WWE SmackDown LIVE Results (12/25): Nakamura vs. Rusev
Tonight’s Christmas Edition of SmackDown LIVE opens up on a tape delay from The Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The arena is decorated for Christmas as Tom Phillips welcomes us to the show. He is joined by Corey Graves & Byron Saxton.
We go right to the ring and out comes R-Truth dressed as Santa Claus. Carmella is with him and she is dressed as an elf. R-Truth welcomes us to the show and says that he has been on gift duties with Carm-elf-a. He then talks about how they had to stop by SmackDown LIVE on the way back to The North Pole. Truth then gets the reindeer mixed up with The Jackson 5. Carmella then interrupts Truthy Claus and calls for a dance break. They are then interrupted by WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan.
He says that as WWE Champion he accepts that instead of being with his family on Christmas he has to be in this cesspool, but he won’t accept legitimizing the farce that is Truthy Claus. It may not be obvious, he says, but this is not the real Santa Claus. He then calls the crowd and the jolly elves in the ring fickle before saying that he is not here to talk about Truth, no. He is here to expose The REAL Santa Claus. Bryan then says that he understands why we venerate Santa and that is because he is the epitome of all our cheap material desires, but you know what that gets us? Over the last forty years that has cost us half the coral reef on the planet, made islands of misfit garbage in the oceans and because we want more and more we get more and more of these islands of trash.
And you know what else it gets them? The glaciers melt, the sea levels rise and in twenty years there will be no North Pole and no Santa Claus. Truth then calls Bryan an angry little elf and that gets Bryan to needle him for treating it like a joke, since that is all his career is. Truth then says that that might be true, but Bryan better watch out because Truthy Claus is going to Royal Rumble and since they won Mixed Match Challenge, he will be #30 and maybe after he wins he will take The WWE Title from Bryan and be the last one laughing. If he is still champion at Mania, that is. Bryan then has a question – how on earth does he expect to win when he can’t even count to thirty?
Truth then says that he can count to thirty and demonstrates, but when he gets to seven we get a dance break. Bryan attacks mid-break and puts Truth’s leg into the post repeatedly. Chop block takes him out when he tries to get up. Leg pick into the heel hook. Wrenching it in while Carmelfa begs him to let go and he does eventually but the damage is done. Double wrist-clutch. Back to the heel hook yet again. Bryan lets go and Carmelfa checks on her tag partner while Referee Mike Chioda hits the ring to keep Bryan backed off and check on Truth himself.
Commentary promises us Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Mustafa Ali next and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for the entrances of the opening contest.
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Mustafa Ali: The bell rings and Almas immediately nails a dropkick into the corner. Almas takes control and works Ali around the ring. Ali turns it around and goes to the second rope but Vega distracts him from the outside. Almas takes advantage and sends Ali over the top rope, out to the floor. Vega talks some trash to Ali as we go back to commercial. Back from the break and Ali flies in at Almas, taking him down for a close 2 count. Almas counters Ali’s offense and levels him for another close pin attempt as Vega cheers him on. Almas takes Ali to the corner and goes for the tornado DDT but Ali dropkicks him. Ali climbs up for the hurricanrana but Almas takes his legs out. Almas with the big double stomp while Ali is upside down in the corner. Ali kicks out at 2. Almas takes Ali back up top but Ali fights him off. Ali with a sunset flip powerbomb attempt but Almas lands on his feet. More back and forth now. Ali hits the big DDT and drags Almas over to the corner as Vega screams. Ali climbs up and hits the 054 for the pin to win. Winner: Mustafa Ali
After the match, Ali stands tall and celebrates as his music hits. Vega and Almas retreat up the ramp as Ali poses in the corner.
Commentary hypes up MizTV as well as Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe for later on tonight.
The Usos make their entrance as they will be in action after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and Samoa Joe gets a backstage promo.
He asks Jeff Hardy how it is going and says that it is always nice to create new memories and make up for ones you destroyed, but he is glad to meet him in the ring since he is concerned about him. Joe then says that last week he saw a look in his eye that suggested he is a man seeking a new place to park his desires and he thinks that he has figured it out and he is Hardy’s new addiction. But after he is done with him, slowly everything will fade away, for his own good.
The New Day make their entrance alongside the competitors in The 8-Man Tag Team Match, decked out in festive holiday gear. Big E, who is dressed as a sexy Santa, is oiling himself up on their way to their commentary desk.
