WWE SmackDown Review – December 15, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns tells Green Bay to acknowledge him then says it’s both Christmas and promotion season. He declares himself as a fair Tribal Chief then says it’s about one man. He says this man has sacrificed everything imaginable over the past year what representing his family means, and the man that will step up if anything happens to him. He calls on Jimmy to stand next to him in order to congratulate Solo Sikoa. Reigns then hugs Sikoa.
Randy Orton’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Orton says he’s been thinking about what he’ll do or say to Reigns for the past 18 months but all he needs to say is that he’s coming for him. He says that starts tonight when he faces Jimmy Uso and it ends at the Royal Rumble when he challenges him for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title. Reigns says the fans seem to think Orton deserves a title shot based on fan support, and while Orton’s been thinking about this for 18 months, he hasn’t thought about him at all. He tells Orton he’s done nothing to deserve a title opportunity and he should go to the back of the line then tells Orton that he’s levels above him and everyone else. He says if Orton has a match with him then it’s retirement for him because he will never come back.
Orton says Reigns may be right and he’s right about having evolved. He calls him a legend then says he’s evolved too. Orton says the one thing he will always be is a Legend Killer then looks to hit Reigns with an RKO. Reigns flinches it and manages to avoid the move. Orton tells Reigns that maybe he should start thinking about him then says the voices in his head just told him that Reigns was scared.
Quarter Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Grayson Waller vs. Carmelo Hayes
Match starts off with a lock up before Carmelo Hayes connects with a dropkick and wears down Grayson Waller’s arm with a submission hold but Waller lands a right hand and looks for a chop in the corner.
Hayes ducks out of the way and delivers a pair of chops of his own then rolls up Waller but Waller kicks out and levels Hayes with a side kick then delivers a few knees to his jaw.
Hayes lands Fade Away and looks to fly to level Waller on the outside then Waller slides back in the ring and Hayes levels him with a springboard clothesline then sends him crashing back out of the ring as we go to a break.
After the break Hayes tweaks his knee as he goes flying off the ropes then Waller delivers a flatliner to Hayes but Hayes responds with a series of left and right hands.
He follows it up with a pump kick and a facebuster but Waller sends Hayes crashing into the mat with a variation on a blockbuster off the middle rope.
Hayes plants Waller with a springboard DDT then hits The First 48 and ascends to the top rope & lands Nothing But Net for the win.
Winner: Carmelo Hayes (10:22)
Rate: 6
We head backstage and see Randy Orton encounter LA Knight. Knight says Orton knows how the numbers game works with The Bloodline & Orton warns Knight to stay out of the way.
Quarter Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Austin Theory vs. Kevin Owens
Match starts off with a lock up then they go back & forth with submission holds on one another before Kevin Owens lands a senton and Austin Theory slides out of the ring.
He follows it up with a cannonball off the apron and dumps Theory back in the ring then ascends to the top. Theory rolls onto the apron and Owens hops off the top rope.
Theory then catches him with a jawbreaker off the top rope and follows it up with a rolling dropkick then plants him spine first on the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Theory & Owens teeter on the top rope before Owens fights Theory off and hits a frog splash then climbs back to the top and looks for a Swanton Bomb. Theory gets his knees up and Owens lands a boot then delivers a series of right hands and stomps.
He follows it up with a kick to Theory’s jaw and a flying shoulder tackle then follows it up with an Atomic Drop and an inverted DDT then Owens connects with a superkick but Theory plants Owens with a springboard Spanish Fly.
The action spills to the outside and Theory sends Owens crashing into the ring post. He then sends him colliding with the barricade and slides back in the ring ordering the referee to begin a 10 count.
Owens slides back into the ring before the count ends and Theory catches him with a blockbuster. Owens & Theory once again find themselves on the top rope but Owens escapes and drapes Theory from his knees.
He delivers a cannonball and a Swanton Bomb then goes for a pin but Theory kicks out.
Theory then sends Owens’ hand bouncing off the ring post and stomps on it on the ring steps then hits a right hand to Theory for the win.
Winner: Kevin Owens (13:58) (He will face Hayes in the Semi Finals)
Rate: 6
After the break we head over to a cryptic message from Karrion Kross & Scarlett.
We then head backstage and see Kevin Owens walking around backstage. He runs into Cameron Grimes & he congratulates him on his victory then he encounters Carmelo Hayes & tells Owens that he needs to win the United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament more than he does. He says he isn’t like Grayson Waller or Austin Theory.
