Sports
WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 29
0 of 7Credit: WWE.comThe first episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown post-Survivor Series brought with it a taste of what the blue brand will have to offer fans as it prepares for the December 15 TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view.Bray Wyatt introduced the latest member of The Firefly Funhouse, Roman Reigns and King Corbin…
0 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
The first episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown post-Survivor Series brought with it a taste of what the blue brand will have to offer fans as it prepares for the December 15 TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view.
Bray Wyatt introduced the latest member of The Firefly Funhouse, Roman Reigns and King Corbin continued their intensifying rivalry and The New Day issued an open challenge for the tag team titles.
Find out how those Superstars fared, what else went down on the broadcast and what it meant for the brand going forward with this recap of the November 29 episode.
1 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Roman Reigns kicked off the evening's broadcast with a rah-rah promo that segued into him calling out King Corbin for nearly costing SmackDown the win at Survivor Series. Rather than the proposed match between them, Corbin instead sent Robert Roode into battle with The Big Dog in the night's opening contest.
Reigns rolled early but a well-timed distraction from Corbin allowed Roode to bump his opponent off the ring apron and into the ring table. The former NXT champion controlled the match coming out of a commercial break, nearly putting Reigns away with the Glorious DDT.
Reigns fought out of the trademark move, though, and delivered a sit-out powerbomb for two. Reigns looked for the spear but Roode countered into a spinebuster for two. Corbin slid his scepter into Roode, who tried to capitalize on the King of the Ring's distraction by using it to his advantage.
Instead, The Big Dog blasted Corbin with a Superman Punch and speared Roode to win the match.
After the match, the numbers disadvantage proved too much as Roode blasted Reigns with a scepter. The babyface fired up, though, and sent Roode crashing into the guardrail. He buried The Glorious One under chairs and the entire announce table before standing tall to close out the segment.
Result
Reigns defeated Roode
Grade
B
Analysis
Reigns and Roode have solid in-ring chemistry and the match was a nice way to kick off the in-ring portion of the show. The outcome was never really in doubt, but it did not have to be. This was about presenting Reigns with renewed badassery.
Frustrated with the constant attempts to disprove him as the locker room leader of SmackDown, Reigns lashed out on Roode and Ziggler, sending a message to Corbin. Their issues will likely result in a high-profile PPV showdown at TLC, and rightfully so.
Then, hopefully, Reigns can move onto something more creatively fulfilling.
2 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Bray Wyatt welcomed fans back to Firefly Funhouse and asked if they wanted to see him play with Daniel Bryan again. The response was positive and he appeared to welcome such a thing.
The biggest revelation of the segment, though, was Wyatt unveiling The Fiend's own, personal Universal Championship, adorned with the masked face of fear.
Wyatt seemed to suggest there was a way for the issues with Bryan to continue, hinting that he would get his top contender a ‘toy' of his own.
Grade
A
Analysis
The Fiend's championship may be blasphemous to old school belt fans but it is cool, fits the character and has the edge one would expect from that persona.
What was more interesting was the insinuation that Wyatt wants to get Bryan a toy of his own. Could Wyatt be hinting at a partnership between the two? With The New Day issuing an open challenge later in the show, the possibility is there.
3 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Sheamus returned to WWE TV in a backstage promo in which he called SmackDown spineless and vowed to change the mood.
After the promo, Ali squared off with former cruiserweight champion Drew Gulak.
What could have been a show-stealer under any other circumstances was a sprint of a match that saw Ali pick up the win to continue his recent string of success.
Result
Ali defeated Gulak
Grade
C
Analysis
Sheamus' return completely overshadowed the match that proceeded it. The former WWE champion provided fans his motivations upon his return, making it very clear why he will do the things he does. That is easy for fans to buy into. The promo was not overthought, did not feature any glitz or glam. It was matter-of-fact and it worked.
Ali's win was no surprise and does nothing to better his position with the brand. It was a match for match's sake but at least it kept him in the spotlight.
4 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Five days after a miserable performance by the SmackDown women's division at Survivor Series, champion Bayley and Sasha Banks took to the squared circle to address their peers.
