SmackDown says goodbye to the past and looks to the future!

Kevin Owens continues to claim he is the rightful WWE Champion, but he STOLE the Winged Eagle! Will he face the consequences before 2025 arrives?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Woman Tag: Bianca Belair, Naomi & Bayley VS Nia Jax, Candice LeRae & Tiffany Stratton; Bianca, Naomi & Bayley win.
• Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller VS Braun Strowman; Braun wins.
• The Street Profits w/ B-Fab VS Los Garza w/ Elektra Lopez; The Profits win.
• Sami Zayn VS Carmelo Hayes; Sami wins, by disqualification.

PLAY BY PLAY

Nick Aldis speaks.

“Following what occurred at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Kevin Owens is making the claim of being a champion. Let me be clear: He is not. He was defeated by Cody Rhodes. Nonetheless, Kevin Owens is in the possession of the vaunted Winged Eagle championship belt, something that means a lot to a lot of people. It means a lot to me. It represents the legacy and tradition of the WWE. It represents history and greatness. It was presented to Cody Rhodes as a gesture of trust in our Undisputed WWE Champion. Kevin has no right and no claim to that championship belt. So the ultimatum is as follows.

“Kevin. You have until the end of the night to relinquish the Winged Eagle championship belt, or face immediate and severe consequences that will directly impact your future in the WWE. This is not a negotiation. You have one and one option to you only: To do the right thing.” Will this ultimatum from the SmackDown General Manager fall on deaf ears? Or will the Prizefighter give up his stolen prize if he knows what’s good for him?

Backstage interview with Bianca Belair & Naomi.

Cathy Kelley is with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and says going from being nearly forced to relinquish those titles to finally recapturing some gold, what did that win mean for them both? Naomi says for her, she has been wanting gold ever since she returned here. It didn’t happen the way she thought it would, but Naomi is just glad to have done it with the EST, her friend, especially after what happened with Jade Cargill. Bianca says Naomi showed up, had Bianca’s back, and made sure they’d keep these belts. Bianca knows they have to forward, but they won’t forget about what happened to Jade.

Bianca is sure it was someone among Nia, Candice, Tiffany, and so on. So they’ll keep on fighting ’til they find out whodunnit. Naomi says good thing, because they got a help from Naomi’s other friend! Bayley steps in and she says she’s got them! They good? Bianca says yeah, they’re good. Then will the “StrongEST Glow Models” be standing tall over the WWE Women’s Champion, WWE Women’s Speed Champion and Miss Money in the Bank? Or will there be some golden tickets owed for the New Year?

Six Woman Tag: Bianca Belair, Naomi & Bayley VS Nia Jax, Candice LeRae & Tiffany Stratton!

But as Nia makes her entrance, she has a mic. She asks Bianca when she’s gonna give up. Nia did NOT touch Jade. None of them did! Tiffany couldn’t even help Nia & Candice win the tag titles, do you really think Tiff could orchestrate a backstage attack? Bianca is whining about her “friend,” but from Nia’s point of view, Bianca’s doing just fine without Jade. Jade is gone, Bianca is still champion, and yet there was zero time taken to replace Jade. Nia thinks Bianca is just trying to avoid suspicion on herself. The fans boo but Nia says Jade comes in and Bianca can’t stand to share the spotlight with her!

In fact, Jade is bigger, stronger, and better than Bianca. And Bianca just snapped! Nia gets it, though. Nia would do the same thing! But the thing is, let’s stop pointing fingers and just admit to the truth. Bianca, why don’t you own up to it, or Nia will make you! The fans boo more, Bayley & Naomi keep Bianca calm, and Nia’s team finally goes to the ring. The teams sort out and Bianca steps up. She wants Nia but she gets Tiff instead. Tiff and Bianca tie up, go around, and Bianca headlocks. Bianca hits a takeover, Tiff headscissors, but Bianca kips free. Tiff headlocks and hits a takeover, but Bianca headscissors.

Tiff kips free, runs up, but Bianca gets around to waistlock and SLAM! Cover, TWO! Bianca drags Tiff up to scoop and SLAM her! Bianca then runs, handsprings, but Tiff bails out! Nia, Tiff and Candice regroup, but Bayley and Naomi hop in. Bayley DIVES onto Candice, Naomi WRECKS Nia with a dropkick, then Bianca PLANCHAS onto Tiff! Tampa fires up with Bianca’s team while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Bianca runs to DROPKICK Nia! Nia rebounds but Bianca fires forearms! Bianca RAMS Nia into the corner, RAMS into her again and again, then climbs up. Bianca rains down fists, the fans count all the way to TEN! Nia sits down,. Naomi tags in, and Naomi runs, says kiss this, and she basement DROPKICKS Nia in the corner! Then she gives Nia a twerking stink face! The fans cheer, but Nia shoves Naomi away! POP-UP HEADBUTT! Nia snarls while she high stacks Naomi, TWO! Naomi survives but Nia drags her around. Tag to Candice and she stomps Naomi, then fires fists!

