SmackDown Commissioner, Shane McMahon and SmackDown General Manager, Daniel Bryan had a war of words in wake of the WWE Clash of Champions controversy.
After SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan made a controversial three-count at Sunday’s WWE Clash of Champions to award Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn a job-saving victory over Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura, Bryan and SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon came face-to-face to kick off Team Blue.
Shane and Bryan’s conflict revolved around Bryan’s fast-count on Sunday, which The “Yes!” Man claimed he did to protect Shane from himself after he made some questionable officiating decisions earlier in the contest. After a somewhat-heated discussion that saw Bryan tell Shane that he was on the verge of turning into his father, Mr. McMahon, cooler heads prevailed. The Commissioner opted to take off for the night and leave Bryan in control, and the two shook hands before Shane made his exit. (Via WWE.com)
Shane and Bryan’s conflict revolved around Bryan’s fast-count on Sunday, which The “Yes!” Man claimed he did to protect Shane from himself after he made some questionable officiating decisions earlier in the contest. After a somewhat-heated discussion that saw Bryan tell Shane that he was on the verge of turning into his father, Mr. McMahon, cooler heads prevailed. The Commissioner opted to take off for the night and leave Bryan in control, and the two shook hands before Shane made his exit. (Via WWE.com)
Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable defeated SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos.
After SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos conquered Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable along with two other tandems while defending the gold at WWE Clash of Champions, Benjamin & Gable looked to bounce back against the twins on Team Blue in non-title action.
Building off their count-out defeat of Jimmy & Jey from several weeks ago, the confident duo of Benjamin & Gable took it right to the champions. The Usos’ unique blend of offense was tough to contain, but Benjamin & Gable made it out of The Uso Penitentiary, as Benjamin scored the 1-2-3 after the duo connected with their devastating double-team maneuver to put themselves right back in the hunt for the coveted titles. (Via WWE.com)
Building off their count-out defeat of Jimmy & Jey from several weeks ago, the confident duo of Benjamin & Gable took it right to the champions. The Usos’ unique blend of offense was tough to contain, but Benjamin & Gable made it out of The Uso Penitentiary, as Benjamin scored the 1-2-3 after the duo connected with their devastating double-team maneuver to put themselves right back in the hunt for the coveted titles. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair & Naomi defeated Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan.
Fresh off Stephanie McMahon’s groundbreaking and historic announcement that the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match would occur at the Royal Rumble event on Sunday, Jan. 28, streaming live on WWE Network, SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair simply wanted to make it clear that she would be ready to defend her title against the winner at WrestleMania 34.
Hearing those words, Naomi hit the scene to let The Queen know that she was going to be the first Superstar on Team Blue to declare for the Women’s Royal Rumble Match and that the titleholder should expect to see her in New Orleans. This prompted The Riott Squad’s arrival, but before Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan or Liv Morgan could get a single word out, Naomi, fed up with the sneak attacks, immediately challenged them to a tag team match, which was accepted.
Riott and Logan answered the call, engaging in a hard-hitting contest against Flair and Naomi. In the height of the action, Liv tried to get involved in the contest by getting up on the apron, but she was knocked off by a surging Logan after Naomi avoided an attack, leading to The Glow picking up the pivotal win with the Rearview. (Via WWE.com)
Hearing those words, Naomi hit the scene to let The Queen know that she was going to be the first Superstar on Team Blue to declare for the Women’s Royal Rumble Match and that the titleholder should expect to see her in New Orleans. This prompted The Riott Squad’s arrival, but before Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan or Liv Morgan could get a single word out, Naomi, fed up with the sneak attacks, immediately challenged them to a tag team match, which was accepted.
Riott and Logan answered the call, engaging in a hard-hitting contest against Flair and Naomi. In the height of the action, Liv tried to get involved in the contest by getting up on the apron, but she was knocked off by a surging Logan after Naomi avoided an attack, leading to The Glow picking up the pivotal win with the Rearview. (Via WWE.com)
United States Champion, Dolph Ziggler's championship celebration ended in bizarre fashion.
Fresh off his United States Championship victory over former titleholder Baron Corbin and Bobby Roode at WWE Clash of Champions, Dolph Ziggler threw a Championship Celebration on SmackDown LIVE that was a complete retrospective of his decorated history in WWE, which includes 10 championship wins.
