It’s a Holly Jolly SmackDown!

What a gift for Christmas! SmackDown gives us a Women’s Championship Match AND a 12 Man Gauntlet, the winner to challenge Shinsuke Nakamura!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Toni Storm; Charlotte wins and retains the title.
• The 12 Days of Christmas Gauntlet: Sami Zayn wins and will challenge Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Intercontinental Championship next week.
• Six Man Tag Miracle on 34th Street Fight: Drew McIntyre & The New Day VS The Usos & “Mad Cap” Moss w/ “Happy” Corbin; McIntyre & The New Day win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Kayla Braxton interviews Paul Heyman.

Kayla notes it has been one week since Heyman was publicly fired by Roman Reigns. “Publicly.” Had to get that dig in there. No, she’s trying to give him a chance to tell his side of what happened. “What happened? What happened is I told the truth to Roman Reigns. And it was a truth he didn’t want to hear, publicly.” He got fired publicly and smashed in the face publicly, embarrassed, humiliated in front of his peers and the entire world, publicly. What happened was, Heyman told Roman the truth, and he paid the price for it, publicly. Does Heyman regret telling the truth? Heyman thinks a moment.

“No. Because my role as Special Counsel was to tell Roman Reigns these uncomfortable truths.” Heyman’s role wasn’t juts to protect Roman as a personality or intellectual property, but as champion. When Heyman came back from the ring, he tried to explain, but all his bags, notes, suits and other belongings were tossed out of the locker room and into the hallway, “like I was some frickin’ rookie.” But Heyman’s role was to protect the championship. Make no mistake, Roman is the greatest Universal Champion of all time. But he needs to be protected from Brock Lesnar.

Then what’s next for Heyman? Heyman takes a moment to drink some water. “I don’t know. What do I do now? I go to NXT, I cherry pick top talent, I start all over again? Not at this stage. I put every bit of my heart and my soul and my spirit into serving as the Special Counsel to the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, because I believe in Roman Reigns. “Without that, maybe it’s time for me to acknowledge my career is most likely over.” Heyman then takes a deep breath, but leaves it at that. Is this the end of Paul Heyman as Advocate, Special Counsel and manager to any WWE superstar?

SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Toni Storm!

The Queen opens the action for tonight’s SmackDown Christmas Eve! But will Charlotte still have a gold Christmas? Or will it be #ToniTime in time for the holidays?

SmackDown returns and the belt is raised! Toni looks understandably nervous and excited, and the bell rings to finally start this golden grudge match! They tie up, go around, and Charlotte puts Toni in a corner. The ref calls the break, Charlotte lets off, but they tie up again. They go around some more, Charlotte again puts Toni in the corner. Toni dodges the forearm to uppercut and uppercut and uppercut! Toni gives a few more uppercuts, whips, but Charlotte reveres. Toni goes up and under but Charlotte kicks low! Charlotte pushes Toni, runs, but Toni follows and dodges to CROSSBODY! Cover, ONE!

Toni knuckle locks Charlotte to then WRING her out, run and basement dropkick! Cover, ONE! Charlotte bails out to slow things down, but Toni dares her to come back. Charlotte uses the count to give herself time to catch her breath. Charlotte slides in but slides right back out, just to troll Toni and the fans. Charlotte comes back as the ring count starts, Toni avoids the boot to CROSSBODY again! Cover, TWO! Toni drags Charlotte up, brings her to a corner but Charlotte blocks the buckle bump to give the buckle bump! Charlotte bumps Toni off more buckles, then CHOPS her down! Charlotte chokes Toni on the ropes, scuffs her with a boot, but lets off as the ref counts.