The fans rally for Naomi but Candice drags her up. But Naomi JAWBREAKERS free! Naomi then BULLDOGS Candice into the corner! Tag to Bianca and she brings Candice around. Naomi & Bianca DOUBLE stalling SUPLEX! And a double kip up, too! The fans fire up and Naomi secret handshakes with Bianca. SPLIT LEG DROP! Bianca adds the HANDSPRING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Candice scrambles away, but Bianca RAMS her in the corner! The fans rally as Bianca climbs, and she rains down fists on Candice! Tiff runs over to distract, and Candice YANKS Bianca down! Hot tag to Nia for a LEG DROP, brother! Cover, TWO!

Nia is furious with the ref but the count was fair. Nia picks Bianca up, tags Candice, and then Tiff sneaks a tag! MISSILE DROPKICK HART ATTACK! Cover, but then Tiff jumps! Candice moves so the FLYING SPLASH hits Bianca! The ref is confused, he might’ve missed Tiff’s tag! Tiff and Candice argue, but then Tiff hurries to BLAST Naomi! Bianca fights past Tiff but Tiff grabs the braid! The fans rally as Bianca reels Tiff in and DECKS her! Bianca hurries, so does Tiff, hot tags to Bayley and Candice! Bayley fires off forearms then whips, but Candice reverses! Bayley reverses back to roll Candice! Candice rolls through but Bayley KNEES her!

Bayley clinches to SAIDO! Candice tumbles out but Bayley pursues! DAREDEVIL DROPKICK- NO, Candice blocks the kick and SWINGS Bayley into the post! Candice scrambles in and HAMMERS away on Bayley! The fans boo but Candice stops to tag in Nia. Candice drags Bayley up for Nia and they mug Bayley. The fans rally, Nia puts Bayley on ropes and CHOKES her! The fans boo but Nia drags Bayley over. Tag back to Candice and she has Bayley on the apron. But Bayley fights back with forearms! Candice hits an APRON FACEBUSTER! Nia cheers but the fans boo, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Candice covers Bayley in the ring, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Candice puts her on the ropes. Candice CHOKES Bayley, then stomps her! Candice drags Bayley up and over, Nia tags in, and they mug Bayley. Bayley fights back, but Nia scoops to SLAM! Nia CHOKES Bayley, DRIBBLES her, then sits on Bayley for a cover, TWO! Nia is furious with the ref, but then she drags Bayley back up. Nia whips Bayley to a corner, runs up, and back body blocks! Nia gives Bayley a bit of stink face, then stands her up. Bayley fires body shots and forearms! Nia HEADBUTTS Bayley and down she goes!

Nia storms up on Bayley, tags in Candice, and Candice drags Bayley up to snapmare then NECK SNAPPER! Cover, TWO! Bayley survives but Candice keeps her down with a chinlock. Candice then shifts to a straitjacket, but Bayley scrambles to the ropes! Candice puts Bayley in the corner, but Nia’s too busy taunting fans so Tiff tags in! Tiff stomps a mudhole into Bayley, then Nia tags in. Nia gives Bayley more stink face! Nia drags Bayley up and clamps on a SLEEPER! Bayley endures, fights around, but Nia offers a tag, to Candice! She leaves Tiff hanging but Candice wrangles Bayley into a facelock.

Candice grinds Bayley down but Bayley fights back up. Bayley fires body shots but Candice CLUBS her down! Candice whips Bayley to a corner, then BLASTS Bianca for the fun of it! Candice runs up, but Bayley escapes to the apron! Candice hits buckles, Bayley kicks Nia! Candice runs up, but Bayley catches her for a HOTSHOT! Bayley catches her breath, slumps down from the apron, and SmackDown returns to single picture as Bayley climbs back up. Bayley crawls for her corner, as does Candice. Nia is still on the outside, so Candice has no choice but to tag Tiff! Hot tag to Naomi! Naomi LARIATS Tiff!

Naomi rallies with forearms, then a FLYING CHUCK! Naomi runs, slides under and MULE KICKS! Then she runs up to TORNADO BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives but Naomi is right on her. Naomi whips. Tiff reverses and DECKS her! Tag to Nia but Naomi BOOTS her! Tiff SPINEBUSTER for Naomi! BAYLEY2BELLY for Tiff! Candice has a CODE BREAKER for Bayley! Bianca scoops Candice to GUT BUSTER! But Nia scoops Bianca to SLAM her! Nia hurries up the corner, but Naomi SUPERKICKS first! Then goes up for some STRATUSFACTION! Naomi puts Nia in the drop zone, SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, TIFF BREAKS IT!

The fans are thunderous as Tiff TOSSES Naomi! Then she PLANCHAS for good measure! But then she sees Nia is down… The fans fire up, they want Tiff to do it! It’s her time!! Tiff gets her briefcase, and she nods to the ref! But Candice SNATCHES the briefcase! They fight over it, they argue about being a champion, but Candice tags in. Tiff shouts at Candice, but then Naomi slides in to full nelson Candice! GLOW BOMB on Candice! Bianca & Bayley YANK Tiff down, and Naomi body scissor cradles Candice! StrongEST Glow Models win!!

