SmackDown 22.12.2023 Happy Holiday

Finally, the Radiant Team is come back in Green Bay, WI! AJ Styles's sensational comeback, coupled with his bold attacks on both the Bloodline and LA Knight, has stirred up palpable excitement among fans. Furthermore, the USA tournament promises an array of electrifying matches, with two qualifying bouts on the cards. And let's not overlook the eagerly anticipated North American Championship showdown, where the newly crowned champion, Dragon Lee, will defend his title against Butch. With anticipation running high, tonight's event promises to deliver an unforgettable spectacle of wrestling action. Let the show begin!

AJ Styles wants Roman Reigns

The first episode of the show kicked off with the return of the iconic superstar AJ Styles. After being knocked out by Solo Sikoa several months ago, The Phenomenal One has made a comeback, showcasing a new appearance and attitude that has fans buzzing with excitement. It's undeniable that this revamped version of AJ is more intriguing and menacing than ever before, exuding a darker, sharper aura and boasting peak physical condition.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: AJ new style.

Tonight, AJ has his sights set on Solo Sikoa and has boldly declared his intention to face Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. However, he faces stiff competition, as both Randy Orton and LA Knight have also expressed their desire to challenge Reigns. Knight makes his entrance first, prompting Styles to call him out for allegedly taking his spot in a tag team match with John Cena. But true to his nature, The Phenomenal One remains undeterred, declaring that he's prepared to take on anyone, including Randy Orton. The Viper wastes no time in making his presence known, escalating the tension to a boiling point.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: AJ asked not to help him in his match with Solo.

In this critical moment, General Manager Nick Aldis emerges with a game-changing announcement: in two weeks, on SmackDown's Christmas Revolution special, AJ Styles will face both LA Knight and Randy Orton for the opportunity to challenge Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. It's a thrilling start to the show and an exciting preview of what's to come in the new year.

Holiday Havoc Eight-Woman Tag Team Match: team Bianca vs Damage CTRL

The rivalry between these two teams shows no signs of ending anytime soon. This time, WWE treated us to an intriguing match with no disqualifications and no rules at all. It included all types of common wrestling weapons like tables, chairs, kendo sticks, but also threw in some unexpected items like pies, Christmas presents, and decorations. Initially, I was convinced that this match would be a walk in the park for Damage CTRL. After all, they've been performing together for a long period of time, and Asuka and Kairi were tag team champions several years ago, if I recall correctly. On the other hand, Team Bianca seemed like a disparate group of individuals who had never quite gelled as a team.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: unique way to atack champion in Holiday Havoc match.

As expected, most of my predictions came true. Every time Bianca or one of her teammates gained the upper hand, Damage CTRL had a swift answer. However, the momentum shifted when someone set their sights on the Kabuki Warriors. The moment they decided to open one of the biggest presents, which had been spread around the ring, they found Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn inside. The evil witches immediately attacked the Japanese athletes, causing a huge distraction for Io Sky. This allowed Michin to execute her finishing move, "Check the Feet," followed by a Senton Bomb through the table on the champion, resulting in the pinfall!

SmackDown 22.12.2023: Unholy Union interference.

It was an incredible ending to the year for Michin and her allies. While I believe that if there had been no interference, the girls from Damage CTRL would have emerged victorious, when faced with evil witches, they were willing to do whatever it took to protect the World Women's Championship and their friend from losing the title.

Roman Reigns wants Nick Aldis

Given Roman Reigns' position as our Tribal Chief and his control over the proceedings, he seems to believe that he alone has the authority to make decisions. When he learned of the title match announcement for the Royal Rumble made by Nick, he wasn't pleased. Consequently, he instructed Paul to locate Nick and bring him to the tribal dressing room.

This development adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, especially for those who remember the rivalry between Roman and Adam from two years ago.

North American championship match: Butch vs Dragon Lee

The Brawling Brutes have been facing a slew of challenges lately: Sheamus is sidelined with an injury, Holland has left his tag team partner to join NXT, leaving Butch to fend for himself on SmackDown. Butch, undeterred, continues his search for a fight, and this time he's in luck as Dragon Lee accepts his challenge for the North American Championship. As anticipated, this match promised to be action-packed, with plenty of interesting moves and a hint of drama. And true to expectations, it didn't disappoint. Butch's performance was nothing short of impressive, as he relentlessly targeted his opponent's fingers and various body parts with devastating combinations. Meanwhile, Dragon Lee struggled to mount significant counterattacks, making for a gripping battle.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: Butch targeting Lee's fingers.

However, in wrestling, fortunes can change in an instant. Despite being on the receiving end for much of the match, Lee seized an opportunity and countered Butch's Bitter End with a Canadian Destroyer, a rare move in the modern era. He then secured the victory with Operation Dragon, pinning his opponent for the win.

After the match, there was nothing but mutual respect between the two competitors. Matches like these, filled with high-risk maneuvers and a dazzling, climactic ending, are always a treat to watch.