Charlotte drags Toni to a cover, TWO! Charlotte wraps a headscissor neck lock on, and she dribbles Toni off the mat! Toni endures but Charlotte grins as she squeezes tight. Fans rally for Toni, it’s a cover, TWO! Toni pushes back to get a cover, TWO! Charlotte turns to THROW Toni, and then kip up! Charlotte dusts off her hands, and then she kicks Toni into a corner. Charlotte toys with Toni and taunts her. She drags Toni up but Toni makes it a cradle! TWO, Toni HEADBUTTS Charlotte to a corner! Toni runs in, but Charlotte dodges to BOOT her back down! Toni flops out of the ring and Charlotte soaks up the heat as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Toni fires off forearms with Charlotte! Charlotte knees low and throws Toni by her hair! Charlotte pushes Toni around, taunting her. “You think you’re ready for me? You think you’re reayd for mE?! Do you know who I am?!” Charlotte’s pie facing Toni but Toni gets fired up. Charlotte wants her mad! Toni gets up, Charlotte CLOBBERS her! Cover, TWO! Charlotte taunts Toni more, but Toni gets back up again. Charlotte SLAPS Toni, then  goes to suplex, but Toni snap suplexes first! Toni fires up and fans are with her! Charlotte gets to a corner, Toni runs corner to corner, HIP ATTACK! And then she drags Charlotte up, waistlocks, but Charlotte elbows out!

Charlotte runs in but blocks boots to ROCK Toni with a forearm! Charlotte puts Toni’s leg on the ropes, o drop a knee, but miss! Toni GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! Charlotte flounders to the far corner, fans rally up and Toni storms over, into a BACKBREAKER, and BUCKLE SHOT! Charlotte drags Toni to the drop zone, then steps on her as she goes to the corner. Charlotte takes a moment before she climbs up, and MOONSAULTS! But Toni moves, Charlotte STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Charlotte is frustrated, she covers again, TWO! Charlotte laughs a little, but she says Toni’s still not ready for her.

Charlotte sits Toni up to CHOP her! And CHOP her again! And then kick a leg out, to run and NATURAL- NO! Toni pops out the back to GERMAN SUPLEX again! Toni grits her teeth and drags Charlotte up, gets her back to back, but Charlotte powers out to trip Toni up! Charlotte has the FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK! Toni endures, Charlotte SLAPS her! Toni fights to turn it over! Now Charlotte suffers! But then Toni gets the ROPEBREAK! The two are separated, Toni sits on the apron. Charlotte waits for Toni to get back in, and she BOOTS Toni down! Toni goes to the other apron, Charlotte BOOTS her off it!

Charlotte goes out after Toni, talks more trash, but Toni POSTS her! Toni drags Charlotte up to throw forearm after forearm! Toni puts Charlotte in at 7 of 10, and then drags Charlotte up, but Charlotte again fights the back to back to O’Conner Roll! She holds ropes, but the ref sees it! No cheating this time! Toni O’Conner Rolls to a bridge! TWO!! Toni gets a backslide, TWO!! Toni gets a cradle, TWO!! Charlotte has it, Charlotte wins!!

Winner: Charlotte Flair, by pinfall (still SmackDown Women’s Champion)

Toni is devastated! She was so close and yet so far as Charlotte snatches this one away! But is this the last time Toni will have a title match? Or will it be her time in the New Year?

The New Day talk backstage.

They’re still surprised Drew McIntyre was able to pull his sword out from the desk last week. But then “Big D the Destroyer” walks over and Kofi Kingston hopes he is ready for battle. He is always ready. Plus it is always special when #DrewDay gets back together. In fact, they’re about to usher in a New Year. The New Day vow to win those tag team champions. But first, these three will obliterate the Usos & Mad Cap entirely! As festive as McIntyre is feeling, he’s a bit sad. Huh? Why? Well in this Miracle on 34th Street Fight, he might beat Mad Cap so badly, there won’t be a match at Day 1. HAHAHAHAHA~! Then tonight’s match will be season’s beatings.

After understanding that they want him to join in, McIntyre joins in on the laughter, and #DrewDay is definitely in a good mood. Will they get to have the last laugh and then some at the expense of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions and Happy Corbin’s human hyena?

