Tag: solo sikoa

For the first time since September, AJ Styles is set to compete in a SmackDown ring tonight when he takes on Solo Sikoa. 

Styles made his return to WWE TV last week when he helped Randy Orton and LA Knight fend off The Bloodline. But Styles then turned heel by attacking Knight as the show was about to go off the air. 

Also, two United States title contender’s tournament semifinal matches will air. Kevin Owens will square off against NXT’s Carmelo Hayes for a trip to the tournament finals. The other match will feature Bobby Lashley going head-to-head with Santos Escobar. 

The NXT North American Championship will be on the line when champion Dragon Lee defends against Butch.

And a Holiday Havoc eight-woman tag-team match will go down as Damage CTRL face off against the team of Bianca Belair, Michin, Zelina Vega & Shotzi. 

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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– The show opened with a video recapping The Bloodline developments from last week, complete with AJ Styles’s return.

– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show. Styles’s music hit and Styles walked out in all black. 

The AJ Styles/LA Knight/Randy Orton segment

When you run a live show every week and you come across one of the few that are taped, boy does the editing make things feel like a completely different production. Styles barely spoke and the crowd seemed a little flat for him, but I like the new attitude and look. It’s not a Big Grand Change, but it does freshen him up a bit. I’m probably in the minority, but I was actually kind of hoping for a four-way between Styles, Orton, Knight and Reigns at the Rumble if only because Roman’s singles matches feel way too formulaic anymore. Either way, it should be interesting to see who ends up facing Reigns and then how the other two (presumably) do in the Rumble match.

Styles talked about how Randy Orton wants Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. Styles then talked about how Knight wants Reigns. Styles said he didn’t blame either guy and he also didn’t “give a damn about Randy Orton or LA Knight.” Styles said he is No. 1 when it comes to getting his hands on Reigns. Styles said he wanted Reigns at the Royal Rumble, but on cue, LA Knight’s music hit and Knight walked out with a microphone in hand. 

Knight said, “Let me talk to ya!” Knight said there is nothing to argue about because after what happened at Crown Jewel, Styles can have Reigns … as long as Knight gets to Reigns first. Knight led the crowd in the “LA Knight, yeah!” moment. Styles talked about how Knight stepped over Styles to becomes buddies with John Cena and get his match. Styles said if Knight or anyone else gets in Styles’s way, Styles will drop them, too. Cue up the Randy Orton music. 

Orton walked out with a microphone and said he can appreciate their issues with Reigns and the Bloodline. Orton said the Bloodline put Orton on the shelf for 18 months. Orton said nothing would get in his way toward Reigns. Knight chimed in and said that the Bloodline took Styles and Orton out, but they did not take Knight out. Knight told them to come along for the ride, but Knight will be the one who gets Roman Reigns.

SmackDown GM Nick Aldis walked out and calmed things down. Aldis said each guy has a claim to face Reigns. Aldis said in two weeks, it will be SmackDown New Years Revolution and at that event, Styles will take on Knight and Orton in a triple threat match. The winner of the match will get Reigns at the Royal Rumble. Styles said that’s fine and walked out of the ring. Styles then said if anyone gets close to the ring during his match with Solo Sikoa later, he will take them out. Styles’s music hit and that ended the segment. 

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Bianca Belair, Shotzi, Michin & Zelina Vega defeated Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY, Asuka & Kairi Sane) [12:44]

Shotzi is always good for a terrifying spot in matches like these, but that trashcan lid strike from Sane was nuts. For the obligatory holiday brawl that WWE likes to do, this packed a punch and had a lot more coming out of it than I anticipated. I was just wondering where Dawn and Fyre have been and it should be fun to see them work with Asuka and Sane (presumably) as this plays out into the new year. And good for Michin. She barely ever gets any booking love from WWE brass, but her getting the pin over SKY felt like a nice feel-good touch for a wrestler who deserves more attention than she’s been getting (and I guess the whole AJ/Good Brothers/Michin thing is done?). I had low expectations for this and it far exceeded them. 

