SmackDown Results: Rhodes vs. Owens Ladder Match Set for Rumble

December 27, 2024 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

December 27, 2024
Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL

By: John Kleinchester

WWE Smackdown Results

  • Bianca Belair, Naomi & Bayley over Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton & Candice LeRae via Sitout Jawbreaker in 16:10
  • Braun Strowman over Austin Theory via Running Powerslam in 7:27
  • The Street Profits over Los Garza via Doomsday Blockbuster in 12:04 (estimated – match began in ad break)
  • Sami Zayn over Carmelo Hayes via DQ in 11:30

 

The Winged Ultimatum

Smackdown kicked off with a statement from Nick Aldis saying that Kevin Owens is in possession of the Winged Eagle belt and he has no claim to that belt. Aldis told Owens that he has the end of the night to relinquish the belt or there will be consequences to his future at WWE.

Women’s Tag Champs

Cathy Kelley was with the new Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Naomi who said that they will move forward as a team but will still find out who attacked Jade. Bayley showed up and Naomi called her her “unofficial tag team partner” as the trio went to the ring for the opening match.

Six-Woman Tag Match

Before the match, Nia Jax got on the mic and said she had nothing to do with attacking Jade. She pointed out that Bianca took no time replacing her and questioned whether Bianca had done it herself. Jax demanded that Belair own up to it or she would make her do so.

The match began with the face team maintaining control of the match with Naomi and Belair using tandem maneuvers until Tiffany Stratton distracted Belair allowing Nia Jax to hit a big leg drop. The heel team then began arguing as Tiffany Stratton tagged herself in. Corey Graves on commentary harped on the fact that Jax and LeRae weren’t treating Stratton as a true partner meanwhile Stratton applauded Jax as she dominated Bayley.

After a second commercial break, Naomi got a near fall with a split-legged moonsault on Nia Jax which Stratton saved. Stratton then went to cash in her briefcase but was stopped by Candice LeRae who was caught from behind by Naomi and hit LeRae and scored the win.

A-Town Invoice / Sami Zayn and Carmelo Hayes

A-Town Down Under were in the back complaining to Nick Aldis, handing him an invoice for what happened with Braun last week. Aldis said he was waiting for someone when Sami Zayn walked in. After a commercial break, Zayn was still speaking with Aldis asking for revenge against The Bloodline. Carmelo Hayes interrupted giving out Christmas cards. Zayn crumpled up the card and hit Hayes in the face with it. Hayes said he only sees Zayn around when he’s getting beat up by The Bloodline and to get off his show. Zayn decided that his Bloodline business could wait and instead, he wanted Carmelo Hayes one-on-one tonight to which Aldis complied. 

Austin Theory vs. Braun Strowman

As this match began, Michael Cole wondered why Austin Theory was in this match when Braun Strowman destroyed the set of The Waller Effect last week. At this point, it feels like it has been a year since teasing dissent in this tag team. Austin Theory was able to hang with Strowman for a bit, even having Strowman in position for A-Town Down but even with Grayson Waller attempting to help, still succumbed to the running power slam. 

Owens Responds

Kevin Owens responded to Nick Aldis’ ultimatum from his car and claimed he was the rightful WWE Champion. Owens said he’d come into the arena but only on his terms – just him and Aldis no officials, no security. 

Chelsea Green’s United States Championship Celebration

Next up, Piper Niven welcomed Chelsea Green to her United States Championship celebration. Green came out dressed as the Statue of Liberty (which is fun as her husband Matt Cardona just faced off against the “King of New York” Chris Jericho one week ago) and thanked the fans for helping her turn the “blue brand” into “The Green House”. Green then overlooked her friend Piper Niven in her thank yous and began talking trash about her opponent Michin. This brought out the aforementioned Michin (with a kendo stick) who said she would have won if it weren’t for Piper Niven. Michin took out Niven and went after Chelsea but Niven was able to rescue her. The crowd seemed nonplussed for Michin to be Chelsea’s first defense. 

