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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
DECEMBER 13, 2024
HARTFORD, CONN. AT XL CENTER
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reported as of earlier today 10,847 tickets had been distributed. The arena has a capacity of 20,500 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Chris Adamsto review Smackdown LIVE. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
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[HOUR ONE]
-After “Then, Now, Together, Forever” narrated by Paul Levesque as usual, they showed an aerial view of the downtown area of Hartcord, Conn. Then they showed Tiffany Stratton and Michin arriving separately at the arena. Then they showed Bayley signing cards backstage, then Chelsea Green and Piper Niven, the new Bloodline, and finally L.A. Knight as Michael Cole plugged their matches. They showed Cody getting out of a bus as Cole said he’d be moderating a discussion between Cody and Kevin Owens later.
-Jimmy Uso walked to the ring with a crutch. They replayed his injury. When fans chanted “Yeet! Yeet!” Jimmy said, “That’s the wrong twin, by the way.” He laughed playfully. He said, “WarGames didn’t get Big Jim, but it got my big toe.” He said WarGames meant everything to him because you’re sitting there with a bunch of family they have, who he might not like, and they always fight, but you always bounce back and end up together. He said the OG Bloodline came out on top. He said WarGames is behind them, but what’s next? He said he’s watched his family dominate and entertain the fans since he was a little kid. He said he’s proud watching Roman Reigns be the most dominant champion. Fans chanted “OTC! OTC!” He said he watched his twin brother become “one of the hottest Superstars today.” He said it was a childhood reality that became a real life dream.
Jimmy said he’s even proud of his little brother Solo. He said he might not like what he’s doing, but he’s proud of him. He said people are asking what Big Jim is going to do next. He said he has an answer: “I don’t know.” He told fans to ride with him because it was going to be a big year next year for him. He said he might go after the U.S. Title. He said nothing will stop him from doing what he loves to do week in and week out. He said he showed up with one big toe even though no one else with his family are there. He concluded, “A new year is coming for me, baby! Jimmy U-s!” Drew McIntyre then attacked Jimmy with a Claymore Kick.
Nick Aldis ran into the ring with referees and agents. Aldis chewed out Drew as he followed him to the back. He asked if he knows what this means.
(Keller’s Analysis: It felt like too generic a promo to actually end with Jimmy just leaving the ring. The Drew attack explains why Jimmy went out of his way to say no one else from the OG Bloodline was there right before Drew’s attack.)
-Backstage, Tiffany Stratton was warming up with a resistance band when in walked Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. Jax said she has full faith in her, and when she becomes U.S. Champ, she won’t need her briefcase anymore. “You want your legacy to be you won the tournament and became the first ever; you don’t need to resort to cheat tactics, right?”” She wished her luck. LeRae chimed in and said she’s sure she will bvlow them all away. [c]
-Cole plugged some new belts with St. Bonaventure including NIL opportunities.
-Aldis was still chewing out Drew backstage. He said he’s known him for a long time, but this is going to create a ton of paperwork for him. He said the giant headache is because of him. Drew just smirked. Aldis told him to go to his office. Drew saluted him sarcastically behind his back and went inside his office. Bianca Belair and Naomi walked up to Aldis. Belair asked for an update on the Jade Cargill attack. He said the investigation is still ongoing and they don’t really have a conclusion yet. He said he thinks they have to relinquish the tag titles now. Belair didn’t like that at all. Naomi said Belair has never relinquished anything and she’d like to replace Jade. Belair said it’s been done before. Aldis said he’ll run it up the flag pole, but if he gets it cleared, they have to bve ready to be fighting champions including defending the titles next week.
-Graves complimented Naomi for stepping up when Belair needed her the most.
(Keller’s Analysis: Since Naomi is now benefiting from the injury to Jade, that makes her a top suspect for the attack, right?)
(1) TIFFANY STRATTON vs. MICHIN – U.S. Title Tournament semi-final
Tiffany came out first. Then Michin’s entrance took place. Cole noted that Tiffany is a former NXT Champion and Michin is a former Impact women’s champion. Graves said Michin has been on her more impressive run so far in WWE. The bell rang 19 minutes into the hour. Michin went for a kick from the ring apron, but Tiffany blocked it and then landed a low double stomp style dropkick of Michin on the ring apron. They cut to a double-box break at 1:00. [c/db]
Tiffany scored a near fall with an Alabama Slam after returning from the break. Michin climbed to the top rope, but Tiffany knocked her off balance and landed a rolling senton. She went for a top rope Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Michin rolled out of her path but not far enough and Tiffany landed on her awkwardly. Michin popped up and landed Eat Defeat for the win.