The eight women jumpstarted the match and brawled to the outside. The only two in the ring were Belair and SKY and the two traded flips before Belair landed a dropkick and a vertical suplex to take the upper-hand. Bayley ran into the ring and kicked Belair to the outside. Shotzi then entered the ring with a big gift box that had a chair in it. Bayley attacked Shotzi and picked up the chair for herself. Ultimately, Shotzi gainec control and landed a splash onto Bayley after jumping off the chair. Shotzi then landed a splash onto all of Damage CTRL, who were on the outside. 

Michin and Vega fired up, but they were attacked by Asuka and Sane with kendo sticks. Shotzi and Belair then attacked Sane and Asuka with kendo sticks of their own. Belair and Shotzi pulled out a table from underneath the ring. Bayley and SKY cut them off, however, and ran the table into Belair and Shotzi, who were down on the outside of the ring as the show went to a commercial break. 

When the show returned, it was chaos in the ring as bodies were spread throughout the ring, along with gift boxes. Asuka and Michin faced off and Michin hit a power-bomb on Asuka, but SKY followed that up with a shotgun dropkick for a two-count. SKY and Belair were alone in the ring and Belair kicked SKY before breaking a gift box on her head. Shotzi then came off the top and kicked the box off SKY’s head in a wild spot. Sane busted open another gift box and found a trash can lid, which she used to nearly decapitate Shotzi. 

Sane through Shotzi into a Christmas tree and Vega attacked Sane. Asuka then used the mist on Vega. Bayley attacked Belair and Bayley with Asuka worked over Belair on the outside. Sane and Asuka found a bigger gift box and opened it. Isla Dawn popped out. Alba Fyre popped out of a different box and the former women’s tag champs worked over Sane and Asuka. Back inside the ring, Belair lifted Bayley and hit the KOD, but SKY came off the top to hit a moonsault. Michin ran in and landed Eat Defeat on SKY and put SKY on a table. Michin hit a Senton on SKY through the table to get the win.

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– Jimmy Uso was talking to Solo Sikoa backstage and the camera panned to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman, who were sitting down. Reigns asked Heyman who the SmackDown GM was. Heyman told Reigns it was Nick Aldis and Reigns asked Heyman to bring Aldis into the room. Back to the ring, we went, as Dragon Lee made his entrance. 

Dragon Lee defeated Butch to retain the NXT North American Championship [9:43]

Don’t look now, but it appears WWE is content giving Dragon Lee about 10 minutes every Friday to do … well, just to do something. Anything. With whoever. And it works. Pretty much all the time. It works. I have to think the crowd would have responded with more vigor to the late near-falls if it wasn’t such a long day at the office, considering how this was taped last week. But Lee continues to impress and Butch never misses any opportunity he is given. Even if those quick-counter, no-sell PWG sequences last only a handful of seconds, it’s awfully cool to see stuff like this on WWE television – and even more so, on FOX. Both guys worked hard and color me excited to see how often Dragon Lee appears on main roster television to defend this title. 

Butch went for the arm-bar early, but Lee fought out and the two slowed down to square up. Butch ran at Lee and hit an elbow. Butch worked Lee’s arms and fingers. Butch chopped Lee, but ultimately, Lee fought back and hit a boot the face. Butch answered with a chop, but Lee went back to a boot to the head. With Butch on the outside, Lee went for a dive, but Butch cut him off with a kick and a suplex on the apron. The show then went to a commercial. 

With the show back, Butch returned to working Lee’s fingers and arm. Butch stomped on Lee’s hands, but Lee evened things out with a leaping Frankensteiner that took Butch to the outside. Back inside the ring, Butch was in a corner and Lee landed a running dropkick. Lee went for a powerbomb, but Butch countered with a Tiger Bomb for a good near-fall. The two were on their knees and traded chops. They then traded snap German Suplexes. Butch lifted Lee, but Lee got out of it and hit a sit-out powerbomb for another good near-fall. 