They blamed the locker room on the loss, expressed their shame and embarrassment, and absorbed none of the blame themselves.
This brought out Lacey Evans, who said SmackDown needed a a classy lady to be its face. The fans in Alabama embraced the promo, chanting Evans' name before she dropped Bayley with The Woman's Right.
Evans left, having sent a message loudly and clearly to the champion and her closest friend.
Grade
B
Analysis
If this was the first stop on the road to an Evans babyface turn, there are far worse options to challenge Bayley for the women's title than The Sassy Southern Belle. She has credibility by way of her feuds with Becky Lynch and Natalya, and is a former top contender to the Raw women's title.
Given the work that would have to go in to re-heating Carmella or establishing the underutilized Dana Brooke in that role, Evans is as good a fit as any.
Whether fans will support her consistently enough against the respected Bayley and Banks remains to be seen, though.
5 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Mandy Rose poked fun at Nikki Cross' appearance ahead of her match with Sonya Deville.
The mind games worked in Fire and Desire's favor early as Deville worked over Cross but the unhinged alumni of Sanity fought back and scored the pinfall victory.
After the match, the heels attempted a two-on-one beatdown but Alexa Bliss returned, making the save for her former tag team partner and standing tall to close out the segment.
Result
Cross defeated Deville
Grade
C
Analysis
Rose and Deville are a heel act that has developed strong chemistry and outperformed expectations in every big match in which they have appeared, yet have not had the sustained push or storytelling opportunities others have.
Programming them against Bliss and Cross is a chance to get them ring time with former tag team champions who have credibility on their side.
Bliss' return and the reaction to it is indicative that Little Miss Bliss has a strong connection with fans that will benefit all involved.
6 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
SmackDown tag team champions Kofi Kingston and Big E hit the ring and issued an open challenge to any team in the locker room. Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro appeared, accompanied by mouthpiece Sami Zayn.
Zayn cut an impassioned promo that iterated Cesaro and Nakamura are ready to become tag team champions tonight.
The heels isolated Kingston coming out of the break, looking to dethrone the most dominant tag team of the last half-decade. A hot tag to Big E ignited the babyface comeback and gave way to Kingston dropping Cesaro with Trouble in Paradise to pick up the pinfall victory.
Result
The New Day defeated Nakamura and Cesaro
Grade
A
Analysis
This was a damn fine match featuring four of the most celebrated in-ring performers in the company. The chemistry was there, the fans reacted for everything down the stretch and New Day went over to send them home happy.
Nakamura and Cesaro established themselves as legitimate threats to the titles while Zayn further established himself one of the most entertaining personalities on TV.
Will this have long-term effects on the tag team division? No, but with the company planning to reboot its storylines as the new year approaches, it was harmless entertainment of above-average quality.
7 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Daniel Bryan made his way to the ring to cap off the night's broadcast, his answer to Bray Wyatt's invitation to play with him one more time the subject of the show-closing promo.
The leader of the YES! Movement said he felt like he changed in the middle of the match with the universal champion at Survivor Series. Like the fans changed him. He pondered whether the fans brought the Yes Movement back to life.
He joined the fans for the ‘yes' chants before Wyatt's Firefly Funhouse music interrupted.
Wyatt said The Miz had a good point earlier in the night: if Bryan matches up with The Fiend again, ‘he' will take Bryan's mask off. Wyatt said he would make good on his promise to introduce the new face.
The lights dimmed and The Fiend attacked. Bryan tried to fend him off but ultimately succumbed to the mandible claw. Under the ring, the masked maniac pulled hair out of his prey's head and laughed to close out the show.
Grade
A
Analysis
The Fiend changing Bryan's physical appearance before tearing him down emotionally and morally is a great little story that should make for some quality television over the next few weeks.
In doing so, he also erases the last vestiges of the Planet's Champion, a character that lost tremendous steam late in the fall.
The chemistry between Bryan and Wyatt is undeniable and their characters play well off each other. Throw in tables, ladders or chairs in time for December 15 and you have the potential for a show-stealing match to cap off the year.
Subscribe to Centenunlimited news
We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe
