Tonight’s episode of SmackDown LIVE opens up with SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon leading a backstage meeting with The Blue Brand roster.
He says that last night on RAW (which gets raucous boos from The SmackDown LIVE Superstars) The McMahon Family ushered in a new era in WWE and that goes for SmackDown LIVE as well. Shane then says that they are truly listening and they owe it to not just themselves, but for the greatest fanbase in the world, The WWE Universe. Shane then says that it all starts tonight and he wants everyone to rip the brass ring down.
Shane brings Paige out and thanks her on behalf of everyone for her enormous contributions and says that she is not going anywhere, just her role is changed and he raises her hand and leads a “Thank you, Paige!” chant.
We are live from The Save Mart Center in Fresno, California as Tom Phillips welcomes us to the show. He is joined by Corey Graves & Byron Saxton.
We go to the ring and out comes Becky Lynch to a pop. We see photo stills from her loss in The Women’s TLC Triple Threat Main Event Matchup on Sunday.
She gets on the mic and says that she doesn’t care who is running the show, because The Man is in charge and she doesn’t really do meetings, so she is out here with the people, where the real business is conducted and the only thing she wants from The McMahon Family is that they deliver RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey to her. Lynch tells Ronnie to listen up and says that when she got in her business she faced her down in her own dressing room and ring.
Lynch then says that at TLC Ronda cost her the title and didn’t even have the decency to fight her, pushing her ladder over inches from victory and she has worked too hard for too long to let some Roddy Piper cosplayer take it away from her.
Charlotte Flair makes her entrance. She tells Becky to take a number and stand behind The Queen, because Ronda stole her opportunity. Lynch calls her a cosplayer also and says that her days of standing behind her are long gone. Charlotte then says that Becky looking up to her is a “Then, Now, Forever” type thing and if Rousey hadn’t been there she would have become an 8-time Champion.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka makes her entrance. She shimmies and laughs before telling them to forget Ronda because she is the champion now. Lynch then tells her to prove it and Flair says that she should be thankful since she never beat her. Becky calls her a paper champion.
WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon makes his entrance. He wishes everyone a happy holidays and congratulates Asuka on winning the title, because it is 2018 and we need surreal moments like that in WWE. He then tells Becky and Charlotte that their conduct is unbecoming, making excuses for things that happened in an anything goes match like TLC. Mr. McMahon then says that Rousey said that she was going to write the next chapter in both their careers and they need to get over it and take charge and take it out on her.
Mr. McMahon then asks Asuka how she would like to defend her title tonight and she is into it. He then asks if anyone is ready for Asuka and introduces her challenger as none other than Naomi.
Naomi says that Charlotte Flair got her opportunities and Becky Lynch isn’t The Man anymore and she wants the title. But as always with matches booked for “right now” in the first segment, we have to go to a commercial break before the action.
Back from the commercial break and The SmackDown Women’s Title Match is underway.
Asuka (c) vs. Naomi: The SmackDown Women’s Title is on the line in this one. Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch are at ringside to watch this SmackDown Women’s Title Match. The opening bell sounds and Asuka and Naomi trade holds in the opening moments. The first minutes are mostly a stalemate until Naomi connects with a kick. Asuka blocks a kick and applies an ankle lock. Naomi escapes and hits a full-nelson bomb for a pin attempt. They trade some pin attempts and arm holds until Asuka connects with a series of kicks. Asuka applies an abdominal stretch until the referee calls for the rope break. Asuka talks some trash to Charlotte and Becky and Naomi takes advantage of the distraction with a back suplex on Asuka. The fight spills out to ringside and Naomi springboards off the fan barricade and kicks Asuka in the face. Back in the ring, Asuka fights back with strikes of her own. Naomi kicks Asuka in the head and drops her, then Naomi goes up to the top rope. Naomi goes for a moonsault, but Asuka gets her knees up to block it. Asuka looks for the Asuka Lock but Naomi fights out and hits the flying hip attack. Naomi springboards off the top rope, but Asuka catches her and seems to hit a knee to the face. Asuka applies the Asuka Lock for the win. Winner & Still The SmackDown Women’s Champion: 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.
We head backstage where The Miz psyches himself up to knock on The McMahon Family dressing room and WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon answers.
Vince McMahon criticizes his knock for its lack of manliness and The Miz asks if Shane is around, but he can’t come out to play. The A-Lister then says that Vince McMahon of all people knows that he is reliable for anything he needs and sure he gets carried away sometimes, but if he and Shane teamed together they could be The Best Tag Team in The World. Vince McMahon then asks The Miz what he wants him to do about it and The Miz says that he is just asking for his blessing.