SAnitY (Alexander Wolfe & Killian Dain) & The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) vs. The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) & The Usos (Jey & Jimmy Uso) (8-Man Tag Team Match): Sheamus starts off with Anderson and rams him into the corner. Jey tags in and goes at it with Cesaro. Jimmy tags in for a quick double team and goes to work on Cesaro. Dain tags in but Jimmy Uso fights him off. Jimmy Uso also fights off a distraction from the apron but he turns around to Dain running him over with a big shot. Dain stands over Jimmy Uso and looks down at him as we go back to commercial. Back from the break and Dain is in control of Jimmy. Jimmy Uso looks to make a comeback but Dain clotheslines him. Wolfe tags in and keeps Jimmy Uso down. Wolfe with a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Sheamus tags in and unloads on Jimmy with forearms to the chest. Sheamus manhandles Jimmy Uso a bit. Jimmy Uso gets an opening with a jawbreaker but Jey gets knocked off the apron. Cesaro ends up tagging in and knocking Anderson off the apron. Dain gets knocked off their side of the ring. Gallows and Wolfe get the hot tags now. Gallows unloads on Wolfe. Gallows also knocks Sheamus off the apron. Gallows with a big pumphandle slam for a 2 count as Dain breaks it up. Anderson runs in with a neckbreaker to Dain. Cesaro and Anderson get tossed out of the ring. Sheamus tags in and nails a big knee to Gallows after Gallows sent Wolfe out of the ring. Cesaro tags in for the double team to Gallows but The Usos break the pin. The Usos deliver multiple superkicks including one to Young on the apron. Cesaro catches Jimmy with a big pop-up uppercut. Gallows drops Cesaro. Anderson tags in for the Magic Killer on Cesaro. Anderson covers for the pin to win. Winners: The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) & The Usos (Jey & Jimmy Uso)
After the match, the winners stand tall in the ring as SAnitY retreats up the ramp with The Bar. Young talks trash back to the winners.
We then get the video packages hyping up our six NXT Superstars that are getting called up soon.
Mustafa Ali runs into The Brian Kendrick, Akira Tozawa and Cedric Alexander backstage, all of whom congratulate him. He then runs into Shelton Benjamin, who officially welcomes him to The SmackDown LIVE Roster. Then suddenly WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan blindsides Ali with a forearm to the back of his head. The cruiserweights pull Bryan off as he beats Ali down but he goes in for a second round and yells at Ali about how he doesn’t belong here to send us to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and The Miz makes his entrance.
The ring is decked out festively with The WWE World Cup Tournament To Determine Who Is Best In The World Trophy in a position of honor with a Santa hat on it. The Miz then introduces his tag team partner and fellow Best In The World Shane McMahon as his guest. The A-Lister asks if he saw his tag match last week and McMahon says that he did but that’s not why he’s here.
The Miz then asks him to talk about the changes they have brought to SmackDown LIVE and Shane says that The McMahons aren’t the point here, the point is that they are listening to The WWE Universe now. Shane then says that The WWE Universe want new superstars, new matchups and opportunities and all of that is coming or is already here and we have a part in shaping that narrative. The Miz then says that they didn’t suffer under Baron Corbin because they had Paige but his train of thought is derailed by a question.
He thinks better of asking it but McMahon tells him to go ahead and The A-Lister points out that with four McMahons, Shane has time to explore his other talents, like forming The Best Tag Team In The World. McMahon begs off saying that that is not why he’s here, but Miz talks up his success last week and asks Shane if he will do it. Shane demurs at first and The A-Lister opens up as to why he wants to tag. The Miz then says that it is not about him, it is about his dad. He has been in WWE over a decade, he has got a Grand Slam, all these titles and he has never ever heard his dad say that he is proud of him, not even when he main evented WrestleMania 27 and retained The WWE Title over John Cena. The Miz then says that all his dad said was he should thank The Rock for helping him. The Miz then says that every accomplishment he asks if it will be enough for his dad but the answer is always no until The WWE World Cup.
