WWE SmackDown: 5 Biggest news stories - Kevin Owens gets crushed, Carmella smashes another champagne bottle (December 18, 2020)

#1: Kevin Owens was potentially established as a symbolic martyr after not backing down from Roman Reigns and Jey Uso's constant attacks, in heroic fashion, on WWE SmackDown

.@WWERomanReigns is burying @FightOwensFight in the rubble of #WWETLC! 👀#SmackDown @WWEUsos @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/WRXl5EdNIJ

— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2020

In WWE, there is a constant trope where babyfaces make stupid decisions because of eye-rolling, heroic reasons. Kevin Owens has done pretty much the same, but it has been portrayed in a manner that makes his arc worthy of being categorized as excellent television.

Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens' feud has proved that even the most basic WWE storylines can come across as must-see TV if executed in the right manner.

The Prizefighter got beat up numerous times throughout this week's WWE SmackDown. But Owens didn't back down, despite the fact that he needs to be physically capable to fight Reigns at WWE TLC.

Towards the end of the episode, The Tribal Chief and Jey Uso collectively buried Owens in a pile of tables, ladders, and chairs. But as it would turn out, Owens still managed to get up to send one last message to Roman Reigns - Either Owens will win the Universal title this Sunday, or he will die trying to do the same.

"At #WWETLC, I'm going to take the #UniversalTitle... Or I'm going to die trying." - @FightOwensFight #SmackDown @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/Ked4jkLpME

— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2020

Paul Heyman had said earlier in the night that The Prizefighter was a martyr, who was willing to do anything to prove his point. Kevin Owens' final message to Roman Reigns seemingly proved how dangerous Owens can be, but that illogical determination can also bring him down against The Tribal Chief at TLC 2020.

Do catch Ryan K. Boman and Denise Salcedo as they share their thoughts on all that went down during last night's WWE SmackDown in the video linked above.