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5 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (12/25)

SmackDown Live

Written by

Robert Lentini

in

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The December 25th episode of SmackDown last week at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. Here are 5 takeaways from the show:

Daniel Bryan Isn’t A Fan Of Santa Claus

WWE Champion Daniel Bryan interrupted Carmella and R-Truth to kick off this week’s show. R-Truth was dressed up as Santa and Daniel said he was not the real Santa Claus. Bryan shouted “fickle!” and stated that Santa was the epidemy of everyone’s cheap material desires.

Bryan went on a rant about global warming and how in twenty years there will be no North Pole or Santa Claus. R-Truth called Bryan an angry little elf and Daniel responded by saying that Truth’s career is nothing but a tired joke.

R-Truth vowed to win the Royal Rumble and pointed out that he is #30 after winning the Mixed Match Challenge. Bryan asked R-Truth how he expects to win the Royal Rumble if he can’t even count to thirty.

R-Truth started counting but stopped for a 7-second dance break. Bryan then beat the hell out of R-Truth and applied the Heel Hook as Carmella pleaded for Daniel to let go. Bryan stomped on R-Truth’s head several times before finally leaving the ring.

Mustafa Ali Won Again

Last week on SmackDown, Mustafi Ali pinned WWE Champion Daniel Bryan in the main event. This week, Ali had another tough test in Andrade “Cien” Almas. Andrade controlled the match early and capitalized on a distraction from Zelina Vega.

Ali battled back and planted Almas with an awesome Tornado DDT. Mustafa followed it up with the 054 for the pinfall victory. Later on the show, Daniel Bryan attacked Ali from behind backstage. Bryan shouted that Ali didn’t deserve to be here as other Superstars dragged him away.

Andrade “Cien” Almas hasn’t really done anything of note since making his way to SmackDown. He was incredible in NXT but for some reason, he hasn’t been given a chance on the main roster. Mustafa Ali is a great talent as well and WWE clearly is building him up on SmackDown over the last couple of weeks.

Shane McMahon & The Miz Are Now A Tag Team

Shane McMahon was a guest on Miz TV on this week’s episode of SmackDown. The Miz had the World Cup trophy in the middle of the ring throughout the segment. Shane said that the McMahon family is listening to the fans. Shane claimed that the WWE Universe will now shape the narrative and that they are listening to them.

The Miz once again asked Shane McMahon to join him in becoming the best tag team in the world. The Miz said he wanted to be Shane’s partner because he has never heard his dad say that he was proud of him. Miz claimed that his dad told him that Shane fights for what he believes in and suggested that he teamed with Shane.

Miz stated that he thought for the first time in his life he thought he broke through with his father. The Miz added that the new WWE is about putting opportunities in the hands of the WWE Universe.

Miz asked the crowd if they wanted to see Shane McMahon and The Miz become the best tag team in the world and the crowd responded with a “yes!” chant. Shane said that everything Miz said resonated him and accepted his offer to form a tag team.

It seems pretty obvious that this wind up leading to a match between The Miz and Shane McMahon. I hope that they don’t actually become SmackDown Tag Team Champions, because that would just be further proof that WWE really doesn’t care about their tag team divisions. In the meantime, I’m still waiting for this storyline to be interesting or entertaining.

Rusev Won The United States Championship

Shinsuke Nakamura defended his United States Championship against Rusev on this week’s episode of SmackDown. Shinsuke controlled the beginning of the match and trapped Rusev in a Headlock in the middle of the ring.

Rusev escaped and planted Nakamura with a Suplex as Lana cheered him on from ringside. Rusev followed it up with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Nakamura sent Rusev to the apron and then booted him to the floor.

Back in the ring, Rusev took control of the match as the crowd chanted “Rusev Day!”.  Shinsuke battled back with a knee to Rusev’s face off the second rope. Nakamura geared up for the Kinshasha but Rusev countered into the Machka Kick for a near fall.

Rusev planted Nakamura with a Powerbomb and then charged at Shinsuke in the corner of the ring. Nakamura got out of the way and then connected with a knee to the back of Rusev’s head. Nakamura once again geared up for the Kinshasa but Rusev countered with a Clothesline. Rusev followed it up with the Machka Kick for the pinfall victory.

Rusev and Nakamura put on a decent match tonight. It is bizarre to have a title change on an episode of SmackDown that the majority of WWE fans are not going to watch. At this point, it has become pretty difficult to care about the US Title. Nakamura didn’t elevate the belt at all and Rusev feels like he is in the same exact spot he has always been.

AJ Styles Punched Vince McMahon

AJ Styles had a conversation with Vince McMahon backstage at the end of this week’s episode of SmackDown. Vince said that he wanted to know AJ’s name and Styles said that this is the house that he built.

Vince blasted Styles for not competing tonight and allowing Daniel Bryan to do whatever he wants tonight. Vince added that he has seen Superstars in the past that collect their money and titles, and then go home.

McMahon claimed that he knows AJ is not like that because he has a tormented soul. Vince challenged AJ Styles to let out the animal inside of him because it is eating him alive. McMahon slapped AJ in the face and Styles responded by punching Vince in the face. SmackDown went off the air with Vince McMahon down on the floor with a smile on his face.

The way this ended, it seems like there will be no repercussions for Styles after striking Vince in the face. Vince McMahon wanted this reaction from AJ and had a smile on his face at the conclusion of the show. This was a good cliffhanger at the end of what was mostly a throwaway episode of SmackDown.

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