WWE SmackDown Live Results (December 22, 2015)
From the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa
Report by Jason Powell and ProWrestling.net
SmackDown Live Opener:
[Q1] The opening montage opened the show… Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Booker T were on commentary… Eden Stiles wore a Santa hat and announced the tag title match was up first… The stage was had Christmas trees and presents on it, and there was another tree at ringside…
New Day made their entrance wearing Santa hats with unicorn horns. They delivered a promo as they headed to the ring and once they were there said they wanted to promote their upcoming Christmas album. They ran through some silly names and finished by singing “We wish you a booty Christmas and a happy New Day”…
1. Big E and Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods) vs. The Lucha Dragons for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Kingston kicked Sin Cara through the ropes at ringside, then Woods played the trombone heading into the break. [C]
[Q2] Big E ran Kalisto into the barricade at ringside and drew a gasp from the crowd. Woods continued to play his trombone while his partners isolated Kalisto. The Dragons came back and Kalisto hit his finisher on Big E. The referee got tied up with the other team members. Sin Cara dodged Woods swinging his trombone at him, but Big E recovered and caught Sin Cara springboarding off the ropes and put him down with The Big Ending for the win…
New Day defeated The Lucha Dragons to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship in 13:05.
The broadcast team hyped The Uso Brothers vs. Alberto Del Rio and Rusev, and the Intercontinental Title match… Backstage, put on The Cobra glove to put a star on top of a Christmas tree. However, a man with a red glove showed up and took the star down…
A video package aired with Dolph Ziggler wishing viewers a Merry Christmas. Charlotte acted nice once she realized she was on camera. Tyler Breeze didn’t play along. Roman Reigns delivered a straight forward Merry Christmas from his family to yours… [C]
Backstage, Renee Young interviewed Dean Ambrose, who spoke about his injuries and then spoke about metaphors vs. literal. He vowed to remain the Intercontinental Championship. He said he’s sorry, but tonight is not Owens’ or Ziggler’s night. “That’s not a metaphor, that’s a fact,” Ambrose said…
[Q3] 2. Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman vs. Ryback, Kane, and The Dudley Boyz in an eight-man tag match. They took an early break as the crowd was chanting “Feed Me More.” [C] An ad hyped John Cena as returning to Raw to face Alberto Del Rio on Monday.
Strowman checked into the match and called for Kane to be tagged in. Kane obliged after getting a big reaction from the crowd. Kane got the better of the initial exchange, but Strowman took advantage of Harper distracting Kane and clotheslined him to the mat before tagging out. Later, Ryback performed a missile dropkick off the second rope. The crowd didn’t care, so he played to them until he got a reaction. [C]
[Q4] Kane and Strowman had another exchange with Kane clotheslining Strowman to the floor. However, Strowman recovered and ran Kane into the post. Ryback was taken out at ringside by Rowan. The Dudleys set up for the Whassup spot, but Devon dove onto Strowman at ringside and was caught and then kicked by Harper. Wyatt hit Sister Abigail on Bubba and pinned him…
The Wyatt Family beat Ryback, Kane, and The Dudley Boyz in 16:10.
Backstage, Tyler Breeze and Summer Rae left Santino’s party because there were no decorations or food. Adam Rose and Damien Sandow also split. Santino returned and found the mess. Stardust and The Ascension showed up and mocked him. Neville showed up wearing an elf hat. He told them they don’t mess with Christmas. Titus showed up and joined Neville while putting him over as the breakout star of the year. This is leading to a match of some kind…
Cole hyped The Uso Brothers vs. Del Rio and Rusev for after the break… [C] Cole and a graphic boasted about WWE’s work with the troops. Cole hyped the Tribute to the Troops special for Wednesday night…
League of Nations made their entrance and footage of their attack on the Uso Brothers on Raw was shown. The Uso Brothers made their usual entrance and then Cole pimped the Chicago house show, meaning it’s probably not selling well…
[Q5] 3. Rusev and Alberto Del Rio (w/Sheamus) vs. The Usos. The Usos performed a couple of dives onto their opponents on the floor, but the heels were back in control as they went to break. [C] The heels remained in control coming out of the break. The Usos battled back. Del Rio had one of them tied up in the ropes and set up for his finisher, but the Uso sat up. Barrett distracted the referee and then Rusev kicked the Uso, allowing Del Rio to hit his double stomp for the win…
Alberto Del Rio and Rusev beat The Uso Brothers in 10:25.
After the match, League of Nations ganged up on the Uso Brothers. Sheamus was about to deliver a Brogue Kick to an Uso who had the U.S. Title belt in front of his face, but Roman Reigns ran out for the save. Reigns and the Uso Brothers cleared the ring…
Cole hyped the Intercontinental Title match… Another holiday montage aired with Dean Ambrose, Santino Marella, Becky Lynch, and New Day delivering separate holiday greetings…