WWE SmackDown Hartford, Connecticut
The commentators are Michael Cole and Corey Graves.
– Tonight is WWE SmackDown, the blue show starts with the commentators welcoming us and we see the wrestlers arriving earlier today.
– Jimmy Uso enters the ring and walks with a crutch. Jimmy Uso says WarGames got his big toe. WarGames meant everything to him because you end up in the cage with family members. Family members we like, don’t like or sometimes argue with. But in the end, everyone raises their finger. The OG Bloodline won at WarGames, but that’s the past. The question is the future. While he was little he watched his family dominate the domain. And he’s proud of that. He’s seen Roman Reigns be the most dominant champion and he’s proud of that. He watched his twin brother become the most popular wrestler of the modern era and he’s proud of it. He is even proud of his little brother Solo Sikoa.
Jimmy Uso says he’s very proud, but he sees the messages from everyone wondering what the future holds for him. The answer is that he doesn’t know. But this might be a big year for Big Jim. Royal Rumble winner? United States title winner? Or even World Title winner? A big year awaits him. There’s no Jey Uso or Sami Zayn or CM Punk here. He is here alone and a great new year awaits him!
Jimmy Uso wanted to pose in front of the fans, but Drew McIntyre arrives and gives him a Claymore Kick! McIntyre begins to beat him, but the officials arrive to stop him.
– Backstage, Tiffany Stratton prepares for her match. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae arrive. Jax asks if she’s ready. Stratton says nothing can stop him. Jax says he won’t need her briefcase anymore when she’s the United States Champion. Jax says they’ll watch her impress them.
– Back after the break, backstage, Nick Aldis and Drew McIntyre are talking. Aldis says he can’t let it happen. McIntyre is a big deal. Naomi and Bianca Belair arrive. Belair asks if they can talk. Aldis tells McIntyre to go wait for him in his office. Belair asks if he meant Jade Cargill. Aldis says the investigation is still ongoing and they don’t have a conclusion yet. Since the investigation is not coming to an end, he sees no other option, Belair will have to relinquish the titles. Belair refuses. Naomi says Belair doesn’t give up on anything. She can take the place if Belair needs a partner. Belair says she hopes to hear that it’s an option. Aldis says if they do that, they will have to be champions who defend the titles, starting next week. Belair approves.
United States Championship Tournament – Semi-finals
Tiffany Stratton vs Michin
At the end of the fight, Michin goes to the corner, but Stratton gets up and punches her. Stratton takes her on his shoulders for a Finlay Slam. Stratton goes for his Moonsault, Michin manages to half avoid it. Michin continues with his Eat Defeat for the count of three.
Winner: Michin
– Behind the scenes, we find DIY. Johnny Gargano says in Cleveland he had to return as champions. It had to be the best evening of their lives. Tommaso Ciampa says they were ripped off without a rematch. Gargano says he was humiliated in front of his friends and family. But the next week he said he was going to do what he had to do to get the titles back. Ciampa says Motor City Machine Guns has arrived to take their place. Gargano says it was so good to see his old friend again. Motor City Machine Guns have done great things for the tag team division, but now they are two-time tag team champions.
– Back, we present a video of the new Bloodline who attacked wrestlers last Friday on SmackDown.
– In video, we find Roman Reigns et Paul Heyman. Reigns says it was a tough year. Not so long ago, they controlled everything. ¨Then everything fell at the beginning of summer. He lost his title, he lost his advisor, he lost the Bloodline… the whole Bloodline. But most importantly, he lost his pearl necklace. The problem is that Solo Sikoa wasn’t there 4 years ago. He didn’t take this necklace, he earned it. His father and uncle gave him this responsibility because he was the man to lead the family.
Reigns says January 6 is the start of Netflix for some, but the only thing that matters to him is Tribal Combat. Sikoa’s Bloodline won a match, and his Bloodline won a match. So he suggests doing a Tribe Chief against Tribe Chief, leaving the others aside. On January 6 on Netflix, he will resume his Bloodline, he will resume his pearl necklace. On January 6 he will resume his respect. The whole world will have no choice but to recognize it.
– Backstage, Nick Aldis chats with Legado. Santos Escobar says Aldis must make decisions. He can no longer endure Aldis managing only for his favorites. Escobar says maybe they would be better off with Adam Pearce. La Legado leaves saying they are going to call Adam Pearce.