It was Gar…..za.

DIY ran into Nick Aldis and Street Profits backstage where Aldis asked if they knew anything about who attacked the Profits three weeks ago. Aldis then revealed that Pretty Deadly witnessed what happened and they were about to point out Gargano but instead went with “Garza”. The Profits immediately found Legado and started brawling. Aldis stopped them and demanded they “take it to the ring”. 

After the commercial break, the match was already underway in the ring with Los Garzas in control. The crowd was behind the Street Profits here and there was no sign of any potential heel turn that had been building in weeks past as well as B-Fab back in their corner. The Street Profits picked up the win with a Doomsday Blockbuster after B-Fab took out Elektra Lopez who was caught trying to help her team. 

Three Hours in Just One Week!

An Andrade promo package aired with him focusing his attention on Shinsuke Nakamura. It was announced that Andrade will face Nakamura next week but it wasn’t listed as a title match. Also announced was Nia Jax vs Naomi for the championship on next week’s first three-hour Smackdown on USA.

Crews’ News

Backstage, Pretty Deadly ran into DIY and they agreed to watch each other’s backs. The Profits then appeared and thanked Pretty Deadly for letting them know about Los Garza. MCMG then appeared and said that they were next in line for the tag title shots. Apollo Crews then appeared and he said that Los Garza didn’t attack them, it was DIY. Corey Graves wondered aloud why Crews waited so long to tell anyone. 

Sami Zayn vs. Carmelo Hayes

The main event of the evening was Carmelo Hayes taking on Sami Zayn. Zayn and Hayes had a fun back-and-forth match with Zayn finally gaining the advantage and going for the Helluva Kick only to have Hayes bail out of the ring.

This brought out Braun Strowman who attempted to pick Hayes up and bring him back to the ring. Instead, Hayes slipped out and ran to the back. Suddenly, The Bloodline jumped Sami Zayn and started beating him down. Then Strowman reappeared with Hayes on his shoulder only to discover what was happening in the ring. Strowman dropped Hayes and jumped into the ring to attack the Bloodline. Strowman held his own against them for a bit but the numbers game was too much. The Bloodline laid out Strowman and then Zayn as well. Just as officials finally got control, Kevin Owens’ music hit as the Bloodline backed off and the show went to commercial.

 

 

After the break, just Nick Aldis and Kevin Owens were left in the ring. Aldis demanded Owens return the Winged Eagle belt but Owens said it was his only bargaining chip for what he wants – a rematch for the Undisputed Championship where a referee can’t ruin his opportunity. Aldis reiterated that this wasn’t a negotiation and if he didn’t hand it over he would never be back in a WWE ring. This brought out the returning Cody Rhodes.

Nick Aldis told Cody to turn around for the sake of his health and let him handle this. Rhodes said no and pointed out that what Owens did at Saturday Night’s Main Event was exactly what Owens complained about Rhodes doing with Roman. Cody said that he does what he does for the fans and his mentor Randy Orton and it was his responsibility to take the belt back. Cody said he wanted a match where the referee couldn’t stop what he wanted to do to him. Rhodes then suggested putting both belts high above the ring for a Ladder Match at the Royal Rumble. Owens tried to shake Cody’s hand but then pushed Nick Aldis into Cody and then kicked Cody in the neck multiple times. 

Final Thoughts

It feels like there’s a lot going on in WWE (and wrestling in general) right now, having just come off of Saturday Night’s Main Event, building Raw on Netflix, Smackdown going to three hours next Friday and the Royal Rumble all at once. The crowd continues to sway towards Kevin Owens’ side of the Cody feud but a ladder match should certainly be a great showcase for both performers. Similarly overloaded is the tag title scene with a ton of different teams laying a claim to a title shot. Maybe they’re building toward a scramble at one of the big upcoming shows? Either way, chaos is usually good for wrestling so keep it going.

About John Kleinchester 206 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.
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