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SmackDown's Christmas Special kicked off with the Steel Cage match for the Universal Championship between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens, less than a week after their devastating TLC match.
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens - Steel Cage match on SmackDown for the Universal Championship
Roman had the early advantage and hit a big boot for a near fall before sending Owens into the walls of the steel cage. Reigns got another near fall off a Samoan Drop before Owens countered a Superman Punch and landed a DDT.
Owens came back with a senton before unloading on Reigns in the corner. Owens hit a cannonball but Reigns managed to counter the following pop-up powerbomb with a leg drop.
After a break, Roman was back in control but Kevin Owens hit a huge top rope Fisherman Buster for a near fall. Reigns dodged the stunner and got a Superman Punch in before continuing to punish Owens. KO countered a spear with a kick to the face, before dropping Reigns with a stunner.
Back from a break, Owens tried to escape the cage but Reigns brought him down. A superkick on the ropes stunned Roman, but he countered a senton by putting his knees up. Roman tried to escape the ring through the door but Owens slammed it in his face on SmackDown.
Owens tried the same but this time Jey Uso shut the cage before handcuffing KO to the side of the cage. Owens still managed to dangle his feet out of the cage before Roman noticed what was happening. Roman casually walked out of the caged and stood on the steps before slowly walking to the floor and retaining his title on SmackDown.
Result: Roman Reigns def. Kevin Owens to retain the Universal Championship
Match rating: A+
Asuka and Charlotte were set to put the women's tag titles up next on SmackDown.
Asuka & Charlotte (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks vs. Bayley & Carmella - Elimination tag match for the Women's Tag Titles on SmackDown
Banks attacked Carmella before the match began on SmackDown before the match was started with Charlotte and Bayley in the ring. Asuka stepped in the ring for a moment before Banks and Belair cornered Carmella on SmackDown.
Charlotte was tagged in and faced off with Belair, mocking the newcomer before realizing that she could match her in the ring. Charlotte brought in Asuka while Bayley managed to steal a tag on SmackDown.
A brawl started outside the ring while Bayley and Asuka were still going at it in the ring. After a break, Belair was dominating the match and unloading on Bayley in the corner before Banks came in with a frog splash, eliminating Bayley and Carmella.
Sasha got a near fall on Charlotte before Flair locked in the Figure-8. Bianca dragged her partner to the corner and took the tag before hitting a moonsaul on Flair. Banks came back in with a Meteora before Asuka got the tag and took out Sasha from the apron.
Asuka & Charlotte (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks vs. Bayley & Carmella - Elimination match for the Women's Tag Titles on SmackDown
Belair hit a huge sit-up powerbomb but Bayley had taken out Sasha so she couldn't make the tag on SmackDown. Asuka managed to reach the corner and tagged in Charlotte before Flair hit the Natural Selection on Belair of the win.
Result: Asuka & Charlotte def. Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks, Bayley & Carmella to retain the Women's Tag Titles
Match rating: A
The Street Profits were backstage on SmackDown and hyped the rest of the episode before Sami Zayn was seen arguing with a producer for putting him in a Lumberjack Match tonight. The Profits had a gift for him. it was a t-shirt that said 'I was Intercontinental Champion." Zayn was not amused and walked out away.
Daniel Bryan was making his entrance when he was attacked by Jey Uso. Uso dragged him by the leg and kicked him down the entrance ramp before hitting a slam on the LED floor boards.
Jey Uso vs. Daniel Bryan on SmackDown
After a break, Bryan decided to go ahead with the match with Uso on SmackDown. Uso capitalized off Bryan's condition and sent him outside and into the barricades and steel steps. Uso continued the carnage in the ring with a Samoan Drop, not allowing Bryan to build any momentum.
Uso missed a tackle and was sent into the announcers desk before Bryan dropped him in the ring with a top rope back suplex. Bryan got a near fall after another break and rallied for the finisher but Uso hit him with a kick and the splash for a near fall.
Uso nearly knocked Bryan out with a headbutt before missing the superkick. Bryan got the knee strike and picked up the win with a pinfall on SmackDown.
Result: Daniel Bryan def. Jey Uso
Match rating: B
After the match on SmackDown, Bryan announced that he would be entering the Royal Rumble match in January.
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Big E - Lumberjack Match for the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown
Ziggler, Roode and the Forgotten Sons attacked Big E and allowed Sami to gain an early advantage before Sami was sent outside as well, and promptly tossed back in by the lumberjacks.
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Big E - Lumberjack Match for the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown (contd...)
Big E landed outside after missing a splash on SmackDown and Roode & Ziggler attacked him before Zayn wiped him out with a dive over the ropes. After a break, Sami was trying to run away but was caught by the lumberjacks and sent back in.
Sami hit the Sunset Flip and got a near fall before the lumberjacks started fighting with each other, allowing Sami to nearly escape again. The lumberjacks brought him back before Big E hit the splash and the Big Ending for the win on SmackDown!
Result: Big E def. Sami Zayn to become the new Intercontinental Champion
Match rating: B
Episode rating: A
We got a great Christmas Special episode, with a major title change just less than a week after TLC. Roman and Owens put on one of the best cage matches of the year while Daniel Bryan picked up a win over Jey Uso against all odds and announced his entry in the Royal Rumble for next year. We even got a triple threat women's tag title match with Bayley making sure Banks and Belair lost.
