Here are your quick and dirty, editorial-free WWE Smackdown Live results for December 26, 2017. The show was headlined by AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens, plus the announcement of a United States Championship tournament.
Be back here tomorrow for the full Best and Worst of Smackdown Live column.
WWE Smackdown Live results:
– The show opened with Daniel Bryan in the ring, announcing that following Dolph Ziggler vacating the United States Championship, a tournament to determine a new champion would begin tonight. He was interrupted by Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable, Rusev and Aiden English, and the New Day, who all said they wanted another shot at the tag titles. Bryan made an impromptu Triple Threat match to determine new No. 1 contenders.
1. Smackdown Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contender Triple Threat Match: Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin defeated Rusev and Aiden English and the New Day. The Usos sat in on on commentary for this match. Gable pinned Big E after a bulldog off the top rope.
2. The Bludgeon Brothers defeated The Fashion Police. The Bludgeon Brothers won by disqualification after the Ascension ran in to save the Fashion Police from a continued beatdown.
3. Ruby Riott defeated Naomi. Naomi was distracted by the Riott Squad, leading to Riott kicking her in the head and scoring the pinfall victory.
— After the match, the Riott Squad began beating Naomi down before the rest of the Smackdown women’s locker room came out to even the score.
— Backstage, Renee Young interviewed AJ Styles. He said Kevin Owens can’t beat him.
4. United States Championship Tournament Round One Match: Bobby Roode defeated Baron Corbin. Roode advanced after rolling up Corbin for a flash pin.
5. United States Championship Tournament Round One Match: Jinder Mahal defeated Tye Dillinger. Mahal advanced after pinning Dillinger following the Khallas.
— Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura announced they are officially in the men’s Royal Rumble match.
6. Kevin Owens defeated AJ Styles. Sami Zayn was at ringside for the match, but after attempting to interfere, Shane McMahon came down and had the referee eject him from ringside. Owens used the distraction to roll up Styles for the victory.
(Check out our must-listen McMahonsplaining podcast with WWE superstar Braun Strowman. Subscribe on iTunes or Google.)
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