December 20, 2024
Hartford, CT – XL Center
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results via Alex Kahrs of WrestleView.com
Quick Match Results
- Six-Man Tag Team match – The Bloodline defeated Andrade, Apollo Crews, & LA Knight via Samoan Spike (pinfall)
- Carmelo Hayes defeated Braun Strowman via Countout
- Johnny Gargano defeated Alex Shelley via Roll-up (pinfall)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Naomi & Bianca Belair (c) defeated Nia Jax & Candice LeRae via Split-Legged Moonsault (pinfall)
Video: Saturday Night’s Main Event Show Recap
Video Package: Highlights from Saturday Night’s Main Event…and a look at Kevin Owens attacking Cody Rhodes after the show went off the air!
Video: Naomi, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, Motor City Machine Guns, DIY
Commentary states we will get an update on the Undisputed WWE Champion later tonight, before getting a shot of competitors arriving at the arena.
In-Ring: The Bloodline, Drew McIntyre
"You take care of Roman Reigns for good.”
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
Jimmy Uso has heard enough! He’s taking it to @DMcIntyreWWE 👊
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ZfczSl9jNe
We cut to ringside where The Bloodline (well, Solo Sikoa’s) make their way down the ramp. We get a look back at last Friday’s SmackDown and a reminder that Solo will face Roman Reigns in Tribal Combat on Raw’s Netflix debut. Solo gets a microphone, telling Hartford to acknowledge him…and the crowd replies with an “OTC” chant. Solo addresses Roman’s challenge for Tribal Combat, dealing with the crowd chanting “What?” and telling them once again they need to acknowledge him.
Solo asks Roman if he wants to take the Tribal Chief to war…let’s do it. He says he will leave his Bloodline behind for this match if Roman will keep his crew away as well, before promising that he will beat Reigns on January 6. He tells Roman that after he’s done, he can get back on his boat, and sail away to the island of irrelevancy. Before he can get much further, Solo is interrupted by the arrival of Drew McIntyre.
Drew walks down the ramp before stepping through the ropes, staring the Bloodline down along the way. Solo gives him some credit for what he did to Jimmy and the OG Bloodline before talking him down for the interruption, but McIntyre poses a question to Sikoa of whether he asks himself at night “when is Drew coming after me?”
He notes that Solo is the one who cost him a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship a while back, acknowledging that at some stage they have the same goals. Drew reckons he’ll keep taking out OG Bloodline members and Solo does him a favor by taking out Roman Reigns for good. Once they settled their own bits of business, they can settle things between them. Drew is quickly blindsided by Jimmy Uso, who brings McIntyre out of the ring for a beatdown as LA Knight’s music hits.
Knight and his partners Crews and Andrade rush to the ring, leading to a wild brawl between all six men as we go to commercial break.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
The Bloodline (Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu, & Solo Sikoa) vs. Andrade, Apollo Crews, & LA Knight
Message. Sent.
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
Solo Sikoa is READY for Tribal Combat 😤
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/TDFfuVPdgl
Back from break, the match is in progress with Crews and Tonga going at it. Tag made to Knight who goes to work on Tama, before tagging in Andrade. One more tag as he and Crews double-team Tama, but it’s only good for a two count. Knight back in for some offense, tag to Andrade who sends Tonga to the outside. Jacob Fatu tries to get involved but he’s sent out as well, leading to a double dive from Crews and Andrade! Back in the ring, Knight climbs up top targeting Sikoa but to no effect.
Tama is back in the ring, making an official tag to Fatu who unleashes a flurry of offense to the approval of Sikoa as we go to commercial break.
Back from commercial, Solo is the legal man for his team and firmly in control over Apollo Crews. He brings Crews to the corner for some more strikes, keeping Crews from making a tag in the process. Tag made to Fatu, who puts the hurt on Crews even further until Apollo makes a tag to Andrade. Andrade clears the Bloodline off the apron before hitting a cross body on Fatu, who crawls to the corner…only to be met with a running strike by Andrade for a nearfall! Andrade goes up top, looking for a moonsault…Jacob rolls away, but is caught with a standing moonsault by Andrade instead, which gets him a two count.
Tonga rushes in for an assist, before Jacob sends Andrade to the ropes and hangs him up on the top rope for an assist from Solo Sikoa! Andrade is attacked outside the ring before being brought back in, leading to a nearfall from Fatu as this USA Network feed dictates I don’t get a picture-in-picture break. Absolutely ridiculous.
Back from break, Jacob Fatu is demolishing Andrade in the corner before knocking Apollo off the apron. He charges at Andrade, who narrowly evades a hip attack before hitting Fatu with an enziguri to make the tag to Knight! Tama tags in but is taken out with a clothesline by Knight, who stomps away at him in the corner. Solo gets involved for a moment, but is taken down with a neckbreaker by LA who tags in Crews. Apollo goes up top for a splash and the two count, as Knight runs outside to deal with Solo…only to be attacked by Shinsuke Nakamura! Solo heads back to the ring, tagging himself in for a running hip attack and a uranage, followed by the Samoan Spike for the win!
Winner: The Bloodline via Pinfall.
