12/25 Powell’s WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: Vince McMahon and AJ Styles segment, John Cena’s return date, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev for the U.S. Title, Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy, Andrade Almas vs. Mustafa Ali

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By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Smackdown
Taped December 18 in Fresno, California at Save Mart Center
Aired December 25 on USA Network

[Hour One] Tom Phillips welcomed viewers to the show and was joined on commentary by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. R-Truth made his entrance while dressed as Santa Claus, and he was accompanied by Carmella, who was dressed in Christmas attire. There were Christmas trees at ringside.

Truth said he’d been delivering presents to the good little girls and boys with the help of “Carmelfa”. Carmella called for a carol break, which led to the duo singing a Christmas song while dancing. Daniel Bryan made his entrance and interrupted the carol break.

Bryan said he accepts that as WWE Champion he had to spend time “in this cesspool” rather than with his family. He said he would not accept “Truthy Claus.” Bryan entered the ring and said Truth was not the real Santa Claus. He pointed at Truth and Carmella and said “fickle” repeatedly.

Bryan said Santa is the epitome of the cheap, material desires of the fans. He said that’s cost us half the coral reef on the planet and led to islands of misfit garbage in the oceans. Bryan said that with the temperatures rising there will no longer be a North Pole or Santa Claus in 20 years.

“Oh, he’s an angry little elf,” Truth said. Bryan said he should expect jokes from Truth since his entire career was a joke. Truth reminded Bryan that he will be 30th entrant in the Royal Rumble and he could be the last one laughing if he wins the Rumble and takes the WWE Championship from Bryan at WrestleMania.

Bryan asked how Truth expects to win the Rumble when he can’t even count to 30. Truth set up to prove him wrong, but made it to seven and called for a dance break. As Truth and Carmella were dancing, Bryan attacked Truth and ended up wrapping his knee around the ring post multiple times. Bryan put Truth in a leg lock. Bryan released the hold and played to the booing crowd, then stomped Truth’s head repeatedly before leaving the ring…

Philips hyped Mustafa Ali vs. Andrade Almas for after the break… [C] A Royal Rumble ad aired…

Powell’s POV: A good opening segment for a holiday show. The crowd had fun with Truth and Carmella, and Bryan played the Grinch of Smackdown while adding to his heat. By the way, I’m filling in for Jake Barnett this week due to the holiday. Merry Christmas, folks. I hope Santa was a good to you as he was to me.

1. Mustafa Ali vs. Andrade Almas (w/Zelina Vega). Almas caught Ali going for a springboard move and shoved him to the floor heading into a split screen commercial break. [C] Almas had Ali in a tree of woe and performed a double stomp from the top rope. Ali came back with a nice DDT and then followed up with the 054 (inverted 450 splash) for the win…

Mustafa Ali defeated Andrade Almas.

Powell’s POV: A nice win for Ali. It should mean so much more to defeat Almas on Smackdown, but he’s been criminally wasted on the main roster thus far. Here’s hoping that Almas and Zelina are in for a significant boost as part of the big changes the McMahons have vowed to make. On the flip side, it’s great to see Ali being showcased so prominently on Smackdown thus far. It’s bizarre that the same creative team can get it to right with Ali and so wrong with Almas.

The broadcast team hyped Miz TV with Shane McMahon, and Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe for later in the show… The Usos made their entrance for an eight-man tag match… [C]

Samoa Joe delivered a promo from the locker room. Joe directed Jeff Hardy and said he trusted that he and his family enjoyed the holidays. He said it’s nice to create some new memories, perhaps to make up for some of the ones that Jeff destroyed. Joe said he’s concerned about Hardy because he saw a look in his eye. Joe said he’s become Jeff’s new addiction…

Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Sanity were in the ring for the eight-man tag match. New Day made their entrance. Big E was shirtless and rubbing himself with oil while wearing a Santa hat on his head. Graves, who was wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, barked at E that his antics were not okay because there were children watching. New Day took a seat at their special broadcast table, then Shemaus and Cesaro made their entrance…

2. Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson vs. Sheamus, Cesaro, Killian Dain, and Alexander Wolfe (w/Eric Young). Dain performed a running cross body block on Jimmy Uso heading into a break. [C] Late in the match, the Usos threw superkicks at their opponents and even Young. Gallows and Anderson performed the Magic Killer on Cesaro, and then Anderson pinned him…

The Usos, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson defeated Sheamus, Cesaro, Killian Dain, and Alexander Wolfe.

