WWE SmackDown Results – Dec. 26, 2017 – AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens

Dec 26, 2017

WWE Smackdown Results
December 26, 2017
Chicago, Illinois
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

In-Ring: Daniel Bryan + More

Smackdown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan makes his way to the ring to a big pop to kick off the show. Bryan leads the crowd in a “YES” chant before getting in the ring. The commentators talk about how the first hour of this show is commercial free. Tonight, we’ll see AJ Styles take on Kevin Owens.

A loud “Daniel Bryan” chant picks up. Bryan says it’s great to be back in Chicago, which gets a big reaction. Last week was a roller coaster edition of Smackdown Live. As 2017 comes to a close, one of the most shocking moments of the year came from an unexpected place. A replay is shown from last week of Dolph Ziggler talking about how unappreciated he’s been for years in WWE. Ziggler gave them something to remember him by and placed the US Title down on the mat before walking off, seemingly relinquishing the belt. Bryan has tried to call Ziggler all week and received no responses. Due to his actions last week, it appears Ziggler has voluntarily relinquished the United States Championship. If Ziggler is watching, everyone in the WWE Universe wishes him the best of luck. Bryan acknowledges that Ziggler is one of the “all time greats,” but we do need to move forward. He and Shane McMahon are proud to have the prestige of the United States Championship on Smackdown Live. They’re going to have a tournament to crown a new United States Champion, which starts tonight. In one of the first round matches, we’ll have Baron Corbin taking on Bobby Roode. In another first round match…

Benjamin and Gable make their way to the ring to a light reaction. Chad Gable says they want to talk about the Tag Titles. A “Rusev Day” chant picks up. Bryan says they just got a title opportunity two weeks ago. Benjamin says they never got a one-on-one match with The Usos. Why were there other teams in the match? Another “Rusev Day” chant picks up. Last week, they beat The Usos to prove that if it had just been them at Clash of Champions they’d be the new Smackdown Tag Team Champions. Gable says they’ve earned their opportunity.

Aiden English clears his throat and makes his way out to the stage with Rusev, who gets a gigantic pop. A thunderous “Rusev Day” chant picks up. Rusev is wearing a “Happy Rusev Day” shirt. English sings the reasons why they deserve to face The Usos. They beat The Usos two weeks ago and did not lose at Clash of Champions. English says everyone knows what day comes right after Christmas. The crowd starts loudly chanting, “Rusev Day.” Gable says, “It’s Boxing Day,” which gets a loud boo. Rusev says, “No, you fool! It’s Rusev Day!”

“AWW CHI-TOWN! DON’T YOU DARE BE SOUR! CLAP FOR YOUR WORLD FAMOUS FOUR-TIME CHAMPS AND FEEL THE POWER!”

The New Day makes their entrance throwing flapjacks into the crowd. A “New Day Rocks” chant picks up. Xavier Woods says all the other teams are out here wasting time. If they want to find out who the #1 Contenders are, all he has to do is take the Kofi Kingston “true/false challenge.” Did the team of Chad Gable and old Jason Jordan (Shelton Benjamin) get pinned at Clash of Champions? True. Did the oddly charismatic team of Rusev Day get pinned by The New Day last week? True. Who else but your boys deserve a title shot? True. Woods says logic states that it’s your boys – The New Day – who are the rightful #1 Contenders to the Smackdown WWE World Tag Team Championships. Bryan gyrates with them. Rusev tells them to shut up since no one wants to see their spinning hips. Another loud “Rusev Day” chant picks up. Can Bryan make up his mind or does he have to ask his “mommy” Shane McMahon? Bryan says they’re all correct. Therefore, we’ll have a triple threat match with all three teams where the winners will face The Usos for the Tag Team Championships. That match happens right now!

Benjamin and Gable vs. Aiden English and Rusev vs. The New Day

The Usos make their entrance to get a closer look at their next opponents. They join the commentary table. Aiden English, Xavier Woods, and Chad Gable start the match. They all get into a shoving match early on until Gable bumps into Rusev. A loud “We want Rusev” chant picks up. English shoves Gable out of the ring, and Rusev attacks him. Benjamin hits Rusev, and Big E clotheslines Benjamin. Woods hits them all with a summersault senton before getting English in the ring for a two count. Big E tags in and powerbombs Woods onto English for a near fall. Woods goes to the top rope, and they’re looking for the Up-Up-Down-Down. Gable hits Big E and English with a double German Suplex. Gable covers Rusev for a two count and covers English for a two count. Benjamin tags in, and they double-team stomp Big E in the corner. Benjamin knocks English out of the ring and suplexes Big E, but English breaks it up. Rusev tags in to a big pop and stomps Big E in the corner. Gable and Benjamin attack Rusev to loud boos before throwing him out of the ring. Benjamin tags in, and they hit Big E with a double-team knee for a near fall. English comes in and clubs Big E. English works with Gable to stomp Big E down. A “CM Punk” chant picks up. Big E comes back with a double clothesline on English and Gable. Woods tags in adn clotheslines and forearms Gable and English. Woods dropkicks English against the ropes. Gable reverses a whip on Woods, but he runs into a boot. Woods hits the Honor Roll. Woods slides under English and elbows him. Gable breaks up the pin. Benjamin tags back in and clubs away at Woods. Benjamin then sends English into Rusev before hitting a spinebuster. Woods then stuns Benjamin with an enzuigiri. Gable tags in and knocks Big E off the apron before giving Woods an exploder suplex. English then dropkicks Gable down.