Winners: Bianca Belair, Naomi & Bayley, by pinfall

A great win for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and The Role Model, but this speaks to the growing strife in Nia’s friend group. Will Tiff be able to time her cash-in better next time?

BREAKING NEWS for next Friday!

Raw moving to Netflix is big, but so is SmackDown growing to THREE HOURS! That’s right, both brands, three hours, truly a new era! Get ready to enhance your WWE week on January 3rd!

A-Town Down Under talk with Nick Aldis.

They complain about the cost of Grayson Waller’s new show set and who is taking care of it. Waller gives the invoice to Aldis but Aldis says he already told them: if they have issue with Braun Strowman, they should take it up with him. In fact, Austin Theory has a match with Braun, doesn’t he? He should get going. By the way, he’s waiting for someone. Oh, really? Who’s more important than ATDU here? Knock knock, it’s Sami Zayn! Waller can’t believe it! Aldis was waiting for “this homeless bloke?!” ATDU storm out, and the Honorary Uce tells Aldis that they should talk. Aldis agrees. Will Sami use the Transfer Window to be here on SmackDown?

SmackDown returns and…

Sami finishes his conversation with Aldis, simply saying that he isn’t trying to put Aldis in a tough spot or make it more chaotic than it already is. He’s just figuring, Sami is on Raw, Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline is supposed to be on SmackDown, and yet Solo’s Bloodline shows up. Sami is here to say it is only fair he gets a shot at payback. Aldis understands that. But then Carmelo Hayes barges in and says Aldis thought Braun was gonna humble H1M. But seeing as Melo won, he made Aldis a card. Merry Christmas. Melo hands those out but Sami speaks up. Sami knows Melo is new around here, but when you see two people talking, you usually wait.

Oh, right, his bad. Want a card? Sami chuckles and says maybe Melo didn’t hear him right. When two people are talking… You wait your turn. Sami crumples up the card, and throws it back at Melo. Melo says okay, he’ll let that slide. But why is Sami even here? The only time Sami’s on SmackDown these days is to get beat up by The Bloodline. So maybe Sami should stay out of Melo’s business, and off Melo’s show. Oh, Melo’s show? Yeah! Sami tells Aldis that how about this: Sami can wait for Bloodline, he’ll take Melo on instead. Aldis likes the idea. Consider it done. Melo says yeah, done for Sami!

Melo heads out, but he’s got quite the fight on his hands! Will Sami be the one to humble H1M? Or will Melo not miss his chance to take down another top superstar in the WWE?

Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller VS Braun Strowman!

Speaking of having a big fight on our hands, the A-Town half of A-Town Down Under is about to fight #OneBigSOB! Will Theory be able to outmaneuver The Monster of All Monsters like Melo did? Or will he #GetTheseHands?

The bell rings and Theory says, “All Day!” Braun SHOVES Theory and Theory tumbles out of the ring! Waller fires Theory up, Theory runs back in, but Braun UPPERCUTS, then LARIATS! Braun then whips Theory corner to corner hard! Theory falls, but then stumbles back up. Braun runs in, but Theory dodges! Braun hits buckles, and Theory fireman’s carries! Theory can’t keep Braun up long, though, and Braun TOSSES Theory across the ring! The fans fire up while Theory flounders back out, and Waller says that was an illegal throw! Waller complains but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the fans rally for Braun while Theory sits him up. Braun throws body shots, but Theory fires haymakers in return! Then BASEMENT DDT! Theory talks smack, says fans came to see him, and then Theory storms up on Braun. Theory pie faces the monster, but Braun CHOPS him down! Even Waller is feeling that one! Braun storms back up, but Theory dodges to CHOP BLOCK! Braun falls to his knees, Theory winds up, and Theory DECKS Braun! Cover, ONE?!? And Theory is sent flying! Theory is shocked, Waller is worried, but Braun is up! Theory HOTSHOTS Braun, then hurries to somersault SHOTGUN!

Braun just rebounds to SHOTGUN in return! Theory is sent back out to the floor! The fans fire up for Braun as he rises up, and he storms over to Theory. Braun palms Theory’s head like a basketball in order to lift him up! They’re in the ropes so the ref counts. Braun lets go at 4, to run, but Waller trips him up! Braun stomps Waller’s hand! Theory runs up but Braun TOSSES him out onto Waller! Braun rips off his shirt and Tampa fires up! Braun goes outside, the Strowman Express CLOBBERS Theory! Waller runs away, but Braun drags Theory up. Braun goes up the steel steps, DUMPS Theory in, then he goes up the corner?!

The fans go wild as Braun climbs! But Waller returns! Braun SHOVES Waller down, but Theory manages to fireman’s carry!! But both men fall! Theory hurries up, but Braun scoops! MONSTER SLAM!! Cover, Braun wins!

Winner: Braun Strowman, by pinfall

The Monster of All Monsters brings down A-Town Down Under, so no, it isn’t all day. Will Braun find his way back to the top of the mountain in the New Year?

Kevin Owens speaks.

