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5 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (12/5)

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Written by

Robert Lentini

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The December 5th episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, CA. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s episode of SmackDown:

Shane McMahon Announced Tag Match For Clash Of Champions

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Owens welcomed the audience to the “Sami and Kevin Show”. Owens referred to himself as a victim of a McMahon family vendetta. The crowd chanted “you suck!” and Zayn told the crowd to show some respect.

Owens and Zayn compared their vendetta against the McMahons to Stone Cold, Bret Hart and Daniel Bryan. Owens stated that he and Zayn were better than those guys anyway and brought up Shane McMahon. Owens claimed that Shane tried to end his career by using his vessel of destruction, Randy Orton.

Owens complained about Randy Orton constantly getting opportunities from the McMahon family while he and Zayn have to scrap for everything they have. Owens said that he had to show the world that he is not afraid of Randy Orton and also had to outsmart Shane McMahon. Owens added that it is not that hard to outsmart a man that is so blinded by his shortcomings like Shane McMahon.

Zayn explained that he did not break the rules last week when he was barred from ringside because he was on the entrance ramp. Zayn did so by dancing around on the entrance ramp and poking fun at the crowd while doing so. Zayn boasted about attacking Randy Orton with a steel chair. Sami continued to boast about Owens’ victory last week when Randy Orton entered the ring from the crowd and hit Owens with an RKO.

Shane McMahon’s music hit and Shane came down to the entrance ramp. Zayn backed up in fear but stopped before entering the ring because Randy Orton was waiting for him inside. Shane announced that Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will be facing Randy Orton and a partner of his choosing at Clash of Champions. Shane added that Sami Zayn will also be facing Randy Orton tonight and that Kevin Owens will be handcuffed to the ring ropes.

Owens and Zayn were then shown backstage. Zayn informed Kevin Owens that he will be handcuffed to the ropes. Zayn called it inhumane and Owens said that he was going to talk to SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan to try and get this fixed.

Aiden English & Rusev Picked Up A Huge Victory

Aiden English and Rusev faced New Day tonight on SmackDown. Big E and Kofi Kingston controlled the match early as SmackDown went to a commercial break. During the break, Rusev took control and launched Kofi out of the ring.

Big E was tagged in when SmackDown returned and he took control of the match. Aiden English raked Big E’s eyes and tagged in Rusev. Big E shook it off and slammed Rusev to the mat. Rusev pulled Big E out of the ring and slammed him into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Kingston was distracted by English on the ring apron. Rusev then booted Kingston in the back of the head for the pinfall victory.

English and Rusev picked up a big victory tonight over New Day. It was announced that The Usos will be defending their SmackDown Tag Team Championships in a Triple Threat match at Clash of Champions against New Day and Gable & Benjamin. After English and Rusev won tonight, it was announced that they will be added to the Tag Team Championship match at Clash of Champions.

It seems like WWE is obsessed with Fatal 4-Way matches as of late. I will say that I find English and Rusev entertaining and that I’m glad that they are in this match. SmackDown has a bunch of talented teams on their roster, but the tag division still feels like it is The Usos and New Day and then everyone else. The Bludgeon Brothers are being built up properly as they squashed another jobber team tonight. I’d like to see Breezango actually featured in the ring and for WWE to build them up as a viable team as well. SmackDown’s tag division could be one of the highlights of the show every week, but instead it is usually a five or six minute match and an episode of the Fashion Files.

Dolph Ziggler Sent A Message Heading Into Clash Of Champions

Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin and Bobby Roode had a conversation backstage. Corbin and Roode complained about Ziggler being added to the match. Dolph said that he was added the match because he is a two time Wold Champion and deserved it. Ziggler also took a shot at Corbin and said that he cashed in his MITB contract successfully.

Later on SmackDown, Bobby Roode faced United States Champion Baron Corbin. Ziggler joined commentary and bragged about being so good at what he does that WWE needed him to be a part of the United States Championship match at Clash of Champions.

Roode controlled the match early and Dropkicked Corbin out of the ring. Corbin connected with a big punch that knocked Roode to the canvas. Corbin then hit a flurry of right hands to Roode’s face and then took a break to shout at the crowd. Corbin hit a Clothesline that knocked Roode to the mat and then applied a Chin Lock.

Roode broke free and connected with a few chops to Corbin’s chest. Both Superstars went for a Clothesline at the same time and fell to the canvas. Ziggler took off his headset and got into the ring. Dolph delivered a Zig Zag to Roode and then laughed while standing over him. Ziggler then hit a Zig Zag on Corbin and stood tall in the ring.

I don’t have any interest in the Triple Threat match at Clash of Champions at all right now. Everything is just wrong in this match in my opinion. Bobby Roode needs to be a heel, he is just not nearly as entertaining as he was in NXT as a face on SmackDown right now. Baron Corbin struggled in a feud with Sin Cara recently and feels like a paper champion. Dolph Ziggler is Dolph Ziggler. I don’t know how many times I thought that it was finally Dolph Ziggler’s time and it just never happened for him.

The only thing I’d be interested in is if Roode wins the title and then the power goes to his head and he turns heel. Until that happens, there is really nothing to be invested in here. I’m sure the match will be entertaining, but like all matches it would have benefited from an interesting build.

