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LECLAIR’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
DECEMBER 20, 2019
BROOKLYN, NY AT BARCLAYS CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON FOX NETWORK
Announcers: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
-The show opened with a recap of TLC, namely Daniel Bryan’s return after the Bray Wyatt vs. Miz match.
-Michael Cole welcomed the crowd to Brooklyn, skipping the usual theme song intro. Daniel Bryan’s music played and he “yes’ed” his way to the ring. The Smackdown stage was adorned with Christmas trees.
Bryan smiled as the crowd broke into a loud “Daniel Bryan” chant. He twirled the mic around, then said, “it’s great to be back in Brooklyn.” Bryan said people have been asking him where he went. He said he didn’t know, but he felt The Fiend rip out his hair and beard. He said when he got cleaned up, it wasn’t his hair that he noticed was missing, it was the Daniel Bryan “brand” he’d created.
Bryan said when he got home and his daughter saw him without his hair and beard, she cried. “She didn’t recognize me, but I recognized me,” Bryan said. He said he saw the man who had to fight, scratch, and claw for every single thing. He said that’s the man who kicked Bray Wyatt’s ass at TLC.
Bryan said Wyatt succeeds at changing people, but promised that he’d change Bray. He called Bray to the ring to prove to him that he does, in fact, feel pain, contrary to what Wyatt had suggested. Miz’s music played instead.
Miz said what happened to Bryan was awful, but Bryan personally attacked his family. Miz said it wasn’t about winning or losing at TLC, it was about protecting his family. Miz said Bray doesn’t have anything but his title, and he plans to take it. King Corbin’s music played, cutting Miz off.
The crowd booed Corbin loudly. Corbin made fun of Miz for feeling disturbed by some dolls, and at Bryan for “looking like Baby Yoda.” Corbin said Bryan’s brand is failure. He reminded the crowd of his own accolades, capped off by defeating Roman Reigns at TLC. Corbin said he doesn’t care about Bryan and Miz’s persona issues with The Fiend, he wants the Universal title. He said he’s next in line, but virtue of his win over Roman Reigns.
Corbin said Miz and Bryan have failed as WWE Superstars, and as fathers. Bryan and Miz shared a glance, then dropped their microphones. They began stalking Corbin. Dolph Ziggler hopped in the ring and attacked Miz and Bryan from behind. He gave Miz a super kick. Corbin gave Bryan an End of Days. Corbin and Ziggler celebrated.
(LeClair’s Analysis: Great promo from Bryan. It was an interesting angle to take, declaring that he’d “shed” the brand of Daniel Bryan and returned to his roots. He certainly looks like it. I actually don’t mind the idea of tagging he and Miz tonight, though I dislike the fact that Corbin is now bleeding over into another angle on Smackdown. He is grossly overexposed.)
-Back from commercial, Cole and Graves confirmed that Bryan and Miz would team to take on Corbin and Ziggler later in the show.
-The camera swept around the stage and ringside, previewing the “weapons” available for the Miracle on 34th Street Fight between Heavy Machinery and The Revival.
-Backstage, Cathy Kelly stood in gorilla with Heavy Machinery. She asked about their confrontation on last week’s show with Sami Zayn. Otis said he loves giving gifts, especially ham. Tucker said Otis’ heart is the only spot on him that’s vulnerable. He said tonight they’d win and spread some serious Christmas cheer.
Mandy Rose approached Heavy Machinery. She said she drew Otis’ name in Smackdown Secret Santa. She gave him a ham with a bow on it, and then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Heavy Machinery headed to the ring, both wearing Santa jackets and hats, Otis carrying his ham from Mandy. He dropped it off at the announcers desk. Cole promised he and Corey would take care of it. The Revival headed to the ring.
(1) HEAVY MACHINERY (Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic) vs. THE REVIVAL (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) – Miracle on 34th Street Fight
All four men traded words in the middle of the ring. The Revival threw punches and backed Heavy Machinery into the ropes. Tandem Irish whips yielded double backdrops from Heavy Machinery. Tucker and Otis took down Dawson with a running belly sandwich to the head.
Heavy Machinery headed to the outside. Dawson tripped Tucker into the steel steps. The Revival dumped Tucker onto the announcers desk. They retrieved some Christmas cookies and stuffed them down Otis’ throat. Dawson destroyed the presents at ringside and threw one at Otis. They repositioned the table set up at ringside and tried to suplex Tucker through it. Otis returned and made the save.
