Paul Heyman, you got some ‘splaining to do!

If Roman Reigns watched SmackDown last week, he knows his Special Counsel fired up Brock Lesnar like back in the day! Will Heyman be in hot water for it?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Sasha Banks & Toni Storm VS Shotzi Blackheart & Charlotte Flair; Banks & Storm win.
• The Viking Raiders VS Jinder Mahal & Shanky; The Viking Raiders win.
• Ridge Holland w/ Sheamus VS Cesaro; Holland wins.
• Naomi VS Shayna Baszler w/ Sonya Deville; Naomi wins.
• The New Day VS The Usos; The New Day wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Paul Heyman waits with the Universal Championship belt.

The Special Counsel is waiting at the driveway into the arena for the Head of the Table to arrive in Chicago’s All State Arena.

Sasha Banks & Toni Storm VS Shotzi Blackheart & Charlotte Flair!

When #BossTime & #ToniTime team up, it’s a good time! But when the wild child has The Queen backing her up, will Sasha & Toni be welcomed to a royal ball pit?

The teams sort out, Toni and Shotzi start and fans rally up. They tie up, go around, and then they break. Things get heated, they tie up again, and Toni gets a headlock. Toni hits a headlock takeover, but Shotzi pushes back with forearms. Shotzi gets the headscissors, but Toni moves around, hops and pops free. Shotzi gets up and the two reset. They tie up again, Toni wrenches to a wristlock, but Shotzi spins, wrenches, and ELBOW BREAKER! Shotzi has a wristlock, Toni rolls, kips up and breaks free to kick low. Toni whips, BOOTS Shotzi down, then drags her over to tag in Sasha. Fans fire up as Toni and Sasha double whip, but Shotzi tags out to Charlotte!

Fans “WOO~!” for the Queen as Charlotte and Sasha circle. They tie up, Charlotte puts Sasha in a corner but Sasha goes up the corner. Charlotte lets off, Sasha boots Charlotte! Sasha goes up and RANAS Charlotte down! Sasha then wheelbarrows, victory rolls, TWO! Body scissors, TWO! Sasha CHOPS Charlotte, tags Toni, and Toni stomps away! Toni fires forearms, EuroUppers, but Charlotte shoves her to ROCK her! Charlotte BOOTS Sasha just because, and she soaks up the heat! Charlotte drags Toni up but Toni gets around to hit the RUBY CUTTER! Cover, Shotzi breaks it! Shotzi throws Toni out hard so that she and Charlotte control the ring as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Sasha bumps Shotzi off buckles. She tags Toni, they double suplex Shotzi down, then Toni covers, TWO! Toni rains down fists on Shotzi, then she drags Shotzi up to tag Sasha back in. They double whip Shotzi to ropes, double elbow her down, and Sasha covers, TWO! Sasha stands on Shotzi’s hand and asks, “Where have you been?” Shotzi kicks from below but Sasha stomps her. Sasha bumps Shotzi off buckles, tags Toni in, and they mug Shotzi. Toni tags Sasha back in, Sasha stomps Shotzi down. Sasha wrenches but Shotzi breaks free, only for Sasha to block the kick! “Not in my house!” Sasha KICKS Shotzi, then DECKS Charlotte! But she turns around into a DISCUS!

Shotzi stomps Sasha, drags her up and Charlotte wants in. Shotzi tags Charlotte and Charlotte puts some stank on the CHOP! Sasha flounders out of the ring, Charlotte goes out after her. Charlotte brings Sasha up to RAM her into the barriers! And then she hauls Sasha up to carry her to the ring! Cover, TWO! Charlotte keeps on Sasha with a neck wrench and she leans on the hold. Fans rally for Sasha and that upsets Charlotte. Sasha gets up, throws body shots then JAWBREAKERS free! Sasha runs, into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sasha survives but Charlotte scowls. Charlotte puts Sasha on the ropes, chokes her, then Shotzi tags in.