Trible Chief and General Manager Face to Face

Heyman did as he was instructed and brought Nick Aldis to Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief wasted no time in explaining how things work under his rule, emphasizing that any decision concerning the Bloodline must first be discussed with him. It seemed like he was attempting to replicate the tactics he used two years ago with Adam Pierce, putting immense pressure on the general manager. However, Nick had a sharp response ready. "While I respect your position as Tribal Chief," he stated, "I am the general manager and the executive authority here. It's my responsibility to ensure that everything on SmackDown runs smoothly. Please don't compare me to Adam. I hope to see you soon, champion." The expression on Roman's face after this exchange suggested that the Tribal Chief was infuriated by someone daring to oppose him.

United States Title Tournament Final: Kevin Owens vs Carmelo Hayes

The match I had been eagerly anticipating lived up to most of my expectations. With Kevin Owens being one of my favorite wrestlers and Carmelo showing his skills in his match last week, I was looking forward to a fair and brutal fight between these two individuals. While it was a good match overall, I couldn't help but feel that it was somewhat average. I had hoped to see more of Hayes's arsenal on display, but Kevin managed to control the match without encountering any significant challenges, ultimately leading it to a logical conclusion and thwarting Carmelo from showcasing his strengths.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: Swanton bomb by Kevin Owens.

The ending was a classic one, with Kevin executing his signature Pop-Up Powerbomb followed by a Stunner, securing his spot in the finals. Despite some initial hesitation from Owens, he ultimately helped Carmelo to his feet and raised his hand in a show of respect for his young opponent. I believe that Hayes has a bright future ahead of him in WWE, especially considering his impressive reign as NXT champion last year.

United States Title Tournament Final: Bobby Lashly vs Santos Escobar

The match was one I had no doubts about, especially with the presence of the All Mighty Bobby Lashley. Few have bested him in recent years, so it was clear to me that he was a top contender for Logan's title. This isn't to diminish Santos in any way; he's a great athlete with a long history and plenty of skill and experience. However, against a WWE veteran like Lashley, his chances seemed slim.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: All Mighty and Street Profits.

The match unfolded as expected, with Bobby's pure strength allowing him to dominate his opponent. However, Santos, the Emperor of Lucha Libre, utilized his quickness and the ropes to slow down and even injure Lashley's leg. While this setback wouldn't typically stop the All Mighty, interference did. At a critical moment for Santos, two masked individuals attacked Bobby's associates, the Street Profits. The distraction caused Bobby to lose focus, allowing Santos to capitalize with a roll-up and steal the victory.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: Santos' new team.

As the masks were pulled off, revealing Escobar's new crew - Angel and Humberto - I couldn't help but feel surprised. It had been a while since I'd seen these boys. It's intriguing to see them team up with Santos; together, they could cause quite a stir on SmackDown. Best of luck to Bobby in his next match.

Butch find him self trouble again

Backstage, Butch was in the middle of a short interview when Pretty Deadly decided to spoil the moment, as they often do, by mocking and teasing the Brawling Brutes member. Without a moment's hesitation, Butch launched himself at them, ready to settle the score. However, just in the nick of time, Nick Aldis intervened as the voice of reason, putting a halt to the impending brawl. In a surprising turn of events, Aldis announced that on the next episode of SmackDown, Butch would be facing Pretty Deadly in a tag team match, prompting Butch to find a new partner for the occasion. While the obvious choice would have been Sheamus, it seems he may not be ready to make his comeback just yet. Looks like we'll have to wait and see who Butch chooses to team up with.

AJ Styles vs Solo Sikoa

A significant match for both men, as AJ Styles sought revenge on Solo for his previous injury. With Solo having only a few losses against tough opponents, I anticipated a highly intense and dramatic fight, perhaps even reaching Pay-Per-View level. However, I found myself quite disappointed. Initially, Solo used his strength and size to dominate Styles, but in a strange turn of events, he seemed to lose speed or tire out quickly, allowing AJ to swiftly counter with a Phenomenal Forearm. Victory seemed imminent for AJ, but it was thwarted by interference from the Bloodline. Roman Reigns attacked Styles, resulting in a win for Solo by disqualification.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: Styles finishing Solo and take revange.

Big mess after main event

Earlier tonight, AJ explicitly ordered his allies not to get involved in his match under any circumstances, threatening to handle Randy and LA by himself if they disobeyed. However, once the match concluded, AJ's future opponents decided to disregard his orders and intervene, not only aiding Styles but also targeting members of the Bloodline. Initially, the situation seemed favorable for the Bloodline's opponents as they managed to clear the ring and execute several moves on the Tribal Chief himself. However, tensions escalated when Styles uttered something unpleasant to LA Knight, provoking Knight to turn his rage against his temporary ally. Despite Randy's attempts to prevent a brawl, LA, fueled by anger, also attacked Randy. Roman, observing the chaos, forbade interference from Bloodline members, cleverly allowing his future opponents to destroy themselves.

SmackDown 22.12.2023: Bloodline fighting back LA Knight, AJ Styles and Randy Orton.

Ranking and Opinion

Another solid episode of SmackDown. We witnessed an intriguing final for the USA Championship, Umberto and Angel made their comeback on the big screen, and the Tribal Chief engaged in physical confrontations with his opponents. Of course, the women delivered a great match without any rules. Overall, I'd rate this show a 6/10, a good showing without any standout or memorable moments. However, next Friday promises to be much more interesting as several storylines were set up tonight. See you soon, and don't miss it! :)