– Tonight’s Christmas edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX opens almost 10 minutes late due to NFL coverage running a bit long. The NFL post-show featured separate backstage shots of WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair preparing for the show. We’re live on tape delay from the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL as Michael Cole welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by Corey Graves. The Steel Cage is already down around the ring.
Steel Cage Match for the WWE Universal Title: Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns
We go right to the cage for tonight’s opener. WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is out first with Paul Heyman. They stop on the stage and the pyro explodes as Reigns raises the title. The arena is decorated for Christmas. Greg Hamilton does the introductions as The Tribal Chief marches to the cage. Reigns stops at ringside and checks the cage out before entering. Reigns raises the title in the cage and more pyro goes off. Out next comes Kevin Owens, who is all business and ready to fight. This is a rematch from Owens’ loss at TLC last Sunday.
Owens walks right in and the referee locks the door. The bell hits and they immediately go at it. Reigns gets the upperhand early on, beating Reigns around and into the corner. Reigns levels Owens with a big boot for a quick 1 count. Reigns launches Owens face-first into the steel wall of the cage, and again. Reigns with a Samoan Drop for a close 2 count.
Owens dodges a Superman Punch and drops Reigns with a DDT. Reigns unloads with right hands and then sends him face-first into the steel. Owens kicks Reigns in the head. Reigns with a big right hand of his own. Owens drops Reigns with a punch and then hits the senton. Owens unloads and beats Reigns down in the corner with kicks and punches. Owens charges in with the corner cannonball for a close 2 count as Heyman looks a bit worried at ringside.
Owens goes for a Pop-Up Powerbomb but Reigns turns it into a big leg drop for 2. Reigns unloads with headbutts and more strikes in the corner. Reigns takes Owens to the top and climbs up. Owens elbows Reigns to the mat. Owens hits the big Frogsplash but Reigns kicks out at 2. We go to commercial with both competitors down on the mat trying to recover.
Back from the break and Reigns nails a big sitdown powerbomb for a close 2 count. Reigns with clotheslines in the corner now, then right hands to the face. Owens falls to the mat. Reigns charges but Owens jumps up and they collide. Reigns keeps swinging as Owens keeps coming. Owens catches Reigns with a Pop-Up Powerbomb out of nowhere but Reigns kicks out just in time.
Reigns rams Owens back into the corner, then rocks him with a right hand. Reigns takes Owens to the top and works him over while climbing up. Owens fights back but Reigns slams his head into the steel. Reigns goes for a superplex but Owens hangs on. Owens counters with a big super Fishermen’s Buster from the top. Reigns still kicks out just in time. Owens waits for Reigns to get up now. Reigns blocks the Stunner and hits the Superman Punch for another close 2 count. Reigns can’t believe it.
Reigns talks to himself and screams at Owens, then launches him into the steel a few times. Reigns unloads with more punishment as fans boo him. Reigns with a Guillotine now, trapping Owens between the cage and the ropes. Owens starts choking Reigns with the top rope. Reigns falls to the mat as fans cheer Owens on. Reigns runs and charges but Owens kicks him. Owens with a big Stunner for a close 2 count. Owens can’t believe it as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Owens is still in it. They fight it out on the top rope now. Owens headbutts Reigns to the mat for a pop. Owens climbs to the top to escape and gets one foot over but Reigns jumps up again. They trade big strikes on the top rope again. Owens ends up knocking Reigns to the mat and going for the senton but the knees go up. Reigns then delivers a big Spear but Owens kicks out at 2. The cage door is opened as Reigns walks over and fans boo.
Owens grabs Reigns’ ankle to stop him from exiting but Reigns talks down at him. Owens uses the cage door and slams it in Reigns’ face while he’s talking trash. Owens then drives Reigns into the steel over and over again. Jey Uso eventually runs down but Owens knocks him over at ringside with the door as well. Owens almost exits the cage door but Reigns stops him.
Owens superkicks Reigns. Reigns blocks the Pop-Up Powerbomb with another Superman Punch. Reigns goes for a Spear but Owens moves and Reigns hits the steel. Owens drops Reigns with a Stunner. Owens looks to exit but Jey handcuffs him to the side of the cage. Owens tries to fight it off but Jey gets the cuffs fastened. Owens is trapped. Owens tries to hang out the door and get his feet on the floor but he can’t reach. Reigns sees that Owens is cuffed to the cage and he starts smiling.
Uso waits at ringside as Reigns stands up and slowly walks past Owens at the door, looking down at him. Reigns exits the door and taunts Owens, laughing at him. Owens kicks at Reigns and talks some trash but he’s still cuffed to the cage. Reigns walks down the steps, taking his time to taunt Owens, and finally steps on the floor to win the match as a “you suck!” chant gets louder from the crowd.
