it was less likely and perhaps the tournaments would instead be plugged into a post-Draft creative. But, nothing is set in stone as of this writing. Xavier Woods and Zelina Vega won the tournaments last year, although their King and Queen status has been downplayed since.
The Night of Champions name being resurrected was simply a creative decision with the idea that it would mean something internationally in Saudi Arabia.
CHARLOTTE FLAIR
Although she was originally advertised for this weekend's live events prior to Wrestlemania 39, Flair is no longer scheduled after informing the company she was taking time off. Flair and her husband Andrade have been in Hawaii of late.
In asking around, we are told she is not backstage in Lincoln, Nebraska, so, she won't be back for tonight's Friday Night Smackdown.
DREW MCINTYRE
WWE's Drew McIntyre is also, once again, not at tonight's Smackdown taping, the second week in a row he is not at WWE TV. What is very interesting about that is that McIntyre actually did a lot of interviews this past week to promote the show locally in Nebraska, so one would think that would mean he was scheduled, at that point, to take part in the taping.
McIntyre last wrestled at Wrestlemania 39 against GUNTHER and Sheamus and was last seen hugging Sheamus after the match. As we broke Wrestlemania weekend, McIntyre and WWE are far off on a new potential deal as he is in the last year of his current agreement. More as we confirm.
EARLY SMACKDOWN NOTES
Matt Riddle is at Smackdown and is expected to wrestle tonight.
The show will begin building a Wrestlemania rematch between The Usos and Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville will be presented as the first challenger for Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan.
Shinsuke Nakamura will wrestle as part of his return.