Rusev is pumped up on the apron, and he gets tagged in. Rusev clotheslines and kicks Woods and Gable down. Rusev hits a pair of running shoulders on Woods and English before hitting Big E with a wheel kick. Rusev then hits Benjamin with a “Matchka Kick.” Rusev gets the crowd rocking with a “Rusev Day” chant. Rusev hits the ropes and goes for a suicide dive, but Gable forearms him. Gable hits Rusev with an impressive German Suplex, but English blind tagged in to attack. Woods dropkicks English for a near fall. Woods chops Gable a few times before having a whip reversed. Woods kicks him in the face. Big E blind tagged in. Big E slams Gable onto Woods’ knees for a near fall. They go for Up-Up-Down-Down on Gable again, but Benjamin hits Big E and knees Woods in the face. They pick up a near fall! Benjamin sets up for a move, but English dropkicks him. Gable catches English and tries for a rolling German Suplex, but English grabs Woods’ head. English runs Gable into a kick from Woods. Woods hits Gable with a big DDT. English slams Woods, but Benjamin breaks up the pin. Benjamin goes for a superplex on English, but he fights it. Gable comes up to help. Rusev comes from behind and hits a double powerbomb on Gable and Benjamin. English hits a frog splash for a near fall! English cannot believe it. Rusev tags in to a huge reaction. Woods rolls Rusev up for a near fall. Rusev viciously kicks Woods and looks into the crowd. Rusev puts Woods on top of Gable and screams that it’s “Rusev Day!” Rusev then applies a double Accolade on Woods and Gable! Benjamin kicks Rusev in the head to break it up. Benjamin tags in and knocks English away. Big E is in the ring, and he puts Benjamin on the apron. Big E then nearly kills himself with a suicide dive spear off the apron! Big E gets Benjamin in the ring as a loud “New Day Rocks” chant picks up. Benjamin elbows out of a Big Ending. Big E knocks him back and goes to the top rope, but Benjamin knees him in the face. Benjamin and Gable hit a double-team powerbomb/diving clothesline for the win!

Winners by Pinfall: Benjamin and Gable

Benjamin and Gable will face The Usos next week on Smackdown Live for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships.

Backstage: Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon

Daniel Bryan is seen watching backstage when Shane McMahon walks in. McMahon says he enjoyed Christmas with his family. The one thing going through his head these last few days is something Bryan said that upset him. Bryan said Shane is turning into his father. McMahon says his father is tough to deal with. Vince can be ruthless, cold, calculating, and a mean SOB. Still, Bryan must give the man his due. Vince McMahon built this empire by himself and changed sports entertainment into what it is today. At the end of the day, he’s his father. Bryan wasn’t trying to undermine what Vince McMahon accomplished, but Shane has been throwing his weight around, one of Vince’s worst qualities. McMahon says Bryan threw his weight around with this US Title Tournament. Baron Corbin should be the rightful #1 Contender. Bryan says this is the land of opportunity and wanted to give an opportunity to several superstars. McMahon says tonight’s main event is Kevin Owens and AJ Styles in a non-title match. Do they deserve this opportunity. McMahon says perception is reality, and he wants to make sure that people don’t think Bryan is showing favoritism to Owens and Zayn. Bryan says if McMahon wants to know his reasoning, Owens vs. Styles was one of the most vicious rivalries of 2017. Why not end the year with one more match? McMahon says, “Ok,” and stares at Bryan.

Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers

Breezango attacks them, but The Bludgeon Brothers get the better of them. Luke Harper slams Fandango in the ring while Erick Rowan gives Tyler Breeze a face-first slam onto the apron. Harper strikes Rowan before whipping him into Breeze. Harper then big boots Breeze for a near fall. Rowan tags in and powerbombs Breeze before lifting his shoulder off the match to let it continue. Harper tags in. Rowan viciously attacks Fandango at ringside. The Ascension runs down and attacks The Bludgeon Brothers before grabbing Breezango and running off with their friends.