Powell’s POV: It looks like they are building to Gallows and Anderson getting a tag title shot. They have been abused badly by WWE creative. It will be interesting to see if they can be salvaged quickly or just how committed creative is to rebuilding them.

A video package focused on main roster additions Lars Sullivan, Heavy Machinery, Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross, and EC3…

Backstage, cruiserweights Brian Kendrick, Akira Tozawa, and Cedric Alexander congratulated Mustafa Ali on his win. Shelton Benjamin showed up and made a mean face, but then welcomed Ali to the main roster and offered him a handshake. Ali said it meant a lot and accepted. Suddenly, Daniel Bryan attacked Ali from behind. Bryan backed off quickly, then went back for seconds…

The Miz came to the ring to host the Miz TV segment. The World Cup trophy was sitting on a table with a Santa hat in the bowl. Miz introduced his guest Shane McMahon, who slapped hands with the fans on his way to the ring. Shane spoke about the McMahons being in charge of Raw and Smackdown. He said they’re not the real story. He said they are listening to the fans.

Shane said fans said they want new superstars, new matchups, and new opportunities and they will be getting those things. Miz said there are four McMahons running the show, and that means Shane should have a little free time to join him in becoming the best tag team in the world.

[Hour Two] Miz said the reason he wants to team with Shane is because of his own father. He said that despite every accomplishment he’s made in the ring or in life, it’s never been enough for his dad. He said his father things Shane is something else because he fights for what he believes in. Miz said his father told him that if he teamed with Shane then they could be the best team in the world.

Miz said they would be a damn good tag team if Shane would just give it a chance. Miz said he knows Shane has more important things to do and apologized for bringing him into it. Miz recalled Shane talking about putting things in the hands of the WWE Universe. Miz said it wasn’t their decision to make. Miz asked the fans if they want to see Miz and Shane form the best team in the world. Fans chanted yes.

Shane said everything Miz said was heavy and really resonated with him. “You better not screw me or there’s going to be major consequences,” Shane said. Shane and Miz shook hands and hugged, then held up the World Cup trophy. Miz led the crowd in a round of yes chants after acknowledging that Bryan doesn’t do them anymore…

Powell’s POV: An interesting segment with Miz playing on his own daddy issues. Did his character use Shane’s daddy issues to lure him in or is their a kinship between the characters? I disliked most of their storyline leading up to this point, but now I’m mildly intrigued to see where this goes.

Backstage, Rusev delivered a promo while Lana stood by. Rusev noted that it wasn’t just Christmas, it’s also his birthday. Rusev said he would bring the fans a brand new, handsome U.S. Champion by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura later in the show… The broadcast team hyped Hardy vs. Joe for after the break… [C]

3. Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy. They cut to an early split screen break after some early back and forth action. [C] Hardy performed a Whisper in the Wind and covered Joe, who grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold. Hardy performed a Twist of Fate and went up top for his finisher, but Joe rolled to ringside.

Jeff clotheslined Joe from the apron and then worked him over with knees to the body while Joe covered up against the barricade. The referee called for the bell to end the match. Jeff continued to work over Joe, who then caught him in the Coquina Clutch behind a broadcast table. Joe left Hardy lying…

Samoa Joe defeated Daniel Bryan by an apparent disqualification.

Shinsuke Nakmaura delivered a backstage promo saying that the Total Diva wants gold for Christmas, but she won’t get it because she’s been naughty this year… A trailer aired for the Fighting With My Family film…

Powell’s POV: I continue to hope that one of the changes WWE will make going forward is to stop being lazy and not announcing winners and losers of matches. I assume Hardy lost by DQ because he ignored the referee, but perhaps both men were counted out. While apparently Vince McMahon feels its trivial and most fans don’t care, it’s an easy fix that would make the television matches feel more meaningful. As for the match, it was solid and they are trying to heat up the feud, but it does have some similarities to what Hardy and Randy Orton did, and both Hardy and Joe desperately need wins.