Vince McMahon then says that he has never given anyone a blessing in his life and The Miz isn’t getting one now. But he will let him prove himself in a Tag Team Match that Vince is going to go set up himself. Vince McMahon slams the door in The Miz’s face to end the segment.
Commentary hypes up AJ Styles & Mustafa Ali vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas & WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan for later on tonight as well as an apology from Samoa Joe to send us to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and commentary informs us that Byron Saxton is out sick and will be back “next week” and runs down WWE Holiday Week on USA Network.
Rusev & Lana are interviewed backstage. Rusev says that he is a man of action and he proved that WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura needs to be afraid of him when he crushed him. Rusev then says that he is handsome, a hunk, he’s got big biceps and a handsome beard that you could shave off and sell on eBay to make sweaters for babies and sell them for thousands of dollars, but Shinsuke looks like Sonic The Hedgehog. Rusev then says that Nakamura may run fast and far, but when he gets his hands on him, he will take his United States Championship back on Rusev Day.
Jeff Hardy makes his entrance and gets on the mic. He says that he heard that Samoa Joe wants to apologize and for the last few weeks he has said some things about him and his demons that were true. Hardy then says that he has been weak and made mistakes, but that was then and this is now and he wakes up every day and worships the fact that he is alive, well and here, so bring it on, Joe, he wants to hear this apology face to face.
Samoa most obligingly makes his entrance. He apologizes because this is no apology, no. He has been forced to deceive him, because this is more important, this is an intervention. He tells Hardy to look at him and he has known him for a long time and everyone is very worried. Joe then says that it is the holiday times and a man in his fragile condition, well, it can be really rough this time of year and eventually his demons are gonna come running back.
Jeff then says that the more he reminds him about his past, the more he tells himself he is never going back and he and his demons see right through Joe. Jeff then says that Samoa attacks people’s weaknesses to cover up his insecurities, so what is it? The fact that he has been here two years and hasn’t won one championship? Joe waves him off before charging in, but Jeff is ready and hits a Twist Of Fate.
Commentary again hypes up the dream tag team match for later on tonight and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and The Miz makes his entrance for The Mystery Tag Team Match Vince McMahon set up earlier.
His tag partner Mandy Rose makes her entrance followed by their opponents, Fabulous Truth.
R-Truth cuts a promo about how they won Mixed Match Challenge and talking up the spoils of war and says that he is looking forward to wrestling The Miz & Maryse.
The Miz & Mandy Rose vs. Fabulous Truth (R-Truth & Carmella): Carmella and Mandy start off and Carmella takes control with a dropkick. Truth and Miz tag in and Truth clotheslines Miz to the outside. Truth and Carmella then have a dance break. Mandy Rose tries to hit a cheap shot on Carmella, but Carmella dodges it and kicks Mandy down. The distraction leads to Miz running in from behind and hitting the Skull Crushing Finale on R-Truth for the three count. Winners: The Miz & Mandy Rose
After the match, Miz celebrates as his music hits. He goes to the floor to join Rose.
Commentary sends us to a recap of last week’s Daniel Bryan vs. Mustafa Ali Match. They also inform us that Mustafa Ali is officially on The SmackDown LIVE roster now.
On that note, we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and commentary talks about all the changes coming to SmackDown LIVE and toss to a video package on the six NXT Superstars that are coming soon that we saw last night on RAW.
The Usos make their entrance to cut a promo. They say that with all the changes, one thing stays the same and that is that The Usos run SmackDown LIVE and they have still got gold on their mind and they call The Bar out.
The Club makes their entrance. Karl Anderson says that week after week it is The New Day, The Usos & The Bar and they are great teams having great matches but last week they watched them have a freakin’ rap battle and The Good Brothers haven’t been on SmackDown LIVE since August. Luke Gallows then says that that is four months one of the greatest tag teams of the last decade have been on the sidelines, but no more, it is time to clean the slate, clean house and get paid, Hoot.
The Usos then say that they are not why The Club fell through the cracks, but if they don’t step up, they will get stepped on and The Usos don’t back down for nobody. They then welcome them to The Uso Penitentiary and Referee Danilo Anfibio separates them because we’ve got a match right now.
Or, after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and The Tag Team Match between The Club & The Usos is underway.
