WWE SmackDown Adds John Cena And Tiffany Stratton For Tonight’s Show

John Cena's Classic recruitment and Tiffany Stratton's championship return feature on SmackDown.© NDTV Library

John Cena and Tiffany Stratton are now set for Friday's SmackDown in Fort Lauderdale, which gives the November 13 show two confirmed appearances. Cena will be inviting more wrestlers to the first John Cena Classic, happening December 14 at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Stratton shows up as the new WWE Women's Champion after she cashed in her Money in the Bank contract at Crown Jewel. WWE's updated preview lists both segments, but no match is attached to either one in the announced lineup. The show airs on USA Network at 8 p.m. ET.

John Cena Heads to SmackDown to Recruit More Names for the December John Cena Classic

Cena's segment is about the December event, not a match on Friday's card. WWE says he'll use the appearance to invite Superstars to the Classic, which is scheduled for a special edition of Raw at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

It's part of Cena's final run with WWE, but the SmackDown preview doesn't say which wrestlers he plans to approach.

He's already stopped by Raw and NXT to recruit participants. So Friday gives the blue brand a spot in the build-up, with the Classic now less than a month away. WWE hasn't announced the full field for the event in its preview.

Also, the show takes place at Amerant Bank Arena in Fort Lauderdale. The venue lists a 7:30 p.m. local start, while WWE's broadcast listing gives the USA Network start as 8 p.m. ET.

Tiffany Stratton Arrives as Champion After Cashing In on Chelsea Green at Crown Jewel

Stratton's appearance follows a Crown Jewel title sequence that got a bit wild. Chelsea Green first defeated Liv Morgan to win the Women's Crown Jewel Championship, and then Stratton came out with her Money in the Bank contract and cashed in on Green to take the WWE Women's Championship.

WWE's preview described Stratton as returning after “successfully cashing in her Money in the Bank contract for the second year in a row.”

The cash-in also ended her alliance with Green, who had just won the Crown Jewel title. Stratton is set to appear on SmackDown with the WWE Women's Championship.

Bayley is another name to watch, though WWE hasn't confirmed her for the show.

She withdrew from a scheduled NXT appearance on Friday and posted an Instagram story featuring the SmackDown logo, which led to speculation that she could be in Fort Lauderdale. Her name isn't among the two confirmed segments in WWE's preview.