The broadcast team hyped New Day’s “New Year’s Celebration” for next week’s Smackdown, plus John Cena will return on the same New Year’s Day show…

The Usos were talking backstage. They wished each other Merry Christmas and went separate ways. Jimmy Uso was confronted by Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville under the mistletoe. Rose told Jimmy that he doesn’t know what he’s missing. Naomi showed up and threw a shoe at them. The heels retreated, then Jimmy and Naomi kissed under the mistletoe…

Ring entrances for the main event took place…

4. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev (w/Lana) for the U.S. Championship. Ring announcer Greg Hamilton delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. There were loud chants of “Rusev Day” and “Nakamura” that may have been piped in given that the live crowd looked pretty mellow. Nakamura went for a triangle, but Rusev avoided it and rolled to ringside heading into an early commercial break. [C]

Rusev attempted to suplex Nakamura from the apron to the floor, but Nakamura blocked it. Nakamura kicked Rusev off the apron to the floor heading into another break. [C] The wrestlers fought to ringside where Nakamura ran Rusev into the ring steps, slammed his head into the broadcast table, and then rolled him back inside the ring.

Nakamura performed a legdrop on the apron, then threw a kick from the ropes. Nakamura set up for the Kinshasa, but Rusev caught him with a Machka Kick for a good near fall. Rusev stomped the back of Nakamura and went or the Accolade, but Nakamura countered into a triangle.

A short time later, Nakamura avoided a charging Rusev in the corner, then dropped a knee on the back of his neck and covered him for a two count. A “this is awesome” chant started. Nakamura set up for his finisher again. Rusev went for another Machka Kick, but Nakamura voided it and caught Rusev with a kick. Rusev came right back with a clothesline. Rusev performed a Machka Kick and pinned Nakamura to win the match and the championship…

Rusev defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the U.S. Championship.

Rusev and Lana celebrated the win as the broadcast team recapped the match while highlights were shown. A Rusev Day broke out as the celebration continued. Rusev stood on the middle rope and held up the title belt…

Backstage, AJ Styles walked into Vince McMahon’s office and noted that Vince wanted to see him. They shook hands. Vince asked Styles what his name was and who he was. Styles said his name and referred to himself as the Phenomenal One. He said he’s a two-time champion and Smackdown is the house that he built. Vince asked why Styles wasn’t competing in his own house, yet Daniel Bryan was and raised hell. Vince said it’s the new Daniel Bryan and he wants to know who the real AJ Styles is.

Vince said superstars come and go, they become complacent and they go home. Vince said he knows that’s not Styles. He said AJ has a black hole in his heart and a tormented soul. Vince said AJ is afraid of what’s going to happen. “That’s what you have and I want to see it,” Vince said. McMahon said that if Styles has everything he thinks he does, then he will brutalize everyone who steps foot in the squared circle with him. Vince said there’s an animal inside of him and he wants to see it.

Vince slapped Styles and said, “I’m gonna see it.” Styles hit Vince with a forearm and knocked him down. Jamie Noble and other officials rushed in to talk Styles down. Styles stormed out of the room. A referee went to help up Vince and asked if he was okay. Vince smiled and said he thinks he’s good. “Yeah, I think I’m good,” Vince said while smiling as he laid on the ground to end the show…

Powell’s POV: First off, a good match with a crowd title change on a holiday show. It feels a bit rushed in that they really hadn’t made the fans invest in seeing Rusev chase Nakamura for the title. Of course, the push of Rusev is also long overdue. Meanwhile, the closing segment with Vince trying to bring the animal out of Styles is fairly interesting. It just doesn’t mean as much as it once did for Vince to interact with the talent onscreen, and it felt like we’d seen something like this from Vince in the past. I guess we’ll see where it goes and whether it leads to good things for Styles. Overall, it was a good show and it was good to see that WWE didn’t go overboard with sports entertainment holiday madness for either show while they are trying to sell viewers on the idea of change. I will have more to say in my members’ exclusive audio review of Smackdown coming up on Wednesday (delayed this week due to the holiday).

Check below for the new Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Nick Perkins discussing the McMahon family’s vow to make changes to WWE television shows.


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Readers Comments (1)

  1. I love how Daniel Bryan apparently lost by DQ in a match between Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy….that made me chuckle.

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