Shotzi runs side to side, but Sasha dodges the rope attack! Charlotte is annoyed, Sasha crawls away, hot tag to Toni! Toni rallies on Shotzi with forearms, then hits a BIG atomic drop! Then another atomic drop! Toni ROCKS Shotzi, whips, but Shotzi reverses, only for Toni to CLOBBER her! Toni runs in, stomps Shotzi down, the ref counts and Toni lets off. Toni drags Shotzi up, brings her around, scoops but Shotzi slips out to waistlock! Toni switches, Charlotte tags in and Shotzi bucks free! Feed to Charlotte’s EXPLODER! Charlotte kips up and soaks up the heat as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Charlotte goes for the figure four, only for Toni to boot her into buckles! Toni crawls over, fans fire up, but Charlotte grabs at legs! Toni kicks Charlotte away again, hot tag to Sasha! Sasha KNEES Charlotte, then knuckle locks to go up and FLYING ARM-DRAG! Sasha dodges Charlotte, DECKS Shotzi, but Charlotte fights off the backstabber to tilt-o-whirl- Sasha CROSSBODIES out of it! Cover, TWO! Charlotte goes to a corner, Sasha runs in to METEORA! Then side to side for a KNEE! Sasha drags Charlotte to a cover, TWO! Sasha grows frustrated but fans rally up. Sasha slaps Charlotte around, throws forearms, but Charlotte hits back!

Fans fire up as the forearms go back and forth, Sasha gets the edge but Charlotte shoves and kicks back! Charlotte brings Sasha around to back suplex, but Sasha lands out of it to an O’Conner Roll! TWO, Sasha runs to wheelbarrow and BULLDOG! Charlotte is in a drop zone, Sasha goes up top! Toni tags in, Charlotte stands up, Charlotte avoids Meteora! Shotzi gets in, Sasha gives her a BACKSTABBER! Charlotte throws Sasha out but Toni’s up top! CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!! Charlotte escapes but Toni gets her right back up to bring her around! Charlotte pulls hair to then BUCKLE SHOT Toni down! Charlotte digs her boots in but lets off as the ref counts.

Charlotte drags Toni to a drop zone, steps on Toni on the way to the corner, and Charlotte goes up top. MOONSAULT, but Toni moves! Toni gets KNEES up for the standing moonsault! O’Conner Roll, with a BRIDGE! Toni & Sasha win!!

Winners: Toni Storm & Sasha Banks, by pinfall

Last week, Charlotte got herself disqualified! But this week, you can’t deny that Toni’s time is coming! Will she get an even bigger win when it’s for the title?

HAIL! KING WOODS!

Xavier sits on his throne as Kofi, Rick Boogs, Shinsuke Nakamura and more rock out. He says their admiration is appreciated. He bestows upon them the honor of kissing the royal fingers. Boogs kisses the hand. But “Hear ye, hear ye.” The Usos come in. Is this your king?! Where’d Woods get that crown? He looks like a cosplayer, pretending a lot. oh the ogres are here! Was it not last week that they got a royal beating upon their buttocks? Then New Day will gladly beat them again before Day 1 where they become the W! W! E! World! Tag! Team! Champions~! Then the Usos accept. They’ll beat New Day tonight, then beat them at Day One.

Oh, clever play off the catchphrase. Begone! The New Day laugh the Usos out, but who will be having the last laugh here in Chicago?

Natalya watches a highlight reel of last week.

Namely, of Xia Li coming to help Naomi fight off her, Shayna Baszler & Sonya Deville. Megan walks in to ask Natty about it, but Natty wants Megan to understand who she is talking to. She is talking to a Guinness Book of World Records record holder! She has had the most matches and PPV matches of any woman in WWE history. And yet Megan’s asking about Xia Li? “The Protector?” Xia had the audacity to viciously attack Natty and call that protecting Naomi. No no no. Not here. Xia is a nobody and Natty is the Best Of All Time! If Xia ever steps to Natty again, Xia will need a protector! Is the Queen of Harts betting too much on herself?

The Viking Raiders VS Jinder Mahal & Shanky!

