12/13/24 WWE Smackdown Recap

Corey Graves and Michael Cole are on commentary from Hartford, Connecticut, as many Superstars are shown arriving to the arena earlier in the day.

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Jimmy Uso makes his way to the ring. Jimmy says WarGames was “lit” and it got his big toe. Jimmy says the OG Bloodline came out on top, but now it’s about what’s next. Jimmy says he has watched his family dominate for years and he is proud of it all, including Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and even Solo Sikoa. Jimmy says he doesn’t know what he is going to do next, but 2025 is going to be a big year for him. Jimmy says he might win the Royal Rumble, might go after the United States title, and might go after the Undisputed WWE title. Drew McIntyre hits the ring and lays Jimmy out with the Claymore. McIntyre beats Jimmy down on the mat as referees, officials, and Nick Aldis rush the ring to get him out of it. Aldis yells at McIntyre as they walk up the ramp.

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Tiffany Stratton is shown warming up backstage as the WWE Speed Women’s Champion, Candice LeRae, and the WWE Women’s Champion, Nia Jax, walk up. They ask her if she is ready, and she says she is. Jax says after Stratton wins the Women’s United States title, she won’t need her briefcase anymore and won’t need to resort to cheap tactics to win. They wish her luck and walk away.

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Aldis and McIntyre are walking backstage. Aldis says he can’t have McIntyre doing stuff like this and says it’s a headache. Bianca Belair and Naomi walk up, and Aldis tells McIntyre to go into his office. Aldis says the investigation into who attacked Jade Cargill is still ongoing and he doesn’t have an update. Aldis says Belair and Cargill may have to relinquish the tag titles, and Belair and Naomi argue against it. Naomi says she can be Belair’s partner, and Belair agrees and says it has been done before. Belair asks if it’s possible, and Aldis says he will run it up the flag pole and Belair has to be a fighting champion as soon as next week. Aldis goes into his office, and Belair and Naomi share a hug.

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Match 1 – WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament – Semifinal Match
Michin vs. Tiffany Stratton
Stratton backs Michin into the corner, and then slams her down by her hair. Michin comes back with a take-down and follows with right before before delivering a dropkick. Michin delivers forearm strikes in the corner, and then kicks Stratton in the face. Michin follows with a hurricanrana, and then knocks Stratton down with a shot. Stratton tries to pull Michin into the ropes, but Michin sends her to the floor and delivers a dropkick through the ropes. Michin goes to the apron, but Stratton slams her down and delivers a shot as the show heads to a commercial.
Back from the break, Stratton sets up for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Michin rolls to the apron. Stratton goes after her, but Michin counters and sends Stratton to the floor. Michin connects with a kick, and then gets Stratton back into the ring. Michin delivers a DDT, and then follows with a tornado DDT for a two count. Michin picks Stratton up, but Stratton counters and goes for the Alabama Slam. Michin grabs the ropes and applies a Tarantula in them. Michin goes for a missile drop kick, but Stratton dodges and delivers an Alabama Slam for a two count. Michin comes back with a headbutt and stands on the top rope, but Stratton comes back with a shot and connects with a rolling senton. Stratton connects with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Michin partially dodges and delivers Eat Defeat for the pin fall.
Winner: Michin

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Footage of #DIY defeating The Motor City Machine Guns for the WWE Tag Team Championship on last week’s Smackdown airs. A pre-recorded promo from #DIY follows, with them talking about the injustice of losing the tag titles in the first place and writing the wrong to get the titles back. They talk about MCMG jumping to the front of the line and taking their spot, and say they are glad MCMG got their flowers at their funeral. They say they are on to better days in their second reign with the titles.

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Footage of The Bloodline attacking Superstars throughout the show on last week’s Smackdown airs, followed by Solo Sikoa saying that he is still the Tribal Chief. A video from Roman Reigns follows. Reigns says it has been a rough year, and it wasn’t that long ago that they ran everything. Reigns says it fell apart in the spring and summer, when he lost his title, his Wiseman, the Bloodline, and, most importantly, his ulafala. Reigns says he earned the ulafala because he was the man to lead his family. Reigns challenges Sikoa to Tribal Combat on the Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw on January 6, 2025. Reigns says when he takes back the ulafala, Sikoa will have no choice but to acknowledge him.