After reminding the WWE Universe of what he’s done and who he is through the vintage clips, Ziggler claimed the WWE Universe didn’t deserve him, then took the United States Championship off his shoulder, placed it in the middle of the ring and left without saying anything in a very odd moment. (Via WWE.com)
After reminding the WWE Universe of what he’s done and who he is through the vintage clips, Ziggler claimed the WWE Universe didn’t deserve him, then took the United States Championship off his shoulder, placed it in the middle of the ring and left without saying anything in a very odd moment. (Via WWE.com)
The New Day defeated Rusev and Aiden English.
Earlier in the night, Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were really trying to get into the Christmas spirit by handing out pancakes and New Day shirts, but they were interrupted by Rusev & Aiden English, dressed as Santa Claus and a snowman, respectively.
Rusev, or Rusev Claus, declared that the only shirt anyone wanted for Christmas wasn’t The New Day’s, but Rusev Day’s. Rusev then doubled down on the insults by stomping on one of The New Day’s pancakes. This, naturally, led to a tag team match against Kingston and Woods.
With the spirit of Saint Nick and fallen flapjacks at their backs, The New Day weathered the best from The Bulgarian Brute and The Picasso of Pain (including an attempted attack that included pie), putting the duo away with a dazzling top-rope elbow drop from Woods onto the now pie-faced English for the win.
What a crummy way to celebrate Rusev Day. (Via WWE.com)
Rusev, or Rusev Claus, declared that the only shirt anyone wanted for Christmas wasn’t The New Day’s, but Rusev Day’s. Rusev then doubled down on the insults by stomping on one of The New Day’s pancakes. This, naturally, led to a tag team match against Kingston and Woods.
With the spirit of Saint Nick and fallen flapjacks at their backs, The New Day weathered the best from The Bulgarian Brute and The Picasso of Pain (including an attempted attack that included pie), putting the duo away with a dazzling top-rope elbow drop from Woods onto the now pie-faced English for the win.
What a crummy way to celebrate Rusev Day. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Champion, AJ Styles, Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura defeated jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
In a star-studded main event, WWE Champion AJ Styles teamed with Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura to take on Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, with The Singh Brothers lurking at ringside in a thrilling rematch from Tribute to the Troops.
With wounds still cutting deep in the aftermath of WWE Clash of Champions, all six Superstars came in with tempers boiling and ready to pop off with punches. The integrity of the barnburner contest was compromised when The Singh Brothers tried to get involved even after they had been ejected from ringside. The Singhs got a double DDT from Orton for their efforts (just after The Modern Day Maharaja ate an RKO from The Viper), Owens felt the effects of a Phenomenal Forearm from Styles (with Orton adding to The Phenomenal One’s mid-air momentum with a shove) and Zayn was felled by a bone-crushing Kinshasa from The King of Strong Style, who scored the 1-2-3 to give his squad the main event W. (Via WWE.com)
With wounds still cutting deep in the aftermath of WWE Clash of Champions, all six Superstars came in with tempers boiling and ready to pop off with punches. The integrity of the barnburner contest was compromised when The Singh Brothers tried to get involved even after they had been ejected from ringside. The Singhs got a double DDT from Orton for their efforts (just after The Modern Day Maharaja ate an RKO from The Viper), Owens felt the effects of a Phenomenal Forearm from Styles (with Orton adding to The Phenomenal One’s mid-air momentum with a shove) and Zayn was felled by a bone-crushing Kinshasa from The King of Strong Style, who scored the 1-2-3 to give his squad the main event W. (Via WWE.com)
Gran Metalik & Kalisto defeated the Brian Kendrick & Gentleman Jack Gallagher.
Last week on WWE 205 Live, Gran Metalik came to the aid of Kalisto as The Brian Kendrick and Gentleman Jack Gallagher unleashed an assault on the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Both luchadors have drawn the ire of Kendrick and Gallagher in recent weeks, making their tag team match the perfect opportunity to silence their opponents.
Before the match began, The Man with a Plan and his British ally berated Metalik and Kalisto, but the masked Superstars were not intimidated. Kendrick and Kalisto started the contest and battled back and forth, but the incredible in-ring abilities of both the Lucha Dragon and Metalik proved to be too much for Gallagher and Kendrick to handle.
Entering the contest re-energized, The King of Flight took the fight to Gallagher and Kendrick, nearly securing victory with a Salida Del Sol to Gallagher. However, The Man with a Plan barely made the save and continued to attack Kalisto, resulting in a disqualification.