Xia Li speaks.

“Natalya. I have known women like you all my life: preying on those in need; drowning them in fear; crushing their spirits. Vultures. If that is what you do, then it doesn’t matter who you are. I won’t fear you, I will fight you!” Xia adds some Mandarin, and says it is because she is The Protector! Will the Queen of Harts regret crossing the line?

Rick Boogs introduces himself.

And of course, he introduces the WWE Intercontinental Champion, Shinsuke… NakamurAAAAAAAA~! The King of Strong Style and his rockin’ bard are here to watch the WWE Intercontinental Championship Contender’s match! Otherwise known as…

The 12 Days of Christmas Gauntlet!

The only thing longer than that song might be this match! Who survives until the final “partridge in a pear tree” to earn that golden ticket to next week’s New Year’s Eve SmackDown?

SmackDown returns and the first one out is Los Lotharios’ Angel Garza! And he’s up against Mansoor! Will either of these two make it to the end of the night?

Angel Garza VS Mansoor!

The bell rings, the two tie up and Mansoor blocks the kick to spin Angel for an atomic drop! Mansoor headlocks and grinds Angel, but Angel powers out. Things speed up, Mansoor catches hurdle to atomic drop! And then he dropkicks Garza to a corner! Fans fire up as Mansoor runs in, but Angel puts Mansoor up top. Mansoor boots back, but Angel YANKS him down! Mansoor hits buckle on the way down! OFF COME THE PANTS! Side to side for the BOOT WASH! Angel says he WILL be the next Intercontinental Champion! SHOTGUN dropkick! Angel stands Mansoor up but Mansoor blocks the punch to ROCK Angel with a right!

Mansoor then BOOTS and ENZIGURIS Angel down! Mansoor goes to the apron, he climbs up the corner, and he leaps, into a SUPERKICK! Angel hurries to get Mansoor up, underhooks, WING CLIPPER! Cover, Angel ELIMINATES Mansoor! But next up is a Viking Raider! It’s ERIK!

Angel Garza VS Erik!

Angel dropkicks Erik out of the ring as soon as he’s in! And then he dribbles Erik’s head off the apron! And then a sliding dropkick rocks him! Angel goes up top and ARIHARA MOONSAULTS, but is caught?!? Erik brings Angel around to SLAM him hard on the floor! We’re three French hens deep as Erik chants, “RAID! RAID! RAID!” and SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns and Angel CLUBS away on Erik. Erik blocks a clothesline to fire off knees and forearms! Erik whips, Angel reverses but Erik goes up and over to then pick Angel up. Angel fights out, but then Erik gets him for Ace Ten Mao! Cover, TWO! Arik hits a SINGLE LEG SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Erik is frustrated but he watches Angel crawl to a corner. Erik runs in but Angel dodges the shotgun knees to then hit a FACEBUSTER! Angel brings Erik up, has the underhooks again, WING CLIPPER!! Cover, Angel ELIMINATES Erik!!

Angel Garza VS Shanky!

Jinder Mahal’s right hand man is a big challenge for even someone at 100%, but Angel’s already had to wrestle two men! Does Angel have a chance of making it to the next round?

Shanky gets in, Angel dropkicks him at the ropes, but Shanky stays up! Shanky throws Angel with both hands, then CLOBBERS him! Shanky fires up, Boogs is impressed, and Angel drags himself up. Shanky shoves and CHOPS Angel to a corner! Shanky stands Angel up to throw back elbows, then he HIP TOSSES Angel down! Angel staggers up but Shanky fireman’s carry for a WASTELAND SLAM! Cover, Shanky ELIMINATES Angel! But here comes IVAR!

Shanky VS Ivar!