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Aldis is backstage with Legado Del Fantasma, and Santos Escobar says Aldis needs to do something. Escobar says everybody gets attack and maybe they are better off over on Raw. Legado leaves, and then Carmelo Hayes walks up. Hayes says there is a lot of hype around his opponent just for him to make light work of it. Aldis tells him we’ll see how light it is and wishes him luck as Hayes walks away.

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Match 2 – Singles Match
Carmelo Hayes vs. Braun Strowman
Hayes tries to shove Strowman and delivers a few right hands. Strowman sends Hayes off the ropes, and Hayes goes for a springboard clothesline. Strowman drops him with a shoudler tackle, but Hayes dodges an elbow drop and delivers a few shots. Strowman comes back and goes for the running powerslam, but Hayes gets free and sends him into the ring post. Hayes before more shots and takes Strowman down for a one count. Hayes comes off the top, but Strowman catches him and delivers the running powerslam for the pin fall.
Winner: Braun Strowman

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Byron Saxton interviews LA Knight backstage. Knight says he has always made sure to handle his business, and only his business, his way. Knight says he turned down getting involved in the Bloodline’s business and he is only interested in gold. Knight says he doesn’t care for Reigns or Sikoa, and the only one he kind of likes is Jey Uso. Knight says Sikoa will remember that this is LA Knight’s game.

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The Bloodline make their way to the ring. Sikoa tells the crowd to acknowledge him and mentions Reigns, but then Knight cuts him off with his entrance for their match.

Match 3 – Singles Match
LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa (w/Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga)
They exchange shots and Knight backs Sikoa into the corner. Sikoa comes back with a shot to Knight in the next corner, and then drops Knight with another shot. Sikoa delivers a headbutt and follows with right hands in the corner. Sikoa sends Knight fof the ropes, but Knight comes back with a kick and drops Sikoa with a shot. Knight delivers another shot against the ropes, and then clotheslines Sikoa to the floor. Sikoa pulls Knight to the floor and backs him into the ring apron. Sikoa slams Knight into the commentary table and the barricade, and then gets back into the ring. Knight gets back in at the nine count, but Sikoa stomps on him and sends him back out. Knight comes back and slams Sikoa into the ring steps and the commentary table. Knight delivers right hands and gets Sikoa back into the ring before delivering more right hands. Sikoa comes back with a Samoan Drop and delivers shots in the corner. Sikoa sends Knight across, but Knight comes back with a kick to the face and a bulldog. Knight low-bridges Sikoa to the floor and goes for a dropkick, but connects with Tonga as Tonga shoves Sikoa out of the way. Sikoa slams Knight into the commentary table as the show heads to a commercial.
Back from the break, Sikoa sets up for the Superman Punch, but Knight ducks and delivers a back suplex. Knight delivers right hands and follows with a leaping clothesline. Kngiht delivers right hands on the mat, and then stomps him in the corner. Knight delivers a running knee in the corner and goes for the BFT, but Sikoa escapes to the floor. Knight takes out Fatu and Tonga. and then sends Fatu over the commentary table into the barricade. Knight gets Sikoa back into the ring, but Sikoa delivers a superkick. Sikoa goes for the Samoan Spike, but Knight dodges and delivers a Side Effect. Knight delivers an elbow drop from the top and goes for the cover, but Sikoa kicks out at two. Fatu pulls Knight out of the ring and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner via disqualification: LA Knight
-After the match, Fatu slams Knight into the barricade. Tonga joins in on the beat down, and then Fatu charges at Knight and sends him through the barricade. Fatu rolls Knight back into the ring, and Sikoa delivers the Samoan Spike. The Bloodline beat Knight down, and then Andrade and Apollo Crews rish the ring and attempt to make the save. The Bloodline keep control, and Sikoa delivers a Samoan Spike to both Andrade and Crews.

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Strowman is backstage, and Pretty Deadly walk up to him. They say they have been trying to find a monster for months, and he would be perfect for “Pretty Deadly: the Musical.” He takes their flyer, but then hands it back to them and walks away. Saxton tries to interview him, but A-Town Down Under interrupt. Grayson Waller invites him to be on the Grayson Waller Effect on next week’s Smackdown, and Strowman agrees.