Otis body checked Dawson and Wilder. He rolled Wilder onto the table and climbed onto the apron. Otis twirled his Santa jacket over his head. Dawson popped up from the floor and sprayed Otis in the face with a fire extinguisher. Wilder recovered and they double power bombed Otis through the table. Cole sent the show to commercial.
The Revival smashed a present over Tucker’s head when the show returned from break. Tucker quickly returned to his feet and began fighting Dawson and Wilder off. Dawson tried to give Tucker a suplex on the ramp, but Tucker countered into one of his own.
Wilder opened up a present and found a bowling ball. “Just what I wanted,” he exclaimed. He tossed the ball right into Tucker’s groin. The Revival celebrated dramatically. They tossed Tucker back in the ring. Dawson tried to Irish whip Wilder into Tucker, who was positioned in the corner up against a Christmas tree. Tucker moved. Wilder crotched himself into the tree.
The Revival regained control and through Tucker to the outside. They tossed him onto the announcers desk, destroying Otis’ ham. They picked it up and smashed it. Otis saw it happen and grew enraged. He tee’d off on Dawson. Wilder cracked a “candy cane” kendo stick across Otis’ back. Otis was unphased. He game Wilder a power slam through a stack of presents.
Back in the ring, Otis backdropped Scott Dawson. He gave him an overhead capture suplex. Otis went under the ring and retrieved a small black bag. He dumped out a pile of Legos in the ring. Otis body slammed Dawson onto the pile of Legos. Otis scooped up Wilder into the electric chair position. Dawson tried to stop him, but he just got scooped into a power slam. Otis dropped them both.
Otis hi the Caterpillar on Dawson and scooped him up. Tucker returned to complete the Compactor for the three count.
WINNERS: Heavy Machinery in 13:00
Tucker retrieved Otis’ ham and brought it to him. Heavy Machinery celebrated their win, and mostly in tact Christmas ham.
(LeClair’s Analysis: I mean, it was ridiculous. But it was, if nothing else, entertaining. Generally speaking, I dislike putting The Revival in matches like this, but, at the same time, they play the straight and serious role so well that there winds up being a fair bit of solid comedy to come out of these situations. It’s a Christmas episode, so I’ll cut WWE some slack here. They’ve been doing these matches for years and this was far from the most egregious one.)
-Backstage, Dana Brooke was shown talking to Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Lacey Evans walked up with her daughter and greeted them. Cole teased Dana’s match with Bayley later tonight.
-After the break, Otis approached Mandy Rose backstage and apologized for bringing the ham to ringside. Mandy gave him a hug. Otis’ face lit up. When she pulled away, her dress was covered in sweat. She looked disgusted and walked away.
-The Revival were still in the ring with microphones. They called the audience “literal trash.” They said they’re thrown into stupid gimmicks every week and it’s a joke. “What happened to good old fashioned tag team wrestling?” Wilder asked. Dawson said it was gone. Elias interrupted them.
Elias said he understand The Revival is frustrated. He said he put everything they’re thinking into a song. Highlights included Elias’ grandmother being on life support after watching a Revival match. He wished them a Merry Christmas and left the stage.
(LeClair’s Analysis: I thought maybe this was going somewhere with The Revival, and I appreciate them being given am moment to call out their continued participation in gimmick matches. Unfortunately, it was just a way to get Elias on the show to deliver a particularly weak song.)
-Backstage, Sami Zayn approached Braun Strowman in the locker room. He told Braun he drew him in Secret Santa and asked what he wanted. Braun said he’s surprised he’s taking part, considering he seems to detest the holidays. Nakamura and Cesaro showed up at Sami’s side. Sami said he just wants to give Braun a gift. Braun suggested an opportunity at Shinsuke’s Intercontinental title.
Sami hesitated. He said it was a great idea, but he can’t because Nakamura and Cesaro already have a match against New Day tonight. He said he’d go check his list again and left with Nakamura and Cesaro.
-Carmella headed to the ring. She has pyro has part of her entrance now. Cole said she’d face Sonya Deville after the break.
Sonya Deville headed to the ring without Mandy Rose. Cole and Graves talked up an interview Deville recently gave to Fox Sports.
(2) CARMELLA vs. SONYA DEVILLE
Deville and Carmella locked up. Cole and Graves talked about Deville and Rose’s lack of success recently. Deville hung up Carmella in the ropes. The referee forced her to break. She struck Carmella down and tossed her into the corner, hitting her with a flurry of kicks to the midsection. Carmella elbowed out.