The Club (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs. The Usos (Jey & Jimmy Uso): Gallows and Anderson start off strong in this one as they trade frequent tags and take turns beating on Jimmy Uso. Gallows misses a big boot in the corner and he goes down. Jey and Anderson get the tags and Jey cleans house. Jey hits a series of strikes on Anderson and then a Samoan drop. Jey misses a splash in the corner and Anderson fires back with a kick and a neckbreaker for a two count. Anderson comes in and hits a chokeslam powerbomb for a two count. Jimmy and Jey trade tags now and double team Gallows. They knock Gallows outside and Anderson tags in. Jey looks for a suicide dive on Gallows, but Anderson cuts him off with a kick to the head. Jey gets tied upside down with his foot in the ropes and it looks like his leg might be a little sore after that. Back in the ring, Jey is limping and Anderson leaps off the middle rope for a neckbreaker on Jey. Jey tries to come back with a Samoan drop, but Anderson escapes and Gallows tags in. Gallows boots Jey in the face for a two count. Jey kicks Gallows away, then Jimmy tags in and brings the fight to Gallows. Jey rolls outside and is selling his knee that got tangled in the ropes. Anderson tags in and misses a shot on Jimmy, which leads to Jimmy superkicking Anderson and then kicking Gallows off the apron. Jimmy goes up top, but then The Bar’s music hits and distracts him. Jimmy hits the splash off the top on Anderson, but then SAnitY hits the ring and starts attacking both The Usos and Gallows & Anderson. Winners: No Contest
After the match, 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.
WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura cuts a promo asking if he should be afraid of Rusev, then he runs a hype reel of a variety of goofy moments from Rusev’s time on Total Divas, mostly centered on how much he likes showing his legs off. Nakamura then says that Rusev is no championship contender nor a star, he is a Total Diva.
We see AJ Styles & Mustafa Ali backstage talking strategy and we are informed that their match is next, after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are informed that there will be an episode of MizTV with SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon as the guest next week as well as Rusev vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for The WWE United States Title and Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe.
The New Day get a promo to hype up their special on The USA Network tomorrow night.
WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan makes his entrance (staring down a “this sign wasted paper” sign on his way) and gets on the mic, saying that he killed The Yes! Movement and destroyed The House That AJ Styles Built, but unlike us, he is not about destruction, but rather creation of something better. And here on SmackDown LIVE he is creating a brave new world and he understands that we won’t like it because we fear change.
Bryan then says that how else to explain all of us continuing to lead these lives of vacuous consumption despite the evidence that we are destroying the planet that gives us life. And the people of California are the guiltiest of them all and the city of Fresno ranks number one in pollution in the state. He then proceeds to shame the crowd by shouting “Shame!” at them a bunch, in the time-honored tradition.
Bryan then says that Isaac Asimov once wrote that self-education is the only kind of education there is and for people like him and Asimov that might work, but we wouldn’t know wisdom if it was handed to us through a drive-through window. He then warns the people not to try self-eduction because they will fail, but lucky for us, we have someone to teach us how to live. Bryan is speaking of himself, of course.
We get the rest of our main event entrances and then go to a commercial break before the match begins.
Back from the commercial break and the main event is underway.
WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan & Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. AJ Styles & Mustafa Ali: Almas hits a spinning back fist to AJ in the opening moments to take control of this one. Almas continues the offense until AJ finally connects with a dropkick. Ali tags in for the double team on Almas, then he tosses Almas down. Almas brings Ali into the corner, then Bryan tags in and lays into Ali with a series of strikes. Bryan slaps Ali across the face and then applies an abdominal stretch. Ali dodges a shot in the corner, then nails Bryan with a kick to the head. Bryan rolls outside for a breather and Ali looks for a suicide dive, but Almas lays on the ropes to block it. Ali kicks Almas off the ropes, then he hits a suicide dive on both Almas and Bryan at ringside. Back in the ring, Almas turns things around and now he and Bryan take turns beating on Ali. AJ finally gets the hot tag and hits a flying clothesline on Bryan. AJ beats down Bryan and then goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Bryan dodges it. AJ grabs Bryan and locks in the Calf Crusher, but Almas comes in and breaks it up. Almas tries to DDT Styles, but AJ reverses it and dumps Almas outside. At ringside, Ali hits a hurricanrana on Almas. Back in the ring, Bryan misses a shot in the corner and AJ puts the boots to him. AJ looks for the Styles Clash, but Bryan escapes and kicks AJ in the face. Bryan charges at AJ, but AJ boots him in the face. AJ leaps to the middle rope and hits the moonsault into a reverse DDT on Bryan. Ali gets the tag and hits a spinning DDT on Bryan. Ali goes up top, but Almas runs over and interferes. AJ takes out Almas with a Phenomenal Forearm and then Ali hits the 054 on Bryan for the three count. Winners: AJ Styles & Mustafa Ali
After the match, Ali celebrates with Styles 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.