A “This is awesome!” chant broke out. Butch went to the top, but Lee cut him off and Butch was stuck in a Tree Of Woe. Lee went to the top, but Butch snapped Lee’s finger. Either way, Lee landed a double stomp. Lee then ran at Butch, but Butch countered with a Bitter End attempt … until Lee countered that with a Destroyer. From there, Lee hit the Operation Dragon for the win. The two shook hands over the match and Butch looked disappointed. 

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– Reigns was shown sitting backstage and Heyman introduced Nick Aldis, who stook in front of Reigns, who asked Heyman to leave. Aldis sat down. Reigns asked Aldis if he booked the triple threat and Solo vs. AJ. Reigns said those were good ideas, but a better idea would have been if he ran in it by Reigns first. Reigns said he’s the head of the table and everything goes through him. Reigns said Adam Pearce understood that. Aldis said Pearce is more middle management and Aldis is a general manager. Aldis said the buck stops with him and Aldis recounted how Sikoa took care of John Cena in a way Reigns wasn’t able to take care of Cena. Aldis then said he’s looking forward to the triple threat match and he appreciated the communication. Aldis then said he hoped he and Reigns could get to know each other better. Reigns snarled as the scene ended. 

Kevin Owens defeated Carmelo Hayes to advance to the finals of the U.S. title tournament [10:21]

I’m happy they didn’t go with another cast finish from Owens, so at least there was that. This was a fine TV match. Nothing really spectacular, but nothing disappointing, either. It felt like Owens was willing to do anything he could to help Hayes get a good showing here and Hayes did his best to comply. You had to think Owens would wind up in the finals of this tournament if only because of his recent interactions with Logan Paul, but Hayes showed good fire in both of his matches and it can’t hurt that he at least got one win on The Big Stage. Now, the question must be asked: When do you think we see him again on it?

Logan Paul cut a picture-in-picture promo from somewhere saying that Hayes needed to beat Owens because basically, Paul hates Owens. The two locked up, but nobody had control early. Hayes tired to work Owens’s arm, but Owens got his leg on the rope for a break and the two traded head-locks. Both missed a series of moves until Hayes landed a dropkick and posed a bit. Owens responded with a back-fist and some chops. Owens hit a Senton, but Hayes came back with a springboard clothesline. The action spilled outside, where Owens threw Hayes into the ring steps. The show then went to a commercial break. 

Back from that break, Hayes slammed Owens. Hayes hit a step-up enziguri and an axe kick for a two-count. Hayes went for a suplex, but Owens fought his way out, until Hayes hit a face-buster on Owens for a two-count. Owens draped Hayes on the top rope and hit a spike DDT for a two-count. The two traded super-kicks. Owens chopped Hayes and landed a stiff clothesline. Owens went for a pop-up powerbomb, but Hayes countered and went to the top for Nothing But Net … but Owens ultimately landed the powerbomb, a Swanton Bomb and a Stunner for the win. After the match, Owens extended his hand and lifted Hayes up. Owens shook Hayes’s hand and left the ring. 

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– AJ Styles was shown backstage and Michin, Gallows and Anderson approached him. They asked Styles if he was good. Styles pushed them aside and said, “I don’t know. Are we?” The show went back to the ring, where Bobby Lashley made his entrance. 

– A Karrion Kross vignette aired. It ended with Scarlett asking, “Do you see the vision?”

Santos Escobar defeated Bobby Lashley to advance to the finals of the U.S. title tournament [8:16]

It felt like WWE wanted to keep Lashley strong, so I’m a tiny bit surprised this is how the match went, but if you’re looking for a way to debut Carrillo and Garza with Escobar, this packed the biggest punch of their options. The match was OK in a fundamental way. Escobar works big man’s leg. Big man limps a little. Outside interference. Escobar wins. Escobar vs. Owens should be good, though it’s hard to buy into the idea that Escobar comes out of the tournament as the winner (see my previous comment on the Owens match). The story here was the post-match stuff. There just isn’t much else to say. 

Escobar ran at Lashley to begin the match, but Lashley hit a clothesline and then worked Escobar over with some punches. Lashley landed a belly-to-belly suplex that took Escobar across the ring. Lashley threw Escobar around and that wound up with Lashley throwing Escobar over the top rope to the outside. From there, a commercial break commenced. Back from that break, Escobar landed a dive onto Lashley, who was on the outside. Inside the ring, Escobar worked over Lashley’s leg. Escobar went for a pin, but Lashley popped up. 

Escobar landed a pair of double-knees. Escobar worked over Lashley in a corner and placed Lashley on the top rope. Lashley got mad and threw Escobar off the top. Lashley sold leg pain, but still hit a face-buster. Someone appeared at ringside in a mask, but Lashley lifted Escobar high and choke-slammed him. Another masked man appeared and fought the Street Profits out of ringside. Escobar rolled up Lashley and held the tights and got the win. After the match, it was revealed that Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza were the masked men. 

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– Butch was walking backstage and started an interview until Pretty Deadly showed up. A brawl then ensued. Nick Aldis broke it up and said Butch needs to find a tag partner and he, along with whomever that is, will face Pretty Deadly in two weeks. 

– Logan Paul cut a promo backstage saying Escobar isn’t in his league while Owens looks like “if Reddit was a person,” which was kind of funny. Paul said the two were only receiving “temporary clout.” 

– In two weeks, Michin will face IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship. The triple threat to see who will face Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble will also happen. And the finals of the U.S. title No. 1 contender tournament will commence between Kevin Owens and Santos Escobar. 

AJ Styles defeated Solo Sikoa via DQ [11:41]

I mean. SmackDown played that stupid Sikoa attacking Styles video at least 52 times throughout the episode, so I guess we were supposed to care more about this match than at least I did, but a lot of this felt less than stellar. OK, so Styles is pissy. Cool. The crowd, meanwhile, I guess tried to cheer him? All of that felt weird and out of place throughout the actual match here. There wasn’t much to any of it. The show started with Styles, Orton and Knight bickering and the show ended with Styles, Orton and Knight actually fighting. The babyfaces(?) looked dumb all the way around. I suppose the Bloodline wins again.

The two brawled to start the match. Styles hit some chops until he ran into a back elbow from Sikoa. Styles dropkicked Sikoa’s knee and took control with a series of strikes. Styles kicked Sikoa to the outside, where Styles landed a running knee and a splash. The show then went to its final commercial break. 

The show came back and Sikoa back-body-dropped Styles. Sikoa landed a series of punches and headbutts on Styles. Before long, Sikoa threw Styles into the second turnbuckle, head-first. Sikoa landed a hip attack on Styles. Sikoa went for a headbutt form the second rope and Styles moved. Styles hit a pari of forearms and got the crowd fired up before landing a moonsault for a two-count. 

Styles ran at Sikoa, but Sikoa hit a Samoan Drop for a two-count. Sikoa went for a clothesline, but Styles countered with a Pele Kick. Styles set up for Phenomenal Forearm, but Sikoa countered into an attempt Samoan Spike, which failed, too. Styles, in due time, hit the Phenomenal Forearm. Out of nowhere, Roman Reigns ran into the ring and attacked Styles for the DQ. 

Reigns lifted Styles, but Styles got out of it and kicked Reigns. Sikoa reappeared and beat Styles down until Randy Orton’s music hit and Orton ran to the ring. Orton had control until Jimmy Uso ran out and beat down Orton. LA Knight’s music hit and Knight ran down to the ring to fight the Bloodline. Orton and Knight cleared the ring of the Bloodline. Styles got up and yelled at Orton and Knight. The three bickered until Styles attacked both Orton and Knight. Knight went back at Styles and Orton tried to break it up and … yeah, the three guys beat each other up as the show went off the air.