Written by Matthew Widdis
Shane McMahon addresses the roster. The moment he mentions RAW, they boo loudly. Shane quells them and tells them that they will see new things, new faces, and new opportunities. They are all responsible for putting on the best product that they can. Shane has former GM Paige step forward, praises her for her work and assures us all that she isn’t going anywhere.
In ring
The music hits and The Man comes out from the back. The announce team recaps how Charlotte and Becky were both reaching for the belt when Ronda Rousey dumped them both off of the ladder, allowing Asuka to grab her first main roster title. Becky says that she doesn’t care who is running the show because The Man is in charge. She’s in the ring in front of the people because that’s real business. All she wants is for The McMahons to deliver Ronda Rousey to her so she can get her vengeance. The Also Sprach Zarathustra club mix hits and Charlotte Flair comes out. She tells Becky to get in line because it would have been her title if Ronda hadn’t interfered. That brings out the Empress of Tomorrow, the new SmackDown Women’s Champion, Asuka.
The three bicker until Vince McMahon himself comes out from the back. He wishes us all Happy Holidays and offers congratulations to Asuka. Vince admonishes Becky and Charlotte for making excuses; TLC means anything goes and Ronda gave them fair warning that she was going after them. He asks Asuka if she’s looking to defend her title. Who comes out from the back? Two-time champ and Asuka’s BFF, Naomi! She tells The Queen and The Man that it’s her turn and Vince tells us that it’s going down right now!
SmackDown Women’s Champion, Asuka vs Naomi
Apparently, part of our fresh start is the end of the championship rematch clause and the return of David Otunga to commentary. Asuka and Naomi start out with extensive mat wrestling but, over time, they get more and more aggressive. By the time we finish the first commercial break, we’ve seen strong-style kicks and planchas to the outside. Naomi highlights include a second rope Russian legsweep, a disaster kick off of the barricade, and a split-legged moonsault. In the end, though, Asuka retains after a codebreaker on a flying Naomi, followed by the Asuka Lock.
Winner and still champion: Asuka
Backstage
Miz steels himself to knock on the door to The McMahon Family dressing room. Vince asks him why the knock was so tepid and then tells him that Shane can’t come out to play right now. Miz says that he is model employee (true dat) and that he would make a great partner for Shane and that he is looking for Vince’s blessing. Vince doesn’t do blessings but he tells Miz to get himself a partner and he’ll set up a tag team match for Miz to prove his word. We’ve all speculated as to whether or not the old man is out-of-touch, but this segment and others show that he still hasn’t lost his aggressiveness or his comedic timing.
Backstage
Rusev and Lana say they hope that The McMahons are paying attention to Rusev. He’s a super athlete, he’s a handsome hunk, and his bread is fit to make thousand-dollar baby sweaters out of. He compares Shinsuke Nakamura to Sonic the Hedgehog and says that he can run but not hide because Rusev Day comes for everyone.
In ring
Jeff Hardy comes down to the ring for the Samoa Joe apology. He says that some of the things that Joe said about his past were true but he’s in the here and now and he wants to see Joe’s apology face-to-face. Joe comes out and apologizes… for staging this elaborate ruse but it’s necessary. This, he says, is an intervention. Jeff says that the more he looks back at his past, the more he’s resolved to never going back.
He sees right through Joe and how he attacks people’s weaknesses to cover his own insecurities… like how he’s been on the main roster for two years and hasn’t won a single championship. Joe is rattled but starts to walk off. When he turns around to rush Jeff, he gets a kick to the belly and a Twist of Fate. Jeff leaves him there as he walks off to the back with a few half-hearted “delete” swipes.
In ring
The Miz comes out and learns that he’s going to be in a mixed tag match. His partner? Mandy Rose. Their opponents? The Fabulous Truth! R-Truth reminds us that they won the Mixed Match Challenge. They’re going to be #30 in their respective Royal Rumbles. They’re going to WWE Corporate Headquarters in Stamford, CT. And they’re ready for their match against Miz and who he thinks is Maryse.
The Miz & Mandy “Maryse” Rose vs R-Truth & Carmella
After a dance break gets broken up, Miz takes the opportunity to deliver a Skull-Crushing Finale to R-Truth for the win.
Winners: The Miz & Mandy Rose
Video rewind of last week takes a look at Mustafa Ali’s SmackDown debut.
We see the same vignettes as on Monday Night RAW, announcing that Lacey Evans, Heavy Machinery, Nikki Cross and EC3 will be coming up to the main roster with the already anticipated Lars Sullivan.
In ring
The Usos say that things change but the Uso Penitentiary always stays the same. They call out The Bar but it’s the good brothers, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson that answer. Anderson says that SmackDown’s tag scene has grown stagnant. They’ve been off TV since August while UsoDayBar is having rap battles and food fights. Usos tell them to step up or step off and Gallows tells Anderson, “Let’s get paid.” A wild referee appears and the house speakers tell us that The McMahons have declared the match a go.
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs The Usos
As good as the SmackDown tag matches between The Usos, New Day, and The Bar have been over the past two years, this is welcome change in the pattern. I’ve always been a fan of the dissimilar tag team; Power & Glory, New Age Outlaws, Goldust & Cody, and the like. The Good Brothers have been greatly underutilized, even for the company’s known disinterest in tag team wrestling. Luke Gallows’ reach alone adds a new dimension to any of their matches. Jimmy Uso looks like he has the upper hand when The Bar’s music distracts him. Sheamus and Cesaro are as surprised as we are to see Sanity rush the ring from the other side. Young, Wolfe, and Dain clean house on Usos and Good Brothers before giving a nod to the champs on their way up the ramp. The Bar decides to get some of their thunder back and beat on Jimmy Uso and Karl Anderson a bit.
Winners by DQ: The Usos
Backstage promo
Shinsuke Nakamura addresses his supposed fear of Rusev by showing outtakes from total divas that showcase his goofy side. Nak declares Rusev not to be contender material.
Next week, Shane McMahon will be the special guest on Miz TV, Jeff Hardy takes on Samoa Joe and Rusev challenges for the US title on Christmas Day.
WWE World Champion, Daniel Bryan & Andrade “Cien” Almas vs AJ Styles & Mustafa Ali
Daniel Bryan gets the mic and says that he killed the “Yes!” movement and destroyed The House That AJ Styles Built but he’s here to create rather than destroy. He chastises Fresno for being such polluters with cries of “Shame!”
Watch this match. This is a great example of why SmackDown hasn’t gotten the hate that RAW has as of late. These are four of the best in-ring performers in the company out there with a story. This was a good match but didn’t even feel all that special outside of helping to continue elevating Mustafa Ali for the Tuesday Night audience. This is what SmackDown does. And what Mustafa Ali does is hit an inverted 450.
Winners: AJ Styles and Mustafa Ali
Final Thoughts: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It looks like they’re going to stick with that based off of this episode but only time will tell. Things are shaping up to look pretty good with WrestleMania season on the horizon. I’m certainly liking the variation in the tag division, especially on the show known for doing tag teams right. The women’s division can practically run itself. I’m somewhat perturbed by Rusev vs Nakamura and Hardy vs Joe, feuds that they’ve had going for a few weeks, coming to a head on Christmas night as the ratings certainly won’t follow the level of interest. That’s a problem for next week, however.