While we know Day 1 has New Day VS Usos, these two teams plan on being ready for the day after! Will Erik & Ivar or the Modern Day Maharaja and sidekick be one step closer to the titles?

SmackDown returns and Jinder & Shanky make their entrance. But a Raw recap took up a lot of time, so SmackDown goes back to break.

SmackDown returns again, and the Viking Raiders mug Jinder in their corner. Ivar Mongolian Chops Jinder, then tags in Erik. Ivar KNEES Jinder, Erik KNEES Jinder! Erik and Shanky stare down, but then Erik dodges Jinder, only to run into a KNEE! Tag to Shanky, Jinder feeds Erik to Shanky’s BOOT! Shanky scoops Erik for a SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Shanky drags Erik back up, bumps him off buckles, then elbows Erik down. Shanky elbows and KNEES Erik down! Shanky stays between the Vikings, fans rally up, and Erik throws body shots! Shanky shoves, CHOPS Erik, then CLOBBERS him! Cover, TWO!

Shanky drags Erik up and over, tag to Jinder, then Shanky throws another elbow. Jinder throws body shots then CLUBS Erik down. Jinder CLUBS Erik, Erik hits back with forearms! Jinder fires off, then stomps Erik down! Jinder digs his knee in, then drags Erik up to CLOBBER him! Jinder clamps on a chinbar and armlock but Erik endures. Fans fire up, Erik throws hands but Jinder ROCKS him! Jinder whips, Erik goes up and over and rolls, hot tag to Ivr! Ivar ROCKS Jinder, then CLOBBERS him! Scoop and SIDEWALK SLAM! Ivar keeps moving, BASEMENT CROSSBODY! Fans fire up, Ivar hits Shanky, but Shanky just scowls!

Jinder hits Ivar from behind, then whips, but Ivar cartwheels to LARIAT! Tag to Erik, Ivar scoop SLAMS Jinder! Erik scoop SLAMS Ivar onto Jinder! Cover, TWO! Erik drags Jinder up, Jinder JAWBREAKERS! Tag to Shanky and he runs in at Erik, only to miss in the corner! Tag to Ivar, Ivar runs in to clothesline Shanky! Erik DOUBLE KNEES Shanky down! Erik hoists Ivar up, ASSISTED HIP ATTACK Jinder gets in, Erik hits an EXPLODER! Ivar is up top, aiming at Shanky, VIKING SPLASH! Cover, the Viking Raiders win!

Winners: The Viking Raiders, by pinfall

Erik & Ivar win, they’re ready to RAID! Will it be the Usos or the New Day who are in the way of this warpath?

Happy Corbin & Mad Cap Moss still have Adam Pearce’s desk.

And with it, they still have Drew McIntyre’s claymore sword! They’re heading for gorilla, what will they do to the sword in the wood?

Heyman greets the car that pulls into the arena.

But it isn’t Roman Reigns. It’s BROCK LESNAR! Good ol’ Advocate! Heyman says he was expecting someone else. Oh, that’s alright. Maybe Roman, huh? Good luck with that. Lesnar pats Heyman on the shoulder and Heyman says thanks. But is this only going to turn up the heat on the Special Counsel?

SmackDown presents an all new Happy Talk!

Corbin & Moss make their entrance, then go to the ring. The desk is already there waiting, and Corbin welcomes the fans back to his show. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands! This week, Corbin is extremely happy because of the new addition to the set. To Drew McIntyre, this sword is just a sword. But to Corbin, it is a multi-functional and highly expensive piece of furniture. It’s a hat rack, a cigar cutter, maybe even a nail file. Be careful, though! But the fact of the matter is, Corbin couldn’t be happier. Though, they could bring this to another level with one of Moss’ jokes!

“What do you call Drew McIntyre when he leaves his sword behind in a desk? The Glasgow Ditz.” Fans boo but Moss has another one. “Where can you find a discount kilt? I don’t know. Ask bargain basement Braveheart!” Here’s another one. “Why did Drew McIntyre’s girl decide to wear a suit? He thought someone should wear the pants in the relationship!” Corbin says Moss is amazing. He was going to leave the sword in the desk, but Moss should have it to go with his razor wit. Moss is honored, and he goes to pull the sword out of the desk, but it’s stuck! Corbin thinks Moss is joking around but Moss says he really can’t get it out.

