Welcome to the Friday Night Smackdown 12/20 episode aka Smackdown’s Christmas episode, coming off the high of two Championship Matches from Wednesday’s NXT it was hard for Smackdown to compete.
The show opens with Daniel Bryan talking about his transformation from the man with the beard to this new (mostly) clean shaven edition, and what the Fiend did to him. I, unfortunately, have not bought into the Fiend, I don’t know if it is a Bray Wyatt problem but I think it’s been stretched out too long for my liking. The Miz comes out next and has a back and forth with Bryan that is fine. King Corbin comes out next to mock both the Miz and Daniel Bryan, as Corbin does his monologuing, Dolph Ziggler comes out and takes out Bryan and the Miz.
This is a fine opening segment it just didn’t have a lot of weight behind it. Also, as a side note, they are talking about the fallout from TLC, but that was nearly a week ago. Going over a Pay-Per-View the day after it happens is effective, by Friday I’ve nearly forgotten about it with all of the wrestling I’ve taken in during the week.
The next match is Heavy Machinery vs. The Revival in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. Heavy Machinery is always a blast to watch. There is a comedy bit involving a Christmas ham that Mandy Rose gave to Otis, it’s fine. This match feels like a spot The New Day would normally take but it’s nice to get Heavy Machinery involved with these sillier matches. There’s even a point where Dozer take a bag of lego bricks and spills them on the ring and them slams Scott Dawson onto them. Heavy Machinery won via Compactor on Scott Dawson. The match set out what it intended to do, serve as a nice, fun, Christmas themed tag match with some good work by Heavy Machinery. The Revival stays out after the match to antagonize the crowd, when Elias comes out. Elias lays hard into the Revival, at one point saying they need to make a big change “like Caitlyn Jenner,” that one still particularly stings.
Carmella and Sonya Deville are next in a quick match, that is mostly unforgettable, with Carmella winning by submission with the Code of Silence.
The next match is the New Day vs. The Artists. This match was fairly good, with Kofi and Big E carrying most of it. Sami Zayn tries to run interference at points in the match as Cesaro and Nakamura try to take advantage. This was certainly a match which was mostly “play me the hits” from the four wrestlers matching up, with a number of Kinshasa’s by Nakamura and the swings by Cesaro. Kofi eventually manages to pin Cesaro, immediately after the match Sami, Cesaro, and Shinsuke, ambush the New Day and start putting the boots to them. Strowman comes out and takes out the attackers, this appears to more due to his displeasure with the trio and not in any sort of defense of the New Day.
Bayley and Dana Brooke are next to face off, with Sasha Banks accompanying Bayley. Another relatively short match on display here. Bayley wins the match by pinfall with a headlock driver. There wasn’t much of a story that came from this, we know Sasha will turn on Bayley eventually it is just a matter of time, tale as old as time. Lacey Evans comes out to confront Bayley and Sasha afterwards because she can’t tolerate bullies…sure. Lacey and Sasha are in an equally unimpressive match next, which surprisingly ends in a double count out. Afterwards, Sasha starts jawing at a fan that we’re told is Lacey Evans’ daughter (unless I misunderstood), so Lacey snaps and starts going at Sasha until they are pulled apart. I don’t know what to take away from this match and am going to chalk it up to filler in a Smackdown that is probably being mostly ignored due to the upcoming holiday.
Our final match of Friday Night Smackdown 12/20 is King Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler vs. Daniel Bryan and the Miz. As someone who is been a fan of Dolph Ziggler for a long time I just can’t buy him as a lackey or even partner to Baron Corbin. At best, Baron Corbin should be Dolph Ziggler’s consultant, I know there’s something to be said about old versus new talent, but I can’t get on board with this one. In fairness, the match is good for a Friday Night Smackdown marquee, it’s just hard to buy into the story aspects, especially with a team up of the Miz and Daniel Bryan that feels contrived. Ultimately Daniel Bryan and the Miz by Submission with a figure four leglock from Miz on Dolph.
And that’s the show…oh wait, the lights go down and the Fiend laughs…and that’s the show. Happy Holidays everyone!
