The John Report: WWE SmackDown 12/20/24 Review
This is WWE Smackdown featuring Bianca Belair and Naomi teaming up against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae.
There are just two episodes of Smackdown left in 2024. This show was taped last Friday so that WWE talent and staff can have a break before Christmas. There is also a weeklong tour for the WWE crew after Christmas and before New Year’s, so it’s nice to give the staff a break.
The WWE Saturday Night’s Main event last Saturday was a solid show. There was a controversial post-show angle when Kevin Owens hit WWE Champion Cody Rhodes with a Package Piledriver. Cody left in an ambulance while Owens stole the Winged Eagle WWE Title that Cody used that night. I think all of that means the feud will continue even though Cody beat Kevin clean at SNME.
As I mentioned in my WWE Raw review on Monday, I’m posting the 2024 WWE Johnny Awards on Christmas Day, which is Wednesday. It’s just five days away, my friends. I’m working on it every day and looking forward to sharing it with you all. The 2023 WWE Johnny Awards are here in case you need a reminder about what they are all about.
From the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, this is Smackdown for episode #1322. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport, friend me on Facebook, or chat with me on the Bluesky App as well. Let’s get to it.
A video aired showing highlights from Saturday Night’s Main Event.
There was some backstage walking showing Bianca Belair & Naomi together while Nia Jax & Candice LeRae were together. They also showed the Motor City Machine Guns walking while #DIY was also walking around as the WWE Tag Team Champions.
The commentary team was Michael Cole and Corey Graves.
Let’s Hear from The Bloodline
The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga entered for tag team action. Solo wanted “Smackdown” to acknowledge him and the fans booed. Solo said that Roman Reigns sat on a little boat with the Wise Man to challenge Solo to a Tribal Combat Match for the Ula Fala to take place on Raw’s debut on Netflix. The fans were chanting “WHAT” so Solo told them to acknowledge him. The fans chanted “OTC” for Roman Reigns. Solo said “let’s do it” while claiming he’ll leave his Bloodline behind and Roman should leave his Bloodline behind. Solo said he’s walking in and walking out as The Tribal Chief. Solo said he’ll still be the Head of the Table, he’ll still be the Tribal Chief and still have the Ula Fala. Solo told Roman after he wins, Roman can go back to his Island of Irrelevancy and acknowledge Solo.
Analysis: There wasn’t much to the promo. It was a confident Solo going into his match against Roman Reigns.
Drew McIntyre made his entrance and went into the ring with Solo and his Bloodline while Solo held his guys back. The fans were booing.
Solo said he was very happy when Drew kicked Solo’s brother Jimmy in the face. Solo said Drew better have a good reason why he’s interrupting Solo. Drew said that he’s going to make this quick because it makes him physically sick to be this close to Solo without kicking his ass. Drew mentioned taking out Jimmy, Jey and Sami. Drew said that Solo was the one that cost Drew the WWE Title at Clash at the Castle, so that caused pain and misery to Drew’s family and to Drew. Drew said that Solo is also the only one to stand up to Roman Reigns. Drew said that his heart says jump Solo, but his head says that they have the same goals. Drew said he’s going to start taking out more OG Bloodline members and he wanted Solo to take out Roman Reigns for good. Drew claimed that when that’s finished, they can finish their business. Jimmy Uso showed up to pull Drew out of the ring. Jimmy had a crutch (due to a toe injury) that he used to hit Drew in the back. Drew used the crutch to knock Drew over the barricade, so Drew ran away.
Analysis: I like how Drew McIntyre is a man on a mission targeting the OG Bloodline guys and he still has a problem with Solo because of a match over two years ago at Clash at the Castle. It’s important for wrestlers to remember their history so then fans can learn more about the character’s motivation. Also, it was nice to see Jimmy Uso get some revenge after Drew did a cheap attack on Jimmy last week.
The trio of LA Knight, Andrade & Apollo Crews went down to the ring. They cleared the ring of The Bloodline and that match is next.
(Commercial)
The Bloodline – Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga vs. LA Knight, Andrade & Apollo Crews
The guys against The Bloodline were all attacked recently, so that’s why they are teaming up.