The Warbeard rushes in, throws hands, but Shanky shoves him away. Ivar breaks the choke grip, fires off more hands, then whips. Shanky reverses but Ivar rams shoulders with him! Shanky BOOTS Ivar down! Again, Boogs is impressed. Shanky gets Ivar up but Ivar throws body shots. Shanky shoves him away again but Ivar elbows back. Ivar cartwheels to dodge, then he clotheslines and SPLASHES in the corner! Shanky sits down, Ivar fires up and goes corner to corner, VIKING BRONCO BUSTER! Ivar isn’t done there, he goes up top, VIKING SPLASH!! Cover, Ivar ELIMINATES Shanky! But here comes the FELLA!

Ivar VS Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland!

Sheamus takes a moment to put his coat and club aside before getting in the ring. He brawls with Ivar, CLUBS away on his back, then bumps Ivar off buckles. Ridge Holland is ringside now to watch his mentor but Ivar takes the fight to Sheamus! Ivar UPPERCUTS Sheamus right out of the ring! The Warbeard is all fired up as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Sheamus sits Ivar up into a NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE! Sheamus wraps on a chinlock and he squeezes tight. Ivar endures, fans rally up, and Ivar fights up! Boogs feels the power, and Ivar throws body shots! Sheamus knees low, then whips Ivar to ropes. Ivar reverses and runs Sheamus over! And again! And then runs in but into a BOOT! Sheamus runs into a SIDEWALK SLAM! Ivar runs and BASEMENT CROSSBODIES! Fans fire up with “RAID! RAID!” and Ivar scoops Sheamus, but Sheamus fights free! Sheamus shoves Ivar to a corner, but runs into a SEATED SENTON! Cover, TWO!

Ivar is a bit unsure what more to do, but he decides to go up top again. Holland coaches Sheamus up, Boogs and the fans rally up, but Sheamus hits Ivar first! Sheamus drags Ivar to a fireman’s carry but Ivar fights free! Ivar ROCKS Sheamus, but Sheamus sends him to a corner. Ivar dodges a clothesline but the BROGUE hits! Cover, Sheamus ELIMINATES Ivar! But now the Philly Stretcher is here!

Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland VS Drew Gulak!

Gulak is fired up, ready to move up- BROGUE!! Cover, Sheamus ELIMINATES Gulak! But now, the SWISS SUPERMAN is here!

Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland VS Cesaro!

Sheamus goes out after Cesaro and they brawl! Cesaro dribbles Sheamus off the barrier, then whips, only for Sheamus to reverse! Cesaro hits barriers, but then dodges to send Sheamus into them! Cesaro puts Sheamus back in the ring, climbs up top and SUPER CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro grits his teeth and has Sheamus’ legs! Sheamus knows what is coming and he kicks away at the bad ribs! Sheamus fireman’s carries, ROLLING SENTON! Cesaro clutches his core, Holland wants Sheamus to keep on him. Sheamus gets Cesaro up to back suplex! Sheamus CLUBS Cesaro in the back, and again, and again!

Sheamus has a chinbar and armlock but Cesaro endures. Fans rally up, Boogs feels that energy, and Cesaro fights to his feet! Cesaro pries free of the chinbar, but Sheamus CLUBS him in the back! Sheamus CLUBS Cesaro again! Holland likes what he sees, and Sheamus CLUBS Cesaro again! Sheamus says, “One more!” but Cesaro comes back to ROCK Sheamus with forearms and body shots and uppercuts! Cesaro whips, Sheamus reverses, but Cesaro BOOTS back! Cesaro goes up, leaps, missile dropkick! Cesaro’s adrenaline helps him through the pain, and he gets Sheamus for the SWISS SWING! But he can only do four with the bad ribs!

Cesaro still EuroUppers in the corner, and DISCUS LARIATS in the center! Fans fire up as Cesaro reels Sheamus in, but Holland distracts! Sheamus back drops, but Cesaro lands on his feet to swing on Holland! But then he turns around into a mule kick, and a BROGUE!! Cover, Sheamus ELIMINATES Cesaro! Big assist to the sidekick, but here comes the One and Only!

Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland VS Ricochet!