Winner: Roman Reigns
– After the match, Reigns raises the title in the air at ringside as his music hits. Owens is still sitting at the door with his legs hanging out, yelling at Reigns and Usos. We go to replays. Reigns hugs Uso and stares at Owens some more to end the segment.
– Still to come, a Lumberjack Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title. Also, Jey Uso vs. Daniel Bryan in singles action.
– We see the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions walking backstage. Back to commercial.
Triple Threat Elimination Match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles: Bayley and Carmella vs. Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks vs. Asuka and Charlotte Flair
We go back to the ring and out first are the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions – RAW Women’s Champion Asuka is out first as the pyro goes off. Charlotte Flair is out next to more pyro. Flair takes the mic and says Christmas came early as she and Asuka are back on SmackDown. Asuka yells some in Japanese but the music interrupts and out comes Bayley. Bayley says she’s impressive and while 2020 was a downer for everyone else, it wasn’t for her because of how long she held the title… she is quickly interrupted as SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks comes out. Banks points to who’s the current champion but she’s interrupted by the music as Bianca Belair comes out. Belair brags about how good she is and says we have never seen anything like her, and that’s really impressive. The music hits and out comes Carmella with Reginald, her sommelier. Carmella calls the others a bunch of witches… no, bitches. Carmella shows off and brags some more but Sasha shoves her and we go to commercial.
Back from the break and the bell hits as Bayley and Flair face off. They lock up and Flair slams Bayley to the mat. Bayley charges and gets the upperhand. Flair turns it around in the corner and drops Bayley with a big chop. Asuka tags in and kicks Bayley while Flair chops her a few times. Asuka drops Bayley with a kick for a 2 count. Asuka goes on but a right hand drops her. Carmella tags in and takes over. Carmella shows off and taunts Asuka. They go at it and Asuka hits a Hip Attack, and another against the ropes. Asuka runs into a boot in the corner. Carmella uses the ropes for a submission as the referee counts to 5.
Carmella gets kicked. Banks tags herself in and Asuka isn’t happy. Banks with a Thesz Press and punches to Carmella, then a 2 count. Banks sends Carmella into the corner and then hits the running knees. Belair tags in and takes over with shoulder thrusts to Carmella. Belair scoops Carmella but she slides out. Carmella tags in Flair. We see The Riott Squad backstage watching the match as Flair and Belair collide with shoulders in the middle of the ring.
Flair gets the upperhand with a side headlock. Flair flips around and shows off some, mocking Belair. They tangle some more and this time Belair shows off and mocks. Flair misses a boot. They hit a double dropkick and a double kip up before facing off again. Flair gets sent face-first into the second turnbuckle. Flair takes Belair down and they both crawl for tags. Asuka tags in and Bayley tags herself in. Carmella and Bayley pull the champs to the floor and fight. Banks with a Meteora to take Bayley down on the floor. Carmella sends Banks into the barrier. A big brawl with everyone breaks out at ringside. Asuka brings Bayley back in. Asuka decks Carmella on the apron, allowing Bayley to hit a Bayley-to-Belly suplex on Asuka for a 2 count. We go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Bayley has control of Asuka. Asuka with a missile dropkick for a 2 count. Bayley clotheslines Asuka and drags her to their corner. Carmella tag in and stomps away on Asuka. Carmella drops Asuka in the corner and stomps. Carmella with the Bronco Buster for a 2 count. Carmella goes on and hits a suplex for a 2 count. Bayley tags in and stomps away on Asuka in the corner. Carmella tags right back in and keeps the stomps coming. Carmella and Bayley double team Asuka now. Bayley knocks Flair off the apron. They go back to working on Asuka as Flair tries to get in the ring.
Carmella pulls Asuka to the middle of the ring and Asuka fights back but gets slammed to the mat. Bayley tags back in. Carmella drops Flair off the apron. Bayley grounds Asuka now. Asuka fights up and out. Asuka drops Bayley into her knee. Asuka tags in Belair, who runs wild on Bayley with clotheslines and a dropkick for a pop. Belair kips up and taunts Bayley, then hits shoulder thrusts in the corner. Belair drops Bayley with kicks in the corner. Belair with a long vertical suplex but Carmella breaks the pin. Banks and Flair are in now.
Flair catches Banks with a fall-away slam, then kips up. Belair grabs Flair from behind and hits the Glam Slam, then taunts Flair. Bayley rolls Belair from behind for a 2 count. Belair catches Bayley with a Spinebuster for 2. Banks tags in and nails the Frogsplash to Bayley for the pin to eliminate Bayley and Carmella.