Carmella took Deville down with a clothesline. She tried to rile up the crowd. Deville tried to kick Carmella. Carmella ducked it and hit two kicks of her own. She dropped Deville to the mat and rolled into the Code of Silence. Deville tapped quickly.
WINNER: Carmella in 2:00
Carmella celebrated briefly, but was interrupted by Big E’s voice. New Day headed to the ring and danced with Carmella on the stage. Cole teased New Day’s match with Nakamura and Cesaro after the break.
(LeClair’s Analysis: I’d wondered what they were attempting to do with Rose and Deville, having now lost several consecutive matches in short order. With the way Graves and Cole talked about her tonight, it seems like they’re setting this up as some sort of angle. Then again, they transitioned out of the segment and into New Day awfully quickly.)
-Another Sheamus vignetted aired. He said when he left Smackdown, all that was left was the weak crybabies. “I’m ready to do battle for the soul of Smackdown,” Sheamus declared.
-Back in the ring, New Day continued tossing out pancakes as they awaited their opponents. Cesaro headed to the stage first, followed by Shinsuke Nakamura with Sami Zayn.
(3) THE NEW DAY (Kofi Kingston & Big E) vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA & CESARO (w/ Sami Zayn)
The bell rang just after the second hour began. Shinsuke Nakamura began the match with Kofi Kingston. Nakamura immediately bumped Big E off the apron, then shot Kofi into the corner. Kingston leaped out and hit Shinsuke with a dropkick for a quick one count. Cesaro made a blind tag.
Cesaro dropped Kingston with an uppercut for a two count. He deadlifted Kingston and dropped him with a gut wrench for another two count. Cesaro slapped a headlock on Kingston. Kofi fought slowly to his feet with elbows to the gut. Cesaro tagged in Nakamura.
Nakamura worked over Kofi, cutting him off from Big E. Kofi flipped out of a backdrop attempted and stumbled into a tag to Big E. Big E hit Nakamura with a pair of overhead belly to belly throws, then a standard belly to belly. He followed it up with a big running splash. Big E got the crowd clapping.
Nakamura battled back with a back kick to the head. He tried to catch Big E in the corner, but Big E dropped him. Cesaro headed in the ring. Kofi took him to the outside, then flew over the top rope, taking him out. Nakamura caught Big E with a number of head kicks while Sami Zayn distracted the referee.
Big E rolled to the outside. Nakamura distracted the referee so that Cesaro could hit Big E with a big running clothesline on the outside. Nakamura headed to the outside, draping Big on the apron and hitting him with a big knee to the face. Shinsuke whipped Big E into the ring steps. Cole sent the show to commercial.
Big E tossed Cesaro over the turnbuckle and onto the floor when the show returned from break. Cesaro made it back to the ring in time to prevent Big E from making a tag. He tagged in Nakamura. Shinsuke dumped Kofi off the apron and gave Big E a leaping knee off the middle rope. He set up for the Kinshasa. Big E cut him off with a big clothesline.
Big E tagged in Kofi Kingston. Nakamura tagged in Cesaro. Kofi caught Cesaro with a leaping clothesline off the top rope, then followed it up with a big standing dropkick. Kofi leaped off the top rope and hit Cesaro with a hurricanrana. He followed it up with a double stomp to the chest for a near fall. Kofi dropped Cesaro with another clothesline, then the Boom Drop. He set up for Trouble in Paradise.
Cesaro side stepped it and tossed Kofi into the air, connecting with a big uppercut for a near fall. Big E returned to the ring. Nakamura tried to cut him off. Big E tossed he and Cesaro to the outside. He launched Kofi over the top rope, taking out both opponents. Kofi tossed Cesaro back in the ring and climbed to the top rope. He hit a top rope cross body for a two count.
Kofi tried to tag in Big E, but Nakamura pulled him off the apron. Cesaro tripped up Kingston and began the Cesaro Swing. He released Kofi haphazardly and then stomped his chest, covering him for a two count. Cesaro set up for the Neutralizer. Kofi flipped through it and into a small package for a surprise three count.
WINNERS: The New Day in 13:00
Nakamura, Cesaro, and Sami Zayn immediately attacked New Day after the match. The stomped away at the tag team champions. Braun Strowman’s music hit and he marched to the ring to make the save.He dropped Nakamura and Cesaro. Cesaro recovered quickly and hung Strowman up in the ropes, allowing Nakamura to catch him with a head kick.