Winners by Disqualification: The Bludgeon Brothers

Backstage: The Ascension and Breezango

The Ascension is tending to Breezango. The Ascension says their best friends will challenge The Bludgeon Brothers to a rematch next week. Breezango looks flabbergasted.

Ruby Riott w/ The Riott Squad vs. Naomi

Ruby Riott is shown in a pre-taped promo. The Royal Rumble is just another word for a riot. At the “Royal Riott,” she’ll eliminate Naomi first. Tonight, that glow has got to go. Footage is then shown of The Riott Squad’s vicious attack on Naomi last month.

The bell rings, and a hockey fight breaks out. Riott quickly slams her down by the hair and punches away at her. Naomi slides out of a scoop slam and hits a springboard kick for a near fall. Liv Morgan gets on the apron, but Naomi punches her. Sarah Logan gets on the apro, but Naomi knocks her off as well. Riott clips Naomi’s knee and hits the Riott Kick for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Ruby Riott

The Riott Squad starts to triple-team Naomi until Charlotte Flair makes the save. Flair clotheslines Logan on the floor before spearing Riott in the ring. Morgan pulls her off, so Flair spears her down. Logan kicks Flair down, and they triple-team her. Riott hits Flair with the Riott Kick before throwing her out of the ring. The crowd loudly boos them.

Natalya’s music hits, and she makes her way to the ring with Carmella, Tamina, and Lana. They get in the ring, and The Riott Squad backs off. They follow them out of the ring and attack. The Riott Squad quickly runs away.

Backstage: AJ Styles

Renee Young says things are heating up in the Women’s Division. She then introduces WWE Champion AJ Styles. 2017 was his year on Smackdown Live. To cap it off, he’ll face one of his biggest rivals of the year in Kevin Owens. Sami Zayn is not banned from ringside. How will he handle that? Styles says he’ll handle it like he handled Jinder Mahal and The Singh Brothers. No matter who he steps into the ring with, his opponent is the underdog. He started 2017 as the WWE Champion and will finish it as the WWE Champion. This is the land of opportunity, but what will you do with that opportunity? Owens thinks it will be handed to you. That’s not what happens if he’s on this show. If Owens wants to beat him, he’ll have to outwork and outshine him, something he couldn’t do. In 2018, this will still be “The House That AJ Styles Built!”

US Championship Tournament – First Round Match
Bobby Roode vs. Baron Corbin

Roode quickly hooks a side headlock on and won’t let go. Corbin backs him into the corner and gets a clean break. Roode blocks a right hand and stomps him out of the ring. Corbin catches his breath outside before getting back in. Roode punches him before hitting him in the corner. Roode hits a neckbreaker for a two count. Corbin rolls out of the ring to collect his thoughts. Corbin pulls Roode out of the ring before sending him into the barricade. Corbin puts him in a modified tree of woe hanging on the outside of the ring before punching Roode in the midsection. Corbin gets him in the ring and punches him in the midsection. Corbin shoulders Roode in the midsection before taking him down and punching him in the head. Corbin taunts the crowd before Roode chops him. Corbin quickly slams him down for a two count. Corbin applies a bearhug. Roode fights up and elbows him, but Corbin sends him out of the ring. Roode gets on the apron and shoulders him, but Corbin sends him back to the floor with a forearm smash. Corbin then goes outside the ring to clothesline him down. Corbin talks trash to him before putting him back in the ring. Roode knees him in the face and pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Corbin gets back in the ring, but Roode ducks a clothesline and forearms him before clotheslining him out of the ring. Roode gets on the apron and hits a diving clothesline. Roode gets him in the ring and avalanches him in the corner. Corbin shoves away a bulldog attempt, but Roode boots him back and hits a blockbuster for a near fall. Corbin punches him back before sending him shoulder-first into the ring post. Roode flips through the end of days. Corbin goes for his inside-out clothesline, but Roode counters with a spinebuster. Roode goes for a Glorious DDT, but Corbin counters into the Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin puts him in the corner and lifts him onto the top rope. Roode fights him away, but Corbin comes back with a superplex attempt. Roode head-butts him to the mat and jumps, but Corbin catches him with a chokeslam attempt. Roode counters that into a roll-up for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Bobby Roode

Bobby Roode advances to the semifinals of the WWE United States Championship Tournament.

US Championship Tournament – First Round Match
Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers vs. Tye Dillinger

Tye Dillinger says there are eight men, but only one will be champion. Still, the only number that matters is ten.

