Tonight’s episode of SmackDown LIVE opens up from The Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota as SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige welcomes us to the show. She introduces SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Becky Lynch makes her way down to the ring as the fans cheer her and Tom Phillips welcomes us to the show as well. He is joined by Corey Graves & Byron Saxton.
Lynch gets on the mic and says that when you’re the hottest thing in the entire industry, any time away is too much time away. Lynch then says that she attacked RAW, bled, fought, and won before showing up the next night to fight and at Survivor Series to fight, but she was stopped and they tried to hold her back, but not anymore, baby girl, and The Man is putting herself back in the game. Lynch then says that at Survivor Series she had to watch someone step into her shadow and fight Ronda Rousey and she wants to get this out of the way so she calls Charlotte Flair out.
Flair obliges and makes her entrance, at which point Becky says that she told her to give Ronda the beating she would have and she came pretty close, although if it were her, Ronnie wouldn’t have been standing the next night. Lynch then says that it took Charlotte channelling her to take it to The RAW Women’s Champion and Flair says that she wasn’t trying to be her, she was just being herself, Charlotte Flair, The Seven-Time Women’s Champion and the only woman on either roster capable of giving Rousey the beating she deserves. Charlotte then says that she is genetically superior and has the mindset to do anything to get the job done, wooo! Lynch then says that Charlotte just went from copying her old man to copy The Man and Charlotte is a bootleg Becky trying to take what’s hers and she’s not having it, although she’s glad that Charlotte beat the phoniness out of Ronda. Flair then says that Nia Jax must have hit her harder than she thought, because she went from quirky to delusional and Lynch is the one copying Ric.
Flair then calls Ronda out and says that she will be at TLC and she was born ready before addressing Becky again, saying that she fought for herself and she will fight her again, right now. They jaw at each other and Paige gets between them and orders them to shut up. Paige then says that she loves this side of Charlotte and hasn’t seen any woman on this roster with this degree of desire, so at TLC she’s giving her her rematch against Becky. That’s not all, because of their history it’s gonna be a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match. They jaw some more.
Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Zelina Vega and The IIconics make their entrance as they are led by Rose. She says that this is insulting that Paige would say no one has shown the desire that Charlotte has. Rose then says that everybody is talking about what Charlotte did to Ronda, but any one of them could have done the exact same thing. And any one of them deserves a title match, they just don’t get the time of day. Rose then says that Paige left Absolution and now all she does is give opportunities to her old PCB teammates. Why?
Naomi, Carmella, Asuka and Lana make their entrance. Naomi asks everybody to hold up so she can put some glow in it and surprisingly, they agree with what Mandy was saying and she knowns Paige isn’t questioning her desire. Naomi then says that The SmackDown LIVE roster is packed with talent and any one of them can be champ, to which Becky says that she will knock the head off any of these dopes. Paige is into it and says that every woman on the roster will be in a battle royal and the winner of which will be added to The TLC Match.
The Usos are walking backstage and welcome us to The Uso Penitentiary, ahead of their match against The Bar that’s up next and we get a hype reel for Mixed Match Challenge to send us to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we see a video from earlier in the day of Cesaro yelling at The Big Show backstage about their loss to The New Day last week. The Big Show shoves Cesaro into Sheamus, then he walks off as Sheamus shouts at him.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso): This one is a non-title match. Jimmy and Sheamus start this one off, but Jey quickly tags in for the double team. Cesaro comes in, but Jimmy tags in for a double team on Cesaro too. Jimmy works over Cesaro, until a referee distraction leads to a cheap shot from Sheamus. Sheamus tags in for the double team on Jimmy. Jey and Cesaro tag in now and Jey hits the Samoan Drop and a Rikishi splash in the corner for a two count. Jey knocks Cesaro to the outside and looks for a suicide dive, but Cesaro upper-cuts him mid-air. Sheamus is the legal man now and he hits a knee to the face on Jey, then a flying knee drop from the middle rope for a two count. Sheamus misses a shot in the corner and hits the ring post and Jey follows up with a superkick for a two count. Jimmy tags in now and looks for a splash on Sheamus, but Sheamus blocks with his knees. Sheamus pummels on Jimmy now and then tags in Cesaro for the double team. Jey fights back and superkicks Sheamus from behind. Cesaro throws Jey outside as Jimmy tags in. Jimmy rolls up Cesaro for a two count. Jey tags back in for a double enziguri on Cesaro. Jimmy tags in and hits the splash of the top for the win. Winners: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)
After the match, The Usos exit the ring as their music hits. The Bar looks on from the mat.
We head backstage where The New Day are laughing and watching something on Xavier Woods’ phone when The Miz asks what they are watching. They say that it is his greatest work, to which The Miz thinks that they are talking about The Marine 6: Close Quarters, but they were watching his match from last week and ask which one beat him, leading to extended rhymes including Woods singing a bit of Slow Chemical. The A-Lister then says that they were battling through injuries incurred at Survivor Series. Kofi Kingston then asks if he means the same show where they were the only team that won for SmackDown LIVE. The Miz then says that that doesn’t count and he could beat any of them in his capacity as 2/3s best in the world. In fact, he’s going to his bestie Shane McMahon right now to set up a match. Xavier asks what’s wrong with him, to which Big E launches into an impassioned defense of The Miz’s character from The Marine, to the shock and horror of the other New Day Members.