Ricochet slides in, Sheamus is all over him with hammering hands! Sheamus throws body shots and Holland applauds. Sheamus whips, Ricochet ducks and dodges to CROSSBODIE Sheamus and himself out! But Ricochet is on the apron, and he ASAI MOONSAULTS to take Sheamus out! Boogs loses his mind, as do the fans, and Ricochet says, “They ain’t ready for it!” as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again Sheamus throws hands but Ricochet kicks and CHOPS and forearms back. Ricochet runs, but Sheamus gets him for an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Sheamus catches his breath from Ricochet’s frenetic pace, then he clamps on the chinbar to a chinlock. Sheamus grinds Ricochet down, thrashes him around, but Ricochet endures. Ricochet fights up as fans rally. Ricochet throws body shots, then haymakers! Sheamus shoves Ricochet away to scoop and POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Holland is annoyed on Sheamus’ behalf as Sheamus drags Ricochet up against the ropes. Sheamus gives Ricochet Beats of the Bodhrain! All ten!

Ricochet flops down, Sheamus drags him back in, and then Sheamus goes up a corner. Sheamus wants to show he can fly, too! Ricochet stands, but he gets under the flying clothesline! Ricochet comes back to tilt-o-whirl DDT! Cover, TWO! Sheamus survives but Ricochet keeps his cool. Ricochet blocks a punch to give a punch, then a kick, kick and CHOP! Sheamus scoops, Ricochet slips off and sends Sheamus into buckles! Ricochet springboards to SLINGBLADE! And then LIONSAULT onto knees! Cradle cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Sheamus is beside himself! Ricochet goes to the apron but Sheamus storms over.

Fans rally up as Sheamus fish hooks and stands Ricochet up. Ricochet HOTSHOTS Sheamus back! And GAMANGIRIS! Sheamus staggers, Ricochet springboards to FLYING CLOTHESLINE! Fans fire up as he STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Sheamus survives and Ricochet is a bit surprised! Ricochet goes to a corner and right up top. Holland gets up on the apron, Ricochet hops down, Sheamus KNEES Ricochet off the apron! Fans boo, Nakamura says they should just eject Holland at this point. Sheamus gets in, he mocks the fans and soaks up the heat, but Cesaro CLOBBERS Holland!

Sheamus is furious, Ricochet SUPERKICKS him form behind! Roll up, RICOCHET ELIMINATES SHEMAUS!!

Ricochet VS Humberto Carrillo!

The other half of Los Lotharios doesn’t want any trouble with Cesaro or Sheamus, but then Sheamus CLOBBERS Ricochet! The ref reprimands but there’s nothing to be done about Sheamus since he’s already eliminated. But the ref does keep Humberto back until Ricochet can get up. Ricochet wants to start, Carrillo SHOTGUNS him down! Carrillo is all smiles as he goes up top, for the MOONSAULT into boots! Ricochet saves himself and fans fire up! RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet ELIMINATES Carrillo! The One and Only has survived, but here comes the Modern Day Maharaja!

Ricochet VS Jinder Mahal!

Ricochet slides out but into Jinder’s APRON BACK SUPLEX! Jinder was ready, and he drags Ricochet up to a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Jinder is furious! Jinder gets Ricochet up, cobra clutch to KAL- NO! Victory roll, Ricochet ELIMINATES Jinder Mahal!! But then last, but not least, the Great Liberator!

Ricochet VS Sami Zayn!

We’ve made it to the 12th and final round, who comes out of this Shinsuke Nakamura’s next challenger?

SmackDown returns yet again, and Sami stalks Ricochet to a corner. Sami rains down fists, then stomps and kicks Ricochet in the corner. The ref counts, Sami lets off, then he brings Ricochet up to whip to ropes, to CLOBBER Ricochet! Cover, TWO! Sami is annoyed, but he goes to a corner to then hop up the ropes. Sami hears the fans rallying for Ricochet, and Ricochet anchors Sami’s foot. Sami mocks Ricochet’s tough road here, but Sami kicks him away. Sami says he IS the Intercontinental Champion, but Ricochet jumps and hits a SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO!! Sami himself is surprised he got out of that!