Strowman fought both men off. He dropped Cesaro with a punch, then ran into Nakamura in the corner. He got a running start on the outside and flattened Cesaro. He then returned to the ring and tried to give Nakamura a power slam, but Zayn pulled Nakamura away. They retreated. Strowman held the ring.
(LeClair’s Analysis: Pretty good match. Nakamura seems motivated as of late, and it’s created some really entertaining TV matches. I appreciated the fact that they flipped the usual New Day tag formula, forgoing a long, drawn out segment of Kofi Kingston being isolated and trying to make the hot tag to Big E. Interesting finish, and one that makes me think they may be setting Nakamura and Cesaro up for a program with New Day, given that it was sort of a fluke win and not at all decisive. Strowman’s involvement post match didn’t seem like a real indicator of anything, just a way to get him on TV after an absence.)
-Daniel Bryan was shown taping his wrists backstage. Miz approached him. He thanked Bryan for saving him at TLC. Bryan said he didn’t do it for him, he did it for himself. He apologized to Miz for everything Wyatt has done to he and his family. They then got in an argument about which of them dislikes the other more. Miz cut Bryan off and said they needed to work together tonight, but after that, Bray Wyatt is his.
-Sasha Banks music played as she appeared on the stage. She was there to support Bayley. Cole teased WWE’s “Year End” awards on next week’s episode of WWE Backstage on FS1. He said Bayley would face Dana Brooke after the break.
Dana Brooke headed to the ring after the break. Cole and Graves discussed Dana’s tweet that led to this rematch. Graves remarked that Bayley defeated Brooke soundly last week.
(4) BAYLEY (w/ Sasha Banks) vs. DANA BROOKE
Bayley and Dana locked up. Bayley backed Dana into the corner and gave her an elbow to the head. Out of the corner, Bayley gave Dana a snapmare and a sliding clothesline for a two count. Dana battled to her feet and gave Bayley some punches, then a hip toss. She performed a cartwheel and followed up with a quick kick to the head for a two count.
Bayley whipped Dana to the mat by her hair. She tossed her into the corner and gave her a running knee, followed by a series of stomps Bayley covered Dana again for a two count. She slapped Dana and talked some trash Dana fought to her feet. Bayley gave her a snap suplex and covered for a another two.
Bayley draped Dana over the middle rope. Sasha put the Women’s title in her face and the duo jawed at her. Bayley downed Dana and slapped on a headlock. Bayley cranked at Dana’s neck. Dana battled slowly to her feet. Bayley went for a backdrop, but Dana flipped through it and gave Bayley a boot. She followed up with a step up enziguri. Dana climbed to the top rope. She hit Bayley with a rolling senton. She hooked the leg, but Bayley grabbed the bottom rope just before a three count.
Dana shot Bayley into the corner and hit her with a handspring back elbow. She shoulder tackled Bayley, scooped her up and went for a power bomb. Bayley flipped out of it, bounced Dana’s head off the turnbuckle and hit her new finisher for a three count.
WINNER: Bayley in 4:00
(LeClair’s Analysis: Better match than last week. Dana Brooke has something. She’s extremely athletic, has a great look, and seems to connect with certain audiences, though not so much tonight. The match was short and to the point, and the right woman won, but Dana looked pretty good at times. She’s still got a ways to go, but she could be an asset to this division.)
Sasha and Bayley crowded around Dana and started screaming at her. Lacey Evans’ music played. She rushed to the ring. Bayley and Sasha retreated. Lacey asked for a microphone. She asked them where they were going. Lacey said Sasha looks like a “legit bully” with a big mouth and no backbone.
Lacey challenged Sasha to a match so she could make her a “legit loser.” Sasha seemed to accept. The show went to commercial.
(5) SASHA BANKS (w/ Bayley) vs. LACEY EVANS (/w Dana Brooke)
Lacey Evans shoved Sasha into the corner and bounced her head off of the turnbuckle repeatedly. The referee broke it up. Sasha used this to her advantage, turning the tables and downing Lacey in the corner. She hit double knees to Lacey’s back and neck. Sasha stomped away at Evans.
Banks gave Evans a snap suplex, floating over into a cover for a one count. She slapped on an arm lock. Lacey gave her an arm drag to get out of it. Sasha caught her by surprise with a dropkick. Banks hit Evans with the Meteora and covered again for a two count. Sasha grabbed Lacey by the hair and slammed her into the corner, putting her boot in Lacey’s neck.