“Nick, um… I heard what you said. I heard all of it. I heard you say I’m not the real WWE Champion, but I mean… I have this, I deserve to have this, I am the true, rightful WWE Champion, okay? And I also heard that ultimatum. You want me to give this back, you said I have to give this back, and I’m sure you’d love for me to agree to this right away, and go, ‘Yes, Milord, I shall give it back right away, Milord.’ But you know what, Nick? I think you and I need to have a little discussion. So I’ll come into this arena, but on my terms. That means just me and you alone in the ring, no one else. No security guards, no office cronies, just me, you, and then… Then we can talk.”

The Prizefighter has given his response, but can we really trust Kevin alone with the SmackDown GM?

Piper Niven is in the ring.

She is dressed up for the occasion, with the American flags and balloons and even a podium with… a seal that has Chelsea Green’s picture on it, and says, “Chelsea Green’s United States Championship Celebration.” Piper waves and says, “Ladies and gentlemen. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to your prettiest, tallest, sparkliest, most beautiful, most popular, first and longest reigning Women’s United States Champion, my bestie not yours, Chelsea~ Green~!” The Hot Mess makes her way out, dressed as Lady Liberty! Chelsea waves to the fans and steps inside the ring. She and Piper hug before Chelsea goes to the podium.

Chelsea thanks everyone, and the fans do cheer, “You Deserve It!” Chelsea says she wants to take this time to address the fine people of the WWE Universe. “We did it! We have officially turned the blue brand into the Green House! Now, Fergie once used the letters G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S to describe this very moment. The moment that the world would feast their eyes… on the most glamorous, richest, tannest, sparkliest, tallest, youngest, oldest, longest reigning, first-ever WWE Women’s United States Champion!” The fans cheer that!

And now, Chelsea feels it is only necessary to give recognition to the woman who has been there through it all. The woman who has stood by Chelsea’s side, and if not for her, Chelsea wouldn’t be here. That woman… is Chelsea herself. Piper rolls her eyes as Chelsea say sit is her honor to bring pride and sexiness to this reign. Because if not for Chelsea, we’d be stuck with one of those “she trolls” in the locker room! WOOF. Chelsea says to her “trash loving opponent, Michin,” she has but two words: GOOD RIDDANCE~! HAHAHA! Chelsea would say Mia could be a champion like Chelsea, but Canadians don’t lie.

The fans boo and Chelsea says okay, okay, what she will say to Mia Yim is… that Chelsea is shocked Mia even made it that far. Lastly, folks, Chelsea challenges us to ask yourself not what Chelsea Green can do for you, but what you can do for Chelsea Green! Now is the time! 2025 is going to be the year of #RedWhiteAndGreen! Wait, here comes Michin! And she tells Chelsea that in case she forgot, it if wasn’t for Chelsea’s “goofy friend,” Piper, Mia would’ve won! And actually, Mia is gonna take a page out of Chelsea’s book and introduce her to Mia’s little friend: the kendo stick! They’ll give Chelsea the ass kicking she deserves!

Piper steps up as secret service and blocks the kendo stick! But Mia ROCKS Piper, then SMACKS away with the stick! The fans fire up, Chelsea wants Mia to hold on, but then Mia swings! Chelsea dodges but she’s in heels! She begs for mercy, but Piper drags Chelsea to safety! Mia says it is only a matter of time, there’s nowhere to run or hide! When and where will Mia truly be the Head Baddie in Charge?

DIY is backstage.

Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa imagine the parade they can have for their win, but then they come across Nick Aldis and The Street Profits. Aldis thanks DIY for joining them, and wants to ask them this once: Is there anything DIY wants to say about who attacked Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins three weeks ago? Uh, yeah. It was terrible what happened! Really sucks, they feel awful. Is that it? Final answer? Well, okay. Because here’s the thing. There are two eye witnesses to what happened that night. Pretty Deadly steps in? Aldis asks Kit Wilson & Elton Prince if they truly witnessed the attack.

Well, maybe, but Kit needs a refresher. Elton also does! Maybe if there was some funding on the table for a future Tony Award winning musical? Aldis says maybe they’ll have more time for their project when they’re unemployed. Right, right. Kit & Elton talk it over, and they say it was Gar… za! Garza! Los Garza! The Profits step up and B-Fab asks if that’s 100% what they saw. Yes, 100%. Oh, well, okay, they did see Legado here earlier. Then say less. The Profits believe what Pretty Deadly said!? Ford & Dawkins call out Angel & Berto, then go right at them! They brawl, Elektra Lopez is shocked, but now she and B-Fab get at it!

Aldis and producers jump in, and he says no, just go to the ring! NOW! Profits say bet! But will Legado pay for a crime they didn’t commit? Will accusing the wrong team come back to bite Kit & Elton?

The Street Profits w/ B-Fab VS Los Garza w/ Elektra Lopez!