They lock up, but Mahal quickly takes him down and rolls on him. Dillinger gets up and applies a waistlock, but Mahal elbows him back. Dillinger gets a backslide pin for a one count, but Mahal slides out of the ring to collect himself. We come back from the break to see Dillinger fight up from a chin lock and chop out. Mahal quickly overtakes him and shoves him to the corner. Dillinger boots him back and chops him. Dillinger quickly forearms him down before kicking him and hitting a short-arm clothesline. Dillinger stomps him down in the corner before pulling his kneepad down. Mahal slides off the shoulders, but Dillinger punches him down. Dillinger hits a cross-body block, but Mahal rolls through and picks up a near fall. Mahal gets him on his shoulders and hits a gut-buster for a near fall. Dillinger fights out of a move and hits a DDT for a near fall. Dillinger gets him in the corner for the 10 punches, but Mahal gets out and hits the Khallas for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Jinder Mahal

Backstage: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are walking backstage when Dasha Fuentes stops them. Owens has champagne, which he will pop when he beats AJ Styles. Owens insults Shane McMahon and says he has a guardian angel on his shoulder. Daniel Bryan believes in them. Owens says he’s better than phenomenal. Dasha isn’t invited to their party.

Backstage: Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura

Renee Young is elsewhere backstage with Randy Orton. Orton says he’s looking to the future and is only concerned with how to throw 29 superstars over the top rope. Orton is officially entering the Royal Rumble match. For the third time in his career… he stops because Shinsuke Nakamura comes up to him. Nakamura says, “That’s a good idea. Let’s rumble.”

Non-Title Match
AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens w/ Sami Zayn

The bell rings, and Owens immediately runs into a dropkick. Styles bounces him off the turnbuckle and punches him. The referee backs him up, but Styles comes back with a snapmare before dropping a knee. Owens quickly elbows Styles back and applies a waistlock. Styles turns it, but Owens gets out. Styles quickly takes Owens down and punches him in the corner, but Owens pulls him into the turnbuckle. Styles quickly catches him with the Calf Crusher, but Owens immediately grabs the bottom rope and gets out of the ring. Styles goes outside and kicks Owens in the leg before putting him in the ring. Owens hobbles around before Styles takes him down. Owens kicks him away, and Styles flies out of the ring with a bad landing. Owens rolls out of the ring and turns him inside out with a clothesline. Owens hits a senton splash for a two count. Owens then applies a chin lock. Styles fights up and goes for a strike combination, but Owens hits a headlock elbow drop for a near fall.

We come back from the break to see Owens applying a chin lock. During the commercial break, Owens hit Styles with a huge back body drop. Styles fights up and punches out, but Owens elbows him in the back of the head before big booting him for a near fall. Owens then goes back to the chin lock. Styles fights up and hits a sit-out face-buster. Owens avoids an avalanche, but Styles is able to boot him back. Owens avoids an aerial attack and turns him inside out with a clothesline for a two count. Owens hits a neckbreaker on his knee for a near fall. Styles gets to his feet and catches Owens with the Ushigoroshi. They both slowly get up and go back and forth with punches. They then get into a hockey fight. Owens knees him, but Styles comes back with a Phenomenal Blitz followed by a running forearm for a near fall. Styles hits a running forearm in the corner and goes for a Styles Clash, but Owens gets out. Styles quickly catches him with a Pelé Kick. Styles goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Owens puts him on his shoulders and hits a gut-buster. Owens then goes to the second rope and slingshots off with an elbow drop for a near fall. Owens chops the chest and goes for a superplex, but Styles slides out. Styles hits an inverted fireman’s carry slam for a near fall. Owens rolls out of the ring to recover. Styles goes for a plancha, but Zayn moves Owens and takes the move. Styles sends Owens into the ring post and gets him in the ring. Styles gets on the apron, and Zayn joins him to yell at him. Styles gets in the ring and swats him away. Owens then superkicks him for a near fall.

Smackdown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon makes his way to the ring and orders the referee to eject Sami Zayn from ringside. In the ring, Styles gets Owens with an inside cradle, but the referee is distracted by McMahon and Zayn. Styles lets go to see what’s happening. Owens then rolls him up with a handful of tights for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Kevin Owens

Shane McMahon looks disgusted with what just happened. Styles is furious and stares at McMahon in anger while he walks up the ramp. Owens and Zayn celebrate wildly in the ring as the final Smackdown Live of 2017 comes to a close.

Quick Match Results

* Benjamin and Gable def. Aiden English and Rusev and The New Day
* The Bludgeon Brothers def. Breezango vis DQ
* Ruby Riott def. Naomi
* Bobby Roode def. Baron Corbin (WWE US Title Tournament 1st Round Match)
* Jinder Mahal def. Tye Dillinger (WWE US Title Tournament 1st Round Match)
* Kevin Owens def. AJ Styles (non-title)

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