Corbin gives it a try, and even Corbin can’t remove the sword! They both try, but it’s really in there. So here comes McIntyre! McIntyre smirks at the futile efforts of Corbin and Moss. McIntyre goes to the ring, and he says, “What’s the matter, lads? Are we having some performance issues?” Moss swings on McIntyre but gets DECKED! McIntyre throws Moss out then HEADBUTTS Corbin! There’s the Glasgow Kiss! McIntyre takes hold of the sword, and he removes it in one go! So does McIntyre rule all of England or something? McIntyre aims at Corbin but Moss gets him out of there before we end up with two halves of Corbin! Will Corbin & Moss learn to stop joking around for once?

Sonya Deville & Adam Pearce are visited by Sami Zayn.

They’re surprised Sami’s alive. And that he’s also not wearing the neck brace or leg cast… Sami’s lawyer said he no longer needed it. Wait, lawyer? Not doctor? Uh, doctor, right! Anyway, not the point. Sami just came by to wish them a happy holiday. Oh, really? Yes, really! Sami may not like the commercialization of the holiday, but he cares about the spirit. Such as the spirit of giving. So he wants something? No! He earned a Universal Championship match but was robbed of it when Lesnar decimated him and left him for Roman to pick the bones. So how long will it take for Sami to get his real opportunity? Because he remembers being robbed of the Intercontinental Championship a YEAR ago!

Sonya & Pearce know Sami loves the Intercontinental Championship, so they can give him something. Next week, Sami will be in a 12 Days of Christmas 12 Man Gauntlet. Winner faces Shinsuke Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship. Not much of a gift, though. But it’s the gift that keeps on giving! Okay, okay, fine. Happy holidays, Sami! Sonya & Pearce are excited, but will the Great Liberator even survive to the end of such a match?

Ridge Holland w/ Sheamus VS Cesaro!

The Northern Grit has been learning from the Celtic Warrior, a truly great and accomplished superstar. But is Ridge about to learn something from the Swiss Superman that not even Sheamus can teach him?

Sheamus being in the ring makes Cesaro wary, but it’s to distract Cesaro! Ridge CLOBBERS Cesaro with his Billy club! Sheamus laughs at Cesaro’s pain, and then he and Ridge soak up the heat. Cesaro bails out to catch his breath, will he be okay to compete after the break?

SmackDown returns and Cesaro’s ribs are all taped up now. He says he’s still good to go, and he gets in the ring while the ref has Sheamus and Ridge keep their distance. The bell rings, Ridge RAMS Cesaro right to a corner! Ridge throws knees and then he throws body shots! Cesaro drops to a knee, Ridge grins and brings Cesaro up to KNEE him low. Sheamus loves what he sees, and Ridge scoops Cesaro to hit a BACKBREAKER! “Look at the power, lads!” Ridge grins as he has a chinbar and leg for a modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow! Cesaro endures a knee in his ribs but fans rally up. Ridge then lets go to drop a knee into Cesaro’s back!

Ridge drags Cesaro up, headbutts the bad ribs, then reels Cesaro in for a cobra twist! Cesaro endures the stretch, and even the elbow in his side! Ridge CLUBS Cesaro, but Cesaro powers up. Ridge blocks the hip toss to throw another body shot! Cesaro EuroUppers, then hits a BIG back suplex! Fans fire up and Sheamus looks worried as Ridge goes to a corner. Cesaro runs in to EuroUpper, then back elbow, then fire off body shots. Ridge hits a body shot of his own! But Cesaro comes back to clothesline Ridge out! Cesaro goes out and EuroUppers Ridge against barriers! Cesaro says this is on Sheamus, and he puts Ridge into the ring.

Cesaro drags himself up but Sheamus distracts him again! Ridge hits the ribs, then scoops Cesaro for NORTHERN GRIT!! Cover, Ridge wins!

