Shane McMahon is in the back and he has a message for the Smackdown roster. He mentions Raw and the wrestlers start to grumble. He says the McMahon family ushered in a new era. An era of change for Raw and Smackdown. There will be a lot of new faces, matchups, and opportunities. They owe it to ourselves and the fans. Shane says this starts tonight and he wants people to grab the brass ring and pull it down.
Shane brings out Paige to thank her for what she has done. Shane thanks Paige for her contribution. She is not leaving, but her role is going to change. Everyone is happy for Paige, except for Andrade Almas.
In the Arena:
We go to the ring and out comes Becky Lynch to a pop. We see stills from her loss in the TLC Triple Threat main event on Sunday.
Fans chant Becky’s name. She says she doesn’t really care who is running the show because The Man is in charge. She says she doesn’t do backstage meetings while the others are backstage listening to corporate talk. Becky says she’s out here with the people because that’s where the real business happens. Becky says all they can do for her is give her the RAW Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey. Becky goes on about Rousey and says she cost her the title at TLC and wouldn’t even fight her. Becky says she’s worked too hard for too long to let some Roddy Piper cosplayer take it from her. The music interrupts and out comes Charlotte Flair.
Flair tells Becky to get behind her because Rousey cost her a shot at TLC. Becky calls Flair a cosplayer and says her days of standing behind Flair are over. Flair says the days of Becky looking up to her are then, now and forever. Flair says she would have become an eight-time champion if it weren’t for Rousey at TLC. They have words until the music hits and out comes new SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka to interrupt. Asuka says to forget about Rousey because she is the champion now. Flair and Lynch say Asuka should be thanking Rousey, calling her a paper champion. They go on until the music interrupts and out comes WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
Vince wishes everyone a Happy Holidays and then congratulates Asuka. Vince says this conduct is unbecoming of Becky. He asks about her being angry and making excuses, talking about someone owes her something. Vince says the same goes for Flair. Vince says they competed in a TLC match where anything goes, and that what’s happened with Rousey, who said she would write the next chapter in their careers. Vince tells them to get over it and if they have a problem, take it up with Rousey. Vince asks Asuka if she would like to defend her title tonight. Fans pop. Vince asks if anyone is ready for Asuka. Fans pop again. Vince says let’s find out who will take on Asuka tonight. The music hits and out comes Naomi. She comes sliding in past Vince and he gives her a nod.
Naomi says Flair has had her opportunities, and Becky was The Man but she no longer has the title. Naomi says she wants the title. Naomi nods at Vince and he asks her to show him that look again. Vince says the match is on. Naomi’s music hits as Asuka, Flair and Lynch look on from the ring. Naomi enters the ring and runs around as we go to commercial.
Naomi vs. Asuka for the Smackdown Women’s Championship
They lock up and we see Charlotte and Becky politely watching from ringside. Asuka with a wrist lock and Naomi with a reversal. Asuka with forearms and an arm drag into an arm bar. Naomi with a head scissors and Asuka escapes. Asuka with a head scissors and Naomi escapes. Asuka with a waist lock and Naomi lands on her feet on a suplex attempt. Asuka and Naomi go for drop kicks at the same time and go to a stalemate. They go for a test of strength and Naomi with a wrist lock. Asuka with a kick and Naomi with a waist lock and snap mare.
Naomi with a kick to the back. Asuka blocks a kick and applies an ankle lock. Naomi with a full nelson bomb for a near fall. Naomi with a body scissors and Asuka leans back for a near fall. Naomi with a rollup for a near fall. Asuka with an arm bar. Asuka with an Irish whip and Naomi tries to float over and Asuka with a kick to the midsection. Asuka kicks Naomi in the back against the ropes. Naomi with a back elbow and Naomi goes to the turnbuckles and Asuka with an octopus in the ropes. Asuka has words for Becky and Charlotte and that allows Naomi to recover and hit a side Russian leg sweep from the ropes and both women are down.
Asuka goes to the floor and Naomi with a pescado onto Asuka. They return to the ring and Naomi gets a near fall. Naomi sends Asuka into the turnbuckles and kicks Asuka. Naomi chokes Asuka in the corner. Asuka with forearms and kicks. Naomi drives the knee into the mat. Naomi with a sliding clothesline and applies a reverse chin lock. Asuka with punches but Naomi pushes Asuka and connects with speedball kicks. Both women with kicks and they both go down. Both women get to the ropes to get back to their feet to beat the count. Asuka misses a hip attack and gets caught in the ropes. Naomi with a drop kick that sends Asuka to the floor.