Crews was in control of Tama with a gorilla press slam. Knight hit a neckbreaker on Tama. Andrade tagged in with a chop and Crews was back in with a double team elbow on Tama. Andrade was back in with a headscissors and Andrade sent a charging Fatu out of the ring. Andrade hit a moonsault to the floor while Crews hit a somersault dive at the same time. Crews elbowed Tama, but Fatu tagged in leading to a running elbow smash on Crews. That led to a break.
(Commercial)
The heels were in control as Solo sent Crews into the turnbuckle. Fatu gave Crews a body slam. Fatu went for a senton splash, but Crews got his knees up to block. Andrade was back in with punches on Fatu along with a running forearm. Andrade hit running knees for a two count. Andrade went up top and hit his double jump moonsault for a two count. Solo made a blind tag so Fatu & Solo did a double team neckbreaker on Andrade on the top rope. Solo sent Andrade into the barricade. Fatu was back in with a popup Samoan Drop on Andrade. That led to another break.
(Commercial)
Fatu went for a running hip attack on Andrade, but Andrade moved and Fatu hit the turnbuckle. Andrade hit an enziguri kick leading to Knight getting the tag. Knight was on fire against Tama with a clothesline along with stomps and a running knee. Solo was in illegally, Knight avoided him and Knight hit a neckbreaker. Knight hit a belly to back slam on Tama. Crews made the tag and hit a Frog Splash off the top for two. Shinsuke Nakamura showed up at ringside and hit Knight with a knee while the referee was looking at the guys in the ring. Solo broke up Crews doing a submission. Solo hit an uppercut on Andrade. Solo tagged in with a running hip attack on Crews along with a Spinning Solo slam. Solo hit a Samoan Spike on Crews for the pinfall win. It went 16 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Bloodline – Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga
Analysis: ***1/4 It ended up as a dominant win for The Bloodline. Solo getting the win makes sense due to his upcoming match with Roman Reigns and I’m not surprised that Crews took the fall. Nakamura showing up to cost Knight also played a factor in the finish. I thought it might go around 10 minutes, so the fact that they went three segments and close to 16 minutes was a bit of a surprise. Anyway, the right team won. No surprise there.
Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin were interviewed by Byron Saxton backstage. Alex said tonight it’s about payback. Sabin said they’ve known Johnny Gargano for 20 years and finally he showed who he truly is. Alex said that he’ll make sure that Johnny knows he made the biggest mistake of his life. Alex told Chris he wanted to do this alone.
They showed a video package about Chelsea Green beating Michin to become the first Women’s US Champion.
Chelsea Green, the new Women’s US Champion, was interviewed by Byron Saxton while Piper Niven was there to support Green. Green told “Bryan” that she always knew that this was going to happen. Green said she worked her entire life for this to happen. Green said it was red, white and green. Green said that now she’s in the history books and she should have been three years ago, but she was released and even before that, but she wasn’t hired. Green said she was going to Disney World and she left.
Analysis: I’m happy for Green as Women’s US Champion. She was a popular pick to win and I’m glad that WWE did what the fans wanted.
A recap of the Kevin Owens-Cody Rhodes situation was up next.
(Commercial)
A video package aired recapping the Cody Rhodes-Kevin Owens match from Saturday’s Night Main Event. Corey Graves said that Cody was at home resting and we wish him the best.
Let’s Hear from Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens had the Winged Eagle WWE Title with him as he spoke into a camera. Owens said what happened to him at SNME was not his fault. Owens said that he was screwed out of winning that championship and what happened to him is a travesty and a tragedy. Owens said he should be the Undisputed WWE Champion and he’s not giving this Winged Eagle WWE Title back until he gets what he wants. Owens claimed he hasn’t snapped yet while saying you don’t want him to snap. Owens mentioned WWE Officials, Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes and said what happens next is on all of them.
Analysis: Those were some ominous words from Kevin Owens talking about how he hasn’t even snapped yet. Owens is one of the most captivating and best characters in WWE right now.
The Grayson Waller Effect show with Braun Strowman was next.
(Commercial)
The #DIY guys Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa were chatting backstage with their WWE Tag Team Titles. Gargano said he wanted Ciampa to stay backstage because Johnny can handle this. Ciampa said he’ll stay there while Gargano left.
Grayson Waller Effect with Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman was dressed like Santa Claus and he tossed some wrapped gifts into the crowd. Braun beat Carmelo Hayes in a match last week, so they showed highlights of that.