Banks kicks Bayley out of the ring. Carmella is also down on the floor. Banks and Flair go at it now. Banks counters with a takedown into the Bank Statement. Banks catches a knee. Flair catches a knee. Flair takes Banks for the Figure Four but Banks counters and rolls her for a 2 count. More back and forth between the two. Flair drops Banks with a big boot, then goes into the Figure Four. Belair reaches for a tag and tosses her hair to Banks. Banks uses the hair to pull herself closer for the tag.
Belair comes in and hits a springboard moonsault to Flair for 2 while she had the submission on Banks. Belair goes to the top but Flair hits a running big boot. Belair hits the mat and may have hurt her leg. Flair gets rolled up for 2. Flair goes for the leg and applies the Figure Fur but Banks breaks it with a Meteora to the face. Asuka tags in and knocks Banks off the apron with a Hip Attack. Banks takes out Reginald at ringside when she falls. Bayley gets on the apron and distracts Belair, allowing Asuka to come from behind and they tangle. Asuka with big kicks to Belair now. Belair catches a kick and delivers a sitdown powerbomb to Asuka for a close 2 count.
Belair has no one to tag now that Banks is down at ringside. Bayley taunts her from ringside. Flair ends up coming in and hitting Natural Selection on Belair for the pin to get the final elimination and retain.
Winners: Charlotte Flair and Asuka
– After the match, Flair and Asuka celebrate with the titles as Banks and the others look on disappointed.1
– The Street Profits are backstage hyping tonight’s matches. We see Sami Zayn yelling at a female staffer about who authorized tonight’s main event change. Sami asks The Profits what’s wrong and what they want. They end up presenting him with a t-shirt that says “I Was Intercontinental Champion.” They go on taunting him about tonight’s main event. Sami yells that they aren’t funny, then storms off.
Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso
We go back to the ring and out comes Daniel Bryan to a pop. Bryan heads to the ring but Jey Uso suddenly attacks from behind on the ramp. Uso unloads and takes Bryan back to the stage, tossing him into a Christmas tree and some wrapped gifts. Referees and WWE Producers run down to pull Uso away but he breaks free and kicks Bryan in the ribs while he’s down. The boos get louder. Uso scoops Bryan and slams him on the ramp. Uso yells at Bryan and hits him again as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Pat Buck is checking on Bryan at ringside with a referee. Bryan crawls into the ring as Uso waits in the corner, ready to attack. The bell hits and they go at it. Uso beats Bryan down and stomps away. Uso sends Bryan out and nails a dive, sending him into the barrier. Uso launches Bryan into the steel ring steps now, then rolls back in to break the count.
Uso goes back out and sends Bryan into the other set of stairs as the referee counts. Uso brings it back in and chops Bryan. Uso takes Bryan to the corner for another big chop. Bryan chops back several times now. Bryan runs the ropes, ducks a clothesline but then gets hit with a Samoan Drop for a close 2 count in the middle of the ring. Uso with more offense now. Uso charges and dives for a splash but Bryan moves and Uso smashes his nose on the mat.
Bryan goes for the running dropkick in the corner but Uso moves and Bryan lands hard. Uso with the running Rikishi splash in the corner now. Uso kicks Bryan with another block. Uso charges but Bryan back-drops him over the top rope to the floor. Uso immediately clutches his ankle. Bryan runs and nails a suicide dive but he hits the announce table as Uso side-steps. Bryan clutches his arm while Uso sells the ankle injury some more. Bryan goes to the top but Uso meets him there. Bryan slides to the mat and drops Uso into the top turnbuckle. Bryan climbs up from behind and deliver elbows. Bryan with a big super back suplex. They crash to the mat and are both down as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Bryan decks Uso in the corner. Bryan with the corner dropkick. Bryan focuses on the hurt left leg of Uso, working on it with kicks. Bryan with a running dropkick into the hurt leg of Uso. Bryan climbs up and hits a Frankensteiner for a close 2 count. Bryan starts to hulk up, delivering Yes Kicks while Uso is on his knees. Bryan nails the roundhouse kick to the head, then hulks up some more as fans cheer him on.
Bryan gets a “yes!” chant going now as he waits for Uso to get up. Bryan charges for the running knee but Uso superkicks him, then superkicks him in the face. Uso goes to the top and hits the big Uso splash but his leg is hurting and he’s slow to make the pin attempt. Bryan kicks out at 2. Uso goes back to the top for another big splash but Bryan gets his knees up. Bryan goes into the LeBell Lock in the middle of the ring. The hold is broken but Bryan goes into the half Crab now. Uso drags himself to the bottom rope and the hold is broken. Uso kicks Bryan away while they’re both down. Uso mounts Bryan with lefts and rights. Bryan rolls him over and does the same. Uso rolls Bryan back over and swings wildly. Uso with a headbutt and Bryan is out as the referee checks on him.