Naomi has a baseball slide blocked and Asuka pulls Naomi to the floor. Asuka sends Naomi back into the ring and Asuka goes up top and hits a missile drop kick to the back and Naomi goes to the floor. Asuka follows Naomi to the floor and kicks Naomi. Asuka tries to send Naomi into the ringside barrier but Naomi with a round kick off the ringside barrier. They both get back into the ring at nine. Naomi and Asuka with forearms as they go back and forth. Naomi with the advantage but Asuka with the pop up knee to the head. Naomi with a round kick to the temple as Asuka charges into the corner. Naomi with a double jump split legged moonsault but Asuka gets her knees up and then she applies the Asuka Lock. Naomi leans back off the turnbuckles and gets a near fall with a rollup.
Asuka holds on to the Asuka Lock and Naomi escapes. Asuka rolls Naomi up and Naomi with a Victory Roll for a near fall. Naomi with Rear View for a near fall. Naomi goes to the apron and goes for a springboard move but Asuka counters with a Codebreaker for a near fall. Asuka with an Asuka Lock and Naomi taps out.
Winner: Asuka
After the match, Asuka takes the title as her music hits. She raises the title in the air while facing Lynch and Flair. They stand up from their chairs and stare Asuka down, Becky talks trash. Naomi approaches Asuka to congratulate her as the camera cuts backstage.
Backstage:
The Miz is knocking on Vince McMahon’s door. Vince comes out and asks what he can do for him. Miz asks if Shane McMahon is around. Vince says Shane can’t come out to play. Miz says Vince and everyone else knows how reliable Miz is and how he’s always there when the company needs him. Miz says if he and Shane teamed together they could be something special, the best tag team in the world. Vince asks Miz what he wants Vince to do about it. Miz says he is a worthy partner for Vince’s son. Miz just wants Vince’s blessing. Vince says he’s never given a blessing in his life and he doesn’t believe in them. Vince says he doesn’t do that but Vince will come up with a team and Miz can find a partner to see how good he is. They will do this now as Vince say things move fast around here. Miz rants about how he won’t let Vince down and Vince slams the office door in his face.
– Still to come, AJ Styles and Mustafa Ali vs. Daniel Bryan and Andrade “Cien” Almas. Also, Samoa Joe issues an apology to Jeff Hardy. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Rusev and Lana are in the interview area. Rusev is asked about his victory over Shinsuke Nakamura in last week’s tag match. Rusev says he hopes the McMahons are watching. He is a man of action and he told Nakamura he had to be afraid of him. Rusev says he is handsome and a hunk. He has amazing biceps. Rusev talks about his beard and how you can make thousands of dollars to make clothes for babies. Nakamura looks like Sonic the Hedgehog. When Rusev gets his hands on Nakamura, he will win the title on the greatest day… Rusev Day.
In the Arena:
Jeff Hardy’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring. Jeff says he heard Samoa Joe wanted to apologize to him. Some of the things that Joe said were true. He was weak and he made mistakes, but that was then and this is now. Jeff appreciates the fact that every day he wakes up and he is alive, well, and here. Jeff says he wants to hear this apology face to face.
Samoa Joe comes out and he tells Jeff Hardy he is sorry. He says he is sorry because this is no apology. Joe says he has been forced to deceive Jeff. This is an intervention. Joe tells Jeff to look at him. Joe says he has known Jeff for a while and everyone is worried. It is the holidays and with Jeff’s fragile nature, his demons will get to him.
Jeff says the more than Joe reminds him, the more he will not go back. Jeff says he sees through Joe. You attack people’s weaknesses to cover up for your own insecurities Joe. What haunts you? Is it that you have been here for two years and you haven’t won a championship?
Hardy blocks a punch and kicks Joe and hits a Twist of Fate! Jeff exits the ring and backs up the ramp as his music hits. Joe recovers in the ring and stares Hardy down.
– Still to come, Mustafa Ali teams with AJ Styles. Back to commercial.
The Miz and Mandy Rose vs. R-Truth and Carmella
Back from the break and out comes The Miz. Greg Hamilton announces that this will be a mixed tag team match. Out next comes Mandy Rose, the partner that was chosen by Vince McMahon. Out next comes R-Truth and Carmella, winners of the Mixed Match Challenge season two.
Truth brags on the MMC win and how they won the #30 spots in the Royal Rumble matches. Truth mentions their vacation to WWE HQ in Stamford, CT and Carmella still isn’t thrilled. Truth says they are looking forward to this match with Miz and Maryse, confusing Mandy with The Miz’s wife. The bell rings and Mandy starts off with Carmella.
