WWE SmackDown LIVE Results: December 19, 2017By Cassidy| December 20, 2017 WWE SmackDown Previous Page Detailed Results For the first time since his controversial fast count at Clash of Champions saved the WWE careers of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, SmackDown LIVE kicks off with SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan. Daniel welcomes everyone to SmackDown LIVE before saying that, before he addresses what happened at Clash of Champions, he has to address the big announcement made on RAW as, on January 28, WWE will present the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match. The GM says that it will be a “turning point in WWE history” before announcing that the main event of SmackDown LIVE will see a 6-Man Tag pitting the team of AJ Styles, Randy Orton, & Shinsuke Nakamura against the team of Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens, & Sami Zayn in a rematch from Tribute to the Troops. Daniel Bryan is then interrupted by SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon, who makes his way to the ring to confront the General Manager. Shane says that, at Clash of Champions, everything was going the “right way” when Randy Orton hit the RKO on Sami Zayn, saying that he had a smile on his face when he went to make the three-count because he knew that Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn would be gone from WWE. Shane continues, saying that Daniel “tripped” and landed on Shane, breaking up the count. Shane then admits that he got “frustrated” before explaining that, when Sami Zayn rolled up Randy Orton, he counted to two before saying that the only thing that went through his head was when Kevin Owens savagely beat up his father and when Sami Zayn rescued Kevin Owens at WWE Hell in a Cell, causing him to crash through the announce table. Shane then says that he also remembers when Owens & Zayn cost Team SmackDown LIVE the victory at Survivor Series, admitting that he let his “emotions” get the better of him and he stopped his count. Shane continues, saying that Daniel’s emotions got the better of him when he made the fast count and, because of Daniel’s fast count, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn are still employed, asking what was going through Daniel’s head at the time. Daniel explains that he did what he did to “protect” Shane McMahon from himself and Shane responds by saying that he doesn’t need “protection” from Daniel Bryan. Daniel argues that Shane does need his protection, saying that Shane’s “passion” can turn him into a “hothead” and he did what he did at Clash of Champions to not only protect Shane, but protect an “idea”. The GM continues, saying that, when he took this job, he and Shane had a shared vision of making SmackDown LIVE the “land of opportunity” and that vision applied to everyone, not just the people that Shane liked. Daniel then says that Shane threatened to take away Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn’s opportunity, the same opportunity that they promised to everyone in the locker room. Shane says that he can understand why Daniel Bryan is “empathetic” towards Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn before the Commissioner warns Daniel that, once Owens & Zayn are done playing on Daniel’s “heartstrings”, they will stab Daniel in the back. Shane then tells Daniel to, from a “business standpoint”, not show “favoritism” towards Owens & Zayn because that will come back to “bite” Daniel in the rear. Visibly frustrated by Shane’s choice of words, Daniel asks Shane if he’s saying that Daniel should have done what was “best for business” before saying that he’s struggled and fought against those words before. Daniel continues, saying that he believes in their shared vision, but if Shane has a completely different vision, then that’s his prerogative. The GM then says that, if Shane wants to fire somebody, then “fire me”, saying that he doesn’t want to see Shane McMahon turn into Mr. McMahon! The Commissioner responds by saying that he “respects” Daniel and he “trusts” Daniel before wishing the GM “good luck” with the show tonight. Shane then leaves the ring, opting not to fire his General Manager but clearly being given a lot to think about. Following their successful defense of the SmackDown Tag Team Titles in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Match at Clash of Champions, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions were in action on SmackDown LIVE as the opening match of the night would see The Usos face Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin in a non-title match. In the end, it was Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin hitting their double team powerbomb neckbreaker on Jey Uso with Shelton pinning Jey to pick up the win for Gable & Benjamin and no doubt earning them another shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Titles in the future. After successfully retaining the SmackDown Women’s Title in a Lumberjack Match against Natalya at Clash of Champions, SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair would make an appearance on SmackDown LIVE to address the historic first time ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match. Charlotte says that there is nothing that women cannot do before crediting the fans for making a “difference”. Charlotte then congratulates all the fans and all the women competing in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match, saying that she will be waiting to defend her title against the winner at WrestleMania. This brings out Naomi, who congratulates Charlotte on her title defense at Clash of Champions before Naomi says that she came out there to declare that she is the first woman to officially announce her entry into the Women’s Royal Rumble Match! Naomi then tells Charlotte that she will see her at WrestleMania. The Riott Squad then makes their way towards the ring as Naomi says that The Riott Squad won’t be entering the Women’s Royal Rumble Match because the match will be every woman for herself, calling the trio “chickenheads” before challenging any two members of The Riott Squad to face them in a tag team match right now. The Riott Squad would take Naomi up on this challenge as The Riott Squad’s Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan, with Liv Morgan in their corner, would face SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair & Naomi in tag team action. After Sarah Logan inadvertently knocks Liv Morgan off of the ring apron, Naomi would catch Sarah Logan with the Rear View, pinning Logan to pick up the win for Charlotte Flair & Naomi. After taking full advantage of the rules of the Triple Threat Match at Clash of Champions to win the United States Title, new United States Champion Dolph Ziggler would make an appearance on SmackDown LIVE for his championship celebration. Dolph says that, for twelve years, he took every challenge put in front of him before saying that he is the “best”. Dolph then says that “no one” can do what he does in the ring before reminding everyone that this is his second reign as United States Champion, showing footage from Capitol Punishment in June 2011 where he won his first United States Title as well as stills from Clash of Champions. Dolph then continues to show off his accolades, showing footage of his five Intercontinental Title victories. Dolph then shows the highlight of his resume when he shows winning the Money-in-the-Bank contract and his cash-in on RAW in 2013 that netted him the World Heavyweight Championship. Dolph continues, saying that he is one of the “most decorated” Superstars in WWE history and, year-after-year, he proves it to himself and the rest of the world and, year-after-year, he goes “unappreciated”. The new United States Champion then says that none of them are “worthy” of his presence, saying that they don’t “deserve” him. Dolph then asks if they want something to remember him by before Dolph looks at the United States Title belt before putting the title belt down in the middle of the ring, walking off without the championship! With both teams dressed up in their best holiday garb, The New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods, with Big E in their corner, would face Rusev & Aiden English in tag team action. In the end, it was Xavier Woods, dressed as Rudolph appropriately enough, taking flight with the Limit Break onto Aiden English, pinning English to pick up the win for The New Day. Then it was time for the main event as, in a rematch from last week’s Tribute to the Troops, WWE Champion AJ Styles would team up with Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura to face the team of Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens, & Sami Zayn, with The Singh Brothers in Jinder Mahal’s corner, in a 6-Man Tag match. During the match, Randy Orton would hit the RKO on Jinder Mahal before The Singh Brothers get on the ring apron only to get planted with a double DDT by “The Viper”. AJ Styles then takes Kevin Owens out with the Phenomenal Forearm before Shinsuke Nakamura finishes the job with a Kinshasa to Sami Zayn, pinning Sami to pick up the win for his team. AJ Styles, Randy Orton, & Shinsuke Nakamura then celebrate their victory, having bested their respective rivals. What did you think of this week’s SmackDown LIVE? 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