The WWE Smackdown Reaction for 12/17/21

Welcome to the Smackdown Reaction, where I offer my take on this week’s show in Chicago.

As always, you can check out John’s full in-depth report here.

We kick things off this week with Sasha Banks making her way to the ring. Shotzi is announced next as one of Sasha’s opponents and then you realize that Sasha’s tag partner, Toni Storm, didn’t get a televised entrance. Charlotte Flair is out next to round out the heel team. The match was slow to get moving .but it eventually got moving. Remember when Sasha looked to be Charlotte’s next title contender? Storm is the fresher choice for sure. Storm drops Flair with a top rope cross body block for a close nearfall and got a tremendous pop for it. That’s a good sign, even from the Chicago crowd. Flair went for the double moonsault spot and Storm got her knees up for the second one and jackknifed Flair for the three count. Yes, folks, Charlotte Flair took a clean pinfall loss to a non-Four Horsewoman. We will need to preserve the video evidence because we all know she’s getting that win back. The match was really good once it got going.

After some backstage banter, we continue with tag team action with The Viking Raiders taking on Jinder Mahal and Shanky. The match was solid and Shanky showed off that he knows basic wrestling moves, so that’s a good sign. The Viking Raiders were impressive as usual and picked up the much-needed win.

Oh look, Farmer Brock is here rocking the overalls again. It’s a great look for sure.

It’s fan punishment time with Happy Talk. Corbin and Moss have Drew McIntyre’s sword still in Adam Pearce’s desk. One question though, how did the sword shift sideways after being jammed straight down? Oh, I’m sorry, I’m paying attention again. My bad. Anyway, Moss tells some awful jokes before Corbin offers the sword to Moss. To the surprise of no one, neither of them can pull the sword out of the desk. McIntyre ends the suffering and wipes both Corbin and Moss out before pulling the sword out of the desk to end the suffering.

Ridge Holland is out next with Sheamus to take on Cesaro. Pat McAfee dropped a great line on Jacksonville dropping Urban Meyer to compare the Cesaro/Sheamus split. Holland with the prematch cheap shot on Cesaro leads to a quick victory. The match furthered the story and the question now is who will Cesaro get as a tag partner?

Naomi is out to ask Sonya Deville why their pointless feud must continue. Naomi gets to humiliate Shayna Baszler in under 30 seconds again. I bet (Un)Creative forgot what the payoff is supposed to be. #FreeShayna

Tag team action resumes with The Usos taking on The New Day (again). It’s a great match as expected from these two, but I’m left to wonder is there anybody else in the Smackdown tag division? The New Day picks up the win to gain momentum towards the Day 1 title match. Hopefully, Day 1 will be the final payoff to this feud and both teams move on to the other teams (Viking Raiders, Los Lotharios, Jinder Mahal/Shanky).

Roman Reigns finally arrives at the arena for Promo Time. The Chicago crowd is starting the slow face turn for The Bloodline. Reigns questions Paul Heyman over what he knew about Brock Lesnar’s comings and goings before firing him as his Special Counsel. Reigns lays Heyman out with a Superman Punch and goes to finish him off when Farmer Brock Lesnar appears. Being in Chicago, Lesnar channels his inner Oprah and starts handing out F5’s. One to Jey and Jimmy Uso. Two for Reigns to close out the show. Great ending.

Let’s take a look at tonight’s highs and lows.

The Highs

Farmer Brock has renewed my interest in this feud. The whole overalls look is just phenomenal. Lesnar going all Orpah on The Bloodline handing out F5’s is what a Roman Reigns feud has sorely needed. The Bloodline can’t dominate Brock, so can Roman win at Day 1? Most likely Roman retains but still fear the overalls.

It was great to see Charlotte Flair take a clean loss to put over a newcomer. Let’s hope it doesn’t go like the Nikki A.S.H. clean loss where Charlotte completely obliterated Nikki back into Jobberville. Toni Storm is a future star and Charlotte needs to do the right thing and put her over.

The Lows

When is the never-ending feud between Naomi and Sonya Deville going to end? It’s been pounded into the ground and nobody cares anymore. Why did Shayna Baszler get dragged into another dead-end boat anchor feud? #FreeShayna

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That’s all I’ve got, until next time.