Grayson Waller was in the ring with Austin Theory. Waller said he’s spent a lot of money on the set. Braun threatened to beat up Waller. Waller talked about how Smackdown is dangerous backstage and Braun wondered if he forgot who he‘s talking to. Waller suggested that Strowman teamed up with Waller to set up the ultimate Alliance. Waller said they’d be the brains and the Braun and Waller said the brain and the brawn so he was only referring to himself.
Carmelo Hayes interrupted the promo saying that last week it wasn’t fair because he wasn’t ready. Hayes said he might lose, but he’ll never quit. Melo trashed Braun and wanted a match right here. Braun said he wanted to show him what the Braun Effect is. Bron wrecked some of the set by throwing plants at Hayes. They went to break there.
Analysis: It was a brief talk show segment to fill time and have Carmelo Hayes interrupt due to his loss to Braun Strowman from last week. Strowman didn’t say anything either.
(Commercial)
Braun Strowman vs. Carmelo Hayes
Melo tried to use his speed to avoid Braun early on. Melo punched Bron after the referee made Bron back away. Melo slid out of the ring to avoid Braun. Melo was on the floor, so Braun chased after him and Melo delivered a kick while Braun was on the apron. Melo hit a springboard leg drop to the head. Braun shoved Melo down to send him out of the ring. Braun pulled Melo into the ring by his hair followed by Braun tossing Melo across the ring. Melo hit a dropkick to the knee. Braun went for a Chokeslam attempt, but Melo countered with a hurricanrana. Melo celebrated so it allowed Braun to get back up and Braun charged at Melo leading to Braun bumping to the floor. Melo went around the ring for a light jog leading to Braun hitting him with a boot to the face. Melo slapped Braun while referee Jessika Carr was counting and Braun tossed Melo into the ring. The referee was at nine and Braun was unable to get back in the ring because the referee reached a ten count. It went about five minutes.
Winner by countout: Carmelo Hayes
Analysis: *3/4 A cheap win to give Hayes a victory over Stroman. It wasn’t a clean win obviously because of the countout ending, but it fits Melo’s character as a heel who will brag about it. The crowd barely reacted to this match and that finish.
After the match, Melo was celebrating the win, so Braun wasn’t happy about that. Braun went running after Melo out of the back part of the arena.
Nia Jax was backstage talking to Candice LeRae while Tiffany Stratton showed up to show support. Stratton suggested that she watch from ringside. LeRae said that they wanted Stratton to stay in the back. LeRae said maybe Stratton could work on throwing them a party. Stratton left while Jax and LeRae went back to talking.
(Commercial)
A video package aired about NXT New Year’s Evil on January 7th. The Fatal Influence women’s group was featured in the commercial.
Carmelo Hayes was shown walking backstage when he walked up to the Legado Del Fantasma group. Melo left when he heard Braun Strowman, so Legado’s Angelo told Bron where Melo went. Braun went up to Pretty Deadly, who mentioned their musical and Bron said he didn’t care about their musical. Melo attacked Braun from behind with a chair shot to the back two times. Melo took off.
Analysis: That is obviously going to lead to another Strowman-Hayes match as expected after the countout finish earlier in the show.
Johnny Gargano vs. Alex Shelley
Gargano recently went heel as one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions #DIY with Tommaso Champion.
Alex worked over Johnny with punches. Alex elbowed Gargano followed by a running forearm. Johnny hit a rolling kick to the head. Alex hit a neckbreaker onto the top rope. Alex kicked Johnny while on the apron. Alex hit a running knee off the apron to the floor and the show went to a break there.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Alex hitting a flipping neckbreaker for two. Alex wrenched on the left arm against the shoulder. Johnny hit two superkicks in a row on Alex. Johnny launched Alex head-first into the middle turnbuckle. Johnny connected with a punch while the referee was trying to separate them. Alex hit a facebuster into the middle turnbuckle. Alex went up, but Tommaso Ciampa showed up on the apron and that allowed Johnny to kick Shelley. Chris Sabin showed up to stop Ciampa from interfering. Shelley went after Johnny on the turnbuckle, Shelley jumped off with a cross body block, but Johnny rolled through and Johnny held onto the tights for the pinfall win. The referee never saw Johnny hold onto the tights. It went about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Johnny Gargano
Analysis: **3/4 A cheap finish to further establish the story that Gargano is a heel who is willing to cheat to win. The crowd was dead quiet for a lot of this match. These guys are awesome workers, but it wasn’t an awesome match because they had a different kind of match that was more about the story and putting over Gargano as a cheater.