We head over to a message from Damage CTRL & they put the women’s division on notice. Bayley officially announces that she will be entering the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match and says that The Kabuki Warriors are coming for the Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Tag Team Match
Kabuki Warriors (Kairi Sane & Asuka) vs. Zelina Vega & Michin
Match starts with Michin & Zelina Vega attacking Kabuki Warriors on the ramp as we go to a break.
After the break Kabuki Warriors are double teaming on Michin in the ring then Kairi Sane hits a sliding knee to her in the corner then ascends to the top and lands a flying forearm.
Asuka tags in and delivers a sliding knee as Sane delivers a sliding right hand to Michin’s back. Asuka fires off right hands on Michin then looks for a kick.
Michin ducks out of the way and pins Asuka but Asuka kicks out then Sane & Vega tag in and Vega hits Sane with a pair of clotheslines.
She delivers a kick to Sane’s jaw then follows it up with a jumping knee and a Hammerlock DDT before she dials it up for a 619 but Sane hits her with a spinning backfist.
Asuka tags in and locks in Asuka Lock but Vega counters into a pinfall to escape and Asuka is forced to relinquish the hold.
Michin tags in and delivers a headbutt to Asuka on the outside Sane sends Vega crashing into the announce table spine first with a Alabama Slam.
She hops up on the apron but Michin levels her with a boot and takes Asuka down with a kick before ascending to the top rope.
Dakota Kai hops up on the apron allowing for Bayley to run down and push Michin off the top rope then Sane tags back in and hits Insane Elbow for the win.
Winners: Kabuki Warriors
In the back Jimmy talks with Solo Sikoa and says Roman Reigns & Paul Heyman have been talking a long time and he thinks he’s being set up. He asks if Sikoa would tell him if something was coming at him Sikoa just says he’s his brother.
After the break we get a Santos Escobar video, he put a legend on the shelf because Rey Mysterio took his United States Title shot from him. This time no one’s taking anything from him. Against Bobby Lashley, the flashy man and when he’s done with Lashley he’ll never want to be on Smackdown again and when it’s all done he’s taking away what he gave to Logan Paul and will become the new United States Champion.
In the back Bobby Lashley & Street Profits talk & Lashley says let’s just think about how Logan Paul is the United States Champion and now a tournament with people that Logan thinks he can beat except Bobby Lashley. Next week Escobar is going to get stomped out because he’s just in Lashley’s way.
Randy Orton vs. Jimmy Uso
Randy Orton wastes no time as he sends Jimmy Uso crashing into the top turnbuckle face first but Jimmy manages to slide out of the ring.
After the break Orton sends Jimmy crashing into the announce table spine first then dumps him back inside the ring and rains down right hands on Jimmy in the corner then stomps on his ankle.
Jimmy responds with a series of right hands of his own on Orton in the corner and a hip attack then fires off more right hands.
Orton delivers a thumb to Jimmy’s eye and sets up for a DDT off the ropes but Jimmy escapes and dumps him out of the ring as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Orton catches Jimmy with a clothesline and a powerslam then Solo Sikoa makes his way down to the ring but LA Knight is hot on his heels.
He delivers a boot to his midsection at the top of the ramp then sends him crashing into the barricade.
This opens the door for Orton to hit an RKO on Jimmy in the ring for the win.
Winner: Randy Orton
After the match Roman Reigns blindsides Knight on the ramp and stares down Orton in the ring as Paul Heyman holds up the Undisputed WWE Universal Title then Reigns slides inside and exchanges right hands with Orton. Jimmy provides Reigns with a helping hand and the pair fire off stomps on Orton. Knight slides in the ring to help Orton but Sikoa joins in and helps the rest of The Bloodline beat down Knight & Orton. AJ Styles’ music hits and he takes Reigns by surprise with a Phenomenal Forearm. The Bloodline retreats leaving Styles, Orton & Knight standing tall in the ring. Styles then hits a clothesline to Knight as a stunned Orton looks on. He heads to the back walking straight past The Bloodline. The Bloodline then stares down Orton & Knight in the ring to close out this week’s Smackdown.
Semi Finals (Dec 22nd)
Santos Escobar vs. Bobby Lashley
Carmelo Hayes vs. Kevin Owens
Next Week’s Smackdown
Semi Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Santos Escobar vs. Bobby Lashley
Semi Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Carmelo Hayes vs. Kevin Owens
NXT North American Title Match
Dragon Lee (c) vs. Butch
8 Woman Tag Team Holiday Havoc Match
Damage CTRL (Women’s Champion Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, Asuka & Bayley) vs. Bianca BelAir, Zelina Vega, Michin & Shotzi
AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa
