WWE confirms Vince McMahon will kick off tonight's SmackDown

WWE have confirmed that Vince McMahon will kick off Friday Night SmackDown live tonight from the WWE ThunderDome!

Tonight's SmackDown is the first episode of WWE programming since before WrestleMania to emanate from outside the WWE Performance Center. The company has moved all production for RAW, SmackDown, and upcoming pay-per-views to the Amway Center for a two-month residency.

BREAKING: @VinceMcMahon will kick off Friday Night #SmackDown LIVE TONIGHT from the #WWEThunderDome at 8/7c on @FOXTV!

— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2020

Vince McMahon to officially open the WWE ThunderDome

The ThunderDome sees fans being allowed back into WWE events, but with one difference - they'll do so virtually!

Fans will appear on screens, where thousands of screens will be tiered to mirror the pre-COVID-19 situation without actually having them in the building. The shows will feature drones, pyrotechnics, lasers, video boards, and cutting-edge graphics to provide a different level of production than was previously possible at the Performance Center.

WWE have today confirmed the WWE ThunderDome - which will debut on this week’s #SmackDown at the Amway Center.The new set includes video boards, pyro, lasers, drone cameras and, of course, virtual fans.Fans can register for their virtual seat via https://t.co/0hvlOjQ0fD pic.twitter.com/lKFOjmROc3

— Gary Cassidy (@WrestlingGary) August 17, 2020

WWE SmackDown at the ThunderDome

The announcement of Vince McMahon opening the first show at the ThunderDome tonight adds to an already stacked event which sees AJ Styles defend his Intercontinental Championship against Jeff Hardy.

Lucha House Party will also be in action and are slated take on SmackDown Tag Team Champions Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro.

We will also see Big E taking on Sheamus, while Braun Strowman is also confirmed to appear on the final show before SummerSlam.

Vince McMahon is kicking off #SmackDown tonight.Who else can't wait to hear him say, "ThunderDome"?

— Gary Cassidy (@WrestlingGary) August 21, 2020

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Viewers in the USA can watch tonight's episode of SmackDown live on FOX at 8 PM PT.

Viewers in the UK can watch SmackDown live on BT Sport from 1 AM.

Viewers in India can watch SmackDown live on Sony Ten 1 at 5:30 AM.