Sami sees Ricochet go to ropes, and he stalks up behind him to fire off more haymakers. Ricochet blocks to KICK, then bobs ‘n’ weaves to KICK and ROCK and CHOP and ROCK and CHOP Sami again and again! Ricochet fires up, but Sami ducks the roundhouse to waistlock. Ricochet fights Blue Thunder off, but Sami reels him in to try again! Ricochet makes it a crossbody, TWO! Sami goes to a corner, Ricochet runs in but only gets buckles! Sami gets Ricochet up, BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet is still in this and Sami can’t believe it! Sami drags Ricochet to a corner and stands him up, but Ricochet fights the exploder!

Sami CLUBS and elbows Ricochet on the back, over and over and over, then stands Ricochet back up. But Ricochet fights back with elbows of his own! Ricochet hammers away on Sami! Ricochet swings, but into the EXPLODER into the buckles! Sami grins as he takes aim from the far corner. Ricochet slowly gets up, but he SUPERKICKS Sami first! Fireman’s carry, GO TO KICK! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet can’t believe it, and even Nakamura is a bit surprised! Ricochet hurries to a corner and climbs up top. Sami gets up to ROCK Ricochet first! Sami climbs up now, has Ricochet, but Ricochet throws body shots! Ricochet throws haymakers and forearms from all sides!

Sami falls down! Ricochet adjusts, to SHOOTING STAR onto knees!! Sami gets Ricochet up, EXPLODER TO THE CORNER! Then Sami goes corner to corner to HELLUVA KICK!! Cover, Sami wins!!

Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Intercontinental Champion)

The “elder statesman of SmackDown” has won the gauntlet! Of course, he entered last and in the best possible position to win. But all that aside, will Sami return to the title he claims should have always been his? Or will the King of Strong Style keep his throne going into the New Year?

SmackDown looks back at the legendary career of Paul Heyman.

“For decades, Paul Heyman has carved an illustrious career as one of the most celebrated minds in sports entertainment. As a manager, a promotor, a mastermind, and an advocate. Heyman first rose to prominence in WCW as the manager of the Dangerous Alliance, featuring future WWE Hall of Famers ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.” But it was as the man behind Extreme Championship Wrestling where Heyman’s mad genius shined. “E C DUB” and Paul E. Dangerously defined a generation that paved a way for the Attitude Era, and then the war was brought to the main stage.

The 2001 Invasion had Heyman on the losing end, but not the last we saw of him until 2002. He found “The Next Big Thing” and was there when Lesnar set a record as the then youngest world champion in history. Heyman was there when Lesnar decimated The Rock, Hulk Hogan and John Cena, and ended The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak. But the duo’s dominance ended when Drew McIntyre defeated Lesnar at WrestleMania 36. We again thought that was the last, until he returned with Roman Reigns at Payback! “Just when you thought I was out, he pulled me back in.” Heyman was Special Counsel all the way until Brock Lesnar returned.

Did Heyman know Brock was going to return? Was he Special Counsel to Roman or Advocate to Lesnar? He was caught between the two men who defined his managerial career. And then the bombshell last week: he was protecting Roman from Lesnar. Roman “thanked” Heyman for his honesty, and fired him with a SUPERMAN PUNCH! As we heard earlier tonight, Heyman paid the price for telling that truth. Is Heyman’s career in sports entertainment over? Or can he pull off another powerful comeback?

Six Man Tag Miracle on 34th Street Fight: Drew McIntyre & The New Day VS The Usos & “Mad Cap” Moss w/ “Happy” Corbin!

