WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura challenge The Usos for tag team gold

Riddle and Nakamura have formed an unexpected alliance against Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso

Fate appears to have brought Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura together in their pursuit of tag team gold and vengeance against The Usos. Riddle and Nakamura, with their respective tag team partners injured, took the fight to Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso on Friday's episode of WWE SmackDown.

The Usos made good on their promise to unify the tag team championships, joining Roman Reigns as undisputed champions and solidifying The Bloodline as one of the most successful factions in WWE history. Striking specialists Riddle and Nakamura have failed in their respective campaigns against The Usos but perhaps they can make magic together.

The substory of Zayn's desperation for a partnership with The Bloodline took an interesting turn courtesy of Kevin Owens. SmackDown women's champion Ronda Rousey and intercontinental champion Ricochet were also in action on Friday night.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Riddle and Nakamura find a common enemy in The Usos

SmackDown opened with a recap from last week's show demonstrating The Usos' victory over RK-Bro to be crowned undisputed tag team champions. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso subsequently entered the ring, sharing an emotional story about the 12-year anniversary of their WWE journey. The twins told the crowd that they did not need any fan support to accomplish what they have as undisputed champions. Nakamura interrupted the duo, stating that he and his partner were challenging The Usos to a tag team title match. The Usos mocked Nakamura's injured ally Rick Boogs. Riddle, whose teammate Randy Orton is suffering from a back injury, emerged as Nakamura's mystery partner. Nakamura and Riddle put a whooping on The Usos before the champions found room to flee.

Later in the evening, Kevin Owens hosted an installment of "The KO Show" with guest Sami Zayn. Owens compelled Zayn to see the truth about his alliance with The Bloodline. Mainly that Reigns, The Usos and Paul Heyman could not care less about Zayn. Owens invited his best friend to move to Raw with him. Zayn refused to believe Owens and shoved his good friend to the floor. Owens took his anger out on WWE crew members trying to take down "The KO Show" set, planting them with stunners.

Zayn subsequently approached The Usos and expressed his concerns. Jey appeared dismissive; however, Jimmy assured Zayn that he was an honorary member of The Bloodline and that the tag team champions had his back.

New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Drew McIntyre def. Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Butch via pinfall. Mcintyre emerged as the New Day's mystery tag team partner. The heroes were in control for the early portion of the match. Kingston and Woods even invited McIntyre to fill in for Big E during the group's trademark train of corner stomps. The Brawling Brutes eventually isolated Kingston from his corner. Sheamus, Holland and Butch exchanged quick tags to keep the pressure on their target. Kingston eventually broke free and tagged in McIntyre. The Scotsman ran through his opponents and laid out Holland with a Claymore kick. Mcintyre tagged in Woods who climbed the ropes and delivered a Limit Breaker for the victory.

The interplay between Zayn and The Bloodline continues to be one of the better presentations on WWE programming. Hopefully, Owens can play a greater role in that. The WWE Universe feels much more alive when its citizens aren't trapped in their own little worlds as if invisible borders separate all storylines. Pairing up Riddle and Nakamura makes a lot of sense. Both their partners were legitimately injured whilst feuding with The Usos and their MMA backgrounds may produce some interesting tandem offense. Reigns was again absent this week and his irregular schedule takes levity away from SmackDown. The main event match was all well and good but the feud between New Day and the Brawling Brutes is far from WWE's most compelling rivalry. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Shotzi tried to rally the women's division (Xia Li, Aliyah, Natalya and Shayna Bazler) against Raquel Rodriguez. Aliyah locked Shotzi in the locker room once everyone else left.
• Ronda Rousey vs. Raquel Rodriguez ended in a no-contest after Natalya and Shayna Bazler attacked them leading to an impromptu tag tag team match where...
• ...Rousey and Rodriguez defeated Natalya and Bazler via pinfall after Rodriguez planted Bazler with a one-armed powerbomb.
• WWE informed fans that Madcap Moss will return next week following the vicious attack he suffered from ex-cohort Happy Corbin.
• Los Lotharios (Humberto and Angel) def. Jinder Mahal and Shanky via pinfall. Mahal was distracted by Shanky's dance moves leading to the match's end. Shanky ignored Mahal's complaints and instead danced for SmackDown ring announcer Samantha Irvin.
• Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser def. Ricochet and Drew Gulak via pinfall after Kaiser struck Gulak with a penalty kick. Gunther and Kaiser attacked Ricochet and Gulak post-match.
• WWE aired a video package honoring U.S. veterans ahead of Memorial Day