Winner: Ridge Holland, by pinfall

Sheamus celebrates with his protégé, but the Fella was definitely why Ridge won at all. Ridge literally KICKS Cesaro out of the ring, will Ridge and Sheamus look to run roughshod over SmackDown?

McIntyre looks for Corbin & Moss.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are~!” He wants to hear one of their hilarious jokes! Is the punchline going to be that McIntyre gets the last laugh?

Naomi heads to the ring!

She didn’t get her fair match with Sonya Deville, will she get any match at all tonight? Or will Sonya have another abuse of power up her sleeve?

SmackDown returns and Naomi has the mic. “So, every year, I make myself a little Christmas list. And each year, there isn’t ever much on my list, just like this year. There’s only one thing, and that is to face Sonya Deville one-on-one.” Naomi says Santa is here early and “Cruella” is listening. Sonya’s done everything but face Naomi, so how about she get out to the ring and they do this tonight?! Where you at?! Sonya walks out and says this is very unprofessional> She’s said it before and will say it again. When the suit’s on, Naomi can’t touch her. But that’s okay.

Instead, she has an alternate. Someone who has been literally begging to get in the ring with Naomi and is superior to her in every single way. It’s Shayna Baszler. Fine, but only if Sonya will step in the ring. Sonya gets in the ring, she just needs to take off the jacket. But then Shayna attacks from behind! And she goes after Naomi’s leg with elbow drop after elbow drop, then a LEG DDT! Ref, ring the bell.

Naomi VS Shayna Baszler!

Shayna drags Naomi around by the leg, and has a HEEL HOOK! Naomi kicks, flails, fights the grip, reaches for ropes, but Shayna drags her away. Naomi sits up to make it a cover! NAOMI WINS!!

Winner: Naomi, by pinfall

Shayna got cocky and got caught! When will Sonya gear up and actually take Naomi on for real?

Corbin & Moss are hiding.

But Megan finds them and asks them if she can turn on a light. No, turn those off! But McIntyre got his sword back and they didn’t seem very happy about it. So if he found them, they wouldn’t be happy? Corbin is always happy! He’s happy cuz he’s rich, he loves his life, and he can look down on commoners and smile. Corbin is happy because he’ll be laughing all the way to New Year’s. At Day 1, McIntyre will go 1v1 and LOSE… to Moss. Isn’t that awesome? Moss tries to laugh it off but he doesn’t like being the butt of the joke. Will New Year’s be what brings Moss & Corbin down for once?

The New Day VS The Usos!

Sure, they have a match at Day 1, but neither team wants to wait to shut the other up! Will this non-title match go through? Or does the Bloodline have a plan in mind?

SmackDown returns and the Usos make their entrance. The teams sort out and “Sir Kofi” starts against “Main Event Jey.” They tie up, Jey headlocks but Kofi powers out. Jey runs Kofi over, holds up a finger for #WeTheOnes, then things speed up. Kofi drops, hurdles, hurdles and jumps again but Jey stays back. Kofi catches Jey for SOS! Cover, TWO! Kofi kicks Jey at the ropes, CHOPS him, but Jimmy tags in. Kofi whips, Jey reverses but Kofi ROCKS him! Jey shoves Kofi into Jimmy’s ENZIGURI! Jey CLOBBERS Kofi, Jimmy gets in to drag Kofi up. Jimmy bumps Kofi off buckles and fires off haymakers! The ref counts, Jimmy lets off but Jey gets a shot in.