SmackDown returns as this match is already going, and Ford has already knocked Berto down! Angel wants Ford to tranquilo, but Ford rushes him! They run around the outside, back inside, and Dawkins is there to CLOBBER Angel! Berto gets back up but Ford kicks him! Ford and Berto brawl inside while Dawkins and Angel brawl on the outside! Dawkins ROCKS Angel, but Angel BOOTS Dawkins! Berto BLASTS Dawkins and Ford BOOTS Angel! Then they both aim, and they STEREO PLANCHA! Berto and Ford then brawl on the outside! The ref reprimands, both men hurry inside and fire more hands.

Berto whips, Ford reverses then blows past him to LARIAT! The fans fire up and Ford rises. Ford storms up on Berto, tags Dawkins, and they double whip to DOUBLE FLAPJACK! Dawkins covers, TWO! Dawkins drags Berto to a corner and fires fast hands! Dawkins rains down those haymakers but he backs off as the ref counts. Berto YANKS Dawkins into buckles! Dawkins flounders, Berto KICKS him in the side! Berto CLUBS Dawkins, tags Angel, and Angel hold Dawkins up by his legs. Berto runs to LEAP FROG ATTACK! Then feed to Angel’s HAYMAKER! Cover, TWO! Angel rains down fists on Dawkins!

Angel smothers Dawkins, turns him over, and hooks him into a partial CAMEL CLUTCH! Dawkins endures, Angel talks trash, but the fans rally up. Angel fires crossface forearms, then he tags Berto. Los Garza mugs Dawkins, then Berto CLUBS Dawkins. Berto talks trash but Dawkins ROCKS him! And BLASTS Angel! Dawkins tags Ford then whips Berto. Ford CLOBBERS Berto, then the Profits hit the BACK SUPLEX SPLASH! Cover, Angel breaks it! Dawkins whips but Angel reverses to HEADBUTT! Ford JUMP KNEES Angel! Ford ducks one kick but not the ENZIGIRI from Berto! Los Garza regroups, Ford runs up!

Berto BOOTS Ford, then pops him to the apron. Angel SHOTGUNS Ford into a corner! The fans boo while Angel smothers Ford and CLUBS him down, then SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Angel kicks Ford around, then soaks up heat. Angel drags Ford up, puts him in the ring, then CLUBS away on Ford against the apron. Angel slides in, drags Ford around, and he tags Berto. They put Ford up top, then Berto climbs up behind him. Berto CLUBS Ford, rains down fists, and he counts for himself! Berto stops at 9, then he drags Ford into a Tree of Woe. Tag to Angel and Los Garza stomps away! The ref counts, Los Garza lets Ford fall out of the Tree, then Angel taunts Dawkins. Angel goes back to Ford to CHOKE him on ropes. The ref counts, Angel stops at 4, but Lopez SLAPS Ford! B-Fab is mad but Angel covers, TWO!

Angel is frustrated but he drags Ford up. Angel slips around to have a kneeling COBRA TWIST! Angel CLUBS away on Ford’s ribs, then cranks the twist! Ford endures, fights up, and SmackDown returns to single picture. The fans rally for Ford as he stands, and he fires elbows! Angel keeps Ford from Dawkins, then hits a SPINEBUSTER! Tag to Berto and he drags Ford to the apron. Angel runs while Berto sits ford up, KNEE ROUNDHOUSE COMBO! The fans boo but Lopez applauds, and Berto storms in. Berto drags Ford up, snapmares, and then runs to basement DROPKICK! Berto soaks up heat as he stalks Ford.

Berto stands Ford up to CHOP, then stomps away in the corner. Tag to Angel and Berto keeps stomping. Angel runs side to side to BOOT WASH! Angel says if this is what The Profits wanted, this is what they’ll get! Angel covers, TWO! Ford toughs it out but Angel clamps on. Angel reels Ford in, soaks up more heat, but Ford fights the lift. Angel kicks, Ford blocks and then SATELLITE DDTS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Ford and Angel crawl, but Angel then grabs Ford’s foot! Ford fights and gets free! Hot tags to Dawkins and Berto! Dawkins rallies on Berto, then FLAPJACKS Angel! Berto kicks low!

Berto whips, Dawkins hurdles! FLYING UPPERCUT! The fans fire up with Dawkins and he gets Berto with the SILENCER! Cover, TWO!! Berto survives but Dawkins hauls him back up. Electric Chair Lift, and then tag to Ford! Ford climbs, but Angel makes the save! Berto shoves Dawkins into Ford! Angel SUPERKICKS Dawkins! Ford is stuck up top so Los Garza go after him! They both climb up, and they double gorilla press!! DOUBLE ROCKET LAUNCHER!! Then Angel ARIHARA MOONSAULTS Dawkins! Berto MOUNTAINTOP MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!! Ford survives and Berto cannot believe it!

The fans fire up and even Lopez is at a loss for words! Berto rains down fists, then he tags in Angel. Los Garza double whip Ford, then pop him up. But Dawkins POUNCES Angel! Ford lands out to ENZIGIRI Berto! Hot tag to Dawkins! Dawkins gets Angel for a whip, but Lopez makes the save! La Madrina makes sure her amigos are okay, but B-Fab BOOTS Lopez down! The fans fire up and Ford FLIES! Down go Los Garza! Ford puts Angel in, Dawkins lifts Angel back up! Ford tags back in, climbs back up, and we get the DOOMSDAY BLOCKBUSTER!! Cover, Profits win!

Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall

Whether or not Los Garza are really guilty of the backstage attack, they could not overcome the fast ‘n’ furious Ford & Dawkins! Will the Profits still be up in the New Year?

Andrade speaks.

“Nakamura wants to call himself, ‘The savior of the United States Championship.’ Talking about honor? Spare me. You want to talk about wrestling? Technique? There is no one better than Andrade. Your mind games, they don’t scare me. They show me the kind of man you really are. A man with no respect, who took my title opportunity. So now, I’m coming for you. And when we face off, I will expose you. And after I deliver The Message, everyone will remember one thing: Andrade is inevitable.” El Idolo calls out the King of Strong Style, and we will see this battle next week! Will Andrade come away with a big win over the NEW US Champion?

BREAKING NEWS for next week, again!

The three hours is being jam packed already as Naomi gets one more shot at the WWE Women’s Championship! Will Nia #FeelTheGlow once and for all? Or can the Irresistible Force turn back the challenge one more time?

DIY confronts Pretty Deadly.

Gargano asks what they’re up to, aka we all know Pretty Deadly totally lied. Kit says this is what the British call, “quid pro quo.” Elton says that if they scratch DIY’s backs, maybe DIY scratch theirs? Ciampa doesn’t scratch anyone’s backs but his. But hey, Pretty Deadly did look out for them, so they’ll look out for Pretty Deadly. Oh, okay! #YesBoy! Kit & Elton move on but then The Profits walk by. B-Fab thanks them for the heads up on Los Garza. Respect. Uh, yes, respect! Don’t mention it! Ever. Like, ever ever. Pretty Deadly hurries away, and B-Fab suggests talking with Aldis about the tag title situation.

As the Profits head for Aldis’ office, Motor City Machine Guns is there. Chris Sabin says that with all due respect, if anyone gets a title match, it is MCMG. Sorry, but Profits will have to go to the back of the line. Back of the line, huh? Did they really just say that? Apollo Crews steps in now and says they’re all getting played. It wasn’t Los Garza. It was DIY straight up. Trust him, he saw it. Oh… Well now that the cat’s out of the bag, will the Profits AND MCMG make sure DIY sleeps with the fishes?

Sami Zayn VS Carmelo Hayes!

The Honorary Uce came here to handle business with Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, so he didn’t appreciate being interrupted by H1M. Will this veteran and Raw locker room leader make sure Melo learns his manners? Or will no one from any brand be able to humble Melo?

The bell rings and Sami circles with Melo. They tie up, go around, and Melo puts Sami in a corner, but Sami turns it around. The fans rally for “Sami Uso!” as he lets off slowly, but Melo shoves Sami. The two reset and tie up, then Melo waistlocks. Sami wrenches free to wristlock, but Melo puts Sami back in a corner. Melo swings, Sami dodges and then CHOPS! CHOPS! And CHOPS! Sami wrenches Melo to then whip, but Melo ducks ‘n’ dodges, then rolls off Sami’s back! Melo DROPKICKS Sami down, then covers, ONE!! Melo clamps onto Sami with a chinlock but Sami fights up. Melo shifts to a headlock but Sami powers up and out.

Sami drops, then hurdles, then TOSSES Melo out to the floor! Melo turns around, Sami builds speed and fakes Melo out to Arabian Press! The fans cheer, Melo is annoyed, but he slides in, only to slide back out. Sami is upset but Melo trips him up! Melo drags Sami out, knees low, then whips Sami. Sami goes up the barriers to QUEBRADA! Down goes Melo and the fans fire up! Sami is in control as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Melo is on the outside. Melo bumps Sami off buckles! Sami falls back, Melo soaks up heat, and then Melo brings Sami up for another buckle bump! Sami staggers, Melo brings him back up, but Sami blocks! Sami bumps Melo off buckles! Sami brings Melo up to suplex, only for Melo to block that and HOTSHOT! Sami flops back and Melo slingshots to then springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Sami stays in this so Melo stomps away on him! The fans boo but Melo rains down fists! Melo soaks up some more heat, then he rains down even more fists! Melo flexes but the fans boo.

Melo drags Sami up with a facelock, then he fires hands. Melo talks trash, throws more hands, then talks more trash. Sami blocks a shot to fire hands! Sami whips, Melo reverses, but Sami goes up and over then LARIATS! The fans fire up as Sami goes to a corner and takes aim. Melo rises, runs in, but Sami ELBOWS him away! Sami goes up to AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and Sami is feeling that energy! Sami storms up but ducks a shot! But Melo fights Blue Thunder! Melo fires elbows, then runs, but Sami reels him in! BLUE THUN- NO, Melo slips free and mule kicks! Melo runs, springboards, but Sami catches the Fade Away into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!