Rose takes Carmella down first. Carmella avoids a clothesline but comes back and takes Rose down with a scissors. Miz and Truth end up tagging in next. Truth rolls Miz up for a 2 count. Truth clotheslines Miz over the top rope to the floor. Carmella comes back into the ring for a dance break. They stop and celebrate. Rose tries to attack Carmella from behind but Carmella drops her with a kick. Miz runs in with a Skull Crushing Finale to Truth from behind. Miz covers for the pin to win.
Winners: The Miz and Mandy Rose
After the match, Miz celebrates as his music hits. He goes to the floor to join Rose.
– We get a look back at last week’s match between Mustafa Ali and WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. Still to come, Bryan and Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Ali and AJ Styles. We go back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get the “coming soon” vignette for WWE NXT Superstars Lars Sullivan, Lacey Evans, EC3, Nikki Cross and Heavy Machinery’s Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic.
In the Arena:
We go to the ring and out comes The Usos – Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso.
The Usos say despite changes around here, one thing remains the same – The Usos run this show. They talk about not getting pinned at WWE TLC in the Triple Threat. They call out SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar but the music interrupts and out comes Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson instead.
Gallows and Anderson speak from the stage. Anderson talks about how it’s been nothing but The Usos, The New Day and The Bar every week. He gives them some props for having good matches but says they had a friggin’ rap battle last week. He says The Good Brothers haven’t been on SmackDown since August. Gallows says that’s 4 months since one of the best tag teams of the past decade has been on the sidelines but no more, it’s time they clean house. Gallows says it’s time to get paid and they head to the ring but stop as Uso takes the mic and says they’re not why Gallows and Anderson have fallen through the cracks. The Usos say you get stepped on if you don’t step up around here. The Usos go on as Gallows and Anderson continue walking to the ring. The Usos welcome them to The Uso Penitentiary. The two teams face off in the middle of the ring as Hamilton announces that the McMahon Family has confirmed this match. The referee gets ready to go as we return to commercial.
The Usos vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
The match is joined in progress and Anderson with a side head lock on Jimmy. We see Jimmy getting knocked to the floor during the commercial break. Anderson with an Irish whip and a European uppercut into the corner. Gallows tags in and he kicks Jimmy in the temple and gets a near fall. Gallows with elbows and a reverse chin lock. Gallows with a knee to the midsection and then he misses a boot into the corner and both men are down. Jey and Anderson tag in and Jey with clotheslines and a thrust kick.
Jey with an uppercut and Samoan drop. Jey misses a running hip strike into the corner. Anderson with a kick in the corner followed by a neck breaker for a near fall. Gallows tags in and he gets Jey on his shoulders but Jimmy pulls Anderson to the floor. Gallows with a sit out choke slam for a near fall. Gallows misses a splash into the corner. Jimmy tags in and Jey tags in as well. Gallows catches Jimmy off the turnbuckles. Gallows is clotheslined over the top rope to the floor but Anderson makes the tag. Jey goes for a plancha but Anderson with a boot to the head and Jey gets caught in the ropes.
Anderson holds his knee while all four men are down on the floor. Anderson sends Jey back into the ring and he goes up top. Anderson with a neck breaker off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Jey is also favoring the leg that was caught in the ropes. Jey goes for a Samoan drop and Anderson escapes. Gallows makes the tag as Jey gets an O’Connor Roll. Gallows with a thrust kick for a near fall. Gallows goes for a Doctor Bomb but Jey lands on his feet. Jimmy tags in and Jey with a thrust kick and Jimmy with a cross body for a near fall. Jimmy goes up tpo and Gallows with an uppercut.
Anderson tags in and he goes to the turnbuckles for a superplex but Jimmy pushes Anderson off. Jimmy jumps over Anderson and hits a super kick on Gallows on the apron and then Anderson. JImmy goes up top and the music for the Bar plays.
Jimmy with a splash and Sanity breaks up the cover.
Winners by DQ: The Usos
After the bell, SAnitY continues attacking. Dain takes out Jey on the floor. Dain and Wolfe with a double team move to Jimmy in the ring as The Bar watches from the ramp. SAnitY walks past The Bar and they all trade looks but that’s it. The Bar rushes the ring now and stomps on Jimmy. They launch Anderson into the ring post in the corner. They go to the floor and send Gallows into the barrier, then Jey. Sheamus and Cesaro take the titles and raise them at the bottom of the ramp as SAnitY watches them.
– We go backstage to WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura in a pre-recorded video. Nakamura jokes that he’s supposed to be scared of this – he shows us footage of Rusev on Total Divas with Lana. Nakamura says Rusev is no United States Title contender, he’s nothing special but he is a Total Diva.