Never has this WWE tradition been so big! The Scottish Warrior wants to cut down the holly jolly jokesters while King Xavier & Sir Kofi want to pile onto the woes of Jimmy & Jey. But will the “Happy Folks” and the SmackDown Tag Team Champions prove #WeTheOnes who will have the most fun this Christmas?

SmackDown returns again as the New Day make their entrance on Woods’ moving throne. Then McIntyre makes his entrance, Angela the claymore in hand. The teams sort out and Woods starts while Moss joins in on the We The Ones finger. Woods and Jey tie up, Woods headlocks, and Woods grinds Jey down. Jey fights up, powers out, but Woods ducks and dodges and slides to block the kick to ROLLING ELBOW! Woods drags Jey to a cover, TWO! Woods keeps on Jey with a snapmare, then tags Kofi. Kofi runs to PENALTY KCIK, then Woods adds a SLIDING LARIAT! Kofi imploding springboards and SPLASHES! Cover, TWO!

Kofi facelocks but Jey powers him to the corner! Jimmy tags in, the Usos mug Kofi, then Jimmy CHOPS! Moss tags in, he helps mug Kofi, then Moss brings Kofi around for big knees! Moss back suplexes, Kofi lands on his feet to tag in McIntyre! McIntyre grins and he throws haymakers and CHOPS! Moss throat chops! Moss throws body shots and forearms in a corner, then whips corner to corner, but McIntyre comes right back to CLOBBER Moss! McIntyre CHOPS Moss, and then whips him to ropes. Moss kicks back but runs into a spin and FUTURE SHOCK DDT!! Cover, The Usos break it! The New Day brawl with the Usos and they all spill out to the ramp!

Those four all brawl up the ramp while Moss kicks and whips. McIntyre catches Moss for a fireman’s carry! Corbin gets in and uses the kendo stick to SMACK away! No disqualifications, after all! Corbin tees off on McIntyre while the Usos and New Day brawl on the stage! Kofi gets thrown into the presents! Jey does the same to Woods! Woods even hits a tree! The Usos are standing tall as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns once more and Moss whips McIntyre corner to corner hard! Then he RAMS into McIntyre while Woods SMACKS Jey with a kendo stick! But Jimmy tosses a present at Woods’ head! It bounces off, a fan gets a free gift! That fan throws it back, they didn’t want it, so Jimmy SMACKS Woods with it again! Jimmy also uses that present to SMACK Woods, and Moss ROCKS McIntyre with haymakers. Moss suplexes McIntyre while Jey chugs some eggnog. Moss soaks up some heat, the Usos keep throwing hands on the New Day. Moss chokes McIntyre on ropes, but lets off to then bump McIntyre off buckles.

Moss throws hands and then stomps McIntyre, while Jey picks up a Christmas tree! Jimmy picks up the other one, and the CHRISTMAS TREE SANDWICH Kofi! Woods staggers up, Jey and Jimmy aim the trees like lances! McIntyre hits Moss back as the Usos JOUST Woods down! McIntyre whips Moss into a corner, Moss BOOTS him down! Jey SLAMS the tree down on Kofi, Moss drags McIntyre up. Moss soaks up the heat, but McIntyre blocks the suplex. Woods SUPERKICKS the cookies out of Jimmy’s hands! McIntyre suplexes Moss up and over! Those two are down, Woods unwraps something from Home Depot! It’s a CHAIR!

Woods tosses it to Jimmy and SOBATS it into his face! RVD would be proud! Jey SUPERKICKS Woods down, then gets the ‘nog! Ugh, that one might be spoiled… Kofi CLOBBERS Jimmy in the ring! Kofi rallies with double chops and lariats! Kofi fires up and fans are with him as he hits the NEW~ DAY~ BOOM DROP! Kofi goes to the corner, claps and fans clap along, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Kofi aims, spins, but Jimmy ducks to mule kick! Jimmy whips, Kofi goes up and up and FLYING RANAS! Woods gets in, he clotheslines Jimmy out of the ring! Kofi DOUBLE STMOPS Jimmy down! As if he wasn’t already feeling sick to his stomach!