The fans are shocked but so is Sami! Melo reaches out in a daze but Sami goes to a corner. Tampa is thunderous but Melo jumps up to get Sami! Sami fires hands first and he HEADBUTTS Melo down! Sami adjusts, leaps, but has to roll through as Melo moves! Melo comes back with the FIRST 48! Cover, TWO!! Sami survives but Melo tries another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Sami survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally up as Melo runs, FADE AWAY DDT! Sami is down, Melo goes up! Melo calls his shot, NOTHING BUT- LARIAT!! Shot blocked by Sami and the fans are thunderous again!

Sami roars and shakes the ropes! Sami climbs up on Melo to rain down fists! Sami goes way past TEN to get like TWENTY! Sami then lets off so he can storm back up. Sami blocks Melo’s kick, spins him around, and CORNER EXPLODERS! The fans are thunderous because this leads to Sami taking aim from the far side. HELLUVA- NO, Melo bails out! Melo says he’s good, he’ll head to the back. But BRAUN makes his way out here! The Monster scoops Melo but Melo slips free! Melo runs for the hills, the ring count climbs, and Sami shakes his head. Only to turn around into a TACKLE from Tama Tonga!!

Winner: Sami Zayn, by disqualification

Of course The Bloodline knew Sami was looking for them, so they went after Sami! They mug Sami while fans boo, and Solo tells his men to finish him. Tama runs, but Sami BOOTS him! Jacob Fatu runs in but Sami POSTS him! Solo CLOBBERS Sami! The fans boo more but Tama rains down fists. Braun comes back, Melo on his shoulders, but then he realizes there’s bigger fish to fry! The Monster storms his way to the ring to help his ol’ pal Sami! Braun TOSSES Tama into barriers! Braun dares Solo to try something, so Solo fires hands! Braun and Solo brawl, but Solo throat chops! Solo runs but Braun CLOBBERS him!

The fans are thunderous as Solo tumbles out of the ring. But now the Samoan Werewolf steps to the Monster of All Monsters! The fans are going nuts seeing this stare down! Braun dares Jacob to try something, but then Tama CHOP BLOCKS! SUPERKICK from Fatu! SAMOAN SPIKE from Solo! And then another SAMOAN SPIKE!! The numbers keep working in Solo’s favor, but Sami TACKLES Solo! Tama CLOBBERS Sami, but now producers and referees rush out here! But Jacob still hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER on Sami!! And Solo makes sure the camera is on him! “Roman, I’m coming for you!” SAMOAN SPIKE for Sami!!

The fans boo as hard as they can, producers reprimand Solo, but Jacob adorns Solo with the ula fala. And wait, NOW Kevin Owens makes his way out here? Well, he does hate The Bloodline, but he’s here to handle business with Aldis. Kevin holds up the Winged Eagle, then heads to the ring, but is he going to hand it over? We’ll find out after the break.

SmackDown returns and…

Kevin has joined Aldis in the ring, and just as agreed, it is just the two of them. Aldis says he already said what he needs to say, so there’s just one thing left to do. Kevin simply has to do the right thing and hand over the Winged Eagle. The fans are torn, and Kevin asks if that’s really the right thing. That’s actually the worst thing Kevin could do. Why would Kevin give this back? This is the only bargaining chip he has! This is the only way he can make sure he gets what is fair and what he deserves! And do you know what that is, Aldis? That is a rematch for the Undisputed WWE Championship, where a referee cannot rob Kevin of his victory!

Because that is what happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event. If Cody wants this back, then he has to come and take it, by giving Kevin his rematch! Kevin had Cody beat! Aldis knows it, Cody knows it, EVERYONE knows it! Aldis says he already said this is not a negotiation, and that there would be immediate and severe consequences if Kevin didn’t hand the belt over. Maybe Aldis needs to spell it out: Hand the belt over, or Kevin never sets foot in a WWE ring again! Fans boo that, they don’t want Kevin leaving. But wait! CODY RHODES IS HERE! Even after what Kevin did to his neck, Cody is back, his WWE Championship on his shoulder.

Aldis tells Cody to hold on. Aldis won’t say much more than this, but for Cody’s sake, Aldis’s sake, and all of the WWE’s sake, Cody needs to turn around and walk away so Aldis can handle this. The fans boo that, but Cody says, “Nick… I’m not gonna walk away.” The fans cheer that! Cody says he doesn’t want Kevin to hand the belt over. Aldis cannot make a martyr of a man who wants to be a martyr. Kevin has said so much that he has made this about what Kevin thinks it is about! Kevin has put up sheets of logic like walls, so allow Cody to punch through them. The real problem here stems from Cody teaming with a man who tried to end Kevin’s career.

Rewind to Saturday Night’s Main Event, that is exactly what Kevin tried to do to Cody! It isn’t about what Kevin says, but what he does. When Kevin first met Cody, Cody was young, hungry and angry. Cody wanted to climb the ladder like everyone else, and he was doing it for Cody and Cody alone. But Cody no longer does this for himself. He hasn’t for quite some time. Cody does this for his girls, for his fans, for that announcer who believed in Cody before Cody ever did! For the timekeeper who is Cody’s cousin! For his little buddy in the front row! For his mentor, Randy Orton, who Kevin put on the shelf, denying the fans the chance to see him!