Uso charges with a kick but Bryan ducks and comes right back with the running knee for the pin to win out of nowhere.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
– After the match, Bryan’s music hits as fans cheer him on. Bryan gets the “yes!” chant going and then poses in the corner for the crowd. We go to replays. Bryan continues the celebration.
– We see Big E backstage warming up for the main event. We go to the Happy Holidays video from WWE and then to a commercial.
– Back from the break and Kayla Braxton catches up with Daniel Bryan in the back. Bryan says there’s one thing he’s always wanted to do in his life and that’s win a Royal Rumble. He goes on and declares himself for the 2021 Royal Rumble Match. Sami Zayn walks up and runs his mouth to Bryan. He goes on and says he will retain his title tonight, then he will be at the Royal Rumble to laugh at Bryan for failing. Sami storms off and Bryan says Santa Claus must have forgot to bring Sami a PS5.
– We get a Progressive-sponsored video on the recent feud between Big E and Sami Zayn.
Lumberjack Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title: Big E vs. Sami Zayn
We go back to the ring for tonight’s main event and out first are the lumberjacks – SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Street Profits, Otis, Chad Gable, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, Angel Garza, Kalisto, Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode, Akira Tozawa, Drew Gulak, Apollo Crews, Lince Dorado, King Baron Corbin, Steve Cutler, Wesley Blake, and maybe a few others. Out next comes Big E to a pop. Big E hits the ring and we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and announced for tomorrow’s Talking Smack episode is Big E, Zayn, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and RAW Women’s Champion Asuka, and Daniel Bryan. Kayla Braxton and Paul Heyman will return as hosts. WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn is out next. The bell hits and they look to go at it but Sami stalls some. They lock up and trade holds. Big E back-drops Sami and covers for 2. They run the ropes and Big E levels Sami.
Sami turns it around and stomps away while Big E is down, kicking him to the floor. Roode and Ziggler go to grab Big E but The Knights of The Lone Wolf attack him and roll him back in. Sami immediately goes to work on Big E and talks some trash while he’s down. Big E is sent back out and beat up by the same heels again. Sami goes for a suplex but Big E counters and rolls him for a 2 count. Big E goes for the Stretch Muffler but Sami ends up getting to the rope to break it. Sami goes to the floor but he pleads with lumberjacks. Big E grabs him through the ropes but Sami decks him. Sami fights back in. Big E elbows Sami on the apron and then drops him on the apron with a clothesline. Big E stomps away while Sami is down on the apron.
Big E goes for the splash on the apron but Sami moves and Big E lands hard, falling to the floor. The same heels attack Big E again but this time he fights back, decking Roode and Ziggler. Sami runs the ropes and leaps out, taking Big E down in front of the announcers. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Sami takes off his shirt, yelling at Big E and punching him while he’s on his knees. Sami charges but Big E hits two big belly-to-belly throws. Sami blocks a third toss with elbows to the head. Big E runs into a boot in the corner. Big E dodges the Helluva Kick and nails the Uranage for a close 2 count coming out of the corner.
Sami avoids the Big Ending. Sami leaps to the floor and is chased by lumberjacks. They grab him and stop him from running away, putting him back in. Big E pulls Sami back as he holds on to the apron cover. Sami ends up rolling Big E for 2 after a thumb to the eye. Sami with a kick to the face. Big E sends Sami to the apron and charges but runs into a knee. Sami goes to the top and Big E climbs but Sami fights back. They trade shots up on the top now. Sami unloads and nails the Sunset Bomb for a close 2 count. Sami can’t believe it.
Big E dodges the Helluva Kick again and Sami goes over the top. Big E charges with a Spear and sends Sami to the floor. They both land on the outside. Some of the lumberjacks attack Big E and roll him in. Sami fights off another group. A big brawl breaks out among the Lumberjacks at ringside now. Fans boo as Sami starts running away. Apollo runs up the ramp and tackles him. A group of lumberjacks, including The Street Profits, carry Sami back to the ring as Big E waits, ready to fight.
They toss Sami back in and he yells at them. Sami turns and swings but Big E hits the belly-to-belly suplex, then the running splash in the middle of the ring. Big E then nails the Big Ending for the pin to win the title.
Winner and New WWE Intercontinental Champion: Big E
– After the match, Big E takes the title and starts celebrating as his music hits. Big E goes to the announce table and yells about the prophecy being fulfilled. He has a show of respect with Graves as we go to replays. Big E returns to the ring and celebrates with the title as we see a disappointed Sami sitting up against the barrier at ringside. Some of the babyface Lumberjacks hit the ring and celebrate with Big E, hoisting him to their shoulders. Pyro goes off and confetti starts falling in the ThunderDome as Big E’s celebration continues. Sami looks to be crying at ringside as the Christmas edition of SmackDown on FOX goes off the air.
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