Backstage: Motor City Machine Guns
Alex Shelley plans on teaching @JohnnyGargano a lesson he’ll never forget…
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/G4ipOdnWaf
Backstage, we hear from the Motor City Machine Guns ahead of Alex Shelley facing Johnny Gargano. MCMG address their history with Gargano before Shelley promises payback…but also tells Sabin that he needs to handle this on his own before leaving.
Video: Michin, Chelsea Green
Video Package: Saturday Night’s Main Event saw Chelsea Green become the inaugural Women’s United States Champion!
Video: Chelsea Green, Piper Niven
We cut to an exclusive interview with Green after winning the title, saying this is her time after what she’s been through the past few years. Up next we will take another look at what happened after Saturday Night’s Main Event between Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes.
Video: Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens
Video Package: Cody Rhodes defeats Kevin Owens to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship, only for Owens to lay him out with a Package Piledriver and run off with the Winged Eagle championship belt after the show went off the air!
Commentary addresses the aftermath, describing the champion’s diagnosis before wishing him all the best on a speedy recovery.
Backstage: Kevin Owens
“I haven’t snapped yet.”
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
What else does @FightOwensFight have up his sleeve? 😳
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4YlfilCuRV
We cut away to Kevin Owens, sporting the WWE Championship he took last Saturday as he says what happened was not his fault. He blames WWE’s management for what happened, claiming he was screwed out of the title. What happened to him was a travesty, a tragedy, and that he should be champion. He’s not, but he took the Winged Eagle belt…and he’s keeping it until he gets what he wants. He says he hasn’t snapped yet, but it could be much worse. What happens next is on WWE and the management.
Backstage: DIY
Backstage, we hear from DIY as they address the grudge match Alex Shelley wanted for tonight. Since he wants to do this on his own, Gargano tells Ciampa to stay here so he can show Shelley why he’s Johnny Wrestling.
In-Ring: A-Town Down Under, Braun Strowman, Carmelo Hayes
Not the “poor people” 🥴
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
Where are your manners, @GraysonWWE? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/pRsQOF9WUJ
Waller and Theory welcome us to the show before Grayson welcomes their guest, the Monster of all Monsters…Braun Strowman!
Strowman steps out with a festive look, tossing presents to the crowd on his way to the ring as we get a look back at last week’s match between him and Carmelo Hayes. Waller and Theory quietly ask for presents before thanking him for helping the poor people of Hartford, which nearly riles up the big man.
Grayson says he knows how this normally goes, and he’s spent a lot of money on a new set for the show, so he wants to just have a civil conversation for a few questions. He was afraid of bringing Strowman on the show, making comments that continue to needle at Strowman as he tries to offer an ultimate alliance between the three of them. The brains and the Braun…well, the brain and the Braun. Strowman is getting more angry, but Carmelo Hayes comes out to address what happened last week.
Hayes says he wasn’t ready last week, and that Aldis can’t humble him. He challenges Strowman to run it back, because he’s ready. Strowman promises to show him what the Braun Effect is, and Waller and Theory leave the ring as Strowman throws the palm tree decorations at Hayes. Carmelo narrowly avoids the literal palm strikes from the big man, as a referee comes down for their match up next!
Braun Strowman vs. Carmelo Hayes
.@Carmelo_WWE may have outsmarted Braun Strowman, but can he outrun him? 🤔
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/9h29K9QNFT
Hayes tries to take the big man down but to no avail, quickly heading to the ropes to stop Strowman’s momentum. Braun sends him to the ropes for his troubles, but Carmelo slides out for a breather. Strowman leaves the ring to give chase, only to be cut off upon his return by Hayes who gets the upper hand…until Braun shoves him away, forcing him back out of the ring. Hayes is brought back in the ring the hard way from the apron. Strowman brings Hayes back up, looking for a chokeslam…but Carmelo kicks him to fight back!
Hayes taunts the crowd after this, giving Braun a chance to rise to his feet from behind…but Carmelo manages to send him back to the outside. Hayes goes on the chase now, but is cut off by Strowman. The ref is counting as the two go at it, reaching nine when Braun launches Carmelo over the ropes…and ten before Braun can get back in the ring! The ref calls for the bell, and Hayes wins this one via count-out!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes via Countout.
With this putting the two men at 1-1, Hayes celebrates only briefly before rushing out of the ring and up the ramp.
Backstage: Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, Tiffany Stratton
Well, this is awkward…
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
Sounds like they’ve got it covered, @tiffstrattonwwe 😬#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/2ypa3EvacC
Backstage, Nia Jax and Candice LeRae talk about their Women’s Tag Team Championship match when Tiffany Stratton walks in to wish them good luck. She says she can’t wait to be their to celebrate when they win the tag titles, but Candice says she and Nia agreed that Tiffy needed to stay away for this one. Stratton seems disappointed as we get a graphic for Gargano vs. Shelley, up next!
