WWE SmackDown Results, December 18th 2018, Latest SmackDown Live winners and video highlights

The show kicked off with a backstage segment where Shane McMahon was giving a small pep talk to the SmackDown Superstars about how things are going to change in WWE. He called Paige to speak and it looked like she will no longer be GM although Shane mentioned she will be around in some capacity.

Becky Lynch walked up to the ring and started expressing her anger at Ronda Rousey for costing her the title on Sunday. Charlotte followed her out and made the same claim.

Asuka came out next and said that she was champion and there was nothing the duo could do. Vince McMahon showed up as a surprise and asked Asuka if she wanted to put her title on the line and she agreed. Before Vince could pick an opponent, Naomi came out and Vince decided she should get the title shot.

Asuka (c) vs Naomi - SmackDown Women's title match

The two started off even, with Naomi getting a little offence before Asuka neutralized her. Naomi kicked her back and tried again, but Asuka caught it and locked her in an ankle lock. Naomi made a relatively easy escape and slammed Asuka down.

Back after the break, Asuka threw Naomi back in the ring. She hit a dropkick to her back and the former champion Naomi rolled out again. The Empress began to push Naomi's face with her boot. She pushed Naomi towards the barricade but Naomi jumped onto the barricade and hit an Enzugiri.

Asuka and Naomi were going counter after counter before Naomi kicked Asuka in the head. Naomi almost landed a moonsault but Asuka lifted her knees and went for the Asuka lock. Asuka managed to lock it in but Naomi escaped. Naomi hit a rear view but it was a near fall.

Naomi went for a springboard splash but Asuka got a codebreaker. Asuka took advantage and locked in the Asuka lock in the middle of the ring and Naomi tapped out.

Result: Asuka def. Naomi to retain the SmackDown Women's title

Backstage, The Miz was talking to Vince McMahon and spoke about his "rough patch" with Shane McMahon. He asked for his "Blessing" and Vince McMahon said that he doesn't believe in blessings. He gave The Miz a chance to prove himself tonight and asked him to find himself a partner. Then he told him that he actually has a partner in mind for him. McMahon slammed the door and Miz looked confused.

Samoa Joe "apologises" to Jeff Hardy

âYou attack peopleâs weaknesses to cover your own insecurities,â Jeff says. âIs it the fact that youâve been here two years and you havenât won one championship?â

Jeff Hardy was out to hear "Samoa Joe's apology". Samoa Joe came out and told him it wasn't an apology but an intervention. Hardy fired back and said that the more he reminded him of his demons, the more he realized that he wasn't going back. He added that he and his demons could see right through Joe.

Hardy told Joe that he was projecting his insecurities on him and asked him whether it's the fact that he hasn't won one title on the main roster in two years. Joe went for the attack but Hardy hit a Twist of Fate and then left.

Miz & Mandy Rose vs R-Truth & Carmella

The Miz and Mandy Rose made a surprisingly good pair

Miz and Rose got cleared from the ring early and Truth and Carmella followed it up with a Dance Break. Mandy Rose interjected and Carmella sent her crashing outside. The distraction led the Miz to hit the Skull Crushing Finale on R Truth and got the win.

Result: Miz & Mandy Rose def. R-Truth & Carmella

The Good Brothers return

The Usos were out next and were talking about how they still ran SmackDown Live. Gallows and Anderson returned and reminded us that we haven't seen them since August. The Usos welcomed them to the penitentiary and said that it wasn't their fault that they slipped through the cracks.

The Usos vs Gallows & Anderson

Karl Anderson started things off with Jimmy Uso and he tagged in Gallows, who elbowed Jimmy's shoulders. Gallows caught Jey in his tracks but the Usos made the tag and cleared Gallows from the ring. Anderson, meanwhile, tagged himself in. Jey went for a big jump outside the ring but Anderson intercepted and caught his head with a kick.

Gallows got hit with a superkick to the chest but managed to stop Jimmy when he climbed the top turnbuckle. Anderson was tagged in and Jimmy Uso cleared Gallows before hitting a splash on Anderson.

Jimmy got ready to finish it but The Bar came out for the distraction. He didn't waste any time and hit the splash but Eric Young, Alexander Wolf and Killian Dain from SAnity broke the pin and it was a DQ.

Result: The Usos def. Gallows & Anderson by DQ

Sanity had a tense confrontation with The Bar and the champions went and attacked the two competing teams. It seems like we're headed for a Fatal-4-Way direction for the SmackDown Tag titles.

Daniel Bryan & Andrade Cien Almas vs. AJ Styles & Mustafa Ali

Almas and Styles kicked off the match and the announcers mentioned that Mustafa Ali was now a permanent member of the SmackDown roster. Styles hit a huge dropkick before tagging in Mustafa Ali who hit a big arm drag off a counter to Almas. Bryan was tagged in and he immediately took control of the match and locked in an abdominal stretch.

Daniel Bryan was sent outside right before a commercial break and we returned to see Ali in a submission move from Almas. Bryan was tagged in and he hit his Yes kicks before locking in a Dragon Sleeper hold. AJ was tagged in and took down Bryan in an instant. Styles hit a forearm and a neck breaker before getting a near fall.

Styles hit a reverse DDT in the corner before making the tag. Ali hit a DDT and Styles cleared out Almas with a springboard forearm. Ali hit his finisher the 054 and got the win. Ali pinned the WWE Champion in his second week on SmackDown. Seems like big things are coming!

Result: Daniel Bryan & Andrade Cien Almas vs. AJ Styles & Mustafa Ali