One week after suffering a vicious assault by The Bloodline, LA Knight, Apollo Crews, and Andrade aimed to exact revenge in a six-man tag team match against Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu.
Did Knight and his team manage to defeat their relentless attackers, or did The Bloodline maintain its momentum on the path to the Raw debut on Netflix and Solo Sikoa's upcoming match against Roman Reigns with yet another significant victory?
Read on for a recap of a show that featured the women's tag team titles on the line, the ongoing rivalry between the Motor City Machine Guns and DIY, and another installment of The Grayson Waller Effect.
The following matches were announced ahead of Friday's show:
- Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Bianca Belair and Naomi* (c) vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae (*replacing Jade Cargill)
- LA Knight, Andrade, and Apollo Crews vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga)
- Alex Shelley vs. Johnny Gargano
- Fallout from Saturday Night's Main Event
Drew McIntyre Disrupted The Bloodline
Drew McIntyre holds no grudges and never forgets.
The Scottish Warrior cut in on Solo Sikoa's opening promo, which was a warning directed at Roman Reigns. McIntyre faced off against Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu, reminding everyone that their rivalry is far from over. He pointed out that Sikoa was the one who cost him the world title at Clash at the Castle in 2022 and urged the self-proclaimed Tribal Chief to settle matters with The OTC so that they can reignite their feud.
A hobbled Jimmy Uso launched an attack on McIntyre, prompting LA Knight, Apollo Crews, and Andrade to rush the ring and brawl with The Bloodline, culminating in an explosive start to Friday's show.
McIntyre's ongoing disdain for Sikoa exemplifies the long-term, logical storytelling that fans have been requesting, and it's something that Triple H and his creative team have consistently delivered.
Grade: A
Top Moments and Takeaways
The "WHAT?!" chants in 2024 remain one of the most frustrating aspects of professional wrestling. They disrupted Sikoa's promo, making him appear flustered as he struggled to get his words across amidst the crowd's obnoxiousness.
"I'm going to make this quick because it makes me physically sick to be this close to you and not beat you within an inch of your life," McIntyre declared to Sikoa, highlighting his grudge-holding nature.
LA Knight, Apollo Crews, and Andrade take on The Bloodline.
Sikoa continued his message to Reigns by securing a victory in the opening match of the night, teaming up with Fatu and Tonga to defeat LA Knight, Andrade, and Apollo Crews.
The lengthy match featured the heels isolating and dominating Andrade, but momentum shifted when El Idolo made a hot tag to Knight. However, a late intervention by United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, who delivered a Kinshasa to The Megastar outside the ring, took out the popular babyface.
Inside the ring, Sikoa took down Crews, delivered the Samoan Spike, and secured the victory for The Bloodline.
While the match was solid, it felt a bit longer than necessary. However, it provided the heels with a much-needed win as they rebounded from their Survivor Series loss, while also preserving Knight's standing by maintaining his rivalry with Nakamura.
Top Moments and Takeaways:
- Andrade is exceptionally skilled at pro wrestling and deserves a better position on SmackDown.
- The crowd's energy for Knight is through the roof. He remains incredibly popular despite losing the US title, and his performance reflects that.
- Crews ended up taking the pin for the babyface team, which wasn't surprising.
Owens Addresses the Crowd, The Grayson Waller Effect, and Strowman vs. Hayes Rematch
"In a pre-taped backstage promo while holding the classic winged-eagle WWE Championship, Kevin Owens stated, 'What happened after Saturday Night's Main Event was... not my fault.' He addressed his attack on Cody Rhodes following the show's conclusion, adding, 'What happens next is on all of you.'"
Next up, a Santa-suited Braun Strowman appeared on The Grayson Waller Effect. Waller poked fun at Strowman before Carmelo Hayes interrupted, challenging the former universal champion to a rematch following last week’s squash defeat.
Hayes attempted to keep Strowman off balance by throwing himself at the larger opponent and targeting his neck. He mocked Strowman’s signature run around the ring but quickly found himself on the receiving end of a big boot to the face. The Monster Among Men tossed Hayes back into the ring, only to be counted out as referee Jessika Carr called for the bell.
Top Moments and Takeaways:
- Owens warned Rhodes and the WWE Universe, "It can all get so much worse."
- Johnny Gargano joked with Tommaso Ciampa, saying, "I'm all man. I MADE A KID!" in a mocking response to Alex Shelley’s promise to teach him a lesson.
- Waller sarcastically remarked to Strowman, "That was so nice of you to help the poor people here in Hartford, Connecticut."
- Hayes challenged SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, declaring, "Newsflash, Nick Aldis, you can't humble greatness," before setting up the rematch with Strowman.
Match: Alex Shelley vs. Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano emerged victorious over Alex Shelley on Friday night, but the match failed to reach the high expectations set for it. Instead of delivering a standout performance, the bout remained stagnant and was marred by typical late-match interference.
With Chris Sabin neutralizing Tommaso Ciampa at ringside, Gargano capitalized on the distraction, rolling through a crossbody and grabbing the tights for a controversial pinfall win.
The match fell a bit short of expectations, leaving some disappointment in its wake.
Both competitors are incredibly talented, but on this occasion, Shelley and Gargano failed to deliver a performance that resonated with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Result
Gargano defeated Shelley
Grade
C
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Backstage, Strowman pursued Hayes but was sidetracked by Legado del Fantasma and Pretty Deadly. Hayes took advantage of the distraction and attacked Strowman with a steel object, further angering the Monster Among Men.
- “I will never say a good word about Johnny Gargano as long as I live,” declared Corey Graves, showcasing his ongoing disdain for Johnny Wrestling.
- Graves humorously noted that Gargano's connections in the indie scene came from his father allowing wrestlers to stay overnight.
- Gargano delivered a brutal face-first launch of Shelley into the middle turnbuckle, which looked particularly painful for Shelley.
Match for the Women's Tag Team Championship
After advising Tiffany Stratton to stay backstage for the main event, WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax and Candice LeRae challenged Bianca Belair and Naomi for the Women's Tag Team Championship.
The Irresistible Force and the Poison Pixie dominated the majority of the match, isolating Belair from her partner and effectively cutting off the ring.
However, Naomi made a significant impact when she entered the ring after a hot tag from Belair. She turned the tide, putting the heels on the defensive. A late interference from “Miss Money in the Bank” Tiffany Stratton distracted Jax just enough, allowing Naomi to secure the victory by pinning LeRae and successfully defending the titles.
This match showcased multiple storylines, including the ongoing tension between Jax and Stratton, as well as the speculation surrounding Naomi's possible involvement in the attack that sidelined Jade Cargill. Overall, it effectively highlighted the blue brand's women's division and served as a fitting conclusion to the show.
Result
Belair and Naomi defeated Jax and LeRae
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The atmosphere felt a bit subdued, resembling the last match of a double taping, with the crowd not as energized as expected for the competitors.
- Naomi brought a surge of energy in the latter half of the match.
- Jax suffered a noticeable laceration on her forehead, which is a rare sight in women's matches.
- The crowd chanted "Cash it in" when Stratton appeared, indicating their eagerness for her to cash in her Money in the Bank contract, even if it meant betraying her friend and partner.
This episode of WWE, typical of a taped show, showcased ongoing storylines but didn't significantly advance them.
The highlight of the broadcast was McIntyre's emphatic expression of his disdain for Sikoa, even as they found themselves facing a common enemy. This maintained The Scottish Warrior's quest against those who wronged him while also setting the stage for his involvement in Sikoa's match with Reigns on January 6.
Overall, this was a standard episode that was solid but unremarkable and can largely be skipped without missing much.
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