SMACKDOWN 12/1/23

Bianca Belair opened Smackdown by thanking her team for the win at War
Games. Bianca declared her war with Damage Ctrl isn't over and put Iyo
Sky on notice.

Since this is the WWE we are talking about and according to WWE lore, if
you say their name they will appear and since Bianca mentioned Damage
Ctrl it was inevitable that Damage Ctrl's music would hit and they would
come out minus Bayley. Dakota Kai has been acting in Bayley's place on the
mic the past couple of weeks so tonight is no different. Dakota is giving
Brooklyn the business and Brooklyn is giving it right back to her.

In the ring, Dakota tells Bianca, "Iyo has already beaten you twice and if
you want another shot at Iyo, you have to go through all of Damage Ctrl."
Bianca never one to back down from a fight asks, "Who wants to get it
first?"

Just when you thought Bianca was in over her head against three women,
"The Queen" Charlotte Flair's music hits and she and Shotzi make their way
out to the ring to confront Damage Ctrl as well. Charlotte and Shotzi, both
declare they still have unfinished business with Damage Ctrl and want to go
through all three as well.

Shotzi declares, "There's enough Damage Ctrl to go around." and hits the
ring for a mele to ensue as the team of Bianca, Shotzi and Charlotte make
short work of Damage Ctrl.

​

Backstage Segment

Damage Ctrl is walking in the Backstage area when Bayley approaches and
Iyo is asking where she was for the opening segment. Bayley defends herself
saying, "Nobody told me and I would've been there if somebody told me
and it may have went differently."

Dakota Kai diffuses the situation between Damage Ctrl and Bayley by
telling Bayley that Kairi has a match tonight against Bianca and nobody
knows Bianca better than you and Kairi would appreciate your help to get
ready.

As Damage Ctrl is walking away the camera stays on Bayley with a look of
worry etched on her face.

​

Match 1
Butch (Brawling Brutes) vs. Bobby Lashley w/ Street Profits

This match happened because Bobby Lashley interrupted Butch last week
during a unaired interview with Kayla Braxton. Kayla was asking Butch
what happened with his team mate, Ridge Holland when Bobby Lashley
interrupted asking Kayla, "Why are you talking to this guy?". Butch tried to
ask Bobby why he was interrupting when Bobby put his hand in Butch's
face and declared, "Make a name for yourself before you talk to me."

Before the match, Bobby grabs a mic and asked Butch, "When I said make a
name for yourself, this isnt what I meant." As Bobby asked Butch if he
wanted him to break him into pieces he leans forward and Butch answered
him with a slap across his face.

​

The bell rings and Butch comes out the gate firing on all cylinders. Butch
gets the early advantage but the power of Bobby Lashley was just to much
for Butch. Bobby Lashley then proceeded to break Butch into pieces but the
Brawling Brute Butch gave Bobby a match but in the end the power was just
to much for Butch. Bobby get the win with a soul shattering spear.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

​

Backstage Segment

Paul Heyman entered the office of Nick Aldis and asked if he invited Randy
Orton to Smackdown. Nick Aldis' reponse, "I did and I intend to sign him
to a exclusive Smackdown contract tonight."

​

Paul asked, "Does the Tribal Chief know about this?" Nick Aldis told Paul,
"Consider this the Tribal Chief's communication." Nick tells Paul Heyman,
"I'll offer him the entire Bloodline to sign him." and his question to Paul,
"What are you going to do about it?" Paul Heyman never to be outdone tells
the Smackdown GM, "Whatever it takes."

Coming back from the break, Butch is stopped by Kayla

Braxton to discuss
what happened last week on Smackdown when Ridge Holland walked out
on him. As Butch is telling Kayla that this isnt about the Brawling Brutes
it's about him and him being on Smackdown to fight. As Butch is finishing
his answer, Pretty Deadly interrupts him to let him know, "This is an
opportunity for him to find his own path, even if that path leads to a dead
end like your career."

Butch being Butch didn't like that statement and throw fists with both of
Yes Boys! of Pretty Deadly. The numbers game put a end to Butch pretty
quickly.

​

Match 2
Santos Escobar vs Joaquin Wilde (LWO/LDF)

Cathy Kelly before the match asked Santos Escobar, "What can we expect
from your match with Joaquin Wilde?" Santos answered, "Im going to finish
what Rey started. Rey turned his back on the LWO when he chose Carlito
over me and if my brothers can't see it then I'm going to put him on the
shelf."

​

These two brothers gave each other the business in this match. These two
superstars were evenly matched throughout but Santos has had that edge to
him lately and that edge is what gave him the advantage to get the win over
his brother from NXT with the Phantom Driver.

​

After the match, Santos continued to give Joaquin the business until
Dragon Lee came out to save him. Santos quickly rolled out of the ring to
avoid Dragon Lee but tried to sneak back around to attack Dragon Lee.
Dragon Lee caught him and prevented the sneak attack.

Winner: Santos Escobar

​

Backstage Segment

Logan Paul is seen shaking hands with Nick Aldis before they cut to a
commercial break.

​

After the commercial break, Nick Aldis is reviewing his Smackdown
contract for Randy Orton in his office when Adam Pierce, the Raw GM
walks in asking if the rumors are true. Adam said, "Is it true you are trying
to sign the Raw legend right out from under my nose?" Nick reminds Adam
that Randy is a free agent, and yes he intends to sign him right there in the
ring tonight. Adam Pierce says he'll join him while holding up a contract of
his own for Randy.