Carmelo Hayes comes out and says it’s crazy all this hype for his mystery opponent when it will be an easy job. Aldis says it’s something to watch out for if it’s going to be that easy.
– Back, Carmelo arrives in the ring for his match and discovers that his mystery opponent is Braun Strowman!
Singles Match
Carmelo Hayes vs Braun Strowman
At the end of the fight, Hayes launches from the corner, but Strowman attacks him and powersbombs him for the three count in less than two minutes.
Gagnant : Braun Strowman
– Backstage, Byron Saxton asks LA Knight for his comments before his match against Solo Sikoa. Knight says the mega star is here. Knight says that throughout his career he always made sure he managed his own business. He turned down WarGames’ offer because it was none of his business. He doesn’t care about the necklace. He only wants the gold. He doesn’t care about family, the only one he likes is Jey Uso. Knight says Sikoa let his necklace interfere with his title. His foot is going to end up in Sikoa’s ass tonight.
– Back, the wrestlers arrive.
Singles Match
Solo Score accompanied by Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga vs LA Knight
At the end of the fight, Knight manages to give Sikoa an Elbow Drop from the corner and covers him, but he resists two. Jacob Fatu is angry for being pushed back during the match and comes back to attack Knight. The referee stops the fight.
Winner: LA Knight via disqualification
– After the fight, Fatu and Tonga start beating Knight. Andrade and Apollo Crews enter the ring to help LA Knight. Sikoa calms the two down with Samoan Spike.
– Backstage, Pretty Deadly arrests Baun Strowman. They say they’ve been looking for a monster for months and finally they just found one for their show. Strowman refuses the offer. Bryon Saxton arrives for an interview, but Austin Theory and Grayson Waller arrive. Waller says Strowman needs a real reporter to ask the right questions for his return. The Grayson Waller Effect next week would be a good idea. Strowman agrees.
United States Championship Tournament – Semi-finals
Bayley vs Chelsea Green accompanied by Piper Niven
At the end of the fight, Bayley goes to the corner, but Niven pulls Green to ringside to save her. Bayley launches an Elbow Drop on Niven ringside! Green takes the opportunity to push Bayley against the barricade. Green returns to the ring to hope to win by count-out, but Bayley goes back to nine. Green kicks him and follows up with his Unprettier for the count of three.
Winner: Chelsea Green
– Behind the scenes, we find the Motor City Machine Guns. Chris Sabin says they came to WWE to establish themselves. They did just that, winning the tag team titles in their third match. They know it’s a problem for some people like the Street Profits. But it was a surprise that it was a problem for their friend Johnny Gargano. Alex Shelley says that with one Superkick their relationship is over. He understands why this is a battle. Next week Gargano will understand why he is the professor.
– Back, on video, Shinsuke Nakamura says that a change is coming. No more having a weak mind behind weak confidence. He will continue to bring them into the light one after the other. He will humiliate them all. LA Knight was just the beginning.
– Backstage, Nia Jax stops Tiffany Stratton. Nia Jax says it was a tough night. Not everyone is cut out to be a solo champion like her. Candice LeRae says she went to see Nick Aldis and she got a good news. She and Nia Jax will have a match for the tag team titles next week. Nia could have two championships. Stratton is in shock.
– The commentators present the WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event card for tomorrow, to discover here.
– Michael Cole is in the ring for the final face-off before WWE SNME. Cole introduces Cody Rhodes and we learn that Kevin Owens is not there. Rhodes says Owens isn’t here, but this beautiful crowd is here. They will continue like professionals and do the rest of the interview. Cole asks if he can find out more about Triple H’s gift. Kevin Owens shows up on the TitanTron and says no one cares. Owens says Cole said he was a neutral reporter, Cole should ask the right question: Why is Cody Rhodes OK with the idea of using his friends to finish his story at WrestleMania and then team up with Roman Reigns? Owens says Cody needs to be honest and tell the truth. That’s because Cody is as bad of a friend as he is of a brother. Owens said that despite the main events and everything else, Cody Rhodes was more interesting as Stardust.
Cody Rhodes says Owens knows his role well, he probably has other lines. Cody says he could go join him now to hear it. Cody leaves the ring and walks backstage. Cody goes for him, but Owens attacks him from the back. The two exchange blows and go to fight in the ring. Officials arrive to separate them. Owens manages to hit Cody Rhodes with the belt in the head. The show ends with Cody on the mat.
Photo credit: WWE