Woods clotheslines Jey out now! Kofi gets the cookies! He and Woods get those cookies up top, for a SUPER COOKIE SMASH!! But then Moss CLOBBERS Woods, fires off on McIntyre, and fires up! “YOU AIN’T NOTHING!” He SLAPS McIntyre, but runs into a LARIAT! McIntyre is fuming and Corbin is panicking! McIntyre rallies on Moss, whip and OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! And then another! And then a NECKBREAKER! McIntyre kips up and fans fire up! McIntyre gives us the countdown, “THREE! TWO! ONE!” But Corbin trips McIntyre up! SO McIntyre chases Corbin! They go around the way, Kofi stops Corbin with a kendo stick!

Corbin sees he’s surrounded, so he fires himself up. Kofi dumps eggnog on the egg head! Moss sees what happened and gest out to glare at Kofi. But then McIntyre dumps eggnog on Moss AND Corbin! Woods WRECKS Corbin with a dropkick, McIntyre puts Moss back in! CLAYMORE!! Cover, #DrewDay win!

Winners: Drew McIntyre & The New Day, by pinfall

Woods raises a Christmas tree in victory! And they give everyone in the crowd a Merry Christmas with free WWE merchandise! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! See you on FS1 for New Year’s Eve!

My Thoughts:

It feels like it’s been a long time since a holiday themed SmackDown was this good. This wasn’t as good as it could’ve been, but it was really good for the recent run RawDown has been having. The main low point was the SmackDown Women’s Championship. It being the opener was an interesting choice. I would’ve put the Gauntlet first, just out of the principle of giving it time to breathe. The women’s title match felt like it was slow to get started. I just feel like Toni Storm has been told to hold back, so that Charlotte looks like she’s that much better. But the irony is that Toni has been wrestling three years longer, so they’re really more on par with each other if anything. Just another case of WWE creating the illusion through their own isolated kayfabe.

But of course Charlotte wins, no one has been built to beat her yet. SmackDown’s Women’s Division parallels Raw in that way, where the midcard is so sparse after all the cuts. Feels like WWE will default to Charlotte VS Sasha, though that’s still a really good match-up. And back to the 12 Man Gauntlet, while there were quite a few match-ups in that where they happened quickly, that was a great gauntlet for how Ricochet was built up to make it to the end, and how it got fans back into it. I was surprised Sami was the last man out, it certainly takes away some of the steam behind his conspiracy, but it does build Heel heat for him. Sami returning to the IC title and to Nakamura is great stuff, and Boogs definitely adds a new dynamic. Who knows who wins, but I feel like it’d revitalize things if Sami won.

Heyman had a great interview promo with Kayla, and we got a great vignette to review Heyman’s history in pro-wrestling, and even work it into the kayfabe with Roman and Lesnar. But given all of that, Heyman is far from done onscreen here. He’ll definitely be crucial to Roman VS Lesnar at Day 1, and whoever Heyman sides with wins the title. At the same time, I don’t want Heyman to swerve Lesnar and making this all a super elaborate way to boost Lesnar’s confidence. If Heyman shows up, he should be genuinely rejoining Lesnar as his Advocate, or genuinely trying to get in Roman’s good graces. Though I suppose what better way than to trick Lesnar?

The main event being the Six Man Street Fight was quite the surprise, but I suppose this was a good way to get fans excited for the end of the night and the holidays. I couldn’t tell if it was really getting fans into it, especially when the majority of what the Usos and New Day were doing were far away on the stage, then on the hard cam side of the ringside area. Christmas tree jousting was still a really great idea, though. Dumping eggnog on the Heels was pretty funny, too. The Faces win, but there’s still math to factor towards the tag titles. As for McIntyre, I think he’s going to be math proof against Moss. McIntyre will win, then he and Corbin battle at like the Royal Rumble, maybe even in the Rumble.

My Score: 8.4/10