Charlotte vs. Natalya Is Now A Lumberjack Match

Lana, Tamina and Carmella were complaining backstage to SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan about not being involved in the Women’s Championship match at Clash of Champions. The Riott Squad showed up and they started complaining as well. Liv Morgan stated that Daniel Bryan didn’t like blondes. Sarah Logan said that Daniel Bryan was prejudice against southerners because she was from Kentucky. Ruby Riott added that Daniel Bryan was afraid of her tattoos and that is why they weren’t involved in the title match at the PPV.

The six women started shouting at each other and Daniel Bryan screamed “stop!” at the top of his lungs. Bryan then announced that the SmackDown Women’s Championship match between Charlotte and Natalya at Clash of Champions is now a Lumberjack match.

Later on SmackDown, Natalya tried to suck up to all of the Lumberjacks backstage. Charlotte faced Tamina as Lana and Natalya were ringside. Tamina controlled the match early and Natalya applauded her efforts as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Charlotte quickly took control and locked in the Figure Eight for the submission victory.

After the match, Natalya grabbed the microphone and told Charlotte to enjoy her last taste of victory. Natalya vowed to take the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Clash of Champions. The Riott Squad came down to the entrance ramp. Ruby said that they should give Charlotte a preview of what is going to happen at Clash of Champions. The Riott Squad made their way to the ring and a brawl broke out. Charlotte escaped and posed with the title on the entrance ramp.

Ruby Riott is solid on the microphone, I can’t say the same for Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan. I don’t even know what the hell Sarah Logan was trying to say tonight during this segment. The Riott Squad feels like the straight-to-DVD version of Absolution and Absolution isn’t all that entertaining either. I honestly would have preferred a simple match between Natalya and Charlotte than the predictable chaos that is going to happen during the Lumberjack match at Clash of Champions.

Shane McMahon Still Intends To Fire Owens & Zayn

SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan escorted Kevin Owens down to the ring and told him that he will be suspended if he doesn’t get handcuffed to the ring ropes. Owens agreed but threw a tantrum once he was handcuffed to the ropes. Owens shouted at Daniel Bryan that he is better than this and that Shane McMahon has a vendetta against them.

Orton started off the match by launching Zayn over the announce table and then slamming him into the barricade. Zayn ran away from Orton and received a pep talk from Owens outside the ring. Zayn got back in the ring and Orton punched him in the face. Orton brought Zayn back outside and slammed him into the barricade again. Orton bounced Sami’s face off the announce table a few times and then dropped him on top of the announce table again.

Randy threw Zayn back into the ring and Owens began shouting at him. Orton walked towards Owens but Sami connected with a Dropkick through the ropes. Zayn beatdown Orton for the next few minutes in the ring. Sami threw Orton out of the ring and Owens taunted him by shouting “where is your RKO now?” as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Sami threw Orton into the turnbuckle but Randy powered out of the corner and connected with a Clothesline. Orton followed it up with a Powerslam and Zayn rolled to the ring apron. Zayn grabbed bolt cutters from under the ring and tried to free Owens but Orton attacked him from behind. Orton shoved Owens into the ring post and Zayn punched Orton in the back of the head.

The action returned to the ring and Zayn climbed to the top rope. Orton shoved him and Sami fell crotch-first onto the top turnbuckle. Orton planted Sami with a Superplex off the top rope and the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”. Owens used the bolt cutters and broke free from the handcuffs. Orton leveled Owens with a Clothesline and then planted Zayn with a DDT while he was hung up between the ropes.

Orton then tried to DDT Owens but Zayn rolled Orton up for a two count. Zayn went for the Helluva Kick but Orton got out of the way and rolled up Sami Zayn for the pinfall victory. After the match, Owens attacked Orton from behind. Zayn got in on the fun and started stomping on Orton.

Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme hit and Shinsuke sprinted to the ring. Nakamura booted Owens and Zayn in the face. Nakamura then delivered the Kinshasa to Owens and Orton planted Zayn with an RKO. Orton and Nakamura then shook hands in the ring as Orton’s theme played. Nakamura then picked Orton up off the canvas and Orton planted him with an RKO. Orton then picked up Sami Zayn from the mat and Shinsuke connected with the Kinshasa.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan had a conversation backstage. Daniel Bryan asked Shane if he was done punishing them. Shane said that he was just getting warmed up and announced that he will be the special guest referee during the tag match at Clash of Champions between Orton & Nakamura versus Zayn & Owens. Shane added that if Owens and Zayn lose, they will be fired from WWE. Shane walked away and SmackDown went off the air with the camera on Daniel Bryan.

This storyline is pretty much the only thing I am invested in on SmackDown right now. I thought it was going to be an underwhelming ending to SmackDown when Nakamura came out and saved Randy Orton. I figured that Nakamura was going to be Orton’s partner at Clash of Champions. However, the interaction between Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon to close the show was very interesting to me.

WWE has been hinting at a power struggle between Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon and it looks like things are going to come to a head at Clash of Champions. It is an interesting dynamic because both Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon are fan favorites. I just want to see how this storyline plays out, it really is the only thing that is interesting right now on SmackDown in my opinion.

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