Commentary hypes up The Women’s Battle Royal for later on tonight and Jeff Hardy’s 20th Year Anniversary.
We cut backstage where AJ Styles is looking kinda emotional when a crew member rolls up to tell him that it’s time and to send us to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and AJ Styles makes his entrance.
He lets the crowd chant a moment before beginning. Styles says that for 14 days he has been without The WWE Championship and those 14 days seemed a lot longer than the 371 days he did have the title. Styles then says that no one likes to lose and he hates losing, but it’s the way that he lost that bothers him. At this point, we roll a footage of him losing the title.
Styles continues by saying that he knows he had a target on his back, but who would have thought that target would have moved somewhere else. But he gets it, he’s wanted something that badly before. Styles then says that what bothers him is the part afterwards where Bryan kicked him in the head over and over again to the point where he wasn’t medically cleared for Survivor Series or last week’s SmackDown. So he watched Bryan try to explain his actions from home, at which point we get a replay of parts of Bryan’s promo from last week. Styles then says that that sounds like BS to him and he doesn’t care which Daniel Bryan it is, because he’s got the same face that he’s looking forward to smashing in. Hell, he doesn’t want to wait, he’ll do it right here, right now. But Bryan isn’t here and he wasn’t on the live events this past week either and he thinks Bryan has been watching RAW and getting ideas as to how things work over there, but this is The House That AJ Styles Built and for 371 days he never missed a live event, a pay-per-view, or SmackDown, because he was the champ and this is where he belongs. So when he rolls out of his hyperbaric chamber, he wants Bryan to make sure he’s at TLC, with his dreams, his excuses, and The WWE Championship, because that belongs to the Phenomenal AJ Styles.
Commentary hypes up Jeff Hardy’s 20th Anniversary again and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and commentary hypes up free agent Lars Sullivan and we get a coming soon video vignette.
WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev: This one is a non-title match. Before the bell rings, Nakamura attacks Rusev from behind and stomps on him. Nakamura hits the Kinshasa twice, then walks up the ramp. Nakamura turns around and hits the ring again and drops Rusev at ringside. Winner: No contest
After the match, Nakamura holds up the Title and heads up the ramp as Rusev recovers.
Commentary hypes up Jeff Hardy’s 20th Anniversary again and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and pictures of Jeff Hardy are set up in the ring, the roster is on the stage and Michael Cole is in the ring to play master of ceremonies.
Cole starts in about Hardy’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and gives him a big introduction.
Jeff makes his entrance and we get a video package where he narrates his career. He says that he doesn’t know what to say other than to thank us all. Hardy then says that watching all his crazy moments he can’t believe he did half that stuff and he wonders what’s wrong with him. Hardy then says that this business has given him a creative outlet and his face-paint is way better than it was ten years ago. Hardy then says that he feels free to be The Charismatic Enigma and that’s cool. Hardy then says that through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, each of us has stuck by his side and for that he’s eternally grateful. Hardy then thanks his wife and his daughters for making this night possible and says that this is far from a retirement speech. Hardy then says that he doesn’t know what happens in the future, but he wants to find out together and he thanks the crowd again.
Samoa Joe makes his entrance. He congratulates Jeff on 20 years and begs forgiveness for his lateness because he was getting ready to propose a toast but realized having a bottle of champagne around him maybe isn’t the best idea. Shane McMahon goes to hold him back but Hardy wants Joe to come through and say his peace. Samoa puts the video package over and says that it must have been a treat for Jeff since he wasn’t coherent enough at the time to remember any of it. Joe then says that he doesn’t celebrate weakness nor believe in second chances, especially when men like Hardy haven’t got their first. Hardy then does the “Delete!” gesture and Samoa continues by saying that what bugs him is despite all of Jeff’s mistakes he allows himself to be put on a pedestal. Joe then says that that makes him absolutely sick, because for as many times as he got us out of our seat, there’s an equal and opposite time he let us down.
Joe then says that people like Hardy never change and the demons are always waiting to take control, so the next time he feels powerless, know that Joe offers a hand in friendship, a simple one-step program, swift but definitely not painless. Jeff then says that no matter what Joe says he can’t rain on his parade and he’s walked a tightrope for twenty years and he still lives for the moment, so what say they make one right now. Samoa Joe sets the mic down before deciding he wants no part of Jeff’s challenge and Joe walks out.
Commentary hypes up Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz for after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we get a WWE Shop ad featuring Naomi & The Usos.
Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz: The New Day is at ringside for this one. The opening bell sounds and Kofi starts off strong. Kofi hits a flying back elbow on The Miz, then he dumps him outside. Kofi teases going for a suicide dive, but he decides against it and Big E & Woods taunt Miz at ringside. Kofi then goes flying out of the ring with a dive on The Miz while he’s distracted. Back in the ring, Miz turns things around with a clothesline in the corner. The Miz looks for an axe handle off the top, but Kofi dropkicks him out of mid-air. Kofi hits a series of kicks and clotheslines on Miz now, then he hits the big leg drop. Kofi hits the SOS for a two count. Miz comes back with a kick to the knee and a DDT for a two count. Miz removes the padding from one of the turnbuckles and then he turns around as Big E puts a bunch of pancakes on the exposed turnbuckle. Kofi takes advantage of the distraction with a roll-up on Miz for a two count. Miz fights back and drops Kofi, then he dropkicks Xavier through the ropes. Miz tries to bring a steel chair in the ring, but Woods takes it away. This leads to Kofi hitting the Trouble In Paradise on Miz for the three count. Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, The New Day celebrates in the ring with pancakes. We go to replays.
Commentary hypes up The Women’s Battle Royal once again.
We go backstage with Randy Orton, who is staring at the camera with a sinister look in his face. He will address his attack on Rey Mysterio after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and Randy Orton makes his entrance and we get a replay of his attack on Rey Mysterio from last week.
Orton starts by saying that people have called his actions disturbing but if he had to choose a word, he would choose euphoric. Orton then says that he never really understood what the big deal about the piece of trash he ripped off of Rey’s face is and what he did wasn’t meant to disrespect his culture, but to embarrass and humiliate him, take him off the pedestal we’ve put him up on. Orton then says that what he did was prove to us that at this stage in his career, all Mysterio is is another victim of the three most destructive letters in sports entertainment, R.
Before Orton got to finish what he had to say, Rey Mysterio makes his entrance. Mysterio is wearing a neck brace and has a bit of a limp in his step but he’s headed for the ring. Randy slides out and Rey meets him with punches and kicks. The Viper gets a knee off and throws him into the barricades on either side of the entry. Orton then tears off the mask of Rey Mysterio and yanks the brace off and asks Mysterio how that feels before throwing him in the ring.
The referees swarm ringside but Rey is not down yet, kicking away as Orton tries to get back in the ring. Mysterio with a 619. Mysterio then slides under a lariat, then hits a leg-feed enziguiri, then goes for a second 619. Mysterio heads to the timekeeper’s area and grabs a chair but Randy cuts him off with a kick and hits the hanging DDT. On the outside, Orton braces Rey’s neck again with a chair and smashes him into the steps. Road agents Jamie Noble and five-time NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce have joined the fray by this point and manage to pull Randy away from Rey as we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon is hanging out with his trophy when The Miz rolls up to ask where he was.
Shane says that he was right here and The Miz says that he can’t will this team into existence on his own, he just wants McMahon to meet him 1/3 of the way in. The Miz then says that he could have beat Kofi if he had his partner on hand, to which Shane says that they are not a team. The A-Lister insists that the trophy is their child and he knows for a fact that they are damn good parents and that makes them a family, so start acting like it. The Miz then shoves their child (The Trophy) into Shane’s arms and storms off.
Asuka vs. Billie Kay vs. Carmella vs. Lana vs. Mandy Rose vs. Naomi vs. Peyton Royce vs. Sonya Deville vs. Zelina Vega (SmackDown Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Battle Royal): The opening bell sounds and all the women start going at it. Lana gets pushed out under the bottom rope and she pulls Zelina Vega down over the top for the first elimination of the match. Zelina beats down Lana at ringside now. Back in the ring, The IIconics eliminate Lana. Asuka then beats down both IIconics then she eliminates both of them. Carmella then kicks Asuka in the face. Asuka then dumps Carmella out to the ring apron, then kicks her down to the floor for the elimination. Mandy and Sonya start double teaming Asuka now. Naomi breaks it up and hits the hip attack on Mandy, then a springboard kick on Sonya. Naomi looks for a hurricanrana, but Mandy picks up Naomi and dumps her to the apron. Naomi pulls Mandy out to the apron, then Naomi throws Mandy into the ring post for the elimination. Sonya then attacks Naomi from behind on the apron for the elimination. Sonya and Mandy trade kick attempts before Sonya tackles her down. Sonya tries to eliminate her and Mandy gets involved from the floor. Asuka fights them both off and kicks Sonya in the head. Asuka pulls Sonya out to the apron and they trade shots to the face. They kick each other in the head at the same time and are both stunned. Asuka hits a knee to the face and Sonya falls down to ringside for the elimination. Winner: Asuka
After the match, Asuka celebrates as her music hits. Lynch & Flair look on from ringside. The announcers hype The First-Ever Women’s TLC Match with Asuka vs. Flair vs. Lynch, with the title on the line. Asuka stares out at Flair & Lynch as they look on from ringside. Lynch talks trash back at Asuka, raising the title in the air. SmackDown goes off the air as Asuka looks down at them from the top turnbuckle.