Jimmy drags Kofi up to ROCK him with an uppercut, Jey tags back in, and the Usos mug Kofi with a mule kick to the ribs! Jey tags Jimmy back in, Jimmy drags Kofi to wrap on a chinlock. Jimmy grinds Kofi down, fans rally up, and Kofi fights up. Kofi slips out but Jimmy keeps him from Woods. Kofi throws hands, then dodges to SUPERKICK Jimmy down! Fans fire up as Kofi crawls, hot tag to King Woods, but Jey distracts the ref!! The ref doesn’t see the tag so it doesn’t count! Jimmy drags Kofi back in with a chinlock, then feeds him to Jey’s LARIAT! The Usos soak up the heat and SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Jey hits Kofi while he’s up top! Kofi hits back, then SPLASHES Jey while he’s standing! Fans fire up, hot tags to Jimmy and Woods! King Xavier finally rallies on Jimmy, but Jey whips him to a corner! Woods BOOTS Jey the hits the HONOR ROLL! Jimmy whips but Woods tilt-o-whirls to a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Fans fire up with Woods and he runs to clothesline Jimmy out! Woods runs to WRECK Jimmy with a dropkick! Woods gets Jimmy back in the ring, hurries to the corner and climbs up, to SUPER LEG DROP! Cover, TWO!! Woods grits his teeth, drags Jimmy up, but Jimmy kicks. Woods blocks but gets the DRAGON WHIP!

Woods still dodges, Kofi tags in, Woods goes out after Jey but ends up getting TOSSED into barriers! Kofi leaps, Jimmy gets under, but Kofi gets Jimmy for S- NO! Jimmy powers out, dodges Trouble in Paradise and SUPERKICKS Kofi down! Cover, TWO! Jimmy is shocked but he tags in Jey. Woods gets in, distracts back so now the ref doesn’t see that! Jey argues, Woods shoves him down! Jimmy sings on Woods, but turns around into TROUBLE IN PARADISE! Kofi covers, New Day wins!!

Winner: The New Day, by pinfall

Turnabout is fair play! Will the Usos end up the same way at Day 1?

Now Roman Reigns arrives.

Heyman should’ve known he’d be in a Mercedes rather than a GMC. But Roman goes out the other side, not even allowing Heyman to open the door for him. “Let’s go to my ring.” Heyman follows his Tribal Chief, but what will Roman have to say about everything he’s seen since last week?

SmackDown says Merry Christmas next Friday!

Christmas Eve will see Toni Storm challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, is it going to be a very merry #ToniTime? And the 12 men have been chosen! Sami Zayn, Drew Gulak, Mansoor, Cesaro, Ricochet, Jinder Mahal, Shanky, both Viking Raiders, both Los Lotharios and Sheamus compete in the 12 Days of Christmas Gauntlet! But who will be the partridge in a pear tree facing Shinsuke Nakamura at Day 1?

Roman Reigns heads to the ring.

Fans are torn as the Head of the Table and Special Counsel stand on stage. Roman holds up the Universal Championship and the pyro goes off. Then Heyman carries the belt as a banner as they get in the ring. Roman again holds up the belt for the second round of pyro. The Usos appear again, they must’ve stayed ringside after losing to the New Day. Heyman hands the mic over to Roman and he says, “Chicago. Acknowledge me.” Plenty of fans seem willing to do that, but many more boo. Roman says he’s said this before and he thought he made it very clear. “I don’t like it when my cousins lose.” He puts a hand on Jey’s shoulder and asks if he knows that. Jey does.

But they’re family. They can get through anything, because they’re blood. But Heyman, on the other hand… He’s not blood. And Heyman should know better than anyone that Roman can’t have people disrespecting him. You disrespect him, you disrespect the family. So Roman will ask these questions again because he thought he knew the answers, but… “Can I trust you, Wiseman?” Roman took a week off and yet he knows what happened. Heyman seems a bit shady. So to get it straight, did Heyman know Brock would return at SummerSlam? Did Heyman know Brock would be at Madison Square Garden? Did Heyman know Brock’s suspension would be lifted?

Heyman isn’t sure how to answer any of that and that upsets Roman. Chicago says Heyman screwed up, and Roman says damn right he has. But this is the most important for Heyman: Is he a Special Counsel? Or is he an Advocate? Heyman is again unsure how to answer. Fans are voting, “Advocate! Advocate!” Heyman wants the mic to speak, but Roman isn’t giving his up. So Heyman gets a different mic, and then takes a moment to think. He seems to be getting a headache. But Roman cuts Heyman off to make sure Heyman acknowledges Roman with the truth. “Why are you protecting Brock Lesnar from me?”