The Miz then says that his dad came to him and talked about Shane McMahon after that and Miz said that he didn’t get it and his dad said that Shane has no fear and fights for what he believes in and said that if they tagged they would be the best in the world. The Miz then says that for the first time in his life he thought he broke through to his dad and he knew he had to set out to make that team a reality and he cuts himself off saying that he knows McMahon has more important things to do and he is sorry that he brought him into this. But he said that the new WWE is about putting opportunity in the hands of The WWE Universe and that means the decision is theirs to make. The Miz then polls the crowd and they are into it. Shane then says that everything he just said resonated with him and it was heavy. He stands up and faces Miz man-to-man and tells him he better not screw him or there will be major consequences but he is gonna try it.
They hug and hold the trophy up together, united as The Best Tag Team In The World before The Miz breaks away to do The “Yes!” Chants.
Rusev & Lana get a backstage promo where Rusev reveals that it is his birthday and he wants to celebrate by giving us a handsome United States Champion when he beats Shinsuke Nakamura later. Rusev then says that it won’t just be Christmas or his birthday, it will be the most complete Rusev Day.
Commentary hypes up our remaining matches and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for the entrances of the matchup between Jeff Hardy & Samoa Joe.
Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe: The bell rings and Joe takes it to the corner but Hardy gets the first offense in. Fans with an early “delete!” chant but Joe easily turns it around and drops Hardy. Joe with strikes while Hardy is down, keeping him on the mat. Hardy turns it around and sends Joe down in the corner. Hardy with the double boots to the chest while Joe is down. Hardy covers for the pin but Joe gets his foot on the bottom rope. Hardy runs the ropes but Joe jumps up and levels him with an elbow. We go to commercial with Joe in control. Back from the break and Joe sends Hardy into the corner, then drops him with a kick to the head. Joe with a 2 count. Joe keeps Hardy in an abdominal stretch now. Joe with a 2 count. Joe takes Hardy back down and grounds him. Hardy looks to make a comeback now. Hardy with the inverted atomic drop and a few more of his signature moves. Joe still kicks out at 2. Hardy calls for the “delete!” chant but Joe blocks a Twist of Fate. Hardy keeps going and hits a Whisper In the Wind for another close 2 count as Joe grabs the bottom rope. Hardy goes on and hits a Twist of Fate as fans pop. Hardy climbs to the top but Joe rolls to the floor. Hardy steps down to the mat and kicks Joe through the ropes. Hardy runs the apron and hits a flying clothesline to the floor. Hardy with kicks and knees to Joe against the barrier. The referee tries to pull Hardy off but Hardy keeps the attack going. The referee calls the match. Winner via DQ: Samoa Joe
After the match, Hardy keeps attacking Joe. Hardy tosses Joe over the announce table. Hardy follows but Joe catches him in the Coquina Clutch, dropping him into it behind the announce table. Officials head to the ring and break the fight up. Joe exits as his music starts up. Hardy is left face-down on the floor.
WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura cuts a promo and says that Rusev has been naughty this year so all he is going to get for Christmas is a knee to the face.
That match is next, after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are informed that The New Day will be having a New Year’s Celebration next week, plus John Cena will return.
The Usos are shown walking backstage and talking about how they have SmackDown LIVE on lock. Jimmy runs into Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville. Mandy points out a mistletoe hanging and Naomi rolls up ready to fight. Jimmy Uso holds her back, they run off and Jimmy reassures her that she doesn’t have to worry before bringing her in for a kiss under the mistletoe.
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Rusev: The WWE United States Title is on the line in this one. The bell rings and they go at it. Nakamura with some mind games coming out of the corner but Rusev unloads on him. Rusev drops Nakamura with a quick 1 count. Fans chant for Rusev as he keeps control, taking Nakamura to the opposite corner. Nakamura catches Rusev in a triangle choke out of nowhere but Rusev breaks free. Rusev regroups on the floor as Nakamura taunts him from the ring. Back to commercial. Back from the break and Nakamura puts the boot to Rusev’s throat in the corner. Rusev finally breaks free from a hold and slams Nakamura as Lana smiles. Rusev with another slam and another big slam for a pop. Rusev keeps control and hits a belly-to-back suplex for another close 2 count. Rusev stomps and then hits shoulder thrusts in the corner. Fans do duelling chants for both Superstars now. Nakamura turns it around and places Rusev in the corner for the high knee to the gut. Rusev kicks out at 2. Nakamura immediately covers for another pin attempt but Rusev kicks out. Nakamura puts more boots to Rusev against the ropes. Rusev comes back but Nakamura puts him back down with a knee to the chest. Nakamura keeps Rusev grounded in the middle of the ring now. Nakamura counters a strike and takes Rusev down into an armbar. Rusev avoids the triangle and a pin attempt. Rusev ends up on the apron now. Rusev tries to suplex Nakamura out of the ring but it’s blocked. Nakamura kicks Rusev from the apron to the floor and we go back to commercial. Back from the break and Nakamura drives knees into Rusev while he’s down. Lana looks on and cringes. Nakamura with a big knee drop for a 2 count as Rusev powers up. Nakamura keeps Rusev grounded in the middle of the ring again, wearing him down. They get up and Nakamura delivers more strikes until Rusev catches a kick. Rusev with offense now including knees to the gut. Rusev with a big fall-away slam. Rusev with the back splash in the corner and a spin kick to drop the champ. Rusev covers for a 2 count as Lana screams from ringside.