Despite the match ending, Gallagher and Kendrick continued their assault, driving Kalisto into the ring post before turning their attention to Gran Metalik. Targeting their adversary’s already injured leg, The Man with a Plan and Gallagher pinned Metalik’s leg between the steel steps and ring post, allowing Kendrick to dropkick the steps into his opponent’s leg, causing maximum damage. (Via WWE.com)
Before the match began, The Man with a Plan and his British ally berated Metalik and Kalisto, but the masked Superstars were not intimidated. Kendrick and Kalisto started the contest and battled back and forth, but the incredible in-ring abilities of both the Lucha Dragon and Metalik proved to be too much for Gallagher and Kendrick to handle.
Entering the contest re-energized, The King of Flight took the fight to Gallagher and Kendrick, nearly securing victory with a Salida Del Sol to Gallagher. However, The Man with a Plan barely made the save and continued to attack Kalisto, resulting in a disqualification.
Despite the match ending, Gallagher and Kendrick continued their assault, driving Kalisto into the ring post before turning their attention to Gran Metalik. Targeting their adversary’s already injured leg, The Man with a Plan and Gallagher pinned Metalik’s leg between the steel steps and ring post, allowing Kendrick to dropkick the steps into his opponent’s leg, causing maximum damage. (Via WWE.com)
Hideo Itami defeated Colin Delaney.
On Raw, Hideo Itami came to the aid of his longtime friend and ally Finn Bálor, teaming up with the first-ever Universal Champion against The Miztourage. Itami and Bálor’s victory only built the excitement for the Japanese Superstar’s debut in the Cruiserweight division.
Making his highly-anticipated debut on WWE 205 Live, Itami squared off with Colin Delaney and quickly showed the WWE Universe his speed, power and unbridled intensity with a flurry of kicks and high-impact strikes. Demanding that he be respected as he dismantled Delaney and picked up the victory with his patented Go to Sleep, Itami certainly proved he is a force to be reckoned with and can potentially change the landscape of the Cruiserweight division. (Via WWE.com)
Making his highly-anticipated debut on WWE 205 Live, Itami squared off with Colin Delaney and quickly showed the WWE Universe his speed, power and unbridled intensity with a flurry of kicks and high-impact strikes. Demanding that he be respected as he dismantled Delaney and picked up the victory with his patented Go to Sleep, Itami certainly proved he is a force to be reckoned with and can potentially change the landscape of the Cruiserweight division. (Via WWE.com)
Cedric Alexander defeated Drew Gulak.
In a rematch from Raw, Drew Gulak looked to derail Cedric Alexander and avenge the loss of his opportunity to challenge for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Gulak was all business, forgoing a PowerPoint Presentation and hoping to show his mentor and Zo Train leader Enzo Amore that he would be focused on not failing a second time.
As the match got underway, Gulak showed off a great deal of aggression, taking the fight to his opponent as The Certified G coached from ringside. Using his technical abilities, a determined Gulak relentlessly maintained pressure on Alexander and even countered a flurry of offense from his opponent with aggressive strikes and an enraged demeanor. One of the most resilient competitors in the Cruiserweight division, Alexander remained in the fight, despite the pain being inflicted by Gulak.
Despite a late surge from Gulak as he nearly secured a submission victory, Alexander managed to fight back and prepared to execute a high-risk maneuver off the top rope. Gulak countered, but found himself alone on the top rope – the one place he hates to be – and his kick was countered into a wicked Lumbar Check, giving Alexander the win.
After the match, Alexander taunted the WWE Cruiserweight Champion and fended off a surprise attack from Ariya Daivari, dropping him with another Lumbar Check and leaving The Zo Train reeling. (Via WWE.com)
As the match got underway, Gulak showed off a great deal of aggression, taking the fight to his opponent as The Certified G coached from ringside. Using his technical abilities, a determined Gulak relentlessly maintained pressure on Alexander and even countered a flurry of offense from his opponent with aggressive strikes and an enraged demeanor. One of the most resilient competitors in the Cruiserweight division, Alexander remained in the fight, despite the pain being inflicted by Gulak.
Despite a late surge from Gulak as he nearly secured a submission victory, Alexander managed to fight back and prepared to execute a high-risk maneuver off the top rope. Gulak countered, but found himself alone on the top rope – the one place he hates to be – and his kick was countered into a wicked Lumbar Check, giving Alexander the win.
After the match, Alexander taunted the WWE Cruiserweight Champion and fended off a surprise attack from Ariya Daivari, dropping him with another Lumbar Check and leaving The Zo Train reeling. (Via WWE.com)