On this night Daniel Bryan addresses Bray Wyatt. At the top of the show, Roman Reigns comes out and speaks to the WWE fans in attendance. WWE Friday Night Smackdown took place in the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Reigns addressed the events of this past week’s Survivor Series. In the process he thanks the combined efforts of Shorty G, Mustafa Ali and Braun Strowman. However, he was sure to point out as he put it one ‘dummy’ on the team. King Corbin was the man in question and in the process it was pointed out how Reigns felt the ‘King’ was being selfish.
This eventually brought out King Corbin who called Reigns in no uncertain terms an egomaniac. That it was his ego that caused him to cost Corbin his place in the match. It was at this time where Reigns challenged Corbin to settle their differences on this night. However, Corbin said that Reigns would face a Robert Roode in his place. This signaled for Dolph Ziggler to lead the way for both Robert Roode and King Corbin. Their match would be after the commercial break.
Robert Roode vs Roman Reigns
After the break, it appeared as though it would have been a three on one match up considering both Corbin and Ziggler were on the outside lying in wait for Reigns. There were several instances where Corbin and Ziggler provided a distraction where the referee was unaware of what was taking place. As the match was reaching its closing moments, Corbin attempted to hand his ‘royal’ scepter to Robert Roode. However, with Roode more preoccupied with the actual scepter it left him open for a spear and a three-count victory.
Winner: Roman Reigns
After the match, each of the men was taken out by Reigns in their own way leaving Roode to contest with the Big Dog. Roode came back into the ring, set up a chair and proceeded to smash Reigns head with a scepter while it was resting on an unfolded steel chair. Reigns avoided the attack knocking out Roode in the process. Once aware of what was to have happened to him, Reigns proceeded to go to the outside ring area and speared Robert Roode through the barricade. If that was the worst of it we would understand but it wasn’t. After this Reigns proceeded to bury Roode under the barricade the commentary chairs, the announce desk and anything within arms reach. Corbin looked on from the aisleway while this was happening to his loyal follower.
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Mustafa Ali vs Drew Gulak
The next matchup involved Ali with his pretty cool Iron Man-inspired entrance facing off against Drew Gulak. It was a relatively short contest with a focus on highlighting Ali’s effort this past weekend at Survivor Series. What was noted was Gulak made mention via social media this week that it was a mistake for him to have been left off the men’s team and Ali to be put on it. These choice words led to this particular matchup. They are no strangers to one another having faced each other many times before on 205 Live with both having a longstanding program with one another there.
Ali hit a Toronado DDT and followed it up with a 450 splash for the pinfall and the win. Personally, the 054 was always a nice spin on the move but the move applied this way certainly does showcase Ali’s athleticism to the hard camera.
Winner: Mustafa Ali
Bayley and Banks voice their issues with the Smackdown women’s division, and a new threat for the Smackdown women’s champion arrives?
Both the Smackdown women’s champion and the captain of the Smackdown Women’s team came to the ring. Their purpose was to address the poor performance they felt was had by the women of Smackdown at Survivor Series. Both women continued to run down each of the performances of the women on the roster only to get the attention of one woman.
Lacey Evans came to the ring and addressed the comments by Bayley and Sasha Banks only to make it clear that she wasn’t the ‘weak link’ on the team. In fact, Evans went as far as to ‘tap’ Bayley on the shoulder referring to her loss to Shayna Baszler and Becky Lynch at Survivor Series. This act pushed Banks to push Bayley out of the way and step up to Lacey Evans. Unphased by the show of chivalry on the part of Banks, Evans dropped her with a women’s right. The right cross completely wipes out the Boss. A stunned Bayley doesn’t respond but rather looks on to soon check on her fallen friend.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1200598250631286784
Nikki Cross vs. Sonya Deville
Before the match began we were made aware of the online criticism that Cross faced by both Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Both for her appearance and her performance and participation on the Smackdown women’s team. Cross faced an array of strikes and kicks at the hands of Deville. In fact, it appeared at one point that Cross’ chances in this match were bleak. Despite both Deville and Rose’s best efforts to take out Nikki, a small package/inside cradle roll-up pin by Cross led to her being victorious.
Winner: Nikki Cross
After the match, an enraged Fire and Desire beat down on Cross signaling the return of ‘the Goddess’ Alexa Bliss who charged the ring. Bliss beatdown both Deville and Rose. Together, Cross and Bliss came together to hit a collective DDT on Mandy Rose. An elated Nikki Cross was ecstatic to have her friend back and by her side. Bliss hadn’t been seen for some time so her return only bolsters the women’s division with her return.
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Smackdown Tag Team Championship
The New Day (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro
Winners: New Day
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1200607025211666432
Daniel Bryan responds to Bray Wyatt’s request to ‘play’, what follows couldn’t be predicted
Earlier on in the evening, Daniel Bryan was challenged once again by Bray Wyatt to ‘play together’. While Bryan pondered this he was approached by none other than The Miz who warned him to reconsider what this could do to him. That it changed Finn Balor and Seth Rollins. That they were no longer the same people they once were.
Bryan pointed out everything that Miz addressed him with earlier on in the evening. Miz had shared how much Smackdown needed him and losing him would also mean they would be losing family. It was a much different approach by the A-Lister as he came from a different place in talking to Daniel Bryan.
Bryan shared how it was the passion of the fans that brought back a movement.
Fans at this point began to chant YES. When he asked them if he should once again challenge Bray Wyatt for the WWE Universal championship, the chants became louder and louder. Just when Bryan said he was joining along this was when Bray Wyatt interrupted with his Firefly Funhouse.
Bray Wyatt said that it was time that they debut a ‘new face’ to Daniel Bryan and the WWE Universe. The lights began to go out throughout the arena. All that remained was the red light that filled the arena. It was at that point when The Fiend emerged from under the ring pulling at Daniel Bryan’s leg. To his best efforts, Bryan attempted to fight him off. Kicking and punching at The Fiend. To his best efforts, Bryan couldn’t fight him off. The Fiend eventually applies the mandible claw on Bryan and drags him under the ring.
What happened next was both frighting and bizarre as it appeared as though The Fiend was pulling out clumps of Bryan’s hair. Fans couldn’t see Bryan at this point only The Fiend reemerging with chunks of hair. What will this mean moving forward? It appears the new face may Bray Wyatt was referring to was that of Daniel Bryan.