And Cody does it for those who have put faith in him! The man who gave him the Winged Eagle and said, “One night only, so that we could give the fans something special.” So it is not Aldis’s responsibility but Cody’s to take that title belt back from Kevin. Kevin gets all mockingly emotional, says Cody’s just lying, but then Cody shouts, “SHUT THE HELL UP!!” Cody has had absolutely enough of Kevin! Let’s ask Kevin the simplest of questions: Were they friends before Cody became champion? YES! Are they friends? NO!! If Kevin wants a match where the ref can’t screw him, fine! Cody wants a match where the ref can’t stop what Cody’s gonna do to Kevin!!

Aldis tries to stop Cody even now, but Cody begs Aldis to let him do this. The fans chant “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” Cody steps into the ring so that he can stare Kevin in the eyes. That’s what this is about, right? Climbing? They’ll take the Winged Eagle title, they’ll take the WWE Logo title, hang ’em high up, and it’ll be a LADDER MATCH! Kevin grins but Cody glares. Aldis says then at the Royal Rumble, it will be Cody VS Kevin for the Undisputed WWE Championship… in a LADDER MATCH! The fans fire up, the mics drop, except for Kevin’s. Kevin says sounds great to him. See you there.

Kevin offers a handshake, but Cody doesn’t even budge. Kevin says that’s also fine. So he SHOVES ALDIS INTO CODY! The fans boo as Kevin then stomps away on Cody’s neck! Aldis shields Cody now but Kevin still finds openings to take shots! Kevin holds up the Winged Eagle and shouts, “I’m the TRUE champ! I’m the TRUE champion!!” Kevin has to wait five weeks, but will he be THE Undisputed WWE Champion in the New Year?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown, and I guess they’re back to live. The Tampa crowd was hard to get a good read on. I couldn’t be sure if they were just quiet or certain audio was piped in. But that aside, this being the last two-hour SmackDown for the foreseeable future managed to shove a lot of things in and get a lot of superstars involved in all the different stories. Good promos to lead into the Six Woman Tag, and it certainly adds to how Naomi might be the one whodunnit. Nia thinking Bianca did it could be a red herring in itself, it’s too easy to say a tag partner turned on another when that happens a lot.

Plus, we got another Tiff cash-in tease, but Candice of course defends Nia. With a title match happening next week, that is another opening for Tiff, but I feel like Candice will get in the way there, too. If nothing else, Naomi becomes a double champion to add more drama to the story of her attacking Jade. Speaking of titles, we got a good promo from Chelsea with Piper, and of course Chelsea thanked herself and no one else. Likewise, Mia Yim of course stormed out there to go after Chelsea, setting up the feud for a rematch, just as I’d guessed. We’ll get more great action out of Chelsea and Mia, and maybe, just maybe, Piper stands up for herself over not being thanked for anything she’s done for Chelsea.

Great stuff with the tag team whodunnit, where we all know it’s DIY that attacked The Profits, and clearly Pretty Deadly knew, but they pinned it on Los Garza in hopes of getting their own title shot. Great match out of Profits VS Garza, and great win for Profits, but a bit of a plot hole in how Apollo didn’t step up to say anything until now. I mean, I get it, he was busy with fighting Bloodline because they bullied him for no good reason, but he could’ve said something to Aldis real quick before that. It’s just small things that pro-wrestling is still guilty of, no matter the company, but it’d still be nice if they changed for realism’s sake.

Great blending of stories between Braun VS Melo and everything with the Bloodline. Braun gets a great win over Theory, Sami VS Melo is a great match, and naturally Braun wants after Melo the moment Melo tries to run away from Sami. But then likewise, Bloodline goes after Sami since he wants after them. Braun joining in on that brawl could also mean he stands in for Jimmy while Jimmy’s toe heals up. As I said for Raw and SmackDown before, the “Transfer Window” should be used to get all parts of The Bloodline onto one brand just for the ease of doing story. Granted, business type stuff might mess that up. Netflix might get Roman, but NBC will still want something, so Roman winning could put all the OGs on Raw and Solo’s side has to stay on SmackDown.

And very good stuff with the Cody VS Kevin story. Naturally, Aldis would try to settle this peacefully, and naturally it wouldn’t work out when Kevin doesn’t want peace but glory. Cody feels the same way, and so naturally, a ladder match is made. From the classic HBK VS Razor Ramon for the Intercontinental Championship to various parallels since, the ladder match and both physical belts being the one championship is the way to go, and we’ll get an awesome match.

But waiting until Royal Rumble on February 1st was a touch of a surprise. Granted, the next Saturday Night’s Main Event is January 25th, the week right before… Maybe SNME is used to lighten the load of the Royal Rumble card. After all, the Rumble is mostly about, well, the Rumble, so two rumbles, all the top titles, meaning midcard titles and tag titles can be part of SNME and the go-home episodes to really build up this year’s Road to WrestleMania.

My Score: 8.8/10