​

Back in the ringside area, The United States Champion, Logan Paul makes
his way down to the ring. He gives a long winded promo about haters and
back stabbers before declaring he spoke to Nick Aldis and announces there
will be tournament to determine his next competitor. As he names the
competitors, he ends it with Kevin Owens name.

​

Everyone knows if you say KO's name he'll appear like a genie. Kevin
Owens makes his way ringside and says, "You want to talk about a
nightmare, this is a nightmare, you standing in my ring is a nightmare." KO
says he remembers seeing him on Vine, 10 years ago and it only took him six
seconds to realize he was a unbearable jackass. KO tells Logan the only crap
around here is the crap drink he's peddling. Logan tells KO, he has been in
the ring with the greatest boxer and if you and I fought 6 seconds is 5 more
than he needs to KO you.

​

KO tells Logan that this ring, the WWE is his world but before he can finish
Grayson Wallers music hits and him and Austin Theory make their way to
the ring.

​

Grayson tells Logan that he's better than that and he doesn't have to engage
with Kevin Owens. He's just a troll and not a forward thinking disruptor
like the three of them.

​

Austin Theory gets on the mic and says, "KO you like punching people in
the face but look at the man your standing across the ring from, the man
that just knocks people out." Austin says after Logan is done knocking you
out maybe your days of punching people in the face will be done...Kevin
Owens punched Austin Theory in the face. Again.

​

Match 3
Grayson Waller vs. Kevin Owens

This was a good back and forth match with both competitors hitting their
best shots on each other. However, the numbers game with Austin Theory
at ringside proved to keep the match in Grayson's favor even looking to
injure KO's hand in the match. However, even with the numbers advantage
you can't keep the prize fighter down and KO stuns the Brooklyn crowd
with a quick roll up for the win.

Winner: Kevin Owens

​

Backstage Segment

As Damage Ctrl is getting set to walk out to the ring, Bayley is seen standing
off to the side. Dakota Kai ask Bayley, if she is ok. Bayley clearly concerned
says she ok. As the Damage Ctrl music hits, Iyo tells Bayley to stay in the
back.

MainEvent
Bianca Belair vs. Kairi Sane

This is Kairi's first singles match in three years and she has a tough task of
taking out Bianca Belair on her quest to get her rematch with Iyo Sky.
Bianca has a serious power advantage in this match and Damage Ctrl are
making their presence felt early on but not to be outdone by Damage Ctrl,
Charlotte and Shotzi are ringside to help Bianca out. Charlotte gets caught
tripping Kairi off the ropes and the ref sends Charlotte and Shotzi to the
back. As the ref is sending Charlotte and Shotzi to the back, Asuka decides
to get in the ring to get a cheap shot in on Bianca but the ref catches her and
sends Damage Ctrl to the back as well.

​

With the numbers games diminished on both sides these two ladies put on
one hell of a match. As it looked like Bianca was going to put this match
away, Bayley came out and made her presence felt despite Iyo telling her to
stay in the back. Bayley's help didn't provide much as Bianca caught Kairi
going for the insane elbow and finished her with the Kiss of Death.

Winner: Bianca Belair

​

Backstage Segment

We see the two General Managers making their way to the ring to make
offers to Randy Orton.

​

In the ring we see the two GM's with mics, Nick Aldis announces to the ring
The Viper, Randy Orton.

​

The two GM's are talking over each other and pleading their cases with The
Viper. Adam Pierce offers Randy the winner of Jey Uso vs. Seth "Freakin"
Rollins but Nick Aldis offers Randy the Bloodline who took him out 18
months ago.

Ladies and Gentleman, and things that live in Brooklyn, My name is Paul
Heyman. Paul Heyman is telling the audience that Randy Orton will not be
making a decision tonight because The Bloodline will be making the
decision for you.
Solo Sikoa's music hits and Jimmy Uso and Solo speed out to the ring to
attack Randy Orton and quickly get the numbers advantage when LA
Knights music hits and he hits the ring to help The Viper. LA Knight clears
the ring and Knight and Solo fight their way into the backstage area. This
leaves Jimmy in the ring by himself with Randy Orton. Randy recovers and
puts Jimmy on the middle rope for a hanging DDT for some vintage Viper
offense. Then Randy went to his dark place and waited for Jimmy to
recover so he could hit him with the three most devastating letters in WWE,
the RKO! Randy takes both contracts from the GMs. Paul Heyman is
yelling for him to go to Raw where it is safe. Randy stands over the body of
Jimmy Uso and signs the Smackdown contract and drops the contract on
Jimmy.

​

Randy, "Paul you can call Roman Reigns and tell him, Daddy's back!" Nick
Aldis is back in the ring to raise The Vipers hand and The Viper is going to
Viper and delivers a RKO to Nick Aldis as well.

Takeaways

​

1. Tournament announced for U.S. Championship opportunity
2. Bayley has concern for her position in Damage Ctrl
3. Randy Orton is exclusive to Smackdown
4. Last anybody had seen Jimmy Uso he was still laying in the center of the
Barclays Center in Brooklyn