Fans start chanting for Rusev again. Rusev with strikes and a knee to the gut. Rusev drops Nakamura with a big kick to the head but Nakamura still kicks out at 2. Rusev can’t believe it. Nakamura rolls to the floor when he sees Rusev preparing for The Accolade. Rusev follows and keeps in control, using the ring post and the barrier. Rusev tries to toss Nakamura back into the ring but Nakamura kicks him in the head from the apron. Nakamura sends Rusev into the steel ring steps as the referee counts. Nakamura sends Rusev face-first into the announce table. Rusev is face down on the apron now. Nakamura jumps up and drops a knee to the back of the head on the apron. They bring it back in the ring and Nakamura hits the flying knee from the turnbuckles. Nakamura waits for Rusev to get up now. Nakamura charges for the Kinshasa but Rusev meets him with a big Machka Kick. Nakamura still kicks out at 2. Lana, Rusev and the fans can’t believe it. Rusev gets hyped up as fans chant for him now. Rusev goes for The Accolade but it’s blocked again. Nakamura tries for the triangle again. He finally gets it locked in and Rusev starts fading. Rusev powers up and slams Nakamura to break free. The “Rusev Day!” chants continue as Lana encourages Rusev to get back up. Rusev charges in the corner but Nakamura moves and Rusev hits the ring post. Rusev kicks out at 2. Nakamura with a knee to the back of the head for another close pin attempt. Fans chant “this is awesome!” now as Nakamura waits for Rusev to get up again. Rusev stumbles to his feet. Nakamura misses the Kinshasa as Rusev misses a Machka Kick. Nakamura stuns Rusev with a kick. Rusev drops Nakamura with a clothesline. Rusev gets hyped up again and delivers the Machka Kick for the pin to win the title. Winner & The New WWE United States Champion: Rusev
After the match, Rusev takes the title as his music hits. Fans pop big as a very excited Lana enters the ring to celebrate with him. We go to replays. Fans chant “Rusev Day!” as the celebration continues. Rusev hits the corners to pose with the title.
We head backstage to AJ Styles & WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. Vince shakes his hand and then asks what his name is. AJ looks confused but he says that he is AJ Styles, The Phenomenal One, a two-time WWE Champion and the one who built SmackDown LIVE. Vince then says if this is the house that AJ built, why didn’t he compete? Why was Daniel Bryan raising hell in AJ’s house tonight? Vince then says if that is the new Daniel Bryan, he wants to know who the real AJ Styles is. Vince then says that has seen Superstars come and go, win their titles and earn their money, to then become complacent and go home. Vince then says that he knows that’s not AJ. Vince then says that he and AJ are a lot alike, believe it or not. Vince then says that he knows AJ has a black hole in his heart, a tormented soul. Vince then says that AJ is afraid to lose control because of what will happen. Vince then says that if that is what AJ has, he wants to see it. Vince then says that if AJ harnesses all that, he brutalizes and will terrorize the locker room. Vince then says that there is an animal inside AJ and it’s begging to get out. AJ looks confused. Vince then says that that animal is eating AJ alive. Vince then says that he wants to see it, oh yeah he does. Vince then smacks AJ and says he is going to see it. AJ fires back and drops Vince with a big right hand. AJ stands over Vince and growls. Officials enter the room to back AJ off. AJ has snapped and Vince loves it. Officials rush AJ out of the room. A referee asks Vince if he’s alright and Vince says that he thinks he’s good. Vince lays on the floor, smiling while looking up at the ceiling. The Christmas Edition of SmackDown LIVE goes off the air with Vince smiling while laying on the ground.
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