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Match 4 – WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament – Semifinal Match
Bayley vs. Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven)
Bayley gets a quick two count, and then Green goes to the floor. Bayley pulls her back in and gets another pin attempt, and then they exchange pin attempts before Green slaps Bayley across the face. Green stomps Bayley in the corner and follows with a right hand. Green slams Bayley into the corner, but Bayley comes back with an elbow strike and an arm-drag take down. Bayley drops Green with a low clothesline and goes for the cover, but Green kicks out at two. Bayley takes Green down with another arm-drag and gets another two count with an inside cradle. Bayley tosses Green down again, but Green rolls to the floor, but gets back into the ring. Bayley delivers right hands, but Niven trips her up against the ropes. Green stomps on Bayley’s head and goes for the cover, but Bayley kicks out at two as the show heads to a commercial.
Back from the break, Green drops Bayley face-first and gets a two count. Green chokes Bayley in the ropes and then appliesa front face-lock. Bayley backed Green into the corner, but Green slams her down. Bayley rolls to the apron and guillotines Green over the ropes. Bayley sends Green to the floor and delivers right hands before suplexing Green from the apron back to the floor. Bayley gets Green back into the ring and drops her with a back suplex for a two count. Bayley goes up top, but Green cuts her off with a roundhouse kick and follows with a running knee strike. Green goes for a splash, but Bayley dodges and delivers a running knee strike. Bayley sunset flips Green into the turnbuckles and goes for the cover, but Green kicks out at two. Bayley goes for the Bayley-to-Belly, but Green counters and gets a two count on a roll-up. Grene goes for the Backstabber, but Bayley holds onto the ropes. Bayley runs the ropes, but Green delivers the Rough Ryder and gets a two count. Bayley comes back with a Zigzag and goes up top, but Niven pulls Green to the floor. Bayley delivers an elbow drop to Niven, but Green slams Bayley into the barricade. Bayley gets into the ring at the nine count, but Green delivers a kick and follows with the Un-pretty-her for the pin fall.
Winner: Chelsea Green

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The MCMG have a pre-recorded promo. They say they made a statement when they won the tag titles in their third match, and they knew they would ruffle some feathers. They say that happened with the Street Profits and #DIY, and they say their relationship with #DIY is done. They say now it’s a fight with #DIY, and then Alex Shelley challenges Johnny Gargano to a match on next week’s show.

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A new vignette airs for the WWE United States Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura says one by one, they will all fall at his feet and will be broken, humiliated, and forgotten. Nakamura says Knight held something he never deserved and now he claws for what is no longer his. Nakamura says he is inevitable.

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Stratton is backstage, and Jax walks up to her. Jax says tought nights happen, and not everyone is meant to be a singles champion like her. LeRae walks up and says she has good news. LeRae says she and Jax have a tag title match against Belair and Naomi next week. LeRae says she knows Stratton couldn’t bring any gold to their group, but now Jax can have two titles. Jax says they should go brainstorm, and then LeRae says maybe singles wrestling isn’t Stratton’s speed.

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Michael Cole is in the ring, and he introduces the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, and the number one contender, Kevin Owens. Owens does not come to the ring, so Rhodes says Cole can just interview him. Cole asks Rhodes what Triple H presented to him to use tomorrow night at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Before Rhodes can answer, Owens interrupts from the parking garage. Owens tells Cole to prove he is an unbiased journalist and ask Rhodes how he can justify using all of his friends to finish his story at WrestleMania, only to spit in their faces by teaming with Reigns at Bad Blood. Owens tells Rhodes to tell to the truth and admit he is as bad a friend as he is a son and brother. Owens says Rhodes was may more interesting as Stardust, and then Rhodes says he is sure Owens has more zingers up his sleeve. Rhodes says maybe he’ll just go get Owens right now, and then he heads backstage.
Owens attacks Rhodes from behind and they brawl in back into the arena. Security comes out, but Owens beats them down. Rhodes delivers shots to Owens and they get into the ring. They exchange more shots, and then more security and officials come out to separate them. Rhodes gets free and attacks Owens in the corner, and then drops him with a boot to the face. Owens comes back and hits Rhodes in the head with the title belt. Owens drops the title onto Rhodes and leaves the ring as the show comes to a close.