SmackDown Recap and Reactions (December 6, 2024): Let Them Fight!

The Bloodline, with all its twists and turns, is still the most compelling story in all of WWE. That’s why damn almost every episode of Friday night SmackDown opens with something related to the group, either the new or the originals.

On this week’s show, we saw Solo Sikoa and his henchmen go through security so pissed off that they didn’t bother stopping for poor Apollo Crews, who was minding his own business and taking a beating because he was simply in the wrong place and had problems with blatant disrespect.

The message was clear: they were not coping well with the loss at Survivor Series.

This continued later in the evening as they interrupted a stretch for the United States Championship, eliminating both LA Knight and Andrade while attempting to establish themselves as top contenders for Shinsuke Nakamura’s title. Sikoa grabbed a microphone and said he wanted to make it clear that even though he lost Tonga Loa to injury, the bloodline under him was not over, and he was still the tribal chief, still the league leader, and he still had the Ula Fala.

So if someone wants it, he will do the same thing he asks everyone else to do.

Acknowledge him.

By the way, Andrade and Knight sold out the entire promo for them that was laid out in the ring to really drive the message home. This was a solid way to rebuild the group after dealing with the loss the way it once did Survivor Series. However, I’m starting to wonder how long this can continue.

It looks like we’ll find out either way.

When WWE Champion Cody Rhodes appeared on SmackDown for his usual promo time, he was quickly interrupted by… American Made?

In fact, Chad Gable and his team came and announced that the transfer window was open, and they apparently talked to SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis about a possible move from Monday Night Raw. To that end, Gable wanted to say a few words to Rhodes, mostly to tell him that he deserves what’s coming to him because even though he looks like a champion, he’s actually a shallow guy who’s a terrible friend .

You know, not like Kevin Owens.

Of course, the champion, ever the babyface, responded by whitewashing his opponent. If anyone knows how to overcome evil inflicted upon them to make something of themselves, it is Gable. But while he thinks he has nothing to lose, in reality everything is at stake.

What happens if he goes for the endgame and fails again? How is he supposed to attack Julius, Brutus and Ivy, all of whom are actually really great but misguided at the moment?

Gable’s answer? “I would kick your ass if I were dressed appropriately right now!”

Rhodes told him to find Aldis and find a couple for that evening.

Meanwhile, Kevin Owens sent a video saying he didn’t want to come to town just to speak with Michael Cole for an interview. So if Cole wanted it, he would have to find him in his car.

So they actually sent Cole all the way to the parking garage to find Owens and got in his car to talk. KO claimed he hasn’t been welcomed in several arenas lately, so he wanted Cole to come to him. They discussed Owens’ problem with Cody – he feels betrayed. That was his friend and he stabbed him in the back.

Cole told him to look in the mirror and realize that he was the problem.

Owens said he saw a good-looking man who was in the right. He then threw the lead commentator out of his rental property and slowly rolled up the window for him. In the end they played it for fun and I wasn’t mad about it. And that’s because there’s a lot of meat on the bone.

Even later in the main event, Rhodes and Gable put on an incredibly entertaining match in the short amount of time they were given, an entertaining bout that actually made me hope that American Made would move to the blue brand to do this again at some point. I don’t know if it would make Gable stand out in the end, but it would definitely be entertaining as hell.

During the match, Cody sold the ankle and they ended the show with Owens arriving right after the match to attack the ankle without even having a boot. It turned into a massive tear apart, knuckle be damned, Cody was flying around and no one was able to tell them apart. Everyone loved it!

That was really fun.

Everything else

• The final first-round game of the U.S. Women’s Championship Tournament was a bit rocky, as some pitches were completely missed. It was a difficult task in the first few minutes, but towards the end they managed to keep their balance. Candice LeRae interfered in the match, distracting Naomi and giving Tiffany Stratton the opportunity she needed to help Elektra Lopez pinfall and win with the most beautiful moonsault ever. For what it’s worth, Stratton were great in front of their home crowd and they weren’t afraid to do so much publicity.
• The Street Profits were brought backstage early in the night and Nick Aldis announced that they were so badly injured that they would not challenge for the WWE Tag Team Titles as originally planned. Conveniently, Johnny Gargano was there straight away and said that DIY could step in. The Motor City Machine Guns agreed and Aldis told Gargano, “Tell Tommaso Ciampa he better not make me regret this.” What an incredibly bizarre way to get there. By the way, Ciampa still wasn’t nice to Gargano for getting them the title shot. Then, in the actual fight, Ciampa and Gargano didn’t get along again as Gargano pushed his partner away and sent him off the court so he could “do it himself.” Then Tommaso caused a distraction and Johnny landed a low blow. Eventually it turned out that they had been in cahoots the whole time. Meet in the middle and we have new tag team champions. This really didn’t hit you that hard, especially since I’ve seen this story and don’t need to watch it again with these two, but your success may vary.
• Bianca Belair argued with Chelsea Green and Piper Niven backstage, which led to an exchange of blows. This led to a match where Belair looked as impressive as ever as he took Niven to the KOD on top of Green in the ring. They announced that the women’s tag team titles are on hold while they figure out how to deal with Jade Cargill’s injuries. By the way, they’re still circulating the “who attacked Jade” story, and Byron Saxton has released Niven as an eyewitness on the evening in question. They’re definitely playing this up like Naomi was really the one who did it, but we’ll see.
• Before Shinsuke Nakamura could do or say anything this week, LA Knight came out and said he wanted his rematch here and now. Instead, Andrade came out and said he wanted to be there, and then The Bloodline showed up and took out both challengers. As they turned their attention to Nakamura, he showed the mist in his mouth before backing away.

I gave one Smack down A bad grade all year round?

Grade: B-

It’s your turn.