TLC Flashback• The New Day retained the Smackdown Tag Team Championships beating the Revival in the opening contest. This seemingly brought an end to the programme between the two sides and with the Revival likely to leave at the end of their contracts next year may be their last major programme. • King Corbin with the assistance of Dolph Ziggler and the Revival was able to defeat Roman Reigns in a TLC match. • Bray Wyatt defeated the Miz, Post-match the Fiend was ready to appear only for a returning Daniel Bryan to appear and lay out the current WWE Universal Champion.
Announced for Smackdown are two rematches with the New Day facing Cesaro and Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura as well as Dana Brooke going one on one with Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley. Smackdown takes place from the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, NY.
Daniel Bryan/Miz/King Corbin/Dolph Ziggler segment
Smackdown kicks off with the return of Daniel Bryan after being taken out by the Fiend just less than one month ago. After letting the crowd chant his name for an extended period of time, Bryan brings up the rumours of where he’s been the last few weeks going on a monologue in that “After telling people to change I’m the one that needed to change” bringing up his family recognising only “The brand” of Daniel Bryan and that if the Fiend does feel no pain that he should come out and take another ass kicking. Instead of Bray Wyatt or the Fiend it would be the Miz making an appearance, Miz would tell Bryan that he’s glad that he’s back but that his business with Bray Wyatt isn’t over as “Protection of my family comes first” and the Fiend “Only has the Universal Championship”. Before Bryan can respond another interruption from King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler occurs with Corbin claiming after TLC he’s the rightful number one contender for the Universal Championship, the King of the Ring winner would then run down Bryan and Miz before telling the two former Wrestlemania main eventers that the Fiend has something he wants in the WWE Universal Championship. Miz and Bryan would go to attack Corbin but be blindsided by Ziggler leading to Corbin and Ziggler laying out both Miz and Bryan with a tag team clash set for the main event.
Cathy Kelly interviews Heavy Machinery before their ‘Miracle on 34th Street fight’ with the Revival. Asked about Cesaro destroying Otis’s ham last week Tucker would say that Otis is a strong man but his “Heart is very gentle”. Otis would tell Cathy that Christmas joy will be spread before Mandy Rose appeared telling Otis that she was his secret Santa giving him a new ham and a kiss on the cheek, the social media love story continues.
Miracle on 34th Street fight
Heavy Machinery vs The Revival
This was a typical tag team brawl with Heavy Machinery dressed up as Santa Claus getting the upper hand with a double back body drop and a double team on Dawson. Revival were able to take control following a jawbreaker to Otis giving them a two on one advantage over Tucker which the Revival used throwing Tucker into the barricade.The Revival attempted to put Tucker through a Christmas table but after a back and forth with Otis the other member of Heavy Machinery would end up going through. This was followed up by throwing Tucker over the announce table which knocked Otis’s ham on the floor, Otis seeing this went wild delivering an exploder suplex onto a huge bunch of presents for Dash and a body slam to Dawson on lego. This was followed up by a Mass compactor on Dawson for the win.
Post-match, Otis was seen backstage with his ruined ham. Bumping into Mandy Rose she would offer Otis a hug but then be covered in sweat on her dress and walk off.
Cut back to the ring and the Revival are cutting a promo saying that the match they’ve just had is what their “Legacy” will be. This brought out Elias who played a song for the Revival claiming the team is on “life support” and “That they’re going to need to make a big change”.
Sami Zayn backstage segment with Braun Strowman where Zayn tells Braun that he was his secret Santa but didn’t know what to get him. Strowman tells Zayn he wants an Intercontinental Championship match with Zayn backing out bringing up tonight’s tag match with the New Day as an excuse.
Sonya Deville vs Carmella
Due to Mandy Rose needing to change following the sweat from Otis’s hug Sonya had to go this match alone. Carmella now has pyro as well which is pretty cool.
Deville took control early on with a knee to the gut followed by a low knee to a sitting Carmella. Carmella would attempt a fightback with a couple slaps only to be kicked in the stomach again and multiple times in the corner. Carmella changed the momentum with a big clothesline out of the corner which would lead into the finish with the Code of Silence for a Carmella victory.