Sasha played to the crowd. Evans recovered and gave Sasha a boot, then a pair of knees to the midsection. Sasha tried to fight back, but Evans caught her with another knee. The two ladies spilled out onto the apron. Lacey dropped Sasha on the apron, then kicking her to the outside. Lacey bounced Sasha’s face off the floor mat.
Evans turned to face Bayley. She faked the Woman’s Right. Bayley dropped to the floor. Sasha attacked Evans from behind. She beat down Lacey in front of her daughter and husband. The referee rang the bell for, presumably, a count out. Sasha got in Lacey’s daughter’s face. Lacey recovered and pounced on Banks. Bayley got involved. Dana Brooke tried to break it up. Referees eventually split the women up.
WINNER: No contest in 4:00
(LeClair’s Analysis: Lacey needs to amend her moveset, as she’s still working like a heel, especially against a smaller opponent like Sasha. Not much to say about the match itself. The post-match angle involving Lacey’s daughter was fine and adds some heat to the whole thing, I suppose. WWE seems to be keen on using children to advance angles quite a bit lately.)
-Daniel Bryan headed to the ring for the main event. The Miz followed. Cole and Graves discussed how strange it is for Bryan and Miz to be teaming. Ziggler and Corbin headed to the ring. Bryan and Miz began arguing about who would begin the match.
(6) DANIEL BRYAN & THE MIZ vs. KING CORBIN & DOLPH ZIGGLER
Ziggler and Corbin tried to attack Miz and Bryan when the bell rang, but they cut them off. Miz and Corbin spilled to the outside. Bryan immediately went into the “yes” kicks on Dolph Ziggler. Miz tagged himself in quickly. Miz began hitting his own kicks. Bryan ran back into the ring to cut off Corbin, who tried to interfere. They started hitting the “yes” kicks in tandem. They wound up at the same time and dropped Ziggler and Corbin. Bryan climbed to the top rope and started a “yes” chant.” Cole sent the show to commercial.
King Corbin had The Miz isolated in the corner when the show returned from break. Miz fought free and tagged in Bryan. Bryan dropped Corbin with a number of clotheslines. He invoked another “yes” chant and then began the running corner kicks. Corbi caught him on the third and connected with the Deep Six for a near fall.
Corbin tagged in Ziggler. Dolph stomped at Bryan and raked his face across the ropes. He hit a jumping elbow on Bryan for a two count. Ziggler grabbed at Bryan’s leg as he tried to tag in Miz. Ziggler shot to his feet and knocked Miz off the apron. He tagged in Corbin. Corbin and Ziggler double teamed Bryan.
Corbin stomped away at Bryan, taunting the crowd occasionally. He tagged in Ziggler. They continued picking apart Bryan methodically. Ziggler tagged in Corbin. Corbin gave Bryan a clothesline out of the corner, then elbowed him in the collarbone repeatedly. Corbin brought Bryan to the top rope. Bryan fought him off and connected with a big missile dropkick.
Bryan tagged in Miz. Corbin tagged in Ziggler. Miz shot Ziggler into the corner and hit a series of kicks, then a running clothesline. He took Corbin off the apron. He rolled Ziggler up for a two count. Corbin returned and tried to give Miz the End of Days, but Miz countered it into a Skull Crushing Finale.
Ziggler tried to catch Miz with a super kick, but Miz caught him. He took Ziggler down and locked in the figure four. Corbin tried to break it up, but Bryan cut him off with a running knee. Ziggler tapped out to the figure four.
WINNERS: Daniel Bryan & The Miz in 11:00
As soon as the bell rang, Cole announced that Bryan, Miz and Corbin would face off in a triple threat match next week to determine the number one contender for the Universal title.
The lights cut out and The Fiend’s laugh played over the speakers. Miz, Bryan, and Corbin were left alone in the ring as the show faded out.
(LeClair’s Analysis: Pretty standard TV tag match. It seems they may have been wise to reverse Miz into the hope spot, as his hot tag garnered basically no reaction at all. A hot tag to Bryan may have worked better there. This just seemed like they were tyring to buy some time going into next week. There was a little bit of intrigue between Bryan and Miz, but it quickly dissolved into standard tag fodder.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: By-the-numbers maintenance show that aimed to hold the line going into the last Smackdown of the year next week. Thankfully, they didn’t go to heavy handed on the Christmas theming and ridiculous gimmickry, but they also didn’t seem too interested in advancing much of anything or really giving the audience a reason to stick around for two hours. This very much felt like they were running in place.
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