There was a video package about the WWE Raw on Netflix kickoff event from WWE HQ earlier this week on Wednesday.
Bianca Belair and Naomi were interviewed backstage by Byron Saxton. Belair had both Women’s Tag Team Titles. Belair said that these past couple of weeks have been rough. Belair said that they won’t be stripped of those titles and thankfully she has Naomi to have her back. Naomi said she has B’s back forever. Naomi said she knows how important those titles are to Bianca and Jade. Belair tried to give Naomi a title, but Naomi said not until she earns it.
Naomi and Bianca Belair made their entrance as the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
(Commercial)
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Candice LeRae
Belair started for her team and overpowered LeRae leading to a Bellair press slam attempt, but LeRae got out of it. Jax tagged in against Belair while Tiffany Stratton was shown walking backstage. Belair hit a dropkick, Jax went for an elbow and Belair moved. Naomi tagged in leading to a double team splash/leg drop for two. Naomi slid under Jax in the ring and then Jax came back with a headbutt to knock Naomi down for a two count.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Belair trying to fight both opponents, but LeRae hit double knees followed by Jax hitting a Samoan Drop for two. Jax put her knee into Belair’s back while also pulling back on Belair’s arms. Jax sent Belair shoulder-first into the ring post. Jax did some hair pulling on Belair. Belair tried a suplex, but Jax was too big and Belair couldn’t do it. Jax tackled Belair into the turnbuckle. LeRae tagged in for a missile dropkick on Belair. LeRae hit a running senton on Belair for two. Belair avoided the heels, who screwed up a double team move attempt. Naomi hit multiple elbows followed by a springboard kick. Naomi got a boot up followed by a sitout facebuster for two. Jax headbutted Naomi, who avoided a charging Jax and Jax hit the turnbuckle. Naomi went for a split-legged moonsault, but Jax moved. Jax went for the Annihilator, Naomi stopped that and Naomi hit a Powerbomb out of the corner. Belair made the tag and Belair hit a 450 Splash off the top onto Jax for a two count because LeRae broke up the pin. Jax was bleeding from the top of her head. Tiffany Stratton went down to ringside to support her buddies Jax and LeRae. LeRae hit a Tornado DDT on Belair for two because Naomi did a kick to make the save. The referee never saw Naomi make a tag and Naomi had to leave the ring. Stratton handed the MITB briefcase to Jax, but Belair knocked Jax down from the apron to the floor. Belair dove onto Jax on the floor. At this point, Naomi had made a tag. Naomi hit a knee smash on LeRae. Naomi hit a split-legged moonsault off the top onto LeRae for the pinfall win. It went about 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Bianca Belair & Naomi
Analysis: *** It was a competitive match to put over the champions and give them credibility with Naomi filling in for Cargill as Belair’s partner. Tiffany Stratton showed up with Money in the Bank, Jax wanted to use the briefcase as a weapon, but Belair was able to knock Jax down at that point and Naomi finished off LeRae for the decisive win. Simple enough. I think going into this match the obvious result was that LeRae would take the pin and that’s what happened. It was a match designed to put Belair & Naomi over as a talented duo who are now the champions together.
After the match, Bianca Belair presented Naomi with one of the Women’s Tag Team Titles, and Naomi happily accepted.
The team of Belair and Naomi celebrated while Jax, Stratton and LeRae were down on the floor. Cole wished us a great Christmas and he’ll see us next week. Belair and Naomi celebrated some more. That was the end of the show.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Bianca Belair & Naomi
- The Bloodline – Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga
- Johnny Gargano
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The Scoreboard
6.5 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2024 Average: 7.36
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Final Thoughts on WWE Smackdown
This was one of the weaker episodes of Smackdown this year. Some of the matches were fine, but nothing blew me away.
I think it’s an example of WWE taking it easy during the holiday season with a taped episode. A lot of basic stuff and nothing that special on the show this week. They also didn’t promote anything for next week either. If you missed this one, you really didn’t miss that much.
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Thanks for reading. Go Los Angeles Rams, Toronto Raptors & Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @johnreport