Heyman chuckles a bit nervously here. Heyman takes another moment, and he says, “My Tribal Chief, I’m not protecting Brock Lesnar from you.” Heyman quickly asks God for help on this last part. “I’m protecting you from Brock Lesnar!” Jimmy & Jey says that is disrespect! Roman hugs Heyman and says, “I love you, Wiseman. And I thank you for your honesty. And I thank you for 40 years of service to my family. And you’re fired.” Just like that?! And then a SUPERMAN PUNCH!! Roman terminates Heyman, and then has Jey get a chair for him! Wait, Roman wants another chair. Roman puts Heyman’s head on the first, and then holds the second.

BUT HERE COMES LESNAR! The Beast is here to save Heyman! Jimmy & Jey rush him but get CLOBBERED at the ramp! HALF HATCH for Jey! Then Brock fireman’s carries Jey for an F5!! Lesnar is fire dup but Jimmy SUPERKICKS him! But Lesnar is back up to F5 Jimmy!! Roman dares Lesnar to do something while he has a chair. Lesnar rushes in, Roman fires off with the chair! Again and again, but Lesnar still gets up?! F5 for Roman!! Chicago is going nuts as Lesnar looms over Roman! Fans want “One More Time!” so Lensar gets Roman up to F5 AGAIN!! Is The Conqueror back?! Will we see a NEW Reigning, Defending, Undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion at Day 1?!

My Thoughts:

This was a pretty good SmackDown, but what an awesome ending! New Day VS Usos happening here just because was a great match but a weird booking choice. Of course, this is what happens when WWE cuts so many people that could have matches against Usos and New Day as tune-ups. Hell, they could’ve even had it be The Viking Raiders VS Usos and Jinder & Shanky VS New Day. But then I guess Roman’s segue of Usos losing and being family wouldn’t have worked out. Roman confronting Heyman and everything that stemmed from it was amazing. I love how much drama Heyman put into saying he was protecting Roman, given the match history between Roman and Lesnar.

Roman wanting to con-chair-to Heyman was a pretty wild tease, too, and Lesnar made an awesome save. There’s still a couple weeks, but I feel like this means Roman retains at Day 1. New Day winning against Usos also makes me think Usos retain at Day 1. I’m also surprised the SmackDown Women’s Championship won’t be on Day 1 with them having the match next week. The women’s tag that started the night was good, though it took a moment to get going. Toni and Shotzi had a hard time with, well, timing, but I think that’s because this was their first time meeting in the ring as opponents. Toni getting the win in this match surely means Charlotte retains for Christmas.

I do like that we’re getting something big for the Intercontinental Championship. A 12 Man Gauntlet is going to be a lot of fun, and probably half the show. Out of the 12 men, I doubt the tag teams are going to win, so that’s like half the field out of the running right there. Though, maybe Jinder could, I wouldn’t mind seeing Nakamura VS Jinder, maybe even Shanky VS Boogs on the side. I would think Sami finds a way to win, though, I would love seeing him interact with Boogs, too. Plus, Sheamus has a thing building with Cesaro after he helped Ridge win. I would think Cesaro still gets a tag partner to face Ridge & Sheamus at the same time. Mansoor? Ricochet? Drew Gulak since he’s still here somehow?

Naomi confronting Sonya just to get a filler win over Shayna was whatever, I feel like this should’ve been Xia Li having a match against even just a “local enhancement talent.” Natty did have a good promo calling Xia out, that will be a great match. Sonya might wait until Day 1 or even the Royal Rumble to face Naomi fair and square, and maybe still in some kind of stipulation match just so she can bend the rules to her advantage. Same goes for how McIntyre’s story with Corbin & Moss. The Happy Talk segment had fans chanting “CM PUNK!” because it took way too long to get to the point: Corbin & Moss can’t do anything with the sword and McIntyre gets it back. Day 1 has a match but it’s against Moss, so clearly they’re saving McIntyre VS Corbin for Royal Rumble.

My Score: 8.3/10