– We see Mustafa Ali and AJ Styles backstage talking. We go to commercial.
– We are back and it is a Christmas miracle because Shane McMahon will be on MizTV next week. Rusev will get his chance next week against Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship. Jeff Hardy will face Samoa Joe next week.
– The New Day remind everyone to watch the New Day special Wednesday night on USA Network.
In the Arena:
Daniel Bryan has something to say before our main event.
Daniel says he killed the Yes Movement and on Sunday he destroyed the House that AJ Styles built. Daniel says he is not about destruction, he is about creation. Creation of something better. He is here to create a brave new world. Daniel says you won’t like it because you fear change. All of you continue to lead these lives of vacuous consumption even if you are destroying the very planet that give you life.
The people of Fresno, California are the guiltiest of all. These people are proud of themselves. They probably do not know the facts but Fresno is number one in pollution in the state of California. Daniel shames everyone for that behavior. Daniel says Isaac Asimov once wrote that self education is the best type of education. That might work for him and Isaac, but you would not know wisdom if it was pumped with GMOs and handed to you through a drive through window. Do not try self education because it will fail. You have failed already.
Daniel Bryan and Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Mustafa Ali and AJ Styles
Andrade “Cien” Almas joins Daniel Bryan in the ring. Out first comes AJ Styles for his team. Mustafa Ali is out next. Ali joins Styles on the ramp and they head to the ring together as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Almas goes at it with AJ. Almas with offense in the corner. AJ catches a kick and they trade counters but Almas levels AJ with a huge elbow. Almas with a pin attempt. Almas with a knee in the gut and a right hand to drop AJ. AJ turns it around long enough to get the tag to Ali. Ali comes in and takes control of Almas. Bryan comes in and keeps Ali grounded. Bryan works on the arm and tags Almas back in. Almas drops Ali with a big chop to the chest and tags Bryan back in.
Bryan whips Ali into the corner but Ali kicks him in the head. Ali catches Bryan with a Facebuster. Bryan rolls to the floor for a breather. Ali charges to fly out but Almas and Vegas block him by posing on the ropes. Ali kicks Almas to the floor. Ali runs and leaps out, taking Bryan and Almas down on the outside as Vega screams. Ali returns to the ring to stand tall with AJ as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Almas remains in control of Ali. Almas comes off the top for another close 2 count as Vega cheers him on. Almas continues to focus on Ali’s leg now. Almas drops Ali again for another close pin attempt. Bryan comes in and kicks Ali around while talking some trash. Ali avoids a shot and starts to fight back now. Bryan comes right back and levels him. Bryan with a surfboard submission in the middle of the ring now. Bryan turns that into the Dragon Sleeper but Ali makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold. Ali looks to keep the offense going as Almas comes back in but Almas drops him face-first from up high. Almas with another nonchalant cover as AJ looks on.
Ali looks to mount offense again but Almas nails a big clothesline. Ali finally drops Almas with knees and gets an opening. AJ and Bryan tag in at the same time as fans pop. AJ unloads on Bryan. More back and forth now. AJ catches Bryan in a neckbreaker for a 2 count. AJ gets sent to the apron. He springboards in but Bryan moves. AJ goes on and rolls Bryan into the Calf Crusher. Bryan looks to turn it around but AJ tightens the hold and re-adjusts. Almas runs in and breaks the Calf Crusher by beating on AJ.
Almas goes for the Hammerlock DDT on AJ but AJ dumps him over the top rope to the floor. Ali runs and jumps off the steel ring steps but slips, still managing to take Almas down on the floor. Bryan charges AJ in the ring but lands hard as AJ side-steps. Bryan avoids a Styles Clash. Bryan with kicks to drop AJ again. Bryan runs into a kick in the corner. AJ hits the moonsault into the reverse DDT. Ali tags in and manages to hit a DDT on Bryan. Ali goes to the top but Almas runs up from behind. Ali kicks Almas to the mat. Styles springboards in and hits the Phenomenal Forearm on Almas to take him out. Ali leaps from the top and hits the 054 on Bryan for the pin to win.
Winners: Mustafa Ali and AJ Styles
After the match, Ali celebrates with Bryan as Ali’s music hits. We go to replays. SmackDown goes off the air with Styles and Ali celebrating as the losers recover on the floor.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
LATEST NEWS var numposts = 5;var showpostthumbnails = true;var displaymore = false;var displayseparator = true;var showcommentnum = false;var showpostdate = false;var showpostsummary = true;var numchars = 100;
