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SmackDown kicked off with a recap of last week's interaction between Sami Zayn and Brock Lesnar. Paul Heyman was backstage waiting for Roman Reigns to return while we headed for a tag team match in the ring.
Toni Storm & Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte & Shotzi on SmackDown
Shotzi and Toni started the match and Banks got the early tag with her team in control of the match.
Sasha tried for an early pin before Charlotte came in and cleared the ring. Storm tagged in and hit a judo throw as we headed for a break on SmackDown.
Back from the break, Shotzi got a big forearm and tagged Charlotte in who got a spinning backbreaker on Banks. Charlotte hit an Exploder suplex and blocked the backstabber before taking a crossbody off a counter.
Banks was sent outside before Storm tagged in and hit a crossbody of her own before rolling up Flair in a sudden pin attempt for the win.
Result: Toni Storm & Sasha Banks def. Charlotte & Shotzi
Grade: B
Backstage on SmackDown, Woods was in the middle of his kingly duties when The Usos showed up. They argued about who would win their matches tonight and at Day 1 before SmackDown moved on.
Natalya was backstage and said that Xia Li was a nobody and that the next time she tried to attack Nattie, the veteran would take her out.
The Viking Raiders vs. Jinder & Shanky on SmackDown
Erik took a beating from Shanky as the match began and a chop to the chest and a clothesline sent him down for the near fall. Mahal got the tag and Erik was caught in their corner as Jinder drove him into the turnbuckles.
The Vikings made the tag and tossed Jinder outside before Erik drove Ivar into Shanky in the corner. Shanky was down and Ivar hit a big splash before picking up the win!
Result: The Viking Raiders def. Jinder & Shanky
Grade: C
Heyman was still waiting in the parking lot as SmackDown went on and a black SUV rolled up. Heyman was expecting Roman Reigns but it turned out to be Brock Lesnar.
Happy Talk was back with Corbin and Moss as SmackDown continued and they showed off Adam Pearce's table with Drew McIntyre's sword still lodged inside. They made jokes about Drew and Corbin was so pleased with Madcap's humor that he let Moss have the sword.
Moss tried very hard to take the sword out but failed. They both tried it together and it was still stuck. Drew made his entrance, interrupting the duo and mocked them before Moss threw the first punch. Drew took both Corbin and Moss out before retrieving his sword while the less than Happy duo retreated.
Backstage on SmackDown, Sami Zayn was wishing Deville and Pearce happy holidays before asking for his title shot, which he earned. The two officials planned a festive gauntlet with Sami in it, to decide the next contender for the Intercontinental Championship.
Cesaro vs. Ridge Holland on SmackDown
Holland attacked Cesaro with his club and injured him before the match began. After a break, the bout was underway and Holland unloaded on Cesaro in the corner.
Cesaro vs. Ridge Holland on SmackDown (contd...)
Holland attacked Cesaro's injured ribs on SmackDown with Sheamus coaching him from the outside.
Cesaro sent Holland outside for an uppercut on the barricades before Sheamus interrupted, distracting his former tag team partner from ringside. Holland used the distraction to hit a big powerslam for the win.
Result: Ridge Holland def. Cesaro
Grade: C
Naomi came out and said that her Christmas wish was to face Sonya Deville one-on-one in a match. Deville walked out and said that she was not available but made a match with Baszler instead.
Sonya stepped in the ring and Naomi was still looking for a fight but Baszler attacked the former Women's Champion from behind and took her knee out.
Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler on SmackDown
Baszler went after Naomi's leg and got a kneebar submission after Sonya called for the bell. Naomi was struggling but managed to somehow get Baszler's shoulders down for a pin!
Result: Naomi def. Shayna Baszler
Grade: C
Corbin and Moss were hiding from Drew backstage and Corbin set up a match between McIntyre and Moss at WWE Day 1.
The New Day vs. The Usos on SmackDown
Kofi and Jey kicked off the match as SmackDown continued, and Kingston hit an early SOS before Jimmy sneaked in a tag. Kofi was taken down and isolated in the Usos' corner before coming back with a superkick and making the tag to Woods.
The official missed the tag and the confusion caused The Usos to get in control once more. After a break on SmackDown, Woods hit a top rope leg drop and got a near fall.
Kofi came back in and missed the Trouble in Paradise before Jimmy got the superkick for a near fall. Kofi came in with the Trouble in Paradise while the referee was distracted and picked up the win on The Usos.
Result: The New Day def. The Usos
Grade: B
Roman Reigns finally arrived and he headed to the ring.
Roman Reigns returns on SmackDown
Roman Reigns walked out with Paul Heyman and The Usos and made his way to the ring. Roman asked Chicago to 'acknowledge him' before saying that he does not like it when his cousins lose.
Roman Reigns returns on SmackDown (contd...)
Roman faced The Usos on SmackDown and said that they could do anything as they're family before addressing Heyman, saying that he wasn't part of it. Roman said that Heyman disrespected him and asked if he could trust him.
Roman asked Heyman once more if he knew of Brock showing up at SummerSlam or at Madison Square Garden or about Brock's suspension being lifted. He then asked if Heyman was a special counsel or an advocate.
Roman asked why Heyman was protecting Lesnar from him before Heyman said that he was protecting Reigns from Lesnar. Roman went for a hug and thanked Heyman before firing him.
Reigns walked out but came back for a Superman punch on Heyman before telling The Usos to get a steel chair.
Roman put Heyman's head on the chair and was about to hit him with another chair when Lesnar walked out.
The Usos ran at him and Brock took them out with two F5s. In the ring, Reigns attacked Brock with the steel chair but Brock shook it off and hit an F5 on Reigns. Brock hit a second F5 before SmackDown went off the air.
Episode rating: B
We got another great episode of SmackDown as we head into Day 1. Toni Storm picked up a tag team victory over Charlotte while the New Day and The Usos faced off in the main event. We got the return of Roman Reigns and a special appearance from Brock Lesnar on tonight's SmackDown.