WINNER: Michin in 8:00 to advance to the U.S. Title final at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
-Cole and Graves recapped DIY winning the WWE Tag Titles. Graves called it “a perfectly laid trap.”
-Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa recapped what happened. Gargano said he lost the tag titles in front of his family, friends, and two year old son. “I was embarrased,” he said. He said he bottled it up and soldiered on, but he told the world he was going to do whatever it took to get the titles back. Ciampa said the Motor City Machine Guns then showed up with the red carpet laid out for them and they took their spot when they should’ve had a rematch. Gargano said after all they’d one for tag wrestling, he’s glad they finally got their flowers. “Unfortunately, it came at their funeral.” He smirked. Ciampa said Gargano is the mastermind.
(Keller’s Analysis: DIY were spinning their wheels for so long this year and this has really been a spark for them. They feel very relevant. Great deliver from both in that segment.) [c]
-A clip aired of Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga attacking Knight and Andrade last week.
-A vignette aired with Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman. Roman said it’s been a rough year, with everything falling apart in the spring and summer. A clip aired of Cody pinning him. He said he lost his title and his wiseman and The Bloodline. “Most importantly, I lost my ula fala.” He said he didn’t take it, he earned it. He said he was chosen to be the leader of the family. He said it’s a responsibility only he can handle. He challenged Solo to a Tribal Chief vs. Tribal Chief match on Netflix. He said he’ll take back his ula fala on Jan. 6 on Netflix. He said he’ll take back his respect. Heyman smiled in the background. He said after he wins, the whole world will have no choice but to acknowledge him.
-They went to Cole and Graves who reacted to the “Tribal Conflict” match. Cole plugged that they’d open the doors to the new WWE headquarters to the public for the first time next Wednesday as part of the WWE Raw Netflix Kickoff show at 2 p.m. ET on the WWE YouTube Channel. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, C.M. Punk, Rhea Ripley, Paul Heyman, Gunther, Solo Sikoa, Liv Morgan, Logan Paul, and more. They showed an image of the new WWE headquarters in the background.
-Legado Del Fantasma confronted Aldis backstage. Santos Escobar complained about him playing favorites. He said maybe they’re better off with Adam Pearce on Raw. They walked away. Carmelo Hayes then told Aldis he’s going to make light work of whoever he has lined up for him tonight. [c]
(2) CARMELO HAYES vs. BRAUN STROWMAN
Before Braun Strowman was revealed as his opponent, Cole said Hayes was going to take on the newest member of the Smackdown roster. He said it was part of the “transfer window” for wrestlers in the lead up to Raw moving to Netflix. He said the GM’s were working out deals with each other to “shake up the rosters a little bit.” Braun made his entrance and Cole said it was the worst case scenario for Hayes. He said Hayes keeps running his mouth and it keeps costing him.
The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Cole said Braun is the first to switch brands in the “transfer window” and moved from Raw to Smackdown. Strowman brushed off a springboard bodypress from Hayes. Strowman charged the corner, but Hayes moved, so Strowman went shoulder-first into the ringpost. He followed with a dropkick to his leg and then drove his head into the mat for a one count. Strowman caught Hayes flying through the air at him. Strowman turned it into a running powerslam for the win. Graves called Braun a “great get for Smackdown.”
WINNER: Strowman in 2:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: This feels like the start of Smackdown going back to being the clear B-show like prior to the Fox deal where they push hard the equality of the roster distribution between the two brands while it’s clear who is getting the most actual top stars.)
-Byron Saxton interviewed L.A. Knight backstage. He said he minds his own business, which is why he didn’t join the WarGames match when asked. “That little red necklace doesn’t do anything for me,” he said. He said the only person that matters to him is Jey Uso from the Bloodline. He then a cut a promo on Solo Sikoa predicting he’d remember whose game it is. [c]
-Commercials aired for Raw on Netflix including pushing tickets to the live event.
[HOUR TWO]
-As Solo made his entrance with Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga, Cole and Graves talked about what the ula fala means and how Solo ended up with it. Fans chanted, “You suck! You suck!” An “OTC!” chant took over. Solo told Hartford to acknowledge him. Fans booed. Solo began to respond to Roman’s challenge when Knight’s music interrupted and Knight walked out. Cole said, “You have to admire the courage of L.A. Knight.” He said they’ve had run-ins with each other in the past.