Backstage: Carmelo Hayes, Legado Del Fantasma, Braun Strowman, Pretty Deadly
Looks like @Carmelo_WWE got the last laugh 😅
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/5D23ZztB15
After some Signs of the Night, we cut backstage where Carmelo Hayes is running away from Braun Strowman. Santos Escobar is no snitch, Angel tries to misdirect him, and Pretty Deadly want a look at their musical…before Hayes blindsides the big man with a steel chair! He runs off with Strowman chasing him once more as we cut away.
Alex Shelley vs. Johnny Gargano
Come on, Ciampa 😡
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
Chris Sabin has his eye on you…
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Iigs2gtSb0
Back at ringside, Alex Shelley makes his way out for our next match. Johnny Gargano makes his way out next, as we get a look back at the WWE Tag Team Championship match two weeks ago leading to this grudge match tonight!
Gargano charges at Shelley, who quickly gets the upper hand in retaliation. Gargano manages to fight out of the corner, mocking Shelley and the crowd as he goes on. Alex catches him by surprise before taking Gargano to the mat. Gargano fights back with a kick to the head before bringing Shelley to the corner, stomping away at the Motor City Machine Gun before the ref intervenes.
Shelley fights back, sending Gargano out of the ring before catching the tag champ with a kick to the face and diving onto him from the apron as we go to commercial.
Back from commercial, Shelley takes Gargano to the corner but is met with a jawbreaker from the tag champ. The action heads to the apron as Gargano mocks Shelley before setting him up on his shoulders. Shelley counters out, intercepting Johnny with a thrust kick. Gargano back to his feet but he’s met with some chops from Shelley, who follows with a big kick to the back for a two count. He goes for an armbar but Johnny rolls him up for a nearfall. Shelley catches him with one of his own before going back for the armbar…but Gargano escapes, fighting back to his feet!
They trade strikes until Gargano hits Shelley with an enziguri and another kick, setting him up on his shoulder before sending him face-first into the turnbuckle. Cover by Johnny, but it’s only good for a two count. Gargano goes for a Gargano Escape but Shelley, well…escapes, getting back to his feet to keep Johnny at bay. Shelley goes up top but Ciampa rushes down to give out to him, only for Sabin to come out and intervene. All the same, the distraction allows Gargano to roll Shelley up for the win!
Winner: Johnny Gargano via Pinfall.
Video: RAW on Netflix Kickoff Event Recap
Video Package: WWE Raw on Netflix Kickoff Event highlights, and a rundown of what’s going down when the flagship brand of WWE heads to Netflix on January 6!
Backstage: Bianca Belair, Naomi
The Women's Tag Team Titles mean EVERYTHING to @BiancaBelairWWE and Naomi! 🙌
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/E5N5Il8Nrg
Backstage, Bianca Belair and Naomi talk about Jade Cargill being attacked and Naomi filling in to help defend the titles tonight against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. Bianca offers one of the belts to Naomi, but she says not until she’s earned it. Her music hits, and Naomi makes her entrance first for our main event. Bianca makes her way out next, and the pair head toward the ring as we go to commercial break.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Nia Jax & Candice LeRae vs. Naomi & Bianca Belair (c)
That didn't go how @tiffstrattonwwe planned… 😬#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/VpFK8ZC46T
— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2024
We start off with Belair and LeRae, with the latter fighting off the champ until Bianca lifts her up out of the corner…only for Nia to be tagged in! We get a look at Stratton backstage as Bianca gets back on the offense before the Women’s Champion fights back. Tag made to Naomi and the champs double-team for a nearfall. Candice gets involved, leading to a brawl between all four women as we go to commercial break.
Back from break, Candice is met with a flurry of offense by Bianca until Jax comes back in to wear the champ down. She takes Belair to the mat, driving a knee into her back before sending her into the corner and mocking the crowd. Jax with a snapmare on Belair before sending her into her own corner, using the champ’s hair against her until the ref intervenes…only for Jax to distract the ref as Candice gets a cheap shot on Bianca.
Bianca is brought to the mat by the Women’s Champion, but fights back to her feet before leaping toward Naomi…but Jax catches Belair in mid-air, sending her to the corner for a tag to Candice instead! LeRae takes the fight to Bianca for a two count, keeping her grounded before making a tag to Jax. Some confusion leads to Jax laying out LaRae, and this allows Naomi to get the hot tag!
Naomi takes the fight to the Women’s Champion, sending her from the corner to the floor with a split-legged facebuster for a nearfall. Jax is back up, but Naomi evades a charge to climb the turnbuckle…but Jax takes her down instead. Annihilator is countered and Bianca makes the tag, going up top for a 450 splash and the cover…but Candice breaks the pin!
Tiffany makes her way down the ramp with her MITB briefcase in hand as Candice takes Bianca back down for a cover, but Naomi breaks the pin before getting a tag…but the ref doesn’t see it, forcing her back to the apron. Jax calls for Tiffy to hand her the briefcase as a weapon, and Stratton does so after some hesitation…leading to the ref catching her with it. She gets knocked off the apron by Bianca, who tags in Naomi and hits a cross body to Jax on the floor while Naomi takes Candice down with a split-legged moonsault for the win!
Winner: Naomi & Bianca Belair via Pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Jax, Candice, and Stratton are forced to regroup on the outside while the champs celebrate their victory to bring SmackDown to a close.