Post-match, Carmella’s music would be interrupted by the Smackdown Tag Team Champions the New Day with both the New Day and Carmella dancing at the top of the ramp giving flashbacks to the first season of Mixed Match Challenge.
Another Sheamus return vignette is shown, a Royal Rumble return seems very likely.
New Day vs Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro w/ Sami Zayn
The first of the announced matches for tonight and a rematch from two weeks ago sees Nakamura and Kingston start with the Intercontinental Champion taking control blindsiding Big E. Kofi Kingston would respond with a running second rope dropkick but this momentum was short lived and went back to the Intercontinental Champion following a backstabber with Nakamura and Cesaro keeping control for the next few minutes. After an enziguri Kofi would be able to tag in Big E who cleaned house delivering a overhead belly to belly on Nakamura followed by a clothesline to Cesaro. Big E followed this up with a splash but when attempting the Big Ending to Nakamura be hit with a spin kick. The ring would then turn into a cluster as all 4 competitors entered with Kofi taking out Cesaro with a monkey flip to the outside and Nakamura throwing Kofi straight after. The finish saw Kofi and Cesaro after both being tagged in go back and forth with each other with Cesaro coming close to winning with the swing and a double stomp, however Kofi Kingston was able to rollup Cesaro for the win.
Post-match, Braun Strowman came down to the ring attempting to clean house taking out Cesaro but when going for the powerslam on Nakamura be unable to due to Sami Zayn.
Miz and Daniel Bryan have a backstage segment where they admit that they don’t like each other but for tonight they work as a team.
Bayley vs Dana Brooke
In our second rematch of the night it’s Bayley going up against a rejuvenated Dana Brooke.
Bayley took control of the match early on getting Dana Brooke into the corner and smashing her head into the turnbuckle which was followed up for a two count. Dana was able to show some momentum with a hip toss but it would be short lived with a knee into the corner by Bayley and use of the ropes to choke Charlotte’s former protégé. Dana was able to gain some momentum with a clothesline and connected with a Swanton bomb for a two count. The finish saw Dana miss a corner move and Bayley connected with the ‘Stroke’ for the win.
Post-match, Bayley and Sasha Banks attacked Dana Brooke until Lacey Evans would make the rescue. Evans would call the duo “Nasties” before claiming that Sasha Banks has “No backbone” challenging ‘The Blueprint’ to a match right now which Sasha accepts.
Lacey Evans vs Sasha Banks
This match starts in the commercial break with Evans in control before Sasha would trip the ‘Sassy Southern Belle’ into the corner. Banks kept control with a snap suplex and armbar before a synchronised dropkick from the two competitors took both out. Banks would take further control in the match mouthing off at Evans calling her “Pathetic”. This led to the finish of the match as after the contest was brought outside Banks started mouthing off at Evans daughter on the front row, this enraged Lacey who would go crazy on Banks throwing her into the barricade and needing a pull apart with Dana Brooke and Bayley leading to a double count out.
Daniel Bryan and The Miz vs King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler
It’s Main Event time with the focus being on if Bryan and Miz can co-exist. The start of the match saw Bryan and Miz bickering over who would start the match to be blindsided by Corbin and Ziggler who would be taken care of. Bryan would connect with YES kicks to Ziggler but before going for the last one Miz tagged himself in to connect with his own IT kicks. Corbin rushed in which allowed both Miz and Bryan to hit their YES and IT kicks at the same time. After the commercial break Bryan and Corbin would be in the ring with Bryan taking control with running dropkicks in the corner which Corbin reversed into a clothesline. Corbin and Ziggler kept control over Bryan with Dolph using the ropes to rake the eyes of Bryan and Corbin forcing the former Smackdown GM into the corner. This advantage would end after Bryan found separation on the top corner to deliver a top rope dropkick on Corbin and tag in Miz. Miz cleaned house until Corbin broke up a pin attempt allowing Ziggler to connect with a satellite DDT. The finish saw Ziggler attempt a superkick but be reversed into a figure four leg lock in which Dolph would tap out to.
Post-match, The Fiend’s music and lighting would play but only laughter appeared.
Overall, Smackdown was a ok show, nothing on the show was must see but it was a harmless fun show heading into the holidays.