(3) SOLO SIKOA (w/Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga) vs. L.A. KNIGHT
Graves said Knight needs to get back on the horse and not get lost in the mix after losing his U.S. Title. The bell rang 3 minutes into the hour. Tama moved Solo out of the path of a diving Knight and then Solo gave Knight a Spinning Solo onto the announce table. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]
Solo landed a hip attack on Knight in the corner. Knight rallied at 9:00 and landed a top rope elbow for a near fall. Jacov Fatu grabbed Knight from behind. The ref called for the bell.
WINNER: Knight via DQ.
-Fatu, Tonga, and Solo attacked Knight. Andrade and Apollo Crews tried to make the save, but they got flattened too. They showed Knight writhing at ringside. Cole said the Bloodline is a scary group.
-Pretty Deadly approached Strowman backstage. They said they need a monster for their musical. He ripped away their script. They told him to read it over because it’s good stuff. He shoved it back at them and walked away. They told him to sleep on it. Byron Saxton walked up to Strowman. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller approached Strowman. Waller invited Strowman on The Grayson Waller Effect next week. Strowman agreed to it.
-Bayley made her ring entrance. [c]
(4) BAYLEY vs. CHELSEA GREEN (w/Piper Niven) – U.S. Title Tournament semi-final
They cut to an early break. [c/db]
Bayley took control after a battle on the ring apron and knocked Green to the floor. Not much crowd noise for this. Bayley suplexed Green at ringside. Bayley scored a two count back in the ring. A few minutes later, Green delivered a Rough Rider to Bayley for a two count. Bayley made another comeback. Niven pulled Green out of Bayley’s path at ringside, so Bayley leaped onto Niven instead. Niven threw Bayley over the ringside barricade. Green entered the ring as the ref counted Bayley. When Bayley entered the ring to beat the count, Green kicked her and then landed the Unpretty Her for the win.
WINNER: Green to advance to the U.S. Title final at SNME.
-A vignette aired with the MCMGs addressiing Gargano turning on him. Alex Shelley said he didn’t expect that from him. He said he has changed, but he gets it because the WWE Tag Team Titles are the most important tag titles on the planet. Shelley said next week he’d find out why he’s the teacher and Gargano is the student.
-Cole hyped “The Final Word” between Cody and KO later. [c]
-Cole and Graves touted the fan signs in the crowd after another scene was shown of Hartford.
-A vignette aired with Nakamura speaking with captions translating as he said everhyone will fall, one by one, at his feet, broken, humiliated, and forgotten. He said Knight was just the beginning. He said he held something he never deserved, the U.S. Title, “something he should have never touched.” He said he now claws for what he no longer has, but he said it was never truly his since “I am inevitable.”
-The camera was following Tiffany backstage when Nia Jax just happened to approach her. She said, “Not everyone is meant to be a singles champion like me.” LeRae said she just talked to Aldis and said she secured a match with her and Jax against Noami & Belair next week. LeRae said she and Nia can win the belts and then Nia can hold two titles. Jax said they should go brainstorm. LeRae told Tiffany that maybe singles wrestling isn’t her speed. Tiffany held up her Money in the Bank briefcase and snarled, indicating she might cash in because of how mean they were.
-Cole and Graves hyped the SNME line-up. [c]
-Cole stood mid-ring and introduced Cody who made his ring entrance. Cole then introduced his challenger on SNME, Kevin Owens. KO’s music didn’t play and he didn’t come out. Cody said KO apparently wasn’t there, “but this wonderful crowd is here.” He said he and Cole will do the interview without KO. Cole said they didn’t have to go out to the car. Cole said Triple H is going to let him use something for one night only on SNME. He asked Cody to talk about it. KO interrupted from his car. He said that’s enough from the golden boy. He said Cole should ask Cody how he’s okay using his friends to help “finish his stupid, pathetic little story at WrestleMania, but then spits in all our faces at Bad Blood.”
KO said when Cole asks that question, Cody should be honest and tell the truth and say it’s because he’s as bad a friend as he is a son and brother. He said no matter how many main events Cody is in, “the truth will always be you were always much more interesting as Stardust.” Fans oohh’d.
Cody said he’s sure Kevin has more zingers up his sleeve. Cody left the ring and headed backstage calling for KO. KO attacked him from behind. They fought onto the stage in front of fans. KO fought back and send KO to ringside. Security ran out and tried to stop them. Graves said this is a main event tomorrow night and they need to protect it. As security held Cody, KO hit him in the face with the belt. Owens stood over Cody as security implored him to leave the ring. He threw the belt onto Cody’s body and left. Graves said he might be the next Undisputed WWE Champion. Cole said Cody is in “deep, deep trouble.”
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Chris Adamsto review Smackdown LIVE. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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